In the Japanese animated series Gundam Seed, the GAT-01 Strike Dagger is the Earth Alliance's main mass-production type mobile suit for the last few months of the Bloody Valentine War.

Introduced early in Cosmic Era June 71, the Strike Dagger saw first service in the Battle of Porta Panama, acquitting itself well in combat against ZAFT's ZGMF-1017 GINN mobile suits. From that battle onward, the Strike Dagger replaced the outdated TS-MA2 Moebius mobile armor in all roles, proving superior to the GINN in ground combat. However it proved to be inferior to both Orb's MBF-M1 Astray, and ZAFT's successor unit, the ZGMF-600 GuAIZ.

Because of power consumption issues discovered with the GAT-X105 Strike Gundam, the Alliance decided not to equip the production Strike Dagger with Phase Shift armor and tuned down it's beam saber, reserving its power supply for the high-energy E703 57mm beam rifle.

The Strike Dagger was an emergency model produced to make up for the lack of power in the Earth Alliance, and saw service for only a limited period of time (about 4-5 months). The actual "Dagger" design was intended to be the GAT-01A1 Dagger. This unit was later dubbed the "105 Dagger" to differentiate it from other Dagger types. Due to its resemblance to the Strike Gundam and the fact that the "Strike Dagger" name was already taken, it was named after Strike's model number instead. The 105 Dagger retained more of the major features of the Strike Gundam, including Striker Pack compatibility. In addition, it was equipped with laminated armor and ablative ge]. While it offered no protection against projectile weapons, it was very effective against beam weaponry. However, due to the 105 Dagger's high production costs and the high demand for replacements for its outclassed mobile armors, the Earth Alliance opted to use the stripped-down Strike Dagger instead. Nevertheless, a few 105 Dagger units were built during the war, and a notable one was piloted by ace pilot Morgan Chevalier, equipped with the AQM/E-X04 Gunbarrel Striker pack.

The advanced GAT-02L2 Dagger L was a minor update to the 105 Dagger, analogous to the relationship between the RGM-79 GM and RGM-79R/RGM-179 GM II in Zeta Gundam. It can also be equipped with newer mission packs.

External links

http://www.mahq.net
http://www.gundamofficial.com

(This page includes information taken from Mecha Anime Headquarters, and Burke's Big List o' Gundam Mecha)