Mithril (Full Metal Panic!)
Encyclopedia
Mithril is a fictional anti-terrorist private military company
in the light novel
, manga
and anime
series Full Metal Panic!
. Many of the main characters within the series are members of this organization, among them include Sousuke Sagara
, Melissa Mao
, Kurz Weber
and Teletha Tessa Testarossa
.
in the then waning Gulf War
. It is named after the fictional metal, Mithril
, from The Lord of the Rings
written by J. R. R. Tolkien
. The organization's purpose to halt regional conflicts, in addition to securing the Whispered
without taking any sides. As such, it is one of the few organizations aware of the Whispered
and Black Technology
.
Mithril remains an extremely secretive organization, its existence unknown to all but the most senior of military and political personnel. Its motives, funding, structure, and personnel are all kept secret. Its secrecy is vital for its continued existence, as Mithril is a specialist organization dependent on fast surgical strikes with small numbers. It does not possess the numbers or capacity to withstand a conventional war of numbers.
The command structure of Mithril is very direct to give soldiers a clear chain of command to their superior officers. At the same time, commanders are given the ability to individually take command of a situation. The high level of trust in individual ability gives each organizational unit a strong level of autonomous decision making.
The research division is shown to have a close working relationship with the combat division of Mithril. There is a personnel exchange program, further fostering this relationship.
A certain amount of friction between the Combat and Intelligence divisions have been highlighted within the narrative of Full Metal Panic. This friction does not prevent the division from being highly effective in monitoring the hotbeds of regional conflicts.
The Tuatha De Danaan Battle Group is commanded by Captain Teletha Testarossa, from the flagship of the same name, TDD-1 Tuatha de Danaan while using the codename Ansuz. Commander Richard Mardukas is second-in-command and Lieutenant Commander Andrei Sergeivich Kalinin was military strategist.
Mithril is a specialist organization unlike most armies, requiring personnel capable of completing sensitive and difficult operations in small teams. These small surgical strike teams are operated by each battle group, under the Special Response Team (SRT) and Primary Response Team (PRT) units. They are armed rapid response units deployed around the world, most often within a day or even hours. The SRT are deployed to the most dangerous and risky of situation, ones that the PRT cannot be expected to complete.
. SRT members are designated Urzu (Urzu) while PRT members are designated Kaunan
(Kano). These runic letters each carry a symbolic meaning well suited to the units. For example, Urzu means power while Kaunan means beginning.
In their need of secrecy, these Mithril soldiers often disguise themselves as armed forces of various nations. In Full Metal Panic, they pose as UN peacekeepers
by wearing blue berets and green BDUs
fitted with UN insignias.
Under the direct command of Lieutenant Commander Andrei Kalinin, who has the call sign of Perth-1, the ground combat units of the Tuatha de Danaan battle group are separated into SRT and PRT units. There are six PRT units, each one specializing in a particular type of warfare. They are air assault
, amphibious warfare
, espionage
, assault, communications, and building breaching and assault. Soldiers rotate within the six teams to learn the methods and skills of each team. The Primary Response Teams form the core fighting force of the Pacific Fleet. Most operations of Mithril are carried out by the PRT. Urzu Three is commander of the Primary Response Teams, and facilitates the communication and teamwork between the SRT and PRT personnel.
The distinction of the SRT from the PRT is the usage of Arm Slaves. Almost all SRT members are Arm Slave pilots in addition to their specialist skills elsewhere. This is largely unheard of, and highlights the unique nature of the SRT. Each specialist of the unit is encouraged in cross training to retain the ability to complete a mission regardless of personnel loss in the field.
While most missions operate the SRT and PRT personnel as discrete units, complex operations have been shown using both SRT and PRT units. In these cases, SRT personnel have been shown to take command of supporting PRT units. The two teams show strong integration, showing the well trained nature of both units.
operators of most countries, SRT personnel are given complete freedom in the equipment they choose to arm themselves with. This serves to make each individual member difficult to identify as a part of Mithril based on their equipment. Equipment shown used by Response Teams in the series include the FN P90
submachine gun and an assault rifle/hand gun combination similar to the CornerShot
system.
The cornerstone of the West Pacific Battlegroup, Tuatha de Danaan, is the amphibious assault submarine TDD-1 Tuatha de Danaan. The ship shares its name with a legendary race of people
who are feature prominently in Irish mythology.
The standard complement of Tuatha de Danaan is four FAV-8 Super Harriers, six MH-67 Pave Mare Transport Helicopters, and four RAH-66 Comanche
s. Additional equipment fielded by Mithril are a turbofan
variant of the C-130 Hercules
, C-17 Globemaster III
transports, and MH-60 Pave Hawks
. It is notable that many of these weapon systems operated by Mithril include a number of equipment that are from failed or canceled development programs in reality. It is unknown if the addition of Black Technology
have made these projects viable or the tastes of the author are particularly strongly reflected within the fictional narrative.
Most notable is the advanced Third Generation Arm Slave, yet unmatched by any military of the world. SRT operatives are issued the M9E Gernsback Arm Slaves for general Arm Slave combat or missions. Each SRT member customize and personalize the Arm Slave extensively, creating a close relationship with their machines. The Battlegroup also operates a number of older M6 Bushnell units as secondary and backup units, but do not carry any on the limited space of the TDD-1.
Mithril as an organization has access to low orbit satellites for an encrypted communications network and intelligence gathering, codenamed as Sting. Illegal and unauthorized access of United States satellite network has been mentioned. It is unknown if Mithril possesses its own orbital assets or only borrows from other nations.
instead. However, DVDTOWN.com has stated that Mithril's presence in the Full Metal Panic! series gives the show a serious atmosphere to the viewers.
Private military company
A private military company or provides military and security services. These combatants are commonly known as mercenaries, though modern-day PMCs refer to their staff as security contractors, private military contractors or private security contractors, and refer to themselves as private military...
in the light novel
Light novel
A is a style of Japanese novel primarily targeting junior high and high school students . The term "light novel" is a wasei-eigo, or a Japanese term formed from words in the English language. Light novels are often called or for short...
, manga
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
and anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
series Full Metal Panic!
Full Metal Panic!
is an ongoing series of light novels written by Shoji Gatoh and illustrated by Shiki Douji. The series follows Sousuke Sagara, a member of the covert anti-terrorist private military organization known as Mithril, tasked with protecting Kaname Chidori, a spirited Japanese high school girl.Individual...
. Many of the main characters within the series are members of this organization, among them include Sousuke Sagara
Sousuke Sagara
is a fictional character and the main protagonist in the light novel, manga, and anime series Full Metal Panic!. He was portrayed by Tomokazu Seki in the original anime and by Chris Patton in the English dub.-Overview:...
, Melissa Mao
Melissa Mao
is a fictional character from the light novel, manga, and anime series Full Metal Panic! Her voice was provided by Michiko Neya in the original anime and by Allison Keith in the English dub.- Overview :...
, Kurz Weber
Kurz Weber
is a character from the light novel, manga, and anime series Full Metal Panic!. He was voiced by Shin-ichiro Miki in the original and by Vic Mignogna in the English dub.-Overview:...
and Teletha Tessa Testarossa
Teletha Tessa Testarossa
is a fictional character and the tritagonist in the light novel, manga, and anime series Full Metal Panic!. She is portrayed by Yukana Nogami in the original anime, and by Hilary Haag in the English dub by ADV Films and FUNimation Entertainment...
.
Overview
Mithril is a worldwide military (non-governmental) anti-terrorist organization possessing advanced technologies and weapon systems superior to that of any national armed forces. It was founded around 1992-1993, following the detonation of a nuclear warhead in northern IraqIraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
in the then waning Gulf War
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
. It is named after the fictional metal, Mithril
Mithril
Mithril is a fictional metal, originally used in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth fantasy writings. It is described as silvery and stronger than steel but much lighter in weight. The malleability, lack of tarnishing and use of the metal in jewellery suggest some similarity to the non-fictional metal...
, from The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings is a high fantasy epic written by English philologist and University of Oxford professor J. R. R. Tolkien. The story began as a sequel to Tolkien's earlier, less complex children's fantasy novel The Hobbit , but eventually developed into a much larger work. It was written in...
written by J. R. R. Tolkien
J. R. R. Tolkien
John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, CBE was an English writer, poet, philologist, and university professor, best known as the author of the classic high fantasy works The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion.Tolkien was Rawlinson and Bosworth Professor of Anglo-Saxon at Pembroke College,...
. The organization's purpose to halt regional conflicts, in addition to securing the Whispered
Whispered
The Whispered are unique individuals in the Full Metal Panic! universe who possess access to Black Technology, technology that outstrips the level of technology that should exist in the world.- Abilities :...
without taking any sides. As such, it is one of the few organizations aware of the Whispered
Whispered
The Whispered are unique individuals in the Full Metal Panic! universe who possess access to Black Technology, technology that outstrips the level of technology that should exist in the world.- Abilities :...
and Black Technology
Black Technology
Black Technology is a general term used to describe fictional technology in the Japanese light novel, manga and anime series Full Metal Panic!...
.
Mithril remains an extremely secretive organization, its existence unknown to all but the most senior of military and political personnel. Its motives, funding, structure, and personnel are all kept secret. Its secrecy is vital for its continued existence, as Mithril is a specialist organization dependent on fast surgical strikes with small numbers. It does not possess the numbers or capacity to withstand a conventional war of numbers.
Organization
Mithril is divided into three divisions, Research, Intelligence, and Tactical, which are overseen by the General Council. The current chairman of the General Council is Lord Mallory. Additional divisions may exist, but have not been mentioned at this time. The three divisions operate across international borders with the best and brightest available personnel.The command structure of Mithril is very direct to give soldiers a clear chain of command to their superior officers. At the same time, commanders are given the ability to individually take command of a situation. The high level of trust in individual ability gives each organizational unit a strong level of autonomous decision making.
Research Division
The research division develops advanced Black Technology devices from the knowledge gleaned from the Whispered. There have been a number of Whispered who have taken active part in the Research division as personnel as well. The research division of Mithril is deeply involved with the various cover corporate identities operated by the organization. The organization markets spin off technologies of its research. This revenue is assumed to be part of the funding of the two other divisions. The head of Research is Dr. Painrose.The research division is shown to have a close working relationship with the combat division of Mithril. There is a personnel exchange program, further fostering this relationship.
Intelligence Division
The intelligence division of Mithril handles the intelligence and counterintelligence duties within the organization. The division is highly independent of the two other divisions, maintaining a higher level of secrecy within the already secretive organization. The division operates an impressive amount of assets, including a number of military satellites, advanced computer equipment and personnel within other organizations. They have been shown using the United States intelligence satellites through morally dubious means. The intelligence division is charged with finding and securing ‘’Whispered’’ as well. The head of Intelligence is General Mayer Amit, formerly from Israel and an ex-Mossad secret agent. Agents and officers of the division operate under the codename Ogma.A certain amount of friction between the Combat and Intelligence divisions have been highlighted within the narrative of Full Metal Panic. This friction does not prevent the division from being highly effective in monitoring the hotbeds of regional conflicts.
Tactical Division
The Tactical Division of Mithril is the physical muscle of Mithril, carrying out surgical strikes to halt or help abate regional conflicts. The Tactical division is further divided into five fleets, the North Atlantic Fleet, the South Atlantic Fleet, the Indian Ocean Fleet, the Mediterranean Sea Fleet and the West Pacific Fleet. Within each fleet are battle groups, such as the Pal Horon Battle Group of the North Atlantic Fleet, which operates primarily in the Mediterranean Sea. The head of the Tactical Division is Admiral Voda, formerly from the United States Navy.The Tuatha De Danaan Battle Group is commanded by Captain Teletha Testarossa, from the flagship of the same name, TDD-1 Tuatha de Danaan while using the codename Ansuz. Commander Richard Mardukas is second-in-command and Lieutenant Commander Andrei Sergeivich Kalinin was military strategist.
Mithril is a specialist organization unlike most armies, requiring personnel capable of completing sensitive and difficult operations in small teams. These small surgical strike teams are operated by each battle group, under the Special Response Team (SRT) and Primary Response Team (PRT) units. They are armed rapid response units deployed around the world, most often within a day or even hours. The SRT are deployed to the most dangerous and risky of situation, ones that the PRT cannot be expected to complete.
Special Response Teams and Primary Response Teams
SRT and PRT operators of the Pacific battle group operate under code names during field operations. These code names are letters from the Runic alphabetRunic alphabet
The runic alphabets are a set of related alphabets using letters known as runes to write various Germanic languages before the adoption of the Latin alphabet and for specialized purposes thereafter...
. SRT members are designated Urzu (Urzu) while PRT members are designated Kaunan
Kaunan
The k-rune is called Kaun in both the Norwegian and Icelandic rune poems, meaning "ulcer". The reconstructed Proto-Germanic name is *Kaunan. It is also known as Kenaz , based on its Anglo-Saxon name.The Elder Futhark shape is likely directly based on Old Italic c / Latin C...
(Kano). These runic letters each carry a symbolic meaning well suited to the units. For example, Urzu means power while Kaunan means beginning.
In their need of secrecy, these Mithril soldiers often disguise themselves as armed forces of various nations. In Full Metal Panic, they pose as UN peacekeepers
Peacekeeping
Peacekeeping is an activity that aims to create the conditions for lasting peace. It is distinguished from both peacebuilding and peacemaking....
by wearing blue berets and green BDUs
Battle Dress Uniform
The Battle Dress Uniform were the fatigues that the armed forces of the United States used as their standard uniform for combat situations from September 1981 to April 2005. Since then, it has been replaced in every branch of the U.S. military. Only the U.S. Navy currently authorizes wear of the...
fitted with UN insignias.
Under the direct command of Lieutenant Commander Andrei Kalinin, who has the call sign of Perth-1, the ground combat units of the Tuatha de Danaan battle group are separated into SRT and PRT units. There are six PRT units, each one specializing in a particular type of warfare. They are air assault
Air assault
Air assault is the movement of ground-based military forces by vertical take-off and landing aircraft—such as the helicopter—to seize and hold key terrain which has not been fully secured, and to directly engage enemy forces...
, amphibious warfare
Amphibious warfare
Amphibious warfare is the use of naval firepower, logistics and strategy to project military power ashore. In previous eras it stood as the primary method of delivering troops to non-contiguous enemy-held terrain...
, espionage
Espionage
Espionage or spying involves an individual obtaining information that is considered secret or confidential without the permission of the holder of the information. Espionage is inherently clandestine, lest the legitimate holder of the information change plans or take other countermeasures once it...
, assault, communications, and building breaching and assault. Soldiers rotate within the six teams to learn the methods and skills of each team. The Primary Response Teams form the core fighting force of the Pacific Fleet. Most operations of Mithril are carried out by the PRT. Urzu Three is commander of the Primary Response Teams, and facilitates the communication and teamwork between the SRT and PRT personnel.
The distinction of the SRT from the PRT is the usage of Arm Slaves. Almost all SRT members are Arm Slave pilots in addition to their specialist skills elsewhere. This is largely unheard of, and highlights the unique nature of the SRT. Each specialist of the unit is encouraged in cross training to retain the ability to complete a mission regardless of personnel loss in the field.
While most missions operate the SRT and PRT personnel as discrete units, complex operations have been shown using both SRT and PRT units. In these cases, SRT personnel have been shown to take command of supporting PRT units. The two teams show strong integration, showing the well trained nature of both units.
TDD-1 Response Team Personnel
Enlisted and officer ranks in the PRT and SRT are, like Mithril's officer corps, based upon American and British military ranking systems. They consist of a mix of American and British army and navy ranks.PRT operators
| Character | Nationality | Rank | Codename | First Appearance | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lian Shaobin/Lian Shaopin | Unknown | Private Private (rank) A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank .In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.Notably both Sir Fitzroy MacLean and Enoch Powell are examples of, rare, rapid career... |
Unknown | Full Metal Panic | On Patrol (KIA Killed in action Killed in action is a casualty classification generally used by militaries to describe the deaths of their own forces at the hands of hostile forces. The United States Department of Defense, for example, says that those declared KIA need not have fired their weapons but have been killed due to... ) |
| Tony | Corporal Corporal Corporal is a rank in use in some form by most militaries and by some police forces or other uniformed organizations. It is usually equivalent to NATO Rank Code OR-4.... |
Full Metal Panic! The Second Raid | KIA Killed in action Killed in action is a casualty classification generally used by militaries to describe the deaths of their own forces at the hands of hostile forces. The United States Department of Defense, for example, says that those declared KIA need not have fired their weapons but have been killed due to... |
||
| Wu | Chinese China Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture... |
Private Private (rank) A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank .In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.Notably both Sir Fitzroy MacLean and Enoch Powell are examples of, rare, rapid career... |
Kaunan 28 | Full Metal Panic! The Second Raid | Active |
SRT operators
| Character | Nationality | Rank | Codename | First Appearance | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belfangan Clouseau | Canadian | First Lieutenant (Treated as Captain) | Urzu 1 | Full Metal Panic! The Second Raid | Active |
| Gail McAllen | Australian | Captain | Urzu 1 | Full Metal Panic | On Patrol (KIA Killed in action Killed in action is a casualty classification generally used by militaries to describe the deaths of their own forces at the hands of hostile forces. The United States Department of Defense, for example, says that those declared KIA need not have fired their weapons but have been killed due to... ) |
| Melissa Mao Melissa Mao is a fictional character from the light novel, manga, and anime series Full Metal Panic! Her voice was provided by Michiko Neya in the original anime and by Allison Keith in the English dub.- Overview :... |
American/Chinese United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
Second Lieutenant (Treated as First Lieutenant) | Urzu 2 (Formerly Urzu 6) |
Full Metal Panic | Active |
| Amasart | First Lieutenant | Formerly Urzu 2 | Inactive: transferred to Mithril Intelligence Division | ||
| Castello | Italian Italy Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and... |
First Lieutenant First Lieutenant First lieutenant is a military rank and, in some forces, an appointment.The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations , but the majority of cases it is common for it to be sub-divided into a senior and junior rank... |
Urzu 3 | Full Metal Panic! The Second Raid | Active |
| Hummer | First Lieutenant First Lieutenant First lieutenant is a military rank and, in some forces, an appointment.The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations , but the majority of cases it is common for it to be sub-divided into a senior and junior rank... |
Urzu 4 | Active | ||
| Roger Sandraptor | American United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
Sergeant Sergeant Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent.... |
Urzu 5 | Full Metal Panic! The Second Raid | Active |
| Kurz Weber Kurz Weber is a character from the light novel, manga, and anime series Full Metal Panic!. He was voiced by Shin-ichiro Miki in the original and by Vic Mignogna in the English dub.-Overview:... |
German Germany Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate... |
Sergeant (Treated as Master Sergeant) | Urzu 6 | Full Metal Panic | Active |
| Sousuke Sagara Sousuke Sagara is a fictional character and the main protagonist in the light novel, manga, and anime series Full Metal Panic!. He was portrayed by Tomokazu Seki in the original anime and by Chris Patton in the English dub.-Overview:... |
Afghan/Japanese Afghanistan Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world... |
Sergeant Sergeant Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent.... |
Urzu 7 | Full Metal Panic | Active |
| Jack Wayne | American United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
Sergeant Sergeant Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent.... |
Formerly Urzu 7 | Discharged | |
| Spec | American United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
Corporal Corporal Corporal is a rank in use in some form by most militaries and by some police forces or other uniformed organizations. It is usually equivalent to NATO Rank Code OR-4.... /Sergeant Sergeant Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent.... |
Urzu 8 | Full Metal Panic! The Second Raid | Deceased |
| Yang Jun-Kyu | South Korean | Corporal Corporal Corporal is a rank in use in some form by most militaries and by some police forces or other uniformed organizations. It is usually equivalent to NATO Rank Code OR-4.... |
Urzu 9 | Full Metal Panic! The Second Raid | Active |
| Nguyen Bien Bo | Vietnamese Vietnamese people The Vietnamese people are an ethnic group originating from present-day northern Vietnam and southern China. They are the majority ethnic group of Vietnam, comprising 86% of the population as of the 1999 census, and are officially known as Kinh to distinguish them from other ethnic groups in Vietnam... |
Corporal Corporal Corporal is a rank in use in some form by most militaries and by some police forces or other uniformed organizations. It is usually equivalent to NATO Rank Code OR-4.... |
Formerly Urzu 10 | Full Metal Panic | Deceased |
| John Danigan | American United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
Sergeant Sergeant Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent.... |
Formerly Urzu 12 | Full Metal Panic | Deceased |
Equipment
In order to conduct their missions, Mithril Response Teams are armed with the finest military equipment that is available to them. Much like Special forcesSpecial forces
Special forces, or special operations forces are terms used to describe elite military tactical teams trained to perform high-risk dangerous missions that conventional units cannot perform...
operators of most countries, SRT personnel are given complete freedom in the equipment they choose to arm themselves with. This serves to make each individual member difficult to identify as a part of Mithril based on their equipment. Equipment shown used by Response Teams in the series include the FN P90
FN P90
The FN P90 is a selective fire personal defense weapon designed and manufactured by FN Herstal in Belgium. The P90's name is taken from 1990, the year it was introduced...
submachine gun and an assault rifle/hand gun combination similar to the CornerShot
CornerShot
CornerShot is a weapon accessory invented by Lt. Col. Amos Golan of the Israeli Defense Forces in cooperation with American investors. It was designed in the early 2000s for SWAT teams and special forces in hostile situations usually involving terrorists and hostages...
system.
The cornerstone of the West Pacific Battlegroup, Tuatha de Danaan, is the amphibious assault submarine TDD-1 Tuatha de Danaan. The ship shares its name with a legendary race of people
Tuatha Dé Danann
The Tuatha Dé Danann are a race of people in Irish mythology. In the invasions tradition which begins with the Lebor Gabála Érenn, they are the fifth group to settle Ireland, conquering the island from the Fir Bolg....
who are feature prominently in Irish mythology.
The standard complement of Tuatha de Danaan is four FAV-8 Super Harriers, six MH-67 Pave Mare Transport Helicopters, and four RAH-66 Comanche
RAH-66 Comanche
The Boeing-Sikorsky RAH-66 Comanche was an advanced five-blade armed reconnaissance and attack helicopter designed for the United States Army. The RAH-66 program was canceled in 2004, before mass production began, after nearly $7 billion was spent on the program.During the early 1980s, the U.S...
s. Additional equipment fielded by Mithril are a turbofan
Turbofan
The turbofan is a type of airbreathing jet engine that is widely used for aircraft propulsion. A turbofan combines two types of engines, the turbo portion which is a conventional gas turbine engine, and the fan, a propeller-like ducted fan...
variant of the C-130 Hercules
C-130 Hercules
The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built originally by Lockheed, now Lockheed Martin. Capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, the C-130 was originally designed as a troop, medical evacuation, and cargo transport...
, C-17 Globemaster III
C-17 Globemaster III
The Boeing C-17 Globemaster III is a large military transport aircraft. Developed for the United States Air Force from the 1980s to the early 1990s by McDonnell Douglas, the C-17 is used for rapid strategic airlift of troops and cargo to main operating bases or forward operating bases throughout...
transports, and MH-60 Pave Hawks
HH-60 Pave Hawk
The Sikorsky MH-60G/HH-60G Pave Hawk is a twin turboshaft engine helicopter in service with the United States Air Force. It is a derivative of the UH-60 Black Hawk and incorporates the US Air Force PAVE electronic systems program...
. It is notable that many of these weapon systems operated by Mithril include a number of equipment that are from failed or canceled development programs in reality. It is unknown if the addition of Black Technology
Black Technology
Black Technology is a general term used to describe fictional technology in the Japanese light novel, manga and anime series Full Metal Panic!...
have made these projects viable or the tastes of the author are particularly strongly reflected within the fictional narrative.
Most notable is the advanced Third Generation Arm Slave, yet unmatched by any military of the world. SRT operatives are issued the M9E Gernsback Arm Slaves for general Arm Slave combat or missions. Each SRT member customize and personalize the Arm Slave extensively, creating a close relationship with their machines. The Battlegroup also operates a number of older M6 Bushnell units as secondary and backup units, but do not carry any on the limited space of the TDD-1.
Mithril as an organization has access to low orbit satellites for an encrypted communications network and intelligence gathering, codenamed as Sting. Illegal and unauthorized access of United States satellite network has been mentioned. It is unknown if Mithril possesses its own orbital assets or only borrows from other nations.
Reception
Anime Jump pokes fun at the existence of Mithril, calling it MegaforceMegaforce
Megaforce is an action film made in 1982 directed by former stuntman Hal Needham. The film starred Barry Bostwick, Persis Khambatta, Michael Beck, Edward Mulhare, Evan C...
instead. However, DVDTOWN.com has stated that Mithril's presence in the Full Metal Panic! series gives the show a serious atmosphere to the viewers.