RGM-79 GM

RGM-79 GM

General and Technical Data

Model number: RGM-79

Code name: GM

Unit type: mass production general purpose mobile suit

Manufacturer: Earth Federal Forces

Operator: Earth Federal Forces

Rollout: UC 0079

First deployment: UC 0079

Accomodation: pilot only, in standard cockpit in torso

Dimensions: overall height 18.5 meters; head height 18.0 meters

Weight: empty 41.2 metric tons; max gross 58.8 metric tons

Construction: titanium alloy on semi-monocoque frame

Powerplant: Minovsky type ultracompact fusion reactor, output rated at 1250 kW

Propulsion: rocket thrusters: 2 x 24000 kg, 4 x 1870 kg

Performance: maximum thruster acceleration 0.94 G; 180-degree turn time 1.6 seconds; maximum ground running speed 102 km/h

Equipment and design features: sensors, range 6000 meters

Fixed armaments: 2 x 60 mm vulcan gun, fire-linked, mounted in head; 1 x beam saber, power rated at 0.38 MW, stored in recharge rack in backpack, hand-carried in use

Optional hand armaments: beam spray gun, powered by rechargable energy cap; 100 mm machinegun, clip-fed; shield

Technical and Historical Notes

"There's lots of them!" - Letz Cofan

"It's a little different from the Gundam." - Kikka Kitamoto

"Now that you mention it, they're a LOT different." - Katz Hawin

Not initially taking the threat of "mobile suits" seriously, the Earth Federation was a latecomer during the One Year War when it came to development and production of its own mobile suits to counter the Principality of Zeon. Based on combat data from the RX-78-2 Gundam's "learning computer" system and experimental GM-type units such as the RGM-79[E], the Federation's first true mass-production unit was simply named the RGM-79 GM. Though the first GM units weren't available until UC November 0079, the Federation's material and manufacturing superiority allowed it to quickly catch up, fielding enough units in time to retake contested areas on Earth and to participate in the Federation's Operation Star One offensive on Zeon's space front.

The production-model GM was basically a simplified version of the original Gundam, eliminating some of the more complex and expensive features - such as the Core Block System and using normal titanium alloy armor instead of lunar titanium - to make it production faster and more economical. The GM only carried one beam saber instead of two, and had optional hand armaments of either a 100 mm machinegun or a short-range - but highly effective - beam spray gun. With the Federal Forces already on the offensive, the introduction of the GM units to the front lines assured the Federation's victory... and descendants of the GM line would continue to serve the Federation military for at least the next fifteen years.