RX-77-2 Guncannon

RX-77-2 Guncannon

General and Technical Data

Model number: RX-77-2

Code name: Guncannon

Unit type: prototype artillery mobile suit

Manufacturer: Earth Federal Forces "Project V"

Operator: Earth Federal Forces

Rollout: UC 0079

First deployment: September UC 0079

Accomodation: pilot only, in standard cockpit in torso with Core Block System using FF-X7 Core Fighter

Dimensions: overall height 18.1 meters; head height 17.5 meters

Weight: empty 51.0 metric tons; max gross 70.0 metric tons

Construction: lunar titanium alloy on semi-monocoque frame

Powerplant: Minovsky type ultracompact fusion reactor, output rated at 1380 kW

Propulsion: rocket thrusters: 2 x 22600 kg, 4 x 1650 kg

Performance: maximum thruster acceleration 0.74 G; 180-degree turn time 2.0 seconds; maximum ground running speed 78 km/h

Equipment and design features: sensors, range 6000 meters

Fixed armaments: 2 x 60 mm vulcan gun, fire-linked, mounted in head; 2 x 240 mm cannon, variable independent-fire/fire-linked, 20 round magazine each, mounted over shoulders

Optional fixed armaments: 2 x spray missile launcher, mounted over shoulders in place of 240 mm cannons

Optional hand armaments: beam rifle, powered by rechargable energy cap

Technical and Historical Notes

"Guncannon, stand by for launch on Deck 2!" - Job John

The second of three mobile suit prototypes built under the Earth Federation's "Project V" during the One Year War, the RX-77-2 Guncannon was a step above the RX-75 Guntank in that it was a true mobile suit and not just a "mobile suit body on a tank." Like its brethren Guntank and RX-78-2 Gundam, the Guncannon used the same FF-X7 Core Fighter as an escape system for the pilot. Also like the Gundam, the Guncannon was one of the first mobile suits to use the energy cap-based beam rifle, as well as head-mounted vulcan guns for close range defense.

However, the Guncannon was designed as a mid-range fire support unit, and its primary armament was its shoulder-mounted 240 mm cannons. The main drawback to this was the cannons' limited ammunition supply, but an experienced pilot learned to use the ammo conservatively and effectively to stay in battle longer (as Guncannon pilot Kai Shiden had to learn the hard way).

Initially, only one RX-77-2 survived a Zeon attack on the Side 6 colony when Project V was uncovered, and this unit was transferred to the Federation assault carrier White Base, where it continued to serve until the end of the war. A second Guncannon unit was later pieced together and added to White Base's mobile suit complement, with the two units designated "C-108" and "C-109".