RX-78 mobile suit series Guide, Meaning , Facts, Information and Description
The RX-78 mobile suit series is a series of fictional testbed mobile suits in the Gundam Universal Century developed by the Earth Federation. The titular mobile suit of the series, the RX-78-2 Gundam, is a member of this series.
There are two major subsets of mobile suits within this series:
- Those developed under the Vinson Plan, and
- Those developed under the Gundam Development Project.
History
The deployment of mobile suits in the One Year War by the Principality of Zeon had given the small nation a major tactical edge over the much larger Earth Federation. Capable of propellent-less manuvering thanks to their AMBAC systems, and able to be retrofitted to suit a variety of missions and environments, they easily outclassed the Federation's arsenal of fighters and ground vehicles. Realizing that the gap needed to be closed, the Federation instituted the Vinson Plan(Project V in original Japanese), a development program that would produce a Federation mobile suit design that would be able to be mass produced. While the ultimate result of the program was the RGM-79 GM, the engineers in the project tested several design concepts for the mass-production units in the RX-78 series. Some of the developments in the RX-78 models were later incorporated into the GM line, but many were scrapped due to cost and/or complexity.
The RX-78 series introduced Minovsky particle weaponry to mobile suits, developing and deploying the first successful beam rifle and beam saber. These would form the primary component of mobile suit weaponry for at least the next century and a half. The core block system, which allowed the RX-78's pilot to escape the destruction of his mobile suit in a functional aerospace fighter, would be dropped for expense from subsequent units but reused on occasion (most notably in the Anaheim Electronics MSZ-010 ZZ Gundam during the First Neo-Zeon War) and resurrected by the League Militaire in the UC 0150s on the LM312V04 Victory Gundam.
After the cessation of the One Year War, the Federation opened up a black-ops mobile suit development program, the Gundam Development Project, in order to develop mobile suits to fill roles that had appeared in analysis of combat operations from the One Year War. The major reason that the project was designated black-op was because of the RX-78GP02A Gundam Physalis, which was armed with an atomic bazooka in violation of the Antarctic Treaty. After the events of Gundam 0083, the records of the Gundam Development Project were stricken from the official record.
The RX-78 line was finally superseded in UC 0087 by the RX-178 Gundam Mk. II developed by the Titans.
Refer to RX-78-2 data.
The most famous of all the RX-78 models, the RX-78-2 Gundam was built as the second stage (test type) for the RX-78 series. Like the two other RX-78, the RX-78-1 and RX-78-3, it carried the Core Block modular mobile suit design, comprised of three modules:
Late in the war, the Federation installed a magnetic coating on the joints of the RX-78-2, improving the response time of the mobile suit (which was starting to lag behind the reaction time of Amuro, whose budding Newtype powers were growing exponentially). In the final battle of the One Year War, the Battle of A Baoa Qu, the RX-78-2 was severely damaged, then destroyed by Char in his MSN-02 Zeong. Nevertheless, the RX-78-2 performed admirably throughout its service in the One Year War.
Manufacturer: Earth Federation
Manufacturer: Earth Federation
Manufacturer: Earth Federation
Manufacturer: Earth Federation
As the Federation had not researched the extent of Newtype powers (such research would not become available until the accquisition of the Flannigan Institute by the Federation), the RX-78NT1 did not have any sort of psycommu control. Instead, the RX-78NT1 was optimized at every level for the vastly superior reaction time of Newtypes. Test pilot Christina Mackenzie (an Oldtype) noted that the machine was incredibly powerful, almost to the point that it was out of control. The other major innovation was that the RX-78NT1 was the first mobile suit to feature the panoramic cockpit and linear chair, affording the pilot a wraparound view of the battlefield. The RX-78NT1 also featured an optional Chobham armor coat, which improves the defense of the RX-78NT1 at the expense of reduced mobility.
Manufacturer: Earth Federation
Manufacturer: Earth Federation
The stress that EXAM exerts on the pilot, hoever, limited any widespread adoption. EXAM lead researcher Alf Chamara went through several test pilots until he found the perfect candidate in Federation test pilot Yu Kajima. Kajima spearheaded the California Base assault in the RX-79BD-1, where he confronted the Zeon MS-08TX(EXAM) Efreet Custom EXAM mobile suit piloted by Zeon ace Nimbus Schtazen in combat, resulting in the destruction of both the RX-78BD-1 and the MS-08TX(EXAM). Schtazen then stole the RX-79BD-2 and escaped to space, forcing Kajima to pursue him with the RX-78BD-3. The two EXAM units then clashed in space, resulting in Schtazen's defeat at the hands of Kajima, and the destruction of both the RX-79BD-2 and the RX-79BD-3.
Manufacturer: Earth Federation
At the conclusion of the One Year War, the Federation opened the Gundam Development Project, aimed at creating mobile suits superior to those that Zeon had developed. The RX-78GP01 Gundam Zephyranthes was the first of three Gundam type mobile suit prototypes completed under this plan.
The RX-78GP01 was designed to be an adaptable mobile suit, able to operate under any condition on earth or in space; to that end its design is superficially similar to the other RX series Gundams. Unlike previous suits, this was one of the first to re-introduce the core fighter concept in its design, utilizing the recently developed FF-XII Core Fighter II as the cockpit. The RX-78GP01 was taken to Australia's Torrington Base for terrestrial testing, where it was commandeered by (and later assigned to) Federation ENS (later LTJG) Kou Uraki in his effort to retrieve the RX-78GP02A.
One major innovation in the RX-78GP01's arsenal was the addition of a beam rifle that used removable energy capacitor clips called e-pacs. Previous beam rifle designs had the energy capacitor integrated into the rifle directly, resulting in the rifle becoming dead weight once the capacitor was depleted. With e-pacs, beam rifles can be used indefinately as long as the pilot has a ready supply of replacement e-pacs. The RX-78GP01 has three e-pacs (one mounted on the rifle, two held in reserve on the shield) in its normal deployment configuration.
Model number: RX-78GP01
As mentioned above, the RX-78GP01 was designed to operate both on earth and in space; however, in order to be effective the unit must be reconfigured for each enviroment. After suffering heavy damage while en route to Von Braun, the Gundam was retooled into the RX-78GP01Fb Full Vernian at the Anaheim Electronics facilty on the moon. The Full Vernian unit differs from the regular unit in a couple of ways. First, it has a set of Universal Boost Pods mounted behind the shoulder for better maneuverablity. Secondly, the FF-XII's wings were removed and replaced with additional fuel units - the Universal Boost Pods replace the wings on the FF-XII.
This version is a formidable oppenent in space. The Full Vernian boasts increased maneuverablity and a wide range of weapons that the unit can utilize, which made it a high priority for the Zeon movement to find and destroy. This unit was lost at the Naval Review in 0083 after an intense fight against Anavel Gato and the stolen RX-78GP02A.
During the postwar years the Federation recieved information that the Zeon remanents could be developing mobile suits with nuclear capabilities. As a countermeasure, the Federation decided to create the RX-78GP02A Gundam Physalis.
The mere existence of the RX-78GP02A is a clear violation of the Antarctic Treaty: it is designed to carry and utilize a MK-82 nuclear missile. It carries extensive heat- and radiation shielding to protect it from nuclear blasts, as well as the standard Federation mobile suit armaments. Mounted on the shoulders of the RX-78GP02A are a set of high power thrusters, which contribute to the exceptional manuverability of the RX-78GP02A.
In UC 0083, the Albion collected both the RX-78GP01 and the RX-78GP02A, shipping them to Torrington Base in Australia for terrestrial testing. Unfortunatly, Zeon pilot Anavel Gato stole the RX-78GP02A after a nuclear missile from the Federation's Torrington Base stockpile had been loaded into it, and later used it to destroy or disable three-fifths of the Earth Federation space fleet at the Naval Review at Konpei Island. Shortly thereafter, the RX-78GP02A and the RX-78GP01Fb engaged in a space battle, resulting in the destruction of both units.
Manufacturer: Anaheim Electronics Corporation
While the initial two designs of the Gundam Development Project were specifically designed for an offensive role, the Federation also needed a design for base defense, especially in space. The result of this was the massive RX-78GP03D Gundam Dendrobium mobile armor. Developed at Anaheim Electronic's La Vie En Rose orbital manufacturing plant, the RX-78GP03D was designed to be self-sufficient. Two large weapons racks sit on the top of the RX-78GP03D, enabling the pilot to engage in extended firefights without running out of ammunition. An extensible heavy beam lance and claw is mounted on the right side of the unit, while an I-field generator is mounted on the left. A second pair of claws are mounted on the underbelly of the RX-78GP03D, and the armament is rounded out with a set of missile launchers.
The RX-78GP03D was acquired by the crew of the Albion during a stop at La Vie En Rose, against the orders of the Federation liason officer overseeing its development. Federation pilot Kou Uraki manned this unit in the final battles of Operation Stardust, using it to destroy the AGX-04 Gerbera Tetra and severely damage the AMA-X2 Neue Ziel mobile armor in an unsuccessful attempt to stop a colony drop on the North American Midwest area.
Though there were no further developments along this concept in the Universal Century timeline, a spiritual successor to the RX-78GP03D can be found in the Cosmic Era's METEOR support units.Vinson Plan Models
RX-78-1 Prototype Gundam
The RX-78-1 Prototype Gundam is the third Mobile Suit Series produced under the Project V, first rolled out at the Federation's Jaburo military headquarters on Earth. Unlike the other two, which emphasis on firepower, the Prototype Gundam was designed as melee mobile suit mobile suit, with a very high mobility. It was also the first to feature several new technologies, including the energy cap-based beam rifle (making the Gundam the first mobile suit to pack the firepower of a battleship) and beam saber. Once the initial design was approved, two more identical RX-78 series, RX-78-2 and RX-78-3 "G3" were produced, and sent to testing at the Side 7 research colony. It was destroyed along with G3 in order to protect the data of the mobile suitRX-78-2 Gundam
The idea was that the Core Lander could be launched into the field as a support fighter, and the A and B blocks could be delivered by another vehicle (the Federation developed a support unit, the Gunperry, for this role) if needed for a mid-air conversion into a mobile suit. The 3 RX-78 were slated in September UC 0079 to be transported from the development facility at Side 7 for evaluation when Zeon special forces under the command of Char Aznable attacked the colony where the RX-78-2 was developed. The resulting destruction left both the RX-78-2 and the mobile suit carrier White Base in the hands of young, inexperienced operators, most notably the young Amuro Ray, who became the RX-78-2's main pilot due to his skill at handling the machine. The RX-78-2 then saw combat in a variety of environments, including deep space, urban settings, the desert, and even the ocean, performing admirably in each.
User: Earth Federation
Unit type: prototype modular all purpose combat MS
Head height: 18.0 m
Base weight: 43.4 t
Construction: lunar titanium alloy on semi-monocoque frame
Powerplant: Minovsky type ultracompact fusion reactor, output rated at 1380 kW
Propulsion: rocket thrusters: 2 x 24000 kg, 4 x 1870 kg
Equipment: sensors, range 5700 meters; "learning computer" system; re-entry coolant system; magnetic coated joints (subsequent field upgrade)
Special Equipment: none
Armament: 60mm anti-air vulcan gun x 2, beam saber x 2 (can be configured into beam javelin x 1)
Optional Armament: beam rifle x 1, hyper bazooka x 1, gundam hammer x 1
Pilot: Amuro Ray
RX-78-2CA Gundam Char Aznable custom
In the game Gihren's Greed, it is possible to change the course of the One-Year War, and generate a Zeon victory, by changing the outcome of events in the game. One such change is that Char can succesfully capture the RX-78-2 at Side 7. If the player does this, Char takes the RX-78-2 as his own personal mobile suit, changing the color scheme to red, yellow, white, and silver. Bandai has also released a Master Grade model of Char's Gundam.RX-78-3 Gundam Unit 3 "G3"
In the novel version of Mobile Suit Gundam, the third Unit became Amuro Ray's mobile suit in the later half of the war. It has the magnetic coating to the joints to increase response time. Other than the color scheme (grey), it is identical to RX-78-2.RX-78-4 Gundam Unit 4
Deployed to the 16th Autonomous Mobile Squadron, the RX-78-4 Gundam Unit 4 was designed to be able to use a prototype mega beam launcher with destructive power equivalent to that of a capital ship. In order to power such a weapon, the RX-78-4 was outfitted with a heavier power plant than its sister unit, the RX-78-5. Like the RX-78-5, the RX-78-4 can be outfitted with a booster system which extends the operational range and time of the mobile suit in space operations. The RX-78-4 only used the mega beam launcher once, in order to stop a reinforcing fleet from Granada - though the launcher was successful in destroying the fleet, the load it put on the RX-78-4's power plant was too much for the unit to bear, and resulted in the RX-78-4 taking severe damage and killing its pilot.
User: Earth Federation
Unit type: prototype anti-capital ship MS
Head height: ??? m
Base weight: ??? t
Special Equipment: Booster pack
Armament: 60mm anti-air vulcan gun x 2, beam saber x 2
Optional Armament: beam rifle x 1, mega beam launcher x 1
Pilot: Luce KasselRX-78-5 Gundam Unit 5
Deployed to the 16th Autonomous Mobile Squadron, the RX-78-5 Gundam Unit 5 was designed for space combat. As such, the RX-78-5 was able to be outfitted with a booster system that extended its effective range and operating time. Due to its late introduction in the One Year War, the RX-78-5 saw little extended action - however, it was deployed to protect Zeon Prime Minister Darcia Bakharov from Zabi loyalists at the end of the war.
User: Earth Federation
Unit type: prototype space combat MS
Head height: ??? m
Base weight: ??? t
Special Equipment: Booster pack
Armament: 60mm anti-air vulcan gun x 2, beam saber x 2
Optional Armament: beam rifle x 1, heavy vulcan cannon x 1
Pilot: Ford RomfellowRX-78-6 Mudrock Gundam
Perhaps the pinnacle of the Vinson Plan RX-78 units, the RX-78-6 Mudrock Gundam was a hybridization of the RX-78 series and the sister RX-77-2 Guncannon units. Like the Guncannon, the RX-78-6 mounted heavy weaponry as standard armament in the form of two 300mm cannons. Like its sibling RX-78 units (and very much unlike the Guncannon), the RX-78-6 was extremely manuverable, courtesy of vernier thrusters incorporated in its design. On paper at least, the RX-78-6 was a beast of a machine, more than a match for any of the Zeon MS of the time - which is why the suit's failure to perform well in the field is rather shocking. Deployed in defense of the Pegasus-class mobile suit carrier Blanc Rival (albeit in an uncompleted form), it was severely damaged by the Zeon Midnight Fenrir special operations team. Hurriedly repared and compleated, it saw service at California Base, and in an attempt to prevent Midnight Fenrir from using an HLV to leave Earth near the end of the One Year War - that battle left the RX-78-6 severely damaged, and the Federation determined that it was not feasable to repair the unit.
User: Earth Federation
\'Unit type:' prototype heavy assault MS
Head height: 18.0 m
Base weight: 47.3 t
Special Equipment: None
Armament: 60mm anti-air vulcan gun x 2, beam saber x 2, 300mm shell cannon x 2
Optional Armament: beam rifle x 1
Pilot: AgarRX-78NT1 Gundam 'Alex'
Initially, the Federation was rather skeptical about the existence of Newtypes, having none of their own to evaluate (as opposed to Zeon, which had set up the Flannigan Institute for Newtype research.) However, the performance of Amuro Ray in the RX-78-2 clearly illustrated the battle effectiveness of Newtype pilots to the Federation. Realizing that such pilots would need a mobile suit optimized for them, the Federation developed the RX-78NT1 Gundam 'Alex' as their 'ace in the hole' at the end of the One Year War. The Federation planned to test the RX-78NT1 at Side 6, then ship it to the White Base for Amuro to pilot in the Battle of A Baoa Qu. However, the actions of the Zeon Cyclops covert operations unit resulted in the RX-78NT1 being severly damaged prior to the battle.
User: Earth Federation
Unit type: prototype Newtype combat MS
Head height: 18.0 m
Base weight: 40.0 t
Special Equipment: Full body Chobham armor suit
Armament: 60mm anti-air vulcan gun x 2, 90mm gatling gun x 2, beam saber x 2
Optional Armament: beam rifle x 1
Pilot: Christina MackenzieRX-79[G] Gundam Ground Type
The RX-78 development program, in addition to the experimental suits listed above, managed to generate a signifigant stockpile of mobile suit parts. The Federation, not wanting to have such parts go to waste, used these stockpiles to create a line of pre-production mobile suits used to field test mobile suit tactics. The RX-79[G] Gundam Ground Type was used most notably by the Kojima Battalion operating in Southeast Asia, which fielded 12 RX-79[G] units. However, because the RX-79[G] were constructed from spare RX-78 parts, repair of damaged units became a tricky matter due to the inavailability of replacement parts. The result was the creation of custom RX-79[G] units, such as the Ez8 piloted by Kojima Battalion 08th MS Team commander Shiro Amada. Federation Research and Development used three RX-79[G] units in their EXAM development program (see entry on Blue Destiny below).
User: Earth Federation
Unit type: pre-production front line terrestial combat MS
Head height: 18.0 m
Base weight: 52.8 t
Special Equipment: Custom field modifications, vary by unit, backpack rack system
Armament: 60mm anti-air vulcan gun x 1, beam saber x 2
Optional Armament: beam rifle x 1, 100mm machine gun x 1, rocket launcher x 1, missile launcher x 1, etc.
Pilots: Shiro Amada; Karen Joshua; Terry Sanders, Jr.RX-79BD Gundam 'Blue Destiny' Series
While Zeon recognized the effeciveness of Newtypes in battle, they also realized that natural Newtypes were very rare. Zeon thus experimented with increasing the number of Newtype-class pilots in two ways:
Zeon researcher Dr. Krusto Moses, as part of the latter program, developed the EXAM system and then defected to the Federation, bringing the EXAM technology with him. The Federation immediately began their own EXAM program, code named Blue Destiny, to take advantage of this technology. RX-79BD-1 Gundam Blue Destiny Unit 1, RX-79BD-2 Gundam Blue Destiny Unit 2, and RX-79BD-3 Gundam Blue Destiny Unit 3 were built from RX-79[G] units, though the RX-79BD-1 used a GM head, rather than a standard Gundam head.
User: Earth Federation, Principality of Zeon
Unit type: prototype EXAM system MS
Head height: 18.0 m
Base weight: 52.8 t
Special Equipment: EXAM Newtype simulation control system
Armament: 60mm anti-air vulcan gun x 2, beam saber x 2, chest missile x 2
Optional Armament: beam rifle x 1
Pilots: Yu Kajima (RX-79BD-1, RX-79BD-3); Nimbus Schtazen (RX-79BD-2)Gundam Development Project Models
RX-78GP01 Gundam Zephyranthes
Code name: Gundam "Zephyranthes"
Unit type: prototype general purpose mobile suit
Manufacturer: Anaheim Electronics Corporation
Operator: Earth Federation Forces
Rollout: 29 September UC 0083
First deployment: 13 October UC 0083
Accommodation: pilot only, in standard cockpit in torso with Core Block System using FF-XII Core Fighter II
Dimensions: overall height 18.5 meters; head height 18.0 meters
Weight: empty 39.7 metric tons; max gross 65.0 metric tons
Construction: gundarium alloy on semi-monocoque frame
Powerplant: Minovsky type ultracompact fusion reactor, output rated at 1790 kW
Propulsion: rocket thrusters: 2 x 42000 kg, 2 x 12000 kg
Performance: maximum thruster acceleration 1.66 G; 180-degree turn time 0.9 seconds
Fixed armaments: 2 x 60mm vulcan gun, fire-linked, mounted in head; 2 x beam saber, stored in recharge racks in backpack, hand-carried in use
Optional hand armaments: XBR-BOWA M-82A beam rifle, power rated at 1.5 MW, powered by replaceable e-pac, with mounted "jitte" beam saber blocking unit, 2 spare e-pacs stored in shield; 90 mm machinegun, clip-fed, 20 rounds per clip; shield, can be optionally mounted on either forearm
Pilot: Kou UrakiRX-78GP01Fb Gundam Zephyranthes Full Vernian
RX-78GP02A Gundam Physalis
User: Earth Federation, Delaz Fleet
Unit type: prototype nuclear assault MS
Head height: 18.5 m
Base weight: 54.5 t
Special Equipment: MK-82 nuclear missile atomic bazooka
Armament: 60mm anti-air vulcan gun x 2, beam saber x 2
Optional Armament: beam rifle x 1
Pilot: Anavel GatoRX-78GP03D Gundam Dendrobium