The RX-77D Guncannon Mass Production Type is a variant of the RX-77-2 Guncannon introduced in Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket.
Technology & Combat Characteristics[]
The RX-77D Guncannon Mass Production Type was a mass production evaluation variant of the RX-77-2 Guncannon deployed near the end of the One Year War.[1] Based on the RX-77-3 Guncannon Heavy Custom, the Guncannon Mass Production Type similarly omitted the Core Block System.[2] To improve productivity, it shared many parts with the late production type RGM-79G GM Command and its armor was made of titanium ceramic composite. To reduce blind spots and inertial momentum during movement and close-quarters combat, its back-mounted low-recoil cannons were made semi-retractable. Additionally, the ammunition feeding mechanism of the low-recoil cannons was simplified compared to the original Guncannon and relocated. Because of these changes, its backpack was enlarged, but there were also improvements in productivity and ease of maintenance. For precision firing, a stabilizer gear in the bottom-rear pelvic section could extend to the ground, improving the mobile suit's stability.[1]
Besides the low-recoil cannons, the other standard weaponry of the Guncannon Mass Production Type included a handheld 90mm bullpup machine gun, and a pair of 60mm vulcan guns built into the mobile suit's head. The mobile suit was also equipped with a headgear somewhat resembling a football helmet to protect its head unit, chest, and neckline area. Compared to the RGC-80 GM Cannon, an earlier mass production variant of the Guncannon that incorporated many parts from the early production type RGM-79 GM, the Guncannon Mass Production Type's specifications were much closer to the original Guncannon. This was due to the Federation's approach to mobile suit development, which involved deploying experimental units made using spare parts and prototype parts into actual combat, then actively incorporating the feedback into the design and development process. This allowed the development of high performance units that could be said to be "next generation" within months.[1]
Armaments[]
- 60mm Vulcan Gun
- A pair of shell-firing fixed weapons built into the head, used for close combat.[1]
- 240mm Cannon
- A pair of back-mounted, semi-retractable 240mm low-recoil cannons that launched physical projectiles using explosive propellants. When used, the barrels would extend to enable precision firing.[1]
- HWF GMG·MG79-90mm Bullpup Machine Gun
- The bullpup machine gun was a system weapon developed as a Space/Ground dual use projectile weapon. Though compact, it has sufficient anti-MS firepower while maintaining accuracy. Its muzzle velocity is increased due to the use of new gunpowder and this enables it to easily penetrate the armor of Zeon's mobile suit. A box-like sensor system incorporating a video camera and laser sensor is installed at the top, and when this system is used alongside the Guncannon Mass Production Type's targeting system, target acquisition capability is enhanced.
- YHI YF-MG100 100mm Machine Gun
- The standard armament for Federation's mobile suit ground forces during the One Year War that was developed by Yashima Heavy Industries. It has an alternate model number: "NF·GMG-Type.37/100mm". Equipped with a box magazine and folding stock, it has excellent rate of fire and is easy to wield. It utilized a smoothbore type barrel that lacked rifling and has to be replaced after firing 3000 rounds. The weapon could utilize three different types of ammunitions: HEAT (High Explosive Anti-Tank), APFSDS (Armor-Piercing Fin-Stabilized Discarding-Sabot), and HESH (High Explosive Squash Head), allowing combat units to select the appropriate type to meet operational needs. The Guncannon Mass Production Types of the White Dingo Team was known to dual wield this machine gun.
- NFHI RGM-M-Sh-AGD Shield
- A shield made of titanium/ceramic composite developed near the end of the One Year War. Thanks to its curved shape and an anti-beam coating with a higher heat resistance than previous models, it is more resistant against both ballistic and beam weapons. This shield is the same shield as used by the RGM-79G GM Command and RGM-79GS GM Command Space Type.
History[]
One Year War[]
The Guncannon Mass Production Type was deployed late in the One Year War, so only a small number of units saw action.[1] At least two Guncannon Mass Production Types were stationed aboard the Pegasus-class assault landing ship LMSD-76 Gray Phantom, a ship that was planned to participate in the Battle of Solomon, for field testing.[2][3]
On December 19, U.C. 0079, the Cyclops Team's MS-18E Kämpfer rampaged through the streets of the Side 6 colony Ribo as part of Operation Rubicon. In response, the Gray Phantom entered the colony to support the colony defense force and deployed its mobile suits, including the two Guncannon Mass Production Types. However, one unit was destroyed by the Kämpfer's shotgun before it could even land. This unit then crashed into the city below and exploded, causing numerous civilian casualties and a localized blackout.[3][4] Because of this incident, the Federation military command abandoned the plan of producing a small number of advanced models and incorporating them into the various units, instead fully focusing on establishing the production lines for the RGC series.[2]
In December, U.C. 0079, during the Federation's African Front Zeon extermination operation, at least two Guncannon Mass Production Type were assigned to the 6th Garrison, one was piloted by Captain Vince and the other by First Lieutenant Lydo Wolf. Wolf eventually painted his unit black and singlehandedly annihilate an entire Zeon mobile suit team by using the mobile suit in conjunction with a Lightliner. He then went on to shoot down 21 enemy units within a week, earning him the nickname "Dancing Black Reaper".[5][6] Custom-painted Guncannon Mass Production Type units were also used by the White Dingo Team in Australia and the Nemesis Instructor Corps in North America.
Post-war[]
In U.C. 0081, two Guncannon Mass Production Types were seen defending Augusta Base from the Zeon Remnants group Invisible Knights. The Guncannon Mass Production Type eventually became the basis for the RGC-83 GM Cannon II.
Gallery[]
Lineart[]
Anime[]
Manga[]
Illustrations & Artwork[]
Games[]
Gunpla[]
Action Figures[]
Notes & Trivia[]
- Artist Yutaka Izubuchi initially designed the RX-77D as an update to the dated design of the original RX-77 Guncannon during the development of Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket. The design was briefly used to represent the original Guncannon during a brief scene in Mobile Suit SD Gundam Mk IV, identified as Kai Shiden's mobile suit by its numeration, but would ultimately be classified as a distinct Mass Production variant afterwards.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 High Grade Universal Century RX-77D Guncannon Mass Production Type (2004) instruction manual
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 (1999-11-01) 機動戦士ガンダムMSVコレクションファイル 宇宙編 (in Japanese). 講談社編 [Kodansha], p. 21. ISBN 9784063465501.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket Episode 4, Over the River and Through the Woods
- ↑ 皆川ゆか (2001-03-21). 機動戦士ガンダム 公式百科事典 GUNDAM OFFICIALS [Mobile Suit Gundam Official Encyclopedia GUNDAM OFFICIALS] (in Japanese). 講談社 [Kodansha], pp. 765-773. ISBN 9784063301106.
- ↑ (1991-11-01) 機動戦士ガンダム 戦略戦術大図鑑~1年戦争全記録 [Mobile Suit Gundam Big Book of Strategy and Tactics ~ One Year War Complete Collection] ENTERTAINMENT BIBLE.39 (in Japanese). Bandai, pp. 137-139. ISBN 9784891891770.
- ↑ Gundam Legacy
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