RX-178 Gundam Mk-II
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| Unit Type | |
| Prototype General Purpose Mobile Suit | |
| Profile | |
| Model Number |
RX-178 |
|---|---|
| Developed from | |
| Launched |
December, 0086 U.C. |
| Manufacturer |
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| Operator |
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| Known Pilots |
Kamille Bidan |
| General Characteristics | |
| Overall Height |
19.6 meters |
| Head Height |
18.5 meters |
| Max Weight |
54.1 metric tons |
| Standard Weight |
33.4 metric tons |
| Power-plant |
Minovsky Ultracompact Fusion Reactor |
| Power Ouput |
1930 kW |
| Propulsion |
|
| Sensor Range |
11300 meters |
| Accommodation |
Pilot only, Cockpit in Chest |
| Armor |
Titanium alloy/Ceramic composite on movable frame |
| Armaments | |
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| Special Equipments and Features | |
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| Optional Equipments | |
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The RX-178 Gundam Mark-II is an upgrade over the famous RX-78-2 Gundam that served in the One Year War. It features several new technologies, such as the 360-degree video monitor and the movable frame concept.
Contents |
Combat Abilities
Weapons wise, the Gundam Mark-II features only a standard set of weaponry. The only fixed weapons of the suit are two beam sabers, but the Mark-II can carry a vulcan pod, a shield, a beam rifle, a hyper bazooka and a clay bazooka if necessary.
Armaments
Beam sabers
The only fixed armament of the suit are two beam sabers for close combat, which, like the ones of the original RX-78-2 Gundam, were stored in recharge racks on the backpack of the suit when not needed. While the Titans used beam sabers of type XB-G-1048L, the Anti-Earth Union Group used the type A*E-Br*G-Sc-L. Both types however had their power rated at 0.45 MW.
Vulcan pod
Although the Mark-II didn't mount the standard vulcan guns on the head, it is able to be outfitted with a 60 mm 2-barrel vulcan pod on its head, capable of carrying a total of 1400 rounds. As with the beam sabers, both groups used different versions of the gun, with the Titans using the model type VCU-505EX-Gry/Ver.009 and the AEUG using VCU-505EX-V*B/Ver.012.
Shield
As with most other mobile suits, the Mark-II carries a single physical shield for defense on its left arm. While the Titans use a shield of type RX*M-Sh-*VT/S-00018, the AEUG's Gundam shield is of type RX*M-Sh-VT/S-001.
Beam rifle
Since beam rifles were now a common equipment of most mobile suits, the Mark-II was also equipped with one as its main armament. Again different types of the rifle were used by the Titans and the AEUG, with the former using the model BOWA*XBR-M-86-C2, while the later outfitted the suit with a A*E-Br*XBR-87-C beam rifle. Each rifle had its power rated at 2.6 MW and was powered by a replaceable e-pac, with two spare e-pacs stored in the shield of the suit.
Hyper Bazooka
For heavy firepower, the Mark-II could carry a large hyper bazooka, which was clip-fed and capable of carrying seven rounds per clip plus 1 round in its chamber. Additional clips could be stored on the rear skirt armor storage rack. As with nearly all the other weapons, different types of the bazooka were used by the two groups, with the Titans using an H-Baz-85-Gry/Ver.045 bazooka, while the AEUG used a model of type H-Baz-87-A*E/Ver.004.
Clay bazooka
An armament used only be the AEUG so far is the AE/ZIM.C-BAZ-531 clay bazooka. Like the hyper bazooka it was clip-fed and capable of carrying seven rounds per clip plus 1 round in its chamber. Again additional clips could be stored on the rear skirt armor storage rack. Unlike the hyper bazooka, the clay bazooka carried adhesive pellets in order to disable an enemy unit.
History
The RX-178 Gundam Mk-II are three prototype mobile suits developed by the Titans in UC 0087. Generally patterned after the original RX-78-2 Gundam, the Gundam Mk-II featured a "movable frame" - wherein weaponry are designed along with the frame of the mobile suit, rather than the mobile suit being only a weapon-carrier. The Gundam Mk-II's design effectively traded armor and weaponry in favor of increased mobility - a very large factor in melee combat common in mobile suit deployment.
When word of these black-and-blue painted Gundams reached the Anti-Earth Union Group, Quattro Bajeena - (Principality of Zeon's infamous "Red Comet") - led a team which infiltrated the Titans' Gryps space colony. With the help of a young boy, Kamille Bidan - son of the Gundam Mk-II's principal designer Franklin Bidan, Quattro managed to steal all three mobile suits.
Following the theft of the Gundams, two were sent to Anaheim Electronics to be dismantled and studied, while the AEUG kept the last one in its service, painting over the dark Titans' color and giving it a blue-on-white color-scheme.
The Gundam Mk-II was given to many of the AEUG's best pilots, including the young rookie Kamille Bidan and later former Titans officer Emma Sheen. The Gundam Mk-II, with its antiquated titanium and ceramic composition, limited mobility and weaponry, soon proved ineffective against many of the Titans' new and transformable mobile suits.
Variants
Trivia
- The Mk-II was used as a commercial bumper for Late Night with the face of Conan O'Brien replacing the traditional Gundam head.
- While the Gundam Mk-II appeared to be the second Gundam ever made in the Universal Century it was actually the ninth timeline-wise. This is shown by Mobile Suit Gundam and by the OVA's 08th MS Team, 0080 War in the Pocket, and 0083 Stardust memory, all of which take place before Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam. First in Mobile Suit Gundam there was the RX-78 Gundam. In 08th MS team, which takes place during the One Year War, there were three RX-79[G] Gundam Mass Production Ground Types, and then the Gundam Ez8. In 0080, also taking place during the One year War, there was the RX-78NT-1 Gundam "Alex". Finally in 0083 there was the RX-78GP01 Gundam Zephyranthes, the RX-78GP02A Gundam Physalis, and the RX-78GP03 Dendrobium Stamen.
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