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The RX-78-6 Gundam Unit 6, nicknamed "Mudrock", is a mobile suit from Kunio Okawara's M-MSV original design series. Its design was updated for Mobile Suit Gundam: Zeonic Front by Keiichiro Katagiri.

Technology & Combat Characteristics[]

Based off the combat data of the RX-78-2 Gundam, the RX-78-6 Mudrock Gundam was designed to address the biggest shortcoming in the former's design - a lack of weaponry once the Gundam's primary beam rifle was out of energy. To get around this limitation, the Mudrock was built as a sustained-combat unit with higher firepower.

It has a prototype CAP beam rifle backed up by a pair of arm-mounted grenade launchers, and a pair of 300mm low-recoil cannons inspired by the RX-77-2 Guncannon. To further increase the Mudrock's survivability, it has improved frontal armor, and also retained the Gundam's beam sabers and head vulcans. The added payload increased the suit's weight by roughly one-third. To prevent this from affecting the suit's mobility, the Mudrock was equipped with a reactor with higher output, an enlarged backpack, and the legs are fitted with movable side thrusters that allow hovering for limited amounts of time.

A unique trait of Mudrock is the redesigned internal chest frame on both sides of the cockpit. This increased the structural integrity needed to support the added armor, and is what separates itself from other Gundam prototypes. Though it achieved "minimal" performance results in actual combat compared to other RX-78 prototypes, the main purpose of the Mudrock was fulfilled. The technological contributions would later play a role in future Guncannon-type mobile suits.

Armaments[]

  • 60mm Vulcan Gun
A pair of shell-firing armament built into the head. Low offensive power, only used to restrict enemy movement, and lay down a wall of suppressive fire due to their rapid fire capability.
  • Beam Saber
The beam saber is a small device held in the mobile suit's hands when deployed and is powered by a rechargeable energy capacitor. It emits high-energy Minovsky particles to form a blade-shaped I-field (via manipulation of electromagnetic fields), and then fills this I-field shell with superheated Minovsky particle plasma to produce an effective cutting blade. The Mudrock is equipped with two beam sabers stored beside the barrel of the 300mm cannons when not in use.
The mounting position of the beam saber was changed several times during the Mudrock's development. The two main versions of the mount locations are an ejectable mechanism on the leg's movable side thruster unit, and next to each 300mm cannon barrel. For the former, a method was developed to allow the manipulator to grasp the beam saber during combat maneuvers. An improvement plan was introduced due to the manipulator "losing grip" during the ejection phase, and the ejection mechanism was difficult to maintain. The latter proposed method of having the beam saber stored next to each 300mm cannon barrel allowed for both easier maintenance and when the weapon is deployed for slashing maneuvers.
  • 300mm Cannon
A pair of low recoil cannons equipped on the backpack.
  • Grenade Launcher
Installed on both forearms. Each launcher carries 4 rounds for a total of 8. Effective in short-to-medium range combat. The upper attachment of the grenade launcher system allows for a NFHI RGM-M-Sh-AGD Shield to be equipped.
  • XBR-M79X-C2 Beam Rifle
A prototype beam rifle developed by BRUSH Company near the end of the One Year War to test the concept of making the energy CAP a cartridge to solve the problem of recharge time. It was designed with intention to eventually have a "transformable" mechanic to replace depleted CAPs. This was neither finished in time nor brought to a practical use with the CAP technology forcing the Mudrock Gundam to use the same type of beam rifle as the RX-79 [G] Gundam Ground Type (BLASH XBR-M-79E Beam Rifle) instead.
  • BLASH XBR-M-79E Beam Rifle
The same beam rifle as used by the Gundam Ground Type, it is a redesign of the RX-78-2 Gundam's XBR-M-79-07G beam rifle. Instead of the 79-07G’s large movable sensor, this rifle is fitted with the BP-SS-001 composite box-type sensor system utilized on the BR-M-79C-3 Beam Spray Gun and licensed from BOWA Corporation, granting the weapon improved targeting precision.
  • 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 Gundam's targeting system, target acquisition capability is enhanced.
  • Hyper Bazooka
A general purpose fire support rocket launcher platform for Mobile Suits. With considerable destructive power owing to the explosive yield in each warhead, the weapon was primarily used to destroy less-maneuverable battlefield targets such as warships, satellites, land battleships, bunkers, and buildings.
  • 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.
  • Hyper Hammer
An enhanced version of the gundam hammer. Like its predecessor, it is a large spiked ball attached to a chain. However, it also has several rockets mounted into the ball to allow it to maneuver more effectively as well as the ability to change its direction before impact, and to increase the damage it could cause.

History[]

The Mudrock was originally supposed to be launched into space and participate in the Operation Star One. However, the attack by the Zeon's Midnight Fenrir Corp special forces on Jaburo on November 30, 0079, caused Lieutenant Agar to pilot the incomplete Gundam Mudrock for the protection of the Pegasus-class ship SCV-73 Blanc Rival. Despite the Gundam's firepower, it was damaged along with the ship. Mudrock was later repaired and deployed in its completed form to assist in the recapture of the California Base. However, Agar once again found himself against the Midnight Fenrir, and in the ensuing battle, the Mudrock Gundam was severely damaged and forced to retire.

Gallery[]

Lineart[]

Manga[]

Illustration & Artwork[]

Games[]

Gunpla[]

Action Figures[]

Behind the Scenes[]

For Mobile Suit Gundam: Zeonic Front, the Bandai Video Game Division wanted to have a Gundam as an enemy, but did not want to design a new Gundam. Instead, they decided to redesign Gundam Unit 6 from M-MSV, since its design and function were suitable as a video game enemy. To that end, the Gundam Unit 6 was redesigned by mechanical designer Keiichiro Katagiri.

The redesigned version was given the nickname "Mudrock", similar to the RX-78NT-1 Gundam NT-1's nickname "Alex". Compared to the original design, the balance of the Mudrock's body blocks was made closer to the Gundam NT-1, and the beam sabers inside the leg thrusters were moved to the shoulders. Since it was intended as an enemy, Katagiri was instructed to give it a more evil-looking face, including red eyes.[1]

Notes & Trivia[]

  • In the novel Mobile Suit Gundam: Zeonic Front 0079, the backpack-mounted cannons are depicted as beam cannons, and it is said that they were unable to demonstrate proper performance because of a cooling system issue. Later, the output is reduced to 70% (still considered to be enough to destroy any Zeon mobile suit with a single hit), reducing the load on the power unit.
  • In the original Zeonic Front game, the Mudrock Gundam did not use its custom beam rifle from M-MSV, instead using the Gundam Ground Type beam rifle (or the RX-78-2 Gundam's beam rifle, for the playable version). However, in subsequent adaptations of the game, such as Mobile Suit Gundam Side Stories, it was usually depicted using the custom rifle.
  • The Mudrock's eyes were yellow in the original M-MSV design, red in Zeonic Front, and green in various other video game appearances, such as Gundam Side Stories. The HGUC Gunpla included both red and green stickers for the eyes.
  • Due to the lack of official artwork, how the Mudrock Gundam's grenade launchers work are depicted inconsistently. In Gundam Versus and Mobile Suit Gundam Side Stories, the entire front section of the grenade launcher flips open to reveal the muzzle. In Mobile Suit Gundam: Battle Operation 2, however, the grenade launcher pops up during use, similar to the Gatling guns used by the RX-78NT-1 Gundam NT-1.
  • Though it was not specified in the source material, the G Generation series, from Wars onwards, depicts the Mudrock Gundam as having magnet coating.
  • In G Generation Genesis, the Mudrock's cannons are depicted as solid shell weapons. However, since the Zeonic Front story in the game is based on the novelization, it is still shown firing beam cannons in cutscenes.
  • The M-MSV version of the Mudrock Gundam was said to be armed with Hyper Bazooka and Hyper Hammer. However, no artwork exist for these weapons, and they were not used for the Zeonic Front version.

References[]

  1. Dengeki Hobby Magazine November 2001 issue, pp.52-53

External links[]


M-MSV Mechanics
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Earth Federation/Titans
Mobile Weapon
Gundam's variations
FA-78-3 Full Armor 7th Gundam | HFA-78-3 Heavy Full Armor 7th Gundam | RX-78-4 Gundam Unit 4 "G04" | RX-78-5 Gundam Unit 5 "G05" | RX-78-6 Mudrock Gundam | RX-78-7 7th Gundam
Psycho Gundam's variations
MRX-007 Prototype Psycho Gundam | MRX-011 Mass Production Type Psycho Gundam
GM's variations
RAG-79 Aqua GM | RAG-79-G1 Gundam Marine Type | RGM-79F Desert GM | RGM-79F GM Land Combat Type
Guncannon's variation
RX-77-1A Guncannon A
ν Gundam 's variation
RX-94 Mass Production Type ν Gundam
Other
RX-81LA G-Line Light Armor | RX-81ST G-Line Standard Armor
Principality of Zeon
Mobile Weapon
Zaku II High Mobility Type's variation
MS-06R-3S High Mobility Type Zaku
Gogg's variation
MSM-03-1 Prototype Gogg
Bigro's variation
MA-05 Bigro Kai
Other
MSM-02 Hydro Test Type | MS-04 Prototype Zaku
AEUG/Karaba
Mobile Weapon
Gundam Mk-III's variation
FA-007GIII Full Armor Gundam Mk-III
Hyaku Shiki Kai's variations
FA-00100S Full Armor Hyaku Shiki Kai | MSK-100S Land Combat Hyaku Shiki Kai
ZZ Gundam's variations
MSZ-009 Prototype ZZ Gundam | MSZ-009B Prototype ZZ Gundam B Type | MSZ-013 Mass Production Type ZZ Gundam
Rick Dias's variation
RX-098 Prototype Rick Dias
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