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The RX-78GP01 Gundam "Zephyranthes" (aka Zephyranthes, GP01, Unit 1) is a prototype general-purpose mobile suit introduced in the Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory OVA. It was piloted by Kou Uraki

Technology & Combat Characteristics[]

Developed as part of the Gundam Development Project, the GP01 was a ground-use general purpose mobile suit intended to be an improvement of the RX-78-2 Gundam, which achieved exceptional battle results during the One Year War. Being an experimental unit, it was equipped with an increased number of sensors, some of which were exposed due to being temporary. Compared to the RX-78, its sensors and balancer were upgraded or redesigned. Overall, the GP01 was designed to allow movement closer to that of a human (a design concept that would eventually evolve into the Movable Frame).[1][2]

In order to ensure the survival of the pilot and the combat data, the GP01 retained the Core Block System. However, to address the RX-78's structural weakness in the stomach, the GP01 adopted an experimental "horizontal in the body" structure instead of the previously used "vertical in the body" structure. The GP01's main generator, main thrusters, and operation and control instruments were all integrated into its FF-XII Core Fighter II.[1][2] In addition, when docked, the Core Fighter's beam guns serve as the GP01's beam sabers. Thanks to this design, the Core Fighter's propellant, thrusters, and weapons were no longer dead weight when docked.[2]

By switching the Core Fighter, the GP01 could operate both on Earth and in space, though additional readjustment and maintenance was still needed. Thanks to this design, despite being a general-purpose mobile suit, its performance rivaled or exceeded dedicated ground-use and space-use mobile suits in both environments.[1][2]

Armaments[]

  • 60mm Vulcan Gun
As with the RX-78, the GP01 was equipped with a pair of head-mounted 60mm vulcan guns. Compared to its predecessor, the GP01's vulcan guns featured improved range and accuracy.[2] These guns rapid-fire physical projectiles and are capable of dealing critical damage to enemy machine in extreme close range.[3]
  • XBR·BOWA M-82-05H Beam Rifle
Made by BOWA, a beam weapon developer since the One Year War, this beam rifle had an output of 1.5MW and adopted the revolutionary e-pac system.[3][4] Each e-pac could fire 20 shots.[5]
  • Jutte
Named after a specialized weapon used by Japanese police in the Edo period, the Jutte was a small beam saber located under the barrel of the beam rifle. This allowed the GP01 to defend itself against enemy melee weapons when holding the beam rifle.[4]
  • A.E.Blash·XB-G-06/Du.02 Beam Saber
Made by AE Blash, a subsidiary of Anaheim Electronics. A pair were stored on the sides of the backpack, which doubled as the Core Fighter's beam guns. However, the beam guns' firepower was very weak, and they were only useful for intimidation or distraction.[2]
  • HFW-GMG・MG79-90mm Machine Gun
The standard weapon of Federation mobile suits in U.C. 0083.[4] Also used by the RGM-79C GM Type C.
  • RX·VSh-023F/S-04712 Shield
An anti-beam coated shield, capable of withstanding two to three direct hits from beam cannons. When not used, the top of the shield retracts to reduce inertia.[2] The inside of the shield could store two e-pacs.[6]
  • BLASH HB-L-07/N-STD Hyper Bazooka
Technically a large rocket launcher, it fires 360mm missiles to attack targets at long range. Also used by the GM Type C.
  • Missile Launcher
A hand-carried weapon originally used by the RAG-79 Aqua GM for amphibious combat, it contained a set of missile launchers and two large torpedoes. Used along with the Aqua Equipment in the Mobile Suit Gundam 0083 Rebellion manga.

Special Equipment & Features[]

The GP01 features a core block system that allows the cockpit and main engines to eject in the form of a fighter plane, preserving the pilot's life and vital combat data.
  • Chobham Armor
Appearing in the Mobile Suit Gundam 0083 Rebellion manga, the Chobham armor was a series of add-on heavy armor plates attached to the body of the GP01. Though it enhanced the GP01's defensive capabilities, it weighs down the suit tremendously.
  • Aqua Equipment
In the Mobile Suit Gundam 0083 Rebellion manga, the GP01 could be equipped with the Aqua equipment for combat underwater. With this equipment, the GP01 is outfitted with the shoulder and calf hydrojet units from the RAG-79 Aqua GM along with a new hydrojet-equipped backpack. The shoulder units each contain four torpedo pods, and the mobile suit also uses the same handheld missile launcher as the Aqua GM.

History[]

Gundam "Zephyranthes" in Hangar 01 (0083 Ep1)

The GP01 inside the Albion's hangar

The GP01 and its Full Burnern optional parts rolled out of Anaheim Electronics' Von Braun factory on September 29, U.C. 0083. On October 7, the GP01 and its sibling unit, the GP02A, were loaded onto the Pegasus-class assault carrier MSC-07 Albion for transportation to Torrington Base in Australia, where they would undergo testing under gravity.[7]

0083 GP01 vs GP02A 2

The GP01 clashing with the GP02A

On October 13, at 1500 hours, the Albion reached Torrington Base. However, at 2100 hours, the base came under attack by the Delaz Fleet, and the GP02A was stolen by Anavel Gato. To stop the theft, Ensign Kou Uraki, a test pilot at the base, boarded the GP01 and engaged Gato.[7][8] After a brief clash, Gato escaped in the GP02A.[9]

At 2146 hours, the surviving mobile suits at Torrington Base began pursuing the stolen GP02A.[7] Uraki, piloting the GP01, was part of South Burning's search team. However, while en route to destroy the Komusai II that was bringing the GP02A to space, the team was ambushed. At the dawn of October 14,[7] Uraki successfully destroyed the Komusai II during take off, but the GP02A survived and escaped once again.[9]

0083 Shield Stab

The GP01 stabbing the GP02A's shield cooling system

The GP02A escaped to the coast, awaiting pickup from the Jukon-class submarine U-801. Here, Burning's team caught up with Gato, and Uraki engaged him once again. After a fierce clash, Gato overpowered Uraki and prepared to finish him. However, at Nina Purpleton's suggestion, Kou stabbed the cooling system on the GP02A's shield.[9] Since the shield was vital for the GP02A's ability to perform nuclear attacks,[10] Gato was forced to retreat aboard a landing craft sent by U-801.[9]

Later that day, Uraki got into an argument with Bernard Monsha over who should be the pilot of the GP01. To settle the argument, the two engage in a mock battle, with Monsha piloting a RGM-79N GM Custom and Uraki piloting the GP01. Though Kou won the duel, both him and Monsha were sentenced to one week of solitary confineent for the unauthorized battle. At dusk, Burning became the Albion's mobile suit team leader and assigned Uraki as the official pilot of the GP01. Immediately after, the Albion left for Africa in search of Gato.[11]

0083 GP01 two guns

The GP01 firing its beam rifle and machine gun at the same time

On October 23, a week after the Albion arrived at Africa, Nick Orville, an Anaheim technician, was revealed to be a Delaz Fleet spy. When he stole the Albion's spare Core Fighter and attepmted to contact the Zeon Remnants in the area, the Albion deployed a mobile suit team to follow him. Uraki was assigned to the team with Monsha and Chuck Keith. The trio was lured into an ambush and pinned down in a dried river bed. Ultimately, at the provocation of Monsha, Uraki took out the enemies pinning him using the GP01's superior mobility.[12]

Uraki's team rendezvoused with the Albion just as it neared the Zeon Remnants' base, where an HLV carrying the GP02A was launching into space. After the Albion tried and failed to shoot it down, local Zeon Remnants leader Neuen Bitter launched an attack on the Albion's bridge using a booster-equipped MS-06F-2 Zaku II F2 Type. Just as he was about to destroy the Albion's bridge, however, Uraki destroyed his Zaku with his beam rifle, saving the ship.[12]

0083 GP01 wrecked

The GP01 heavily damaged

On October 31, the Albion launched into space to begin searching the shoal zone for Gato alongside two Salamis Kai-class (0083 Refit). Despite its high capability, the GP01 was not-yet properly configured for space use, and was removed from the Albion's active combat roster. At 1219 hours, the Albion fleet was ambushed by the Lili Marlene, the flagship of the Cima Fleet. Against orders, Uraki deployed in the GP01, using a space combat program that he wrote. Despite Kou's confidence, his data proved inadequate to allow the GP01 to operate in space, leaving it defenseless against Cima Garahau's MS-14Fs Gelgoog Marine Commander Type. Ultimately, Uraki was saved by Burning's intervention, who sortied in his GM Custom despite his injuries, but the GP01 was left severely damaged and nonfunctional.[7][13]

On November 2, At 1600 hours, the Albion docked at Von Braun, and the GP01's remains were moved into Anaheim Electronics' factory for repairs and reconfiguration into the Fb Type.[7][14]

Variants[]

Gallery[]

Lineart[]

Anime[]

Manga[]

Illustrations & Artwork[]

Games[]

Gunpla[]

Action Figures[]

Notes & Trivia[]

  • Like the RX-78GP02A Gundam "Physalis," the RX-78GP01 Gundam "Zephyranthes" was designed by accomplished anime creator and mechanical designer, Shoji Kawamori, creator of the Macross series.
  • Like the rest of the GP0X series of mobile suits, Zephyranthes is named with a flower theme. Its name is derived from Ζέφυρος (Zephyrus), the Greek god of the west wind, and ἄνθος (anthos), meaning flower, referring to the slender stalks. In the Language of Flowers, it could mean "I love you back, I must atone for my sins, I will never forget you". The last two are part of Kou Uraki's character - the failure to stop Anaval Gato, his desire to get back the GP-02 and, when the suit is upgraded to the Full Burnern, to make up for his childish mistakes.
  • The GP01 Zephyranthes and Zephyranthes Full Burnern are not in Super Robot Wars 64 even though the Stardust Memories storyline is in the game. Thus, Kou Uraki pilots a common RGM-79 GM before using the RX-78GP03 Gundam "Dendrobium".

Behind the Scenes[]

The weapon sections of the 1997 Master Grade instruction manual stated that GP01's beam rifle was made by AE Blash and its beam sabers were made by BOWA. However, the 2003 Perfect Grade instruction manual stated that the opposite was true. Since the Master Grade instruction manual's weapon sections never specify which model number corresponds to which weapon, it may have erroneously attributed the weapons.

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 NG0083 RX-78GP01 Gundam GP01 (1991) instruction manuial
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 Master Grade RX-78GP01 Zephyranthes (1997) instruction manual
  3. 3.0 3.1 Real Grade RX-78GP01 Gundam "Zephyranthes" (2013) instruction manual
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 Perfect Grade RX-78GP01 Gundam "Zephyranthes"/Fb (2003) instruction manual
  5. U.C. Arms Gallery 03 (2006)
  6. Mobile Suit Gundam 0083 Stardust Memory - Sunrise Art Works (2012), p.9
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 (1992-06-30) 機動戦士ガンダム MS大図鑑【PART.7 デラーズ紛争編 下】 [Mobile Suit Gundam MS Encyclopedia 【PART.7 Delaz Conflict, Part 2】] ENTERTAINMENT BIBLE.46 (in Japanese). Bandai, p. 55. ISBN 9784891892319. 
  8. Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory Episode 1, Gundamjack
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory Episode 2, Endless Pursuit
  10. Gundam 0083 novelization
  11. Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory Episode 3, Into Battle, Albion!
  12. 12.0 12.1 Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory Episode 4, Attack and Retreat on the Burning Sand
  13. Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory Episode 5, Gundam, to the Sea of Stars
  14. Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory Episode 6, The Warrior of Von Braun

External links[]


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