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The RX-79BD-1 Blue Destiny Unit 1 is a variant of the RX-79[G] Gundam Ground Type introduced in Mobile Suit Gundam Side Story: The Blue Destiny and was piloted by Yuu Kajima.

Technology & Combat Characteristics[]

The Blue Destiny Unit 1 was a modified RX-79[G] Gundam Ground Type, with improved generator output and enhanced mobility thanks to the use of magnet coating and added leg verniers.[1] Weapons-wise, it had additional armament in the form of a pair of 60mm chest vulcans and a pair of wire-guided missile launchers on the stomach.[1] It was also equipped with the same 100mm machine gun, beam sabers, and shield as the Gundam Ground Type.[1]

The development of the Blue Destiny Unit 1 was led by Dr. Chlust Moses, a researcher from the Principality of Zeon's Flanagan Institute who defected to the Earth Federation, and incorporated the EXAM System, a unique mobile suit operating system that he invented.[1] Originally, the Blue Destiny Unit 1 was based on the RGM-79[G] GM Ground Type.[1] However, as its performance did not meet the demands of the EXAM System, the GM Ground Type's head, which was already installed with the EXAM System, was removed and mounted on a modified chassis based on the Gundam Ground Type.[1]

The EXAM System was designed to draw out a mobile suit's full potential for a limited time. However, it was highly unstable, and prone to going berserk, attacking friends and foes alike. Federation mechanic Alph Kamra later installed a limiter on the Unit 1, limiting the EXAM System's output at 50% to prevent it from going berserk. The output can be raised to 100% when necessary, but this can only be sustained for 5 minutes before the machine overheats.

Armaments[]

  • Head Vulcan Gun
A pair of shell-firing weapon built into the head. Though not powerful, its high rate of fire meant it was employed to intercept incoming missiles, etc.
  • 60mm Chest Vulcan Gun
Mounted on each side of its cockpit, the pair of shell firing weapons have high-rate of fire but little power and can't damage the armor of a mobile suit, though they can damage lightly armored areas such as the sensors. They are ideal for shooting down missiles, and lightly armored vehicles.
  • Abdominal Wired-Control Missile
Mounted on the sides of the abdomen, the pair of wired-control missiles can function under Minovsky particle interference and can accurately hit enemy units within a short range.
  • 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.
  • X.B.Sa-G-03 Beam Saber
The beam saber is a standard close range armament for most Federation mobile suits. It is a small device held in the mobile suit's hands when operated and is powered by a rechargeable energy capacitor. The beam saber emits a blade of plasma contained by an I-Field and can cut through most armor not treated with anti-beam coating. Like the RX-79[G] Gundam Ground Type, the Blue Destiny Unit 1 has two beam sabers, one stored in the side of each lower leg.
  • 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.
  • YHI FH-X180 180mm Cannon
A cannon developed by Yashima Heavy Industries as a long range weapon for use in 1G environment. It has an alternate model number:"NFHI·GMCa-type.09/". Its design is thought to have referenced the Zimmad Corporation's ZIM/M-T-K175C Magella Top Cannon. It uses a six-rounds box magazine that is inserted into the top.
  • RGM*S-Sh-WF/S-00109 Shield
Mounted on the forearm, this small, light shield is commonly used by the Gundam Ground Type and GM Ground Type. Constructed of Luna Titanium alloy, it is designed to primarily protect the cockpit and other critical areas. Additionally, it can be used as a close range striking weapon in mobile suit combat. Furthermore, through lodging the spikes at the tip into the ground, the shield can serve as a free standing frontal defense. This also allows the mobile suit to use both hands to hold large caliber weaponry and maintain a stable firing position.

Special Equipment & Features[]

A system that gave normal pilots the ability to mimic the power of Newtypes. While little is known about the mechanics of the system, the primary component is known to have been the captive soul of Newtype Marion Welch. The conflict of her soul with the bonds of the system made it extremely unstable and hard to control, to the point that the system - and the mobile suit - would sometimes go berserk. Eventually, a limiter is set in the EXAM system by Alph Kamra, restricting it to roughly half of its output and only allowing the full output to be used for 5 minutes before the machine overheats. While under the influence of the EXAM System, the mobile suit's optical sensors would glow red.
  • Magnet Coating
A special membrane treatment applied to mobile suit joints to improve their response speed. The mobile suits developed by the Earth Federation Forces use special actuators called field motors, whose efficiency is increased by the magnet coating process. The treatment also reduces friction resistance in the mobile suit's joints.

History[]

On November 29, U.C. 0079, the Blue Destiny Unit 1 was undergoing testing near a Zeon base when it suddenly lost control and began attacking indiscriminately. However, it was eventually disabled by the Federation's Guinea Pig Team, led by Yuu Kajima, and retreated.[1] However, the Blue Destiny's pilot was killed in the process.[2]

The Blue Destiny was later repaired and transported aboard a C-88 Medea for reassignment to the Guinea Pig Team. However, the Medea was shot down by a Zeon reconnaisance team, and the Guinea Pig Team was tasked with recovering it. Together, Yuu and his team were able to destroy the Zeon team and the MS-08TX[EXAM] Efreet Custom piloted by Zeon ace pilot Nimbus Schterzen, who was secretly pursuing the Medea.[2]

Impressed by Yuu's performance and his reputation as an ace pilot, the Blue Destiny's mechanic, Alph Kamra, asked Yuu to become its new pilot. He was then ordered to destroy a Zeon missile base north of California Base, which was preparing to fire its missiles at the latter to prevent its recapture. At Alph's suggestion, Yuu activated the Blue Destiny's EXAM System, and was able to destroy the missile control centers within five minutes. However, using the system placed a heavy strain on his mind.[3]

With the missile base destroyed, Yuu was asked to rejoin his teammates at California Base to finish off the Zeon forces there. However, the Efreet Custom appeared once again, and the two machines began resonating, causing both to activate the EXAM System.[4] After a fierce battle, the Efreet Custom was destroyed, but not before destroying the Blue Destiny's head. Since its head contained the EXAM System, the Blue Destiny was rendered unusable.[5]

Variants[]

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Anime[]

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Notes & Trivia[]

  • In early media, Blue Destiny Unit 1 was commonly referred to as "GM Blue Destiny" (ジム・ブルーディスティニー), though the name was largely phased out to differentiate it from Blue Destiny Unit 2 and Unit 3.
  • Strangely, the Blue Destiny Unit 1's head vulcan guns were not listed among the weapons list in both of its HGUC model manuals, despite being clearly visible on the model itself.
  • In Katoki Hajime's Gundam Fix CG artbook, the Blue Destiny Unit 1 was seen equipped with a unique model of the 100mm machine gun instead of the same one used by the Gundam Ground Type. This machine gun was later included in the Gundam Fix Figuration figure of Blue Destiny Unit 1 and appeared in various video games as the mobile suit's main weapon.

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 High Grade Universal Century RX-79BD-1 Blue Destiny Unit 1 (2007) instruction manual
  2. 2.0 2.1 Mobile Suit Gundam Side Story II, Stage 2
  3. Mobile Suit Gundam Side Story II, Stage 3
  4. Mobile Suit Gundam Side Story II, Stage 4
  5. Mobile Suit Gundam Side Story II, Stage 5

External links[]

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