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RGM-78 Gundam Platoon Leader Mobile Suit (RX-78, -78NT-01, 78FA-01, -78FA-02)
RGX-78 Gundam Mark II Experimental Mobile Suit

I. Dimensions:

II. Type

• Design: Anaheim Electronics (with Rheinmetall Heavy Industries on the FA series)
• Builders: Anaheim Electronics
• (RGM-78, -78NT01): One man, all weather, platoon leader mobile suit.
• (RGM-78FA-01): GBP-03 external booster, armor, and weapons pack optimized for defensive combat outfitted onto a conventional Gundam.
• (RGM-78FA-02): GBP-04 external booster, armor, and weapons pack optimized for defensive combat outfitted onto a conventional Gundam Alex.
• (RGX-78): One man, experimental new technology proof of concept model.

III. Service Use

• RGM-78: Served with the RDF Space Marines and Marines from 2048 until replaced by the RGM-78NT-01.
• RGM-78FA-01: Served in limited numbers with the RDF Space Marines from 2049 until replaced by the RGM-78FA-02.
• RGM-78NT-01: Served with the RDF Space Marines and Marines from 2052 until replaced by the MSZ-006 Zeta Gundam. 
• RGM-78FA-02: Served in limited numbers with the RDF Space Marines from 2052 until withdrawn from service in 2056.
• RGX-78: Never entered service, only three built and used by the RDF Space Marines and Marines in 2053.

IV. Propulsion

Engines:

(RGM-78)

• 2 x Icarus Aerospace AST-15 thrusters on the back, total thrust 235 kN each.
• 4 x Rolls Royce FF-6 high-thrust vernier thrusters on the heels, total thrust 24.5 kN each.
• Assorted small reaction thrusters and gyroscopes for all-environment maneuvers, attitude adjustment, and stability.

(RGM-78FA-01)

Main Engines of standard model, plus:

• 4 x Rolls Royce FF-6 high-thrust vernier thrusters on the shoulders (2), and chest (2), total thrust 24.5 kN each.

(RGM-78NT-01)

• 2 x Icarus Aerospace AST-23 thrusters on the back, total thrust 343 kN each.
• 6 x Icarus Aerospace FF-7 high maneuverability vernier on the calves (2), and feet (4), total thrust 78.4 kN each.
• 4 x Rolls Royce FF-6 high-thrust vernier thrusters on the legs, total thrust 24.5 kN each.
• Assorted small reaction thrusters and gyroscopes for all-environment maneuvers, attitude adjustment, and stability.

(RGM-78FA-02)

Main Engines of standard model, plus:

• 2 x Icarus Aerospace AST-24 thrusters on the heals, total thrust 118 kN each.
• 12 x Icarus Aerospace FF-7 high maneuverability vernier thrusters on the shoulders (4), chest (2), groin (2), and legs (4), total thrust 78.4 kN each.

(RGX-78)

• 4 x Icarus Aerospace AST-29 dual thruster banks on the back, total thrust 202 kN each.
• Assorted small reaction thrusters and gyroscopes for all-environment maneuvers, attitude adjustment, and stability.

Powerplant:

(RGM-78, -78FA-01)

• 2 x RRD-2 miniaturized fusion-cell energizer providing electrical power to the mecha. Total output, 1800 kW

(RGM-78NT-01, -78FA-02, RGX-78)

• 2 x RRD-3 miniaturized fusion-cell energizer providing electrical power to the mecha. Total output, 2500 kW

Fuel Capacity:

(RGM-78)

• 24 standard canisters of reaction mass
• 1 dedicated canister for each tachyon rifle
• 154.8 liters of D2O reactant for fusion engines.

(RGM-78NT-01)

• 24 standard canisters of reaction mass
• 1 dedicated canister for each tachyon rifle
• 183.6 liters of D2O reactant for fusion engines.

(RGX-78)

• 24 standard canisters of reaction mass
• 1 dedicated canister for each tachyon rifle
• 176.3 liters of D2O reactant for fusion engines.

V. Performance

VI. Electronics

Radar tracking:

(RGM-78, -78FA-01)

• General Electric AN/APG-157 X-Band, pulse Doppler, providing long range detection and tracking of targets at all altitudes.
• Hughes GN/TPG-214 medium range UWB phased array pulse-Doppler, for detection and tracking of targets, and with battlefield surveillance modes.    
• Westinghouse AN/APX-16 IFF friend or foe interrogator.

(RGM-78NT-01, -78FA-02, RGX-78)

• General Electric AN/APG-161 X-Band, pulse Doppler, providing long range detection and tracking of targets at all altitudes.
• Hughes GN/TPG-226 medium range UWB phased array pulse-Doppler, for detection and tracking of targets, and with battlefield surveillance modes.
• Westinghouse AN/APX-16 IFF friend or foe interrogator.

Optical tracking:

(RGM-78, -78FA-01)

• Kodak AN/DOS-3300 multi-band digital camera system, for medium range all attitude infra-red imaging, optical and ultra-violet band detection and tracking
• Thomson AN/LT-7 multi-frequency laser ranger and designator.

(RGM-78NT-01, -78FA-02, RGX-78)

• Phillips AN/DOS-3800 multi-band digital camera system, for medium range, traversable, UV, infrared imaging and optical band detection and tracking.
• General Electric AN/LT-8 multi-frequency laser ranger and designator.

Tactical Electronic Warfare System (TEWS):

• Loral AN/ALR-26 Radar Warning Receiver (RWR)
• Loral AN/AIR-15 Infra-red Warning Receiver (IRWR)
• Westinghouse AN/ALQ-266(V) active sensor jammer
• Westinghouse AN/AMJ-6 Active Missile Jammers
• Tracor AN/ALE-16 Chaff and flare dispenser
• Multiple VHF and UHF antennas
• Bose Loudspeakers producing sound up to 90 decibels.

VII. Armament

Cannon

(RGM-78, -78NT-01)

• 2 x Smith & Wesson tri-barrel 60mm autocannons:  Mounted on either side of the head of the mobile suit, the 60mm cannons provide anti-personnel firepower as well as a close range alternative to its other more powerful weapons.  Each cannon can fire at 600 rounds per minute with a 1000 round belt feed.  Ammunition is the standard mix of of Tungsten-coated depleted Uranium Armor Piercing Spin-Stabilized Discarding Sabot (APSSDS), High Explosive Armor Piercing (HEAP) and tracer rounds.

(RGM-78FA-01)

• 1 x Rheinmetall 240mm electromagnetic rail cannon:  For additional medium range firepower the Full Armor variant of the Gundam mounts a large caliber rail cannon.  Capable of firing 600 kg shells distances of up to 50 km with excellent accuracy thanks to self guided shells.  The available ammunition consists of KCP Kinetic Core Penetrating (hull penetration rounds), KPI Kinetic Penetrating Incendiary (plasma incendiary rounds) and MKEP Multiple Kinetic Energy Penetrator (flechette cluster rounds), the latter as anti-mecha formation weapons. The cannon is mounted on the right shoulder of the mecha and has a +90/-30 degree arc of fire and can only be aimed horizontally by moving the body of the mecha.  The cannon  has a 20 round magazine located internally.
• 2 x Rheinmetall TC-03 tachyon cannons: These tachyon cannons provide the Full Armor Gundam with improved medium range combat ability, something the original sorely lacked. Unfortunately, the reactor of the Gundam cannot power these cannons indefinitely.  As a result, the internal capacitor can only hold enough energy for 15 bursts per barrel before needing to return to base to recharge or to a mobile recharger.  The cannons are very powerful however each able to deliver a 300 MJ burst every five seconds at ranges of up to 15 km.  These cannons are mounted behind an armor shield on the suit's right arm in place of a tachyon rifle.  

(RGM-78NT-01)

• 2 x Smith & Wesson tri-barrel 90mm autocannons: Mounted on either forearm of the mobile suit, the 90mm cannons provide excellent anti-armor capabilities against lightly to medium armored targets such as troop carriers.  Each cannon can fire at 350 rounds per minute with a 500 round belt feed. Ammunition is a mix of Tungsten-coated depleted Uranium Armor Piercing Spin-Stabilized Discarding Sabot (APSSDS), High Explosive Armor Piercing (HEAP) and tracer rounds.

(RGM-78FA-02)

• 1 x Rheinmetall TC-04 tachyon cannon: This much more robust version of the tachyon rifle mounted on platoon leader mobile suits was designed to be able to punch through most any type of armor and give artillery platoons the chance to punch through heavy capital ship armor.  The cannon is mounted on the right shoulder and has a 45 degree vertical arc.  The cannon can fire a 500 MJ burst every five seconds at a range of up to 120 km.  Unfortunately the reactor can not keep up with the power demands of this cannon and as a result it has limited ammunition of only 18 shots before the internal capacitor is completely drained.  It then needs to return to base or a mobile recharger before the cannon be used again.
• 2 x Rheinmetall TC-03 tachyon cannons: These tachyon cannons provide the Full Armor Gundam with improved medium range combat ability, something the original sorely lacked. Unfortunately, the reactor of the Gundam cannot power these cannons indefinitely.  As a result, the internal capacitor can only hold enough energy for 15 bursts per barrel before needing to return to base to recharge or to a mobile recharger.  The cannons are very powerful however each able to deliver a 300 MJ burst every five seconds at ranges of up to 15 km.  These cannons are mounted behind an armor shield on the suit's right arm in place of a tachyon rifle.  

(RGX-78)

• (optional) 1 x Smith & Wesson quad barrel 60mm autocannons: Mounted on the left side of the head of the mobile suit, the 60mm cannons provide anti-personnel firepower as well as a close range alternative to its other more powerful weapons.  The cannon can fire at 800 rounds per minute with a 1400 round belt feed.  Ammunition is the standard mix of of Tungsten-coated depleted Uranium Armor Piercing Spin-Stabilized Discarding Sabot (APSSDS), High Explosive Armor Piercing (HEAP) and tracer rounds.

Hand Held Weapon

• 1 x Rheinmetall BR-04 single-barreled tachyon rifle: This hand-held tachyon rifle is the main weapon for the RGM-78 Gundam, and is easily as powerful as the point defense cannons mounted on many warships. It works by confining and accelerating tachyons in a strong magnetic field, and then ejects them in a tremendous blast of energy. Warships normally hook their cannons up to anti-matter furnace that can produce tachyons on the fly, thus resulting in an almost unlimited supply of ammo. Since the Gundam does not have room for the bulky generator equipment, the tachyon are instead pre-generated and stored in an energy capacitor for later use. The result is an mecha-sized gun that packs the same punch as warship weapons but has a limited ammo of 15 rounds. The rifle can fire 60 rounds per minute in full automatic mode at approximately one shot per second. This weapon fires 170 MJ pulses per barrel in each mode, with its own dedicated cell and capacitor banks in the 'magazine' with one spare magazine mounted behind the projectile shield.
• or  1 (or 2) x Three Star RU-30 360mm Missile Launcher: The Gundam can also use this oversized Missile Launcher as opposed to the standard tachyon rifle.  This is usually used in situations where accuracy is more important than raw firepower.  The missile launcher uses a variant of the MPM-10 Dirk known as the D or destruction type.  The MPM-10D carries a warhead nearly twice as large as the standard missile but sacrifices range for firepower.  The missile launcher carries a internal 5 round magazine and one additional missile in the chamber for a total of 6 missiles.  The weapon cannot be reloaded using external magazines however.  The Gundam can mount one or two of these weapons can store on a retractable mount located on the back.
• or (after 2050) 1 x Rheinmetall BR-05 single-barreled tachyon rifle: This hand-held tachyon rifle is the main weapon for the RGM-78NT-01 Gundam Alex, and is easily as powerful as the point defense cannons mounted on many warships. The rifle can fire 60 rounds per minute in full automatic mode at approximately one shot per second. This weapon fires 200 MJ pulses per barrel in each mode, with its own dedicated cell and capacitor banks in the 'magazine' with one spare magazine mounted behind the projectile shield with a payload of 18 shots.

(RGX-78)

• 1 x Rheinmetall BR-07 single-barreled tachyon rifle: This hand-held tachyon rifle is the main weapon for the RGX-78 Gundam Mark II, and is easily as powerful as the point defense cannons mounted on many warships. The rifle can fire 60 rounds per minute in full automatic mode at approximately one shot per second. This weapon fires 250 MJ pulses per barrel in each mode, with its own dedicated cell and capacitor banks in the 'magazine' with one spare magazine mounted behind the projectile shield with a payload of 18 shots.

Melee Weapon

(RGM-78, -78NT01)

• 2 x Shinara 0.38 MW tachyon saber: These revolutionary mecha-sized melee weapon were first used on the Gundam mobile suit. The beam saber works on the same principle as the tachyon rifle, except that the tachyons are captured and stored in a strong electromagnetic field instead of projected in a beam. The result is a concentrated energy blade which is one of the deadliest mecha weapons. The beam saber only contains enough energy and tachyons for about 60 seconds of continuous use. When not in use, the beam sabers are stored in the backpack of the mecha, where they are recharged by the Gundam's reactor. The Gundam can switch the beam saber on and off while holding it, in order to conserve power. Once totally depleted it takes 30 minutes for a beam saber to recharge to full capacity. The Gundam carries two tachyon sabers mounted on its backpack.

(RGX-78)

• 2 x Shinara 0.45 MW tachyon saber: These revolutionary mecha-sized melee weapon were first used on the Gundam mobile suit.  The beam saber only contains enough energy and tachyons for about 60 seconds of continuous use. When not in use, the beam sabers are stored in the waist of the mecha, where they are recharged by the suits reactor. The RGM-78 can switch the beam saber on and off while holding it, in order to conserve power. Once totally depleted it takes 10 minutes for a beam saber to recharge to full capacity. The Gundam Mark II carries two tachyon sabers mounted on its back.

Missiles

(RMG-78FA-01)

• 1 x FAGDIMMS-1 Full Armor Gundam Dirk integral multi-missile system: The add-on heavy armor for the RGM-78 also contains the new FAGDIMMS missile system. The launcher contains  32 MPM-10 Dirk multi-purpose missiles placed in launchers located on the shoulders which hold 12 missiles each, and launchers on the legs which hold 4 each.  Each launcher has two missiles ready with reloads.   

(RGM-78FA-02)

• 1 x FAGDIMMS-2 Full Armor Gundam Dirk integral multi-missile system: The add-on heavy armor for the RGM-78 also contains the new FAGDIMMS missile system. The launcher contains  48 MPM-10 Dirk multi-purpose missiles placed in launchers located on the shoulders which hold 16 missiles each, and launchers on the legs which hold 8 each.  Each launcher has four missiles ready with reloads.   

(All)

• 1 x MM-8 multi-missile system: 8 inboard variable warhead, MPM-10 Dirk inboard variable warhead, short range (6 km) mini-missiles with combined infra-red imager and UV/visual guidance. Launch port is one 2-tube launcher located on the projectile shield. 2 missiles ready, with a three reloads. Various warhead options.

Other Military Cargoes available include:

• GBP-03: Heavy armor and weapons package for the RGM-78 Gundam. Onboard weapons include (see above for details):
  • 1 x 240mm electromagnetic rail cannon
  • 2 x TC-03 tachyon cannons
  • 1 x FAGDIMMS-1 Full Armor Gundam Dirk integral multi-missile system
• GBP-04: Heavy armor and weapons package for the RGM-78NT-01 Gundam Alex. See previous entry to find weapons.
  • 1 x TC-04 tachyon cannon
  • 2 x TC-03 tachyon cannons
  • 1 x FAGDIMMS-2 Full Armor Gundam Dirk integral multi-missile system

VIII. Armor

The armor on the Gundam series is a low-mass plating that is the standard for command mobile suits known as Gundarium. Aside from the superb protection provided against projectiles, missiles, and other kinetic weapons, this armor is also fairly resistant to plasma globes (annihilation discs), lasers, and to a lesser extent, particle guns too, owing to the fact that the armor can flake off and evaporate in layers under fire from such high-energy weapons, taking much of the weapon's energy and converting it into the latent heat of sublimation in the armor. The armor stops all small arms fire, and has good resistance to all weapons commonly mounted on combat mecha. This new armor is also much lighter than most armors weighing a full two thirds less than the traditional armor's mounted on mecha but is almost twice as expensive to make.

The Gundam provides full protection from nuclear, biological, and chemical hazards, using an overpressure cockpit environment activated by radiation and hazardous chemical sensors, or manually when biological warfare conditions are anticipated. The internal consumables supplies can provide atmosphere for three days maximum.

IX. Development

The Gundam represents the future in armored cavalry, the mobile suit or MS. The RGM-78 was designed to be a true fast strike destroid offering tremendous mobility and firepower with excellent jump abilities. The RGM-78 Gundam, developed by Anaheim Electronics based in Von Braun City on the Lunar surface.

Designed much more like a veritech in battloid mode the RGM-78 has amazing maneuverability both on the ground and in the air featuring excellent jump capabilities and excellent deep space combat characteristics. The Gundam also sports a stunning amount of firepower centered on a new type of tachyon rifle which, while it has limited ammunition, delivers enough energy to destroy many types of mecha with one shot or two shots.  The cannon while expensive, can still be issued to most mobile suits, however it does bar it from any sort of widespread use mecha such as veritechs or destroids.  Another unique weapon is the tachyon saber which uses an intense magnetic field to contain a stream of collected tachyon particles into a small space making it a very effective cutting tool and excellent melee combat weapon capable of inflicting serious damage to any mecha who comes close enough. The Gundam also sports some more conventional weapons such as a head mounted pair of tri-barrel 60 mm autocannons which provide close range fire support as well as a pair of missile launchers contained behind its shield. The construction of the Gundam differs from its Tirolian counterparts.  While the Tirolians originally opted for the monocoque construction, Terran engineers went with a semi-monocoque construction based on an internal framework to which individual armored plates are attached.  This allows for maximum protection for the mecha at the cost of mobility, however this was later deemed acceptable as the Gundam's mobility was far beyond what was expected.  The final piece of the Gundam's excellent ability is its armor. A unique and highly reflective substance known as Gundarium. This armor almost completely stops all projectile weapons and provides excellent protection against energy weapons and weighs a fraction of most other armors. However, the Gundarium alloy is both expensive and time consuming to make.  This lead to a decision to only use it on platoon leader mobile suits such as the Gundam until a cheaper and easier way was found to manufacturer this excellent armor.   

During gravity combat testing in Australia at the new Mobile Suit Test Range near Torrington Australia and zero-g testing at both La Vien Rose (Anaheim's private space dock) and outside Van Braun City on Luna, the Gundam showed excellent promise and the RDF Marines and Space Marines immediately made plans to procure almost 1000 units, enough to lead 1000 platoons into battle. However these plans were later curtailed to only 100 units as Anaheim Electronics soon delivered the much improved RGM-78NT-01 Gundam Alex.  Although it saw limited use in handling some Anti-UTG incursions it performed exceptionally. As such the Gundam left service after only four years, but will still it be remembered as the father of the mobile suit.

During early development of the Gundam, designers developed a armor add on package containing additional weapons and thrusters similar to the FAST packs for the veritech fighters.  These packs, dubbed FAWS (Full Armor Weapon System) where to be used for defensive situations as more mobile alternative to the destroids as they were forced to remain on the surface of a ship.  The FAWS added a shoulder rail cannon which provided a long range punch to the Full Armor Gundam.  The package also featured an armored shield which on the reverse side mounted a pair of heavy tachyon cannons further increasing firepower.  This coupled with missile launchers made the Full Armor Gundam excellent for defensive sorties.  All this did of course come at a price, agility.  Of course as they were designed for defensive sorties, this was not seen as a drawback.  The packs were only deployed in combat by the Space Marines as the Marines, who used destroids to fill the roll of heavy mechanized infantry saw no need for the FAWS.

The RGM-78NT-01 Gundam Alex was designed originally as an advanced proof of concept model to test new mobile suit technologies for Anaheim's work on future mecha and mobile suit designs.  In addition to the standard head cannons, beam sabers and a beam rifle, the Alex mounted a tri-barrel 90 mm autocannon in each forearm, giving the mobile suit good close-range firepower to back up its beam rifle. The Alex also replaced the standard cockpit system of the original Gundam with an experimental new type of cockpit. Incorporating a 360-degree "panoramic monitor" screen around the pilot, all of the Alex's controls were incorporated into panels mounted on the pilot's "linear seat." This configuration gave the pilot an almost unlimited field of vision, thus allowing for easier target acquisition and faster response time. This type of cockpit would be modified slightly and make an appearance later in the VF-19 Excalibur.  Another feature adding to the Alex's maneuverability was the "magnetic coating" applied to the suit's joints and motors, reducing friction and wear to almost nothing and making the Alex extremely responsive to pilot input.  The final piece of the new mobile suit was a new more powerful reactor to power its new sensor suite as well as other new equipment.

Like the original Gundam, the Alex had a FAWS developed for it.  It featured slightly improved weapons by replacing the rail cannon with a more robust tachyon cannon as well as increasing the missile payload.  To address mobility concerns, new FAWS had a pair of thrusters attached to it increasing agility and thus, survivability.  The RGM-78NT-01 served until it was replaced by MSZ-006 Zeta Gundam.

Immediately following the development of the Alex, Anaheim Engineers began work on a totally new form of mobile suit.  Utilizing combat data and corroboration with the Tirolian Mercantile Republic companies, a new way to build mobile suits was developed, the movable frame. Up until that point, almost all mobile suits were built on the monocoque construction concept - with the external armor serving as a shell that supported all of the thrusters, joints, hydraulics, fuel tanks, et cetera, that were stored inside. The movable frame concept turned this design philosophy around; the Gundam Mark II was built around a skeleton-like frame, with all thrusters, fuel tanks, weapons and so forth mounted on the frame, and minimal amounts of armor applied to those critical areas that needed protection.  The Gundam Mark II served as a proof of concept design and as such lacked certain features such as internal autocannons and used the same reactor as the Alex.  It does use newer beam sabers and rifles however which would be the basis for those used by the Zeta Gundam.  Three units were constructed at the colony Grypps in the Sol System in 2053.  These three units underwent extensive testing and combat trials with their data being used to construct the next generation of mobile suit.

Layout adapted from Robotech Reference Guide

Content by Jeffrey R. Spillner and Ron Ferrara
Copyright © 1998-2001 Jeffrey R. Spillner and Ron Ferrara

Page Last Updated on November 26, 2001 @ 11:00 GMT