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RGM-86 GM III Mass Production Mobile Suit (RGM-86B, -86J)

I. Dimensions:

II. Type

• Design: Anaheim Electronics
• Builders: Anaheim Electronics
• One man, all weather, standard production mobile suit.

III. Service Use

• RGM-86B: Served with the RDF Space Marines and Marines from 2055 until replaced by the RGM-86R.
• RGM-86R: Served with the RDF Space Marines and Marines from 2058 until replaced by the RGM-91.

IV. Propulsion

Engines:

(RGM-86B)

• 4 x Icarus Aerospace AST-33 thrusters on the back, total thrust 199 kN each.
• Assorted small reaction thrusters and gyroscopes for all-environment maneuvers, attitude adjustment, and stability.

(RGM-86R)

• 4 x Icarus Aerospace AST-36 thrusters on the back, total thrust 202 kN each.
• 2 x Rolls Royce FF-8 high-thrust vernier thrusters, located on the heels, total thrust 36.4 kN each.
• Assorted small reaction thrusters and gyroscopes for all-environment maneuvers, attitude adjustment, and stability.

Powerplant:

• 1 x RRD-4 Miniaturized Fusion-cell energizer providing electrical power to the mecha.  Maximum output, 3200 kW each.

Fuel Capacity:

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

V. Performance

VI. Electronics

Radar tracking:

• Phillips AN/APG-162 X-Band, pulse Doppler, providing long range detection and tracking of targets at all altitudes.
• Westinghouse GN/TPG-240 medium range UWB phased array pulse-Doppler, for detection and tracking of targets, and with battlefield surveillance modes.
• Westinghouse AN/APX-18 IFF friend or foe interrogator.

Optical tracking:

• Kodak AN/DOS-4300 multi-band digital camera system, for medium range, traversable, UV, infrared imaging and optical band detection and tracking.
• Thomson AN/ LT-9 multi-frequency laser ranger and designator.

Tactical Electronic Warfare System (TEWS):

• Loral AN/ALR-31 Radar Warning Receiver (RWR)
• Loral AN/AIR-20 Infra-red Warning Receiver (IRWR)
• General Electric AN/ALQ-280(V) active sensor jammer
• Tracor AN/ALE-16 Chaff and flare dispenser
• Westinghouse AN/AMJ-8 Active Missile Jammers
• Multiple VHF and UHF antennas
• Bose Loudspeakers producing sound up to 90 decibels.

VII. Armament

Cannons

• 2 x Smith & Wesson 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.

Hand Held Weapon

• 1 x Rheinmetall BR-11 single-barreled tachyon rifle: After several more years of refinement the tachyon rifle became both easier to manufacture and maintain as well as cheaper.  This lead to the first mass deployment for the RDF of tachyon weaponry in 2055 with the RGM-85 Nemo. The rifle represents the main weapon of the GM III and while less powerful than platoon leader models, still packs a good punch.  The rifle can fire 60 rounds per minute in full automatic mode at approximately one shot per second. This weapon fires 200 MJ pulses, with its own dedicated cell and capacitor banks in the 'magazine' with one spare magazine mounted behind the projectile shield with a payload of 20 shots.
• or (after 2058) 1 x Rheinmetall BR-14 single-barreled tachyon rifle: After several more years of refinement the tachyon rifle became both easier to manufacture and maintain as well as cheaper.  This lead to the first mass deployment for the RDF of tachyon weaponry in 2055 with the RGM-85 Nemo. The rifle represents the main weapon of the GM III and while less powerful than platoon leader models, still packs a good punch.  The rifle can fire 60 rounds per minute in full automatic mode at approximately one shot per second. This weapon fires 250 MJ pulses, 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.
• or 1 x Raytheon 6-tube missile launcher: The ability to carry surgical strikes is important to the RGM-85 and to complete this task it has a six tube medium range missile launcher.  This launcher built by Raytheon can hold up to twelve medium range missiles of any kind, though usually the MPM-25 Saber is used.  The missile launcher has six missiles ready to fire with one set of reloads.
• or 1 x Three Star RU-38 360mm missile launcher: When conducting heavy assault hit and run raids the GM III uses this large missile launcher, a successor to the   RU-35.  The launcher is designed to use a new variant of the MPM-23 similar to the old MPM-10D.  The MPM-23C is the same size as the MPM-10D, but has a longer range and higher top speed.  When not in use this weapon can be placed on a special mount on the back of the unit freeing the hands for other uses such as wielding the tachyon saber or a projectile shield.  The RU-38 uses an external magazine with seven rounds plus one in the chamber.  The mobile suit can reload the RU-38 in the field using and extra magazine stored on the projectile shield of the mobile suit holding seven rounds. 

• or 1 x Three Star 180mm electromagnetic rail cannon: When the Nemo needs long range firepower against a variety of targets, the choice is the 180mm rail cannon.  This cannon, while not as powerful as the cannon on the RGM-85C, it still packs quite a punch and is very versatile earning it the moniker '180mm anti-everything cannon'.  The cannon fires a 110 kg shell distances of up to 10 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 carries seven shells internally in a large magazine.  One spare magazine is usually mounted under the projectile shield, however reloading this large and cumbersome weapon takes several times as long as reloading any other type of weapon, usually around thirty seconds.

Melee Weapon

(RGM-86B)

• 1 x Shinara 0.4 MW Tachyon Beam Saber: These revolutionary mecha-sized melee weapon were first used on the Gundam mobile suit. The beam saber only contains enough energy and particles 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 GM III's reactor. The GM III 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 GM III carries one beam saber mounted on its backpack.

(RGM-86R)

• 1 x Shinara 0.9 MW Tachyon Beam Saber: These revolutionary mecha-sized melee weapon were first used on the Gundam mobile suit. The beam saber only contains enough energy and particles 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 GM III's reactor. The GM III 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 GM III carries one beam saber mounted on its backpack.

Missiles

(RGM-86B)

• 1 x MM-4 Multi-Missile System: 4 inboard variable warhead, MPM-20 Pike short range infra-red imager passive radar homing missiles. Launch port is one 2-tube launcher located on the projectile shield. 2 missiles ready, with one reload. Various warhead options.

(RGM-86J)

• 1 x MM-4 Multi-Missile System: 4 inboard variable warhead, MPM-20 Pike short range infra-red imager passive radar homing missiles. Launch port is one 2-tube launcher located on the projectile shield. 2 missiles ready, with one reload. Various warhead options.
• 1 x GMIMMS GM III Integral Multi-Missile System: 12 inboard variable warhead, MPM-20 Pike short range missiles. Launch ports are two 6-tube launchers located on the chest. 6 missiles ready with no reloads. Various warhead options.

Other Military Cargoes available include:

• HMMP-07: 15 short range infra-red imager or passive radar homing MPM-23 Dagger high maneuverability mini missile ejection tubes, with no reloads a total twenty fifteen missiles. Mounted on NP-WP-14 weapons pack.
• HMMP-08: 4 long range infra-red imager or passive radar homing MPM-17 Scimitar missile ejection tubes, with no reloads a total four missiles. Mounted on NP-WP-15 weapons pack.
• HMMP-09: 8 short range infra-red imager or passive radar homing MPM-25 Saber missile ejection tubes, with eleven reloads per tube for a total twenty four missiles. Mounted on NP-WP-16 booster pack.
• NP-WP-14: This is a weapons pack that attaches to the shoulder of the RGM-86. Each pack can mount a HMMP-07 on the rear of the pod.
• NP-WP-15: This is a weapons pack that attaches to the hips of the RGM-86. Each pack can mount a HMMP-08 on the pod.
• NP-WP-16: This is a weapons pack that attaches to the shoulder of the RGM-86. Each pack can mount a HMMP-09 on the rear of the pod.

VIII. Armor

The armor on the RGM-86 is a low-mass lunarium tungsten composite plating that is the standard for most Terran mecha. Aside from the good protection provided against projectiles, missiles, and other kinetic weapons, this armor is also resistant to plasma globes (annihilation discs), lasers, and fair against, 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.

The GM III 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 RGM-86 began development almost simultaneously with the RGM-84.  However, with the cost of the movable frame being much higher than originally expected and the RDF being committed to both the Zeta Project and the completion of the Nemo, Anaheim developed the RGM-86 along more conventional lines.  The design used the original GM as a design base and made modifications to several key areas. First and foremost was thrusters, both location and output.  The RGM-86 featured a almost 50 percent more thrust and agility than the original GM thanks in part to backpack design first tested on the Gundam Mark II.  In addition the GM III utilized the now standard linear seat and panoramic cockpit system.  It also incorporated the newest fusion reactor system as well as the magnetic coating to make up for the lack of a movable frame.  However, even with all of its features, the GM III still came up short in overall agility being slower on the ground than the Nemo and having inferior jump abilities though having much the same limited flight characteristics.  In space the GM III was as agile as the Nemo, but on the whole, it was still inferior to the Nemo.  While not as agile as the Nemo or Zeta, it was still far beyond the original GM.   

To further reduce costs, the standard weapon systems were the exact same as the Nemo.  It utilized the same tachyon rifle and tachyon sabers as the Nemo in addition to the standard head mounted autocannons.  The GM III however did have more optional weapons than the Nemo did.  These new systems were missile launchers giving the GM III the ability to serve either in the close combat role, or be loaded with extra missiles similar to a FAST pack system and be used as a mobile fire support system similar to the SDR-series destroid.  

Entering service in 2055 as despite its detractors, it was proven a success in the Transient War in 2057 in which it often sat behind the front lines of Nemos and fired away with its missile launchers often a more mobile alternative to the SDR-14.  As such few of the units were lost in that war.  However, those that were lost were often the result of close combat, which is supposed to be the mobile suit's specialty, however the GM III often times proved to cumbersome to fight in hand to hand combat effectively, and while it could occasionally defeat male power armor, it was outclassed by the female power armor.  Following the war, the RGM-86 received and upgrade.  The RGM-86J Novel GM III as it became known had improved engines as well as the Nemo Plus' tachyon rifle and a more powerful tachyon saber.  It added a smaller, enclosed chest launcher which allowed the mobile suit to be more effective at close range combat, but could still use the same optional systems as the original GM III.  The RGM-86J served in the front lines with good service record and it was replaced in 2062 by the RGM-91 ReGZ which, while having less missiles was more effective in close combat. 

Layout adapted from Robotech Reference Guide

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

Page Last Updated on February 22, 2001 @ 00:00 GMT