RX-78GP01 Gundam "Zephyranthes"

Technical Data and General Information

Model number: RX-78GP01 Code name: Gundam "Zephyranthes" Unit type: prototype general purpose mobile suit Manufacturer: Anaheim Electronics Corporation Operator: Earth Federal Forces Rollout: 29 September UC 0083 First deployment: 13 October UC 0083 Accommodation: pilot only, in standard cockpit in torso with Core Block System using FF-XII Core Fighter II Dimensions: overall height 18.5 meters; head height 18.0 meters Weight: empty 39.7 metric tons; max gross 65.0 metric tons Construction: gundarium alloy on semi-monocoque frame Powerplant: Minovsky type ultracompact fusion reactor, output rated at 1790 kW Propulsion: rocket thrusters: 2 x 42000 kg, 2 x 12000 kg Performance: maximum thruster acceleration 1.66 G; 180-degree turn time 0.9 seconds Fixed armaments: 2 x 60 mm vulcan gun, fire-linked, mounted in head; 2 x beam saber, stored in recharge racks in backpack, hand-carried in use Optional hand armaments: XBR-BOWA M-82A beam rifle, power rated at 1.5 MW, powered by replaceable e-pac, with mounted "jitte" beam saber blocking unit, 2 spare e-pacs stored in shield; 90 mm machinegun, clip-fed, 20 rounds per clip; shield, can be optionally mounted on either forearm

Technical and Historical Notes

During its military reconstruction following the devastating One Year War, the Earth Federation contracted a private company, Anaheim Electronics, to develop a series of new Gundam-model mobile suits to serve as conceptual testbeds for new and improved mobile suit technology. The first of these new prototypes to come out of Anaheim's Von Braun City lunar factory was the RX-78GP01 Gundam, code-named "Zephyranthes." The GP01 and a second prototype, the RX-78GP02A Gundam "Physalis", along with Anaheim systems engineer Nina Purpleton and her staff of technicians, were brought aboard the assault carrier Albion to be delivered to Earth for testing under full gravity. Arriving at Torrington Base in Australia for the field trials, the GP01 was put into actual combat sooner than expected: the GP02A, armed with a nuclear warhead, was hijacked by remnant Zeon military forces led by Anavel Gato. Novice Federation pilot Kou Uraki commandeered the GP01 in a failed attempt to recover the stolen GP02A. However, Uraki's undeveloped piloting abilities allowed him to push the GP01 beyond its expected performance levels, and Uraki was permanently assigned as the Gundam's pilot while the Albion pursued the stolen GP02A across Earth and into space. Unfortunately, the GP01 was not properly calibrated for space, and was soon critically damaged during a space battle against Zeon's Commander Cima Garahau. Shortly afterwards, the GP01 was returned to Anaheim's lunar factory for rebuilding and upgrading into the RX-78GP01-Fb Full Vernian type. In terms of speed, weaponry and performance, the Gundam GP01 was still better than any mass-produced unit fielded by the Federation at the time. However, it's basic design was nothing more than a slightly improved version of the original RX-78-2 Gundam prototype. Equipped with a Core Block System, the pilot could eject either the upper or lower halves of the mobile suit in an emergency, or eject from the mobile suit altogether in a new-and-improved FF-XII Core Fighter II. Aside from the standard head vulcan guns, beam sabers and beam rifle, the GP01 did feature more up-to-date avionics and control systems, as well as a general increase in acceleration and maneuverability.