| RX-75 Guntank MassProduction Type |
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| Information: Model number: RX-75 Name: GunTank Mass Production Type Unit Type: Artillery mass production Armaments: 120mm recoiless cannon x2 4-tube missile launcher x2 Weight: 80.0 tons (maximum) Armor: Luna titanium Thruster acceleration: Unknown Head height: 15.0 meters Sensor range: 6000 meters Operator: Earth Federal Forces First deployment: U.C. 0079 Cockpits: Standard type in torso for operator/pilot; Canopy style in head for gunner/co-pilot Weapon Lineart: N/A Additional pictures: A GunTank's cannons in action A GunTank firing while escorted by Ez-8 A rear view of a GunTank's ammo racks Same GunTank's ammo racks open A GunTank taking cover inside a building A Gundam and GunTank on the lookout |
| To counter the Duchy of Zeon's advanced mobile suit technology, Earth Federation scientists and engineers began designing some of their own. The first incarnation was the RX-75 GunTank. This was a very crude mobile suit, if it could even be called a mobile suit at all. Lacking manipulator hands and bipedal legs, the GunTank was more like an very large tank than a mobile suit. Although the GunTank's design was durable with its luna titanium armor, it wasn't very versatile, so the E.F. scientists kept designing. Later in the war, after the Federation had its own GM mobile suits, the GunTank design was revived for artillery purposes. Mounting a pair of small but long ranged 120mm recoiless cannons, the GunTank was used most like twentieth century mobile artillery. To augment its artillery, GunTanks were equipped with a pair of 4-tube missile launchers in the forearms where a Zeon mobile suit's hands would be. This allowed a GunTank to defend itself to some degree, but full-time escort from GMs or Gundams was necessary in zones where hot combat was still present. For long term missions, large amounts of ammunition were stored in back-mounted ammunition racks which flipped open to fire. Shells were drawn up into the GunTank's cannons from these racks and fired. GunTanks mount a pair of tall antennas for communication from a command unit and targeting information. Like the artillery of old days, the coordinates of the target would have to be acquired by scouting forces, such as a Jet Core Booster, radioed to a command vehicle or bunker, then sent to the GunTank's gunner to be processed. The GunTank then could begin to bombard the enemy. Though antiquated in its design, a small group of GunTanks, unhindered, could literally change the shape of a mountain. And to crack into Ghinius Sanklain's mountain base where the Apsaras III was being constructed, that was just what was necessary. |
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