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Designation:

RGM-79 GM Standard Production Mobile Suit (RGM-79A, -79C, -79D, -79G, -79K, -79N, -79FA-01, -79S)

I. Dimensions:

RGM-79A RGM-79C RGM-79D RGM-79G RGM-79K RGM-79N RGM-79FA RGM-79S
Total Height: 18.5 meters 18.5 meters 18.5 meters 18.0 meters 18.4 meters 19.0 meters 20.0 meters 18.5 meters
Total Depth: 3.8 meters 4.5 meters 3.8 meters 4.0 meters 3.8 meters 4.1 meters 5.5 meters 3.5 meters
Total Breadth: 7.6 meters 7.2 meters 7.6 meters 7.3 meters 7.6 meters 8.0 meters 8.5 meters 6.2 meters
Dry Weight: 20.6 metric tons 20.6 metric tons 20.2 metric tons 22.3 metric tons 25.0 metric tons 21.0 metric tons 23.7 metric tons 22.5 metric tons
Operational Weight: 38.2 metric tons 38.2 metric tons 38.2 metric tons 39.9 metric tons 46.6 metric tons 38.6 metric tons 58.6 metric tons 41.6 metric tons

II. Type

III. Service Use

IV. Propulsion

Engines:

(RGM-79A, -79D)

(RGM-79C)

(RGM-79G)

(RGM-79K)

(RGM-79N, -79FA-01)

(RGM-79S)

Powerplant:

(RGM-79A, -79C, -79D, -79G, -79K)

(RGM-79N, -79FA, -79S)

Fuel Capacity:

(RGM-79A, -79C, -79D, -79G, -79K)

(RGM-79N, -79FA-01)

(RGM-79S)

V. Performance

RGM-79A RGM-79C RGM-79D RGM-79G RGM-79K RGM-79N RGM-79FA RGM-79S
Running speed: 102 kph 110 kph 105 kph 120 kph 83 kph 186 kph 84 kph 191 kph
Max loiter time: 45 seconds 45 seconds 45 seconds 45 seconds 45 seconds 75 seconds 30 seconds 75 seconds
Jump distance:(*) 100 meters 150 meters 100 meters 150 meters 75 meters 200 meters 50 meters 250 meters
Cell duration:(**) 100 hours 100 hours 120 hours 100 hours 100 hours 100 hours 100 hours 100 hours
Acceleration: 1.1 G 1.3 G 1.1 G 1.7 G 0.9 G 1.6 G 1.0 G 2.2 G
Delta-v capacity: 51.6 kps 63.5 kps 53.3 kps 72.8 kps 52.2 kps 88.9 kps 61.6 kps 115.7 kps
* = Earth-normal conditions and without thrusters
** = Continuous operational use.

VI. Electronics

Radar tracking:

(RGM-79A, -79C, -79D, -79G, -79N)

(RGM-79K, -79FA)

(RGM-79S)

Optical tracking:

(RGM-79A, -79C, -79D, -79G, -79N, -79FA)

(RGM-79K)

(RGM-79S)

Tactical Electronic Warfare System (TEWS):

(RGM-79S after 2058)

(RGM-79D)

VII. Armament

(RGM-79D)

Cannon

(RGM-79A,- 79C, -79G, -79K ,-79N, -79FA)

(RGM-79K)

(RGM-79FA)

Hand Held Weapon

Melee Weapon

Missiles

Other Military Cargoes available include:

VIII. Armor

The armor on the RGM-79 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 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

During the initial development of the mobile suit that became known as the Gundam, it became clear to Anaheim Electronics that it would be far too expensive to produce on a large scale.  To counter this, they developed a versatile design that was both cheap, easy to pilot, and produce.  The design became known as the RGM-79 GM. The GM differed  in many ways from its more expensive brother.  The GM used much more conventional armor rather than the new and very expensive Gundarium.  The GM also lacked the tachyon rifle which was also very expensive.  The only other major change was to use slightly less powerful engines to further reduce costs.

For weaponry the basic GM can use one of several types of weapons which vary from mission to mission.  The basic default weapon for the RGM-79 series is the GU-24 100mm assault rifle.  This rifle, patterned after the gunpods used by the veritech fighters, provides an excellent amount of firepower and exceptional accuracy.  In addition to the assault rifle, the GM can also use a smaller assault rifle which delivers at a higher rate of fire, this is often used in situations when accuracy is not essential, and merely laying down fire is a must.  For heavy assault work, the GM has several options.  There is the RU-33 and RU-35 missile launchers which fires modified versions of the MPM-10 designed to be able to punch through most armor and severely damage most mecha with only one shot.  The GM can also be outfitted with a six tube missile launcher which carries twelve MPM-15 Rapier medium range missiles.  The final weapon for the GM series is the 180mm "anti-everything" rail cannon.  This massive cannon can be fired at extremely long ranges and can punch serious holes into anything it hits.  Different ammo types can be used of course which change based on mission profile.  The GM series also have one beam saber in addition to the standard head mounted 60mm autocannons.

First deployed alongside the RGM-78 Gundam, the RGM-79A GM was quickly replaced by the RGM-79C GM Modified which added an additional pair of thrusters on he back which added to combat endurance if one engine was destroyed or failed for some reason.  The GM Modified also had far superior performance to the -79A.  At the same time as the -79C, the -79G also entered service as the mobile suit for the higher ranking members within a platoon.  The -79G had improved electronics and engines, but no additional armor or weapons.  The final mobile suit to be released that year was the RGM-79D, a two-seat trainer variant of the standard RGM-79A. With the trainee pilot sitting in the standard cockpit, the instructor pilot sat in another seat above his, equipped with a small window. The GM Trainer mimicked the standard GM in almost every respect, although it was built with weaker armor to reduce its cost. 

The following year, another version hit the battlefield, the RGM-79K.  The -79K was modeled after the -79A and featured very capable sensors with longer ranges than the standard sensor suite.  The biggest addition to the suit however was the 240mm shoulder mounted rail cannon.  This made the suit a walking artillery piece capable of severely damaging many mecha with a single shot.  This firepower did come at a price, agility.  The -79K is far less agile and quick when compared to other mobile suits, but still has enough to make it a viable unit though.  Many platoons received two though some received as many eight making them long range attack platoons. 

2052 saw the introduction of two new types of GM and a new armor system.  The RGM-79N came out first in March.  The RGM-79N was designed in conjunction with the RGM-78NT-01 and featured some of the same systems such as the magnetic coating and the more efficient layout of the armor which allowed it take more damage.  The -79N also featured better thrusters further boosting agility and reaction times.  The -79N replaced both the -79G and -79C on the battlefield.  The RGM-79S was brought out later that year and was the ultimate version of the GM.  The RGM-79S, dubbed the GM Sniper Special because of its incredible optical targeting system.  The -79S was designed to be a special forces use mobile suit to destroy enemy mecha at extremely long range with one shot.  It is effectively suited to such a mission both because of its sensor suite, and its primary weapon for sniping, the BR-06 tachyon rifle.  This is a long range tachyon rifle used only by the -79S which can destroy almost any mecha with a single shot.  The RGM-79FA, developed in the same manner as the RGM-78FA series was an armor add on as well as additional weapon systems making the RGM-79FA ideal for static defense.  The FAWS system for the GM Custom added additional armor further increasing survivability along with a pair of 240mm rail cannons.  These cannons were identical to the ones mounted on the GM Cannon giving the Full Armor GM the nickname "GM Cannon II" and replaced a many RGM-79K fielded by the RDF Space Marines.  Like its RGM-78 counterparts, the RGM-79FA was only used in limited numbers by the Space Marines.

The GM's did not see much combat due to the era in which they were deployed.  Those that did, usually faced off against pirates and anti-UTG opponents with antiquated equipment which made them easy prey.  The GM however was a favorite among the pilots because of its versatility and lack of weak points, though it also lacked strong points, "Lack of characteristics, that's its characteristic" LTJG Kou Uraki was quoted as once saying when he faced off against one during combat testing in Australia near Torrington Base in 2052.  The -79S however saw much combat being used by the special forces divisions of both the Marines and Space Marines in addition to the Special Space Services. The -79S performed exceptionally earning the admiration of its pilots and the commanders who used them.

The RGM-79 however was replaced by the RGM-85 and -86 starting in 2055.  Several units can be found among planetary militia near the rim and are now used extensively by private security firms and of course by pirates.  However, three types continued to remain in service past the normal GMs.  The RGM-79K was continued in use until the arrival of the RGM-89C Jegan Cannon as no cannon variant was ever fielded for the the RGM-85 or RGM-86.  The RGM-79D GM Trainer continued to train mobile suit pilots throughout the Neld Invasion and 4th Robotech War.  The RGM-79S was later equipped with a Active Stealth System and remained a key part of the Special Space Services strike and sniper teams until it was retired following the end of the 4th Robotech War.

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Robotech (R) is the property of Harmony Gold. This document is in no way intended to infringe upon their rights.

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 November 26, 2001 @ 00:00 GMT