RX-77-2 Guncannon

The RX-77-2 Guncannon was a prototype artillery mobile suit developed by the Earth Federation.

It was part of the Federation’s top-secret Project V, a programme initiated to research and build mobile weapons.

History

The Earth Federation begun the secret Project V to develop mobile weapons four years prior to the One Year War, after it received intelligence reports of the mobile suits that the Principality of Zeon was building.

The prototype RX-77-1A Guncannon A was the early concept that led to the production of the RX-77-2 Guncannon. Its heavier armour made it less mobile than its successor.

The initial number of Guncannons built was unknown. Only one of the units stationed in the Federation’s research base in the colony Side 7 survived when Zeon forces attacked the base. This Guncannon unit served on the assault carrier White Base as a support unit until the end of the war. It was piloted by Kai Shiden.

RX-77-2 Guncannon Target in Sight version

RX-77-2 Guncannon Target in Sight version

When the RX-75-4 Guntank was decommissioned at Jaburo, the headquarters of the Federation Forces, another Guncannon unit, C-109, was added to White Base’s mobile suit complement. To differentiate between the first and the new units, they were designated C-108 and C-109 respectively. The new unit was piloted by Hayato Kobayashi.

This made the Gunannon the only model from Project V to have more than one units in active service. Both units were heavily damaged in the battle at Zeon’s space fortress A Baoa Qu. After the war, Unit C-108 was put on display in the Kennedy Space Museum.

RX-77-2 Guncannon Gundam Evolve versionRX-77-2 Guncannon Gundam Evolve version

The Federation rolled out a mass production version of the Guncannon, the RX-77D Guncannon Mass Production Type.

The RX-77-3 Guncannon Heavy Arms Type and the RX-77-3D Guncannon Heavy Arms Type D were improved and more heavily armoured variants of the Guncannon.

The Guncannon was eventually succeeded by the RX-77-4 Guncannon II.

The RGC-80 GM Cannon was a variant developed by the Federation that combined the features of the Guncannon and RGM-79D GM. The GM Cannon was later replaced by the RGC-83 GM Cannon II.

Design

Unlike RX-75-4 Guntank, the first unit to emerge from Project V, the RX-77-2 Guncannon was a true mobile suit with a humanoid frame, as opposed to the former’s design that was a fusion of a mobile suit and a tank. The Guncannon was designed to function as a mid-range support unit.

Like the other units from Project V, the Guncannon used the Core Block System that allowed the separation of the Core Block from the upper torso to function as an FF-X7 Core Fighter. This was utilised as an escape system for the pilot.

RX-77-2 Guncannon rocket thrustersRX-77-2 Guncannon Gundam Evolve version

Unlke its predecessor the RX-77-1A Guncannon A, the Guncannon was less heavily armoured and thus had better mobility. However, it had poorer mobility than the RX-78-2 Gundam as it was more heavily armoured. The additional armour was ineffective against beam weapons and heavy armaments.

The Guncannon was one of the first mobile weapons to be equipped with an energy cap-based beam rifle and head-mounted vulcan canons. While the vulcan cannons made the Guncannon better than the Guntank in close-ranged combat, the Guncannon was still at a disadvantage due to a lack of melee weapons.

Armaments

The standard weapons used by the Guncannon were a ranged weapon, medium-range artillery cannons and hand grenades. It could also mount spray missile launchers in place of the cannons.

60 mm vulcan guns
A pair of fire-linked 60 mm gatling vulcan guns were mounted on either sides of the Guncannon’s head. This was an improvement from the Guntank, which lacked proper short-ranged weapons.

RX-77-2 Guncannon headRX-77-2 Guncannon head

Each vulcan gun was loaded with 400 rounds of ammunition and fired at a rate of 1,600 rounds per minute. It was used primarily against light-armoured support units. Sustained fire from the guns could damage mobile suits and were often used in close distance combat.

240 mm artillery cannons
A 240 mm mid-range artillery cannon was mounted over each shoulder of the Guncannon. Each cannon drew ammunitions from a 20 round internal magazine. The limited ammunitions meant that the pilot had to use the cannons wisely.

rx-7--2-240mm-artillery-cannonsRX-77-2 Guncannon artillery cannon

The artillery shells measured 240 by 800 mm and carried a 95 kg high explosive fragmentation warhead with a casualty radius of 40 metres. These cannons had a firing range of up to 2.5 kilometres.

Spray missile launchers
The artillery cannons could be replaced with spray missile launchers depending on the requirements of the mission. Each launcher consisted of twelve tubes and each tube carried two missiles.

rx-77-2-guncannon-spray-missile-launchersRX-77-2 Guncannon with spray missile launchers mounted

The launchers were usually equipped in missions where the Guncannon had to provide support at a closer distance.

Beam rifle
The Guncannon was one of the first mobile weapons to use an energy cap-based beam rifle. The Bauva*XBR-L (Bauva eXperimental Beam Rifle – Long range) beam rifle was larger and more powerful mega particle armament compared to the [beam spray gun] used by the RX-78-2 Gundam. Its beam bolts were able to penetrate medium and heavy armour.

BAUVA·XBR-L beam rifleBAUVA·XBR-L beam rifle

The beam rifle was powered by an internal energy cap with an average charge of fifteen rounds. It had a maximum effective range of 2.8 kilometres.

BAUVA·XBR-L beam rifle Gundam Evolve versionBAUVA·XBR-L beam rifle

Hand grenades
The Guncannon had two high explosive dual purpose fragmentation hand grenades stored within a compartment in each lower leg. Upon removal from the hatch, the grenade was armed and would detonate within five to seven seconds.

RX-77-2 Guncannon hand grenadeHand grenade

The average throwing distance of the grenade was about 300 metres.

Known pilots

Related mecha

Behind the scenes

Kunio Okawara is the original mechanical designer.

In Mobile Fighter G Gundam, the Guncannon made a brief cameo appearance after the destruction of the Devil Gundam.

Appearances

Non-canon appearances

Sources