RB-79K Ball Type K
Ball variant developed by the Earth Federation.
The RB-79K Ball Type K was a variant of the standard Ball deployed by the Earth Federation.
The “K” variant code denoted it as the cannon variation of the RB-79.
History
See also: History of RB-79 Ball
During the early stages of the One Year War, the Earth Federation faced a significant technological disadvantage against the Principality of Zeon’s mobile suit forces.
While the Federation developed the advanced RX-78-2 Gundam prototype, its high production costs made mass manufacturing impractical. Production of their first mass-production unit, the RGM-79 GM, could not meet the urgent battlefield demands. To address this shortage, the Federation modified approximately 1,200 civilian SP-W03 Space Pods for combat use.
The Ball Type K was one of the variants developed by the Federation, with less than a hundred units produced. The Ball Type K’s combat potential was notably demonstrated when pilot Shiro Amada successfully defeated a technologically superior MS-06RD-4 Zaku II Test Type using a Ball Type K on 6 October UC 0079.
Design
See also: Design of RB-79 Ball
The RB-79K Ball Type K was had larger manipulator arms, similar to the RB-79C Ball Type C. However, it retained the lights and rocket-guided cable grappling winch from the Space Pods. While it was unclear whether this was due to a lack of resources, the use of the winch in combat was explored
It had a standard cockpit located in the center of the Ball.
Armament
The Ball Type K had two 180 mm recoilless cannon mounted on its top, providing greater firepower than most of the other Ball variants. Due to the fixed angle of the cannon, it was only effective against targets in front of the Ball.
Known pilot
While travelling to Earth, the transport that Shiro Amada was on intercepted a distress signal from a damaged GM. He launched in a Ball Type K in an attempt to rescue it. He is able to save the GM pilot, Terry Sanders Jr, and destroy a MS-06RD-4 Zaku II Test Type unit in the process.
This was a feat given the superiority of the mobile suit over the mobile pod. The Ball Type K was badly damaged and exploded shortly after the occupants escaped.
Variants
- RB-79 Ball
- RB-79C Ball Type C
- RB-79F Ball Type F
- RB-79M Ball Type M
- RB-79N Fisheye
- RB-133 Type 133 Ball
Behind the scenes
Katoki Hajime is the original mechanical designer.
Gunpla
Bandai released the 1/144 LM RB-79K Ball Type K in August 1996 at ¥700. It is the first and only LM release from the Universal Century timeline.
In 2005, Bandai released the 1/100 MG RB-79K Ball Type K.Bandai released the P-Bandai exclusive 1/144 HGUC RB-79K Ball & RB-79 Ball set in 2012, with the RB-79 Ball being the Shark Mouth version from MS IGLOO
Appearances
- Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team
- Mobile Suit Gundam MS IGLOO: Apocalypse 0079
External links
- RB-79K Ball Type K on Gundam Wiki
- RB-79K Ball Type K on MAHQ