RB-79M Ball Type M

The RB-79M Ball Type M was a variant of the standard Ball deployed by the Earth Federation designed for minelaying. It was also known as the Locker Ball.

The “M” variant code denoted it as the marine variation of the RB-79.

History

See also: History of RB-79 Ball

Early in the One Year War, the Earth Federation struggled to counter Zeon’s superior mobile suit forces.

While the Federation had developed the powerful RX-78-2 Gundam, its complex design prevented mass production. Even their standard RGM-79 GM was not rolling off the assembly lien fast enough to meet combat needs. As a stopgap measure, the Federation converted 1,200 civilian SP-W03 Space Pods into combat units.

Among these was the RB-79M Ball Type M that the Federation deployed to plant mines at the defense perimeter of its fleets. The Type M underwent a number of test operations in early October UC 0079 before its deployment at Luna II, where it took on the task of scattering mines along routes the Zeon’s patrol fleets would take. This delivered results beyond the expectations of the Federation’s high command.

At the end of the War, the Federation began sending out the Type M during fleet battles to lay mines. The difficulty of the task was compounded by the fact that the Type M was not designed for combat. More than a third were lost in battle, and the remaining units were converted into the RB-79 Ball and RB-79F Ball Type F.

Design

See also: Design of RB-79 Ball

The RB-79M Ball Type M variant had modifications to serve its minelaying role. It had two MMB-05E mine scatter pods mounted on its back, each containing 24 mines. These were folded behind the Ball when not in use, and extended out on both flanks when it laid mines.

The scatter pods came with additional thrusters that allowed it to better fine-tune its position when placing mines. Instead of a cannon on its head, it had a mine control unit.

Its manipulator arms were specially designed to handle mines.

Armament

The MMB-05E floating mines had six sensors: top, bottom, front, back, and both sides. They could be set to detonate on contact, proximity, on a timer, or by remote control.

Known pilot

• Broglie Ligera

Variants

• RB-79 Ball
• RB-79C Ball Type C
• RB-79F Ball Type F
• RB-79M Ball Type K
• RB-79N Fisheye
• RB-133 Type 133 Ball

Behind the scenes

Okawara Kunio is the original mechanical designer.

Appearances

• MSV-R: The Return of Johnny Ridden
• MSV-R (Mobile Suit Variations R)

External links

• RB-79M Ball Type M on Gundam Wiki
• RB-79M Ball Type M on MAHQ