RGM-79[E] GM Early Type – MechaBay

The RGM-79[E] GM Early Type was a prototype general purpose mobile suit developed by the Earth Federation Forces as part of their first mass production mobile suit programme.

The “R” in the model code meant it was a Federation model¹ and the “GM” indicated that it was a mass production Gundam mobile suit. The “79” in the model code denoted it was developed in UC 0079, and the “[E]” suffix designated it as an early type.

History

When the One Year War reached a stalemate, the Earth Federation Forces scrambled to develop and deploy their own mobile suit forces to counter the Principality of Zeon. While the EFF’s Operation V prototype units were creating havoc for Zeon in other parts of the Earth Sphere, the EFF were already hard at work laying the groundwork for their own mass-produced mobile suit.

A pre-production model developed in conjunction with the experimental ground-pounding RGM-79[G] GM Ground Type, the RGM-79[E] GM Early Type was designed for space combat and was closely based on the prototype RX-78-2 Gundam. The Early Type served as a testbed for Federation mobile suit mass production techniques and gathered crucial combat data.

The Early Type, along with combat data obtained from the Gundam’s “learning computer” system, served as the basis of the later mass produced RGM-79C GM Type C. Only a limited number of units were produced and placed into actual combat for testing purposes.

One of these units was operated by Terry Sanders, Jr., who became one of the EFF’s first ace mobile suit pilots by scoring six enemy kills in his GM. However, his entire team was wiped out on October 6, UC 0079, when they encountered a new test-model MS-06RD-4 Zaku II RD-4 Type. Sanders was the only member of his team to survive the encounter, with his GM left severely damaged and incapable of combat. With his infamous “Death God” nickname ensured – due to his curse of being the only member of his own team to walk away alive – the EFF transferred Sanders out of the space unit test team and into groundside combat in Southeast Asia.

Design

The RGM-79[E] GM Early Type was designed for space combat and incorporated many design elements from the RX-78-2 Gundam. However, several compromises were made to enable mass production, including the removal of expensive systems and advanced materials.

The Early Type used titanium alloy armour instead of the Gundam’s Luna Titanium, which was easier and faster to refine whilst still providing adequate protection. The mobile suit was powered by a Minovsky type ultracompact fusion reactor with an output of 1,390 kW.

Unlike later GM variants, the Early Type had a relatively simple armament loadout focused on reliability and ease of production. The mobile suit featured a standard cockpit in its torso with conventional controls and displays.

Armaments

The GM Early Type’s standard weapons were two 60 mm vulcan guns for anti-aircraft defence and a beam saber for close combat.

60 mm vulcan guns

Mounted in the head, these shell firing weapons have high-rate of fire but little power and can’t damage the armor of a mobile suit, though they can damage lightly armored areas such as the sensors. They are ideal for shooting down small, lightly armored targets such as missiles, attack vehicles, etc.

Beam saber

The GM Early Type is equipped with a beam saber stored on the left side of the backpack. It is a small device held in the mobile suit’s hands when operated and is powered by a rechargeable energy capacitor.

The beam saber used an I-field to contain Minovsky particles within the shape of a blade. Minovsky particles broke down matter at a molecular level, meaning the beam saber could cut through almost any material.

90 mm bullpup machine gun

The 90 mm bullpup machine gun served as the Early Type’s primary ranged weapon. Its muzzle velocity is increased due to the use of new gunpowder and this enables it to easily penetrate the armor of Zeon’s mobile suit. A box-like sensor system incorporating a video camera and laser sensor is installed at the top, and when this system is used alongside the GM’s targeting system, target acquisition capability is enhanced.

Each clip contained 20 rounds, requiring pilots to manage their ammunition carefully during extended engagements.

Known pilots

Terry Sanders Jr.

Behind the scenes

Okawara Kunio was the original mechanical designer.

The GM Early Type piloted by Sanders featured a beam saber rack, but no beam saber. Whether the GM Early Type is equipped with beam saber is unclear, though some later media, such as The 08th MS Team U.C.0079 + α Tribute and Hunter of Black Clothes, depicted it as having a beam saber.

Appearances

Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team

External links

RGM-79[E] GM Early Type on the Gundam Wiki
RGM-79[E] GM Early Type on MAHQ

Federation in Japanese is renpou, hence the use of “R”. ↩