RGM-79[G] GM Ground Type – MechaBay | Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team

The RGM-79[G] GM Ground Type was a ground-based prototype mobile suit developed by the Earth Federation Forces as an early prototype of their mobile suit mass production project.

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 “[G]” suffix designated it as a ground type.

History

The RGM-79[G] GM Ground Type was an early prototype of the Earth Federation Forces’ mobile suit mass production project, developed before the RX-78-2 Gundam’s operational data was recovered. Even though it was only able to operate on Earth, its internal parts were all tuned for ground combat, and it was equipped with Luna Titanium armour.

Due to its use of Luna Titanium alloy, it was unsuited for mass production and produced in limited numbers. However, the GM Ground Type was important in establishing the EFF’s mobile suit production framework. The operational data it collected contributed to the development of later mobile suits.

The GM Ground Type was a simplified version of the RX-79[G] Gundam Ground Type, and produced using the same production line. Compared to the Gundam Ground Type, the GM Ground Type omitted the chest-mounted vulcan gun and multi-launcher, the weapon container mount on the backpack, and was equipped with a less powerful generator.

In order to prevent the expansion of Zeon’s power, the GM Ground Type was quickly deployed in strategically important Southeast Asia. It was also deployed on a priority basis to special forces for the purpose of collecting data on actual battles with mobile suits. Toward the end of the war, it was also deployed in Operation Odessa, which became the stage for a large-scale battle on the ground.

The basic structure of the GM Ground Type’s head was later inherited by the RGM-79 GM, becoming the iconic face of Federation mass production mobile suits.

Design

The RGM-79[G] GM Ground Type was designed specifically for ground combat operations. It incorporated many advanced features that would later be adapted for mass production models, though several systems were simplified to reduce costs.

The mobile suit used Luna Titanium alloy armour, which provided superior protection compared to standard titanium alloys but was more expensive to produce. All internal parts were tuned specifically for ground combat operations, giving it excellent performance under gravity conditions.

The GM Ground Type featured enhanced mobility and manoeuvrability compared to later mass production models, with performance under gravity said to rival that of the RX-78-2 Gundam. The mobile suit could be equipped with a variety of weapons depending on mission requirements.

The mobile suit featured a container rack system on its backpack when equipped with the Gundam Ground Type’s backpack, allowing it to carry additional equipment such as weapon containers and parachute packs. The rack was equipped with a foldable searchlight and certain sections could unfold into a forklift-like mechanism for attaching weapon containers.

Armaments

The GM Ground Type’s standard weapons were two beam sabers for melee combat and various ranged weapons depending on mission requirements.

Beam sabers

The GM Ground Type was equipped with a pair of beam sabers, one stored in the outer side of each leg. The beam saber was a small device held in the mobile suit’s hands when operated and powered by a rechargeable energy capacitor.

The beam sabers 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 most armour not treated with anti-beam coating.

100 mm machine gun

The standard armament for Federation’s mobile suit ground forces during the One Year War that was developed by Yashima Heavy Industries. It had an alternate model number: “NF·GMG-Type.37/100mm”.

Equipped with a box magazine and folding stock, it had excellent rate of fire and was easy to wield. It utilised a smoothbore type barrel that lacked rifling and had to be replaced after firing 3,000 rounds. The weapon could utilise three different types of ammunition: HEAT (High Explosive Anti-Tank), APFSDS (Armour-Piercing Fin-Stabilised Discarding-Sabot), and HESH (High Explosive Squash Head), allowing combat units to select the appropriate type to meet operational needs.

Every GM Ground Type carried two spare magazines on their side skirt armour.

Beam rifle

The beam rifle served as the GM Ground Type’s primary long-range weapon. The rifle drew its rounds from energy packs (E-packs), clips of charged Minovsky particles. The beam rifle had sufficient power to destroy most mobile suits with a single well-placed shot.

Rocket launcher

A shoulder-mounted rocket launcher could be equipped for anti-armour and anti-fortification missions. The launcher provided heavy firepower against hardened targets and could be stored in weapon containers when not in use.

Net gun

A special handheld weapon that fired a spider web-like net to capture enemy units. This non-lethal weapon proved useful for capturing enemy pilots or disabling mobile suits without destroying valuable intelligence.

Short shield

Mounted on the forearm, this small, light shield was commonly used by both the Gundam Ground Type and GM Ground Type. Constructed of Luna Titanium alloy, it was designed to primarily protect the cockpit and other critical areas.

The shield could be used as a close-range striking weapon in mobile suit combat. Furthermore, through lodging the spikes at the tip into the ground, the shield could serve as a free-standing frontal defence, allowing the mobile suit to use both hands to hold large calibre weaponry whilst maintaining a stable firing position.

Variants

RGM-79[G] GM Sniper - Long-range sniper variant

Behind the scenes

Okawara Kunio was the original mechanical designer. The GM Ground Type was designed for Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team.

Appearances

Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team

External links

RGM-79[G] GM Ground Type on the Gundam Wiki

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