RGM-79GS GM Command Space Type
Mass production space combat mobile suit developed by the Earth Federation.
The RGM-79GS GM Command Space Type was a mass production space combat mobile suit developed by the Earth Federation Forces as a specialised space variant of the RGM-79G GM Command.
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, the “G” designated it as part of the GM Command series, and the “S” suffix indicated it was optimised for space operations.
History
Following the success of the RGM-79D GM Cold Districts Type, a late production type GM deployed in the One Year War, development of new localised warfare machines using the suit as a basis started. The basic concept was to maintain the fundamental design of the GM Cold Districts Type whilst improving on its output and mobility.
Demands of mobile suit pilots who were unsatisfied with the original RGM-79 GM’s performance were also taken into account, and with the upcoming counter offensive in space against the Principality of Zeon in mind, a decision was made to simultaneously develop a ground use unit and a space use unit. The end results were the ground use RGM-79G GM Command and the space use GM Command Space Type.
Both suits were also used to collect data for the development of next-generation mass production models. The GM Command Space Type was developed for colony defence, being specialised space combat version of the GM Command.
In the last weeks of the One Year War, the Earth Federation Forces refined its mobile suit manufacturing processes and developed several variants of its standard RGM-79 GM. While quite similar to the standard GM Command, the Space Type mounted an enhanced backpack equipped with more manoeuvring verniers and more powerful rocket thrusters.
By removing equipment not needed in a zero-gravity environment, more internal space was freed up in the Space Type, allowing it to be equipped with additional verniers and larger fuel propellant tanks. However, due to its high cost, the Space Type only appeared in limited quantities near the end of the war, with two units assigned to the Scarlet team stationed aboard the assault carrier Gray Phantom.
Design
The RGM-79GS GM Command Space Type was quite similar to the standard GM Command but featured significant modifications for space operations. The most notable change was the enhanced backpack equipped with more manoeuvring verniers and more powerful rocket thrusters optimised for zero-gravity combat.
By removing equipment not needed in a zero-gravity environment, more internal space was freed up in the Space Type, allowing it to be equipped with additional verniers and larger fuel propellant tanks. This resulted in superior manoeuvrability and operational endurance compared to ground-based variants.
The mobile suit was powered by a Minovsky type ultracompact fusion reactor with an output of 1,390 kW, slightly higher than the ground-based Command variant. The enhanced thruster system provided a total output of 74,000 kg, giving the Space Type exceptional acceleration and turning performance in space.
The GM Command Space Type maintained the same high-quality construction standards as other Command series mobile suits, with excellent maintainability and operability compared to earlier mass production models. The mobile suit’s specifications were said to be a match for Zeon’s MS-14A Gelgoog.
Armaments
The GM Command Space Type’s standard weapons were two 60 mm vulcan guns for point defence, two beam sabers for close combat, and a shield for protection.
60 mm vulcan guns
A pair of shell-firing armament built into the head. Though they had low offensive power, they were used to restrict enemy movement and lay down a wall of suppressive fire due to their rapid fire capability.
In space combat, these weapons were particularly effective against incoming missiles, small craft, and as a means of applying pressure to enemy mobile suits during close-range engagements.
Beam sabers
The GM Command Space Type was equipped with two beam sabers stored in recharge racks on the rear skirt armour. These provided effective close-range combat capability in zero-gravity environments.
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 almost any material.
Shield
The mobile suit mounted a shield on either forearm for defence. The shield provided protection against enemy beam weapons and projectiles whilst not significantly impacting the mobile suit’s manoeuvrability in space.
Beam gun
A next-generation beam weapon developed as a testbed for a new category of weapon between the beam rifle and the beam spray gun, resulting in the new ‘beam gun’ category. The most unique features of the BG-M-79F-3A was the large beam accelerator and battery pack located on top of the rear portion of the weapon.
These mechanics created a type of beam that, in addition to pinpoint penetration of targets, also had the side effect of cutting through the internal systems of the target, which proved to be very effective at disabling enemy mobile suits without completely destroying them.
Behind the scenes
Okawara Kunio was the original mechanical designer. The GM Command Space Type was designed for Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket.
In SD Gundam G Generation games, the GM Command is merged with the RGM-79GS GM Command Space Type for the sake of simplicity. It is able to operate both on the ground and in space, and has a colour scheme based on the Space Type.
Appearances
See also
External links
- RGM-79GS GM Command Space Type on the Gundam Wiki
- RGM-79GS GM Command Space Type on MAHQ
Footnotes
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Federation in Japanese is renpou, hence the use of “R”. ↩