RGM-79SP GM Sniper II
High-performance sniper mobile suit developed by the Earth Federation.
The RGM-79SP GM Sniper II was a mass production general purpose mobile suit developed by the Earth Federation Forces as the ultimate evolution of the GM sniper series.
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 “S” designated it as a sniper type, and the “P” suffix indicated it was a high-performance variant.
History
Following the success of the high-performance (but equally costly) RGM-79SC GM Sniper Custom, the Earth Federation Forces commissioned a new sniper-use GM to be built during the last weeks of the One Year War. Based on the RGM-79G GM Command series and the concept of the GM Sniper Custom deployed earlier in the war, the GM Sniper II was a high-performance machine capable of using specialised weaponry at maximum capacity for ultra-long range engagements.
Due to the tight one-month deadline for designing and first rollout, only a handful of the new RGM-79SP GM Sniper IIs were seen in the last few days of the war. The GM Sniper II was based on the in-development GM Command, and was the most powerful GM variant built during the war.
Some units were assigned aboard the assault carrier Gray Phantom and to the White Dingo team in Australia. Another unit was assigned to ace pilot Lydo Wolf and painted in his trademark black custom colours. On December 21, UC 0079, it was seen participating in a Solar System transportation mission in the former Side 1 reef space.
The GM Sniper II was the last and most advanced of the Federation’s line of GM Sniper variants developed during the One Year War. It represented the culmination of Federation sniper mobile suit development, incorporating lessons learned from all previous sniper variants.
After the war, in UC 0084, the Titans deployed modernised versions of the GM Sniper II to support other mobile suits during missions against Zeon remnants.
Design
The RGM-79SP GM Sniper II was based on the concept of the RGM-79SC GM Sniper Custom deployed earlier in the war, but built on the improved RGM-79G GM Command frame. This combination resulted in a mobile suit that exceeded the catalogue specifications of the RX-78-2 Gundam and was noted to be one of the few Federation production mobile suits able to oppose the MS-14A Gelgoog on a one-to-one basis.
The mobile suit featured special targeting sensors in a face guard visor for its standard sensors, significantly enhancing its long-range engagement capabilities. The GM Sniper II could be equipped with a beam rifle or 90 mm machine gun for close-quarters combat, or a long-range, projectile-firing rifle for sniper missions.
The mobile suit was powered by a Minovsky type ultracompact fusion reactor with an output of 1,390 kW. The enhanced thruster system provided a total output of 102,000 kg, giving the GM Sniper II exceptional acceleration and manoeuvrability. This thruster configuration featured two large vernier thrusters added to the backpack and each leg, a style that would later be used in the MSA-003 Nemo and the RGM-89 Jegan.
However, due to the late-war completion of the design, as well as a cost that could only barely be said to be appropriate for a production model mobile suit, only a few test types and those immediately following them on the production line were produced.
Armaments
The GM Sniper II’s standard weapons were two beam sabers for close combat and various long-range weapons depending on mission requirements.
Beam sabers
The GM Sniper II was equipped with two beam sabers, powered by rechargeable energy caps and stored in recharge racks on the rear waist armour. These provided effective close-range combat capability when enemies closed to melee range.
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 was able to withstand high-powered beam attacks and provided essential protection during long-range engagements when the GM Sniper II was vulnerable to counter-fire.
90 mm bullpup machine gun
For close-quarters combat, the GM Sniper II could be equipped with a 90 mm bullpup machine gun. This weapon provided reliable firepower against mobile suits and was particularly effective in environments with high Minovsky particle density where beam weapons might be less effective.
The bullpup configuration made the weapon compact and manoeuvrable whilst maintaining good ballistic performance.
Sniper rifle
The GM Sniper II could be equipped with a long-range sniper rifle for precision engagements at extreme distances. This projectile weapon was highly accurate and could penetrate most mobile suit armour with a well-placed shot.
The sniper rifle was particularly effective against stationary or slow-moving targets and could engage enemies from beyond the range of most mobile suit weapons.
Long-range beam rifle
The mobile suit’s primary long-range weapon was a long-range beam rifle, powered by rechargeable energy caps. This weapon provided exceptional range and accuracy, allowing the GM Sniper II to engage targets at distances where return fire was unlikely.
The beam rifle featured advanced targeting systems that worked in conjunction with the mobile suit’s enhanced sensors to provide pinpoint accuracy at extreme ranges. The weapon’s high output made it capable of destroying most mobile suits with a single shot.
Known pilots
- Lydo Wolf
- Master Pierce Rayer
- Leung Lee-Fai
- Maximilian Berger
- South Burning
- Larry Radley
- Anish Lofman
- Lila Milla Rira
- Cain Ragnard
Behind the scenes
Yutaka Izubuchi was the original mechanical designer for the Gundam 0080 version. Kyoshi Takigawa designed the version seen in The Blazing Shadow.
The GM Sniper II was originally intended to be the same mobile suit as the GM Sniper Custom from Mobile Suit Variation, only redesigned. It was later retconned into a new model.
While the GM Sniper II influenced the design of the MSA-003 Nemo in-universe, in real life, the opposite is true as the GM Sniper II first appeared in Gundam 0080, which was released four years after Nemo’s first appearance in Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam.
The GM Sniper II was the last mobile suit from 0080 to receive a HGUC model kit. Ironically, it was the first “grunt” type mobile suit from 0080 to get a Master Grade.
Appearances
See also
External links
- RGM-79SP GM Sniper II on the Gundam Wiki
- RGM-79SP GM Sniper II on MAHQ
Footnotes
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Federation in Japanese is renpou, hence the use of “R”. ↩