RGM-96X Jesta Cannon
Prototype artillery mobile suit developed by Anaheim Electronics.
The RGM-96X Jesta Cannon was a prototype artillery mobile suit developed by Anaheim Electronics as a heavy weapons variant of the RGM-96X Jesta.
The “R” in the model code meant it was a Federation model and the “GM” that it was a Gundam mass production mobile suit. The “96” in the model code denoted that it was developed from the RGM series, and the “X” designated it as an experimental mobile suit.
History
Like its base unit, the RGM-89 Jegan, the RGM-96X Jesta could adapt to different needs through the use of dedicated option parts, resulting in multiple variants. The Jesta Cannon was one such variant, a heavy armed variant with enhanced firepower via the addition of a beam cannon, a quadruple multi-launcher, more hand grenades and an enhanced beam rifle.
There was one confirmed Jesta Cannon in the Ra Cailum’s MS teams, and it was piloted by the Tri-Stars Team’s Watts Stepney. The Ra Cailum also carried parts for converting four more Jestas into the Jesta Cannon configuration.
The Tri-Stars Team encountered the Garencieres in space and ordered it to stop, but when they received no response, Watts moved his Jesta Cannon closer and angrily demanded the RX-0 Unicorn Gundam to come out of the ship, still feeling sore that the Unicorn Gundam knocked his mobile suit into the ocean during a previous battle. Watts’s Jesta Cannon then launched several attacks at the Garencieres to force it to stop, unaware that the ship was on auto pilot.
As the ship came to a stop, the Tri-Stars Team leader Nigel Garrett sensed something was off and ordered Watts to retreat. Watts complied and the Garencieres self-destructed soon after. Watts’ Jesta Cannon was then caught in the edge of the explosion, but fortunately, the mobile suit only received minor damage.
Design
The Jesta Cannon was a heavy armed variant with enhanced firepower via the addition of a beam cannon, a quadruple multi-launcher, more hand grenades and an enhanced beam rifle. It also had added body armor, including an arm-mounted shield, but their placement was kept to a minimum after considering weight balance. When needed, the added armor could be purged instantly using explosive bolts.
To handle the added weapons, the Jesta Cannon’s fire control systems had been improved. Not only could the Jesta Cannon serve as a mid-range fire support unit, which is a function synonymous with mobile suits that have the word “Cannon” in their name, it could also fight at close range.
The Jesta Cannon retained the same power output and thruster performance as the base Jesta, but the additional armaments and armor significantly increased its weight from 57.2 tonnes to 75.4 tonnes fully loaded.
Armaments
The Jesta Cannon’s standard weapons were a backpack-mounted beam cannon for long-range support, and an enhanced beam rifle for general combat.
Beam rifle
The Jesta Cannon’s beam rifle was the Jesta’s standard beam rifle with expansion parts. The added parts included an aiming device fixed on the top of the barrel for increased accuracy, and a grenade launcher below the barrel. Besides the normal firing mode, it also had a beam machine gun-like rapid fire mode. The Jesta Cannon’s beam rifle used the same magazine connector as the Jegan and ReZEL’s rifles, and three spare magazines were stored in the suit’s right forearm.
Beam cannon
One of the strongest weapons of the Jesta Cannon, the beam cannon was mounted on the backpack, over the right shoulder. It was directly connected to the generator, allowing continuous fire at high-output. It was mainly used for medium-range support and functioned in conjunction with a head-mounted high performance sensor unit.
Multi-launcher
A four-barrelled, multipurpose launcher mounted on the backpack, over the left shoulder. As implied by its name, the launcher was not only for dealing damage, it could also be loaded with special rounds such as flares depending on the combat situation.
Vulcan pod system
Mounted on the head, it contained a 60mm vulcan gun and was similar to the one used by the RGM-89 Jegan. The mounted vulcan gun had low firepower but a high rate of fire, it was extremely effective at restraining enemy machines, and could destroy the camera, sensors and joints of enemy machine at very close range.
Beam saber
The standard close range armament for most Federation mobile suits. Due to the mounting of a shield on the left arm as part of the added armor, the Jesta Cannon’s beam saber was stored on an optional rack that when mounted would replace one of the waist-mounted grenade rack.
Hand grenades
Three hand grenades were carried in each of the four grenade racks mounted on the side of the waist and on the side of the legs. These throwing weapons were similar to the ones used by the Jegan, and could be launched directly from the rack, functioning as self-propelled projectiles. If required, one of the waist mounted racks could be replaced by an optional beam saber rack.
Shield
The Jesta Cannon was equipped with a shield fixed to the left arm as part of its extra armor, replacing the beam saber rack of the normal Jesta. The backpack-mounted movable shield of the standard Jesta could also be mounted on the Jesta Cannon’s backpack if required. However, this required the removal of the beam cannon and the multi-launcher mount.
Known pilots
- Watts Stepney
Behind the scenes
Katoki Hajime was the original mechanical designer.
Appearances
External links
- RGM-96X Jesta Cannon on the Gundam Wiki
- RGM-96X Jesta Cannon on MAHQ