RMS-154 Barzam – MechaBay | Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam

The RMS-154 Barzam was a mass production general purpose mobile suit developed by the Earth Federation Forces to replace the aging RMS-179 GM II. It was based loosely on the RX-178 Gundam Mk-II and designed as a high performance/low cost general purpose unit.

The “R” in the model code meant it was a Federation model¹ and the “MS” designated it as a mobile suit. The “154” in the model code denoted that it was the 154th mobile suit design project in the Federation’s development programme.

History

During the Gryps War raging in UC 0087, the Earth Federation Forces decided to develop new mass production mobile suit models to replace its aging RMS-179 GM II and the high cost/low production variable mobile suits and mobile armors being tested in the field. One proposed replacement model was the RMS-154 Barzam.

The RMS-154 Barzam was created by the Titans as a mass-production mobile suit to replace the outdated RMS-179 GM II. Based on the RX-178 Gundam Mk-II, the Barzam was developed at the New Guinea Base and shared parts with existing MS to ensure ease of production.

Designed as a high performance/low cost general purpose unit, the Barzam possessed its own exclusive beam rifle, although it could be outfitted with the Mk-II’s optional 2-barrel vulcan pod, as well as weapons from the GM II, RMS-106 Hi-Zack, and RMS-108 Marasai.

However, due to the fact that the Barzam did not possess any “special” or “unique” weapons, it was deemed too “ordinary” and only saw limited production, never replacing the GM II as intended. Despite this, a sizable number was produced in a short period of time and deployed on Earth and in space during the Gryps War.

The Titans’ attempt to replace their outdated mobile suits with the Barzam was disrupted when the Earth Federation chose to disown the elite military unit. Even with the subsequent disbandment of the Titans and end of the war, the Barzam and its variants were still deployed by other factions. Despite this, the EFF did create a limited production variant unit, the Barzam (Refined Type).

Design

The Barzam was developed using the RX-178 Gundam Mk-II as a base, and was designed for compatibility with the weapons and options used by other Earth Federation Forces mobile suits. As many former Zeon engineers participated in its development, the final design incorporated a mono-eye and other trademarks of Zeon mobile suits, and showed little trace of its EFF ancestry.

Due to its unique look, the Barzam looked small, but was actually taller than most MS at 24.2 metres total height. Its waist and backpack were integrated into the torso, with legs extending from below this integrated torso. It featured a Zeon-style mono-eye sensor in the head and could be equipped with any of the handheld weaponry available to the GM II and Hi-Zack.

The Barzam featured Gundarium alloy armor and was powered by a Minovsky type ultracompact fusion reactor with an output of 1,670 kW. It had a standard cockpit in its torso with a panoramic monitor and linear seat. The mobile suit’s sensor range was 9,870 metres.

The Barzam’s propulsion system consisted of two main rocket thrusters with 40,200 kg output each, plus fourteen vernier thrusters/apogee motors for manoeuvrability. This gave it a total thrust output of 80,400 kg.

Armaments

The Barzam’s standard weapons were two beam sabers for melee combat and a beam rifle for ranged attacks.

Beam rifle

The Barzam was equipped with its own unique beam rifle, powered by rechargeable energy cap. The rifle was capable of firing concentrated mega particles, and a shot could damage most armor not treated to resist beam attacks.

The rifle drew its rounds from energy capacitors (E-caps), clips of charged Minovsky particles. Minovsky particles broke down matter at a molecular level, allowing the beam rifle bolts to penetrate even the thickest armor. This meant that a single shot could destroy a mobile suit.

Beam sabers

Emitting a blade-shaped beam, the beam sabers could cut through most armor not treated with anti-beam coating. The Barzam had two beam sabers, one stored in each forearm in recharge racks and hand-carried in use.

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. This meant that the beam saber could cut through almost any material.

Minovsky particles were channelled into the saber through an E-cap attached to its hilt. The E-cap recharged with Minovsky particles from the mobile suit’s reactor when the saber was stored in the recharge dock.

60 mm 2-barrel vulcan pod

The Barzam could be equipped with the optional VCU-505EX-Gry/Ver.009 60 mm 2-barrel vulcan pod originally designed for the RX-178 Gundam Mk-II. The vulcan pod was mounted on the head and contained 1,400 rounds of ammunition.

The vulcan guns were shell-firing weapons with a high rate of fire but little power and were generally ineffective against mobile suits, though they could damage lightly armored areas such as the sensors. They were ideal for shooting down small, lightly armored targets such as missiles, small vehicles, and aircraft.

Known pilots

Eiren

Variants

RMS-154 Barzam (Refined Type)

Behind the scenes

The original mechanical designer was Hideo Okamoto. In 2015, mechanical designer Hideo Okamoto clarified the design of the Barzam’s crotch piece, stating that the flat design was the intended design, and this design was subsequently used for the 2017 HGUC Barzam model kit. Okamoto also stated that the hole was a port for an energy tube, rather than a mega beam cannon or a vernier, as popularly believed.

The HGUC Barzam model kit was so popular due to its simple and modular design that it prompted Bandai to not only release other grunt suits as model kits, but also to develop new variants for the Build series.

Appearances

Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam
Gundam Sentinel
Mobile Suit Gundam: Gundam vs. Zeta Gundam

External links

RMS-154 Barzam on the Gundam Wiki
RMS-154 Barzam on MAHQ

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