RTX-440B Assault Guntank Type B
Ground Assault Artillery Mobile Suit A ground assault artillery mobile suit developed as an improved version of the RTX-440 Assault Guntank.
The RTX-440B Assault Guntank Type B was a ground assault artillery mobile suit developed by the Earth Federation Forces as an improved version of the RTX-440 Assault Guntank.
The “RTX” in the model code indicated that it was an experimental Federation tank design,1 the “440” denoted that it was developed from the RTX-44 prototype anti-mobile suit tank, whilst the “B” designated it as the Type B variant with simplified systems compared to the original RTX-440.
History
The RTX-440B Ground Assault Type Guntank Type B was developed as a refinement of the RTX-440 Assault Guntank design following the lessons learned during Operation Odessa. An anti-mobile suit tank based on the prototype combat vehicle developed by the Earth Federation Forces to counter Zeon’s MS-06 Zaku II mobile suits.
Development of the RTX-440 Ground Assault Type Guntank was one of the many mobile suit projects that the Earth Federation started during the One Year War. Like all of the projects it was descended from the Federation’s Project V, specifically from the data of the RX-75 Guntank. However, the original RTX-440’s development was halted after technical officer Clyde Bettany stole its specs and defected to Zeon.
Later, the Assault Guntank’s design was refined for the RTX-440B variant, which saw combat in Eastern Europe during the final stages of the One Year War. Compared to its predecessor, its undercarriage was simplified, lacking the second set of caterpillar treads and the “Assault Gun Mode” transformation system that allowed the original RTX-440 to squat and deploy secondary treads for higher speed movement.
The Type B variant was deployed to support the Federation advance during the European campaign, providing heavy fire support against fortified Zeon positions. Multiple RTX-440B units participated in the bombardment of Odessa space port during the latter stages of the war.
Design
The RTX-440B Assault Guntank Type B was based on the RTX-440 Assault Guntank but featured a simplified design philosophy that prioritised reliability and ease of production over the complex transformation capabilities of the original. The Type B variant retained the heavy firepower of its predecessor whilst reducing mechanical complexity.
Compared to its predecessor, its undercarriage was simplified, lacking the second set of caterpillar treads and the “Assault Gun Mode” transformation system. This simplification made the Type B more reliable in field conditions and easier to maintain, though it sacrificed some of the mobility advantages of the original design.
The mobile suit retained the distinctive Guntank silhouette with its tank-like lower body and humanoid upper torso. The design featured titanium alloy armor that provided substantial protection against conventional weapons, though like its prototype predecessor, the RTX-440B’s caterpillar treads were prone to attacks by Zaku machine guns, and its armor was not strong enough to withstand Zeon MS’s thermo-based melee weapons or high-power shell-based weapons.
The Type B variant was powered by a Minovsky type ultracompact fusion reactor, providing sufficient power for extended artillery operations. The mobile suit’s propulsion system consisted of four engine-driven caterpillar treads that allowed it to traverse rough terrain whilst providing a stable firing platform for its heavy weapons.
Unlike the original RTX-440, the Type B lacked the complex transformation mechanism that allowed the predecessor to switch between normal and assault modes. This simplification reduced maintenance requirements and improved battlefield reliability, though it meant the Type B could not achieve the higher speeds possible with the original’s assault configuration.
Armaments
220mm cannon
A 220mm Cannon is mounted on RTX-440B Guntank’s right torso. The cannon served as the primary weapon system, capable of engaging both mobile suits and fortified positions at long range. This heavy artillery piece provided the mobile suit with its primary anti-mobile suit capability and could deliver devastating damage to enemy formations.
4-tube 30mm bop machine gun
A 4-tube 30mm Bop Machine Gun is mounted in the Guntank’s right manipulator with an internal ammunition feed system. As ranged weapons the rapid-firing machine guns are capable of destroying Magella Attack tanks, and are also effective against Zeon’s MS in close-quarter situation. The multiple barrels allowed for sustained fire whilst managing heat buildup.
2-tube 30mm bop machine gun and flamethrower
The left arm of RTX-440B features a 2-tube 30mm Bop machine cannons integrated with a large flamethrower for mid-range attack. These weapons are mounted in the left manipulator. The large flamethrower is mounted on top of 2-tube Bob Gun in the left manipulator. It is a mechanical incendiary device which can project a long, controllable stream of fire to incinerate targets such as infrastructures, infantry units and combat vehicles.
The flamethrower is fueled by two large external fuel tanks which are mounted at the back of Guntank’s torso and can be disposed once the fuel is used up. This combination weapon system provided both conventional projectile firepower and specialized anti-personnel capabilities for close-range engagements.
Known pilots
- Federation tank crews assigned to European operations
Behind the scenes
The original mechanical designer was Yamane Kimitoshi, who created the Type B variant specifically for Mobile Suit Gundam: Requiem for Vengeance. The design represented a continuation of the Guntank lineage whilst adapting to the production and operational realities of the late One Year War period.
The Type B’s simplified design philosophy reflected the Federation’s need for reliable, mass-producible vehicles as the war progressed, prioritising battlefield effectiveness over technological complexity. The computer graphics animation allowed for detailed rendering of the mobile suit’s mechanical systems and weapons effects.
Gunpla
No official Gunpla kit of the RTX-440B Assault Guntank Type B has been released, though custom builders have created scratch-built versions based on existing Guntank kits.
Appearances
External links
- RTX-440-B Assault Guntank Type B on MAHQ
- RTX-440-B Ground Assault Type Guntank Type B on the Gundam Wiki
Footnotes
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Federation in Japanese is renpou, hence the use of “R”. TX indicated tank experimental. ↩