RMS-179 GM II

The GM II is the successor to the Earth Federation's RGM-79 GM mobile suit. GM II units with the designation RGM-79R are original GM units that have been upgraded while those with the designation RMS-179 are completely new mobile suits.

Technology and Combat Characteristics
The GM II represented little in the way of technological innovation. Its performance was only slightly better than the GM mobile suit featuring slight improvements in power output, acceleration, and sensor range. The GM II also features improvements in armament as it is usually equipped with a beam rifle which is a more powerful weapon with greater range than the GM's beam spray gun.

One truly new piece of technology featured in the GM II is the 360-degrees panoramic cockpit first used in the RMS-106 Hizack, a mobile suit that has similar performance capabilities as the GM II.

Vulcan Gun
A pair of 60mm Vulcan guns are mounted into the GM II's head. These projectile weapons are designed for intercepting missiles and destroying lightly armored vehicles.

Beam Saber
For close quarters combat the GM II is equipped with a single back mounted beam saber.

Shield
A shield can be equipped to either arm of the GM II in order to increase defense.

BOWA·BR-S-85-C2 Beam Rifle
For standard offensive purposes the GM II is usually equipped with a beam rifle that has a power rating of 1.9kW.

History
An update to the Earth Federation Forces' original mass production mobile suit, the RGM-79 GM, the RMS-179/RGM-79R GM II went into service in the early UC 0080s, replacing the older GM as the mainstay front line mobile suit. Operated by the Earth Federation Forces and the upstart Anti-Earth Union Group, the GM II was commonly used during the early days of the Gryps Conflict in UC 0087. However during the conflict both sides continually fielded newer mobile suit models that possessed greater performance ratings and new technology.

Many of these machines would be favored by pilots over the GM II because of the superior performance, but only the AEUG would completely replace the GM II as a mainstay mobile suit with their MSA-003 Nemo which was closely based off the GM II. The Earth Federation forces produced many new mobile suits but most never made it past the prototype/limited production stage due to high cost, while those that did make it to mass production were never produced in enough numbers to completely replace the GM II.

Eventually after the Gryps Conflict and during the First Neo Zeon War the Earth Federation forces and the AEUG would both use a new mainstay mobile suit, the RGM-86R GM III a descendant of the GM II that featured vast improvements over other mass produced mobile suits.