FA-78-2 Heavy Gundam

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FA-78-2 Heavy Gundam
FA-78-2 Heavy Gundam
Unit Type
Prototype Heavy Assault Mobile Suit
Profile
Developed from	FA-78-1 Gundam Full Armor Type
Developed Into	RX-78SP Gunner Gundam T1 Shuttle Gundam
Variants	FA-78-2 Heavy Gundam (Unit 2)
First Seen	0079 U.C.
Manufacturer	Earth Federation Forces
Operator	Earth Federation Forces
Known Pilots	Den Berserk
General Characteristics
Overall Height	18.4 meters60.367 ft <br />724.409 in <br />
Head Height	18.0 meters59.055 ft <br />708.661 in <br />
Empty Weight	52.2 metric tons
Power-plant	Minovsky Ultracompact Fusion Reactor
Pilot Accommodations	Pilot only (in standard cockpit in torso)
Movement
Propulsion	Rocket thrusters
Real World
Appearances*
Variation	MS-X

The FA-78-2 Heavy Gundam is a Mobile Suit featured solely in the MS-X mobile suit variations.

Technology & Combat Characteristics

Although the FA-78-1 Gundam Full Armor Type, was deemed to be a design failure while it was still in the planning phases, the Earth Federation continued to design new upgrades to for the RX-78-2 Gundam under Full-Armor System and Weapon System (FSWS) program. The most successful concept to come out of the project was the design of the FA-78-2 Heavy Gundam.

Instead of adding supplemental external armor and weapons modules to a pre-existing mobile suit as the Gundam Full Armor Type did, the Heavy Gundam was an entirely new mobile suit built from the ground up. This reduced some of the weight issues the original design suffered, and allowed for the unit to have thicker and sturdier armor as well. The Core Block System is omitted in favor of additional armor plates. Extra thrusters are added to the legs to deal with the increased weight.

The Heavy Gundam is armed with a shoulder-mounted beam cannon connected directly to the generator. Also added in a beam saber over the opposite shoulder for use in close combat situations. The concept of rocket launchers in the shoulders and knees was removed all together, and the Heavy Gundam was instead given a special gun that mounted over the right fore-arm called a "frame launcher." The Heavy Gundam's frame launcher incorporated both a large Gatling gun and a four-tube missile launcher, making it a useful long-range weapon. For unknown reasons, the FA-78-2 Heavy Gundam lacks the pair of head mounted Vulcan Guns like the RX-78-2 Gundam or the FA-78-1 Gundam Full Armor Type did.

Armaments

• Shoulder Beam Cannon

• Beam Saber

• Frame Launcher

• Gatling Gun

• 4-tube Missile Launcher

History

Three prototype Heavy Gundam units would be built, as development of new Gundam upgrades was ended in November of Universal Century 0079. But the Heavy Gundam's design was still successful as it had overcome all of the weight and mobility problems that had plagued the Gundam Full Armor Type. The lone Heavy Gundam prototype would see action at least once, piloted by Colonel Den Berserk when the Earth Federation Forces captured the Zeon asteroid fortress of Pezun. Development of the Heavy Gundam units were resumed one year from the war's end, with all three machines being completed six months later.

Variants

• FA-78-2 Heavy Gundam (Unit 2)
• T1 Shuttle Gundam

Picture Gallery

Frame launcher

Heavy Gundam MS Girl

MS-X version Front

MS-X version Rear

External Links

• FA-78-2 Heavy Gundam on MAHQ.net

Template:Early Universal Century Mobile weapons