RB-79K Ball Type K

RB-79K Ball Type K
RB-79K Ball Type K (RB-79K ボールK型)
Unit Type
Limited Production Space Mobile Pod
Profile
Developed from	SP-W03 Space Pod
First Seen	0079 U.C.
Manufacturer	Earth Federation
Operator	Earth Federation Forces
Known Pilots	Shiro Amada
General Characteristics
Overall Height	12.8 meters41.995 ft <br />503.937 in <br />
Max Weight	25.0 metric tons
Empty Weight	17.2 metric tons
Power-plant	Fuel Cell
Power Output	400 kW536.409 hp <br />
Sensor Range	4000 meters13,123.36 ft <br />
Pilot Accommodations	Pilot only (in cockpit in main body)
Movement
Max Acceleration	0.96 G
180° Turning Time	2.2 s2,200 ms <br />
Rocket Thrusters	24000 kg52,910.928 lb <br />26.455 tons <br />
Equipment
Standard	Winch
Standard Armaments
Fixed	Double Cannon
Real World
Mechanical Designer	Hajime Katoki
Appearances*
OVA	08th MST: #1 - Episode #1 IGLOO: HOYW: First Seen in Episode #3 IGLOO: A0079: First Seen in Episode #2
Game	Mobile Suit Gundam: Encounters in Space

The RB-79K Ball Type K is a mobile pod featured in the OVA Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team. It is piloted by Shiro Amada.

Technology & Combat Characteristics

The Ball Type K was one of the earliest types produced, and was superior to the later mass-production type RB-79 Ball in all aspects, including armor and propellant capacity. It was a prototype of the civilian maintenance modification for full-scale mass production, and therefore retained working equipment such as lights and winches. The winch could be used for a variety of purposes by replacing the anchor, but it was omitted in later mass production models. In the cockpit, a fire control system, various radars, a communication system, and a large monitor were added, and the seats and other parts were also replaced with military equipment.

Armaments

• Double Cannon

Equipped on the top of the machine.

Special Equipment & Features

• Winch

History

The total production of the Ball Type K was less than 100, and it was deployed to convoys and orbital security forces. In the hands of Federation pilot Shiro Amada, it recorded possibly its greatest achievement by reaching a stalemate with the MS-06RD-4 Zaku High Mobility Test Type in satellite orbit. Amada achieved this by first sneaking up on the Zaku using a large piece of debris as camouflage. When the pilot of the Zaku noticed, Amada used the rocket propelled winch to snag the enemy mobile suit and then proceeded to swing around the machine to entangle the Zaku in the grappling line and bring the Ball's cannons within a point blank shooting range of the Zaku's head. When the Zaku pilot tried to bring out her machine's heat hawk to destroy the Ball, Amada was able to temporarily hold it off with the Ball's manipulator arm, but it proved too weak to resist the mobile suit's arm for long, but by then Shiro had destroyed the Zaku's head. Both machines were heavily damaged, forcing the two pilots to escape before they exploded.

Gallery

Anime

08th Mobile Suit Team

Cockkpit Hatch

Cockpit

Front; Being fired on by the Zaku High Mobility Test Type

Rear

Winch

Entangling the Zaku High Mobility Test Type

Mobile Suit Gundam MS IGLOO

Firing double cannon (Apocalypse 0079)

Being destroyed by an Oggo

Attempting to fire on an Oggo

Gunpla

1/144 LM RB-79K Ball Type K (1996): box art

1/144 HGUC RB-79K Ball Type K & RB-79 Ball (Shark Mouth) (P-Bandai exclusive; 2012): box art

1/100 MG RB-79K Ball Type K (2005): box art

Gashapon

Gashapon Warrior Next 20

Notes & Trivia

• The Ball Type K Shiro Amada pilots in MS 08th Team is stated to be equipped with 15 caliber cannons, most likely placing their diameter at 150 mm.
• In MS Igloo the Ball Type K is visually identical to the standard mass production Ball, except that it is equipped with a double cannon instead of a 180mm low-recoil cannon. It is also referred to as a close-combat type Ball.