Technology & Combat Characteristics
The Ball Type K appears to be something of a mid-range variant of the long range artillery RB-79 Ball, and probably as close to a close range combat model as the Ball ever got. The 180mm recoiless cannon is replaced by a pair of 180mm cannons that possess a higher rate of fire. Additionally the Ball Type K is equipped with a rocket-guided grappling hook that can be used to hook targets. Once a target is hooked it is up to the pilot's ingenuity to deal with it. One Type K pilot swung his Ball around a target to entangle it with the cable.
Finally the Type K has larger manipulator arms. The possible reasons for this include improving the Ball's ability to grab large objects in space, or possibly so they can be used as bludgeoning weapons at close-range. The former is more likely.
Armaments
- 180mm Cannon
- The Ball Type K is equipped with two 180mm cannons, effectively doubling its firepower over the the standard RB-79 Ball.
Special Equipment & Features
- Rocket-Guided Grappling Hook
- The Ball Type K is equipped with a rocket-guided grappling hook which serves as a mid-range combat weapon.
History
One variation was built from the basic design, the RB-79K mounted a pair of 180mm cannons, a grappling hook, and larger manipulator arms. 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 by using a large piece of debris as camouflage. When the pilot of the Zaku did notice, Amada used the rocket propelled grappling hook to snag the enemy mobile suit and then proceeded to swing around the machine to entangle the Zaku in the grappling line and bringing the Ball's 180mm cannons within a point blank shooting range of the Zaku's head. When the Zaku's 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 and retreat.
One variation paint color of the RB-79K is the standard colors of the RB-79 only with a Shark mouth painted onto the body. This variation appears in Mobile Suit Gundam MS IGLOO: The Hidden One Year War.
Gallery
Gunpla
Notes and Trivia
Reference
External Links
