RGC-83 GM Cannon II

RGC-83 GM Cannon II
RGC-83 GM Cannon II (RGC-83 ジム・キャノンII)
Unit Type
Mass Production Mid-Range Artillery Mobile Suit
Profile
Developed from	RGC-80 GM Cannon RX-77D Guncannon Mass Production Type RX-78NT-1 Gundam NT-1
Developed Into	RGM-79 King GM
Variants	RGC-83 GM Cannon II ［Lucien Bendt use］
Last Seen	0088 U.C.
Manufacturer	Earth Federation Forces
Operator	Mass-Divers Coalition of Volunteers Anti-Earth Union Group Earth Federation Forces Titans Gunpla Mafia
Known Pilots	Chuck Keith Chap Adel Ben Wooder Agar
General Characteristics
Overall Height	20.0 meters65.617 ft <br />787.402 in <br />
Head Height	18.0 meters59.055 ft <br />708.661 in <br />
Max Weight	66.9 metric tons
Empty Weight	47.3 metric tons
Power-plant	Minovsky Ultracompact Fusion Reactor
Power Output	1420 kW1,904.251 hp <br />
Sensor Range	6300 meters20,669.291 ft <br />
Pilot Accommodations	Pilot only (in cockpit in torso (later refitted to panoramic monitor/linear seat cockpit))
Armor	Titanium-Ceramic Composite
Movement
Max Acceleration	0.89 G
180° Turning Time	1.6 s1,600 ms <br />
Rocket Thrusters	59480 kg131,130.917 lb <br />65.565 tons <br />
Standard Armaments
Fixed	2 x 60mm Vulcan Gun Beam Saber 2 x Beam Cannon
Handheld	HFW-GR·MR82-90mm GM Rifle RGM·M-Sh-ABT/S-00057 Shield
Optional Armaments
Handheld	BOWA BR-S-85-L3 Sniper Beam Rifle
Real World
Mechanical Designer	Hajime Katoki
Appearances*
Television	GBF GBD: First Seen in Episode #1
Movie	Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam: A New Translation III - Love Is the Pulse of the Stars
OVA	0083: SM: #3 - Episode #13 GBF: GMCA GBDR: First Seen in Episode #26
Manga	0083: HoS MSG:CDAPOYC Gundam Legacy
Game	Mobile Suit Gundam: Encounters in Space

The RGC-83 GM Cannon II is a mobile suit introduced in the OVA Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory.

Technology & Combat Characteristics

The successor of the RGC-80 GM Cannon, a medium-range support mobile suit developed in the late stage of the One Year War, the RGC-83 GM Cannon II was based on the RX-77D Guncannon Mass Production Type and inherited the Chobam Armor concept of the RX-78NT-1 Gundam NT-1. It was the culmination of the Federation's artillery support mobile suit development.

Thanks to improvement in technology and productivity, the GM Cannon II was installed with a powerful generator, allowing it to be equipped with two shoulder-mounted beam cannons. This made it the first mass production unit to have integrated high-powered beam cannons. These beam cannons were usually powered by the generator itself, but could also be powered by the two Energy CAP mounted on its backpack. A sighting device located on the pilot seat's headrest could be used to aim the beam cannons. For precision shooting under gravity, the stabilized gear on the waist could be deployed to stabilize the machine.

The GM Cannon II's other weapons included a pair of head-mounted 60mm vulcan guns, a shortened beam saber stored in the left forearm, and the same GM Rifle and shield used by the RGM-79N GM Custom. Due to its role as a fire support mobile suit, the beam saber was only meant for close-quarters self-defense and it rarely had the chance to use it. The GM Cannon II also had relatively poor mobility due to the mass of its weapons and armor.

The design of the GM Cannon II's basic components prioritized parts interchangeability with GM type mobile suits. Parts of its exterior was covered in composite armor, similar to the Chobam Armor used by the RX-78NT-1 "Alex". This composite armor improved bullet resistance while keeping the mobile suit's weight down. Unlike the Alex's Chobam Armor, the composite armor was built directly onto the frame and could not be purged when damaged. Despite their structural differences to Alex's armor, the composite armor was often also referred to as "Chobam Armor" for convenience.

Like the GM Custom, there was a plan to mass produce the GM Cannon II, but due to issues such as cost and the fact that the machine was meant to operate alongside the GM Custom, only a few units were actually deployed. After the Delaz Conflict, the project itself, including its development staff, was placed under the control of the Titans. The GM Cannon II's production was halted and a direct successor to it was never developed.

Armaments

• 60mm Vulcan Gun

A shell-firing armament built into both sides of the head. The 60mm bullets rapid-fired from the two Vulcan guns are effective in close combat, restricting enemy movements, intimidation, etc.

• Beam Saber

A beam weapon for close combat. It is a small device held in the mobile suit's hands when operated and is powered by a rechargeable energy capacitor. It emits a blade of plasma contained by an I-Field and can cut through any armor not treated with anti-beam coating. A single unit is stored in the left forearm, and because it is a reserve armament for the GM Cannon II, its grip is of the short type.

• Beam Cannon

The primary weapons of the GM Cannon II are a pair of beam cannons mounted on the backpack. The GM Cannon II is also the first mass produced mobile suit to be equipped with high-output beam cannons as a standard armament. These beam cannons are typically directly powered by the GM Cannon II's generator, but they also have a spare energy CAP system circuit, enabling them to be powered by two energy CAP mounted on its backpack when required.

• HFW-GR·MR82-90mm GM Rifle

A portable, mobile suit-use 90mm rifle built based on the 'system weapon' structure, its effective range and accuracy is superior to the HWF GMG·MG79-90mm machine gun. With the extended barrel, the GM Rifle sees a 15% increase in muzzle velocity, leading to increased armor penetration capability. Additionally, a newly developed caseless cartridge allows for a lightened ammunition load.

• BOWA BR-S-85-L3 Sniper Beam Rifle

A long-range beam weapon originally used by the RGM-79SC GM Sniper Custom, it shares some parts with RMS-179 GM II's BOWA·BR-S-85-C2 Beam Rifle and is powered by a built-in energy CAP system. The rifle's long barrel has a newly developed beam accelerator, enhancing the beam convergence rate by 40%.

• RGM·M-Sh-ABT/S-00057 Shield

For defense, the GM Cannon II uses the same shield as the RGM-79N GM Custom, which is an updated model of the one used by RGM-79G GM Command.

History

Mobile Suit Gundam 0083

A GM Cannon II being unloaded at Torrington Base

The RGC-83 GM Cannon II was manufactured by the Federation's Jaburo factory. On October 14, U.C. 0083, following the theft of the RX-78GP02A Gundam GP02A "Physalis" from Torrington Base, Vice Admiral John Cowen ordered Eyphar Sinapus, Captain of the MSC-07 Albion, to pursue the stolen Gundam. To assist him on this mission, three C-88 Medeas from Jaburo delivered several new mobile suits and pilots to the Albion, including two GM Cannon IIs.

One of the GM Cannon IIs was piloted by Immortal 4th Team member Chap Adel and the other was piloted by Chuck Keith, a rookie pilot from Torrington Base. Both suits saw action on October 23, when the Albion's mobile suit team engaged the Kimberlite Forces, a group of Zeon Remnants based in East Africa. The Kimberlite Forces was eventually defeated, but the GP02A escaped into space using an HLV in the group's base.

Keith's GM Cannon II recovering Kou

When the Albion pursued the GP02A into space, Keith, piloting his GM Cannon II, took part in a mock battle against the Immortal 4th Team to familiarize himself with space combat. When the Albion came under attack by Cima Garahau's fleet, both GM Cannon IIs deployed in response. Though they failed to achieve any significant battle results against the more nimble MS-14F Gelgoog Marines, they were able to stop them from breaking through. However, the situation changed when Cima joined the battle herself in her MS-14Fs Gelgoog Marine Commander Type. Leading two Gelgoog Marines, she easily took the inexperienced Keith out of the fight and broke through to the Albion. Ultimately, however, she was forced to retreat when both of her wingmen were destroyed.

After the Albion departed from Von Braun, former Zeon mobile armor pilot Kelley Layzner deployed in the MA-06 Val Walo and intended to destroy the RX-78GP01Fb Gundam GP01Fb "Zephyranthes Full Burnern" to prove himself. When Kou Uraki deployed in the GP01Fb to stop Kelley, the latter trapped the Gundam using the Val Walo's Plasma Leaders. At this point, Keith deployed in the GM Cannon II and fired its beam cannons at the Val Walo, but ended up missing. He then fired his rifle at one of the Plasma Leaders, destroying it and freeing the GP01Fb which eventually destroyed the Val Walo.

Keith's GM Cannon II in combat near the end of the Delaz Conflict

On November 8, the Albion encountered the Cima Fleet again while Cima was trying to trade the plans for Operation Stardust to the Federation flagship Birmingham. Unaware of their secret deal, the Albion deployed its mobile suits against the Cima Fleet. Kou, Burning, and Keith deployed in their respective mobile suits and engaged the Cima Fleet's Geloog Marines, forcing them to retreat.

Two days later, on the day of the Federation naval review at Confeito, both of Albion's GM Cannon IIs, along with the rest of the Albion mobile suit team, deployed repeatedly to stop waves after waves of Zeon Remnants from reaching the naval review. However, they ultimately failed to stop Anavel Gato from reaching the naval review and firing the GP02A's nuclear payload at the gathered Federation fleets. Later, Keith's GM Cannon II recovered Kou after the latter's GP01Fb was destroyed in a duel with the GP02A.

During the battle to stop the Delaz Fleet's colony drops, all of the Albion's mobile suits, including both GM Cannon IIs, fought near continuously through waves of Zeon mobile suits, eventually standing on Albion itself and acting as turrets. When Keith saw Nina Purpleton heading for the falling colony in the FF-XII-Fb Core Fighter II Full Burnern, he tried to follow her in his GM Cannon II, but ended up pinned by Zeon fire.

Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Deleted Affair: Portrait Of Young Comet

A GM Cannon II piloted by Ben Wooder was deployed to the Federation Fleet led by Green Wyatt to attack the Principality of Zeon base "Varsika", which was hiding in the Zebra Zone in March, U.C. 0083.

Gundam Legacy

In U.C. 0084, a GM Cannon II piloted by Titans' mobile suit pilot, Agar, was used to support the RGM-79Q GM Quels hunting Zeon remnants during a riot in the lunar city of Ayers

Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam: A New Translation III - Love Is the Pulse of the Stars

In U.C. 0087, a GM Cannon II was operated by AEUG along with the GM Custom, and they were deployed from the Argama.

Variants

• RGC-83 GM Cannon II (Lucien Bendt Use)

Gallery

Lineart

Head unit

Backpack and Beam Cannons

Beam Cannons and Beam Saber

Cockpit

Maintenance hatches open

90mm GM Rifle

Shield

Sniper Beam Rifle

Anime

Chap Adel's unit defending the Albion

Chuck Keith's unit taking cover in riverbed

Armor opened up for maintenance

Chuck Keith aiming the Beam Cannons

Preparing to fire Beam Cannons

Firing Beam Cannons

Monsha instructing Keith in space combat

Recovering Kou Uraki

Firing Beam Cannons (Ep 12)

AEUG's GM Cannon II launching from the Argama (A New Translation III)

Manga

Ben Wooder's unit equipped with Sniper Beam Rifle (Char's Deleted Affair)

Titans' GM Cannon II piloted by Agar (Gundam Legacy)

Illustrations & Artwork

RGC83 GM Cannon II MS Girl

Games

As featured in SD Gundam G Generation Wars

As seen in Mobile Suit Gundam: Battle Operation 2

Gunpla

1/144 HGUC RGC-83 GM Cannon II (2011): box art

1/144 HGUC RGC-83 GM Cannon II model kit

1/144 HGUC RGC-83 GM Cannon II model kit

1/144 HGUC RGC-83 GM Cannon II model kit

1/144 HGUC RGC-83 GM Cannon II model kit

1/144 HGUC RGC-83 GM Cannon II model kit

1/144 HGUC RGC-83 GM Cannon II model kit

1/144 RGC-83 GM Cannon II model conversion based on various HGUC model kits

1/144 RGC-83 GM Cannon II model conversion based on various HGUC model kits

Action Figures

Mobile Suit in Action (MSiA / MIA) "RGC-83 GM Cannon II" (Asian release; 2003): package front view.

MSiA / MIA "RGC-83 GM Cannon II" (North American release; 2002): package front view.

MSiA / MIA "RGC-83 GM Cannon II" (North American renewal version; 2003): package front view.

Notes & Trivia

• In the first opening of 0083, the GM Cannon II's beam cannons are shown firing yellow beams. However, they are depicted as pink in the series.