The RTX-440 Ground Assault Type Guntank is a ground heavy assault mobile suit, and is a descendant of the RX-75 Guntank. The unit is featured in the CGI anime Mobile Suit Gundam MS IGLOO 2: The Gravity Front.
Technology & Combat Characteristics[]
The RTX-440 is a modification of the anti-MS tank RTX-44. The machine cannons equipped on left manipulator are an improved 2-tube model which has longer range than the older 4-tube model on the original Guntank. In addition to the bop gun and 220mm cannon, the RTX-440 can be armed with numerous optional weapons including Multi Launch Rocket System (MLRS), rocket launchers, heavy mines and a flamethrower.
The RTX-440 have a very limited degree of flexibility of its torso - unlike the fixed torso of its predecessor, the Guntank - but rigid enough to make it hard to shoot a moving target with its main cannon. In addition, the RTX-440 has a crude transformation mechanism known as "Asssault Gun Mode" that allows it to deploy the secondary caterpillar treads and "crouch" down in similar fashion to a conventional tank. This mode allows the RTX-440 to approach its target with greater speed.
Armaments[]
- 220mm Cannon
- A 220mm Cannon is mounted on RTX-440 Guntank's right torso. The cannon can be used for long range artillery sniping as well as medium to close ranged anti-MS attack. For precision artillery attacks, the cannon is aimed via a movable optical sensor unit being mounted on top of Guntank's torso.
- 4-tube Bop Gun
- A 4-tube 30mm Bop Machine Gun is mounted in the Guntank's right manipulator with an internal ammunition feed system. As ranged weapons the rapid-firing machine guns are capable of destroying Magella Attack tanks, and are also effective against Zeon's MS in close-quarter situation.
- 2-tube Improved Bop Gun
- The left arm of RTX-440 features a 2-tube 30mm Bop machine cannons integrated with a large flamethrower for mid-range attack. These weapons are mounted in the left manipulator.
- Flamethrower
- The large flamethrower is mounted on top of 2-tube Bob Gun in the left manipulator. It is a mechanical incendiary device which can project a long, controllable stream of fire to incinerate targets such as infrastructures, infantry units and combat vehicles. The flamethrower is fueled by two large external fuel tanks which are mounted at the back of Guntank's torso and can be disposed once the fuel is used up.
- 56-tube Rocket Launcher
- Mounted on the left side of Guntank's main caterpillar units is a rectangular Rocket Launcher which contains a total of 56 unguided, fin-stabilized rockets. Comparing to guided missiles, the rockets' relative inaccuracies are more than made up with a rapidly-fired volley for inflicting large-scale damage, and are particularly effective against mobile weapons in close range. Once the launcher has been expended, it can be jettisoned.
- MLRS (Multiple Launch Rocket System)
- Mounted on the right side of Guntank's main caterpillar units, the MLRS carries multi-tube missiles which can be launched at elevated angles for long-range bombardment. The missiles can be fired at a set time interval, or all of them can be launched at once to inflict serious damage to an area. They’re mounted between the caterpillar tracks and the heavy mines, and can be jettisoned once all the missiles have been fired.
- Heavy Mine
- A total of four Heavy Mines can be carried on the right side of Guntank's main caterpillar units. The Heavy Mine is a scaled-up explosive device against large mobile weapons such as MS or large combat vehicles. They trigger massive explosion upon contact. The Mines can be dropped individually or all at once to repel/destroy enemies in hot pursuit. They can be armed without detaching as well, as one Guntank had done to perform a kamikaze attack against a Zeon Dobday.
- Triple Missile Launcher
- In 0083 Rebellion, the moon variant of the Guntank Ground Assault Type would have the left arm's 2-tube Bop Gun and flamethrower replaced with the triple missile launcher of the RMV-1 Guntank II.
- Giant Gatling
- Replacing the 4-tube Bop Gun on the right arm is the 90mm Giant Gatling from the G05, which is fed by a large ammunition belt connected to a large drum magazine on the dorsal hull of the moon assault variant of the Guntank Ground Assault Type.
- Double Cannon
- Mounted on top of the moon assault variant of the Guntank Ground Assault Type is the double cannon turret from the RB-79K Ball Type K.
- Shield
- The Guntank Ground Assault Type's moon assault variant uses the same shield as used by the RGM-79 GM, it is composed of a triple honeycomb structure made of Luna Titanium and the surface also has anti-beam coating for defending against beam attacks. One shield is mounted on each arm.
Special Equipment and Features[]
- Smoke Dischargers
- The RTX-440 Guntank is equipped with numerous smoke dischargers on top of its torso and movable sensor unit. The smoke discharger is a defensive feature used to visually blind the opponent while their sensors are jammed by Minovsky particles. This allows the Guntank an opportunity to escape or to ambush the enemy.
- Emergency Destruction System
- As the last line of self-defense, the RTX-440 Guntank is equipped with "Emergency Destruction System" which can be triggered by its pilot to self-detonate the Guntank within a preset time interval. The RTX-440 was built to self-detonate should the pilot choose to. A detonator is placed within the cockpit and if a dire situation arrives, the pilot can activate the system and destroy the Guntank. The system was designed to overload its power systems and has enough explosive power to destroy surrounding targets. It's a last-ditch tactic if the pilot is incapable of protecting the Guntank, while not allowing it to fall into enemy hands. It can also be used as one large explosive device to eradicate large targets near it.
History[]
Development of the RTX-440 Ground Assault Type Guntank was one of the many mobile suit projects that the Earth Federation started during the One Year War. Like all of the projects it was descended from the Federation's Project V, specifically from the data of the RX-75 Guntank. However the RTX-440 development project was terminated after Clyde Bettany, the Federation technical officer of the project and lover of the project subordinate Aline Nazon, defected to Zeon with information regarding the RTX-440 Guntank.
Despite its data being in the hands of the Zeon, three RTX-440 Guntanks had been produced before the project was cancelled. They were fielded by the Federation Forces to participate in Operation Odessa in a desperate attempt to break through Zeon defense. The pilots were three convicts who had been promised amnesty from their crimes, including Aline Nazon who technically hadn't committed any crimes except for being the lover to a traitor.
The Guntanks were assigned as vanguard units during Operation Odessa to penetrate enemy lines and to destroy a Dobday-class battleship that was causing severe losses to the newly reorganized 44th Independent Brigade Composite. The Guntank Crews managed to succeed in their mission, at the cost of two of the machines and their pilots. The surviving Guntank, piloted by Aline Nazon who spotted a second Dobday. She was ordered by Maj. Michael Colmatta not to attack it. However, she had a premonition which told her that Clyde Bettany was on the ship. Recklessly she charges the Guntank into enemy lines, destroying several enemy mobile suits in the process. Due of her recklessness, the Guntank was ruined by the time it reached the Dobday. In a last ditch effort to exact revenge, she activated the Guntank's Emergency Destruction System. The resulting explosion destroyed both the Guntank and the Dobday.
Variants[]
- RTX-440 Ground Assault Type Guntank (Ver 0083 Rebellion)
- A variant of the machine seen in 0083 Rebellion, designed for use at Moon surface instead of Earth. It keeps 220mm Cannon of the original, while adding Double Cannon on top, commonly used by Ball Type K and replacing its arm weapons with 3-tube Missile Launcher from Guntank II on the left arm and the Giant Gatling from G05 on the right arm. It also equips two shields from GM, one on each arm. MLRS and mines are not equipped.
Gallery[]
Linearts[]
Anime[]
Mobile Suit Gundam MS IGLOO 2: The Gravity Front[]
Gundam Build Fighters Try Island Wars[]
Manga[]
Mobile Suit Gundam MS IGLOO 2: The Gravity Front (Manga)[]
Mobile Suit Gundam 0083 Rebellion[]
Artworks & Illustration[]
Games[]
Gunpla[]
Notes & Trivia[]
- Despite being a variant of Ground Assault Type Guntank, the Type B version isn't labelled called as said variation in Gundam Requiem of Vengeance Official Website.
References[]
External Links[]
| MS IGLOO 2 Mechanics | |
|---|---|
| edit | |
| Earth Federation | |
| Mobile Weapon | |
| Mobile Suit RGM-79［G］ GM Ground Type | RTX-440 Ground Assault Type Guntank | |
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| |
| Support Weapon M-101A3 Regina | |
| Land Vehicle 4 1/2t 6x6 Cargo Truck | M353A4 Bloodhound | M72 Lakota | M61A5 MBT | |
| Land Battleship Big Tray-class | Heavy Fork-class | |
| Aircraft / Spacecraft Dragonfly | FF-X7 Core Fighter | |
| Cruiser Salamis-class | |
| Principality of Zeon | |
| Mobile Weapon | |
| Mobile Suit MS-05B Zaku I | MS-06J Zaku II Ground Type | MS-07B-3 Gouf Custom | MS-09B Dom | |
|
| |
| Land Vehicle B.M.C. Z78/2 | Magella Attack | Magella Eins | PVN.3/2 Sauropelta | PVN.44/1 Weasel | Russel 1/12 Zebu | |
| Land Battleship Dobday-class | |
| Aircraft Dopp | PVN.4/3 Wappa | |
| Transporter / Supply Ship H.L.V. | Komusai | Papua-class | |
| Cruiser / Mother Ship Gaw | Musai-class | |