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The RX-77-2 Guncannon was a mobile suit used by the Earth Federation Forces introduced in the TV anime Mobile Suit Gundam.
Technology & Combat Characteristics[]
A middle-range support mobile suit developed simultaneously with the RX-78 Gundam and the RX-75 Guntank as part of Operation V, the Guncannon adopted the same Core Block System as the other two units.[1] Due to its role as an artillery support unit, the Guncannon's design prioritized durability over mobility, and it was not equipped with any melee weapons.[2] However, its armor was particularly heavy, capable of surviving a direct hit from a MS-09R Rick Dom's giant bazooka.[3]
Similar to the Guntank, the Guncannon's main weapons were a pair of shell-firing cannons, chosen for their reliability over beam weapons. These cannons could be optionally swapped out for a pair of spray missile launchers. Unlike the Guntank, however, the Guncannon's generator output allowed it to equip a beam rifle. It was also equipped with a pair of head-mounted vulcan guns and hand grenades for attacking enemy strongholds.[2] The fire control of the Guncannon was primarily handled by the sensor array and coprocessor system in the head. However, the shoulder-mounted cannons incorporated data from the circular sensor on its crotch, and were capable of autonomously tracking and locking onto targets to a certain extent, independent of the pilot's control.[4]
Though its head design appeared to be simpler than the Gundam's head, the Guncannon's sensor system was in fact more complicated than the Gundam's due to its need to engage in artillery warfare.[5] This "twin eyes with goggles" sensor design was later inherited by the RGM-79 GM.[6] While the Guncannon's mobility was adversely affected by its weight, it was still comparable to that of the Zeon's MS-06 Zaku II. Furthermore, the backpack thrusters have sufficient thrust to enable jumping maneuvers under gravity for a short period of time.[7]
Armaments[]
- 60mm Vulcan Gun
- A pair of shell-firing armament built into the head. Low offensive power, only used to restrict enemy movement, and lay down a wall of suppressive fire due to their rapid-fire capability.
- 240mm Cannon
- A pair of 240mm cannons are mounted on the shoulders for mid-range fire support. These low-recoil cannons are the Guncannon's main weapon and can fire around 40 shots.[3] As the cannons' barrels are fitted with water cooled jackets, their firing rate are comparable to those of the Zaku Machine Gun.[3]
- Spray Missile Launcher
- A pair of 12-round missile launchers mounted on both shoulders in place of the 240mm cannons. Designed for launching a barrage in close range, they are current in the prototype stage, and it is unclear if they have been used in actual combat.
- XBR-M-79a Beam Rifle
- Made and developed by the BOWA corporation specifically for the Guncannon.[3] This particular beam rifle is classified as a XBR-L type despite its model number, and is specialized for sniping.[2] Compared to the XBR-M type beam rifle used by the Gundam, it was harder to use but had higher accuracy and longer range.[2] It was originally unusable due to issues with generator output, but this was resolved following modifications at Luna II.[3] It is said to have a range of around 30km.[3]
- YHI YF-MG100 100mm Machine Gun
- The standard armament for Federation's mobile suit ground forces during the One Year War that was developed by Yashima Heavy Industries. It has an alternate model number: "NF·GMG-Type.37/100mm". Equipped with a box magazine and folding stock, it has excellent rate of fire and is easy to wield. It utilized a smoothbore type barrel that lacked rifling and has to be replaced after firing 3000 rounds. The weapon could utilize three different types of ammunitions: HEAT (High Explosive Anti-Tank), APFSDS (Armor-Piercing Fin-Stabilized Discarding-Sabot), and HESH (High Explosive Squash Head), allowing combat units to select the appropriate type to meet operational needs.
- Hand Grenade
- A hand grenade is stored in a secured hatch on the lower part of each leg. Once the grenade is removed from storage, it is already armed. There is a five to seven-second fuse, allowing enough time for the Guncannon to throw the grenade safely away.
Special Equipment & Features[]
- The prototype mobile suits produced by the Earth Federation Forces' Operation V, are equipped with a central block which houses the mobile suit's cockpit, control systems, and main power source. This core block can eject in case of emergency and unfold into a small Core Fighter.
History[]
White Base Corps[]
From Side 7 to Earth[]
Six early type RX-77-2 were manufactured, of which three were sent to Side 7 for final testing in August, U.C. 0079.[2][8] When Side 7 was attacked by the Principality of Zeon special duties unit A12 Squadron on September 18, all but one were destroyed by squadron member Gene's MS-06F Zaku II.[2][8][9] The sole remaining unit was loaded onto the assault landing ship SCV-70 White Base. Crew member Kai Shiden, originally a civilian from Side 7, was assigned to its maintenance.[9]
Following the White Base's reentry to Earth, it was immediately attacked by Zeon ground forces led by Garma Zabi at Great Canyon. Kai, at the instruction of Ryu Jose, deployed in the Guncannon for the first time alongside the Guntank. Having no actual combat experience, Kai panicked and fired the Guncannon's shoulder-mounted cannons wildly, quickly using up all ammunition. Without its primary weapons, the Guncannon became a helpless target against the Zeon forces. However, its thick armor allowed it to survive until Amuro Ray and the RX-78-2 Gundam joined the fight. As the Gundam jumped into the sky to engage Zeon's Dopp fighters, the Guncannon, at the order of White Base captain Bright Noa, covered the Gundam by firing at the Dopps using its head-mounted vulcan guns.[9]
The White Base then headed west, but was eventually cornered by Zeon forces in the ruined city of Seattle and forced to take cover in the ruins of a baseball stadium when Garma's air fleet carpet bombed the city. The Gundam, acting as a decoy, attempted to lure the air fleet into the firing range of the White Base, the Guntank, and the Guncannon. Char, who deployed onto the ground in his MS-06S Zaku II Commander Type, quickly saw through the ploy, but tricked Garma into going after the Gundam anyway due to his vendetta against the Zabi family. As Garma's air fleet moved into range, the White Base and its mobile suits fired all of their cannons at it, seriously damaging Garma's Gaw. Garma turned the Gaw around and attempted to ram it into the White Base. However, the Gaw exploded before it could impact.[9]
As the White Base was crossing the Pacific Ocean, it was attacked by a Zanzibar-class that was entering the atmosphere. The Zanzibar belonged to the Ramba Ral Corps, who had come to Earth to avenge Garma's death at the order of Dozle Zabi. Ramba Ral deployed in his MS-07B Gouf, along with two MS-06J Zaku II Ground Type piloted by his subordinates Acous and Cozun. As the Gouf engaged the Gundam in close combat, the Guntank and the Guncannon provided fire support, but were unable to land any hits on the nimble Zeon mobile suit. Ral and his team eventually retreated back to the Zanzibar, which used blinders to blind the White Base and its mobile suits before vanishing from the battlefield.[9]
Battles in Eurasia[]
In Central Asia, the White Base sighted a single unknown object approaching the ship. Sayla Mass, wanting to learn more about her brother, Casval (Char), from the Zeon soldiers, deployed in the Gundam without orders. However, having only piloted the Gundam in a simulator, she was ambushed by Ramba Ral and his mobile suit team and unable to fight back. To cover her, Amuro deployed in the Guncannon and engaged Ral and his team, eventually destroying Acous' Zaku and capturing Cozun's.[10]
That night, Acous escaped from his cell and contacted Ral. Meanwhile, the White Base encountered a Zeon mining base and attacked it. Soon, the Ral Corps arrived in their Gallop-class land battleship to assist the mining base. At this point, the Guncannon deployed to cover the Guntank. However, it soon had its left arm cut off by the heat rod of Ramba Ral's Gouf, and was forced to retreat.[10]
When the White Base was attacked by the Ral Corps near Sodon, the Guncannon, with its left arm repaired, deployed into battle alongside the Guntank. Ramba Ral ended up tripping over the Guncannon in his Gouf, but soon destroyed its right cannon with finger vulcans and prepared to finish it using the heat rod. However, Amuro, who had deserted from the White Base earlier, appeared in the Gundam and severed the heat rod with a beam shot.[10]
Despite having lost much of its fighting force and having no reinforcements, the Ral Corps launched another attack on the White Base, this time employing Cui transport tanks. In response, Bright ordered the launch of mobile suits, including the Guncannon, to be cancelled, and for all avilable personnel to engage in hand-to-hand combat against Zeon infantry. The White Base eventually repelled the attack, and Ral sacrificed himself in a failed attempt to destroy the Gundam.[10]
Following the commencement of Operation Odessa, the White Base was ambushed by the Black Tri-Stars, a team of Zeon ace pilots in the latest MS-09 Dom mobile suit. The Guncannon fired at the approaching Doms with its cannons, but were unable to hit them due to their superior mobility. After Amuro destroyed Mash's Dom, the Guncannon moved to support him. Near the end of Operation Odessa, Crowley Hamon, Ral's lover, attacked the White Base with the remnant of the Ral Corps. The Guncannon engaged the Ral Corps' last remaining Zaku and two Samson Tops.[10]
When the White Base arrived at Belfast, Kai decided that he no longer wanted to be a soldier and left the ship. When the White Base came under attack by Zeon amphibious mobile suits, Hayato deployed in the Guncannon. He engaged a MSM-07 Z'Gok, but was soon outmatched due to a loss in power. At this point, Kai returned and saved Hayato in the Guntank.[10]
When the White Base was attacked over the Atlantic Ocean by the Mad Angler Corps, the Guncannon was rendered unable to launch due to damage to the ship's catapult.[10]
After the White Base finally arrived at Jaburo, the headquarters of the EFF, the base was attacked by Zeon forces. Kai deployed in the Guncannon to defend one of Jaburo's entrances, shooting down at least one MSM-03 Gogg.[10]
Into Space[]
At Jaburo, the White Base was ordered to launch into space as a decoy for the Federation's space counterattack.[10] Since the Guntank was not suited for space combat, it received another Guncannon to replace the Guntank, with Hayato serving as the pilot. To differentiate the two, Kai's Guncannon was given the codename "C-108" while Hayato's Guncannon was codenamed "C-109", with number markings applied to the left chest, left shin, and right foot.[11][12]
After the White Base launched into space, it encountered and engaged Zeon's Camel Patrol Fleet. During this battle, the White Base deployed both of its Guncannons, which engaged the MS-09R Rick Doms launched by the Camel Fleet, destroying one each.[11][13]
As the White Base left the airspace of the neutral Side 6, it was followed by a Zeon Mobile Fleet led by Conscon. As soon as it left the neutral zone, the White Bases mega particle cannons and the Guncannons fired at the Musai-class cruiser Kramel behind them, destroying it. The Conscon Fleet then deployed 12 Rick Doms, one of which was shot down by C-109.[11]
Following the battle outside Side 6, the White Base investigated the abandoned Texas Colony in Side 5. Bright ordered the Gundam to enter the colony while the two Guncannons standby outside. After the Gundam engaged Char's MS-14S Gelgoog Commander Type in the colony, the White Base and the Guncannons entered the colony. Bright ordered the two Guncannons to investigate the colony's bay area for enemy ships, but they found nothing. As the White Base was leaving the colony, Kai's Guncannon picked up a briefcase floating through space. The briefcase was left behind by Char, with a letter addressed to his sister, Sayla.[11]
Both Guncannons participated in Operation Cemballo, the Federation attack on the space fortress Solomon. The C-109 was damaged in battle and Hayato was wounded, forcing the Guncannon to return to the White Base.[11]
After the commencement of Operation Star One, the White Base headed for the space fortress A Baoa Qu as part of the 1st Combined Fleet. In a space sector between A Baoa Qu and Granada, the 1st Combined Fleet's left flank, including the White Base, encountered and engaged the advance elements of Kycilia Zabi's fleet. Both Guncannons participated in this battle.[11]
Both Guncannons participated in the attack on A Baoa Qu, in which they boarded the space fortress and broke into it through one of its main gates. After the White Base lost its engines and crash landed on A Baoa Qu, both Guncannons moved to defend it against waves of Zeon mobile suits. C-109 was eventually destroyed by enemy fire, forcing Hayato to abandon it. Soon after, C-108 lost its right leg, forcing Kai to abandon it as well. The two pilots continued fighting using rifles. Eventually, they and the rest of the White Base crew escaped the fortress using a Space Launch right before explosions started to erupt across A Baoa Qu, destroying the White Base.[11]
In U.C. 0087, Hayato had become the director of the Kennedy War Museum,[14] which exhibited a Guncannon replica bearing the "C-108" marking.[15]
Other Units[]
In July, U.C. 0079, as the Earth Federation Forces began the training of mobile suit pilots at Jaburo and Luna II, Federation officers played a video of the Guncannon to the pilot candidates, which showed it test-firing its cannons at a captured Zaku II. Bernard Monsha, one of the pilot candidates, remarked that a Zaku would not be standing still during actual combat, but his teammate, Chap Adel, was impressed with the Guncannon's firepower and armor. The Federation used Guncannon simulators for pilot training and data collection.[16]
At some point after Garma's death, the Federation attacked Zeon's 3rd Supply Depot in the Gobi Desert. In response, the Midnight Fenrir Corps deployed to relieve the base. Garret Schmitzer, the leader of the Corps, warned against the possibility of Federation sending mobile suit reinforcements, stating that Zeon had encountered numerous Guncannons in combat, which had dealt serious damage to Zeon defensive lines using their long-range cannons. Just as Schmitzer warned, during the mission, Federation pilot Agar led a team of three Guncannons as reinforcements. The fate of the team was unclear, but Agar survived this encounter.[17]
Prior to Operation Odessa, the Federation's Albatross Transportation Squadron was tasked with transporting the RX-78XX Gundam Pixy to the White Base Corps. The Squadron was originally equipped with six Guncannons, but by October 9, U.C. 0079, it had lost four of the six units in combat. Initially, the two Guncannons were piloted by the Squadron's escort team leader Bork Cry and his subordinate Daba Soy. Later, Bork switched to the Pixy, and his Guncannon was piloted by escort team member Sana Nima. Ultimately, both Guncannons were destroyed by Wolf Gar Team leader Henry Boone's MS-08TX Efreet.[18]
Three Guncannons, codenamed C01 through C03, were assigned to the 16th Autonomous Corps, aboard the Pegasus-class assault landing ship SCVA-72 Thoroughbred.[19]
A Guncannon codenamed C-203[20] participated in Operation Star One, during which it briefly fought alongside C-108 and C-109.[11] At some point during the battle, the C-203 engaged Zeon pilot Erik Blanke's MS-14A Gelgoog, dodging the latter's beam rifle shot and using its shield as a springboard and destroying an approaching MS-06 Zaku II, surprising Erik with its agility.[21]
Gallery[]
Lineart[]
Anime[]
Manga[]
Illustrations & Artwork[]
Game[]
Gunpla[]
Action Figures[]
Gashapon[]
Notes & Trivia[]
- In Mobile Fighter G Gundam, the Guncannon makes a brief cameo appearance after the destruction of the Devil Gundam.
- The Guncannon was the model for the Mark-I Jaeger, Coyote Tango in the 2013 movie Pacific Rim.[22]
Appearances[]
- Television Series
- Mobile Suit Gundam
- Episode 34, A Fateful Encounter
- Episode 35, The Glory of Solomon
- Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam
- Episode 13, Shuttle Launch
- Movies
- Games
References[]
- ↑ Dengeki Data Collection - One Year War complete guide (2007), p.16
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Master Grade Guncannon (2001) instruction manual
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 HGUC Guncannon Revive (2015) instruction manual
- ↑ HGUC Guncannon (1999) instruction manual
- ↑ Full Color Model Guncannon (1988) instruction manual
- ↑ Full Color Model GM (1988) instruction manual
- ↑ Gundam Mobile Suit Bible 35, p.35
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 (1989-02-01) 機動戦士ガンダム MS大図鑑【PART.1 一年戦争編】 [Mobile Suit Gundam MS Encyclopedia 【PART.1 One Year War】] ENTERTAINMENT BIBLE. 1 (in Japanese). Bandai, p. 67. ISBN 9784891890063.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 Mobile Suit Gundam I
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 10.6 10.7 10.8 Mobile Suit Gundam II: Soldiers of Sorrow
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5 11.6 11.7 Mobile Suit Gundam III: Encounters in Space
- ↑ 皆川ゆか (2001-03-21). 機動戦士ガンダム 公式百科事典 GUNDAM OFFICIALS [Mobile Suit Gundam Official Encyclopedia GUNDAM OFFICIALS] (in Japanese). 講談社 [Kodansha], p. 142. ISBN 9784063301106.
- ↑ 皆川ゆか (2001-03-21). 機動戦士ガンダム 公式百科事典 GUNDAM OFFICIALS [Mobile Suit Gundam Official Encyclopedia GUNDAM OFFICIALS] (in Japanese). 講談社 [Kodansha], p. 194. ISBN 9784063301106.
- ↑ U.C. Arms Gallery
- ↑ Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam Episode 13, Shuttle Launch
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam MSV-R Legend of the Universal Century Heroes: The Fabulous Shin Matsunaga Fabulous-G025 Embryo
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam: Zeonic Front
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam: Cross Dimension 0079
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam Side Story: Space, To the End of a Flash
- ↑ Codename given on Mobile Suit Gundam III: Encounters in Space storyboard
- ↑ Mobile Suit Gundam Battlefield Record: Avant-Title
- ↑ Guillermo, Rinko, Mana on Odaiba Tour (Pacific Rim)
See also[]
External links[]