RX-80PR Pale Rider

Template:Infobox/Mobile Weapon Ver.2The RX-80PR Pale Rider is a prototype mobile suit featured in the videogame Mobile Suit Gundam Side Story: Missing Link and Mobile Suit Gundam Side Story: Missing Link (Manga).

Technology & Combat Characteristics

Following its successful mass production of mobile suits, the Earth Federation Forces began working on various modification plans as well as next generation units. One of the machines created was a prototype, next generation unit given the model number of 'RX-80'. This machine incorporated the latest technologies introduced during the One Year War, resulting in high performance and adaptability to a wide range of equipment. However, its development costs were high, dooming any possibility of mass production and seemingly consigning it to being a data collection unit.

The RX-80 was later acquired by a mysterious official named Grave, who wanted a high performance machine for the special "HADES (Hyper Animosity Detect Estimate System)" system based on the EXAM System. With the HADES' core unit installed in its head, the mobile suit was given the code name "Pale Rider", derived from the name of the fourth and final horseman of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. While the Pale Rider is a powerful machine, this come at the cost of shorter operating time. It served as the core mobile suit of Grave's "Pale Rider Project" and was deployed on various black-ops missions.

Armaments

• Vulcan Gun

A pair of shell firing weapons, they have high-rate of fire, but little power. They can damage lightly armored areas such as the sensors and are ideal for shooting down small, lightly armored targets such as missiles, attack vehicles, etc. Due to HADES's core unit being located in the Pale Rider's head, its vulcan guns are mounted independently on the sides of the head, unlike most Earth Federation Forces' mobile suits that have the guns built into the head. The Pale Rider's vulcan guns have the added ability to rotate up and down.

• Beam Saber

The beam saber 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-shaped beam to cut through most armor not treated with anti-beam coating. The Pale Rider uses the standard type of beam saber as other Earth Federation Forces' mobile suits, with one stored on each side skirt armor. Due to the Pale Rider's reduced operating time, its beam sabers are not meant to be recharged by the mobile suit's generator.

• Hand Beam Gun

Mounted on the forearms, this is the same weapon as used by Gundam Unit 4 "G04" and Unit 5 "G05". The pair of hand beam guns have short firing range due to low focusing power, but they can rapid fire beams with sufficient firepower for anti-MS combat.

• HFW-GMG·MG79-90mm Bullpup Machine Gun

The bullpup machine gun was a system weapon developed as a Space/Ground dual use projectile weapon. Though compact, it has sufficient anti-MS firepower while maintaining accuracy. Its muzzle velocity is increased due to the use of new gunpowder and this enables it to easily penetrate the armor of Zeon's mobile suit. A box-like sensor system incorporating a video camera and laser sensor is installed at the top, and when this system is used alongside the mobile suit's targeting system, target acquisition capability is enhanced.

• 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.

• XBR-M-79H-2 Hyper Beam Rifle

The same beam rifle as used by Gundam Unit 4 "G04" and Unit 5 "G05". Powered by an E-Cap, it is an enhanced version of the beam rifle carried by the RX-78-2, with improved output as well as accuracy.

• Spike Shield

The same shield as used by the GM Striker, it was developed for ground-based, anti-mobile suit melee combat. This defensive armament can be used as a striking weapon thanks to the two pile bunkers mounted at the tip.

• YHI ERRL-TYPE.Doc-04/380mm Rocket Launcher

A portable large rocket launcher meant for MS, it is independently developed by Yashima Heavy Industries for use specifically in 1G environment. Also known as Hyper Bazooka (Ground Type), it has a very versatile design with features that include targeting sensors, etc. It uses a banana-shaped magazine and has a short barrel to facilitate its use in jungle/forested areas. This weapon can utilize a number of different munitions including warheads that deploy stabilizing fins after launch, and this shows that its design took many references from human-sized ground weaponry used in older eras.

• 180mm Cannon

A customized version of the 180mm cannon used by the RX-79［G］ Gundam Ground Type, etc. It is attached to the back of the Pale Rider via an extendable support arm and its barrel is folded when not in use. The cannon can be fired in this folded state for close-range combat, with the barrel unfolding for long-range shooting.

• BLASH HB-L-03/N-STD Hyper Bazooka

A general purpose fire support rocket launcher platform for mobile suits. With considerable destructive power owing to the high explosive yield in each warhead, the weapon was primarily used to destroy less maneuverable targets such as warships, satellites, land battleships, bunkers, and buildings. The weapon was ultimately used with four main types of rounds: a space-use dual stage booster-equipped HEAT (High Explosive Anti-Tank) round, an APFSDS (Armor Piercing Fin Stabilized Discarding Sabot), a HESH (High Explosive Squash Head) as well as a shotgun-type round.

• Leg Missile Pod

A rare, simplified, optional armament deployed by the Earth Federation Forces during the One Year War. The Pale Rider mounts one of this 3-tube missile launcher on each leg. Although they can be purged after use to prevent dead weight, the Pale Rider is not affected by the added weight and so they become part of its standard ground-use armaments. They are used for restricting enemy mobile suit movements, destruction of ground facilities and land battleships, as well as sweeping ground attacks.

• Giant Gatling Gun

A large Gatling gun with immense firing rate. Drum-fed and stored on a weapons mount when not in use. It is similar to the one previously used by Gundam Unit 5 "G05".

• Shield

The same shield as used by Gundam Unit 4 "G04" and Unit 5 "G05". This shield has an unique feature, it is normally in its collapse form and can expand when required.

Special Equipment & Features

• HADES

An acronym for HYPER ANIMOSITY DETECT ESTIMATE SYSTEM. This controversial system was created by a top secret research laboratory in Augusta based on data and samples of the EXAM System provided under pressure from the upper management. When activated, the HADES forcibly disables all the mobile suit's limiters to draw out 100% of the machine's performance, it also transmits to the pilot the optimal solution from a learning computer and can even forcibly maneuver the mobile suit. Although imperfect, the system also sought to pre-read enemy pilot's thoughts via sensing the Psycommu waves. The activation of the HADES caused the exhaust vents of the mobile suit to become red hot due to forceful venting of gases, and like the EXAM System, the mobile suit's sensors also glow red. To withstand the high Gs from the mobile suit's heightened performance and enhance coordination with the HADES, the pilot is mentally and physically enhanced through drugs and inhumane bodily modifications. The treatments also served to dull all unnecessary thoughts, making the pilot a part of the system. However, all these can exert a toll on the pilot, leading to memory impairment.

• Booster Pack (Bst)

A special set of external fuel tanks and thrusters to give the unit higher speed and better maneuverability in space.

History

It was piloted by Chloe Croce, a Cyber Newtype who was based at the Augusta Institute. It was later modified into the AMX-018［HADES］ Todesritter by Neo Zeon.

Variants

• RX-80PR Pale Rider [VG]

Appears in the Mobile Suit Gundam Side Story: Missing Link (Manga), where events are depicted differently from the game. A damaged Pale Rider was repaired by Zeon remnants after the One Year War using parts from the Gelgoog series and is armed with weapons from various Zeon mobile suits, such as a pair of twin beam swords from the Gelgoog in place of the two beam sabers, a pair of leg-mounted 6-tube missile pods from the Efreet Custom, the large beam machine gun and forearm-mounted beam spot guns of the Gelgoog Jäger, Dom's Giant Bazooka, etc. The 'VG' in its name refer to its pilot, Vincent Gleissner, leader of the former Principality of Zeon's "Marchosias" team.

• RX-80PR-2 Pale Rider Cavalry
• RX-80RR Red Rider
• AMX-018［HADES］ Todesritter

Picture Gallery

RX-80PR Pale Rider [VG]

RX-80PR Pale Rider [VG]

RX-80PR Pale Rider [VG] Front

RX-80PR Pale Rider [VG] Rear

As seen on Gundam Online Wars game.

As seen in Gundam Versus

As seen in Mobile Suit Gundam: Battle Operation 2

As seen in Mobile Suit Gundam: Battle Operation 2

Gunpla

1/144 HGUC RX-80PR Pale Rider [Limited Metallic Ver.] (2014): box art

1/144 HGUC RX-80PR Pale Rider (Ground Heavy Equipment Type) (P-bandai exclusive; 2015): box art

1/144 HGUC RX-80PR Pale Rider [Ground Heavy Equipment Type HADES Mode Extra Finish Ver.] (Gunpla Expo World Tour Japan 2016 Winter exclusive; 2016): box art

1/144 HGUC RX-80PR Pale Rider (Space Type) (P-bandai exclusive; 2017): box art

1/144 HGUC RX-80PR Pale Rider (Space Type) [Clear Color] (Events and The Gundam Base Tokyo exclusive; 2019): box art

References

Unknown Profile of RX-80PR Pale Rider [VG]

Game's profile of RX-80PR Pale Rider [VG]