RX-77-2 Guncannon

General and Technical Data

Model number: RX-77-2
Code name: Guncannon
Unit type: prototype artillery mobile suit
Manufacturer: Earth Federation Forces "Project V"
Operator: Earth Federation Forces
Rollout: UC 0079
First deployment: September UC 0079
Accommodation: pilot only, in standard cockpit in torso with Core Block System using FF-X7 Core Fighter
Dimensions: overall height 18.1 meters; head height 17.5 meters
Weight: empty 51.0 metric tons; max gross 70.0 metric tons
Armor materials: lunar titanium alloy
Powerplant: Minovsky type ultracompact fusion reactor, output rated at 1380 kW
Propulsion: rocket thrusters: 2 x 22600 kg, 4 x 1650 kg
Performance: maximum thruster acceleration 0.74 G; 180-degree turn time 2.0 seconds; maximum ground running speed 78 km/h
Equipment and design features: sensors, range 6000 meters
Fixed armaments: 2 x 60mm vulcan gun, fire-linked, mounted in head; 2 x 240mm cannon, variable independent-fire/fire-linked, 20 round magazine each, mounted over shoulders
Optional fixed armaments: 2 x spray missile launcher, mounted over shoulders in place of 240mm cannons
Optional hand armaments: BOWA·XBR-L beam rifle, powered by rechargeable energy cap

Technical and Historical Notes

The second of three mobile suit prototypes built under the Earth Federation's "Project V" during the One Year War, the RX-77-2 Guncannon was a step above the RX-75 Guntank in that it was a true mobile suit and not just a "mobile suit body on a tank." Like its brethren Guntank and RX-78-2 Gundam, the Guncannon used the same FF-X7 Core Fighter as an escape system for the pilot. Also like the Gundam, the Guncannon was one of the first mobile suits to use the energy cap-based beam rifle, as well as head-mounted vulcan guns for close range defense.

However, the Guncannon was designed as a mid-range fire support unit, and its primary armament was its shoulder-mounted 240 mm cannons. The main drawback to this was the cannons' limited ammunition supply, but an experienced pilot learned to use the ammo conservatively and effectively to stay in battle longer (as Guncannon pilot Kai Shiden had to learn the hard way). Initially, only one RX-77-2 survived a Zeon attack on the Side 6 colony when Project V was uncovered, and this unit was transferred to the Federation assault carrier White Base, where it continued to serve until the end of the war. A second Guncannon unit was later pieced together and added to White Base's mobile suit complement, with the two units designated "C-108" and "C-109."

Miscellaneous Information

Arm mechanism
Beam rifle
Foot thrusters
Head