RGM-79[E] GM Early Type

Model number: RGM-79[E]
Code name: GM Early Type
Unit type: prototype general purpose mobile suit
Manufacturer: Earth Federation Forces
Operator: Earth Federation Forces
Rollout: September UC 0079
First deployment: October UC 0079
Accommodation: pilot only, in standard cockpit in torso
Dimensions: head height 18.0 meters
Weight: unknown
Powerplant: Minovsky type ultracompact fusion reactor, output rated at 1,390 kW
Propulsion: rocket thrusters: total output unknown
Performance: unknown
Equipment and design features: sensors, range unknown
Fixed armaments: 2 x 60mm vulcan gun, mounted in head; beam saber, stored in recharge rack in backpack, hand-carried in use
Optional hand armaments: 90mm bullpup machine gun, clip-fed, 20 rounds per clip

The One Year War reached a stalemate, and the Earth Federation Forces scrambled to develop and deploy their own mobile suit forces to counter the Principality of Zeon. While the EFF’s Operation V prototype units were creating havoc for Zeon in other parts of the Earth Sphere, the EFF were already hard at work laying the groundwork for their own mass-produced mobile suit. A pre-production model developed in conjunction with the experimental ground-pounding RGM-79[G] GM Ground Type, the RGM-79[E] GM Early Type was designed for space combat and was closely based on the prototype RX-78-2 Gundam. The Early Type, along with combat data obtained from the Gundam’s “learning computer” system, served as the basis of the later mass produced RGM-79C GM Type C.

Only a few units of the Early Type were produced and placed into actual combat for testing. One of these units was operated by Terry Sanders, Jr., who became one of the EFF’s first ace mobile suit pilots by scoring six enemy kills in his GM. However, his entire team was wiped out on October 6, UC 0079, when they encountered a new test-model MS-06RD-4 Zaku II RD-4 Type. Sanders was the only member of his team to survive the encounter, with his own GM left severely damaged and incapable of combat. With his infamous “Death God” nickname ensured – due to his curse of being the only member of his own team to walk away alive – the EFF transferred Sanders out of the space unit test team and into groundside combat in Southeast Asia.

Pilot(s): Terry Sanders Jr., Brandon Lowe
First appearance: Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th M.S. Team
Original mechanical designer: Hajime Katoki

90mm bullpup machine gun