Gundam Development Project
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The Gundam Development Project is a military design program in the mythos of the long-running Japanese franchise Mobile Suit Gundam. Most of the machines presented here are focal points of the thirteen-episode OVA series Gundam 0083, which takes place a few years after the conclusion of the original Gundam television show.
[edit] Gundam Development Project models
[edit] History of the Gundam Development Project models
As described in the Gundam Officials, Mobile Suit Gundam 0083:Stardust memory and MS encyclopedia, on January 1st, UC 0080, the One Year War came to an end. This was a relief on both sides, because the long war had drained resources and lives. During the postwar reconstruction effort, the Federation began to scale back funding in an effort to regain lost revenue while fighting the war. But the military argued that they should be exempt from the budget cuts, because there were still remnants of the Principality of Zeon unaccounted for. The Federation agreed, and in October UC 0081 passed the Federal Forces Reconstruction Plan in an effort to get the military back into shape. One week later, the Gundam Development Project was secretly started as part of the Reconstruction Plan.
During the One Year War, the Federal Forces had been forced to make do with any company willing and able to develop mobile suits for use against the Zeon, but under the supervision of the Admiralty, the production of mobile suits for the Federation was limited to Anahiem Electronics. The Reconstruction Plan rolled out the Birmingham-class battleship, the refitted Salamis-class cruisers, and the refitted Magellan Kai-class battleships, but it was the Gundam type mobile suits that were to be the center of attention. The Federation was so impressed with Anaheim Electronics that they remained the primary supplier of Federation mobile suits even after the Gryps Conflict where Anaheim was believed to have sided with the AEUG.
[edit] RX-78GP00 Blossom
Although the existence and details of this machine in canon plot are disputed (See this article's talk page), the GP00 is said to be a model tested before 01~04 was designed and was the first of the Gundam-development Project series. This model was to be designed to contain all the special features and concepts of the GP series (and therefore if this one had actually succeeded, all the other four would not have been designed.). However, the configuration shown here as the primary test run only contains a mega beam rifle, a multi-sensor and a core fighter. The machine was destroyed, but it is disputed as to exactly how.
In Phantom Bullet (the original appearance of this mobile suit which is an unofficial side story) it says: "Destroyed in a combat against Zeon forces."
In Dengeki Hobby Magazine "Gundam Secret Weapons", it says: "Caught in the collapsing wreckage of an abandoned ship."
In Gundam Wars card game (the first official appearance of the mobile suit with detailed design as shown in picture), it says: "Due to all the equipment, the balance of the machine is lost and self-destructed on the test run."
No evidence points to one explanation being more accurate than the others. However, a combined story might have been: "During a test run, GP00 encountered Zeon forces and was forced into battle (just like GP03 in Gundam Evolve 4). While battling Zeon forces, due to all the equipment, the balance of the machine was lost. After losing control, the machine crashed into the collapsing wreckage of an abandoned ship (which was abandoned due to the battle) and is destroyed."
However, the most important part is "It was destroyed due to an unbalanced design" Thus leading the project team on separating the features into different units, which is the 01~04. This unit never appeared in 0083. Originally appeared in ファントムブレット (Phantom Bullet). The only official appearance of this unit is from Gundam Wars, the official trading card game.
[edit] RX-78GP01 Gundam "Zephyranthes"
As described in the MG model manual and MS encyclopedia, at the conclusion of the One Year War, the Federation opened the Gundam Development Project, aimed at creating mobile suits superior to those that Zeon had developed. The RX-78GP01 Gundam Zephyranthes was the first of three Gundam type mobile suit prototypes completed under this plan.
The RX-78GP01 was designed to be an adaptable mobile suit, able to operate under any condition on earth or in space; to that end its design is superficially similar to the other RX series Gundams. Unlike previous suits, this was one of the first to re-introduce the core fighter concept in its design, utilizing the recently developed FF-XII Core Fighter II as the cockpit. The RX-78GP01 was taken to Australia's Torrington Base for terrestrial testing, where it was commandeered by (and later assigned to) Federation ENS (later LTJG) Kou Uraki in his effort to retrieve the RX-78GP02A.
One major innovation in the RX-78GP01's arsenal was the addition of a beam rifle that used removable energy capacitor clips called e-pacs. Previous beam rifle designs had the energy capacitor integrated into the rifle directly, resulting in the rifle becoming dead weight once the capacitor was depleted. With e-pacs, beam rifles can be used indefinitely as long as the pilot has a ready supply of replacement e-pacs. The RX-78GP01 has three e-pacs (one mounted on the rifle, two held in reserve on the shield) in its normal deployment configuration.
[edit] RX-78GP01Fb Gundam Full Vernian "Zephyranthes"
As mentioned above, the RX-78GP01 was said to be designed to operate both on earth and in space; however, in order to be effective the unit must be reconfigured for each environment. After suffering heavy damage while en route to Von Braun, the Gundam was retooled into the RX-78GP01Fb Gundam Full Vernian Zephyranthes at the Anaheim Electronics facility on the moon. The Full Vernian unit differs from the regular unit in a couple of ways. First, it has a set of Universal Boost Pods mounted behind the shoulder for better maneuverablity. Secondly, the FF-XII's wings were removed and replaced with additional fuel units - the Universal Boost Pods replace the wings on the FF-XII.
This version is a formidable opponent in space. The Full Vernian boasts increased maneuverablity and a wide range of weapons that the unit can utilize, which made it a high priority for the Zeon movement to find and destroy. This unit was lost at the Naval Review in 0083 after an intense fight against Anavel Gato and the stolen RX-78GP02A.
[edit] RX-78GP02A Gundam "Physalis"
As described in the MG model manual and MS encyclopedia, during the postwar years the Federation received information that the Zeon remnants could have been developing mobile suits with nuclear capabilities. As a countermeasure, the Federation decided to develop a nuclear capable mobile suit of their own, and the result was the RX-78GP02A Gundam Physalis.
The mere existence of the RX-78GP02A was a clear violation of the Antarctic Treaty: it was designed to deliver the MK-82 warhead based nuclear missile (even with the One Year War over and the Federation victorious, the Antarctic Treaty still applied). It carried extensive heat and radiation shielding to protect it from nuclear blasts, as well as the standard Federation mobile suit armaments. Mounted on the shoulders of the Physalis were a set of high power thrusters, which contributed to the exceptional maneuverability of the MS.
In the story of Mobile Suit Gundam 0083, which happened in the year UC 0083, the Albion collected both the RX-78GP01 and the RX-78GP02A, shipping them to Torrington Base in Australia for terrestrial testing. Later, Former Zeon Ace pilot Anavel Gato stole the RX-78GP02A after a nuclear missile from the Federation's Torrington Base stockpile had been loaded into it, and later used it to destroy or disable two-thirds of the Earth Federation space fleet at the Naval Review at Konpei Island. Shortly after, the RX-78GP02A and the RX-78GP01Fb engaged in a battle, resulting in the destruction of both units. Full record of the story can also be referenced from Gundam Officials.
its data is later used to produce AMX-017 Gigantic, another tactical mobile suit.
[edit] RX-78GP03 Gundam "Dendrobium Orchis"
As described in the MG model manual and MS encyclopedia, while the initial two designs of the Gundam Development Project were specifically designed for an offensive role, the Federation also needed a design for territorial defense in space. Since the earth federation forces were interested in the power of mobile armours deployed by Zeon forces during the One Year War, they had specifically ordered the unit to be a model using mobile armour technology. The result of this was the massive RX-78GP03 Gundam Dendrobium Orchis mobile weapon. It was not a mobile armour but a unit composed of a mobile suit and its add on. Developed at the Von Braun city facility and to be Field tested at Anaheim Electronics' La Vie En Rose orbital manufacturing plant, the GP03 Dendrobium Orchis was designed to have exceptional firepower and mobility with minimal use of manpower. Two large weapons racks containing 16 weapon containers sat on the top of the GP03, enabling the pilot to engage in extended firefights without running out of ammunition. The containers were interchangeable and were able to carry different weapons. Extendable large claws mounted with large beam sabres were mounted on both sides of the underbelly of the unit. A warship class mega beam cannon was mounted on the right, while an I-field generator was mounted on left. The control unit for the Dendrobium Orchis was the RX-78GP03 Dendrobium Stamen, which was the mobile suit itself. In cases of emergency or severe damage to the Orchis, the Stamen could eject from the mobile armor portion.
GP03 was "acquired" by the crew of the Albion during a stop at La Vie En Rose, against the orders of the Federation liaison officer overseeing its development. Federation pilot Kou Uraki piloted this unit in the final moments of Operation Stardust, destroying enemies including the AGX-04 Gerbera Tetra and engaged in battle with the AMA-X2 Neue Ziel mobile armour and both were severely damaged by the solar system II deployed by the Earth Federation forces in an unsuccessful attempt to stop a colony drop on the North American Midwest area.
There were only few further developments along this concept in the Universal Century timeline (eg. EX-S Deep Striker), few traces of similarity could also be found in the earlier FHA-78-7 design.
[edit] RX-78GP03S Gundam "Dendrobium Stamen"
The Dendrobium was composed of two parts, the mobile armor section Orchis and the RX-78GP03S Gundam Dendrobium Stamen, a mobile suit that controlled the entire mobile armor. The Stamen had the ability to split from the armor section for independent action against enemy units. Operating as a mobile suit, GP03S carried a folding shield and beam rifle as standard armament, and special folding bazookas could be carried in place of either the shield or rifle. The traditional twin head vulcans were removed; the space thus freed was used to install more advanced avionics and sensor systems. The Stamen also featured the panoramic cockpit and linear chair initially used in the RX-78 NT1, allowing its operator a full view of the battlefield. Originally a core fighter version was used (Gundam Evolve 4). However, it was changed to the current setting because if ever the GP03 had faced a foe so powerful that it could destroy the Orchis unit, the Stamen unit would not stand a chance and should not continue battle. Therefore, there was no need for 2 escaping devices since the Stamen itself was considered to be used for escape purposes. In addition, the wing binders on the sides of the GP03S both increased the maneuverability of the unit and protected the interface ports for the Orchis. A set of extendable waldo arms used to retrieve weapons from the weapon racks were concealed in the forearms of the GP03S.
[edit] RX-78GP04G Gundam "Gerbera"
According to the MG model manual and MS encyclopedia, one of the tactics that Zeon used to great success against the Federation in the One Year War was high speed strikes with mobile suits. Federation forces had little time to react before being attacked by mobile suit squadrons. So, it was not surprising that the Federation sought to develop high speed assault mobile suits of its own.
The RX-78GP04G Gundam Gerbera was intended to be built specifically for high speed assault. Its major feature was that it could have a pair of "stürm booster" thrusters added on to increase the unit's top speed and range. However, the Federation came to the realization that both the RX-78GP04G and the RX-78GP01Fb would essentially be filling the same niche and the GP04G, due to its high performance designs, is radically more expensive then the GP01Fb. Because of this, the Federation cancelled development of the RX-78GP04G, leaving Anaheim Electronics with a half-completed prototype.
It was about at this time that the Delaz Fleet approached the division of Anaheim Electronics created from the Zeonic Company, which was still filled with Zeon loyalists. They then revised the design of the RX-78GP04G, transforming it into the AGX-04 Gerbera Tetra assault mobile suit.
Some say that the branch of the Earth Federation which later developed into Titans cancelled the development in order to provide in secret this mobile suit to the spy Cima Garahau. Although highly possible, no actual record could be traced to support this argument.
[edit] References
- Mobile Suit Gundam 0083:Stardust memory
- Gundam Century, Minori, 22nd Sep, 1981.
- Gundam Century Renewal Version, ISBN / 4-87777-028-3, Kisousha, 15th Mar, 2000.
- (1981-09-22) Gekkan Out Bessatsu "Sora Kakeru Senshi-tachi Gundam Century". Minori Shobō. ISBN 4-87777-028-3. (ja)
- (1988-02-10) B-Club Special "Kidō Senshi Gundam MS Daizenshū". Bandai. ISBN 4-89189-336-2.
- (1988-10-01) B-Club Special "Kidō Senshi Gundam Shin MS Daizenshū". Bandai. ISBN 4-89189-050-9.
- (1991-06-30) B-Club Special "Kidō Senshi Gundam Shin MS Daizenshū Ver. 3.0". Bandai. ISBN 4-89189-225-0.
- (1998-05-15) MS Encyclopedia "Kidō Senshi Gundam MS Daizenshū 98". Mediaworks. ISBN 4-07-308519-0.
- (2003-04-10) Mobile Suit Illustrated 2003 "Kidō Senshi Gundam MS Daizenshū 2003". Mediaworks. ISBN 4-84-022339-4.
- (2006-05-15) Mobile Suit Illustrated 2006 "Kidō Senshi Gundam MS Daizenshū 2006". Mediaworks. ISBN 4-8402-3411-6.
- (1991-04-12) Tv Magazine Tokubetu Henshū "Kidō Senshi Gundam Daizenshū". Kōdansha. ISBN 4-06-178412-9.
- (2001-03-21) Kidō Senshi Gundam Kōshiki Hyakka Jiten "Gundam Officials". Kōdansha. ISBN 4-06-330110-9. (ja)
- Perfect Grade, Master Grade, High Grade Model Instruction Manual. Bandai.
