Model number: RX-78GP03
Code name: Gundam "Dendrobium Orchis"
Unit type: prototype space attack use mobile weapon
Manufacturer: Anaheim Electronics
Operator: Earth Federation Forces
Rollout: 28 October UC 0083
First deployment: 11 November UC 0083
Accommodation: unmanned, controlled by docked RX-78GP03S Gundam "Dendrobium Stamen"
Dimensions: overall length 140.0 meters; unarmed length 73.0 meters; overall height 38.5 meters; overall width 62.0 meters
Weight: empty 226.4 metric tons; max gross 453.1 metric tons
Armor materials: gundarium alloy
Powerplant: Minovsky type ultracompact fusion reactor, output rated at 38900 kW
Propulsion: rocket thrusters: 6 x 377500 kg
Performance: maximum thruster acceleration 5.00 G
Equipment and design features: I-field beam-deflecting barrier generator, externally mounted on main body
Fixed armaments: mega beam cannon, mounted on main body; 2 x large claw, each mounts large beam saber; 2 x weapons container pod
Optional weapons container pod armament: 3-tube large missile pod; 108-tube micromissile pod; chain mine, rocket-guided; folding shield for GP03S Stamen; folding bazooka for GP03S Stamen; XBR-BOWA M-82A beam rifle w/jitte for GP03S Stamen

Technical and Historical Notes

During its military reconstruction following the devastating One Year War, the Earth Federation contracted a private company, Anaheim Electronics, to develop a series of new Gundam-model mobile suits to serve as conceptual testbeds for new and improved mobile suit technology. The third of these new prototypes to be produced by Anaheim was the RX-78GP03 Gundam, code-named "Dendrobium." The Dendrobium was composed of two units: the RX-78GP03S Gundam mobile suit itself, code-named "Stamen"; and the large RX-78GP03 Gundam mobile weapon unit, code-named "Orchis." The Orchis was an unmanned unit, and required the Stamen - which itself had a pilot - to be docked with it for it to function. Since the GP03 Dendrobium was designed as a defense unit for space installations capable of taking on enemy mobile armor, the Orchis component was basically a large spacegoing vehicle, equipped with enough thrusters to make it a fast interception unit. Its primary heavy armament was a large mega beam cannon, mounted on its own movable arm for aiming, and it also had two large claws which incorporated large beam sabers capable of slicing up something as large as a battleship. The Orchis also mounted an external I-field barrier generator, giving the GP03 complete 360-degree protection from enemy beam weapons fire. For versatility, it also mounted two large weapons container pods, which could carry a variety of weapons from micromissile launcher pods to battleship-sized demolition chain mines. Spare weapons containers could be loaded out ahead of time, and the Orchis could have empty pods changed out for new ones in a matter of minutes.

The GP03S Stamen was completed at Anaheim's Von Braun City lunar factory and delivered to their La Vie en Rose research dockship, where the Orchis component had also been completed. The only thing left to make the GP03 field-ready was piloting and combat data. However, with the shutdown of the Gundam Development Project, Earth Federation Forces security officer Nakahha Nakato dismissed all of the Anaheim research staff except for systems engineer Lucette Audevie. With the threat of the Delaz Fleet and the impending colony drop crisis, Lucette strongly argued for the GP03's completion, all to no avail. To face this desparate situation, Gundam pilot Kou Uraki and the crew of the assault carrier Albion literally hijacked the GP03 - with the assistance of Lucette and at the cost of her life - and quickly fielded the Dendrobium, proving to be a devastating foe to the Delaz fleet escorting their hijacked colony falling towards Earth.

Miscellaneous Information

Pilot(s): Kou Uraki, Defrah Kar
Appearances: Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory; Mobile Suit Gundam: Encounters in Space; Gundam Evolve
Original mechanical designer: Hajime Katoki

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