RGM-86R GM III

Model number: RGM-86R
Code name: GM III
Unit type: mass production general purpose mobile suit
Manufacturer: Earth Federation Forces
Operator(s): Earth Federation Forces; Karaba
First deployment: 1 May UC 0088
Accommodation: pilot only, in panoramic monitor/linear seat cockpit in torso
Dimensions: overall height 18.6 meters; head height 18.0 meters
Weight: empty 38.6 metric tons; max gross 56.2 metric tons; mass ratio 1.29
Armor materials: titanium alloy; Gundarium alloy
Powerplant: Minovsky type ultracompact fusion reactor, output rated at 1,560 kW
Propulsion: rocket thrusters: 81,200 kg total (4 x 20,300 kg); vernier thrusters/apogee motors: 8
Equipment and design features: sensors, range 10,900 meters
Fixed armaments: 2 x 60mm vulcan gun, mounted in head; 2 x beam saber, power rated at 0.4 MW, stored in recharge racks in backpack, hand-carried in use
Optional fixed armaments: 2 x 4-tube medium missile pod, 3 round magazine per tube, mounts on shoulder; 15-tube small missile pod, mounts on shoulder; 2-tube large missile launcher, mounts on hip armor
Optional hand armaments: beam rifle, power rated at 2.8 MW, powered by rechargeable energy cap; beam javelin; shield, mounted on either forearm

Another entry in a long line of mobile suits descended from the Earth Federation Forces’ first mass production mobile suit, the RGM-79 GM, the RGM-86R GM III was introduced during the First Neo Zeon War in UC 0088. Unlike the RMS-179 GM II, which was only a minor improvement over the original GM, the GM III was a major upgrade, incorporating a more powerful reactor, better sensors and armor, and a 37 percent increase in thruster speed (thanks to a backpack design based on the one used on the RX-178 Gundam Mk-II). The GM III could also be fitted with a variety of missile launchers, giving the mobile suit a much more flexible mission role as either a close combat or fire support unit. The GM III design proved to be a major success, and the model remained one of the EFF’s mainstay mobile suits for several years, seeing action in the Second Neo Zeon War of UC 0093 and the Laplace Incident of UC 0096.

Pilot(s): Bosch Weller, Yamaguchi
First appearance: Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ
Original mechanical designer(s): Hajime Katoki (principal design, Gundam ZZ and Gundam Unicorn versions), Yoshinori Sayama (cleanup, Gundam ZZ version)

Beam rifle (Version 1)

Head (Version 1)

Leg missile launcher (Version 1)

Rear view (Version 1)

Rear view (Version 2)

Small missile pod (Version 1)