RX-78-4 Gundam 4th

Model number: RX-78-4
Code name: Gundam 4th
Unit type: prototype space combat mobile suit
Manufacturer: Earth Federation Forces
Operator: Earth Federation Forces
First deployment: UC 0079
Accommodation: pilot only, in standard cockpit in torso
Dimensions: head height 18.0 meters
Weight: empty 42.6 metric tons; max gross 80.2 metric tons (equipped with mega beam launcher: 86.5 metric tons)
Armor materials: Luna Titanium alloy
Powerplant: Minovsky type ultracompact fusion reactor, output rated at 1,550 kW
Propulsion: rocket thrusters: 70,500 kg total
Equipment and design features: sensors, range 6,190 meters
Fixed armaments: 2 x 60mm vulcan gun, mounted in head; 2 x beam saber, stored in recharge racks on backpack, hand-carried in use; 2 x hand beam gun, mounted on forearms; shield, mounted on left forearm
Optional hand armaments: hyper beam rifle; mega beam launcher, powered by external generator pack attached to backpack; hyper bazooka

As the focus of the One Year War shifted into space, the Earth Federation Forces began designing a new Gundam for high mobility space combat, and the end result was the RX-78-4 Gundam 4th. The Gundam 4th was intended to serve as an anti-ship combat unit capable of high speed attacks. The Core Block System from the RX-78-2 Gundam was removed, and the suit was equipped with a new backpack that featured additional thrusters. With the new thrusters and propellant tanks, the Gundam 4th’s mobility was improved by about 40 percent. The removal of the Core Block System allowed for the installation of cooling systems, which translated to a higher generator output and the ability to use higher power beam weapons. The Gundam 4th featured standard armaments like a pair of vulcan guns and beam sabers, plus a pair of forearm-mounted hand beam guns. It could also carry a beam rifle and hyper beam rifle, but its most powerful armament was the powerful mega beam launcher, which was powered by an external generator pack mounted on the backpack. The launcher had the capability to destroy an entire fleet on its own, but proved unstable in drawing power from the suit’s reactor. In late UC 0079, the Gundam 4th was assigned to Luce Kassel, a pilot aboard the assault carrier Thoroughbred. The RX-78-5 Gundam 5th, piloted by Ford Romfellow, was also stationed aboard the same ship. Luce used the mega beam launcher in battle to destroy a Zeon fleet, but the strain on the generator was too intense and caused an explosion that destroyed the cockpit and killed Luce.

Pilot: Luce Kassel
First appearance: M-MSV
Original mechanical designer(s): Kunio Okawara (M-MSV version), Hajime Katoki (Space Beyond the Blaze version)

Hand beam gun (Version 2)

Hyper beam rifle (Version 1)

Hyper beam rifle (Version 2)

Mega beam launcher (Version 1)

Mega beam launcher (Version 2)

Rear view (Version 1)

Rear view (Version 2)

Shield (Version 2)