RX-79[G] Gundam Ground Type is a ground-only, limited-production Federation machine from Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team (1996, U.C. 0079). Twenty were built, and the 08th Team's is the one Shiro Amada pilots. The bracketed G marks the ground variant of the RX-79 line.
What it does in the story
Twelve of the twenty went to the 01st, 04th, 06th and 08th Mobile Suit Teams of the Kojima Battalion, raised in July U.C. 0079 for the Southeast Asia front. From there the 08th Team's suits fight Zeon's Earth Attack Force through jungle, river and mountain terrain. Replacements are scarce, so the machines are patched in the field.
What makes it different
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Space equipment was deleted, not added.
The Ground Type drops the Core Block System and the space-use systems, and the mass that comes off is enough for it to match the RX-78 under gravity. It is a ground machine by construction, not a space frame pushed into an atmosphere.
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The limiter can be released.
Because the suit was assembled from surplus RX-78 parts of uneven quality, a limiter was fitted to keep performance steady. Releasing it gives MAX mode, a large jump in output with a hard time limit, and the manual warns of total loss if it is held too long.
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The head has no vulcan guns.
Head vulcans were removed in favour of mounting points for mission equipment, with a snorkel camera on the left side for searching. The vulcan and a multi-launcher moved to the left of the chest: more ammunition, but a narrower arc of fire.
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The beam sabers moved into the legs.
With the space attitude-control thrusters and their tanks gone, the lower legs had room for enclosed saber racks, which also keeps dust out. The backpack became a container rack for a weapon container or a parachute pack, and the 100mm machine gun and 180mm cannon are the main weapons, since few beam rifles were made.
How big is it?
- Overall height: 18.2 m, with a head height of 18.0 m, according to Bandai's official spec
- 1/144: roughly 12.6 cm
- 1/100: roughly 18.2 cm
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Frequently asked questions
1. What is MAX mode on the Ground Type?
It is the limiter released. Output climbs sharply for a short window, and the ground crew treat it as a last resort because the frame is not built to hold that load. In the OVA it is used in a fight that is going badly.
2. Why does the Ground Type have no Core Block System?
The RX-79[G] was built for ground combat only, and the Core Block System was among the equipment left out along with the space-use gear. Dropping it helps make the suit light enough to keep pace with the RX-78.
3. What is the GM Head version?
It is Karen Joshua's Ground Type with a GM Ground Type head grafted on after damage, since spare RX-79 parts were nearly impossible to get. Fellow pilots called it GM Head, and the name stuck.
4. Which Ground Type kits exist?
In 1/144 there is the HGUC kit from 2007 and a 2018 release, plus an earlier double pack with a Zaku II. In 1/100 there is the Master Grade from 2000.
Background sources: RX-79[G] Gundam Ground Type — Gundam Wiki · 陸戦型ガンダム（日本語版 Wikipedia）
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