RGM-86R GM III

General and Technical Data

Model Number: RGM-86R
Code Name: GM III
Unit Type: Mass production general purpose mobile suit
Manufacturer: Earth Federation Forces
Operator: Earth Federation Forces
Capacity: Pilot only, in panoramic monitor/linear seat cockpit in torso
First deployment: UC 0088
Height: 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
Construction: Titanium alloy/gundarium alloy
Power Plant: Minovsky type ultracompact fusion reactor, output rated at 1560 kW
Equipment and Design Features: Sensors, range 10900 meters
Fixed Armaments:

• 2 x 60mm vulcan gun, mounted in head (Fire-linked)
  
• 2 x beam saber, power rated at 0.4 MW, stored in recharge racks in backpack, hand-carried in use

Optional Fixed Armaments:

• 4-tube medium missile pod, 3 round magazine per tube (12 rounds total), mounts on shoulder
  
• 15-tube small missile pod, 5 round magazine per tube (75 rounds total), mounts on shoulder
  
• 2 x 2-tube large missile pod, 1 round per tube (4 rounds total), mounts on hip armor
  
• Shield, mounted on either forearm

Optional Hand Armaments:

• Beam rifle, power rated at 2.8 MW, powered by rechargeable energy cap
  
• Beam javelin

Technical and Historical Notes
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 is introduced during the First Neo Zeon War in UC 0088. Unlike the RMS-179/RGM-79R GM II, which is only a minor improvement over the original GM, the GM III is a major improvement, incorporating a more powerful reactor, better sensors and armor, and a 37% increase in thruster speed/acceleration (thanks to a backpack design based on the one used on the RX-178 Gundam Mark II). The GM III can 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 proves to be a major success, and the model remains one of the Federation Forces' mainstay mobile suits for several years, seeing action in UC 0093's Second Neo Zeon War and well into the modern era.