[CUSTOM] Premium Bandai MG 1/100 RGM-79D GM Cold Districts Type (EFGF 16th Marines Regiment)

Model Number: RGM-79D

Designation: EFGF Mass Production General Purpose Mobile Suit for Cold Climates

#CircuitBreakerBacklogChallenge Build #9 complete: my second painted Master Grade build!

My second painted/ customised Master Grade ever (the first being the P-Bandai MG 1/100 Hyaku Shiki Mass Production Type), the GM Cold Districts Type is paired with the 170mm cannon from the Bandai Re100 1/100 Guncannon Detector model kit to give it some added OOMPH.

A variant of the GM Cold Districts Type modified for use by the Earth Federation Ground Force's 16th Marines Regiment, this variant of the Federation's workhorse mass production mobile suit couldn't catch a break and was put through its paces in the initial months following the cessation of One Year War hostilities.

Deployed to guard key Federation installations in the unforgiving tundra of Siberia against hostile action by Zeon Remnants, the 16th Marines strengthened the joints of their GMs to withstand the environment's biting cold and lethal frost. The cockpit was also further insulated and heated to prolong pilot longevity. 

However, the most distinctive change brought about by the Marines was the addition of a 170mm heavy cannon as standard equipment for their GM units. First developed in the EFSF Torrington Base, the 16th Marines were handpicked to field test these specially-reinforced weapons in the cold climate.

Though unwieldy and cumbersome, there was no doubt about the 170mm heavy cannon's ferocious firepower. Using just the GM's compound sensor, a Marine could put a 17cm anti-armour round squarely through the torso of a Zeon Remnant Zaku II from more than 30 kilometres away. This gave the Marines a long-range advantage which they exploited time and again against numerically superior foes. 

Each 16th Marines fireteam consisted of a GM equipped with the 170mm heavy cannon alongside two units with regular armament consisting of the 90mm GM Machine Gun Type 2 and a single beam saber stored in a purpose-built recharge rack on the backpack.

The Sten-inspired GMG Type 2 was unusual for Federation weapons at that time, featuring a side-mounted magazine well which doubled as a foregrip. Firing the same caliber of ammunition as the 90mm bullpup machine gun that was gaining popularity among Federation pilots, the GMG Type 2 had the option of mounting an underslung grenade launcher, a feature lacking on the bullpup machine gun. 16th Marines GMs could stow away the GMG Type 2 via an electromagnetic mount on the back skirt armour when not in use.

While the cannon-equipped GM provided overwatch and cover fire from afar, its teammates forged ahead to flank the enemy, using its colour scheme to blend into the surroundings and anti-freeze modifications made to the joints to encircle enemies. This effectively allowed the GMs to move as though they were in urban environment and performed far better than mobile suits not treated with cold climate measures.

The GM Cold Districts Type served the 16th Marines Regiment well, with the regiment's combat data being used to help develop other GM variants such as the GM Command line of mass production general purpose mobile suits.

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