List of Mechanisms

Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket

Model Number: RX-78NT-1

By the time of the One Year War, the Principality of Zeon's lead Newtype researcher, Dr. Flanagan, had been conducting research for over a decade. In contrast, the Earth Federation Forces (EFF) only began their Newtype research in August, U.C. 0079, as they initially dismissed the military value of Newtypes due to their rarity and low replicability.

However, concepts similar to Newtype-use units were included in the RX Project. Using existing research aimed at improving mobile suit responsiveness, along with reports from Newtype pilot Amuro Ray and operational data from the RX-78-2 Gundam, the EFF initiated the development of a Newtype-use mobile suit focusing on enhanced durability and responsiveness. Consequently, the fourth RX-78 series unit was redesigned as a custom suit for Amuro Ray and designated as RX-78NT-1.

The development of the Gundam NT-1 was conducted at Augusta Base, a facility originally focused on soldier mental health issues. It was selected because some of its researchers had published essays supporting the Newtype concept. For added protection, the NT-1 was equipped with optional Chobam armor, earning it the nickname "Alex," derived from the prefix "RX" and the acronym "Armor Layered EXamination," the project's name.

To address the mobility challenges posed by the additional weight of the Chobam armor, the NT-1 was designed with expanded propellant capacity. Drawing inspiration from the Zeon concept of using legs as large vernier units, the NT-1 incorporated propellant tank/sub-thruster hybrid units on its legs and numerous additional thrusters to enhance mobility and compensate for the armor's weight.

The NT-1's advanced magnet coating and high-speed, large-capacity learning computer—more sophisticated than the RX-78-2's—boosted its responsiveness to over three times that of existing mobile suits. It also introduced a panoramic cockpit and linear seat, which were intended to help Newtype pilots maximize their heightened spatial awareness. These features would later become standard in mobile suits.

Finally, analyzing combat data from the RX-78-2 Gundam revealed that losing or damaging hand-carried weapons could critically impair a mobile suit's combat effectiveness. To mitigate this risk, the NT-1 was equipped with a pair of concealed 90mm Gatling Guns in its forearms.

Model Number: RX-78NT-1FA

Designed for the Gundam NT-1, the Chobam (Ceramics Hybrid Outer-shelled Blow up Act-on Materials) armor is a series of optional armor plates attached to the machine's main body. It is a composite armor developed as part of the Full-Armor System and Weapon System (FSWS) project for the RX-78 series. The materials used in its construction include a thin layer of Luna Titanium Alloy.

The Chobam Armor granted the Gundam superior defensive capabilities, allowing it to easily withstand a direct hit from the Kampfer's shotgun and protecting it from the explosion of the chain mine. However, it significantly increased the suit's weight, reducing maneuverability and mobility. To counteract these drawbacks, the armor plates on the rear skirt feature built-in thrusters, and certain sections of the armor have movable flaps to ensure that some of the mobile suit's thrusters remain usable.

This armor was later utilized in the RGC-83 GM Cannon II. When equipped with the Chobam Armor, the Gundam NT-1's model number and name change to RX-78NT-1FA Gundam NT-1・FA.