| RX-7 Machine Weapon マシーン兵器 RX-7 |
| The RX-7 Machine Weapon was Earth's original mobile suit used for the defense of space fleets during the war prior to the advancement of the Gunbuster and its mass production model, the Sizzler. Tens of thousands of the machines were built after the war began, seeing as how ground troops would need something to stand on equal ground with the alien drones. However, the RX-7 was a relatively weak weapon, as it was easily destroyed by the alien drones and plasma fire. To reduce weight and to also increase mobility and combat effectiveness, the RX-7 was not provided with any advanced shielding of any kind, save for some heavy armor plating around the machine's midsection. This additional armor plating did not add sufficient protection as it turned out, because alien drones were able to puncture the plating with their claws. |
| The RX-7's primary weapon was a lightning staff which carried enough of a punch to kill off the alien drones which it would face in combat, but it proved to be rather ineffective against anything larger. In missions where fighting drones would be secondary, the RX-7 could be outfitted with a nuclear weapon used primarily to take out larger insect carrier craft. The machine was also equipped with 2 razor sharp progressive knives which were sheathed within the left and right forearms. At the time of development, there were plans to give the RX-7 a standard issue firearm which was possibly a hand held railgun system or energy weapon, but that idea was scrapped due to cost. The RX-7 was also primarily carrier based, meaning that with their engine packs they were able to launch from a deck catapult. This was a big advantage seeing as how it was necessary to get the troops launched as quickly as possible to avoid numerous casualties on-deck. |
| The cockpit of the RX-7 proved to be very functional. It was located in the machine's midsection, right about where the extra armor plating was added to protect the pilot. Sensors mounted in the head were attached to three monitors in the cockpit which gave the pilot a decent view of his surroundings, but there were disadvatages as sight was limited only to the front and sides. Changes made for the Gunbuster would later be incorporated into the Sizzler series enabling full 360 degree vision. Movement of the arms and legs were made possible by foot pedals and control sticks used to move the arms and hands. For those who were to pilot these machines, it could be a chore, as Noriko found out when first entering the space academy for pilot training. |
| Although the RX-7 proved to be a valuable asset to the Space Defense Force, it was eventually fazed out circa 2032 after the Top Squadron was disbanded in favor of the newer Sizzler series of battlesuits. The Sizzler battlesuits were considerably larger than the RX-7, and more powerfully built. They were patterned off of the much larger Gunbuster and mass produced for use in deep space as protection for the fleet. The Sizzler series were a far cry more advanced than their brethren, as weapons' systems had been upgraded and shielding added and improved. They also had an improved powerplant and advanced combat computers. While they also had some of the same characteristics of the Gunbuster's weaponry such as particle beam weapons, the Sizzler also retained the use of the old lightning staff used by the RX-7. The image below is of a Sizzler combat unit. |
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