Technology & Combat Characteristics
The Ball unit was also used in environments other than space. The RB-79N Fisheye was designed for underwater use. The generator output was increased to 425 kW(as compared to the 400 kW of the other Ball configurations) and a multiple barrel long spear launcher was mounted to replace the 180mm cannon. The manipulators were also enlarged for melee combat. This type also had a single propeller mounted on the back of the unit, instead of two thrusters.
History
The Fisheye was developed early on in the One Year War to help augment Earth Federation Navy Forces (EFNF) capabilities against what was, at least at that time in the Summer of UC 0079, a growing Zeon U-Type Submarine fleet and their MS-06M Zaku Marine Type Mobile Suit Units. Fisheye were known to go on hunting patrols where pilots would take advantage of their relatively small size and fast speeds to viciously strike at Zeon forces before quickly dispersing.
Fisheye were armed with "Long Spears" a kind of spear gun as beam weaponry use underwater at this time in the war was considered impossible, the units also possessed claws to shred their targets and searchlights to blind the enemy whilst helping the pilot see.
Veteran pilots tended to further the Fisheye's abilities by painting camouflage on their units; one Federation Fisheye Squadron fashioned itself with not just camouflage but also a Mermaid and a 666 emblem to help maximize the terror effect they had in battle.
in August of UC 0079, the 603rd Evaluation Unit would utilize the QEX-04M Aegir in test runs of beam weaponry underwater would attack a Federation Supply Fleet at high sea and successfully damage the fleet. In the ensuing battle the Aegir would face off against the 666 Unit, which the Aegir's pilot claims destroyed his unit's submarine during the initial landings on Earth. the Aegir would successfully destroy the 666 Unit but be destroyed at the same time, the 603rd would then withdraw.
The Fisheye's attack role would be largely subplanted by the RAG-79 Aqua GM, RAG-79-G1 Gundam Marine Type, and (after the war) RX-77AQ Guncannon Aqua as, for the remainder of the war, Federation strategy would focus on harbor defense as Zeon aquatic mobile suits and mobile armors began to be seen as too dangerous to actually fight underwater.