Technology & Combat Characteristics

The unit was a new GM model with fortified armor on its head, chest, legs, shoulders, arms, and ankles. . In addition to improved armor, this mobile suit's frontal and side skirt armor is able to carry grenades, and is equipped with two beam sabers instead of the standard GM's one. Like the Gundam following its refit at Jaburo, the GM is equipped with a "Core Pod" escape craft. Unlike other GM variants, the Close Combat Type is an improvised battlefield modification, constructed with spare parts and salvaged armor rather than being purpose built.

History

For Operation Star One, a new GM model with fortified armor had been delivered to the White Base. It was the only one of its kind on the ship, and the pilots there were wondering who would pilot it, some had assumed it would be Job John, implying that he was more reliable than fellow Guncannon pilot Kai Shiden, much to the latter's discomfort. Job John entered the hangar, stating that he would join the new GM team, with "the Princess" piloting the fortified armor model, and Hayato piloting his Guncannon. Yashima had told Bright of Sayla's simulation training and, as White Base were deploying everything they had, Bright had assigned her the new GM model .

Though she had prior experience piloting a Core Fighter and Core Booster, the Battle of A Baoa Q was the first time Sayla sortied in a mobile suit. Despite this, she performed very well, at one point defeating a Braw Bro with apparently little effort. Such was the performance of the GM and Sayla's skill in its use that the Braw Bro's pilot, shortly before his defeat, erroneously assumed his opponent to be the infamous "Fed Newtype" Amuro Ray.

Sayla's GM was severely damaged in combat, and she abandoned it – escaping in the Core Pod, which landed on A Baoa Qu. At least one additional unit of this model appeared among the Federation Forces that landed on A Baoa Qu and engaged the defending Zeon forces in the fortress itself.