Technology & Combat Characteristics
A variation of the RGM-79G GM Command, the RGM-79S GM Spartan was designed for jungle combat in subtropical environments. It was used by the Earth Federation Forces Mechanized Marine Division and the Black Dog Squad during the One Year War. The GM Spartan is equipped with extra armor in the front, concentrated on its upper body, as its lower body is expected to be concealed by tropical foliage.
To lower its visibility in tropical and subtropical jungles, the GM Spartan adopted a mostly moss green color scheme for its standard paintjob. However, the units of the Black Dog Squad adopted a black color scheme instead. The GM Spartan's back can be covered with a camouflage jacket, a smoke discharger is mounted on the left side of its head, and it is equipped with a Minovsky particle dispersion pod in its backpack. Its weapons included a custom minigun with an underslung handgun, a knife mounted in the backpack, three hand grenades mounted on the right side skirt armor, two Wired Anti-MS Missiles (WAMM) on the right shoulder, and two optional beam sabers. The GM Spartan can also change its weaponry to fill a variety of battlefield roles.
History
On December 2, 0079, the 2nd Special Service Platoon of the Earth Federation Forces 17th Mechanized Marine Division was deployed to Borneo to scout the Zeon supply route between Mount Kinabalu and Brunei and intercept them if possible. The Platoon consisted of Captain Grey, who piloted a GM Spartan; Lieutenant Barrow, who piloted a RGC-80 GM Cannon, and an unnamed pilot in a GM Scout. The leader of the team, Renato Germi, piloted a customized GM Spartan, the RGM-79S GM Spartan (RG).
Another unit was rolled out in December, U.C. 0079 and assigned to North America. This unit had a different color scheme and featured orange sensors. By the end of the war, it had accumulated five kills, including at least one MS-06S Zaku II Commander Type and one MS-09 Dom. Unconfirmed reports indicated that this unit later participated in the Gryps War as part of Karaba.