The GM Early Type is an early model GM used in space to gather data for the Earth Federation's first true mass production mobile suit. Due to its purpose as test machine, it is armed only with a machine gun, beam saber and a pair of head vulcans. It became the prototype of the later RGM-79C GM Type C.
During the One Year War, the Federation attempted to mass produce a mobile suit to counter the Principality of Zeon's mobile suit forces. With the RGM-79[G] GM Ground Type already deployed on Earth, the RGM-79[E] GM Early Type was deployed in space. Combined with the learning system from the RX-78-2 Gundam, the GM Early Type was later mass produced as the RGM-79C GM Type C.
One known record of a GM Early Type being used was in October UC 0079. Pilot Terry Sanders Jr. was leading a team of GM Early Types when his squad encountered an MS-06RD-4 Zaku High Mobility Test Type and its three escorts. Though they shot down one of the escorts, Sanders was the only member of his team that survived the incident. His GM Early Type was badly damaged and had to be saved by Shiro Amada, a passenger aboard a passing Federation transport ship which recieved his distress signal.