Glasgow

The Glasgow (グラスゴー, Gurasugō) is a fourth-generation Knightmare Frame and the first mass-production model produced by the Holy Britannian Empire. It actively contributed to the invasion of Japan, providing an overwhelming tactical advantage over conventional combat vehicles. The Glasgow's armament includes Slash Harkens, Tonfas, and a handheld assault rifle or a stun gun. Its hull still serves as a template for its successors, but the model itself is phased out in favor of the RPI-13 Sutherland by the start of the series. The Britannian police force operates a modified variant called the Knight Police, apparently RPI stands for Royal Panzer Infantry.

Various Japanese resistance cells use modified Glasgow models called Burais. They also make use of a cannon built from four such units called a Raikou. Kallen Kozuki used a customized red Glasgow in the beginning of the series, which is destroyed in battle against the Lancelot during the latter's first combat deployment, which is replaced by another modified red glasgow in the episode.

History
Influenced by the success of the Ganymede prototype, the Holy Britannia Empire begins researching the use of Knightmare Frames as combat weapons. The fruit of their labor is the RPI-11 Glasgow, the first combat-capable Knightmare. Building upon the foundation laid out by the Ganymede, the Glasgow relies upon its small, light frame and landspinners for high-speed combat, allowing it to outflank ground forces such as tanks and APCs. The Glasgow also introduces the slash harken, a wired projectile weapon that can double as a grappling hook, or be used to help the Knightmare descend from aerial transports safely, and becomes standard equipment in almost all Knightmares thereafter. The effectiveness of the Glasgow is proven when it's deployed during Britannia's invasion of Japan. The Glasgow's participation makes the brief war a complete route, allowing Britannia to easily take over the island nation, which is then renamed Area 11. Seven years after the invasion, the Glasgow is still seen as venerable, but outdated, and is slowly phased out of production in favor of the newer RPI-13 Sutherland. Many units are refitted into the police-use RPI-11 Knightpolice, while the proliferation of Glasgows means that they often end up in the hands of anti-Britannian rebels, such as the Order of the Black Knights and the Japanese Liberation Front. Further, the reliable Knightmare is used as the basis for several "new" designs, including the Type-10R Burai and Type-1R Burai Kai.

Trivia

 * The Glasgow's name derives from a city in Scotland, a part of the British Isles, Britannia's conqurored ancestral homeland.
 * Glasgow plays the same part as MS-05 Zaku I from Mobile Suit Gundam, as Glasgow is the first military Knightmare Frame used in combat, same as Zaku I was in Mobile Suit Gundam. Then again, Glasgow also plays the same role as MSER-04 Anf from Mobile Suit Gundam 00, which, after abandoned by military in favor of newer machines, falls into the hand of terrorists.