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The MS-06 Zaku II is a 'mobile suit' or giant robot in the Mobile Suit Gundam fictional universe. it is based upon the earlier MS-05 Zaku, and it is one of the most common badguy units. Its distinctive appearance can be found in countless video games, models, toys, books, movies, and tv shows.
The MS-06A was the first production Zaku II, but the MS-06F is the most commonly observed variant; Char Aznable originally piloted a red C, and the Black Tri-Stars piloted green and purple C's with Zaku I heads. The C-types were replaced by F-types early in the war.
Zeon pilots Johnny Ridden, Shin Matsunaga, Neuen Bitter, and Garma Zabi piloted MS-06F variants with their own distinctive colour schemes: crimson and black (Ridden), green with white head and left shoulder (Matsunaga), and tan and green (Zabi). Neuen Bitter's F had a single antenna extending from the "forehead" of the unit. The F series also featured the MS-06FZ Zaku Kai, which had a more "rugged" appearance. The Earth Federation used some repainted Zaku II units, MS-06F2s, primarily as Dissimilar Mobile Suit Combat Training "aggressor" units, although they also served excellently as trainers for the Federation's RMS-106 HiZack mobile suit.
The MS-06J variant was primarily used for ground operations, and often had camouflage colour schemes. The MS-06S Commander Type had a single antenna extending from the "forehead" of the unit (similar to Neuen Bitter's 06F).
During the One Year War
The MS-06C Zaku II was deployed in UC January 0078. The C-type was considerably heavier than the later, definitive F-type because it was more strongly armored to resist nuclear radiation from the nuclear rockets it fired from its bazooka.
By UC February 0079, all C-type Zaku IIs had been upgraded into or replaced by the definitive F-type, which was lighter and had an improved electronics fit (since the electronics didn't have to be hardened and shielded against nuclear radiation and electromagnetic pulse).
The F-type Zaku II modified for ground use became the J-type (MS-06J), rolled out in late May and in service by early June. The J-type was lighter than the F-type by 3 tons and had minor differences in internal equipment fit, as well as being sealed for limited marine use.
The Zaku model's versatility and relative ease of production meant that Zeon engineers were able to create many variants to their heart's content, with the purpose of experimentation for future Mobile Suit models, or to fill in a gap in Zeon's devotion to specialist Mobile Suits (as opposed to the Federation's idea of just having great numbers of all-purpose models).
The MS-06M Marine Type Zaku II was an operational failure - its unstreamlined shape and troublesome waterproof seals meant that it never worked the way it was supposed to.
The MS-06S Commander Type Zaku II had better thrusters and a more powerful nuclear fusion reactor, though not powerful enough to support beam weapons. The S-type was in use by aces like Char Aznable and the Black Tri-Stars.
The MS-06K Zaku Cannon was aesthetically quite different from other Zaku variants, and generally sported a desert paint scheme. It was equipped with grenade launchers and a large, shoulder-mounted 180mm cannon to fulfill its main function as an artillery support unit.
The MS-06Z Psycommu Zaku was an experimental unit created to gather data for the creation of further Psycommu units, and many of its design features went on to be part of the MSN-02 Zeong. Its lack of manouvreability, however, meant that a new prototype was required, which spawned the MSN-01 High Mobility Psycommu Zaku.
The MS-06E series was focused on reconnaissance, with both models, E and E-3, being equipped with a myriad of advanced radar systems and high resolution cameras. They were unarmed yet much more agile than regular Zaku units, in order to facilitate escape should they be discovered by enemy Mobile Suits.
The final revision of the Zaku II was the MS-06FZ Zaku Kai, produced late in the war. This incarnation of the Zaku was designed around the standards laid out by the Zeon United Maintenance Plan, and incorporated improvements in thruster design previously seen in more advanced models. Its ease of use was a boon for Zeon, which by this time was unable to field many veteran pilots due to massive losses.
The Zaku II in general was largely withdrawn from front-line service by UC December 0079, replaced on the front lines by more powerful mobile suits like the MS-09 Dom/MS-09R Rick Dom and MS-14 Gelgoog. However, due to the vast number of Zaku IIs in service with Zeon, there were still many, many of these suits on the lines on the last day of the war, 31 December UC 0079, at the Battle of A Baoa Qu. Moreover, many Zaku units and their variants survived long after the end of the One-Year War, resurfacing under the command of the Delaz Fleet in UC 0083, remaining in the service of the Titans until the disbanding of that unit in UC 0088, and even later on by the Oldsmobile Army based on Mars. Although it's debatable whether it counts as canon, in the Correct Century continuity, the forces that attempt to defend the Earth from the Moonrace invasion manage to dig up some Zakus, arguably thousands of years after the end of the One-Year War.
Specifications
Main types only; a very large number of variant types exist
MS-06F Zaku II
Unit type: mass production general purpose MS
Head height: 17.5 m
Base weight: 58.1 t
Full weight: 73.3 t
Generator output: 951 kW
Thrusters: 20500 kg x 2, 1000 kg x 2
Acceleration: 0.59 G (5.8 m/s²)
Sensor radius: 3200 m
180-degree turn time: 1.7 s
Ground speed: 88 km/h
Armor: super-high tensile steel
Armament: heat hawk x 1
Optional armament: 280 mm Zaku bazooka x 1 (4 rounds), 120 mm machinegun x 1 (100 rounds), 3-missile pod x 2, cracker
Pilot(s): Slender, Denim, Gene, Kohm, J.Q., Crown, Akos, Tachi, Cozun Graham, Brenev Auggs, Shin Matsunaga, Johnny Ridden, Gerald Sakai, Lou Roya, Charlotte Hepner, Nikki Roberto
MS-06J Zaku II Ground Type
Unit type: mass production ground combat MS
Head height: 17.5 m
Base weight: 56.2 t
Full weight: 74.5 t
Generator output: 976 kW
Thrusters: 48500 kg total
Acceleration: 0.65 G (6.4 m/s²)
Armor: super-high tensile steel
Sensor radius: 3200 m
Armament: heat hawk x 1
Optional armament: 280 mm Zaku bazooka x 1, (4 rounds) 3-missile launcher x 2, 120 mm machinegun x 1 (100 rounds), 175 mm Magella Attack cannon
Pilot(s): Norris Packard, Ash, Dell, Lou Roya, Charlotte Hepner, Nikki Roberto, Sandr
MS-06M (MSM-01) Zaku Marine Type
Unit type: submarine combat MS
Overall height: 18.2 m
Head height: 17.5 m
Base weight: 43.3 t
Full weight: 60.8 t
Generator output: 951 kW
Thrusters: 66000 kg total
Acceleration: 1.09 G
Water speed: 45 knot (83 km/h)
Sensor radius: 3200 m
Armament: SUBROC (SUBmarine ROCket) gun x 1, vulcan gun x 2
Optional armament: 240 mm 4-rocket pod x 2
MS-06S Zaku II Commander Type
Unit type: commander's high powered MS
Overall height: 18 m
Head height: 17.5 m
Base weight: 56.5 t
Full weight: 75.2 t
Generator output: 976 kW
Thrusters: 51600 kg total
Acceleration: 0.69 G (6.8 m/s²)
Sensor radius: 3200 m
Armor: super-high tensile steel
Armament: heat hawk x 1
Optional armament: 280 mm Zaku bazooka (4 rounds), 120 mm machinegun x 1 (100 rounds)
Pilot: Char Aznable, Robert Gilliam
Evolution
During the war, many many variant Zakus were designed, but only one evolved model, the MS-11 Action Zaku. The Action Zaku was superseded by the MS-14 Gelgoog and didn't see service until after the war, when it was produced by Anaheim Electronics (the reorganized Zeonic Company) for the Earth Federal Forces. In addition, the ground-combat MS-07 Gouf was derived from the Zaku II, but was very quickly succeeded on the production lines by the MS-09 Dom.
The Federation RMS-106 HiZack is a high-performance Zaku derivative used as a basic mobile suit alongside the RGM-79 GM and its derivatives, used during the Gryps Conflict (Zeta Gundam) and immediately afterward (Gundam Double Zeta), but is out of service by UC 0093 (Gundam F-91). However, the unarmed RMS-116H "Hobby HiZack" soon became popular among civilian mobile suit enthusiasts, at least those who could afford it.
During the first Earth-Neo Zeon War (Gundam Double Zeta), the Neo-Zeons fielded an advanced mobile suit, the AMX-011 Zaku III, based on the original MS-05 Zaku/MS-06 Zaku II design. The Zaku III was initially designed to be Neo-Zeon's main frontline unit, but the competing AMX-014 Doven Wolf was chosen instead. However, a few prominent Neo-Zeon officers and aces preferred the Zaku III, and as a result the small number produced were put into service as commander-type units.
Next step evolution of the Zaku type came in another Neo-Zeon model, this one from Char Aznable's Neo-Zeon faction rather than Haman Karn's: the AMS-119 Geara Doga. However, by this time technology had largely passed the Zaku by and it was decidedly second-best to its Federation counterpart, the RGM-89 Jegan.
The final evolution of Zaku come from Mars Zeon, also known as Oldmobile Army. This OMS-06RF RF Zaku (RF mean ReFined) while has similar look with original MS-06 Zaku II, is actually upgraded with technology of UC 0120. Against Federation's main unit, the RGM-89 Jegan, RF Zaku is an unstopable monster. However, Oldmobile Army later found out in their invasion on Earth during UC 0122 that Federation's newly deploy MS, the F71 G-Cannon and RGM-109 Heavygun, have high agility that render RF Zaku's power useless.
At this point, the potential of the Zaku battleframe had been completely exhausted and no further designs were attempted on its basic frame, although its influence in mobile suit design can be seen as late as UC 0223.
Alternate universes
As the Zaku II is the most popular enemy "grunt" mobile suit in Gundam, the many of the Alternate Universe series have included Zaku-like mobile suits.
In Mobile Fighter G Gundam, the main space-use mobile suit of Neo Japan is the JMS60 Busshi, which is cosmetically similar. As in in-joke, the unit's armor is made of Zakurium alloy.
In After War Gundam X, the common "grunt" mobile suit of the Space Revolutionary Army (and of a variety of Vultures and other civilian groups) is the RMS-006 Jenice, which is a slightly cosmetically altered, Zaku-like suit.
In ∀ Gundam, the MS-06 Zaku II appears as the "MS-06 Borjarnon" and the Zaku I appears as the "MS-05 Borjarnon Gavane Gooney Custom". Unlike the other Alternate Universe Zaku references, the Borjarnons are actual Zakus which had been discovered buried deep underground, tying into series creator Yoshiyuki Tomino's concet of ∀ Gundam unifying the Universal Century and the Alternate Universes into a single continuity, with ∀ Gundam being the distant future of all of them.
In Mobile Suit Gundam SEED, there is a Zaku-like mobile suit which is the primary mobile suit of the ZAFT forces, the ZGMF-1017 GINN. Like the Zaku, there are many many variants made of the GINN including the ZGMF-LRR704 long range reconnaissance type (analogous to the MS-06E), the TMF/S-3 GINN OCHER type (analogous to the MS-06D), the UWMF-1 GINN WASP type (analogous to the MS-06M) and others. In addition, the GINN can mount missile pods on its legs, which are extremely reminiscent of those used by the Zaku II.
Its sequel, Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny series resurrects the Zaku name with the new ZAFT mainstay mobile suit, the ZGMF-1000 ZAKU Warrior and its commander-type variant, the ZGMF-1001 ZAKU Phantom. In addition to the name, the ZAKU also bears a significant visual resemblance to the Zaku II, and its beam rifle is cosmetically very similar to the Zaku's 120 mm machinegun. As with "GUNDAM" in Gundam SEED, ZAKU is an acronym which stands for "ZAFT Armored Keeper of Unity".
See also:
List of Mobile Suits
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