MSN-02 Zeong

Gundam > Universal Century > Mobile Suit Gundam > Principality of Zeon mecha

MSN-02 Zeong from Mobile Suit Gundam

The MSN-02 Zeong was a prototype Newtype -use mobile suit produced by the Principality of Zeon.

The “MS” in the model code refers to it being a mobile suit, while the “N” identifies it as a Newtype-use model. The “02” in the model code indicates that it was the second design in the line.

MSN-02 Zeong from Gundam Thunderbolt

Production overview

Model number: MSN-02

Code name: Zeong

Type: Prototype Newtype-use mobile suit

Completed: UC 0079

First deployment: 31 December UC 0079

Manufacturer: A Baoa Qu mobile suit factory

Operator: Principality of Zeon

Developed from

Developed into

MSN-02 Perfect Zeong

Variants: None

General characteristics

Crew: Pilot only

Cockpit: Standard with linear seat cockpit in head

Head height: 17.3 m

Total height: Unknown

Empty weight: 151.2 t

Gross weight: 231.9 t

Armour: Super hard steel alloy

Sensors: Custom

Sensor range: 81,000 m

Performance

Power plant: Minovsky type ultracompact fusion reactor

Power output: 9,400 kW

Propulsion: Rocket thrusters: 187,000 kg total

Max speed: Unknown

180° turn time: Unknown

Thrust-to-weight ratio: 0.81 G

Equipment

Fixed

2 x five-barrel mega particle gun
3 x mega particle gun

Equipment

Psycommu system

History

The Principality of Zeon command wanted to implement the technology in mobile suit warfare to give their Newtype pilots the upper hand in the War. The Bishop Plan was a development program with the goal of producing mobile suits equipped with psycommu system. Zeon engineers first tested adding the psycommu system to the MS-06 Zaku II frame to create the YMS-06Z Psycommu Early Test Type Zaku.

Following the success of the unit, they modified three MS-06F Zaku II units into the MS-06Z Bishop for further field tests. However, the addition of the bulky psycommu system led to unsatisfactory test results, especially in terms of mobility and energy consumption. Thus, Zeon developed the the MSN-01 Psycommu System Zaku with high mobility and energy efficiency in mind.

The Psycommu System Zaku performed well but high speed mobility results were unsatisfactory. Unable to further reduce the size of the psycommu system, the scientists decided to design a mobile suitfrom scratch with a larger body frame to accommodate the psycommu system.

It was near the end of the One Year War when Zeon developed the MSN-02 Zeong using data from the psycommu system of the MSN-01 Psycommu System Zaku and the body frame designs of the MSN-01 Kikeroga.

The Zeong prototype was still under construction in Zeon’s A Baoa Qu base when the Earth Federation attacked. Kycilia Zabi ordered Char Aznable to pilot it in a desperate move to halt the invasion. Although the mobile suit was only eighty percent complete, it was operating at full combat capacity. The absence of legs did not affect its functionality in a space battle.

The prototype was destroyed in the battle. Three other prototype units that were still under construction in A Baoa Qu. The Federation captured these units, providing them access to psycommu technology and accelerated the advancement of their research on utilising Newtypes in battle.

The Zeong was later developed into the MSN-02 Perfect Zeong that had its leg built and functioned the way the Zeong was designed to. The MSN-03-2 Great Zeong was an improved model of the Zeong but the design was abandoned due to a lack of resources.

Design

The Principality of Zeon had developed the MS-06Z Bishop specifically for Newtype -use. However, the psycommu system was too bulky for a Zaku frame , prompting the scientists to develop the MSN-01 Psycommu System Zaku. Despite the improvements in its speed, the results were far from satisfactory. Unable to further reduce the size of the psycommu system, the scientists designed a new mobile suit from scratch with a larger body frame to accommodate the psycommu system. The MSN-01 Kikeroga was developed to test the weapons that would be eventually used in the Zeong.

MSN-02 Zeong in hangar bayz

The Zeong did not have any legs as it was still under construction. Zeon was able to deploy it in battle as the legs were unnecessary when the mobile suit was used in space. In place of legs, it had two large thrusters and four smaller thrusters with a combined output of 187,000 kg that provided main propulsion for the suit.

A Minovsky type ultracompact fusion reactor with power output of 9,400 kW powered the massive mobile suit.

Unlike most mobile suits that had their cockpits located in the torso, the Zeong’s cockpit was built in its head. The head could be ejected as a separate module that not a mere escape pod but a fully-functional unit with combat capabilities. The Zeong was built with super hard steel alloy.

The Zeong had a standard panoramic cockpit with linear seat in its torso. It had a set of custom sensors that gave it a detection range of up to 81,000 metres.

Armaments

The Zeong was equipped with fixed ranged weapons and used its hands for melee combat.

Five-barrel mega particle guns

Each of the Zeong’s ten fingers had a mega particle gun built into them. This made each forearm a five-barrel mega particle gun that could be detached from the body and operate remotely. The forearms had thick wires to control them while they were separated from the mobile suit.

The five barrels on each hand were fire-linked. The fingers could be manipulated to vary the angle of fire, giving the Zeong a flexible spread of firing range that made it difficult to dodge the mega particle beams.

Mega particle guns

Two front-facing mega particle guns were mounted in the middle of the Zeong’s torso. A third mega particle gun was built into the head of the mobile suit. When the Zeong’s head was detached from the body, the pilot could still use the gun mounted in the head in combat.

However, when the head was separated from the body, it was unable to draw power from its power plant. It had to rely on the energy stored in the head, limiting the number of shots the pilot could use when the head is separated from the body.

MSN-02 Zeong