AMS-129 Geara Zulu – MechaBay | Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn

The AMS-129 Geara Zulu was a mass production general purpose mobile suit developed by Anaheim Electronics for the Neo Zeon remnants known as the Sleeves.

The “AMS” model code indicated it was an Anaheim mass production model, with “129” denoting the model number in the development sequence. The name “Geara Zulu” reflected its heritage as the successor to the AMS-119 Geara Doga.

History

The AMS-129 Geara Zulu was originally developed by Anaheim Electronics as the successor to the AMS-119 Geara Doga, intended to serve as the next-generation frontline unit for Char’s Neo Zeon army during preparations for what was expected to be a prolonged Second Neo Zeon War. However, the conflict ended before full-scale mass production could begin, and the project was subsequently shelved.

Years later, with the rise of the Sleeves and their rebellion against the Earth Federation, the need for a symbolic mobile suit representing the revival of Zeon prompted the reactivation of the Geara Zulu project. Although production resumed with updated specifications, limitations in the Sleeves’ financial resources, combined with shortcomings in the mobile suit’s overall performance, meant that the original ambitious mass production plan was never realised.

The Geara Zulu was deployed as the mainstay mobile suit of Full Frontal’s Neo Zeon forces during the Laplace Incident in UC 0096. The mobile suit employed Zeon design elements dating all the way back to the One Year War’s MS-06F Zaku II, including a shoulder shield and spiked armour. Decorative chest and wrist markings gave the Neo Zeon their “Sleeves” nickname.

Following the Laplace Incident, several units came into the possession of the Republic of Zeon and saw use in UC 0097 during the Phoenix Hunt incident.

Design

In essence, the Geara Zulu was a modernised version of the Geara Doga. While the Geara Zulu didn’t break new ground in terms of design philosophy, it benefited from technological advancements made since the Geara Doga’s development, along with thoughtful revisions for improved productivity, maintainability, and modularity.

Despite its updated appearance, the internal structure of the Geara Zulu remained largely identical to the Geara Doga, allowing for parts compatibility and ease of maintenance. However, in terms of combat performance, the Geara Zulu struggled to outperform the RGM-89 Jegan, its Earth Federation counterpart, which itself had undergone iterative improvements.

The Geara Zulu had an ultracompact Minovsky power plant that generated an output of 2,470 kW. It had an array of rocket thrusters that generated 62,100 kg of thrust.

The mobile suit had a standard cockpit in its torso with a panoramic monitor and linear seat. Its standard sensors gave it a detection range of up to 18,200 metres. The mobile suit featured hardpoints for mounting a heavy armament backpack with two propellant tanks.

The Geara Zulu’s appearance was inspired by the German SS troops of WWII, with distinctive black and white piping on the cuffs and body and wearing a helmet modelled off the M35 Stahlhelm.

Armaments

The Geara Zulu’s standard weapons were a shoulder-mounted shield for defence and various handheld weapons including a beam machine gun for ranged combat.

Beam machine gun

The standard firearm of the Geara Zulu, it rapid fired pellet-shaped beams and its firing and focusing rates were consistent with the standards at the time. By adjusting the irradiation time, the weapon could also function as a beam rifle. The magazine (E-pac) doubled as a foregrip, and had a banana shape, increasing the number of ammunition. Three sets of spare magazines could be mounted on the left and right sides of the front skirt armour.

It had an excellent basic design and high expandability. Options for the weapon included a large sensor that directly linked to the mobile suit’s sensor, and a single round grenade launcher unit that was attached to the bottom of the barrel. The beam machine gun was based on the StG-44 assault rifle and the magazines arranged on the torso also resembled the way StG-44 magazines were carried in the MP44 magazine pouches.

Shield

The shield was mounted on the right shoulder and featured four hand grenades. Beside the shoulder shield, the Geara Zulu could also use the same forearm mounted shield as the Geara Doga. Like the shoulder shield, this shield could also mount four Sturm Fausts.

Sturm faust

A simplified, disposable rocket launcher. Due to its excellent cost performance, usage of the Sturm Faust continued after the One Year War. As the warhead was not equipped with a guidance device, it was extremely hard to use the Sturm Faust to hit a moving target accurately.

The Sturm Faust seemed to be based on a combination of some versions of the Panzerfaust 3 and RPG-7.

Beam hawk

The beam hawk served as the mobile suit’s primary melee weapon for close-range combat.

Lange Bruno gun plus

A modified version of the Lange Bruno Gun, a long-range support weaponry found on AMS-119 Geara Doga Heavy Weapons Type that shot solid rounds. The Lange Bruno Gun Plus was specialised for space-use and functioned as a long-range beam launcher. It had an extremely high focusing rate, and fired a highly penetrative beam at a very fast speed. It was one of the weapons designed for use with the optional heavy armament backpack. Used by Gilboa Sant’s custom Geara Zulu.

Submachine gun

A modified version of the MMP-80 90mm machine gun used by various Zeon mobile suits during the One Year War, it had a shortened barrel and stock. It could be stored on the shoulder shield.

Beam Gatling gun

Seen on Gilboa Sant’s custom Geara Zulu, the 4-barrel beam Gatling gun could fire volleys of particle beams and usually came in a pair.

Known pilots

Savoir
Gilboa Sant
Cuaron Masuka
Ivan

Variants

The Geara Zulu spawned several notable variants during its service life:

AMS-129 Geara Zulu (Guards Type)

A customised unit used by Full Frontal’s elite personal guards. It featured improved thrust over the standard Geara Zulu, which allowed it to keep pace with Full Frontal’s MSN-06S Sinanju. The Guards Type also featured larger spike armour and more elaborate chest and wrist markings than the standard model.

AMS-129 Geara Zulu (Angelo Sauper Use)

A highly customised Guards Type variant used by Angelo Sauper, chief of Full Frontal’s elite guards, painted in his personal violet colours and equipped with a heavy armament backpack.

AMS-129M Zee Zulu

An amphibious variant developed for underwater operations, equipped with specialised diving equipment and hydrojet propulsion systems.

Behind the scenes

Hajime Katoki was the original mechanical designer. Katoki, who was the mechanical designer for the novel, worked on the anime alongside veteran designers Junya Ishigaki and Mika Akitaka, and newcomer Nobuhiko Genba.

Appearances

External links

AMS-129 Geara Zulu on MAHQ
AMS-129 Geara Zulu on the Gundam Wiki