AMS-129M Zee Zulu
General purpose amphibious mobile suit developed by Anaheim Electronics.
The AMS-129M Zee Zulu was a general purpose amphibious mobile suit developed by Anaheim Electronics based on the mass production model AMS-129 Geara Zulu.
The “AMS” model code indicated it was an Anaheim mass production model, with “129” denoting the model number in the development sequence. The “M” suffix indicated it was a marine variant, whilst “Zee” was Dutch for “sea”, reflecting the suit’s amphibious nature.
History
An amphibious mobile suit developed by Anaheim Electronics for the Neo Zeon remnants, the Sleeves, who then provided the machine to the Zeon remnants on Earth led by Yonem Kirks. The Zee Zulu used the same basic frame as the Geara Zulu, but its exterior was modified to reduce underwater pressure and fitted with underwater equipment.
The Zee Zulu was used by Zeon remnants in an attack on the EFF’s Torrington Base in UC 0096, where they proved superior to outdated amphibious suits like the One Year War-era RAG-79 Aqua GM.
A squadron of Zee Zulus were fielded as escorts for the AMA-X7 Shamblo mobile armour, whilst it began its rampage at the port of Dakar in UC 0096. Avril Zech used a Zee Zulu to intercept a RAG-79-G1 Gundam Marine Type during the battle. Only two of the Zee Zulu pilots survived the Battle of Dakar and both of them boarded the Garencieres after the battle.
The other two Zee Zulu supported other Zeon remnant forces, but were eventually destroyed by the RX-160S Byarlant Custom during the attack on the Torrington Base.
Design
The AMS-129M Zee Zulu was an amphibious mobile suit developed based on the mass production model AMS-129 Geara Zulu. The Zee Zulu’s exterior was fitted with customised diving equipment to resist water pressure, including neck-mounted ballast tanks and a vest-shaped diving device. It used hydrojet thrusters for its propulsion and was aided by fins mounted on the feet.
These equipment were developed based on the operational data of the amphibious machines used by the Principality of Zeon, and enabled the Zee Zulu to have high underwater mobility as well as extended operating time in the waters. After coming ashore, the hydrojet engines and fins were purged to avoid deadweight, and its ground combat capability surpassed that of the Geara Zulu.
The Zee Zulu had an ultracompact Minovsky power plant that generated an output of 2,470 kW, matching the standard Geara Zulu. 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 claw-like appearance of the iron nails was reminiscent of the Principality of Zeon’s old amphibious suit, the MSM-07 Z’Gok. The ceramic-polymer heat knife held in each hand along with the melee claws mounted on the forearm completed the image of an amphibious mobile suit resembling an “iron crustacean”.
Armaments
The Zee Zulu’s standard weapons were iron nails for close combat and heat knives for melee engagement, along with a specialised beam machine gun for underwater operations.
Iron nail
The Zee Zulu was armed with iron nails mounted on the forearms. It had three blades made of ceramic polymer compound and they flipped forward when in use. Unlike older heat weapons, only the cutting edge of the blade, and not the entire blade, was heated to red hot during use. This was to achieve maximum effectiveness using the least amount of energy.
Heat knife
A pair of heat knives were stored in sheaths mounted on the rear waist. The knives’ blades were made of ceramic polymer compound like the iron nail, and similarly, only the cutting edge of the blade was heated to red hot during use.
Beam machine gun
A dedicated firearm for the Zee Zulu based on the model used by the Geara Zulu. When used underwater, it could switch to a deflection-type shooting mode with increased beam convergence rate. It was also equipped with a grenade launcher under the barrel. When not in use, it was stored in a sealed firearm container mounted on the mobile suit’s back.
The beam machine gun featured a convergence mode to allow for underwater operation, making it one of the few beam weapons capable of effective underwater use.
Known pilots
- Avril Zech
Behind the scenes
Katoki Hajime was the original mechanical designer. The design was based on the AMS-129M Zee Zulu from the Gundam Unicorn novels.
The “Zee” in Zee Zulu’s name was Dutch for “sea”, reflecting the suit’s amphibious nature. The design drew inspiration from traditional Zeon amphibious mobile suits, particularly the Z’Gok series, whilst incorporating modern Geara Zulu design elements.
Amphibious mobile suits tended to fall into two categories: those built on a purpose-built frame (like the Capule), and those modified from general-purpose frames (like the Zaku Mariner), and the Zee Zulu fell into the latter category. The additional equipment added onto the frame gave the mobile suit silhouette a very similar feel to the Z’Gok series of mobile suits.
Appearances
See also
External links
- AMS-129M Zee Zulu on MAHQ
- AMS-129M Zee Zulu on the Gundam Wiki