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MS-06FZ Zaku II Kai

Mass production general purpose mobile suit developed by Zeonic Company.
Jenxi Seow Published 24 Jun 2024 Updated 24 Jun 2024
MS-06FZ Zaku II Kai

The MS-06FZ Zaku II Kai was a mass production general purpose mobile suit developed by Zeonic Company as the final production model of the Principality of Zeon’s Zaku II series during the One Year War.

The “MS” in the model code meant it was a mobile suit, and the “06FZ” denoted it was the sixth mobile suit design with an “FZ” variant designation. The “FZ” stood for “Final Zaku” or “Freeze”, indicating it was the ultimate development of the Zaku II line. It is also commonly referred to as the “Zaku II Kai” where “Kai” means “modified” or “improved” in Japanese.

History

Late during the One Year War, the Principality of Zeon military started its United Maintenance Plan to upgrade and improve existing mobile suit designs and to make its own manufacturing capabilities more streamlined by incorporating similar parts and systems in several different mobile suit lines. One of the mobile suit types to be redesigned under this plan was the venerable MS-06F Zaku II, which had served Zeon since the early days of the war.

The MS-06FZ Zaku II Kai was one of the second-phase production mobile suits developed under the United Maintenance Plan, and the final production model of the Principality of Zeon’s Zaku II series in the One Year War. The performance of the Zaku II had begun to deteriorate due to the appearance of Federation mobile suits and the deployment of new mobile suits by Zeon, so it was tuned up by feeding back data from new models.

Due to its late introduction into the war, only a small number of FZs were produced, with some operating in the skirmishes against the Earth Federation Forces stationed in the Side 6 area in December UC 0079. The mobile suit saw its most notable action during Operation Rubicon, where members of the Cyclops Team used Zaku II Kai units in their attempt to destroy the RX-78NT-1 Gundam “Alex” at the neutral colony Libot.

Nearly 20 years after the One Year War, Zeon remnants used the FZ as part of an attack on Australia’s Torrington Base in UC 0096, demonstrating the longevity and continued effectiveness of the design even decades after its introduction.

Design

The MS-06FZ Zaku II FZ, with an improved type of cockpit and greatly increased thruster acceleration, was a tremendous advancement over the standard MS-06F Zaku II in terms of speed and maneuverability. Based on the results from the MS-06F-2 Zaku II F2 Type, the shape and materials of the armor and the balance of the machine were more thoroughly reviewed, resulting in the Zaku II Kai’s appearance being quite different from previous Zaku II F-Type models.

The most significant modification was to the cockpit, which is said to have been so good that even new recruits with insufficient training could handle it. The improved cockpit design represented a major leap forward in pilot interface technology, making the mobile suit more accessible to less experienced pilots during the war’s final stages when veteran pilots were in short supply.

However, one drawback to the increased performance was that the FZ’s operational time was reduced by half, as it used fuel twice as fast due to the added thrust. The mobile suit’s total thruster output of 79,500 kg represented a massive increase over the standard Zaku II’s 43,300 kg, providing significantly enhanced acceleration and maneuverability at the cost of endurance.

The Zaku II Kai utilised titanium ceramic composite armor, an improvement over the super hard steel alloy used in earlier Zaku II variants. This provided better protection while maintaining reasonable weight. The mobile suit retained the characteristic Zaku design elements, including the monoeye sensor and distinctive silhouette, while incorporating the technological improvements developed throughout the war.

Armaments

The Zaku II Kai’s standard weapons were the MMP-80 machine gun for ranged attacks, a heat hawk for melee combat, and hand grenades for close-quarters situations.

Shield

Mounted on the right shoulder, the shield provided basic defensive capability against physical projectiles and some beam weapons. It was a simple but effective defence used to block most physical projectiles, maintaining the traditional Zaku defensive configuration.

MMP-80 machine gun

A small caliber machine gun for mobile suits developed under the United Maintenance Plan. The overall shape and mechanism of the Zaku Machine Gun, which was previously deployed, had been changed. The magazine had been changed from a drum magazine to a box magazine, and a 197 mm grenade launcher was available as an option.

The calibre had been reduced to 90 mm, but as a result, the hit rate had improved, and the 90 mm shell used was also excellent in initial velocity and anti-mobile suit firepower. The number of bullets loaded was 32 in the standard single magazine and 100 in the triple magazine. The late production model featured a different barrel and hand guard, resulting in a more compact shape.

The integrated grenade launcher underneath the barrel provided additional firepower options, allowing the Zaku II Kai to engage targets with explosive rounds when needed.

Heat hawk

The battery-powered heat hawk remained the standard close combat weapon for Zaku-type mobile suits. It used a super-heated blade to cut through the armor of enemy mobile suits or vehicles. The thermal energy was generated by the power output of the Zaku II Kai’s thermonuclear reactor and relayed through the mobile suit’s hands. When not in use, the heat hawk could be stored on the waist armor storage rack.

Hand grenades

Standard armament of the Zaku II Kai, three hand grenades were stored on a rack located on the right side skirt armor. The grip of this throwing weapon extended when in use, and a direct hit could rip off the arm of a mobile suit. These could carry standard high-explosive/fragmentation or smoke/hide grenades, providing tactical flexibility in different combat situations.

Sturm faust

A simplified, disposable rocket launcher commonly used by Zeon mobile suits in the late stages of 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. However, it was still a highly destructive weapon that could be stored on the waist armor storage racks.

Known pilots

Behind the scenes

Yutaka Izubuchi was the original mechanical designer for the Gundam 0080 version of the MS-06FZ Zaku II Kai. Ark Performance designed the version that appeared in The Plot to Assassinate Gihren.

As pilot Bernard Wiseman shares the main protagonist role with Christina Mackenzie, the Zaku II Kai is uniquely featured in promotional art and special renders in the Gundam VS series alongside the Gundams, even replacing the RX-78NT-1 Gundam “Alex” in some of them.

When Bernie repaired his Zaku II Kai, he used junk parts procured from the wreckage of GM type mobile suits, indicating that the industrial standards for this machine, which was designed under the United Maintenance Plan, were compatible with Federation mobile suits.

Appearances

See also

  • MS-06F Zaku II
  • MS-06F-2 Zaku II F2 Type
  • United Maintenance Plan
  • Cyclops Team