MS-06V-6 Zaku Tank "Green Macaque"
Artillery mobile suit developed by Zeonic and Principality of Zeon field engineers for jungle and construction operations.
The MS-06V-6 Zaku Tank “Green Macaque” was an artillery mobile suit developed by Zeonic and Principality of Zeon field engineers. It served as a specialised variant of the MS-06V Zaku Tank, designed for jungle operations and construction work.
The “MS” in the model code designated it as a mobile suit, whilst the “06” indicated it was the sixth mobile suit design in the Zeon military’s development programme. The “V” stood for “Vehicle”, denoting its hybrid mobile suit-tank configuration, and the “6” indicated it was the sixth variant in the Zaku Tank series. The “Green Macaque” nickname referred to its distinctive green camouflage scheme suited for jungle environments.
History
During the course of the One Year War, resource-strapped Zeon field engineers cobbled together the MS-06V Zaku Tank from the upper body of an MS-06F Zaku II and drive base of an HT-01B Magella Attack tank. While the MS-06V was mainly used as a construction unit, it could also be outfitted for combat.
The MS-06V-6 Zaku Tank “Green Macaque” was a variant that could fulfil both roles. Named for its distinctive green camouflage, the Zaku Tank Green Macaque was an experimental version of the Zaku Tank developed mainly for obstacle-clearing roles in jungle environments.
The Green Macaque was fielded near the end of the One Year War and was known to be sortied in the jungles of Borneo, Southeast Asia, where its specialised equipment proved invaluable for operations in dense tropical terrain.
Despite its age, the “Green Macaque” remained in service with Zeon remnants as late as UC 0096, outfitted with a crane for towing work. In UC 0096, a Zeon Remnants’ Zaku Tank Green Macaque was seen assisting an MS-06D Desert Zaku in lifting the Neo Zeon space freighter Garencieres out of the Sahara Desert in Africa.
Design
The Zaku Tank Green Macaque was fitted with large manipulator arms different from those of the standard MS-06V Zaku Tank. These specialised claw arms were bigger than those of the standard model and were used primarily for obstacle clearance in jungle environments. They could also be used as bludgeoning weapons when necessary.
The mobile suit could mount either an observation platform for receiving direction by officers, or a crane for retrieving equipment or assisting in removing large debris. The crane proved particularly useful for construction and recovery operations, allowing the unit to serve dual military and logistical roles.
The vehicle retained the hybrid configuration of its parent design, combining the upper torso, head, and arms of a Zaku II with the tracked lower body of a Magella Attack tank. This configuration provided excellent stability for construction work whilst maintaining the Zaku’s sensor systems and manipulator capabilities.
Armaments
The Green Macaque’s armaments were focused on self-defence and area suppression rather than mobile suit combat.
8-tube missile launcher
Replacing the torso-mounted 3-barrel 35mm machine cannon of the original Zaku Tank was an 8-tube missile launcher mounted on the lower tank body. This provided the Green Macaque with area bombardment capability and served as its primary offensive weapon system.
The missile launcher could fire various warhead types depending on mission requirements, including high-explosive, smoke, and illumination rounds.
Manipulator arms
The Zaku Tank Green Macaque was equipped with a pair of specialised claw arms which were bigger than those of the standard MS-06V Zaku Tank. These powerful manipulators were the unit’s primary tool for its obstacle-clearing mission and could handle large debris, fallen trees, and other jungle obstructions.
When necessary, the manipulator arms could serve as improvised weapons, capable of delivering crushing attacks against enemy vehicles or personnel.
Shields
Two shields were mounted on the shoulders, providing protection for the upper torso during construction operations and combat. The shields helped protect the mobile suit’s vital systems from debris and enemy fire whilst working in exposed positions.
Crane
Later versions could be equipped with a crane mounted on the backpack for heavy lifting operations. This modification proved particularly valuable for Zeon remnants who needed versatile equipment for both military and civilian construction projects.
Variants
Combat variant: A combat-focused version of the Zaku Tank Green Macaque replaced the back-mounted crane with the 180mm cannon backpack used by the MS-06K Zaku Cannon, providing enhanced firepower for direct military operations.
Behind the scenes
Okawara Kunio was the original mechanical designer as part of the Mobile Suit Variations (MSV) series.
The unit was named after macaques, which constitute the majority of monkey species in the Southeast Asian jungles where the Green Macaque was intended to operate. This naming convention reflected the mobile suit’s intended nature as a support unit for tropical environments.
The Green Macaque was one of the original designs from the MSV series, which expanded the Gundam universe with additional mobile suit variants not seen in the original anime.
Appearances
- Mobile Suit Variations
- Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn
See also
External links
- MS-06V-6 Zaku Tank “Green Macaque” on MAHQ
- MS-06V-6 Zaku Tank Green Macaque on the Gundam Wiki