MS-11 Act Zaku – MechaBay | Mobile Suit Gundam

The MS-11 Act Zaku was a mass production general purpose mobile suit developed by the Earth Federation Forces based on a design by Zeonic.

The “MS” in the model code indicated it was a mobile suit, whilst the “11” designated it as the eleventh mobile suit design in the series. The “Act” in the name referred to its role as an action mobile suit designed for general combat operations.

History

During the last weeks of the One Year War, Principality of Zeon mobile suit engineers worked to develop advanced new mobile suit technologies for mass production units as part of Zeon’s Pezun Project. The MS-11 Act Zaku was part of this top secret weapons development program conducted by the Principality of Zeon during the One Year War, intended to break the stalemate.

The Act Zaku was designed to succeed the MS-06 Zaku II, with a focus on melee combat. For the joint drive systems, it adopted the same field motors used in Earth Federation Forces mobile suits. It became possible for the Act Zaku to equip beam weapons such as beam rifles and beam sabers due to its improved and miniaturised fusion reactor which had increased output.

One special feature first introduced into the in-development MS-11 Act Zaku was magnetic coated joints. This process involved coating the mobile suit’s joints with a special material that, when electrically charged like a magnetic field, reduced joint friction to almost nothing – the end result being a much faster and more responsive mobile suit.

The Act Zaku was also designed to carry a beam rifle similar to the MS-14A Gelgoog and the Earth Federation Forces’ RX-78-2 Gundam. At least one custom Act Zaku belonged to Granada’s ace pilot, Mallet Sanguine. This Act Zaku had a commander antenna on its forehead and was armed with two heat hawks, a beam rifle, and a shield.

Mallet Sanguine, a Zeon ace pilot stationed at Granada, used an Act Zaku in multiple engagements against Ford Romfellow’s RX-78-5 Gundam 5th, but ultimately was killed in battle.

The One Year War ended before the Act Zaku could enter mass production. However, the EFF captured the Act Zaku’s plans, and, inspired by its high performance design, put the Act Zaku into production for itself. The Earth Federation Forces would seize and use the Act Zaku for many years, though not in as great a number as their other mass-produced machines.

The EFF continued to use the Act Zaku as late as UC 0087 at various locations on Earth. By the Gryps Conflict, the Act Zaku was fairly outdated and saw resounding defeats during each engagement against the AEUG. In one such engagement, six Act Zakus were dispatched alongside the ORX-005 Gaplant to attack the AEUG, two of them were shot down by the MSN-00100 Hyaku Shiki and the rest eventually retreated.

Design

Developed to succeed the MS-06 Zaku II, the Act Zaku was designed with a focus on melee combat. The mobile suit featured several technological advances that would influence future mobile suit development, including magnetic coating technology and an improved power plant.

The Act Zaku incorporated magnetic coated joints, a revolutionary technology that used a special membrane treatment applied to mobile suit joints. The special magnet coating materials could be electrically charged to produce a magnetic field. This field caused the components of the joints to repel one another, reducing the friction caused by joint movement to almost nothing, creating a faster and much more responsive mobile suit.

For the joint drive systems, it adopted the same field motors used in Earth Federation Forces mobile suits, demonstrating the technological exchange that occurred through captured equipment and intelligence during the war.

The mobile suit’s power plant was significantly improved over previous Zaku models. It became possible for the Act Zaku to equip beam weapons such as beam rifles and beam sabers due to its improved and miniaturised fusion reactor which had increased output of 1,440 kW. This represented a substantial increase over standard Zaku power plants and enabled the use of energy-intensive beam weaponry.

The Act Zaku was not completed in time despite the rapid pace of development. Only the test type YMS-11 Act Zaku was deployed with the Kycilia Forces.

Armaments

The Act Zaku’s standard weapons reflected its design philosophy of combining traditional Zaku armaments with advanced beam weapon technology.

Beam rifle

Used by the Act Zaku during the One Year War, this rifle would serve as the basis for the BR-87A beam rifle after the end of the war. The same type of beam rifle used by the Hi-Zack and Marasai, used by Federation-captured units in UC 0087.

The beam rifle represented a significant advancement in Zeon beam weapon technology, incorporating lessons learned from captured Federation equipment and providing firepower comparable to the Gelgoog’s beam rifle.

Bullpup gun

The Act Zaku was armed with a unique four-barrel machine gun as a primary weapon. This machine gun was fed by a large box magazine on the right side, and sported a foregrip and a stock. A new four-barrel machine gun under development for the Act Zaku under the Pezun Plan.

The same firearm used by the Hi-Zack, it was an improved version of the Zaku Machine Gun operated by the Principality of Zeon’s Zaku type MS during the One Year War. The accuracy had been improved by changing the sensor to the one of the Federation standard.

Heat hawk

A heat weapon for close combat. The blade was larger than that of the model used by the Zaku II. Specially made for the Act Zaku, it had an enlarged generator for heating the blade to ultra-high temperature. The suit could be armed with a pair of large heat hawks, one stored on each side skirt armour.

The enlarged heat hawk provided superior melee combat capability compared to standard Zaku weapons, with the enhanced heating system capable of cutting through heavier armour than previous models.

Heat sabers

During the Gryps War, the Act Zaku was said to be armed with a pair of beam sabers. It is unknown where they were stored. Two beam sabers were stored on the mobile suit’s rear skirt armour.

The heat sabers represented an intermediate technology between traditional heated weapons and full beam sabers, providing enhanced melee capability whilst remaining within the mobile suit’s power generation limits.

Shield

To increase its defensive capabilities the Act Zaku could optionally equip the same shield as the Gelgoog, or the shield used by the Hi-Zack.

Known pilots

Mallet Sanguine

Behind the scenes

Okawara Kunio was the original mechanical designer for the MS-X and Zeta Gundam versions. Katoki Hajime designed the Gundam: The Origin MSD version.

Appearances

MS-X
Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam
Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin MSD

External links

MS-11 Act Zaku on MAHQ
MS-11 Act Zaku on the Gundam Wiki