MSZ-010 ZZ Gundam – MechaBay | Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ

The MSZ-010 ZZ Gundam (read as “Double Zeta”) was a prototype transformable mobile suit developed by Anaheim Electronics for the Anti-Earth Union Group (AEUG). It was the successor to the MSZ-006 Zeta Gundam and served as the titular mobile suit of Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ.

The “MS” in the model code indicated it was a mobile suit, whilst the “Z” meant it was from Project Zeta. The “010” in the model code denoted that it was the tenth mobile suit developed in the project line. A direct development of the MSZ-006 Zeta Gundam, the ΖΖ Gundam was given the development code “θ” (thus also known as the “θ Gundam”) as it was the sixth “Anaheim Gundam” after the RMS-099 Rick Dias.

History

A continuation of Anaheim Electronics’ Project Zeta, the MSZ-010 ZZ Gundam was a truly powerful mobile suit that was sorely needed by the battered AEUG forces when the First Neo Zeon War broke out in early UC 0088. The development plan of the ΖΖ Gundam existed two years before the completion of the Zeta Gundam but was shelved due to internal competition and production delays. However, the performance advantage of the Zeta Gundam against new Titans mobile suits did not last long, and so development of the ΖΖ Gundam was resumed.

The assault carrier Argama, single-handedly fighting against Haman Karn’s forces, found its remaining mobile suits becoming increasingly outclassed by the wave of new mobile suit models being developed at Axis. Although the young new AEUG pilot Judau Ashta held his own with the MSZ-006 Zeta Gundam, the AEUG desperately needed flexible new units that could be operated by its troupe of new young recruits.

Anaheim went back to the drawing board, developing the ZZ Gundam based on the advanced technologies introduced in the Zeta Gundam (including its mysterious bio-sensor system), but also returning to the Core Block System concept used in the original RX-78-2 Gundam. The ΖΖ Gundam sought to reproduce the operating functions of the RX-78-2 Gundam and the G-Armor in a single machine.

Deployment

The ZZ Gundam was originally held in the La Vie en Rose, but was soon transferred piecemeal to the Argama. The first piece of the ZZ Gundam, the FXA-07GB Neo Core Fighter was brought to the Argama by Roux Louka while the battleship was still in the Shangri-La colony at Side 1. After the Argama left the colony and headed for the La Vie en Rose while being pursued by the Endra, the Core Top and Core Base were delivered en route, with additional Core Fighters.

While the Argama’s pilots were in the middle of a battle at the moment, the two pieces of the ZZ Gundam arrived, they then assembled in mid-flight to form the complete ZZ Gundam, with Judau Ashta piloting the mobile suit. Judau then used the power of the ZZ Gundam’s high mega cannon, to drive off the Neo-Zeon mobile suits which included Mashymre Cello’s AMX-103 Hamma Hamma and Chara Soon’s AMX-104 R-Jarja.

Service history

AEUG pilot Judau Ashta became the ZZ’s main pilot, operating this impressive mobile suit through to the end of the war. Judau served as the ZZ Gundam’s primary pilot, though he and Roux Louka occasionally traded mobile suits during certain battles due to the Zeta Gundam’s lighter weight and better mobility.

The appearance of the ZZ Gundam came as quite a shock to the Neo Zeon forces, and its performance spurred Neo Zeon to develop even more powerful mobile weapons. In the war’s last days, the ZZ was slightly modified into the MSZ-010S Enhanced ZZ Gundam and its hulking upgrade, the FA-010S Full Armor ZZ Gundam.

At the war’s end in January UC 0089, the ZZ was heavily damaged in a duel with Neo Zeon leader Haman Karn’s AMX-004 Qubeley, but Judau emerged victorious and Haman ended her own life instead of acknowledging defeat.

Design

Centered around the new FXA-07GB Neo Core Fighter, the ZZ was a fully transformable mobile suit, capable of changing into a fighter-bomber G-Fortress mode for additional speed and atmospheric flight. The mobile suit incorporated the Core Block System of the original RX-78-2 Gundam, the movable frame technology of the RX-178 Gundam Mk-II, and the bio-sensor of the MSZ-006 Zeta Gundam.

The ZZ Gundam was significantly larger than its predecessor, standing at 22.11 metres in overall height compared to the Zeta Gundam’s 19.85 metres. This increased size allowed for more powerful armaments and additional fuel storage, though it also resulted in reduced manoeuvrability compared to the lighter Zeta Gundam.

The G-Fortress could also separate into two separate flight-capable components, called Core Top and Core Base. The Core Base was operated by the ZZ’s Neo Core Fighter, while the Core Top could be operated from an extra cockpit located in the mounted double beam rifle, or by another docked Neo Core Fighter.

The mobile suit was powered by a Minovsky type ultracompact fusion reactor with an output rated at 7,340 kW—significantly higher than most mobile suits of its era. The ZZ also sported an impressive array of high powered beam weaponry, as well as an extremely high output reactor to power them.

Bio-sensor system

The ZZ Gundam was equipped with an improved version of the bio-sensor system first introduced in the Zeta Gundam. A technological variant of the psycommu system developed by Anaheim Electronics. Although its full capabilities are unknown, its primary purpose was to allow a Newtype pilot to more easily interface with his mobile suit via mental commands. The bio-sensor could also have a rather surprising side effect when the pilot was mentally and emotionally focused enough (usually when angry or upset) to cause the bio-sensor to amplify the power, speed and strength of the mobile suit for a short period of time.

The bio-sensor was mounted in the ZZ Gundam’s Core Block, and its synchronisation was improved by inputting the brainwave patterns of the Neo Core Fighter’s pilot. As a protective measure, the bio-sensor remained inactive when a pilot with low Newtype abilities operated the ZZ Gundam.

Armaments

The ZZ Gundam carried an impressive array of weaponry that reflected its role as a heavy assault unit. However, its power requirements were only barely able to be supplied by the suit’s generator, and the ZZ often found itself almost completely drained of power after using this weapon.

High mega cannon

In addition to its high powered hyper beam sabers and its large two-barreled double beam rifle, the ZZ mounted a devastating high mega cannon in its head – one of the single most powerful beam weapons mounted on a mobile suit of its size at the time, and capable of wiping out several enemies in a single shot.

Mounted in the center of the ZZ Gundam’s head is a high mega cannon. It has a power rating of 50 MW and its output is one-fifth that of a Colony Laser’s, making it the most powerful beam weapon used by a mobile suit during the First Neo Zeon War, as well as one of the most powerful weapon mounted on a mobile suits ever. The weapon could seriously damage a mobile suit with even a glancing hit, and could completely destroy standard mobile suit shields, making it difficult to block the beam. The high mega cannon was operable in mobile suit mode only.

Hyper beam sabers

The ZZ Gundam stores a pair of hyper beam sabers on its backpack. The hilts of these beam sabers are easily three times larger than other beam sabers’ during the First Neo Zeon War. Both hyper beam sabers double as double beam cannon, power rated at 20 MW, mounted on main body in G-Fortress mode and on Core Base.

The beam sabers used an I-field to contain Minovsky particles within the shape of a blade. Each saber had a power rating of 1.1 MW. Minovsky particles broke down matter at a molecular level, meaning that the beam saber could cut through almost any material.

Double beam rifle

The double beam rifle served as the ZZ Gundam’s primary ranged weapon. The rifle had a power rated at 21.2 MW total (2 x 10.6 MW), and could be mounted on main body in G-Fortress mode or on Core Top. The rifle drew its rounds from energy packs (E-packs), clips of charged Minovsky particles. The weapon could also house an additional cockpit for operating the Core Top mode.

Missile launchers

The ZZ Gundam mounted 2 x 21-tube missile launcher (uses AMA-13S small missile), mounted on backpack in mobile suit mode and on main body in G-Fortress mode and on Core Base. These provided the mobile suit with substantial firepower against multiple targets and could be used for area denial tactics.

Vulcan guns

2 x 60mm 2-barrel vulcan gun, 400 rounds of ammunition per gun, mounted in head, operable in mobile suit mode only. The vulcan guns served primarily as anti-aircraft weapons and for engaging lightly armoured targets. They were also effective for destroying enemy sensors and communications equipment at close range.

Shields

The ZZ Gundam carried two shields mounted on its forearms. The shields doubled as wing/control surfaces in G-Fortress mode and on Core Base. This dual functionality demonstrated the mobile suit’s sophisticated transformation system and the integration of defensive systems with its flight capabilities.

Known pilots

Judau Ashta (all modes and components), Roux Louka (MS mode and Core Base), Beecha Oleg (MS mode and Core Top), Iino Abbav (MS mode, Core Top and Core Base), Elpeo Ple (MS mode and Core Base), Elle Vianno (Core Top and Core Base), Mondo Agake (Core Base), Chara Soon (Core Top), Milly Childer (Core Top)

Variants

The ZZ Gundam served as the basis for several variants developed throughout the First Neo Zeon War:

MSZ-010S Enhanced ZZ Gundam - A field upgrade with improved armour, weapons, and mobility
FA-010S Full Armor ZZ Gundam - A heavily armoured variant with additional weaponry
MSZ-013 ZZ Gundam Mass Production Type - A simplified version for mass production

Behind the scenes

Original mechanical designer(s): Makoto Kobayashi (principal design), Hideo Okamoto (cleanup), Mika Akitaka (transformation planning)

During the ZZ Gundam’s conceptualization, several names were proposed which included Gundam Mk-III, Omega Gundam and Neo Gundam. The ZZ Gundam’s initial design was determined through a Design Competition, in which mechanical designers including Makoto Kobayashi, Hideo Okamoto, Mika Akitaka, Hiroyuki Kitazume, Yutaka Izubuchi, Mamoru Nagano, Kazumi Fujita and Kunio Okawara all designed their own versions of the ZZ Gundam before the show aired. Makoto’s design won the competition yet still received various clean-ups from Hideo and Mika.

The Gundam Mk-III and Neo Gundam names would later be reused for the Z-MSV MSF-007 Gundam Mk-III and the RX-99 Neo Gundam of Mobile Suit Gundam Silhouette Formula 91.

The ZZ Gundam won first place in a Gundam.info census conducted in September 2016, where fans voted for a new Master Grade Ver. Ka model kit to celebrate the opening of pre-orders for the MG Nu Gundam HWS (Ver. Ka.). This made it the first unit to be produced as a model kit after winning the census.

Appearances

Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ
Mobile Suit Gundam: Gundam vs. Zeta Gundam
Dynasty Warriors: Gundam
Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 2
Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 3
Dynasty Warriors: Gundam Reborn

External links

MSZ-010 ZZ Gundam on the Gundam Wiki
MSZ-010 ZZ Gundam on MAHQ