MSZ-010S Enhanced ZZ Gundam – MechaBay

The MSZ-010S Enhanced ZZ Gundam was a prototype general purpose transformable mobile suit developed by Anaheim Electronics as a field upgrade of the MSZ-010 ZZ Gundam. It was operated by the AEUG during the final stages of the First Neo Zeon War.

The “M” in the model code stood for “Mobile Suit” and the “SZ” indicated it was a Zeta Project design. The “010” in the model code denoted it was the tenth mobile suit in the Zeta series, and the “S” suffix indicated it was the “Special” or enhanced version.

History

Despite its high power and performance, the AEUG’s MSZ-010 ZZ Gundam suffered from one critical flaw: its complicated construction and transformation systems made it somewhat structurally weak. During the last days of the First Neo Zeon War, it was decided that a full armor option was needed to address this problem, but some minor improvements to the ZZ Gundam were required before the full armor components could be applied.

The ZZ Gundam received some minor improvements in armor, weapons and mobility, and was re-designated MSZ-010S Enhanced ZZ Gundam. Near the end of the First Neo Zeon War, the ZZ Gundam was modified into the Enhanced ZZ Gundam with its balance adjusted and new armor added.

After Judau Ashta and a number of AEUG members “hijacked” the SCVA-76 Nahel Argama, they arrived on Axis right in the middle of civil war between Haman Karn and Glemy Toto’s followers. The conflict soon became a three-way battle, with Judau facing various new powerful units like the AMX-014 Döven Wolf and NZ-000 Queen Mansa.

However, during the last battle with Haman in her AMX-004 Qubeley, Judau ejected the external armor from the FA-010S Full Armor ZZ Gundam and fought in the Enhanced ZZ Gundam in order to increase speed and manoeuvrability. The fight resulted in a draw with both machines disabling each other, however the war was over as Haman Karn couldn’t hope to escape the surrounding Federation forces with her damaged Qubeley.

After Judau and Roux Louka joined the Jupiter Energy Fleet, the Enhanced ZZ Gundam was modified into MSZ-010S ZZ-GR due to the lack of spare parts to properly repair it.

Design

In consideration of the increase in dry weight due to additional armor, the shoulder thruster binders were replaced with higher performance versions, thrusters throughout the body were enhanced, and thrust strengthening packs were added to the rear leg nozzles. The suit’s backpack was also changed to a larger type and the backpack’s main engine was retrofitted with four new thermonuclear jets/rockets, resulting in greatly improved mobility.

The Enhanced ZZ Gundam featured a larger backpack with four more powerful rocket thrusters, and additional vernier thrusters, making the already well-performing ZZ Gundam even faster and more manoeuvrable. The original 21-tube missile launchers on the backpack, limited to one missile per launch tube, were replaced with a pair of 18-tube missile launchers, with each tube carrying a two-missile magazine for additional salvos.

The armor had beam-resistant coating with fluorine resin, making it possible to withstand a direct hit of about a few seconds from low power beams. The Enhanced ZZ Gundam retained the Core Block System that allowed the separation of the FXA-07GB Neo Core Fighter from the torso. It also featured the same bio-sensor system as its predecessor.

Like the original ZZ Gundam, the Enhanced ZZ Gundam was capable of transforming into G-Fortress mode, which could separate into two separate flight-capable components called Core Top and Core Base. The Core Base was operated by the Enhanced ZZ’s Neo Core Fighter, while the Core Top could be operated from an extra cockpit located in the mounted double beam rifle.

Armaments

The Enhanced ZZ Gundam retained the powerful armament of the original ZZ Gundam while improving the missile systems for greater firepower.

60 mm vulcan guns

The mobile suit mounted a pair of 60mm 2-barrel vulcan guns in its head, with 400 rounds of ammunition per gun. These were primarily used for intercepting incoming missiles and engaging lightly armored vehicles and mobile suit sensors at close range. They were operable in mobile suit mode only.

High mega cannon

The high mega cannon was mounted in the head and was operable in mobile suit mode only, with a power rating of 50 MW. This was one of the most powerful beam weapons mounted on a mobile suit of its size, capable of destroying multiple enemies with a single shot, though its power requirements often left the mobile suit nearly drained after use.

Hyper beam sabers

The Enhanced ZZ Gundam carried two hyper beam sabers with a power rating of 1.1 MW each, stored in recharge racks in the backpack. These were hand-carried in use in mobile suit mode only. Both hyper beam sabers also functioned as a double beam cannon with a power rating of 20 MW each, mounted on the main body in G-Fortress mode and on Core Base.

Double beam rifle

The primary ranged weapon of the Enhanced ZZ Gundam was the double beam rifle, powered by a built-in small generator and could also be supplied with energy from the mobile suit. It had a power rating of 21.2 MW total (2 x 10.6 MW). This unique two-barrelled weapon could be mounted on the main body in G-Fortress mode or on Core Top.

Missile launchers

The Enhanced ZZ Gundam featured two 18-tube missile launchers mounted on the backpack in mobile suit mode and on the main body in G-Fortress mode and on Core Base. Each tube carried a two-missile magazine, providing 72 missiles total compared to the original ZZ Gundam’s 21 missiles.

Shields

The mobile suit mounted two shields on its forearms, which doubled as wing/control surfaces in G-Fortress mode and on Core Base, providing both defence and aerodynamic functionality.

Known pilots

Judau Ashta

Behind the scenes

Akitaka Mika was credited as the original mechanical designer for the Gundam ZZ version. The design team for Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ included Akitaka Mika, Makoto Kobayashi, Izubuchi Yutaka, Hajime Katoki and more.

The Enhanced ZZ Gundam served as the basis for the FA-010S Full Armor ZZ Gundam, which added external armor and additional weapons to address the original ZZ Gundam’s structural weaknesses.

Appearances

Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ
Gundam Evolve

External links

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