RMS-192M Zaku Mariner – MechaBay | Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ

The RMS-192M Zaku Mariner was a mass production amphibious mobile suit developed by the Earth Federation Forces as an improved version of the MS-06M Zaku Marine Type.

The “R” in the model code meant it was a Federation model¹ and the “MS” indicated it was a mobile suit. The “192” denoted it was the 192nd design in this particular development line, whilst the “M” suffix indicated it was a marine (amphibious) type mobile suit.

History

A new amphibious combat mobile suit designed and built by the Earth Federation Forces, the RMS-192M Zaku Mariner was an improved descendant of the old Principality of Zeon’s MS-06M Zaku Marine Type used in the One Year War. The RMS-192M Zaku Mariner was the Earth Federation’s production-line version of the Principality of Zeon’s MS-06M (MSM-01) Zaku Marine Type M-1 Prototype which was tested during the One Year War.

According to some sources, the Zaku Mariner was first completed by Zeon, but captured by the Federation by the end of the One Year War. Afterwards the Federation upgraded the design, creating the RMS-192M version that was first fielded during UC 0088. However, the Earth Federation Forces never got to deploy these units operationally; instead, they fell into the hands of Neo Zeon, which acquired them with the capture of several Federation bases following their Earth invasion during the First Neo Zeon War in UC 0088.

Notably, a team of Zaku Mariners were used by Neo Zeon to attack the Argama after the ship had descended to Earth. In UC 0096, at least two Zaku Mariners were used by Zeon Remnants alongside several other amphibious mobile suits during their attack on the Federation’s Torrington Base. During the battle these Zaku Mariners managed to deal some damage to the base, but they were ultimately destroyed by the RX-160S Byarlant Custom’s surprise attack.

Design

Developed as an improved version of the MS-06M, the Zaku Mariner featured large hydrojets on the backs of the legs alongside a large hydrojet thruster backpack that propelled the mobile suit underwater. The mobile suit was designed for amphibious combat and could operate effectively both underwater and on land.

If the backpack hindered the mobile suit’s mobility or combat effectiveness on land, it could be jettisoned to reduce weight. As the Zaku Mariner typically propelled itself headfirst through the water like a diver, its mono-eye could swivel directly to look above it, allowing the pilot to maintain situational awareness while submerged.

The mobile suit was powered by a Minovsky type ultracompact fusion reactor rated at 1,440 kW and had hydrojet thrusters producing 8,800 kg of total thrust underwater. It featured a combination of titanium alloy and Gundarium alloy armour and had a sensor range of 4,600 metres.

The Zaku Mariner was ordinarily equipped with a large-capacity propellant tank located where the sub sensor and heat sink were mounted on the Hi-Zack. In many cases, it was tasked with super long-distance travel alone so it carried a large amount of propellant to be able to infiltrate into hostile patrol ranges and subsequently break away at high speeds.

Armaments

The Zaku Mariner’s standard weapons were multiple SUBROC launchers for ranged combat and a magnet harken for close-range engagement, reflecting its specialised amphibious combat role.

SUBROC launchers

Armed with a total of 14 SUBROC (SUBmarine ROCket) launchers in its shoulders and backpack, the Zaku Mariner packed more firepower than its Zaku Marine Type predecessor. Two sets of rocket launchers with three exit ports each for a total of six were located in the shoulders. The backpack sported two sets of rocket launchers with four exit ports each for a total of eight, aimed directly above.

In combat, the Zaku Mariner was known to fire these weapons upon exiting the water to both surprise the enemy and prevent them from hindering its landing. These munitions were also capable of being fired underwater as torpedoes. One tactic in using the backpack weapons was to raise the backpack above water, fire the rockets, and take advantage of the confusion to either continue the attack or re-submerge and retreat.

SUBROC gun

A handheld weapon used exclusively by the Zaku Mariner, this 4-tube spray missile gun was intended to give it decent ranged combat capability on land. This weapon proved to be very powerful against other mobile suits, though it had a very limited amount of ammunition.

Magnet harken

Mounted on the left arm and the only melee weapon on the Zaku Mariner, it came in the form of a wire-guided magnetic grappling and shocking weapon. The cable was launched at an enemy mobile suit, magnetically attached to it, and electrocuted it (similar to the Gouf Custom’s heat wire) long enough for the mobile suit to attack with its other weapons.

Known pilots

Flynn
Eyne
Beats
Green
Fritz

Behind the scenes

The original design team included Kazuhisa Kondo, Masahiro Oda, and Masahiko Asano as principal designers for the Gundam ZZ version, with Mika Akitaka providing cleanup. Katoki Hajime updated the design for Gundam Unicorn.

The complex history of the Zaku Mariner, being originally developed by Zeon, then captured and upgraded by the Federation, only to be recaptured by Neo Zeon, reflects the chaotic political situation of the Universal Century timeline.

Appearances

External links

RMS-192M Zaku Mariner on the Gundam Wiki
RMS-192M Zaku Mariner on MAHQ

Federation in Japanese is renpou, hence the use of “R”. ↩