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Designation:

MS-06 Zaku II Mobile Suit (MS-06A, -06C, -06E, -06F, -06J, -06R, -06S, -06Z)

I. Dimensions:

MS-06A MS-06C MS-06E MS-06F MS-06J MS-06R MS-06S MS-06Z
Total Height:  17.5 meters 18.4 meters 18.2 meters 17.5 meters 17.5 meters 18.0 meters 18.0 meters 17.5 meters
Total Depth : 6.0 meters 6.2 meters 7.0 meters 6.0 meters 6.0 meters 6.2 meters 6.0 meters 6.1 meters
Total Breadth : 8.5 meters 9.3 meters 6.4 meters 8.5 meters 8.5 meters 8.5 meters 8.5 meters 9.3 meters
Dry Weight : 27 metric tons 31 metric tons 30 metric tons 29 metric tons 28 metric tons 24 metric tons 26 metric tons 28 metric tons
Operational Weight : 33 metric tons 39 metric tons 33 metric tons 36 metric tons 38 metric tons 30 metric tons 33 metric tons 36 metric tons

II. Type

III. Service Use

IV. Propulsion

Engines:

Note: all plasma-shock expansion engines draw their plasma from a single fusion pile.

(MS-06A)

(MS-06C, -06E, -06F)

(MS-06J)

(MS-06R)

(MS-06S)

(MS-06Z)

Powerplant:

(MS-06A)

(MS-06C, -06E, -06F, -06J)

(MS-06R, -06S, -06Z)

Fuel Capacity:

(MS-06A)

(MS-06C, -06E, -06F, -06J)

(MS-06R)

(MS -06S, -06Z)

V. Performance

MS-06A MS-06C MS-06E MS-06F MS-06J MS-06R MS-06S MS-06Z
Running speed: 68 kph 73 kph 105 kph 88 kph 108 kph 186 kph 105 kph  kph
Max loiter time(*): 25 seconds 50 seconds 50 seconds - 65 seconds 95 seconds 75 seconds 70 seconds
Jump distance:(*, **) 70 meters 70 meters 70 meters - 120 meters 150 meters 120 meters 120 meters
Generator Endurance:(***) 5 years 5 years 5 years 5 years 5 years 5 years 5 years 5 years
Acceleration: 0.62 G 1.05 G 1.24 G 1.14 G - 2.0 G 1.58 G 1.36 G
Delta-v capacity(****): 51.6 kps 53.1 kps 53.1 kps 58.9 kps - 63.4 kps 51.6 kps 78.4 kps
* = MS-06F not normally used in a gravity environment
** = Earth-normal conditions and without thrusters
*** = Continuous operational use.
**** = MS-06J not designed for space use. 

VI. Electronics

Radar tracking:

(MS-06A, -06C, -06F, -06J)

(MS-06C)

(MS-06E)

(MS-06R, -06S, -06Z)

Optical tracking:

(MS-06E)

Tactical Electronic Warfare System (TEWS):

(MS-06E)

(*) Terran designation. The Tirolian designers considered the sensors part of the design and did not assign separate designations for these systems.

VII. Armament

Cannons

(MS-06C)

Hand Held Weapons

Missiles:

Melee Weapon

VIII. Armor

The armor on the MS-06 is a low-mass lunarium tungsten composite plating that is the standard for most Tirolian mecha. Aside from the good protection provided against projectiles, missiles, and other kinetic weapons, this armor is also resistant to plasma globes (annihilation discs), lasers, and fair against, particle guns too, owing to the fact that the armor can flake off and evaporate in layers under fire from such high-energy weapons, taking much of the weapon's energy and converting it into the latent heat of sublimation in the armor. The armor stops all small arms fire, and has good resistance to all weapons commonly mounted on combat mecha.

The Zaku II provides full protection from nuclear, biological, and chemical hazards, using an overpressure cockpit environment activated by radiation and hazardous chemical sensors, or manually when biological warfare conditions are anticipated. The internal consumables supplies can provide atmosphere for three days maximum.

IX. Development

The origins of the modern mobile suit date back to the year 2040, almost a full five years before the MS-06's first deployment.  At this point, the Tirolians sought to seek revenge on the Invid while greatly assisting their Terran allies in their own struggle to liberate their homeworld.   Out of several proposals for new types of fighting vehicle, the Tirolian's chose Zeonic Corporation's humanoid "mobile suit"  design based loosely on their own Bioroids.

In 2042, the Tirolians officially launched their mobile suit development project, under the personal supervision of Kycilia Zabi. Two years later Zeonic had completed its first combat-worthy mobile suit, the MS-05 Zaku I. This was the first incarnation of the Zaku, the mobile suit that would become the father of the mobile suit.  While Zeonic managed to produce over 100 units, only 15 were accepted by the REF and accompanied them to Earth.  All of these units were destroyed during the assault on Reflex Point. 

Meanwhile in 2045, the improved MS-06 Zaku II was introduced, quickly replacing the earlier model.  During testing of the MS-06A Zaku II it became apparent that it was not all that it was hoped and plans were made to replace it rather than press forward into productions.  During testing it became apparent that the MS-06 did not perform as well as hoped in the atmosphere and rather than compromise the design Zeonic opted to develop separate mobile suits suited to the two different environments, terrestrial and space.  The MS-06F Zaku II was designed primarily for space combat while the MS-06J was designed for ground combat.  At the request of the TRG,  a third type designed for unit commanders was developed and dubbed the MS-06S.  The differences between the three models were minor.  The F and the J are 99% identical visually and the only noticeable differences is the lack of small control thrusters on the J as it was not designed for use in space.  The S type features more powerful thrusters as well as a more advanced sensor system which is easily seen as the antenna on the head of the suit.  The weapons of the early mobile suits were fairly conventional adaptations of regular ground arms such as assault rifles, missile launchers, grenades, and even a disposable rocket munitions similar to those used by the Wermarcht during World War II.  For close combat, the mobile suits were equipped with a melee weapon resembling a axe dubbed the heat hawk.  The heat hawk relied not on a sharp blade, but rather a super conductive thermal strip for its damage.

The early success of this mobile suit against the Robotech Elders in 2047 prompted the Terran Government to step up its own mobile suit development program.  The early MS-06 Zaku II formed the pattern from which the early Tirolian mobile suits would be designed.  The core of the mobile suit is a powerful yet compact fusion reactor, typically located in its torso. In addition to providing energy for propulsion and weapons, the reactor generates electricity and powers the array of actuators and joints that allows the mobile suit to move its limbs. The Zaku II uses a cable-transmitted fluid pulse system to relay motive power from the reactor to the joints.

Following the coup, the Tirolians sought to extend the mobile suits attack range.  To this end Zeonic created the MS-06C Zaku Cannon.  Initially designed as an anti-aircraft variant of the MS-06J, the coup in 2047 lead to a redesign as a long range artillery and anti-armor variant.  The most easily identified change to the MS-06J is the large rail cannon over the right shoulder.  The cannon has a rather high rate of fire and excellent accuracy.  Other changes focus mainly on an advanced medium range sensor suite which leads to the antenna similar to that on the MS-06S.  Unfortunately the large cannon lead to several problems with recoil that were never fully addressed.  Therefore when the MS-14C Gelgoog Cannon came along in 2049, the Zaku II Cannon was phased out in favor of this much more powerful and stable gun platform.

Another lesson learned during the coup was the power of an effective jamming platform.  During the war the Tirolian Mercantile Republic was forced to purchase several older ELINT type Legioss veritechs from the Terrans.  These platforms proved highly effective in disrupting enemy communications and sensors.  Following the war a crash program was started to develop a electronic warfare version of the MS-06 Zaku II.  The project yielded fruits in 2049 with the development of the MS-06E Zaku Flipper.  Based on the MS-06F the Zaku Flipper adds a very powerful jamming suite as well as other countermeasure systems and a long range spherical radar array and a unique acoustic system allowing it to track targets by the noise they make.  The suit quickly entered mass production and served well for the next ten years prior to the development of the Eyezack in the late 2050's.

The last set of Zaku upgrades were designed in the aftermath of the coup as well.  With the production of the MS-09 Dom underway Zeonic struggled to maintain a place in the mobile suit industry until the Gelgoog was completed.  As a result they sought to combine the F and J types into one model as well as replace the S with a new higher performance model.  The MS-06Z was the first to debut in early 2049.  The MS-06Z was developed with the purpose of streamlining production to decrease costs and increase rate of production.  A new larger cockpit was added greatly improving pilot visibility and comfort vital for those long missions in deep space.  New and more powerful thrusters were added improving agility and combat speed making the the new MS-06Z a deadly foe.  Its counterpart was the high mobility MS-06R Zaku II High Mobility Type.  The Zaku R Type utilizes high powered thrusters to achieve excellent speed and maneuverability.  These new thrusters also allow some additional armor to be added to the design increasing its combat endurance.  Utilizing the same sensor suite as the S type the Zaku II R type is a formidable mobile suit.  However high costs lead to its rather limited deployment.  Combined with the arrival the MS-14 the R type never received the wide ranging production hoped for.  The primary customer for this variant turned out to be special forces unit who favored it for quick hit and run attacks.

The only Zaku's that ever saw regular combat were the early variants which fought against advanced bioroids employed by the Robotech Elders in their last ditch effort to seize power.  During the battle of Tiresia the MS-06 Zaku II performed superbly defending the Great Hall from the Robotech Elder's bioroids and assault ships and eventually sinking the massive Mothership located in orbit over Tirol.  The only other combat the Zaku II ever saw was small scale skirmishes against Pirates and various mock exercises.  The final Zaku II's were retired in 2056 following the deployment of the more advanced MS-18 Zaku III.

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Robotech (R) is the property of Harmony Gold. This document is in no way intended to infringe upon their rights.

Layout adapted from Robotech Reference Guide

Content by Jeffrey R. Spillner and Ron Ferrara
Copyright © 1998-2001 Jeffrey R. Spillner and Ron Ferrara

Page Last Updated on November 26, 2001 @ 11:00 GMT