MS-05 Zaku I
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In the anime and manga Mobile Suit Gundam universe, the MS-05 Zaku I was the first successful mobile suit design to be developed by the Zeonic Company in the Principality of Zeon's quest to develop a combat-capable mobile suit that used the AMBAC System and the Minovsky ultracompact fusion reactor. The Zaku I was first designed and built in U.C. 0075, as the MS-05A Zaku winning the arms war against the EMS-04 Zudah. It wasn't put into mass-production until later that year, as the MS-05B Zaku I. The last production run of the MS-05B is in U.C. 0077, before it was replaced by the newer MS-06 Zaku II unit.
The MS-05A Zaku I was the first attempt made by the Principality of Zeon. It was also the first mobile suit to use the Minovsky-lonesco fusion reactor and mimic human movements. Called the Early Type by later pilots, this was a suit on which many famous ace pilots trained. During November UC 0075, 27 of these units were assigned to new pilots for evaluation. Among them were Ramba Ral, the "Blue Giant", and the Black Tri-Stars Gaia, Mash, And Ortega. The strengths and weaknesses were hammered out during this testing phrase, and soon led to the development of the MS-05B Zaku 1. For all intents and porposes, the MS-05A was exactly the same as the MS-05B, the only differences being small improvments in all areas including redesigned cockpit, higher output power plant,and redesigned armor.
The MS-05A was not mass-produced as intended, labeled unfit for combat before the start of the One Year War. Still, the successful use of these suits prompted the Zeon Navy to commission ships that could carry them into combat, primarily the Musai-Class Light Cruiser. The Zaku I was rendered obsolete by the Zaku II before the beginning of the One Year War, and thus they were relegated for use in the rear lines as supply and construction suits. They still saw some action, though, as colony gassers in the One Week War. Later, with the number of machines lost after Operation British and the Battle of Loum, many of these machines were brought back to the front lines until losses could be replaced. Many units were assigned to the Midnight Fenrir Corps on the eve of Second Earth Decsent Operation. The MS-05A would continue to serve as patrol units and workers until the end of the War.
Contents |
[edit] Variations
The Zaku I, like many of the Zeon's mobile suit lines, had a few variations of the basic model, such as the MS-05S Zaku I Commander Type and MS-05J Zaku I Land-Warfare Type.
[edit] MS-05J Zaku I Land-Warfare Type
The land warfare Zaku I was little more than a stock Zaku I repainted in region-specific colors.
Few of these suits would see action, for while the Zaku II series was no longer being mass produced, it was not difficult to obtain one. Most Zaku I's were assigned to pilots that requested them, or to newly-formed squadrons that were unable to obtain the best equipment available. Some would see action in southeast Asia, with at least one assigned to Commander Topp. More would be assigned to the Midnight Fenrir teams. And while Manning and Swaggard would eventually take on additional mobile suits, Austin would keep his Zaku I throughout the remainder of the war, adding different weapons and option parts to suit his liking. These included a shield, the MS-07B Gouf’s heat sword, and even a shield salvaged from a fallen RGM-79 GM.
[edit] MS-05S Zaku I Commander Type
The MS-05S Zaku I Commander Type was the personal mobile suit of Lieutenant Commander Gerhart Schmeisser, the founder and leader of the Midnight Fenrir Corps. Before the One Year War, Schmeisser was already a decorated mobile suit pilot, and in the opening days of the war proved himself as a soldier. However, during an attack on a facility in New Guinea to clear the way for the Operation British colony drop, Schmeisser was severely wounded in action when a booby-trapped railgun facility blew up. Schmeisser survived, though his injuries prevented him from returning to active combat duty. Despite this handicap, Schmeisser persuaded Admiral Kycillia Zabi to create the Midnight Fenrir Corps. Under his command, the Midnight Fenrir would go on to distinguish themselves in the One Year War. Despite the restriction from combat duty, Schmeisser still used his MS-05S in training missions and in simulations, providing a valuable service to his team even though he could not fight.
The differences between this mobile suit and a regular MS-05B Zaku I were small. The only major differences were a second shoulder dome on the right shoulder, the striking (and often misleading) white and silver custom paint job, and a new shield mounting the fearsome heat saber seen on the MS-07B Gouf. The obvious bonuses of a commander’s type mobile suit aside, the MS-05S was little different from the standard Zaku I being used by the Home Defense Corps, and various out-of-the-way Zeon bases.
[edit] Specifications
[edit] MS-05A Zaku I Early Type
Manufacturer: Zeonic Company
Operator: Principality of Zeon
Unit type: mass production general purpose mobile suit
Dimensions: head height 17.5 meters
Weight: empty 50.3 metric tons; max gross 65.0 metric tons
Powerplant: Minovsky type ultracompact fusion reactor, power output rating unknown
Armament: 105 mm machine gun, drum-fed, 100 rounds per drum, spare drums can be stored on waist armor racks; 280 mm Zaku bazooka, 4 round magazine; heat hawk, battery powered, can be stored on waist armor racks; shotgun
Pilot(s): Matt Austin, Lee Swaggard, Ramba Ral, Gaia, Mash, Ortega
[edit] MS-05B Zaku I
Manufacturer: Zeonic Company
Operator: Principality of Zeon; civilians
Unit type: mass production general purpose mobile suit
Dimensions: head height 17.5 meters
Weight: empty 50.3 metric tons; max gross 65.0 metric tons
Powerplant: Minovsky type ultracompact fusion reactor, output rated at 899 kW
Armament: 105 mm machine gun, drum-fed, 100 rounds per drum, spare drums can be stored on waist armor racks; ZMP-47D/120 mm machine gun, drum-fed, 100 rounds per drum, spare drums can be stored on waist armor racks; H&L-SB21K/280mmA-N Zaku bazooka, 4 round magazine, can be stored on rack on rear waist armor; heat hawk Type3, battery powered, can be stored on waist armor racks; G-3 nerve gas grenade launcher; sturm faust1; knuckle shield1
Pilot(s): Gadem, Topp, Gabby Hazzard, Matt Austin, Lee Swaggard, Manning, Gaia, Ortega, Mash
1. Information gained from the Zaku I HGUC model
[edit] MS-05S Zaku I Commander Type
Manufacturer: Zeonic Company
Operator: Principality of Zeon
Unit type: commander type high powered mobile suit
Dimensions: overall height 18.0 meters; head height 17.5 meters
Weight: Unknown
Powerplant: Minovsky type ultracompact fusion reactor, power output rating unknown
Armament: heat saber, mounted inside shield on left forearm; MMP-80 90 mm machine gun, clip-fed, 32 rounds per clip, spare clips can be stored on waist armor storage racks; 880 mm raketen bazooka, clip-fed, 5 rounds per clip, spare clips can be stored on waist armor storage racks; 90 mm assault rifle; 3-tube missile launcher
Pilot: Gerhart Schmeisser
[edit] EMS-04/EMS-10 Zudah
During the Principality of Zeon's race to develop a superior fighting machine, they developed four prototype mobile suits from different engineering companies: one of these was Zimmad Company's EMS-04 Zudah. It had a good powerplant, an excellent armament (120mm machine gun, 280mm bazooka, sturmfausts, and a heat hawk Type3), and good rocket thrust. However, the suit did have limits: if the engines were used for too long, the suit would overload and break apart. Zeonic Company used this information to outdo the Zudah with their well-known MS-05 Zaku I and successfully marketed the Zaku series.
This, however, was not the end of the story. The Zudah was resurrected under the model number EMS-10, with some minor improvements and cosmetic differences. Its left shoulder was refitted with a movable shield that could be swung to the back, and it was equipped with spikes for melee combat. A number of new weapons were also added, including all of the updated Zaku weapons, as well as a new 135mm anti-ship cannon.
Four of these improved Zudahs were issued to the 603 Experimental group. They were the subject of an extensive Zeon propaganda campaign claiming that these were new "secret weapons" rather than scantily-refitted 3 year old prototypes. They were used in at least three combat actions. The first one, against a Federation Salamis-class cruiser and several RB-79 Ball units, resulted in the retreat of the Federation forces without the Zudah firing a shot. A Zudah was later lost from the (supposedly corrected) engine overload error during testing by the 603 Experimental group. On the second operation, the three remaining Zudahs would be piloted by Zeon test pilot Jean Luc Duvall and engineer pilots Hideto Washiya and Monique Cadillac, to help defend the Odessa forces that managed to escape to outer space (the majority of those MS that were stationed in Odessa were ground based, and could not fight in space efficiently). While they manage to destroy all the attacking Federation units, and proved their worth by outmaneuvering and destroying the pursuing GMs during an extended fight, Duvall's suit was also destroyed by overload. The two other Zudah's were kept on-board the test ship Jotunheim for defense, and saw action during the 603's guerrilla attacks on Federation ships being launched from Jaburo, as well as in the battle of A Baoa Qu. Both Zudahs survived that battle, although Cpt. Cadillac's Zudah was severely damaged while defending the Big Rang mobile armor.
While it is unconfirmed, it is possible that the GM camouf, a unit employed for false flag operations, is a modified Zudah, although it is also possible it is a heavily refitted Zaku II. Many parts, such as the backpack and external power pipes appear to be from the Zaku; the joints appear to be those of a Zudah.
In appearance, it resembles an RGM-79 GM, though numerous sections, such as the hip section and leg units, resembles those of Zudah, and the visor on its head hides a monoeye sensor. This disguise was achieved by attaching custom-made armor painted in Federation colors to the Zeon suit. When used in area dense in Minovsky particle interference, enemy MS targeting computers would "fill in the blanks" and make it seem to be a friendly unit. The camouflage, unfortunately, was so effective that on its only deployment the squadron was destroyed by its own Musai transport. It could be equipped with standard Zaku weapons (not beam weapons like the GM), though it only saw combat equipped with a 135mm anti-ship cannon and a Zaku knuckle-shield that was mounted on the inside of a GM-type shield. The GM Camouf was not issued a model number, due to the criminal nature of false flag tactics, and its existence was denied by Zeon.
[edit] EMS-10 (EMS-04) Zudah
Manufacturer: Zimmad Company
Operator: Principality of Zeon
First deployment: October UC 0079 (EMS-10, EMS-04 rejected)
Dimensions: overall height 17.3 meters
Weight: empty 61.00 metric tons
Powerplant: ultracompact Minovsky fusion reactor, output rated at 1150 kW
Propulsion: rocket thrusters: total output 58,700 kg
Armaments: 120mm machine gun x1, 280mm Zaku bazooka x1, several sturmfausts (usually 2-3), heat hawk Type3 x1, 135mm anti-ship cannon x1 (EMS-10), movable shoulder shield, mounting two spikes (EMS-10)
Pilot(s): Jean Luc Duvall, Hideto Washiya, Monique Cadillac
[edit] Appearances
Mobile Suit Gundam MS IGLOO (anime)
Mobile Suit Gundam MS IGLOO: Apocalypse 0079 (anime)
Mobile Suit Gundam MS IGLOO (manga)
