MS-06R-2 Zaku II High Mobility Type

The MS-06R-2 Zaku II High Mobility Type is a mass-production space combat mobile suit, and is another high mobility version of the MS-06 Zaku II. It was first featured in the original design series Mobile Suit Variations (MSV).

Technology & Combat Characteristics
The Zaku II High Mobility Type was originally intended as a space use replacement for the old Zaku II, part of many MS development programs. Due to the cancellation of the MS-11 Action Zaku in favor of development of the MS-14 Gelgoog, the Principality of Zeon needed modern spaceborne MS as a temporary replacement. Zeonic company's bid was the MS-06R-2 Zaku II High Mobility Type. The R-2 Zaku was much lighter than its R-1A predecessor, featured increased storage for propellant, and had extra armor on the legs. However, the fact that the R-2 used the R-1A's reactor meant that it could not use beam weapons. Only four units were produced before the MS-09R Rick Dom was chosen as the new space combat MS.

Armaments

 * Shoulder Shield


 * ZMP-50D/120mm Machine Gun
 * The 120mm machine gun is a standard non-beam weapon for Zaku type mobile suits. It is a shell firing gun that does not require energy to be used, however its effectiveness against heavy armor is very limited. The ZMP-50D used a 100-round drum magazine.


 * Heat Hawk Type 5
 * An axe-shaped close combat weapon, it uses a super-heated blade to cut through the armor of enemy MS or vehicles. The thermal energy is generated by the power output of the Zaku II's thermonuclear reactor and relayed through the MS' hands.


 * H&L-SB25K/280mmA-P Zaku Bazooka
 * The 280mm Zaku Bazooka was another standard weapon that could be equipped to a Zaku type mobile suit. The bazooka fired explosive rounds that were quite effective against the armor of Earth Federation mobile suits and battleships. The bazooka could be stored on the rear waist armor while spare ammunition could be stored on the side hip armor.


 * 360mm Giant Bazooka
 * A large bazooka originally designed for use by the Dom series of mobile suits. The 360mm bazooka is magazine fed and holds 10 rounds per magazine, and a single round is powerful enough to blow the torso off of an enemy mobile suit. The bazooka could be stored on the rear waist armor when not in use.


 * MIP-B6 Cracker Grenade
 * Identical to those used by infantry, the cracker grenade is an explosive weapons designed to be thrown or launched by the MS and detonate after a set amount of time. The "cracker" breaks into several smaller munitions over a wide area. The Zaku II can optionally equip up to four cracker grenades, that are stored on the left and right waist armor racks, with two on each side.

History
The four units were assigned to Major Johnny Ridden (painted red and black), Lieutenant Colonel Gabby Hazard (painted orange and black), Colonel Robert Gilliam (painted blue and beige) and the fourth unit was given to test pilot Elliot Rem, which eventually evolved into the MS-06R-3S High Mobility Type Zaku. In the Spirits of Zeon video game, the fourth unit is assigned to Kurt Roswell (painted maroon and gray).