Zaku III

AMX-011 Zaku III

General and Technical Data

Model number: AMX-011 Code name: Zaku III Unit type: mass production general purpose mobile suit Manufacturer: Neo Zeon Operator: Neo Zeon First deployment: UC 0088 Accommodation: pilot in panoramic monitor/linear seat cockpit in torso Dimensions: overall height 23.9 meters; head height 21.0 meters Weight: empty 44.2 metric tons; max gross 68.3 metric tons; mass ratio 1.36 Armor materials: gundarium alloy composite Powerplant: Minovsky type ultracompact fusion reactor, output rated at 2150 kW Propulsion: rocket thrusters: 2 x 28400 kg, 6 x 19300 kg; vernier thrusters/apogee motors: 12 Performance: maximum thruster acceleration 2.53 G Equipment and design features: sensors, range 9700 meters Fixed armaments: mouth beam gun, power rated at 1.6 MW, mounted in head; 2 x waist beam gun/beam saber, power rated at 2.8 MW, hand-carried in beam saber mode, stored in recharge racks in front skirt armor plates and hand-operated in beam gun mode; option rack shield, mounted on right shoulder, can store additional weapons

Technical and Historical Notes

As the First Neo Zeon War raged on, the Neo Zeon military continued its development of new and more powerful mobile suits. Two competing designs were produced as potential new mass-production frontline units: the AMX-011 Zaku III and the AMX-014 Dooben-Wolf. The intention of the Zaku III's design was that it would be a new decendant of the old Principality of Zeon's venerable (and highly versatile) MS-05 Zaku and MS-06 Zaku II lines. The Zaku III featured a modular construction design, enabling armor, the backpack, and other components to be changed out and customized pursuant to the current mission role. Despite its high performance and versatility, however, the Zaku III design lost out to the more contemporary Dooben-Wolf. As a result, the Zaku III saw only limited production, with this handful of prototype often operated by high-ranking officers or ace pilots.

Miscellaneous Information

Pilot: Rakan Dahkaran Appearances: Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ; Mobile Suit Gundam in UC 0099: Moon Crisis Original mechanical designer(s): Masahiro Oda (principal design), Mika Akitaka (cleanup)