MS-06D Zaku Desert Type

---

Disambiguation:

• Main
• Origin

  ---

MS-06D Zaku Desert Type
MS-06D Zaku Desert Type (MS-06D ザク・デザートタイプ)
Unit Type
Mass Production General-Purpose Desert Mobile Suit
Profile
Developed from	MS-06J Zaku II Ground Type
Variants	MS-06D Desert Zaku MS-06DX Zaku Desert Type Kai
First Seen	0079 U.C.
Last Seen	0096 U.C.
Manufacturer	Principality of Zeon field engineers Zeonic Company
Operator	Neo Zeon Principality of Zeon Zeon Remnants
Known Pilots	Roy Greenwood Niki Karahan Quint
General Characteristics
Overall Height	18.2 meters59.711 ft <br />716.535 in <br />
Head Height	17.5 meters57.415 ft <br />688.976 in <br />
Max Weight	79.4 metric tons
Empty Weight	61.3 metric tons
Power-plant	Minovsky Ultracompact Fusion Reactor
Power Output	976 kW1,308.837 hp <br />
Pilot Accommodations	Pilot only (in standard cockpit in torso)
Armor	Super-hard steel alloy
Movement
Max Acceleration	0.54 G
Max Speed	80 km/h49.71 mph <br />
Rocket Thrusters	42900 kg94,578.284 lb <br />47.289 tons <br />
Standard Armaments
Fixed	2 x 40mm Vulcan Gun Shoulder Shield
Handheld	M-120AS 120mm Machine Gun 4 x SA-712 Cracker Grenade
Optional Armaments
Fixed	3-tube Missile Launcher
Handheld	P-3 2-tube Rocket Launcher Hand Grenade
Real World
Mechanical Designer	Kunio Okawara
Appearances*
Manga	MSV-R: RoJR UC: TNS Gundam Legacy 0094: AtS TBD2015
Game	Mobile Suit Gundam Side Story: Missing Link Mobile Suit Gundam: Bonds of the Battlefield

The MS-06D Zaku Desert Type is a mass-produced desert combat mobile suit, and is one of many variants of the standard MS-06 Zaku II created and used by the Principality of Zeon during the One Year War. It appears in the Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn OVA series.

Technology & Combat Characteristics

During the One Year War, the battlefield shifted from space to Earth after the signing of the Antarctic Treaty. Because of Earth's many different terrains and environments, the Principality of Zeon had to adjust their mass production MS-06J Zaku II Ground Type model to be more suitable in the varying climates.

Developed in the captured Earth Federation California Base, the MS-06D Zaku Desert Type, also known as the D-Type, was designed for Earth's desert and tropical regions. Early test units used a double antennae, but when Zeon finalized the mobile suit for mass production, they dropped it down to a single antenna. They also repainted the Zakus to a more sand-like color. The Zaku Desert Type featured several new features for its adaptation to the new climates. The biggest change was the replacement of the Zaku II's standard thruster jetpack with a heat-dissipating radiator backpack. The D-Type was thus fitted with jet thrusters in the legs and skirt armor so that it had a small boost in mobility.

Armaments

• 40mm Vulcan Gun

A pair of head-mounted shell firing weapons, they have a high rate of fire but little penetration power. They are ideal for shooting down small, lightly armored targets such as missiles, attack vehicles, etc. They are also often employed as a deterrent against closing in enemy units.

• Shoulder Shield

Mounted on the right shoulder, it is a simple defense used to block most physical projectiles.

• SA-712 Cracker Grenade

Basically a mobile suit sized hand grenade. Up to two of them can be stored in each compartment on its left and right hip armor.

• M-120AS 120mm Machine Gun

A machine gun developed for the Zaku Desert Type. Changes from the M-120A1 model include shortened barrel and stock, and omission of the scope. Its handling properties are improved through the reduction in weight.

• 3-tube Missile Launcher

A small missile launcher attached to the left forearm.

• P-3 2-tube Rocket Launcher

• Hand Grenade

Throwing weapon used an alternative to the Cracker Grenade. These waist mounted grenades can be thrown like regular grenades and set to detonate upon impact with the target or timed to explode after a preset time. They come in multiple variants, allowing them to perform different roles in battle.

History

The D-Type was a great success. Overall, 114 MS-06D Zaku Desert Types were produced, with 43 two-antennae types and 71 single-antenna types. The Zaku Desert Type was well suited for its environment and operated very effectively. The Zaku D-Type would dominate Zeon's Earth forces in North Africa and the Middle East for many months until it was replaced by the more mobile and powerful MS-09F/trop Dom Tropen.

Variants

• MS-06DX Zaku Desert Type Kai

• MS-06D Desert Zaku

Gallery

Zaku Desert Type: MSV illustration by Kunio Okawara

Zaku Desert Type (Karakal Team Colors): MSV illustration by Kunio Okawara

Zaku Desert Type: artwork by Naochika Morishita

Quint's Zaku Desert Type as featured in Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn: The Noble Shroud

Zaku Desert Types on parade as seen on Zeonic Front: Indignation of Zeon animation

Zaku Desert Type as featured in Gihren's Greed

Zaku Desert Type (left) in Zaku Marine Type's promotional campaign as featured in Gundam Battle Operation

As seen in Mobile Suit Gundam: Battle Operation 2

Karakal Unit in Gundam Battle Operation 2.

Gunpla

1/144 Original MS-06D Zaku Desert Type (1983): box art

Action Figures

Zeonography #3005a "MS-06F-2 Zaku II F2 Type (Desert Color) / MS-06D Zaku Desert Type" figure set (2004): package front view

Zeonography #3005a "MS-06F2 Zaku II F2 Type (Desert Color) / MS-06D Zaku Desert Type" figure set (2004): package rear view

Zeonography #3005a "MS-06F2 Zaku II F2 Type (Desert Color)": sample product (left) with parts convertible to MS-06D Zaku Desert Type (right)

Zeonography #3005b "MS-06F2 Zaku II F2 Type / MS-06D Zaku Desert Type (Green)" figure set (2004): package front view

Zeonography #3005b "MS-06F2 Zaku II F2 Type / MS-06D Zaku Desert Type (Green)" figure set (2004): package rear view

Zeonography #3005b "MS-06F2 Zaku II F2 Type ": sample product (left) with parts convertible to "MS-06D Zaku Desert Type (Green)" (right)

Robot Damashii "MS-06D Zaku Desert Type Ver. A.N.I.M.E." (P-Bandai exclusive; 2016): package front view

References

Zaku Desert Type (Gariboldi Team Colors): information from MSV-R

Zaku Desert Type (Gariboldi Team Colors): specifications

Zaku Desert Type: design and information