MS-06K Zaku Cannon

MS-06K Zaku Cannon
MS-06K Zaku Cannon
Unit Type
Limited Production Artillery Mobile Suit
Profile
Developed from	MS-06JC Zaku II
Developed Into	MS-06JK Zaku Half Cannon MS-09K-1 Dom Cannon MS-09K-2 Dom Cannon
Variants	MS-06K Zaku Cannon (Gatling Gun Equipment Type)
First Seen	0079 U.C.
Last Seen	0096 U.C.
Manufacturer	Zeonic Company
Operator	Earth Federation Forces Principality of Zeon Zeon Remnants
Known Pilots	Ian Greydon Alfredino Lam Nordit Bauer
General Characteristics
Overall Height	18.4 meters60.367 ft <br />724.409 in <br />
Head Height	17.7 meters58.071 ft <br />696.85 in <br />
Max Weight	83.2 metric tons
Empty Weight	59.1 metric tons
Power-plant	Minovsky Ultracompact Fusion Reactor
Power Output	976 kW1,308.837 hp <br />
Sensor Range	4400 meters14,435.696 ft <br />
Pilot Accommodations	Pilot only (in standard cockpit in torso (later refitted and replica units equipped with panoramic monitor/linear seat cockpit))
Movement
Max Acceleration	0.49 G
Max Speed	73 km/h45.36 mph <br />
Rocket Thrusters	41000 kg90,389.502 lb <br />45.195 tons <br /> (Total)
Real World
Appearances*
Television	MSZG
OVA	MSG-UC 08th MST
Manga	UC: TNS MSG: WFH!
Game	Mobile Suit Gundam Side Story: Missing Link

The MS-06K Zaku Cannon is a mass-produced artillery test type mobile suit. It was one of many variants of the standard MS-06 Zaku II produced by the Principality of Zeon during the One Year War. The unit is featured in the original design series Mobile Suit Variations and Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn novel/OVA.

Technology & Combat Characteristics

The Zaku Cannon was developed out of the Zeon's MS-06J-12 Project, which was to build an anti-aircraft Zaku II unit. That project was scrapped when the Zeons learned of the Earth Federal Force's close-combat RX-78-2 Gundam and their mid-range fire support RX-77-2 Guncannon. Thus, the scope of the project changed from anti-aircraft mobile suit to an anti-mobile suit and mid-range support unit.

The Zaku Cannon was based on the Zeon's highly successful MS-06F Zaku II design. This new model featured a powerful 180mm cannon mounted on the right shoulder, the same cannon size as the Federation's RX-75-4 Guntank. It could even be refitted with a MS-06J Zaku II Ground Type's standard backpack by removing the K-Type backpack and cannon. The Zaku Cannon also featured a 360 degree camera eye for improved vision and target acquisition. Lastly, the mobile suit had more powerful thrusters placed in its legs to overcome its increased mass. However, The Zaku Cannon suffered from poor balance due to the large cannon's recoil. This problem was significant enough to cancel its production by the Zeon Military Force after a production run of only nine units.

Armaments

• 180mm Cannon

The main weapon of the mobile suit, This cannon's overall power is equal to that of the original Guntank with a single shot being able to destroy a mobile suit. Unfortunately that same power also forces the Zaku Cannon off balance due to massive recoil.

• Shoulder Shield

The shield is a simple defense used to block most incoming ballistic and explosive projectiles. Also used to great effect in close quarters battle with enemy mobile suits. The Zaku Cannon mounts a shield on its right shoulder.

• 2-tube Rocket Launcher

Also known as Big Gun, the 2-tube Rocket Launchers are mounted on Zaku Cannon's back waist. The launchers are magazine-fed and can fire small-caliber rockets rapidly. During Zeon Remnant's raid at Federation's Torrington Base in U.C. 0096, the Zaku Cannon was seen using these as surface-to-air weapons against the RX-160S Byarlant Custom.

• 120mm Machine Gun

The 120mm machine gun is a standard 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. This model used a 100-round drum magazine.

• 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.

• Heat Hawk

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's thermonuclear reactor and relayed through the MS' hands.

Special Equipment & Features

• 2-tube Smoke Discharger

Likely intended to compensate for the Zaku Cannon's low mobility by releasing a cloud a smoke that would cover the area around the mobile suit to make it more difficult for enemies to target.

• Parachute Pack

An optional backpack equipment created by the Zeon for use by their Mobile Suits for air drop missions, the parachute pack contains a large parachute and aided by four thrusters in making a safe landing to the ground, once touchdown had been accomplished the backpack would be ejected as to not hinder the Mobile Suits performance in ground combat.

History

Nine prototype units are constructed at California Base, and this squadron of Zaku Cannons are led by Ian Greydon in defense of the base until the end of the war. Greydon's own Zaku Cannon sports a custom twin-antenna head that comes to be known as the "rabbit type." A handful of other Zaku Cannon units also turn up in other theaters of the Earthside war, including Southeast Asia and Australia.

In U.C. 0087, the Earth Federation picked up the designs. After the costly battle with the Delaz Fleet, the Federation's new and powerful mobile suits had been destroyed. They needed very cheap models to replace the advanced mobile suits that had been lost (the Titans taskforce was using up a great deal of the Federation's money for the military). Thus, the Federal Forces filled their ranks with a few of the old Zeon designs, including the MS-06K Zaku Cannon, to supplement their forces.

In the assault of Torrington Base in U.C. 0096, the Zeon remnants deployed at least one Zaku Cannon.

Variants

• MS-06JK Zaku Half Cannon
• MS-06K Zaku Cannon (Gatling Gun Equipment Type)

Picture Gallery

Backpack

Zaku Cannon (08th MS Team Version): line art

Zaku Cannon (Normal Type): MSV illustration by Kunio Okawara

Zaku Cannon ("Rabbit" Type, Ian Greydon's Unit): MSV illustration by Kunio Okawara

Zaku Cannon (08th MS Team Version)

SD MS-06K Zaku Cannon as featured in SD Gundam G Generation Wars

Zaku Cannon and Zaku I Sniper Type (Gundam Unicorn Novel)

Zaku Cannon as featured in Mobile Suit Gundam: Bonds of the Battlefield

Zaku Cannon as seen on Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team

Zeon Remnant's MS in U.C. 0096. From left: MS-06FZ Zaku II Kai, MS-08TX/S Efreet Schneid, and Zaku Cannon

Zeon Remnant's Zaku Cannon in U.C. 0096, riding on a Dodai YS

Zaku Cannon deployed by Zeon Remnants at the assault of torrington base in U.C. 0096

Gunpla

1/144 Original MS-06K Zaku Cannon (1983): box art

1/100 Original MS-06K Zaku Cannon (1983): box art

1/100 MG MS-06K Zaku Cannon (2008): box art

References

Zaku Cannon - information from Mobile Suit Gundam: Battle Operation

Zaku Cannon (Federaton Colors) - information from Mobile Suit Gundam Gihren's Greed

MS-06K Zaku Cannon - Specifications/Technical Detail/Design

External links

• MS-06K Zaku Cannon on MAHQ.net

Template:Early Universal Century Mobile weapons