MS-06S Char's Zaku II

Please note that this is the Gundam Wiki's article on the mobile suit featured in Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin; if you are looking for the article on Char's custom MS-06 Zaku II featured Mobile Suit Gundam then you should head to MS-06S Zaku II Commander Type.

MS-06S Char's Zaku II
MS-06S Char's Zaku II (MS-06S シャア専用ザクⅡ)
Unit Type
Custom Commander-use Mobile Suit
Profile
Developed from	MS-06S Zaku II Commander Type/Origin
Developed Into	MS-06BR Ballistic Zaku
First Seen	0079 U.C.
Last Seen	0079 U.C.
Operator	Falmer Fleet Principality of Zeon Space Strike Fleet
Known Pilots	Char Aznable
General Characteristics
Overall Height	17.5 meters57.415 ft <br />688.976 in <br />
Overall Width	9.2 meters920 cm <br />30.184 ft <br />362.205 in <br /> 9.7 meters970 cm <br />31.824 ft <br />381.89 in <br /> (including spikes)
Pilot Accommodations	Pilot only (in cockpit in torso)
Standard Armaments
Fixed	Shoulder Shield 2 × Chest Vulcan
Handheld	Heat Hawk Machine Gun
Optional Armaments
Handheld	ASR-78 MS Anti-Ship Rifle Type A2 MS Bazooka
Real World
Mechanical Designer	Hajime Katoki
Appearances*
Television	MSGTO AotRC
Movie	Gundam: Beyond
OVA	MSG ORIGIN: First Seen in Episode #1
Manga	MSGTO: First Seen in Chapter #4
Variation	Mobile Suit Discovery

MS-06S Char's Zaku II is a mobile suit featured in the Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin manga and its OVA adaptation. It was piloted by Char Aznable during the One Year War.

Technology & Combat Characteristics

Char's MS-06S Zaku II is a customized version of the standard MS-06S Zaku II Commander Type (an overall improved MS-06F Zaku II) painted in his personal red colors. Being a commander's unit, a horn-like decoration was also attached to its head. Despite the high risks, Char personally ordered the removal of its limiters, allowing it to use its thrusters to the maximum limit. The hit-and-run tactics enabled by the resulting high thrust, and the impression its distinctive colors made on the battlefield, led to Char's nick name, "Red Comet". After the Clash of Loum, Vice Admiral Dozle secretly ordered Char to command the Falmer, a custom Musai-class battleship, and unit emblems and victory markings were applied to his MS-06S. These included bright white lines indicating it as the commander's unit, the unit number "A12" and emblems of the Falmer.

Armaments

• Shoulder Shield

A defensive equipment made of steel and multiple types of shock absorption material. It is fitted with weapon latches, which can be used to hold two spare magazines for the bazooka or various types of weapon.

• Chest Vulcan

A pair of fixed armaments mounted in the chest, they are mostly used to destroy fighter jets and small vehicles, or intercept missiles.

• ASR-78 MS Anti-Ship Rifle

A sniper rifle mainly used against warships. It discharges specialized rounds at a high initial velocity, which can split into submunitions after penetrating a warship's armor, destroying it from within. It is especially devastating when used against the bridge or engine of a ship.

• Type A2 MS Bazooka

A large bazooka mainly used for anti-ship combat, it can hold three shells in the magazine near the back. It is mounted on the weapon latch on the backpack when not in use.

• Machine Gun

Two type of machine guns for MS can be equipped: a drum magazine type and a belt-fed type with a belt extending from the magazine box under the backpack.

• Heat Hawk

An axe-shaped close combat weapon, it uses a super-heated blade to cut through the armor of enemy MS or vehicles. When stored on the weapon latch on the waist, its grip can slide into a more compact form.

History

One Year War

Battle of Loum

For the upcoming battle of Loum, Lt. Char Aznable would be among the special aces allowed to customize their personal units. Char emphasized the unit's speed and promptly had all limiters on his unit removed after complaining of only getting a substandard performance with them.

Before the ambush on Revil's fleet, Char took his Zaku to a visit to Side 5's Texas Colony, where he had grown up, and later kept Zeon forces from bombarding the colony. Char would score first blood against Revil's fleet, moving at thrice the regular speed for a normal Zaku. Aside from his Zaku's speed, Char would also single-handedly destroy five Magellan-class ships, one of which with only a single bazooka shot..

Char's services would earn him the nickname the "Red Comet", and he would later be given the Musai-class ship, Falmer as Dozle Zabi personalyl ordered Char to investigate Side 7 due to a report on the mobile suit project of the Federation. Before Char reached Side 7, he intercepted a rogue ship that was secretly escorting Admiral Johann Ibrahim Revil following his escape from prison. Due to his personal grudge against the Zabis, Char released the ship and continued on his mission to Side 7.

Investigation of Operation V

In September, U.C. 0079, at Side 7, Noa, following the launch of the RX-78-02 Gundam from the White Base, Dren was ordered by Char to equip Char and Slender's Zaku II units with Type 1 Gear and prepare to launch them along the laser lines. After Amuro's Gundam destroyed two missiles, Oscar Dublin detected Char's and Slender's Zaku II units, with the former approaching three times faster than the latter. Captain Paolo Cassius immediately and gravely recognized it as the Red Comet, Char, stating to a surprised Bright that it was the suit that single-handedly scrapped five of the Federation's battleships at Loum and ordered to turn back and run. Char's Zaku II, still moving at great speed was now close to the ship and Char saw the Gundam through his camera.

Wary of the power of the Gundam's beam rifle, Char used his speed to launch a powerful kick that knocked Amuro Ray back. Despite pelting the Gundam repeatedly, Char found most of his weapons to be ineffective against the mobile suit's armor as the Gundam was still able to dispatch Slender's Zaku. Left alone, and with the new White Base reinforcing the Gundam, Char opted to retreat to the Falmer, which needed a resupply. Once Char obtained a new team of pilots, he would use his Zaku to intercept the White Base during its attempt to enter Earth.

Despite Char's experience allowing him to launch several attacks on the Gundam, the unit's durability eventually wore him out as Char was forced to pull back once again before being sucked in by gravity. With the White Base and the Gundam landing in Garma Zabi's territory in North America, Char also went to Earth to join his former schoolmate in hunting the White Base. After a brief skirmish, the White Base would negotiate a temporary ceasefire to allow refugees inside the ship to leave safely. Garma would accept this, and both the Gundam and a Gunperry would split from the ship to escort the civilians. Using the opportunity, however, Char would lead a strike team to attack the White Base while the Gundam was gone.

Though his team made a direct hit on the White Base, Char was again forced to withdraw when the Gundam returned and inflicted casualties on his team. He and Garma would pursue the White Base to Los Angeles, where Char departed first as he chased down the Gundam. During his hunt, however, he noticed the White Base hiding behind debris and waiting to ambush the Zeon forces. Char would choose to secretly betray Garma by misinforming him of the enemy's location and using a duel against the Gundam to pull his friend into the Federation trap.

After Garma's death, Char would pilot his Zaku for the final time as he engaged the Sleggar Platoon at Gibraltar. While he easily dealt with the team, killing all but two of its members by himself, he would meet the Gundam once again, but Amuro's skills had significantly improved since their last meeting, and the two units engaged evenly. Char would be distracted by a Dodai YS, and his Zaku was subsequently decapitated by the Gundam's beam saber. With the ground under them collapsing, Char abandoned his unit and jumped onboard the Dodai to make his escape.

Gallery

Firing anti-ship rifle

With Denim and Slender's Zakus

Close-up

In front of a destroyed Salamis-class cruiser

Weapons display

Cockpit hatch open

Wielding a Type A2 MS Bazooka (The Battle of Loum)

After destroying Miranda's bay

Deploying from the Falmer

Approaching Revil's ship

In front of the Falmer

MS-06S Char's Zaku II Mechanical Archives

As seen on the game Gundam Diorama Front 3rd.

With ASR-78 MS Anti-Ship Rifle in Super Gundam Royale PV

With YG-111 Gundam G-Self in Super Gundam Royale PV

Zeonic Toyota collaboration artwork

Gunpla

HGGO 1/144 MS-06S Char's Zaku II (2015) - Box art

HGGO 1/44 MS-06S Char's Zaku II - Metallic Ver. (Gunpla Expo World Tour 2015 exclusive;2015) - Box art

HGGO 1/44 MS-06S Char's Zaku II [Metallic] (The Gundam Base Tokyo exclusive;2018) - Box art

HGGO 1/144 MS-06S Zaku II (Red Comet Ver.) (2019): box art

HGGTO 1/144 MS-06S Char's Zaku II (Red Comet Ver.) Yoshikazu Yasuhik/Mobile Suit Gundam The Origin Exhibition Edition (Yoshikazu Yasuhik/Mobile Suit Gundam The Origin Exhibition exclusive; 2021): box art

Notes & Trivia

• The MS-06S Char's Zaku II featured the "A12" marking and Char's personal emblem, which were first established by the Master Grade MS-06S Zaku II model kit. However, "A12" was stated to be the Zaku's unit number rather than the squadron number in the Origin continuity.
• In SD Gundam G Generation Genesis, Char's Zaku II is part of the Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin DLC pack along with the RTX-65 Guntank Early Type. Unlike the MS-06S Zaku II Commander Type, Char's Zaku II can be developed into the Rick Dias, the Zeong, the Hyaku Shiki, and the Sazabi, all of which are Char's future machines.
• In one of the "Zeonic Toyota" advertisements, Lalah Sune briefly piloted Char's Zaku II.

Appearances

Games

• Mobile Suit Gundam U.C. ENGAGE
  • 0079 - Gibraltar

External links

• Model kits of MS-06S Char's Zaku II on Gunplapedia