The MS-06 Zaku II is a mobile suit from the manga Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt and its animated adaptation. It is piloted by Daryl Lorenz and Sean Mitadera.
Technology & Combat Characteristics[]
A mobile suit operated by the Principality of Zeon's Living Dead division in the Thunderbolt Sector. It is equipped with a specialized backpack with a propellant tank and two foldable sub-arms that can be moved back and forth within a 180 degree range along a rail. The suit also features additional thrusters, control verniers and its joints are protected by a cloth-like material.
Armaments[]
- Shoulder Shield
- Mounted on the right shoulder, it is a simple defense used to block most physical projectiles.
- 120mm Machine Gun
- 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.
- 280mm 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.
- Sturm Faust
- A single-use projectile weapon akin to a simplified bazooka/rocket launcher.
- 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 II's thermonuclear reactor and relayed through the MS' hands.
- A mobile suit-use sniping turret, it is equipped with a powerful, long-range beam cannon.
History[]
The Zaku II (Thunderbolt Ver.) is one of the mobile suits assigned to the Living Dead Division. One such unit was piloted by Daryl Lorenz, using a Big Gun to snipe down enemy units in the Thunderbolt Sector. With almost deadly accuracy, he and his comrades destroyed most of the RGM-79 GM (Thunderbolt Ver.) squadron; however, Io Fleming managed to sneak in using a normal suit and hijacked Hoover's MS-09R Rick Dom (Thunderbolt Ver.).
The Zaku II later saw action when the FA-78 Full Armor Gundam (Thunderbolt Ver.) attempted to break through the snipers' defensive line. Sean Mitadera stood his ground against it, but his unit was ultimately destroyed when Io engaged him in close quarters. Another such unit defended against the Federation's volunteer pilot squadron. The pilot managed to down a few units before being obliterated by a barrage.
A few units were also assigned to defend the Zeon main fleet. They are primarily seen when the two fleets fire on each other in the manga; it is likely they were destroyed when the Federation launched an all-out assault on the Zeon main fleet.
During the final battle of the One Year War at A Baoa Qu, Zaku IIs operated by Zeon's Royal Guard and stylized with gold engraving and trims across their bodies were seen defending the fortress before they were destroyed by RGM-79/GH Gundam Heads. After the One Year War, some Zaku IIs were salvaged and used by the South Seas Alliance forces.
Gallery[]
Lineart[]
Anime[]
Manga[]
Gunpla[]
Notes & Trivia[]
- The Royal Guard's Zaku IIs have similar gold engravings as the MS-06F Zaku II Dozle Zabi Custom. However, the units in Thunderbolt had the standard Zaku II shoulder armor and no spikes on their knuckle.
External links[]