The OMS-06RF RF Zaku (Early Type) (RFザク(前期型) RF Zaku (Zenki-Gata)?) (commonly referred as RF Zaku) is a mobile suit that first appears in manga Mobile Suit Gundam F90.
Technology & Combat Characteristics[]
The RF Zaku is the product of combining Principality of Zeon Mobile Suit (MS) designs with the designs of AMS-119 Geara Doga by Oldsmobile Army engineers.[1] Although its outward appearance was virtually identical to the original MS-06 Zaku II, it was considered as "replica" unit constructed from modern materials making it much lighter. Even though it had external power pipes. they served no purpose other than to further replicate the older Zaku II's aesthetic.[1] While its technology mainly based on Geara Doga, its also used a mixture of standardized civilian MS parts alongside components from existing designs such as the RGM-89 Jegan, FD-03 Gustav Karl, and AMS-129 Geara Zulu, making it modular and its origins virtually untraceable.[2] Because of that its exterior can be swapped other configurations such as FZ Type , F2 Type, Marine Type, RF Gouf Type, and High Mobility Type, although its standard configuration was Zaku II Type.
Despite being built with universal standard, the RF Zaku Early Type had overall lower performance than Earth Federation Forces' RGM-89J Jegan Normal Type.[2] The cause of its lower performance was by its design philosophy to combat older mobile suit design such as Jegan Normal type and RGM-87C2 BR-GM C2, rather than state of the art mobile suits like RGM-109 Heavygun or the F71 G Cannon.[2] Despite its inferior performance, it fulfilled its intended role as guerilla unit against lightly defended Earth Federation facilities, while also capable to perform on equal or slighly superior performance than Federation's Jegan Type thanks to its smaller size and higher turning rate.[2] Due to its usage of modern components the RF Zaku Early Type capable using weaponries used by Geara Doga and Geara Zulu if such weaponries available, but its usually equipped with conventional weaponries due to practical and logistical reason.[2] Due to its relatively successful performance, the Oldsmobile Army would overhaul its basic design based on the stolen F90 Gundam F90 Unit 2 and developed the Late Model version and it become the basis of their RF mobile suit series.[2]
Armaments[]
- Shoulder Shield
- The RF Zaku is equipped with a shoulder shield similar to the MS-06 Zaku II, 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. It holds 100 rounds per drum with spare drums that can be stored on waist armor
- 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 RF Zaku (Early Type)'s thermonuclear reactor and relayed through the MS' hands.
- 280mm Zaku Bazooka
- The 280mm Zaku Bazooka was another standard weapon for Zaku type mobile suits. The bazooka fired explosive rounds that were quite effective against the armor of Earth Federation mobile suits and battleships. Can be stored on the rear waist armor when not in use.
- Sea Serpent
- A handheld, wired grappling weapon that can be used to deliver crippling electrical shocks to enemy mobile suits. Its tip contains verniers that helped in controlling its trajectory.
- Cracker Grenade
- The cracker grenade is an explosive weapon designed to be thrown or launched by the MS and detonate after a set amount of time. The "cracker" breaks into several smaller munitions over a wide area. The Zaku II can optionally equip up to four cracker grenades, that are stored on the left and right waist armor racks, with two on each side.
History[]
In U.C 0116 Several RF Zaku Early Type were participated during a terrorist attack in Side 4 Frontier 1 colony by Zeon Remnants. During the attack these RF Zakus manage to caught the local Earth Federation Forces' garrison off guard, and caused some damage to Strategic Naval Research Institute's headquarters, but unfortunately they were destroyed when SNRI deployed the F90 Gundam F90 Unit 3.[3] Sometimes later several RF Zaku Early Type belonging to Zeon Remnants' Legacy Fleet also present during the siege of Trimurti satellite cannon, but was forced to retreat after Legacy Fleet supreme commander Rhein Dragun was killed during the siege.[4] Later in U.C 0120 many RF Zaku Early Type were seen defending Oldmobile Army's Olympus Mons Fortress, but most of them were destroyed by both the Earth Federation's RGM-89 Jegan and the earthquake cause by Olympus Mons' Cannon.[5]
Gallery[]
Linearts[]
Manga[]
Mobile Suit Gundam F90[]
Mobile Suit Gundam F90: Fastest Formula[]
Mobile Suit Gundam F90 Cluster[]
Notes & Trivia[]
- Although RF Zaku Early Type existence already mentioned ever since Mobile Suit Gundam F90 release, it was never officially given detailed information until the release of Monthly Mobile Machine Vol 27.
- In the manga the RF Zaku Early type is simply refered as Zaku.
- The lineart style of RF Zaku Early Type resembles the MS-06 Borjannon.
- The color scheme is also an homage the Zaku II that appears in the first chapter of Mobile Suit Gundam F90 manga.
- This color scheme likely an homage to ATM-09-ST Scopedog (Red Shoulder Custom) from Armored Trooper VOTOMS, which also an IP owned by Sunrise.
- RF Zaku Early Type alongside GH-001RB Grimoire Red Beret is one of the few mobile suit painted in Red Shoulder color scheme.
Zaku FZ Types attacking the Kobayashi Maru.
- The manga panel showing the RF Zaku FZ Types destroying the Kobayashi Maru, is a reference to first chapter of SD Club version of Gundam F90 manga.
References[]
External Links[]
| Mobile Suit Gundam F90 Mechanics | |
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| Earth Federation | |
| Mobile Weapon | |
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| Transporter / Supply Ship Jupitris-class | |
| Cruiser / Mother Ship Irish-class | Ra Cailum-class | |
| Mars Zeon | |
| Mobile Weapon | |
| Mobile Suit OMS-06RF RF Zaku | OMS-07RF RF Gouf | OMS-09DRF RF Desert Dom | OMS-09RF RF Dom | OMS-14RF RF Gelgoog | OMS-14SRF RF Gelgoog Charles Rochester Type | OMS-15RF RF Gyan | OMS-90R Gundam F90 | OMS-90R2 (F90V) Mars Gundam | OMSM-07RF RF Z'Gok | |
| Mobile Armour OMAX-01 Grand Zam | OMAX-03RF RF Adzam | |
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| Aircraft / Spacecraft Dodai Kai | |