MS-06S Zaku II Commander Type

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Technology & Combat Characteristics

Developed in response to veteran pilots' request for a high performance unit, the MS-06S Zaku II Commander Type was far more mobile than its predecessor, the MS-06F Zaku II, but was also far more difficult to control. Compared to the F Type, the S Type's vernier nozzles were enlarged, and the output of its main thrusters were increased by 30% while retaining the same size. To make space for the improved thrusters and enlarged propellant tanks, various automatic control systems of the F Type were removed. While this reduced S Type's operability, it also enabled experienced pilots to disable many unnecessary limiters and push the mobile suit to its structural limit.^[1]

Other changes from the F Type included the S Type's generator being 5% lighter, and its armor composition and structure were improved, improving its overall power-weight ratio. Finally, the S Type were all equipped with a head-mounted multi-blade antenna. Though the antenna itself was identical to those found on the F Type, the structure at its base was different, giving it improved communications and enemy detection capabilities. Despite having many special internal components, the S Type still shared 80-90% of its parts with the F Type, making it easy to resupply and maintain. This also meant that like the F Type, it could easily be modified to operate in space or under gravity.^[1][2]

Armaments

• Shoulder Shield

A large composite armored shield on the Zaku II's right shoulder. When the machine is in the optimal attack posture, where the frontal projected area is the smallest, the corners of the shield are in front, maximizing the defensive area and forming sloped armor to reduce damage from ricochets.

• M-120A1 120mm Zaku Machine Gun

A standard firearm for Zaku type MS. It has a large drum magazine located at the top, and features a scope and foregrip to enable highly accurate shooting. It can switch modes between single-fire and automatic fire. Although useless against Luna Titanium Alloy, it can still destroy weaker armor material with multiple shots.

• M-120AC Zaku Machine Gun

A model of Zaku machine gun with a heat bayonet equipped on the barrel. A limited number of these weapons were produced and used by Zaku II Commander Types for operational testing.

• MMP-80 90mm Machine Gun

A small caliber machine gun for mobile suits developed under the United Maintenance Plan. The overall shape and mechanism of the Zaku Machine Gun, which was previously deployed, has been changed. The magazine has been changed from a drum magazine to a box magazine, and a 197mm grenade launcher is available as an option. The caliber has been reduced to 90mm, but as a result, the hit rate has improved, and the 90mm shell used is also excellent in initial velocity and anti-MS firepower. The number of bullets loaded is 32 in the standard single magazine and 100 in the triple magazine. The late production model features a different barrel and hand guard, resulting in a more compact shape.

• 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.

• Large Heat Hawk

A large-sized heat hawk with the length of its blade extended by 1.5 times compared to the normal version.

• H&L-SB25K/280mmA-P Zaku Bazooka

A portable, physical projectile-type firearm. It is primarily for anti-ship combat and displays its power in hit and run attacks. It can also be used against enemy mobile suits, but it is harder to hit a constantly moving target. Can be stored on the rear waist armor when not in use.

• Double Bazooka

A combination of two 280mm bazookas into a single weapon. However, this is not just a joining of two bazookas, it only has a single grip located on the the left barrel and an additional sight is added to improve shooting performance. It has two magazines located at the bottom, increasing the ammunition. Around ten units were produced and used by Black Tri-Stars among others, but it was not officially adopted.

• ZIM/M·T-K175C 175mm Recoilless Rifle

The main gun of the Magella Attack main battle tank, it is remodeled as an MS artillery weapon. It is mainly used for long distance attacks in ground combat, and can be loaded with HEAT or APFSDS rounds.

• Sturm Faust

A simplified, disposable rocket launcher that is good for a single shot. As the warhead is not equipped with a guidance device, it is extremely hard to use the Sturm Faust to hit a moving target accurately. However, it is still a highly destructive portable weapon.

• MIP-B6 Cracker Grenade

A multi-warhead grenade. After being thrown at the target, the six protrusions on the cracker's body explode in different directions, dealing damage over a wide area. A flash-type variant also exist, which can temporarily paralyze the sensors of enemy MS.

Special Equipment & Features

• Container Backpack

Equipped on the back of Ortega's machine. It is used to store a machine gun and a spare bazooka magazine. It can be discarded with explosive bolts even during combat, and the sides can be mounted with bazookas and heat hawks.

History

The MS-06S Zaku II Commander Type was intended to reflect the design concept of the high mobility R Type - first proposed in U.C. 0076 as development of local warfare mobile suits began - using the production facilities for the MS-06F Zaku II. Because of this, in addition to being a high performance unit, it also served as a technical field trial unit in the enhancement of mobile suit mobility. The development of the S Type was led by Elliot Rem, with testing mostly conducted at testing fields at Granada.^[2] In order to maintain secrecy, the production of the S Type only took place at the Zeon homeland.^[3] Deployment of the S Type took place in the second half of U.C. 0078, mostly to experienced squadron leaders.^[1]

In the early stage of the One Year War, Zeon concealed its existence by passing it off as the F Type.^[3] Between the Battle of Loum and the signing of the Antarctic Treaty, the S Type achieved impressive battle results. The most famous of which was the unit piloted by Char Aznable, which single-handedly shot down five battleships during the Battle of Loum, earning Char the nickname "Red Comet". This unit was said to move at three times the speed of a regular Zaku, demonstrating Char's skill as a pilot.^[1] Roughly 100 S Types were produced in total.^[4] Its success would pave the way for the development of future high performance mobile suits, including the MS-06R and the MS-14 Gelgoog.^[1]

On September 18, U.C. 0079, at Side 7, Char engaged the Earth Federation's prototype mobile suit RX-78-2 Gundam in his MS-06S. Though Char was far more experienced than the Gundam's pilot, the civilian boy Amuro Ray, the Gundam's durability allowed it to survive the encounter. Char continued to pursue the Gundam's mothership, the SCV-70 White Base, engaging the Gundam on numerous occasions, yet failing to destroy it each time.^[5] Char would eventually abandon his MS-06S in favour of a MSM-07S Z'Gok Commander Type during the mission to infiltrate Jaburo.^[6]

Gallery

Lineart

Front view

Char Aznable Custom (MSV colors)

Black Tri-Stars (Gaia) Custom

Johnny Ridden Custom

Gabby Hazard Custom

Robert Gilliam Custom

Color variations (Top: Garma Zabi's Unit, Bottom: Outer Space Camouflage Type)

Container Backpack (Ortega's Unit)

M-120AC Zaku Machine Gun

H&L-SB25K/280mmA-P Zaku Bazooka

Double Bazooka

Large Heat Hawk

Anime

Mobile Suit Gundam

Char's Zaku II Commander Type close-up (Episode 2: Destroy Gundam)

The famous "Red Comet Kick" (Episode 2)

Char's Zaku II Commander Type stopping Gadem's MS-05B Zaku I (Episode 3: Vote to Attack)

Mobile Suit Gundam MS IGLOO: The Hidden One Year War

Char's Zaku II Commander Type appearing before a ship (Episode 1: The Vanishing Serpent of Loum)

Cruising through the warzone (Episode 1)

Aims Sturm Faust (Episode 1)

Rear view (Episode 1)

Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn

Flashback of Char's Zaku II Commander Type with a Zeon fleet (Episode 7: Over the Rainbow)

Manga

Black Tri-Stars' Zaku II Commander Types in Gundam Legacy

Black Tri-Stars' Zaku II Commander Types in MSV-R: Rainbow's Shin Matsunaga

Illustration & Artwork

Zaku II Commander Type (Gaia Custom) illustration by Kunio Okawara

Artwork for MG Char's Zaku II Commander Type (Ver. 2.0) by Naochika Morishita

Artwork of Char's Zaku II Commander Type in Gundam Perfect File

In Mobile Suit Bible

Char's Zaku II Commander Type artwork by Naochika Morishita

Artwork of Red Comet Kick

Game

In cutscene of Mobile Suit Gundam: Journey to Jaburo (1)

In cutscene of Journey to Jaburo (2)

In cutscene of Journey to Jaburo (3)

In cutscene of Journey to Jaburo (4)

Character Select Portrait in Gundam Battle Assault

Winning pose in Gundam Battle Assault

Char's Zaku II Commander Type (Dynasty Warriors Gundam 3)

Zaku II Commander Type (Battle Operation 2)

Char's Zaku II Commander Type in Gundam Online

Gunpla

1/250 Iropla MS-06S Char's Zaku (1983): box art

Original 1/144 Char's Zaku (1980): box art

FG 1/144 MS-06S Zaku II (Char Aznable custom) (1999): Box art

HGUC 1/144 MS-06S Zaku II (Char Aznable custom) (2002): Box art

HGUC 1/144 MS-06S Char's Zaku II (2020): Box art

HGUC 1/144 Zaku II EneKey Ver. (Enekey exclusive; 2020): Box art

HGUC 1/144 Char's Zaku II [Metallic] (The Gundam Base Tokyo exclusive; 2021): Box art

RG 1/144 MS-06S Zaku II Char Aznable Custom (2010): Box art

RG 1/144 MS-06S Zaku II Char Aznable Custom, front lineart

RG 1/144 MS-06S Zaku II Char Aznable Custom, details lineart

RG 1/144 MS-06S Zaku II (Char Aznable Custom) Ver. GFT (Gundam Front Tokyo exclusive; 2013): box art

RG 1/144 MS-06S "Char's Zaku II" Ver. Gundam Docks at Singapore (2015): box art

Original 1/100 Char's Zaku (1981): box art

MG 1/100 MS-06S Zaku II Commander Type (Char Aznable Custom) (1995): box art

MG 1/100 MS-06S Zaku II Commander Type (Char Aznable Custom) (Ver. 2.0; 2007): box art

1/100 MG "MS-06S Zaku II Ver. 2.0 (Char Aznable Custom; Real Type Color)" (P-Bandai exclusive; 2012): box art

MG 1/100 "MS-06S Zaku II Ver. 2.0 (Black Tri-Stars Custom)" (P-Bandai exclusive; 2012): box art

MG 1/100 "MS-06S Zaku II J.Ridden's Custom" (P-Bandai exclusive; 2013): box art

MG 1/100 "MS-06S Zaku II Ver. 2.0 (Mechanical Clear Ver.)" (The Art of Gundam Exhibit exclusive; 2015): box art

MG 1/100 "MS-06S Zaku II (Char Aznable Custom) Ver.2.0 [Solid Clear/Standard]" (Banpresto exclusive; 2019): box art

Machanic Model 1/72 Char's Zaku (1981): box art

Original 1/60 Char's Zaku (1980): box art

PG 1/60 MS-06S Zaku II (Char Aznable Custom) (1999): box art

PG 1/60 MS-06S Char's Zaku II [Mastermind Japan Ver.] (STRICT-G Diver City Tokyo exclusive; 2018): box art

Mega Size Model 1/48 MS-06S Char's Zaku II (2010): box art

Mega Size Model 1/48 MS-06S Char's Zaku II (Ver. GFT) (2012): box art

SDBB MS-06S Char's Zaku II (2002): box art

SDCS MS-06S Char's Zaku II (2020): box art

SDCS MS-06S Char's Zaku II (Cross Silhouette Frame Ver.) [Clear Color] (The Gundam Base Tokyo exclusive; 2020): box art

SDCS RX-78-2 Gundam & MS-06S Char's Zaku II (2020): box art

1/144 MS-06S Char's Zaku

Limited edition HGUC 7-Eleven MS-06S Zaku II

Action Figures

Mobile Suit in Action (MSiA / MIA) "MS-06S Char's Zaku II" (Asian release; 1999): package front view

MSiA / MIA "MS-06F Zaku II" (Asian limited "Tetsu Toys" edition; 2000): package front view

MSiA / MIA "MS-06S Char's Zaku II" (North American release; 2001): package front view

MSiA / MIA "MS-06S Char's Zaku II (Second Version)" (Asian original; 2002): package front view

MSiA / MIA "MS-06S Char's Zaku II (Second Version)" (Asian re-issue with MS data card; 2004): package front view

Extended Mobile Suit in Action (ExMSiA / EMIA) "MS-06S Char's Zaku II" (2005): package front view

ExMSiA / EMIA "MS-06S Char's Zaku II" (2005): package rear view.

Robot Damashii "MS-06S Zaku II Char's Custom Model Ver. A.N.I.M.E." (2016): package front view

Robot Damashii "Tamashii Stage Ver. A.N.I.M.E. [Earth Federation Blue Color & Principality of Zeon Red Color]" figure stage sets (Tamashii Web "Earth Federation vs. Principality of Zeon" Campaign exclusive; 2017): product sample with Gundam (Ver. A.N.I.M.E.) pairs with Federation's blue stage (left) and Char's Zaku II (Ver. A.N.I.M.E.) pairs with Zeon's red stage (right)

Kado Senshi "MS-06S Char's Zaku" (1999): box art

Gundam Infinity MS-06S Char's Zaku II: Package front view

Gashapon

Real Type color

Real Type color

Notes & Trivia

• The artwork of Zaku II Commander Type in standard colors, seen in multiple reference books, was likely a recolor of Char's Zaku created long after the original series ended. Notably, it featured black power pipes, like those seen on the MS-06F-2 Zaku II F2 Type.
• In the original series, there was no visual difference between the standard Zaku and the commander type aside from the color and horn. However, the Master Grade and Perfect Grade model kits depicted the commander type as having larger thrusters and attitude control verniers.
• In Dynasty Warriors Gundam 3, the S-Type has a special ability called Triple Speed which enhances the speed of the Zaku II, interestingly, it is only activated if Char Aznable is chosen as the pilot, a reference to his ability to push the Mobile Suit to its maximum capabilities.
• In Dynasty Warriors Gundam 2 and 3, Lunamaria Hawke defaults to this Zaku due to the fact that neither her Gunner ZAKU nor the Impulse Gundam were brought into the game.

References

Information on Black Tri-Stars' MS-06S Zaku II from MSV-R

Profile of Black Tri-Stars' MS-06S Zaku II from MSV-R

Backpack and weapons of Black Tri-Stars' MS-06S Zaku II from MSV-R

Information on Robert Gilliam's MS-06S Zaku II

Information on Gabby Hazard's MS-06S Zaku II

External links