| MS-06D Desert Zaku Tropical/Desert Combat Zeon Duchy Mobile Suit |
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General and Technical Data |
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Model number: MS-06D Code name: Desert Zaku Unit type: arid environment-use mobile suit Operator: Zeon Duchy Dimensions: overall height 19.6 meters; head height 18.5 meters Weight: empty weight 61.3 metric tons; max gross 79.4 metric tons Construction: High Tensile Steel Powerplant: Minovsky type ultracompact fusion reactor, output rated at 976 kW Propulsion: rocket thrusters, 42900 kg total; additional jet ski thrusters: 2 x 3800 kg Performance: maximum thruster acceleration 0.54 G, .65 G with jet skis; maximum ground running speed 80 km/h Equipment and design features: sensors, range 8800 meters; 2 x optional jet ski, fits on feet, provides high-speed mobility over smooth terrain Fixed armaments: 2 x 40mm vulcan gun, mounted in head Optional fixed armaments: 2 x 3-tube missile pod, mounted on legs Optional hand armaments: 120mm machinegun, drum-fed, 100 rounds per drum; 280mm Zaku bazooka, 4 round magazine; heat hawk; 3x grenade Magnetic Storage Racks: 5, primary rack on backpack, one secondary rack on either hip. 2 ammunition racks on front hips. Legs can additionally mount 3-tube missile launchers or panzer fausts. |
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| Technical and Historical Notes | |
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After sucessfully throwing the Federation out of most of Africa, the Middle East, and southern Italy, Zeon mobile suit corps began experiencing their own problems on account of the poor arid conditions. Sand from blowing wind could easily immobilize an entire MS corps simply by clogging the joints of all its units. Furthermore, rampant cooling and overheating problems almost immediately sprung up, as the venerable MS-06J Zaku II was not intended for operation in extreme climates. Something would have to be done to achieve full efficiency.
Engineers at California Base successfully adapted an MS-06 Zaku II into a highly-successful variant, the MS-06D Desert Zaku. The Desert Zaku is fundamentally different from the stock model in a number of key ways. In addition to extensive sand filters to protect joins and reactor intake, its armor and physical appearance have been radically altered to give it the most optimal heat dispersion possible. The Desert Zaku's backpack has been replaced with a giant radiator to keep the mobile suit's internal heat under control. Additional thrusters have been installed in the mobile suit's legs to make up for those lost in the deletion of the backpack. The Desert Zaku's boost ability is actually somewhat higher than the stock Zaku II, presumably to assist it in getting out of inevitable hazardous terrain (running sand can easily innundate a mobile suit). A much larger antenna has also been provided, bolstering its communication ability even during a sandstorm.
The Desert Zaku is armed with a pair of 40mm vulcan guns in its head. It equips the same standard-issue Zaku weaponry as other models. As it is designed for high mobility even the worst environments, the Desert Zaku can also be equipped with a pair of jet skis that latch onto the bottom of its feet, allowing it to travel at high speed and with great mobility. They are only effective when used on smooth terrain (e.g. rolling sands of a desert), however. They can be promptly ejected if they become a hinderance in combat.
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RPG quick stats sheet | Weapons and Features | |
 
Zaku II Cockpit |
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