MA-08 Big-Zam

Model number: MA-08
Code name: Big-Zam
Unit type: prototype anti-warship/anti-fortress mobile armor
Manufacturer: Principality of Zeon
Operator: Principality of Zeon
Rollout: 11 November UC 0079
First deployment: 24 December UC 0079
Accommodation: one commander and two pilots/gunners, in standard cockpit in torso
Dimensions: overall height 59.6 meters
Weight: empty 1,021.2 metric tons; max gross 1,936.0 metric tons
Armor materials: unknown
Powerplant: 4 x Minovsky type ultracompact fusion reactor, output rated at 35,000 kW each
Propulsion: rocket thrusters: 580,000 kg total
Equipment and design features: sensors, range 134,000 meters; 2 x I-field beam-deflecting barrier generator
Fixed armaments: large mega particle gun, mounted in main body; 28 x mega particle cannon, mounted in main body; 6 x anti-air defensive claw launcher, mounted as claws on feet; 2 x 105mm vulcan gun, mounted in main body

One of the biggest and most powerful mobile armor developed by the Principality of Zeon during the One Year War, the prototype MA-08 Big-Zam saw combat during the Battle of Solomon on December 24, UC 0079. Deployed in an act of desperation to hold off the Earth Federation Forces’ advance on the asteroid base, Dozle Zabi personally commanded this giant mobile armor into battle, destroying over 20 enemy mobile suits and nine capital ships. The Big-Zam’s primary armament was its extremely powerful mega particle cannon, capable of wiping out several targets – and even entire battleships – in a single shot. It also mounted 28 mega particle cannons around the circumference of its main body, providing 360 degrees of protection. In addition to a pair of large-caliber vulcan guns and claw missiles in its toes for close defense, the Big-Zam was also the first mobile weapon to be equipped with I-field barrier generators. These generators, a by-product of Minovsky particle physics, created a screen of protection around the Big-Zam that was impervious to all beam weapons fire.

However, the Big-Zam suffered from two major drawbacks: first, the four high-powered generators required to power its weapons and I-field generators created such an enormous amount of heat that it could operate for only 20 minutes until needing to be shut down to cool off; and, as Dozle Zabi fatally learned, the I-field barrier provided no protection against fire from conventional shell-firing weapons, or mobile suits attacking it hand-to-hand, as Amuro Ray engaged the Big-Zam at melee range inside its I-field barrier, destroying the mobile armor with his RX-78-2 Gundam‘s beam saber. A production model version of the Big-Zam was also planned, which would use a Minovsky craft system for flight under gravity, but fortunately for the EFF, the One Year War ended and the production model was never built.

Pilot: Dozle Zabi
First appearance: Mobile Suit Gundam
Original mechanical designer(s): Kunio Okawara (Mobile Suit Gundam version), Yasuo Ohtagaki (Gundam Thunderbolt manga version)

Rear view (Version 1)