MS-06D Desert Zaku

Model number: MS-06D
Code name: Desert Zaku
Unit type: mass production desert combat mobile suit
Manufacturer: Principality of Zeon
Operator(s): Principality of Zeon; African Liberation Front; Zeon remnants
First deployment: UC 0079
Accommodation: pilot only, in panoramic monitor/linear seat cockpit in torso
Dimensions: overall height 19.6 meters; head height 18.5 meters
Weight: empty 44.7 metric tons; max gross 69.5 metric tons
Armor materials: super hard steel alloy
Powerplant: Minovsky type ultracompact fusion reactor, output rated at 1,440 kW
Propulsion: jet thrusters: 8,400 kg total (2 x 4,200 kg); additional jet ski jet thrusters: 7,600 kg total (2 x 3,800 kg)
Equipment and design features: sensors, range 8,800 meters; 2 x external propellant tank, ejectable, mounted on backpack; 2 x optional jet ski, fits on feet, provides high-speed mobility over desert sand
Fixed armaments: 2 x 60mm vulcan gun, mounted in head; shield, mounted on right shoulder
Optional fixed armaments: 3-tube missile pod, mounted on left forearm
Optional hand armaments: 290mm rocket launcher, 8 round magazine; 120mm machine gun, drum-fed; cracker grenade, can be stored in optional 2-slot cracker pod on hip armor; heat hawk, battery powered, can be stored on waist armor storage racks

A modified and improved version of the original MS-06D Zaku Desert Type, the MS-06D Desert Zaku featured better power output, external propellant tanks on its backpack to carry extra thruster fuel, and additional shields and dust filters on its joints to facilitate burying the mobile suit under the sand for ambushes. The Desert Zaku could also be fitted with a pair of jet skis on its feet, making it easy to glide at high speed across the desert sand. Though normally used by Zeon remnants led by Desert Rommel in North Africa in UC 0088, a few Desert Zakus also landed in the hands of the African Liberation Front, with one unit operating as part of their Blue Corps and painted in their distinctive light-blue-on-blue colors. Zeon remnants continued to make use of the Desert Zaku as late as UC 0096 during an attack on Australia’s Torrington Base.

Pilot(s): Niki, Karahan, Elo Melloe
First appearance: Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ
Original mechanical designer(s): Masahiro Oda (principal design, Gundam ZZ version), Mika Akitaka (cleanup, Gundam ZZ version), Hajime Katoki (Gundam Unicorn version)

120mm machine gun (Version 1)

290mm rocket launcher (Version 1)

290mm rocket launcher (Version 2)

3-tube missile pod (Version 2)

Backpack (Version 1)

Cracker grenades (Version 1)

Jet skis (Version 1)

Rear view (Version 1)

Rear view (Version 2)

Shield (Version 2)