ZM-S08G Zolo

Model number: ZM-S08G
Code name: Zolo
Unit type: mass production ground combat general purpose transformable mobile suit
Manufacturer: BESPA (Zanscare Empire)
Operator: BESPA (Zanscare Empire)
First deployment: UC 0153
Accommodation: pilot only, in standard/canopy-style cockpit in torso/Top Terminal
Dimensions: mobile suit mode: head height 14.8 meters
Weight: empty 8.9 metric tons; max gross 21.2 metric tons
Armor materials: titanium alloy neo ceramic composite
Powerplant: Minovsky type ultracompact fusion reactor, output rated at 5,120 kW
Propulsion: rocket thrusters: 39,040 kg total (2 x 11,890 kg, 2 x 7,630 kg); beam rotor/shield, provides helicopter-style atmospheric flight and hovering ability, operable in mobile suit and helicopter modes (see also description under “Fixed Armaments”); vernier thrusters/apogee motors: 30
Equipment and design features: sensors, range unknown; 3 x hardpoint, used to mount beam rotor, 1 located on each forearm, 1 located on backpack; transformation/docking system, mobile suit can separate into separate Top Terminal and Bottom Terminal aircraft; unmanned Bottom Terminal operated by onboard computer auto-pilot system or by pilot in Top Terminal via wireless remote control
Fixed armaments: beam rotor/shield, mounted on either forearm hardpoint in mobile suit mode and on backpack hardpoint in helicopter mode; 2 x beam saber, recharge rack/storage location unknown, hand-carried in use; vulcan gun, mounted in nose of Top Terminal, operable only on separated Top Terminal
Optional hand armaments: beam rifle, powered by replaceable e-pac; beam bazooka; multi-bazooka; Gatling gun

A ground use variant of BESPA’s ZM-S06S Zoloat, the ZM-S08G Zolo was built as a transforming mobile suit capable of splitting up into two separate components for aerial combat. These two components were called Top Terminal and Bottom Terminal, with the Top Terminal acting as a manned attack helicopter and the bottom terminal carrying additional weapons and operating as a remote-controlled strafing/bombing unit. The Zolo was also the first mobile suit to use a beam rotor, a device which not only created spinning beam blades that created lift and a control surface similar to a helicopter’s rotor, but also doubled as a beam shield. Despite the theoretical advantages of this system, the Zolo proved to be ineffective in mobile suit combat, and all of the produced units were later phased out of service.

Pilot(s): Cronicle Asher, Garry Tunn, Liole Sabat, Chris Lloyd, Nick, Wattary Gilla, Gettle Dupre, Uso Ewin, Karbin, Bacoo, Trump, Lee, Ray, Kazu
First appearance: Mobile Suit Victory Gundam
Original mechanical designer: Kunio Okawara

Beam bazooka

Beam rifle

Gatling gun

Multi-bazooka

Rear view (Mobile suit)

Rear view (Top Terminal)

Rear view (Bottom Terminal)