AMX-011 Zaku III

Model number: AMX-011
Code name: Zaku III
Unit type: mass production general purpose mobile suit
Manufacturer: Neo Zeon
Operator: Neo Zeon
First deployment: UC 0088
Accommodation: pilot in panoramic monitor/linear seat cockpit in torso
Dimensions: overall height 23.9 meters; head height 21.0 meters
Weight: empty 44.2 metric tons; max gross 68.3 metric tons; mass ratio 1.36
Armor materials: Gundarium composite
Powerplant: Minovsky type ultracompact fusion reactor, output rated at 2,150 kW
Propulsion: rocket thrusters: 172,600 kg total (2 x 28,400 kg, 6 x 19,300 kg); vernier thrusters/apogee motors: 12
Equipment and design features: sensors, range 9,700 meters
Fixed armaments: mouth beam gun, power rated at 1.6 MW, mounted in head; 2 x waist beam gun/saber, power rated at 2.8 MW, hand-carried in beam saber mode, stored in recharge racks in front skirt armor plates and hand-operated in beam gun mode; option rack shield, mounted on right shoulder, can store additional weapons
Optional hand armaments: beam rifle; beam machine gun; bazooka

As the First Neo Zeon War raged on, the Neo Zeon military continued its development of new and more powerful mobile suits. Two competing designs were produced as potential new mass production frontline units: the AMX-011 Zaku III and the AMX-014 Doven Wolf. The intention of the Zaku III’s design was to be a new descendant of the old Principality of Zeon’s venerable (and highly versatile) MS-05 Zaku I and MS-06 Zaku II lines. The Zaku III featured a modular construction design, enabling armor, the backpack, and other components to be changed out and customized pursuant to the current mission role. Despite its high performance and versatility, however, the Zaku III design lost out to the more contemporary Doven Wolf. As a result, the Zaku III saw only limited production, with a handful of prototypes often operated by high ranking officers or ace pilots. Some units survived the war and were used by the “Sleeves” faction of Neo Zeon remnants in UC 0096.

Pilot: Rakan Dahkaran
First appearance: Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ
Original mechanical designer(s): Masahiro Oda (principal design, Gundam ZZ version), Mika Akitaka (cleanup, Gundam ZZ version)

Beam gun/saber (Version 1)

Beam machine gun

Beam rifle

Rear view (Version 1)

Rear view (Version 2)