MS-06R-1A Zaku II R-1A

Model number: MS-06R-1A
Code name: Zaku II R-1A
Unit type: mass production high mobility space combat mobile suit
Manufacturer: Zeonic Company
Operator: Principality of Zeon
Rollout: June UC 0079
First deployment: July UC 0079
Accommodation: pilot only, in standard cockpit in torso
Dimensions: overall height 18.0 meters; head height 17.5 meters
Weight: empty 61.8 metric tons; max gross 76.8 metric tons
Armor materials: super hard steel alloy
Powerplant: Minovsky type ultracompact fusion reactor, output rated at 1,012 kW
Propulsion: rocket thrusters: 52,000 kg total
Equipment and design features: sensors, range 3,200 meters
Fixed armaments: shield, mounted on right shoulder
Optional hand armaments: 120mm machine gun, drum-fed; Zaku bazooka; heat hawk; Type A2 MS bazooka (Gaia); ASR-78 anti-ship rifle (Mash); giant heat hawk (Ortega)

When the Principality of Zeon military deployed its new MS-06R-1 Zaku II R-1 for field testing during the One Year War, comments and feedback on the test unit’s design came back from pilots on how to improve the mobile suit even more. These ideas were incorporated into another upgrade, the MS-06R-1A. The R-1A type saw minor engine problems corrected, and its additional propellant tanks were replaced with removable fuel cartridges, making the R-1A faster to refuel during battle. A total of 56 new R-1As were produced, with half of the original 22 R-1 units upgraded into R-1A-types. Despite the increased performance and its popular design, however, the R-1A unit was deemed too expensive to produce – and too difficult for green pilots to handle. Production on the R-1A-type was halted, with the produced units becoming desired status symbols among Zeon mobile suit pilots. The R-1A-type was used by many famous Zeon aces, including the Black Tri-Stars team of Gaia, Mash and Ortega, as well as Eric Mansfield of the Home Defense Corps, and Masaya Nakagawa, stationed at the A Baoa Qu asteroid base. The units used by the Black Tri-Stars survived the war and were used by Char Aznable and two other pilots upon his return to the Earth Sphere in early U.C. 0083. Their distinctive color schemes created the momentary impression with EFF pilots that the Black Tri-Stars were still alive.

Pilot(s): Gaia, Mash, Ortega, Shin Matsunaga, Eric Mansfield, Masaya Nakagawa, Robin Bradshaw, Char Aznable, Anavel Gato, Uma Lightning, Fabian Frischknecht, Kamuji
First appearance: MSV
Original mechanical designer(s): Kunio Okawara (MSV version), Hajime Katoki (Gundam: The Origin anime version)

120mm machine gun (Version 1)

ASR-78 anti-ship rifle (Version 3)

Giant heat hawk (Version 3)

Rear view (Version 1)

Rear view (Version 3)

Type A2 MS bazooka (Version 3)

Zaku bazooka (Version 1)