The YMS-06K is a prototype that was developed for anti-air defense, after which the project plans shifted to mobile suit combat leading to the MS-06K Zaku Cannon. The MS-06CK is a suit in which some of the equipment was diverted from the MS-06K. Here, we will present a development flow chart of the local type Zaku II which evolved from the general purpose type Zaku II that was expected to operate on Earth along with the K-type.

DEVELOPMENT CHART OF THE LOCAL TYPE ZAKU II DEVELOPMENT UNDER THE CALIFORNIA BASE INITIATIVE

At the California Base in North America, various local combat mobile suits were developed and manufactured based on the Zaku II in order to respond to the expanding battlelines and broadening of operational areas.

As a suit that first appeared in MSD, the MSV background setting that the “Zaku Cannon’s initial development plan was for air defense” was incorporated into the worldview of The Origin. The portrayal that there was “an experimental unit built with the Zaku Cannon’s characteristic equipment before the development plan switched from air defense to anti-mobile suit combat” is MSD’s own setup. Its appearance is meant to be a design that bridges the Zaku II and the Zaku Cannon.

The “Y” which is a prefix to the model number indicates that it is a prototype. The suits coloring and markings resemble the sand color of the MS-06K. The thighs are angular much like the MS-06K but the lower portion of the legs has the same round shape as a standard Zaku II.

The MS-06K Zaku Cannon as originally depicted in the MSV series. In the Mobile Suit Variations setting, the Zaku Cannon’s initial plan only added an anti-aircraft cannon as an option for the J-type. It is said that the implementation of a full-range mono eye and 180mm cannon came after the suits concept shifted to an anti-mobile suit combat support unit. Lieutenant JG Ian Greydon and Ensign Alfredino Ram are famous pilots of the units.

The Zaku Half Cannon, first released as an MSV-R suit, has been updated for MSD. The coloring of the suit follows the sand color like the MSV-R version but the coloring of this suit is similar only to the mass production type Zaku II and only the torso is darker. Also, since the MSD version establishes the C-type or C-5 type as the base, the model number ends with CK instead of JK.

The MS-06JK Zaku Half Cannon (left) and the MS-06K Zaku Cannon (right) as originally depicted in the MSV-R series. In the MSV-R setting, the only sketch released was the loadout with the gatling gun on the backpack. For the MSD setting, the loadout with the 180mm cannon has also been recreated.

In the sketches above, the parts with different configurations between the MS-06C, the MS-06CK and YMS-06K are shown in green. The difference in appearance between an ordinary Zaku II and a Zaku Half Cannon is limited to the backpacks. While the MS-06K and the YMS-06K give off vastly different impressions, they share main weapons like the 180mm cannon and big gun. In addition, the configuration of the MS-06CK’s chest depends on the Zaku type that acts as the base.

In the Jaburo arc of the Origin’s official sidestory “MSD Cucuruz Doan’s Island,” Kitz’s unit based on the C-6 type as shown on the left appears, in addition to the Zaku Half Cannon, based on the C-type (or J-type) as shown on the right. In the case of being based on the J-type, the model number becomes MS-06JK.

The exterior of the MS-06K has little in common with the C-type and J-type. It can be said that the YMS-06K has almost the same design as the MS-06K in everything except for the arms and lower legs. Note: The MS-06C-C depicted above is the sketch by Kunio Okawara and the MS-06 next to it is the design from the original television series.

The YMS-06K can reproduce the rabbit type characterized by two antenna. It’s well-known equipment of Ian Grayden’s unit. A multi-blade antenna can also be attached to the head part of the MS-06CK to denote a commander unit..

This sketch reproduces the JK-type from MSV-R based on the CK-type from MSD. In the MSV-R version, the MS-06JK and MS-06K backpacks differ slightly in design, both of which are also different from the original MSV version.

In the sketches above, the parts with different configurations between the MS-06C, the MS-06CK and YMS-06K are shown in green.　When equipping the MS-06CK with a gatling gun, the right side big gun is removed from the weapons platform of the backpack and connects a feeding belt instead. The MSD versions of them MS-06CK and YMS-06K share a backpack. It was designed based on the MSV version of the MS-06K.

The MS-06CK is equipped with either a 180mm cannon or gatling gun on the right shoulder of the backpack. The MS-06K’s backpack is integrated with a 180mm cannon with a latch to equip a big gun at the bottom and a dual barrel smoke discharger on the left side.

The big gun is mounted to the backpack with a special strap. The big guns are usually folded backwards.

The backpack is shared with the MS-06CK and it can be installed without modifications.