Technology & Combat Characteristics
A descendant of the Zaku series of mobile suits, the Zaku III was designed to be highly versatile, being able to perform just about any mission role and many option parts were developed for it. The Zaku III is a big step up from the venerable MS-06 Zaku II, possessing better armor, over twice the power output, three times the sensor range, and four times the thruster acceleration, not to mention the various new beam weapons it wielded. Its backpack is equipped with integrated propellant tanks and flexible vernier thrusters, improving its cruising range and mobility.
In U.C. 0096, the Neo Zeon remnant group, the Sleeves, used modified Zaku III units. The Zaku III's front skirt armor were reconfigured with two sub-arms, allowing it to quickly deploy and wield both beam sabers at the same time, catching enemies off guard in close-quarters combat. The Sleeves' Zaku III's left shoulder armor is also replaced with one from the Zaku III Custom.
History
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 front-line units: the AMX-011 Zaku III and the AMX-014 Döven Wolf. The intention of the Zaku III's design was that it would be a new descendant of the old Principality of Zeon's venerable (and highly versatile) 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 depending on the mission. Despite its high performance and versatility, however, the Zaku III design lost out to the more powerful Döven Wolf. As a result, the Zaku III saw only limited production.
During the Dublin Colony Drop, one Zaku III was piloted by Rakan Dahkaran, who would use it to battle against the AEUG and shot down Karaba leader Hayato Kobayashi's Dodai Kai, killing him. Another unit was customized into the AMX-011S Zaku III Custom for use by the captain of the Endra and mobile suit pilot Mashymre Cello
The Zaku III units served during the brief civil war that occurred during the end of the First Neo Zeon War, being piloted by Haman Karn loyalists. In U.C. 0096, a number of these mobile suits survived and were used by "The Sleeves" during the Laplace Incident. These mobile suits were modified with new weaponry and given the distinctive markings featured on many of the mobile suits used by The Sleeves. One such unit was seen fighting against a RGM-89D Jegan during the Battle of Industrial 7. After defeating the Jegan, it fired on the Unicorn Gundam, but its attack was evaded. This Zaku III was then destroyed by friendly fire from the YAMS-132 Rozen Zulu. Some Zaku III units were also spotted on Earth in the same year, with one being piloted by the leader of an unknown group of pirates who raided the Zeon remnant's base in New Guinea.