Technology & Combat Characteristics
• MS-05A Zaku I Early Type
• MS-05B Zaku I
• MS-05B Zaku I Land Warfare Type
• MS-05S Zaku I Commander Type
• MS-05Q Zaku I
• MS-05L Zaku I Sniper Type
History
Developed by Zeonic, the MS-05 Zaku I (then simply named "Zaku") was the first practical mobile suit and the first mobile suit designed for actual combat. Its first variant, which would later be known as the MS-05A Zaku I Early Type, was completed in February, U.C. 0074. In May of the same year, the actual combat mass prodution type, the MS-05B Zaku I, rolled out. In U.C. 0075, the YMS-05A Zaku I competed with Zimmad's EMS-04 Zudah to decide which would be adopted by the Principality of Zeon military. During the competition, the Zudah demonstrated overwhelmingly superior performance. However, during the flight test, the EMS-04 disintegrated, causing the Zaku I to be adopted.
As production of the MS-06 Zaku II ramped up, the 05 series was relegated to second line duties, such as escorting transportation and supply fleets or garrison duty. However, in October, U.C. 0078, due to the difference in tactics between Dozle Zabi and Kycilia Zabi, including differences in opinion regarding how best to use mobile suits, Gihren Zabi decided to split the Principality of Zeon military into the Space Attack Force and the Mobile Assault Force to prevent any further conflicts. This caused the demand for mobile suits to double, allowing many MS-05 to once again see frontline duties.
Near the end of the war, as the war situation deteriorated for Zeon, they were forced to scramble all available mobile suits, including the Zaku I. During the Battle of A Baoa Qu, the Zaku I fought alongside the MS-14A Gelgoog, Zeon's latest mobile suit.