Technology & Combat Characteristics

During the One Year War, the battlefield shifted from space to Earth after the signing of the Antarctic Treaty. Because of Earth's many different terrains and environments, the Principality of Zeon had to adjust their mass production MS-06J Zaku II Ground Type model to be more suitable in the varying climates.

Developed in the captured Earth Federation California Base, the MS-06D Zaku Desert Type, also known as the Zaku D-Type, was designed for Earth's desert and tropical regions. Early test units used a double antennae, but when Zeon finalized the mobile suit for mass production, they reduced it to a single antenna. They also repainted the unit to a more sand-like color. The Zaku Desert Type featured several new features for its adaptation to the new climates. The biggest change was the replacement of the Zaku II's standard thruster jetpack with a heat-dissipating radiator backpack. The D-Type was thus fitted with jet thrusters in the legs and skirt armor so that it had a small boost in mobility.

History

114 MS-06D Zaku Desert Types were produced in total, with 43 double antennas types and 71 single antenna types. It was well suited for its environment and operated very effectively. The Zaku Desert Type was the main MS operated by Zeon's Earth forces in North Africa and the Middle East for many months until it was replaced by the MS-09F/trop Dom Tropen.