Technology & Combat Characteristics
Developed by the Principality of Zeon at the A Baoa Qu space fortress during the One Year War, the Zeong was built exclusively for Newtype pilots. It initially had the model number "MS-16X" and was developed based on the data of multiple experimental units. The Zeong, like its predecessors, was equipped with the Psycommu system, which allowed a Newtype pilot to utilize its wire-guided remote-controlled forearms for all-range attack effectively. Each forearm was built with five mega particle cannons in its fingers. The Zeong also has three more mega particle cannons on its body, two in the waist and one in the head. A third account, given by Crossbone Vanguard pilot Umon Samon, claims its large size was due to Zeon engineers mistaking the B Gundam for a large RX-78-2 Gundam. In the end, this mobile suit was only 80% complete when it was deployed, thus its lack of legs and exposed biceps. Although the legs would aid in the AMBAC System, their omission did not hinder the Zeong from performing at 100% combat capacity, since two rocket thrusters were installed at where the legs were supposed to be.
Although the Zeong was developed for Newtypes, it could also be operated by normal pilots. In this situation, the mobile suit would be controlled by a pilot in the torso cockpit and a gunner in the head cockpit. The two cockpits were connected by a traversal tube. In contrast, a single Newtype pilot could fully operate the Zeong from either one of the cockpits, though due to the mobile suit's prototype nature, its activation and initialization could only be done in the torso cockpit. In order to ensure the recovery of its data and pilot, especially if the pilot was a Newtype, the head also doubled as an escape pod and could detach from the main body when necessary.
History
Developed to be the ultimate mobile suit, the Zeong was given the same name as the Principality of Zeon itself in order to boost morale. During the Battle of A Baoa Qu, Char Aznable boarded the still incomplete Zeong at the suggestion of Kycilia Zabi, since his MS-14S Gelgoog Commander Type was damaged and all the other Gelgoogs at the fortress had already been deployed. Under Kycilia's order, the Zeong sortied with the 34th Mobile Suit Team to engage the Federation fleet in S field.
After sinking several Salamis-class cruisers, the Zeong engaged in a fierce battle with the RX-78-2 Gundam piloted by Amuro Ray. After a prolonged fight, the Gundam was able to destroy both of the Zeong's arms, while the Zeong was able to destroy the Gundam's left arm. With his main weapons gone, Char landed the Zeong on the fortress itself, and attempted to ambush the Gundam with its waist mega particle cannons. However, the Gundam dodged the beams and destroyed the Zeong's torso, only for Char to escape in the Zeong's head. The Zeong's head then fired its mega particle cannon at the Gundam, destroying its head.
After the Zeong's torso was destroyed, its IFF signal was lost, causing Kycilia to believe that Char had died in battle. Amuro, piloting the now headless Gundam, chased the Zeong's head into A Baoa Qu. He set the Gundam to autopilot and left it. The heavily damaged Gundam and the Zeong's head fired one last beam at each other, destroying one another. However, Char was able to escape just in time from a hatch on the back of the Zeong's head.