MS-05B Zaku I

The MS-05B Zaku I is a mobile suit line from the Universal Century time-line. By the outbreak of the One Year War the MS-05 Zaku was five years old and largely considered obsolete. The Mobile suit was developed as the first combat-use mass-production mobile suit, but it was soon superseded by the MS-06C Zaku II. After that it was phased out and mainly consigned to auxiliary duties such as training, construction and supply duties. The Zaku I, however, has an infamous history as it was used by the Zeon Marines in gassing of colony populations and preparing these colonies for their drops on Earth.

It wasn't until the closing months of the One Year War that the Zaku I's finally saw front-line action and had a chance for some real glory. After Zeon's crushing defeat during Operation Odessa, Zaku I's reinforced their faltering main forces and saw some of the bitterest action of the entire war; fighting desperate rear guard and holding actions, often against the now superior Federation Mobile forces. The old war-horse also fought in the very last major actions of the war alongside advanced mobile suits such as MS-14 Gelgoog units during Zeon's last stand at the Space Fortress A Baoa Qu.