MS Classics: The Earth Invasion The destruction of the Earth Federation's space fleet, and the abolition of tactics of mass destruction by the Antarctic Treaty, forced the Duchy of Zeon to adopt a new strategy. Taking advantage of the Federal Forces' confusion, in March of UC 0079 Zeon launched a massive Earth invasion, capturing much of Earth's land and its valuable resources. New mobile suits were created for terrestrial combat. Illustrations by Mark Simmons			Mobile Suit Classics The Early Years Outbreak of War The Earth Invasion The Ace's Zaku The Terrestrial Front Operation V The Jet Set

Mobile Suit Classics 14 MS-06J ZAKU II CAMOUFLAGE COLORS Though externally identical to the C- and F-type Zaku II, the J type was a specialized land combat version. Omitting all space-specific systems, the J type was lighter and more agile than its spacegoing kin, and soon became the backbone of Zeon's Earth Attack Force. Popular options included leg-mounted missile pods, a handheld version of the Magella Attack tank's 175mm cannon, and a variety of camouflage paint schemes. This camouflage color scheme, designed by Kunio Okawara, was originally published in Kodansha's Mobile Suit Gundam Anime Graph Book.

Mobile Suit Classics 15 YMS-07A PROTOTYPE GOUF Even as Zeon began its Earth invasion, dispatching Zakus by the hundred to capture the Federation's strategic bases and resources, its engineers were working on a new ground combat mobile suit to succeed the MS-06J Zaku II. This was the YMS-07A, a lighter and more powerful version of the Zaku. The subsequent YMS-07B revision added supplemental leg thrusters, making jet-assisted jumps possible. During the prototype stage, the Gouf's designers decided they'd trimmed enough weight and space to allow the luxury of installing built-in weapons. However, due to parts shortages, the first limited production run of the Gouf omitted these extras.

Mobile Suit Classics 16 MS-07H GOUF FLIGHT TEST TYPE Zeon's Earth invasion demonstrated one critical shortcoming of the mobile suit: While highly mobile in space, on the ground it could only plod along on foot. In response, Zeon's engineers launched an ambitious project to create a flight-capable mobile suit. Four Prototype Goufs were modified to create the Gouf Flight Test Type units, equipped with powerful leg-mounted thermonuclear jet engines. All four test units were transferred to the California Base - an Earth Federal Forces stronghold captured during the Earth invasion - and subsequently to an air force base in Arizona for an extensive program of flight testing.

Mobile Suit Classics 17 MS-07H-4 GOUF FLIGHT TEST TYPE Zeon's effort to create a mobile suit capable of sustained flight proceeded more slowly than anticipated. The planned two-week testing period stretched into four weeks, and the Gouf Flight Test Type underwent three design revisions. The last iteration was the MS-07H-4, whose legs housed a new type of high-performance jet engine. On its tenth day of testing, the lone H-4 test unit exploded in mid-air due to engine problems. Test pilot Frank Werner was killed, and the project abandoned. This "dazzle camouflage" is the original color scheme for the MS-07H-4, as published in older Mobile Suit Variation books.

Mobile Suit Classics 18 MS-06M ZAKU MARINE TYPE Zeon's mobile suit designers also attempted to adapt the Zaku II for the waters that cover 70 percent of Earth's surface. This M-type Zaku was equipped with waterproof seals, a hydrojet engine, and supplemental thrusters on its arms and legs. The five prototypes were tested off the eastern seaboard of North America by the "Sea Serpent" submarine squadron. The waterproofing proved technically difficult, however, and testing showed that the Zaku's un-streamlined silhouette limited its manueverability. Development was canceled, and work began on new amphibious mobile suits.

Mobile Suit Classics 19 MSM-01 ZAKU MARINE TYPE RED DOLPHIN COLORS Though development of the MS-06M Zaku Marine Type had been abandoned in favor of new amphibious mobile suits, the existing prototypes proved useful as research testbeds for these new models. The mobile suit was given the new model number MSM-01, and two additional units were produced for data-gathering purposes. The seven test units were assigned to to the Red Dolphin, Sea Serpent, Green Siren, Naga III and Mandalay submarine squadrons. All were eventually sent into combat, and all but two or three were ultimately lost in battle. The colors shown here are those of the South Pacific's Red Dolphin squadron.

Mobile Suit Gundam, Z Gundam, Gundam ZZ, Char's Counterattack, Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket, Gundam F91, Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory, Gundam 0083: Last Blitz of Zeon, Gundam: The 08th MS Team, and Gundam W: Endless Waltz are copyright Sotsu Agency and Sunrise. V Gundam, G Gundam, Gundam W, and Gundam X are copyright Sotsu Agency, Sunrise and TV Asahi. Turn A Gundam is copyright Sotsu Agency, Sunrise and Fuji TV.