Macross Zero

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Macross Zero (2002-04).

Macross Zero (マクロス ゼロ Makurosu Zero) is an anime prequel OVA to The Super Dimension Fortress Macross (1982) - a classic and famous mecha series notable because it was actually used in the west as the first part of the American Robotech TV anime from 1985. Macross Zero was released for the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Macross franchise during 2002 in Japan. It was created and directed by Shoji Kawamori (original creator of Macross) and produced by Satelight. The Macross series is known for combining real life military weaponry and fictional mecha (giant robot) weaponry.

Macross Zero is set in an alternate history 2008 A.D., one year before the events of the original Macross TV series, depicting the final battles of the "U.N. Wars" between the U.N. Spacy (a fictional global armed organization derived from the UN) and the Anti-UN forces (an anti unification militia opposed to the UN worldwide goverment), and is also set in the South Pacific, where a gigantic alien spaceship crash landed 9 years earlier (the 1999 event that prompted the creation of a UN derived united world government).

Amidst the violence, a U.N. Spacy F-14 KAI pilot named Shin Kudo is attacked by a strange enemy aircraft that can transform itself into a robot (a variable fighter mecha, also called veritech in the Robotech adaptation). Crash landing on Mayan Island Shin learns that this remote island and its peaceful native inhabitants hold a great secret linking them to the alien space ship and would become the focus of the war, whether they like it or not. Shin eventually returns to his carrier fleet and joins Roy Fokker's 'Skull Squadron', who also operate brand new transforming fighters, the U.N. Spacy VF-0 Phoenix. He trains and engages Anti-UN forces operating from a converted ballistic missile submarine as both sides fight to locate and control alien artifacts, with the peaceful and agrarian Mayan caught in the middle of the war.

The following weapons were used in the OVA Macross Zero:

Assault Rifles

AK composite rifle

Anti-UN fighters use rifles that are a mix of various AK variants as their main weapon, first seen in "Jungle". While they have the characteristics of an AKS-74U (or an AKMSU), their barrels appear to be based from the AK-47.

AKS-74U - 5.45x39mm.

Final Production version of the Type III AK-47 with cleaning rod removed and laminated stock - 7.62x39mm.

Anti-UN fighters fire their AK rifles at a retreating Shin and Sara.

Anti-UN fighter fires his AK rifle. Note the straight magazine. The greenish rock with a spiral marking floating above Nora is a fragment of the rock "birdman", a floating alien artifact destroyed by the anti-UN militia.

AK-74

AK-74s are used by anti-UN fighters in "The Stars on the Earth" when Shin's family is assassinated.

AK-74 - 5.45x39mm.

A flashback of Shin seeing his family assassinated by anti-UN fighters.

AK-102

Anti-UN soldiers inside the Auerstädt use the AK-102 as their main assault rifle in "Birdman".

AK-102 carbine - 5.56x45mm.

Anti-UN soldiers aim their AK-102s at Mayan priestess Sara Nome and U.N. Spacy scientist Aries Turner. The missile-like machines in the background are actually several Sukhoi/Israel-Aircraft-Industries/Dornier SV-51 Alpha Anti-UN variable fighter mecha in fighter mode ready for launch.

An anti-UN soldier aims his AK-102 at Sara. Behind her is the captured 'Birdhuman' alien artifact (code named AFOS - Artifact from Outer Space).

A good closeup of the AK-102.

Colt M16A2

US Army soldiers with Colt M16A2s appear in Shin Kudo's flashback in "The Ocean, The Wind and...".

M16A2 Rifle - 5.56x45mm. Select Fire rifle (Safe/Semi/3 round Burst Only).

In Shin's flashback, US Army soldiers in desert BDUs are armed with M16A2s.

A US Army soldier in NBC clothing at the left is armed with a M16A2 while in a trench.

GIAT FAMAS G2

UN Marines are armed with GIAT FAMAS G2s as their main assault rifle. The creators of Macross Zero probably chose this design since the FAMAS F1 was the UN Spacy main assault rifle in the first Macross (Robotech) series from 1982.

FAMAS-G2 with proprietary bipod deployed - 5.56x45mm Note 30-round STANAG magazine.

A UN Marine secures the landing zone.

UN Marines (with Dr. Aries Turner) confronted by Sarah Nome and some of the villagers.

Katie arms herself with the FAMAS G2 after the Mayan Island natives are evacuated to the Asuka II.

IMI CTAR-21

U.N. Spacy pilots Shin and Edgar are armed with IMI CTAR-21s as their main assault rifle, first seen in "The Stars on the Earth". This lightweight and somewhat shorter rifle is probably the standard survival weapon for mecha and fighter pilots of the UN forces, unlike the UN marines who employ the FAMAS.

IMI Tavor CTAR-21 with ITL MARS red dot sight - 5.56x45mm

Shin sleeping in a makeshift hammock, cradling his CTAR-21. You can see the ITL MARS sight mounted on the upper receiver. He rests under his parked two-seat variant VF-0D fighter mecha while in 'GERWALK' mode.

Edgar fast asleep next to his CTAR-21. He is also resting near the leg unit of the VF-0D fighter mecha.

Edgar's first person view while wielding the CTAR-21 to confront "intruders".

Shin acting like a goof while "riding" his CTAR-21 (with its buttstock extended out). The rocks with spiral markings lying in the pond are actually alien artifacts able to react to some sound frequencies.

Sniper Rifles

Barrett M82A1

A Barrett M82A1 is used by an anti-UN fighter in "Jungle". Ruthless anti-UN variable fighter mecha ace pilot Nora Polyansky also uses it to shoot down a rock 'Birdman' (a floating alien artifact) in the same episode, having a AN/PVS-4 night vision scope.

Barrett M82A1 - .50 BMG.

An Anti-UN fighter on the right fires a M82A1 at the rock 'Birdman'.

Nora after peering through the AN/PVS-4 scope mounted on the upper receiver of her M82A1.

Machine Guns

Browning M2HB

A Browning M2HB is seen used by UN Army Abrams MBTs in a flashback when Shin Kudo narrates about how the UN Wars started in "The Ocean, The Wind and...".

Browning M2HB on vehicle mount - .50 BMG.

A column of UN Army Abrams on the move to engage enemy forces.

Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-30-1

The Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-30-1 is first seen with anti-UN Air Force MiG-29 fighters as its main machine gun.

Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-30-1 with ammo belt - 30x165mm.

An anti-UN MiG-29 engages a UN Air Force F-14A Kai before being engaged by Shin's F-14A Kai.

An anti-UN MiG-29 in a dogfight.

M61 Vulcan

M61 Vulcans are used by UN Air Force F-14A Kai fighters as its main machine gun. They are also inside Phalanxes, serving as machine guns for the UN Navy's Asuka II and Arleigh Burke class destroyers.

The F-14A Kai fighters are in-universe F-14 fighters upgraded with advanced and sophisticated avionics derived from research on the crashed gigantic alien space craft that arrived on Earth in 1999. This extraterrestrial technology is called Overtechnology in the original Macross (and Robotechnology in its Robotech American adaptation).

GE M61 Vulcan Cannon - 20mm.

GE M61 Vulcan 20mm Cannon in a Phalanx mounting.

Shin's F-14A Kai about to launch from the UN Navy's Asuka II.

UN Navy Arleigh Burke class destroyers in formation.

UN Air Force F-14A Kais in formation.

M197 Vulcan

In a flashback in in "The Ocean, The Wind and...", a giant widescreen in Japan shows a news report with a Bell AH-1 SuperCobra armed with a M197 Vulcan.

General Dynamics M197 Vulcan - 20mm.

Bystanders watch a news report on a giant widescreen. The screen shows a SuperCobra in the background.

M240

The M240 machine gun is used by UN Army Abrams MBTs as secondary weapons in "The Ocean, The Wind and...". They consist of a M240C mounted coaxially next to the main gun and an M240D mounted at the Loader's hatch fitted with a gun shield. It's also seen in a flashback in the hands of a US Army soldier.

M240C machine gun - 7.62x51mm NATO.

M240D machine gun - 7.62x51mm NATO.

A column of UN Army Abrams on the move to engage enemy forces.

M249

An M249 SAW is seen in a flashback in the hands of a US Army soldier in in "The Ocean, The Wind and...".

M249-E1 SAW (Squad Automatic Weapon) with 200-round ammo drum - First major upgrade of the SAW officially adopted by the U.S. Military (this is a real blank adapted movie gun) - 5.56x45mm

A US Army soldier in NBC clothing at the right is armed with a M249 while in a trench.

Rocket Launchers

Mk 153 SMAW

Several Mk 153 SMAWs are used by UN Marines to defend Mayan Island in "Blue and Desperate Battle" against Anti-UN enemy mecha.

Mk 153 Mod 0 SMAW - 83mm.

UN Marines fire a volley of 83mm rockets at the sea.

A UN Marine reloads Katie's SMAW.

Landmines

Unknown

Roy uncovers the said mine after Aries trip it by mistake.

Trivia

The cover features the Northrop-Grumman/Stonewell/Shinsei VF-0S Phoenix variable fighter mecha in Roy Fokker 'Jolly Roger' colors. The transforming aircraft is armed with a double barreled 'Mauler' laser cannon (mounted on the head turret that is placed in the belly of the mecha in fighter mode) and a 'Howard' GPU-9 three-barrel 35mm gatling gun pod featuring adjustable rate-of-fire for 60/1, 250/2, 500 rounds-per-minute, driven by a 90-horsepower electric motor, muzzle velocity 1,100 m/s (550 rounds total, capable of utilizing heavy armor-piercing or AHEAD ammunition).