Working backwards from the rollout date, this gives us:The favorable performance of the MSM-03 Gogg and MSM-07 Z'Gok in the battlefield exceeded the expectations of the Principality of Zeon's military leaders. As a result, several amphibious mobile suits whose development was then in progress had their prototype plans frozen or suspended, as top priority was given to the mass production of the existing MSM series.
The MSM-06 Jurick was one of these temporarily suspended machines. Prototype construction was approved five months after the completion of the basic design, and the first and second units rolled out three months after that, in early November of U.C. 0079. Due to its delayed development, it was still in the middle of functional testing when the war ended, and it never entered mass production. But since it had been given a model number, it appears that a decision was imminent to formally adopt it.
U.C. 0079.03: Principality of Zeon completes basic design of MSM-06 Jurick.
U.C. 0079.08: Principality of Zeon approves construction of prototype MSM-06 Jurick.
U.C. 0079.11 (EARLY): Rollout of prototype MSM-06 Jurick.
MSM-03 Gogg: We're told that the Jurick was one of several machines whose "prototype plan" was suspended due to the favorable results obtained from the Gogg and Z'Gok. Based on what we've been told about the activities of the Gogg, this would presumably account for the three-month gap between the approval of prototype construction, and the actual rollout. To repeat the Gogg timeline proposed in this earlier thread:
U.C. 0079.02: Principality of Zeon begins full-scale development of MSM series.
U.C. 0079.05 (LATE): Principality of Zeon begins deployment of pre-production MSM-03.
U.C. 0079.07 (EARLY): Principality of Zeon begins mass production and deployment of MSM-03 Gogg.
Elsewhere on the timeline, we're told that Zeon organizes its first submarine fleet in June of U.C. 0079, and completes their formation the following month. The Battle of Midway, which begins on August 11, is supposedly the first time Zeon's amphibious mobile suits are deployed in full-scale battle. Perhaps this was one example of the "favorable performance" that led to the postponement of the Jurick, but what about the Z'Gok?
MSM-07 Z'Gok: In the catalog from Sunrise's Mobile Suit Museum, there's a photo showing a bunch of Z'Goks waiting to be shipped out from the California Base. The caption reads as follows:
So this puts the first shipment of the Z'Gok at August of U.C. 0079. Presumably these machines were used in the initial attack on Jaburo which took place in September, and that may well represent the combat debut of the Z'Gok. I think all of this meshes quite well with the timeline suggested in the Jurick profile.Z'Gok waiting to be shipped out prior to attack on Jaburo
An MSM-07 Z'Gok, intended for use in an assault on the Federation Forces headquarters at Jaburo, waiting to be shipped out from the factory of the California Base in North America. This picture was taken at the base's 9th Armory, and although the date is uncertain, given the time of the machine's development it's believed to be around August of U.C. 0079. This was probably a snapshot to record the first shipment of this brand-new MS. The production of amphibious MS was a top priority for the factories of this base, which was located very close to Jaburo. The Z'Gok was regarded as the perfect incarnation of the amphibious MS, and it was expected to be an "ace in the hole" for the Jaburo attack. It's reported that the veteran units to which this machine was first assigned received a great morale boost.
Incidentally, the Zeon Military File says that MIP began developing amphibious mobile suits one month after Zimmad started work on the Gogg. So this would give us the following:
U.C. 0079.03: MIP begins development of MSM-07 Z'Gok.
U.C. 0079.08: First shipment of MSM-07 Z'Gok from California Base.
U.C. 0079.09: MSM-07 Z'Gok participates in first attack on Jaburo.
MSM-04 Acguy: The Acguy was supposedly completed before the Z'Gok. According to the Zeon Military File, "combat deployment began on an experimental basis in September, one month after the plan was drafted." That last claim sounds a bit fishy, but the idea that it was experimentally deployed in September puts it neck and neck with the Z'Gok. Perhaps both types were used in the initial assault on Jaburo? In any case, it seems like we can peg the combat introduction of the Acguy and Z'Gok at September of U.C. 0079.
All Others: The notion that Zeon belatedly resumed producing prototypes of the other MSM series machines in November works pretty well with the appearance of the MSM-10 Zock, not to mention the "Agg series" which weren't quite ready in time for the second Jaburo assault. And if the Acguy and Z'Gok participated in the previous attack in September, it makes sense that they'd be the basis for the machines created for the next attempt.
-- Mark