Zoids Index
| CP-21 Liger Zero Panzer Technical Data ライガーゼロパンツァー | |
|---|---|
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| Name Note: | Panzer: Tank (German) |
| Alignment: | Helic Republic |
| Rollout: | ZAC 2101 |
| Type: | Lion |
| Length: | 23.3 m |
| Height: | 9.7 m |
| Weight: | 145 T |
| Max Speed: | 285 km/h |
| Equipment Information | |
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| Weapons: | Equipment: |
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AZ 2-Shot Micro-homing Missile Pod x2 (Lower Back)
AZ 2-Shot Missile Pod x2 (Front of Front Legs) AZ 2-Shot Missile Pod x2 (Cheeks) AZ 3-Shot Grenade Launcher (Chest) AZ 3-Shot Micro-homing Missile Pod x2 (Tops of Rear Legs) AZ 6-Shot Micro-homing Missile Pod x4 (Back, Sides, Tail) Hybrid Cannon x2 (Back) AZ 216 mm Railgun (Top Barrel) AZ 108 mm Beam Gun (Bottom Barrel) Laser Fang (Mouth) Strike Laser Claw x4 (Paws) Vulcan Pod x2 (Sides of Tail) |
Aero Fairing x4 (Cheeks)
Multi-Blade Antenna x2 (Head) |
| Story Information | |
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| Pilots: | Introduction: |
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The Zero Panzer is a heavy armament CAS (Changing Armor System) developed for the Helic Republic's Liger Zero. While the armor has a notable decrease in speed it's noted for excessive bombardment potential, with most of the body being weighed down with homing projectiles.
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- Details of Design
Variable Speed
In the anime the Liger Zero Panzer isn't capable of stable walking. This is coupled with an extreme overheating issue related to the body not being able to carry the immense weight. However, in most other media the Panzer is more than capable of running. Perhaps not as fast as the other Zero types, but it's never weighed down like a rock. This is how the Panzer should be, in its basic form. Theoretically the sluggish nature of the anime Panzer could be because of its increased number of missiles and weapons.
Original Concept Appearance
The Liger Zero Panzer was shown in the Zoids New Century /ZERO opening at its conceptual stage. This lead to a lot of misinformation about the 'secret' fourth CAS of the Liger Zero and given a multitude of names among fans. This Zoid was still the Panzer, but based on an earlier concept art. Most basic shapes of its armor is the same, especially if you slim down the Liger's head, but the alternate colors and proportions make it look more different than it is. You can read about this alternate here.
- Concept Art
In the magazine Figure King's 299th issue, we got to see some Liger Zero concept art for the first time. One of those included an early version of the Panzer (left), which at the time was referred to as Heavy Arms and had a different design for parts of the body and armor. This was back when Liger Zero was still in its developmental stage and known as "Visored Liger." Later, a second sketch (right) was featured in CoroCoro, the Official Fan Books, and other media, as our first official look at the then-upcoming Panzer CAS. You can see some differences in design, and even then, a couple more differences from the final product, such as the canopy and tail. |
- Military History
ZAC 2101, March, Rollout
As the Empire launched 10 Death Stinger KFDs to attack Nyxie Base, which had fallen under Republican control, a special task force known as the Ray Force was formed. Heavily-armored Panzers were deployed alongside the other Ray Force units to deal with the Death Stinger KFDs. While the faster variants moved in for a head-on attack, Panzers launched missile salvos from behind, providing support fire for those risking close range combat. Their battle was an overwhelming success, and ultimately, the KFDs self-destructed to protect their technology.
ZAC 2101, July, Nyx Landing Operation
As the Republic landed on Nyx following the Western Continent War, they witnessed a strange battle. Two Imperial factions fighting against each other. After the Eisen Dragoons disappeared from the scene, the Republic launched the Ray Force. Ceres Ardoise and her fellow Panzer pilots were joined by Command Wolf ACs in bombarding the Imperial Guard who had come to confront them on the shores. Thanks to the intervention of the Eisen Dragoon, the Republic gained control of Entrance Bay in just half a day.
ZAC 2100, August, The Eisen Dragoons
The Ray Force charged through Nyx, with their Shadow Foxes running recon ahead of them. These swift scouts had discovered an unkown base hidden in a volcanic region. It turned out to belong to the Eisen Dragoons, who intercepted the Ray Force and urged them to go towards Valhalla, as they had intended them to. When the Ray Force fought, every Zoid in the unit was brought down by Jamming Waves and subsequent attacks, aside from Ray Gregg's Zero. Thanks to his heroic efforts, some of his allies were saved.
ZAC 2101, December, Invasion of the Central Continent
When the Eisen Dragoons launched their attack on the Central Continent, the Republican Army rose to confront them. Between Cook Bay and Mount Asa, troops moved to intercept the Dragoons, only for the pilots to lose control of their Zoids. Panzers were among those fighting for their lives against their own allies, who were being manipulated by the Dark Spiner's Jamming Waves. Soon, the Republic's defensive lines had entirely collapsed in the chaos.
ZAC 2106, Winter, Major Winner Kidd's Panzer
Under the instruction of his friend, Corporal Verditer Rowen, Winner brought his Panzer to Lykan Canyon, where they awaited a unit of Imperial Zoids. Though this was strictly against the orders of their superiors, they were banking on Verditer's theory that the Gorhecks, an old Republic Zoid, could combat the Jamming Waves of the Dark Spiner with its specially-boosted Crystal Radar.
Winner, a Ray Force member, believed in this ideal, and when headquarters rejected Verditer's request to mass produce Gorhecks on a mere theory, they set out to prove that it was possible. With Verditer's guidance, Winner shot down every member of the enemy force, until only the Dark Spiner remained. The countermeasure was effective, but overheated. As Winner tried desperately to fight off the Dark Spiner, Verditer self-destructed the Gorhecks to save them both, relying on the Panzer's heavy armor to protect Winner and also denying the Empire the ability to reverse engineer his experimental equipment. By early spring, Gorhecks of the Republican Army were effectively countering Dark Spiners, saving countless allies.
- Equipment Information
- Aero Fairing x4
Aero Fairing x4: エアロフェアリング×4
Like many ligers, the Panzer possesses fairings on the cheeks. These exist to reduce drag and improve general aerodynamics. In the case of a Zoid like the Liger, it may reduce the amount of drag generated by the bulky guns, improving the overall speed. Unfortunately, Panzer's weight still makes it considerably slower.
- AZ 2-Shot Micro-homing Missile Pod x2
AZ 2-Shot Micro-homing Missile Pod x2: AZ2連装マイクロホーミングミサイルポッド×2
Most of Liger Zero Panzer's payload consists of homing missiles. As the name may imply, they lock onto the enemy and track their movements, greatly improving the odds of landing a hit. Two of these pods are located on the lower back and connected by additional armor. Each pod has two missiles inside. In the anime, the Panzer's payload is dramatically increased (which may also account for the devastating weight overload.) If the size is proportional in the anime, these likely carry 6 missiles in that version.
- AZ 2-Shot Missile Pod x2
AZ 2-Shot Missile Pod x2: AZ2連装ミサイルポッド×2
The first set of the Anti-Zoid 2-Shot Missile Pods is attached to the front of the front leg armor. The silver pieces, to be specific, which share the same appearance as the standard (not micro-homing) missiles on the face. However, in the anime, the green box opens up to reveal 2 Anti-Zoid Micro-homing missiles. The Panzer in the battle story doesn't seem to possess a missile pod in the darker armor plate.
- AZ 2-Shot Missile Pod x2
AZ 2-Shot Missile Pod x2: AZ2連装ミサイルポッド×2
Two more anti-Zoid missile pods are located on the head, attached to the cheeks. They hold 2 shots each, for a total of 4. These aren't given a specific micro-homing property like the other missiles. The same type is also attached to the front legs (listed above.)
- AZ 3-Shot Grenade Launcher
AZ 3-Shot Grenade Launcher: AZ3連装グレネードランチャー
The Grenade Launcher is attached to the chest. As the name implies, it has 3 shots. These explosive rounds are launched at an enemy and detonate on impact, although they don't get any notable use in the franchise.
- AZ 3-Shot Micro-homing Missile Pod x2
AZ 3-Shot Micro-homing Missile Pod x2: AZ3連装マイクロホーミングミサイルポッド×2
There's one of these missile pods located on the top of both back legs. The hatch flips open backwards, revealing a set of missiles that are launched directly into the air. From there, they lock on to an enemy and trace their movements across the battlefield. The anime dramatically increases the number of missiles carried, from 3 to 8, for a total of 16 in all.
- AZ 6-Shot Micro-homing Missile Pod x4
AZ 6-Shot Micro-homing Missile Pod x1: AZ6連装マイクロホーミングミサイルポッド×4
The first of four different 6-Shot Micro-homing Missile Pods. This one is located on the upper back. The hatch is located on the front of the box and flips upwards, firing the missiles in a slightly elevated forward direction. In CoroCoro, this missile pod was shown to be able to be installed facing backwards as well. In the anime, this box contains twice as many projectiles; 12 in all.
AZ 6-Shot Micro-homing Missile Pod x2:
The second and third pods are located on the sides. These take the place of the usual stabilizers, blade arms, etc. They extend directly outwards and contain six missiles, which normally tucked against the sides, are now able to fire directly into the air. The number of missiles is the same between the model kit and the anime.
AZ 6-Shot Micro-homing Missile Pod x1:
The fourth and final 6-shot Micro-homing Missile Pod is located in the tail. The hinge of the box lid is attached at the base of the tail, and flips up towards the body. The missiles are then able to fire directly into the air, although theoretically, the Panzer could save some time by simply tilting the tail towards the enemy.
- Hybrid Cannon x2
Hybrid Cannon x2: ハイブリッドキャノン×2
The Panzer's most notable weapon, often depicted firing 2 enregy beams of similar speed and size. The top barrel is an Anti-Zoid 216mm Railgun. Railguns in real life use electromagnetic force to launch high-velocity projectiles, relying on sheer devastating force. Rail guns are also known to degrade quickly, however, losing power and stability. The bottom barrel is an Anti-Zoid 108mm Beam Gun, able to fire at the same time as the railgun.
- Laser Fang
Laser Fang: レーザーファング
The CAS units are often mistakenly said to lose their laser equipment because, for one, it's not used in the anime outside of Jager, and two, it's not in the equipment lists. However, those lists only list CAS-specific equipment, and the units are often depicted with glowing claws/fangs in the story. Panzer is no exception. The charge allows them to cut through armor more easily.
- Multi-Blade Antenna
Multi-Blade Antenna: マルチブレードアンテナ×2
The Liger Zero Panzer is equipped with two Multi-Blade Antennas. These are the long poles attached to the side of the head, integrated as a part of the mane. If they function as standard antenna, this would transmit and receive radio signals with a boosted range, though their actual use isn't clarified.
- Strike Laser Claw
Strike Laser Claw: ストライクレーザークロー×4
Just like the Laser Fangs, the Panzer retains the use of its Strike Laser Claws, even if they're not mentioned in the CAS equipment. This energy attack improves the cutting capability of the claws so that they can slice through enemy armor. In the game Full Metal Crash, Panzer is depicted using these as a stomping attack, taking advantage of its weight to slam them down on a target.
- Vulcan Pod x2
Vulcan Pod x2: バルカンポッド×2
The Vulcan Pods are located on the sides of the tail. They never actually see use in the anime, but we can assume that they're the same as other vulcan weapons: high speed rounds fired in rapid succession.
- Merchandise
Model Kits
Cards
- Featured In Media
- Zoids New Century /ZERO Anime
Panzer's primary media appearance is in the Zoids New Century /Zero anime. For quite a long time the Panzer was the mysterious third unit, not making its true debute until Episode 19. Unlike other media, the Panzer in the anime is so weighed down by its armor that it can't even move around the battlefield. Instead it has to stay stationary and rely on its weapons for self defense.
- Zoids New Century /ZERO Manga
Panzer made a brief appearance in the New Century /ZERO Manga, where it fought against Altair and his Berserk Führer. Its appearance was extremely brief, as it used the Burning Big Bang to destroy falling debris that would've crushed the Hover Cargo. This overheated the Panzer, forcing it to jettison the armor to avoid literally exploding.
- Zoids Delusional War Record
Two arctic variant Panzers appeared in Zoids Delusional War Record, more commonly known as the Web Comic, where they were part of a platoon on Nicaidos Island. These Panzers were known for their belly-crawling maneuvers, said to reduce the strain on the leg joints caused by the Panzer's heavy armor.
Other Media Appearances
Manga: Zoids Web Comic (Liger Zero Panzer: Cold District Spec.)Manga: New Century /ZERO
Book Media: Zoids Fan Book 3
Book Media: Zoids Fan Book 4
Game Media: Zoids Saga I
Game Media: Zoids Saga II / Zoids Legacy
Game Media: Zoids Saga Fuzors
Game Media: Zoids Saga DS: Legend of Arcadia
Game Media: Zoids VS I
Game Media: Zoids VS II
Game Media: Zoids VS II
Game Media: Zoids: Bonds of Steel
Game Media: Zoids: Field of Rebellion
Game Media: Zoids Infinity
Game Media: Zoids Tactics
Game Media: Zoids Full Metal Crash
