The Z-6 rotary blaster cannon functioned as a blaster cannon deployed by the forces of the Galactic Republic throughout the Clone Wars. Subsequently, during the reign of the Galactic Empire, this weaponry saw action on both sides of the Galactic Civil War, wielded by the Imperial Army's Heavy Weapons Stormtroopers as well as the Rebel Alliance's Heavy Soldiers.
The Z-6 rotary blaster cannon represented a specific model of blaster cannon that was jointly produced by Merr-Sonn Munitions, Inc. together with BlasTech Industries. Its creation was driven by the need to overcome limitations in blaster technology, specifically the constraints of recharge time and the issue of overheating. The Z-6 addressed these challenges by adopting a chaingun configuration. The weapon featured six compact, revolving blaster cannons arranged around a sizable cooling cell. Each cannon had its own active chamber, firing in sequence as the assembly rotated. Its considerable weight demanded the operator remain stationary for accurate use. Beyond its weight, troopers utilizing the Z-6 also had to manage its energy cartridges. Replacing empty cartridges was a time-consuming process, taking several minutes and forcing the user to withdraw from combat. Despite efforts by Merr-Son engineers to resolve these shortcomings, no fully satisfactory solutions were found, which negatively impacted the Z-6's overall acceptance.
During their training regimen on Kamino, all clone trooper recruits received instruction in the operation of the Z-6 rotary blaster cannon. However, in actual combat scenarios, its use was primarily reserved for heavy weapons experts. The Galactic Republic almost exclusively employed the blaster cannon during the Clone Wars. Clone trooper Hardcase notably wielded a Z-6 during both the mission to Benglor and the siege of Hisseen.
In 22 BBY, clone trooper Hevy made use of a Z-6 rotary blaster cannon in the defense of Rishi Station, ultimately sacrificing his life to deliver a crucial warning to the Republic, thwarting a Separatist assault on Kamino. During the Battle of Umbara, Hardcase once again employed a Z-6 blaster cannon. In the Battle of Ringo Vinda, both the 501st Legion and Clone Commander Doom's unit relied heavily on the Z-6 as they engaged Admiral Trench's forces. When the Separatists invaded Scipio, Commander Thorn made use of a Z-6 that he had nicknamed "Hammer."
Following the conclusion of the Clone Wars and the rise of the Galactic Empire, the Z-6 continued to be used by various factions. Soldiers within the Imperial Army utilized this formidable weapon during the campaign that took place on Mimban. Heavy Weapons Stormtroopers were equipped with a variant that featured a small ray shield mounted at its front. Soldiers fighting for the Rebel Alliance, such as Heavy Soldiers, also made use of the Z-6.
As noted in "Blasters and Ranged Weapons," the weight of the Z-6 made it unsuitable for use by B1-series battle droids. However, Star Wars Battlefront II depicts them as capable of wielding the weapon.