Tako Tank

The Tako Tank is a Maximal vehicle from the Beast Wars II portion of the Generation 1 continuity family.

The Japanese sure love their tentacles.

The Tako Tank (タコタンク Tako Tanku) is a weapon used by the Maximals fighting the Beast Wars on Gaea. It has a powerful water cannon, destructive tentacles and can move really fast.

Fiction

Beast Wars II cartoon

The Tako Tank was delivered to the Maximals stationed on Gaea by Scuba's cousin, Ikard. The Tako Tank gave the Maximals the upper hand in battle, though only Scuba seemed competent in piloting the thing. At one point, Tasmania Kid and Diver tried taking it for a joyride but instantly lost control and wreaked havoc all over the planet until Scuba was able to rescue them.

Dreamwave comics

A toy remarkably similar to the Tako Tank startled a EDC soldier at a movie theater. On reflection, he thought it might be a GoBot. Infestation

IDW Beast Wars comic

"Hey, no disrespect Jonas, but it isn't so easy. These guys like their system, it's what they do. You take that away and you are looking at a bunch of pissed off nut bags with ray guns, and giant, I don't know, a giant octopus slash tank with laser eyes."

During an Angolmois-induced riot on Cybertron, the Tako Tank broke through a wall while leading various crazed Maximals and Predacons, including Scuba. The Ascending #4

Games

Duel Fight Transformers Beast Wars: Beast Warriors' Strongest Decisive Battle Video Game

The Tako Tank was accessible to Ikard during the battles that ensued over the super-powerful energon crystal. Duel Fight Transformers Beast Wars: Beast Warriors' Strongest Decisive Battle

Toys

Beast Wars II

• Ikard & Tako Tank (1998)
  • Japanese ID number: X-5

The Tako Tank is a large mechanical octopus. Twin puppet-rods in the back give control of the front two tentacles (which is one of the funnest play-features in Transformers ever). A plunger in the back runs through the body, which activates the water-bellows in the tank's "mouth". A small wheel behind each "eye" allows them to spin, though for what purpose is unknown.

The tank-head splits open to reveal a motorcycle Basic-scaled toys can ride. (Because of the way it folds up, the Transformer cannot stay in the bike in "storage" mode.) This bike has two flip-around spring-loaded torpedo launchers, plus the wheel assembly can adjust to serve as either a traditional land-based vehicle or be converted to a hoverbike.

The Tako Tank came with its pilot, Ikard.

• More information on the Tako Tank (with Ikard) at TFU.info

Merchandise

Beast Wars II

• Ofurode Tatakae Tako Tank

Tako Tank Tub Toy. Alliteration is fun!

"Bath Fight Tako Tank" is a "diving" style tub-toy, which came with a translucent blue PVC of Ikard. It uses one of the three bath bomb pucks included to generate carbon dioxide gas from within the Tako Tank, raising the toy to the top of the water, where it dispels the gas and then sinks back to the bottom to repeat the process. The bath bombs also give their color to the water; unfortunately, that color is yellow.

Notes

• "Tako" (蛸, 鮹, 章魚, 鱆, or タコ) is Japanese for "octopus".
• Like the Niagara Base from the same line, there is speculation that the Tako Tank was originally an unreleased Microman concept. This may explain the bike's questionable compatibility with its pilots.
• The Tako Tank appears in the Duel Fight Transformers Beast Wars: Beast Warriors' Strongest Decisive Battle video game, firing at the opponent as part of Scuba's "super move".