Gripper (ROC)

This article is about the vehicular device. For the character, see Gripper (G1).

The Gripper is an Autobot drone-vehicle from the Return of Convoy portion of the Generation 1 continuity family.

What does it grip, you ask? The more apt question is, what doesn't it grip?

The Gripper (グリッパー Gurippā) may look like a fearsome weapon, but it is really an information-gathering remote probe controlled by the Liner Team's Joe. He uses the data assembled by the probe to assist his team in making the most informed decisions they can in their fight against the Decepticons.

Toys

Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers

• Sixliner (Micromaster Sixteam, 1991)

• ID number: C-370

Released in the Return of Convoy part of the original Takara Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers toyline, the Gripper (not actually named that yet) is made up of Sixliner's rifle, fists, and head mounted on either of his footplates to form a treaded probe-vehicle. It is technically supposed to attach to the right footplate, since that one has a peg-connector that works with its assigned carrier Joe (and any other train-team mold with a socket-style hitch), but naturally it can also use the left footplate with its socket-connector as well.

mold set was also used to make the equivalent mini-vehicle/body parts of Sixtrain and Universe Rail Racer, though those have yet to be officially named.

• More information on Sixliner at TFU.info

Micromaster

Memo: Gripper to be upgraded into promising new "Kung-Fu" version

• D-Go (Micromaster, 2002)

• ID number: 1
• Accessories: Sixliner head, rifle

• Spark (Micromaster, 2002)

• ID number: 2
• Accessories: Sixliner right foot

• Joe (Micromaster, 2002)

• ID number: 5
• Accessories: Sixliner right & left fists

For The Transformers: Micromaster, the Gripper (now finally named) was largely unchanged, simply losing the decal on the foot, and gaining blue paint operations on the robot-head eyes, which should be pointed down so you don't see them anyway. Since the team was split up into individual boxes for sale, so too were the combiner kibble pieces; the parts for the Gripper came with D-Go, Spark and (of course) Joe.

• More information on Micromaster D-Go at TFU.info
• More information on Micromaster Joe at TFU.info
• More information on Micromaster Spark at TFU.info

Notes

• The Gripper's name comes from the much later Micromaster fiction; it was not named in the original Return of Convoy Sixliner instruction booklet. It was also shown to be used by Alan there, though really only as an example, not a specific assignment. Also also, though the Gripper is mentioned in Joe's Micromaster bio, his instructions do not otherwise give any indication that the relevant pieces can be combined and used in that manner.