Combat Deck (G1)

Combat Deck is a component of Autobot leader Optimus Prime from the Generation 1 continuity family.

The Combat Deck as it flies through space and attacks Devastator's hand. Hubba-hubba-wha?!

In robot mode, Optimus Prime splits into three components:

• A sentient robot module, the Brain Center.
• A wheeled drone module known as Roller.
• A Combat Deck.

Although Optimus Prime can function as three independent modules, injury to any one module is felt by the other two.

Prime can operate by remote-control his Combat Deck module up to a distance of 1500 feet. The Auto-Launcher mounted on the deck can use a variety of artillery and radiation beam weapons, including most of those used by his fellow Autobots. The launcher also includes a highly dexterous grapple-arm which allows it to load itself and change its weaponry. The communications disk antenna mounted on the launcher provides a link between Optimus and all his fellow Autobots within a radius of 50 miles. It can be adapted to a satellite hook-up that increases its effective range tenfold. (Note that it can be replaced with a second grapple-arm, if necessary.) Unlike Roller, the Combat Deck does not possess autonomous intelligence, but it has shown several times the strange ability to come and go out of nowhere. Spooky...

Fiction

Marvel comics continuity

Generation 1

Events from the UK-only comic stories are in italics.

Marvel decided to go with the lucky draw version.

When the Ark's computer was awakened by the eruption of Mount St. Hilary in 1984, it dispatched "revival drones" to reanimate the Autobots and Decepticons on board. Two of these drones bore a striking resemblance to the Combat Deck, and they were the ones that reactivated most, if not all of the Ark's passengers. The Transformers

Later, a drone assisted Ratchet in repairing the Ark. Prisoner of War!

While the revival drones were modelled after the Combat Deck's toy (right down to the wheels and platform) they were never suggested in-story to be the transformed Optimus Prime's trailer - in "Prisoner of War!" we see a drone with Ratchet while Prime drives up in truck mode. However, since there was more than one drone, it's possible Prime appropriated one to use as his trailer.

As part of a plan to fake his own death, Optimus Prime stored a facsimile construct of himself in his trailer and went off alone. He was ambushed by Megatron and the Predacons and thrown clear of his trailer. Showing uncommon sportsmanship, Megatron gave Optimus a ten minute head start before he sent the Predacons to hunt for him. Thinking he lost them, Optimus Prime doubled back to his trailer and started to remove the facsimile. Megatron was waiting for him and fired his fusion cannon. He missed Prime's robot component but hit his trailer component, causing Prime pain. The Predacons returned and betrayed Megatron, stealing his fusion cannon and leaving him alone to fight Prime. Prime got the upper hand and Megatron opened up a space bridge to flee. Both Prime and Megatron went through, with Prime leaving behind his trailer. Prey!

Some of the events in "Prey!" were only revealed in a flashback in the next issue.

On Cybertron, Prime transforms without his trailerUnder Fire! (confirming he left it on Earth).

The Autobots had discovered the deactivated facsimile construct and buried it, thinking it was really Optimus Prime. Resurrection! No mention was made of the trailer and whether or not they buried that component as well, but the trailer was back again the next issue.

Optimus Prime (and his trailer) drove to Energy Futures Industries. Prime transformed and left his trailer off-panel. After losing a video game, Optimus Prime's robot component was destroyed and carried away. It was not clear where the Combat Deck was at the time or what happened to it. Afterdeath!

Generation 2

Optimus Prime has been restored to his original body including his trusty old trailer and Roller.

Cartoon continuity

Combat Deck, the alternate mode of Optimus Prime's trailer, exists within Optimus Prime's trailer. ...Wait, what?

The Combat Deck was first used by Optimus Prime during a battle with Megatron, during which the two fired at each other at the same time. While the Combat Deck's blasts knocked Megatron's fusion cannon off his arm, Megatron's blast blew the Combat Deck cannon to pieces. This didn't seem to hurt Prime, unless he's really good at shrugging off pain. More than Meets the Eye, Part 3

Optimus Prime later used the Combat Deck to help the Autobots with a battle in the Arctic. The Combat Deck managed to damage Skywarp's stabilizers, causing him to crash into Thundercracker in midair and taking out both Seekers. Fire in the Sky

When Optimus Prime was briefly turned evil, he activated the Combat Deck and Roller to attack his fellow Autobots when they tried to help him. It didn't hit anything, and stopped firing at them as soon as it was hit with an attitude exchanger. Attack of the Autobots

This is the only time the Combat Deck actually resembled its toy counterpart. In fact, the Deck seemed to change appearance with each episode.

Although it didn't fully appear, the Combat Deck's arm can be clearly seen lifting the body of the ailing Elita One into Prime's Trailer. The Search for Alpha Trion

Coloring book continuity

The Combat Deck takes aim at Starscream.

Optimus Prime used the Combat Deck in defense of a forest in danger of being cleared by the Decepticons to make way for a Decepticon factory. It looks somewhat familiar. Forest Rescue Mission

IDW comics continuity

When the Autobots arrived in the former Russian state of Brasnya, Optimus Prime deployed the Combat Deck for remote tactical assistance. Escalation issue 3 It detected the optically camouflaged Blitzwing, enabling Roller to take the Decepticon out of commission. Escalation issue 4

After being savagely beaten by Megatron, Optimus Prime funneled his consciousness into the memory buffers of the Combat Deck and commanded the Autobots through Prowl from there. After Megatron assumed victory, Optimus moved his higher functions back into his body and showed Megatron the error of his ways. Escalation issue 6

Toys

Generation 1

• Optimus Prime (1984)
  • Japanese ID number: 01
  • Accessories: 4 missiles, fuel pump, hose, nozzle

The trailer portion of Optimus Prime's vehicle mode opens up into his Combat Deck, splitting down the middle and unfolding into a symmetrical battlefield headquarters for Prime and the Autobots, wide enough to accommodate one vehicle-mode Autobot car in each of its three bays. The central feature of the Combat Deck is the "artillery robot" mounted upon a boom lift arm, which features a rotating radar dish, an articulated claw arm, and two missiles. Situated at the base of this boom arm is a spring-loaded launcher that can be used to deploy either Roller or any Autobot car out of the Combat Deck via the ramp formed from the trailer's tailgate. The Combat Deck includes three small peg holes moulded into its walls and floor, scaled to accommodate Optimus Prime's laser rifle (storing it while the figure is in vehicle mode) and the handle of the fuel pump accessory.

In trailer mode, the Combat Deck can accommodate one Autobot car (if you remove Roller), and the launcher still functions. The artillery robot can still be used in this mode, as it fits through either of the two square holes in the trailer's roof and front. The Transformers release of the figure does not mention the Combat Deck's rudimentary "third" mode, a "repair bay" of sorts, which involves standing the open trailer upright while Prime stands in the middle, so the artillery robot can "tend" to him. The Prime figure can also fit within the closed trailer.

As a former Diaclone toy, the Combat Deck features several vestigial features associated with that toyline, including two small, dark blue consoles on its floor, and an opening cockpit on the artillery robot, which can each seat one Diaclone pilot figure. Instead of stickers, the floor of the Combat Deck originally featured large metal plates, to which the Diaclone pilots' magnetic feet could attach. These plates were included on some of the earliest releases of the Transformers version of the toy, but were soon done away with.

The artillery robot is also the subject of several significant variations. Its missiles were customarily black, but slightly smaller grey versions were available. The original Transformers release of the figure did not feature spring-loaded launchers for these missiles, but subsequent Japanese editions of the toy included the feature. When Hasbro reissued the figure in its Commemorative Series, the launchers were enabled, necessitating that the missiles be lengthened for safety reasons.

When the Optimus Prime mold is recolored or reissued (see this list for all those times), the Combat Deck is almost always included with it. Significant changes in the appearance of the Combat Deck included its being decorated with Pepsi stickers for a limited promotional edition, and being recolored black for Generation 2 in 1993 and JAFCON in 2000.

Smallest Transforming Transformers

Honey, I shrunk the Combat Deck

• G1 Convoy Trailer (2003)
  • Japanese ID Number: GTF-01B (trailer)

The Combat Deck was available separately from the Optimus cab toy as a shortpacked figure. It is a tiny, simplified replica of the Generation 1 Combat Deck.

In wave 2.5 Optimus was available in cartoon colors, with the chase figure being the trailer painted in cartoon colors.

Masterpiece

You just paid $170 for a big box on wheels.

• Convoy Perfect Edition (2006)
  • Japanese ID number: MP-4

For the re-release of Masterpiece Convoy, Takara packed him with a proper, full-size, fully transforming, plastic and die-cast metal trailer. The trailer can open up to reveal his Combat Deck, with storage for his accessories and a functional repair drone. The interior has enough room to accommodate one Alternators toy in vehicle mode.

Hybrid Style

Also stores fishing tackle.

• G1 Convoy (2006)
  • Japanese ID number: THS-02

This version of Optimus comes with a highly detailed Combat Deck, featuring all the familiar trappings of the original toy, including the artillery robot, Roller, and storage space for Prime's gun and fuel pump. The toy lacks the spring-loaded launcher for Roller or the firing missiles for the artillery robot, and the vestigal Diaclone cockpits are naturally removed, but in their place are storage compartments for Prime's numerous fists and energon axe, and numerous other extra features: the artillery robot now features two handles that Prime can grip onto in order to aim its cannons; instead of merely flipping downward, the trailer's tailgate splits in two and swings open, and a spring-loaded ramp pops out from under the doorway to allow Roller to roll into action; the fuel pump and nozzle are connected by a poseable wire, instead of a rubber tube; when the trailer is opened, the support struts swing out automatically; and the front of the trailer has two little holes to attach Sideswipe's jet pack.

Notes

• The combat deck is at the origin of one of the oldest and most asked question among the fans. And no, we still don't know where it goes...
• The Combat Deck was referred to as "Autobot Headquarters" in several different sources.
• Among the sticker displays in the original Combat Deck toy is a map of the Romulan Neutral Zone. Really!

External links

• Combat Deck (with Optimus Prime) at TFU.info.