Tako Tank

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

It ain't quite "Mech-Taco", but close enough.

The Tako Tank (タコタンク Tako Tanku) is a mobile weapon used by the Maximals fighting the Beast Wars on Gaea. Between its powerful water cannon, missile launchers, crushing tentacles and blinding speed even without counting its separating speeder bike, it's a force to be reckoned with.

The Tako Tank is nominally in the care of the Maximal Ikard, though his cousin Scuba shows a real proficiency for using the machine to its fullest potential.

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

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

Just why the Tako Tank would look any different back on Cybertron is up in the air. It's not like it would need to be reformatted into a "beast mode" in the same sense the individual Cybertronians would. Oh well.

Games

Duel Fight Transformers Beast Wars 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

Toys

Beast Wars II

• Ikard & Tako Tank (1998)
  • ID number: X-5
  • Accessories: 6 torpedos, water bellows

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

The tank-head splits open to reveal a removable motorcycle Basic-scaled toys can ride. 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 launchers fold up into the bike's rider compartment for storage inside the Tako Tank, so the Tank cannot be "piloted" in this form; however, once the bike is deployed, there is room to seat a Basic-scaled figure in the left-over socket to pilot the tank body, plus a nice window for them to look out of.

The Tako Tank came with its pilot, Ikard.

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

Merchandise

Beast Wars II

Tako Tank Tub Toy. Alliteration is fun!

• Ofurode Tatakae Tako Tank

"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 dubious-at-best compatibility with its pilots.