History Main / TankTreadMecha

* In ''ComicBook/MechCadetYu'', Mama Tank is a mecha that has tank treads in place of its legs. It lost both legs in battle, and none of the replacement legs took (mechs in this series are alive), so it was fitted with treads and assigned to the Support Corps.

* In ''VideoGame/SmashTV'' two of its bosses have appeared this way, Mutoid Man and the M.C. Both are giant MeatSackRobot humanoid bodies mounted on tank treads.

* "The Beetle" was a US Air Force project for servicing nuclear bombers that was essentially a giant radiation proof torso and associated arms mounted on a tank chassis instead of a turret. The project was remarkably successful (there were some problems, but it was thought they could be ironed out easy enough). Unfortunately efforts to make a nuclear powered bomber were remarkably less successful so there was no need for the project to continue.
* The Japanese T-52 Enryu rescue robot is one real life example. It's similar in design to a forklift and an excavator but with two hydraulic arms instead. Notably one of the few real life mechas of any description actually constructed before the fictional genre became popular.

* The Japanese T-52 Enryu rescue robot is one real life example. It's similar in design to a forklift and an excavator but with two hydraulic arms instead.

* Those are present as enemies in the first levels of ''VideoGame/StarFox64'' and ''VideoGame/StarFoxZero''

[[caption-width-right:350: Please, pay no mind to that [[GatlingGood gatling gun]] [[PhallicWeapon placement]].]]

[[caption-width-right:350: Please, pay no attention to that gatling gun [[CrotchWeapon placement]].]]

[[quoteright:350:[[Manga/MSVRTheReturnOfJohnnyRidden https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/zakutank.png]]]]
[[caption-width-right:350:The [[Franchise/{{Gundam}} MS-06V-8 Zaku Tank (Wild Boar)]]. Made from recycling parts of a Zaku II and a Magella Attack tank.]]

* In the ''WesternAnimation/TazMania'' LicensedGame for the UsefulNotes/SegaGenesis, the second world takes place in a [[EternalEngine robot factory]], and in the second act, the factory is revealed specifically to make robots with tank-like lower halves and human-like upper halves.

Compare HoverMecha. Same principle but with hover or booster technology.

Contrast WalkingTank, ChickenWalker and SpiderTank.

** In the Universal Century timeline we have the RX-75-4 Guntank from ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam'', one of the earliest examples within the franchise. It proved to be an effective artillery platform that subsequent successor models and variants were developed ever since. Most notably the [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamMSIGLOO RTX-440 Ground Assault Type Guntank]], the [[Anime/MobileSuitZetaGundam RMV-1 Guntank II]], the [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamUnicorn D-50C Loto]] and the [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamF91 F-50D Guntank R-44]]. Due to their efficiency, they're often used as troop transports as much as, if not more than, weapon platforms.

* ''Series/KyoryuSentaiZyuranger'': The five [[AnimalMecha Guardian Beasts]] first combine into the "Dino Tanker", forming armour, cannons and tank treads around the Tyrannosaurus beast, before further transforming into the humanoid [=DaiZyuJin=]. Likewise for its ForeignRemake ''Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers'', with the Megazord's Tank Mode and Battle Mode.

* ''TabletopGame/{{Pathfinder}}'': Iron colossi are a type of colossus -- enormous, mythical constructs broadly based on {{Golem}}s but vastly exceeding them in scale -- designed as ultimate siege engines and weapons of war. Like all colossi, iron colossi have an alternate form they can shift into besides their basic humanoid one: in their case, they can turn their legs into spiked caterpillar treads, which nearly doubles their maximum speed, makes them impossible to trip and allows them to trample with impunity over anything in their path.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/zakutank.png]]

!!Examples

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]

[[folder:Film -- Animated]]

[[folder:Film -- Live Action]]

** In the Universal Century timeline we have the RX-75-4 Guntank from ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam'', one of the earliest examples within the franchise. It proved to be an effective artillery platform that subsequent successor models and variants were developed ever since. Most notably the [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamMSIGLOO RTX-440 Ground Assault Type Guntank]], the [[Anime/MobileSuitZetaGundam RMV-1 Guntank II]], the [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamUnicorn D-50C Loto]] and the [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamF91 F-50D Guntank R-44]]

Mechas of this category are usually depicted as being able to carry heavier loads (thus enabling them to equip bigger armaments or several standard sized ones), runs a bit faster than legged mechas but performing poorly on rough, uneven terrains (such as hills and forests) and are less agile at close quarters combat. Due to this, tank tread mechas are usually assigned to support and artillery roles, providing indirect and long range fire support for the more agile legged mechas at the front. Outside of military usage, tank tread mechas are often found at construction sites, warehouses, and mines, acting as multipurpose work vehicles. Complete with modular arm attachments. Bonus points if it has more than two arms for maximum multitasking.

Not to be confused with a legged mecha with tank treads on their feet and use them like motorized [[RollerbladeGood rollerblades]] on a human or one riding a tank like a mount or vehicle. The key idea here is mechas that propel themselves on tank treads due to the lack of legs. It also doesn't have to be exclusively tank treads; It can also be half-tracks, wheels or even train wheels on railroad tracks. Regular tanks with at least two prominent arm attachments mounted on their swivelling turrets are also considered.

** Guts Tank, aka Guts-Dozer, is a boss in [[VideoGame/MegaManClassic MegaMan 2]]'s Wily Castle. He is essentially a giant version of Guts Man from the first Mega Man with his legs replaced with tank treads. A comparatively smaller version appears in later games.

[[folder:Film - Animated]]

[[folder:Film - Live Action]]

[[folder:Live Action TV]]

* In ''TabletopGame/{{Pathfinder}}'' the iron colossi are a type of colossus -- enormous, mythical constructs broadly based on {{Golem}}s but vastly exceeding them in scale -- designed as ultimate siege engines and weapons of war. Like all colossi, iron colossi have an alternate form they can shift into besides their basic humanoid one: in their case, they can turn their legs into spiked caterpillar treads, which nearly doubles their maximum speed, makes them impossible to trip and allows them to trample with impunity over anything in their path.

[[/folder]]

* ''Anime/BraveCommandDagwon'': [[MidSeasonUpgrade Power Dagwon]] transforms from an excavation vehicle, with the lower frame and treads becoming its legs. It can also assume a PartialTransformation where the legs remain untransformed.