History Main / DropShip

** The Pelican's lack of weapons in ''VideoGame/HaloCombatEvolved'' was parodied in ''Machinima/RedVsBlue'': "If we can put a tank on a ship, why don't we put guns on the ship?" Which, by the way, ''Literature/HaloTheFlood'' answered with the Pelicans having run out of ammunition for their weapons. In later games, the Pelicans ''do'' have guns, and use them quite effectively.

* VideoGame/EarthDefenseForce: Through out the various games in the series the alien invaders use ships to deliver the various enemies to the battlefield.

* In ''VideoGame/CortexCommand'' two are available, and they are fairly important in terms of gameplay. Crates are cheap but total-loss delivery vehicles, and rockets are so very hard to fly that they might as well qualify as total-loss too (as the AI so efficiently demonstrates). The dropships are the only delivery vehicles that can be reasonably expected to make it back to orbit and give the player their purchase price back. They're also easier to use as disposable impact weapons than rockets.

Often part of a StandardSciFiFleet. Supertrope to SpheroidDropship. Not related to ColonyDrop.

* [[http://www.astronautix.com/i/ithacus.html Ithacus]] was a 1960s single-stage rocket concept, fueled by liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen, designed to transport 1200 soldiers to a battlefield on another continent, where they would fly off with ''[[IWantMyJetpack jetpacks]]'' (or slide down). There was a smaller version meant to launch from an ''aircraft carrier'', with the propellant being made from seawater by the carrier's nuclear reactor.

* [[http://www.astronautix.com/i/ithacus.html Ithacus]] was a 1960s single-stage rocket concept, fueled by liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen, designed to transport 1200 soldiers to a battlefield on another continent, where they would fly off with [[IWantMyJetpack ''jetpacks'']] (or slide down). There was a smaller version designed to launch from an ''aircraft carrier'', with the propellant being made from seawater by the carrier's nuclear reactor.

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* [[http://www.astronautix.com/i/ithacus.html Ithacus]] was a 1960s single-stage rocket concept, fueled by liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen, designed to transport 1200 soldiers to a battlefield on another continent, where they would fly off with [[IWantMyJetpack ''jetpacks'']] (or slide down). There was a smaller version designed to launch from an ''aircraft carrier'', with the propellant being made from seawater by the carrier's nuclear reactor.

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** ''VideoGame/StarCraftII'' has Terrans using an upgraded Dropship, the Medivac, which doubles as a Medic, hence the name. The Protoss abandon the Shuttles for Warp Prisms, which convert the 'cargo' between physical and energy states for transport. Warp Prisms can also be used as makeshift Pylons, which coupled with Warp Gates allows the Protoss to transfer over far more soldiers than the Warp Prism itself can carry. Meanwhile, the Zerg Overlords remain more or less the same, but are now able to excrete creep onto the ground.

** The Pelican's lack of weapons in ''VideoGame/HaloCombatEvolved'' was parodied in ''Machinima/RedVsBlue'': "If we can put a tank on a ship, why don't we put guns on the ship?" Which, by the way, ''Literature/HaloTheFlood'' answered with the Pelicans having run out of ammunition for their weapons.

*** The main reason for the size of [=BattleTech=] Dropships is the fact that rather than travelling from orbit to the surface of a planet, they travel through an entire ''solar system''; Battletech FTL limits the closest a [=JumpShip=] can get to a star's gravity well to a distance that, using the Sol system as an example, stretches out to around the orbit of Jupiter. On top of that, the faster-than-light drive on the average [=JumpShip=] takes up so much of its volume that their ''sublight'' maneuvering drives don't allow them to go anywhere in a hurry, so they tend to just hang out at the jump points where they arrived and recharge their K-F cores while the [=DropShips=] play taxi.

* The Combine use the bio-mechanical variety in ''VideoGame/HalfLife2''. They generally carry pods full of troops, but are also capable of carrying non-standard loads, such as Gordon Freeman's jeep. Considering their biological components, they probably aren't space-worthy, but as all of the events of the game take place within the atmosphere, this isn't a big issue. They're even referred to as drop ships in-game by the Rebels.

** The lightest 'Mech-carrying dropship, the Leopard, weighs in at 19 times the heaviest 'Mech, has enough weapons to match any assault lance it might encounter, and more armor tonnage than a light 'Mech weighs in total. Lighter designs like the Claymore and Avenger are actually ''more dangerous'' because they're the ones designed for a straight combat role. Heavier ones like the Overlord and Fortress are considered basically immoveable objects; the force required to take them out is simply too large to be worthwhile when there's other fighting to be done.

** Also making its MCU debut in The Avengers, but reappearing several times in the series are the various types of Quinjets used by SHIELD and later the Avengers themselves. The precursor prototype, the Quadjet, makes an appearance in ''Film/CaptainMarvel''.

* In ''Literature/WhateleyUniverse'', the military forces of major nations have small groups of elite Rapid Response dropships, as well as orbital platforms for forces which can be inserted via a DropPod system, and can even mix in Empowered forces. However, due to the massive cost of these procedures, even the US can only field about a battalion strength of dropship forces. On the other hand, major supervillains such as Dr. Diabolik and Gizmatic also have similar forces, as do paramilitary groups such as the MCO, ARCHAMMER, and the Knights of Purity, and even mercenary units such as the Paramount Guard and TheSyndicate's Tiger Guard. Some of these are notably superior to those run by the governments, and in some cases they can staff them with SuperSoldier and Empowered elites. This is partially justified on the basis that since this is all these groups do, they can allocate a larger portion of the budgets to it, but the costs of maintaining and fielding such forces has been discussed.

* In ''Literature/WhateleyUniverse'', the military forces of major nations have small groups of elite Rapid Response dropships, as well as orbital platforms for forces which can be inserted via a DropPod system, and can even mix in Empowered forces. However, due to the massive cost of these procedures, even the US can only field about a battalion strength of dropship forces. On the other hand, major supervillains such as Dr. Diabolik and Gizmatic also have similar forces, as do paramilitary groups such as the MCO, ARCHAMMER, and the Knights of Purity, and even mercenary units such as the Paramount Guard and the Syndicate's Tiger Guard. Some of these are notably superior to those run by the governments, and in some cases they can staff them with SuperSoldier and Empowered elites. This is partially justified on the basis that since this is all these groups do, they can allocate a larger portion of the budgets to it, but the costs of maintaining and fielding such forces has been discussed.

* The closest real-life equivalents to this trope are military gliders. Granted, these works only in atmospheric conditions, but it was an accurate and pretty reliable way to get airborne soldiers and heavy equipment, such as artillery and vehicles, where they were needed. Unlike normal gliders, they did not truly soar, and had to be cut loose from their carrier planes a short distance from their destination. They were only used during World War II, after which they were replaced by helicopters.

** Also making its MCU debut in The Avengers, but reappearing several times in the series are the various types of Quinjets used by SHIELD and later the Avengers themselves.

A common vehicle in MilitaryScienceFiction: A Drop Ship is a craft used to carry troops, vehicles and/or supplies from an orbiting ship to the surface of a planet or natural satellite and back, sometimes while under fire. Some are effectively a MilitaryMashupMachine between a space shuttle and a transport helicopter, while others are full-sized landing craft that are substantially larger. If the ship is armed and/or the troops involved happen to be reinforcements, it may be the vehicle of a GunshipRescue. Drop ships can go by may different names. These include, but are not limited to: drop ship, assault shuttle, landing craft. In a proper sci-fi setting, the size and configuration is limited only by the author's imagination.

''[[Film/{{Aliens}} Strap yourselves in boys, we're in for some chop!]]''

For maximum effect, listen to [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIGHCoVzqtk this]] when reading the article.

* One of the most famous, if not the TropeMaker, is the dropship from ''Film/{{Aliens}}''. The ship (maybe) and its pilot (definitely) were inspired by ''Literature/StarshipTroopers'', though the preferred method in the book for deploying the Mobile Infantry was literally to drop them from orbit. However, drop ships were used when the deployment was on a more relaxed schedule, and ships were used to take the [=MIs=] off the planet. The movie, though, played it straight.

** LAAT's and ''Acclamator''-class ships both perform this role in the ''StarWars'' prequels, on different scales. The Acclamators are dropships ''for'' dropships, which is pretty impressive. There are also LAAT-derivatives and (off-screen) barges for dropping off AT-[=ATs=] and other walkers.

** The Lambda shuttle itself is used like this in some Eu works and is the inspiration for several drop ships in other works of fiction.

** ''VideoGame/{{StarCraft II}}'' has Terrans using an upgraded Dropship, the Medivac, which doubles as a Medic, hence the name. The Protoss abandon the Shuttles for Warp Prisms, which convert the 'cargo' between physical and energy states for transport. Warp Prisms can also be used as makeshift Pylons, which coupled with Warp Gates allows the Protoss to transfer over far more soldiers than the Warp Prism itself can carry. Meanwhile, the Zerg Overlords remain more or less the same, but are now able to excrete creep onto the ground.

* In the original ''{{Transformers}}'' game for the [=PS2=] (not [[TheProblemWithLicensedGames The Game Of The Movie]]), Decepticlones travel using dropships. They don't have weapons (but carry troops who ''do'') and are at first near-indestructible- at least til you upgrade your arsenal...

* ''VideoGame/SurvivingMars'' has the rockets used to carry supplies and people from earth, but can also ship rare metals off of mars for extra money.

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[[folder: Western Animation]]

** Orks rarely bother with individual Drop Ships, preferring to bring their space transports to the planet. They use hollowed-out asteroids with huge engines for space travel, and sending thses Roks swreaming through the atmosphere reults in on of two things: thousands of angry and armed orks emerging from the wreckage and crater ready to krump some 'eadz, or a titanic explosion visible from space as the rok detonates, which is slightly less desirable than the first result, but not by much.

* EarthDefenseForce: Through out the various games in the series the alien invaders use ships to deliver the various enemies to the battlefield.

* ''Franchise/StarWars''
* LAAT's and ''Acclamator''-class ships both perform this role in the ''StarWars'' prequels, on different scales. The Acclamators are dropships ''for'' dropships, which is pretty impressive. There are also LAAT-derivatives and (off-screen) barges for dropping off AT-[=ATs=] and other walkers.