History Main / TankTreadMecha

* Johnny 5 and the other S.A.I.N.T.s robots from ''Film/ShortCircuit''.

If they are {{Transforming Mecha}}s, then one of their configurations or {{Partial Transformation}}s should invoke this trope. This is often depicted with their legs folding aside to make way for the tank threads that will replace them. Sometimes the legs themselves transform into the tank platform with each leg opening up and deploying the tank treads. Other more elaborate and creative transformations exists besides these. When used on {{Combining Mecha}}s the legged mecha usually merges with an accompanying support vehicle or other mecha(s) to turn into a giant mobile fortress.

Tank tread mechas are most prevalent in [[RealRobotGenre Real Robot]] stories due to their practicality in design, though tank tread mechs in [[SuperRobotGenre Super Robot]] stories are not unheard of, especially so in older shows. Sometimes it's one of the mecha's transformation modes which exchanges its legged form's agility, dexterity and maneuverability for speed, stability, and lower profile. In real life it would be problematic to stick a humanoid upper body onto a tracked fighting vehicle, since that would add a lot of weight compared to a normal tank turret, and also be a bigger, higher target requiring more frontal armor. Crew survivability could be improved by having the cockpit down inside the tracked hull instead of the robotic upper part. As with {{Walking Tank}}s, these mechas would probably serve better as workhorses than as fighters.

* In ''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.

** {{Averted}} by Getter Robo G's equivalent to the Getter 3 form, "Getter Poseidon", which is fully humanoid.

** Shin Getter Robo makes this form look less like an afterthought, with Shin Getter 3 having a H-shaped, vaguely spider-like lower body - two wheels to the front and two heavy tread sections to the back from which it can unleash a MacrossMissileMassacre.
** Neo Getter Robo (an AlternateContinuity design incorporating elements of both G and Go) looks like a Tank Tread Mecha on stilts - it's humanoid but squat, with massive lower legs that can deploy either tank treads or rocket engines.

** Getter Robo Arc's third form, Getter [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acala Khan]], plays with the theme a bit - it's humanoid but wears spiked treads on its legs and shoulders, which can dock together to transform it into a giant crushing wheel.
* The ''Franchise/{{Gundam}}'' franchise have provided many examples of tank tread mechas.
** In the Universal Century timeline we have the RX-75-4 Guntank from ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam'', one of the earliest examples within the franchise. An early prototype for the fully humanoid RX-78-2 Gundam, it proved to be an effective artillery platform in its own right 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/MobileSuitGundamF91 F-50D Guntank R-44]] (a humanoid with tank treads on its backpack and legs, which [[TransformingMecha can assume this configuration by sitting down]]) and the [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamUnicorn D-50C Loto]] (a predecessor to the R-44). Due to their efficiency they're used as troop transports as much as, if not more than, weapon platforms.

* In ''Manga/OnePiece'' Franky, a {{cyborg}}, can turn his legs into tank treads for faster movement.

* In the ''ComicBook/XMen'' franchise there's [[https://marvel.wikia.com/wiki/Bonebreaker Bonebreaker]]; A cyborg with a missing lower half. In its place are a cluster of cybernetics attached on top of a tank platform. Besides the comic books, he has also appeared in ''WesternAnimation/XMenTheAnimatedSeries'' as well as a few video games such as the Punisher arcade game.

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles'', during the scene where Mr. Incredible breaks into Syndrome's computer, you can see the different prototypes for the Omnidroid. The Omnidroid v.X1 was designed with treaded locomotion, and the V3 had tri-pedal wheels, before all future designs were created [[SpiderTank using legs]].
* The titular character of ''WesternAnimation/WallE''. He is a trash compactor robot who runs on tank treads.

* It's a slight stretch as the top half is a nearly full-body cyborg rather than a robot, but Mandroid from the '80s movie ''Film/{{Eliminators}}''. Mandroid is a laser-toting war robot mounted on tank treads, [[DoAnythingRobot who has a gadget for all occasions]].

* Aggressor Mark XIX {{Sapient Tank}}s from ''The Literature/NewKashubiaSeries'' appear to be large-ish slabs of armored metal unless they need magnetic bars to act as treads (which they store within themselves) and arms which are [[MechaExpansionPack add-ons]] but are so useful they are quickly becoming standard InUniverse.

* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons 3rd Edition'': Among the [[{{Cyborg}} "construct grafts"]] invented by the maug of Acheron are the Rollers - a set of cylinders which replace a creature's legs, granting them increased speed and the ability to crush smaller enemies by moving through their space. In exchange they take a hefty penalty to Climb, Ride and Swim checks, and lose the ability to run.

* ''TabletopGame/{{Rifts}}'' has some Magitek mecha in the ''Coalition War Campaign'' books in the defence of New Tolkeen, looking like big iron automata. One design definitely does have tractor-like track units.

* Destroyer from ''[=GoBots=]'' has a mid-transformation mode with his legs folded as tank treads. In ''WesternAnimation/ChallengeOfTheGoBots'' animated series, he appeared in this mode.

* In ''VideoGame/AM2R'' (the fan remake of ''VideoGame/MetroidIIReturnOfSamus''), Samus is accosted by the Tank Prototype when escaping the Power Plant's meltdown. It's a Chozo-esque torso mounted on tank treads -- several of its body parts can be destroyed separately (including the treads, which stops it from [[AdvancingBossOfDoom moving forwards]]).

** ''Armored Core 4'' and ''VideoGame/ArmoredCoreForAnswer'' allow tank legs to store oversized backup weapons like another set of chain guns or bazookas or damn near anything else in the game. Unfortunately, in a game where only speed matters (at least in ''VideoGame/ArmoredCoreForAnswer''), using tanks is usually a good way to get yourself killed.
** ''Armored Core V'' has given this trope a hefty nod with its opening cinematic which shows a tank AC [[DeathFromAbove dropped from a transport chopper]]. It promptly gets shot by a real tank, ''shrugs off the attack and runs the regular tank over''. From a gameplay perspective, tanks are the only weapons that can carry Ready Position weapons (heavy folding weapons that require other AC types to kneel first) and fire them at the same time, while moving. To make matters even better, there are your regular, ultra-heavy [[SuperToughness super tough]] and [[MightyGlacier well-armed but slow]] defense tank builds, and the FragileSpeedster light tank builds, which strip your regular heavy tank of any defense, march into battle with high-maneuver tank tracks, and use exclusively [[MoreDakka autocannons]], which enables them to actually ''pursue'' nimbler enemies, subverting the hell out of the "slow but deadly up close" tank image.
* ''VideoGame/{{Brigador}}'': the Brokenheart is a tank built by sticking a Sweetheart mech torso (hence the name) on top of a truck chassis with treads.

* In ''VideoGame/{{Chromehounds}}'', treads were one of the six available movement types - the others being bipedal (manwalker or ChickenWalker), wheeled, hover skirts, and quadrupedal. Treads offered the second highest max weight (below quads), along with good stability, though they are agonizingly slow - only quads were slower.

* The ''VideoGame/FrontMission'' series have quite a few examples. Many wanzers (Front Mission's term for their mecha) have normal arms and upper body, while sporting tank-tread-style legs. Notable ones include some variants of the Wildgoat wanzer and the Igel Zwei wanzer.
* Tank tread mechas and robots have shown up in several installment of the ''Franchise/MegaMan'' franchise:
** 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.
** The first Dark Man-type boss of Proto Man's Castle stage is similarly a torso on treads. This version of the Dark Man shows up in the background of the Mega Man-themed [[VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcom Marvel vs. Capcom]] stages.
* In ''VideoGame/MetalMax'' Xeno, the Asura Tank and its variants are gun-toting robotic statues of Asura that have the lower half of their bodies mounted on tank treads.

* ''VideoGame/RedAlert3'': The Futuretank X-1 is a ''Film/TheTerminator'' Hunter-Killer in all but name, intended in-universe to combine the toughness of Soviet armor with the advanced AI of Imperial warmachines.
* Mr. Burns' [[PowerArmor robot suit]] from ''[[VideoGame/TheSimpsons The Simpsons Arcade Game]]'' extends tank treads as a second form after the first bipedal form receives too much damage.

* In ''VideoGame/SmashTV'' two of its bosses have appeared this way, Mutoid Man and the Evil M.C. Both are giant MeatSackRobot humanoid bodies mounted on tank treads.
* Grounder from ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2'' is a robotic groundhog with tank treads and [[ThisIsADrill drills for hands and nose]] who prominently featured in [[UnderwaterRuins Aquatic Ruin Zone]]. He spends a lot of his time crawling across the ground, changing directions when he comes to a ledge, but he can also sneak up on Sonic and/or Tails by breaking through the walls he hides behind. He was also prominently featured in the ''WesternAnimation/AdventuresOfSonicTheHedgehog'' cartoon as a member of the Super Special Sonic Search And Smash Squad, retaining most of his design from the game (albeit painted green instead of red), and also having the ability to swap his drills out for whatever he needs for the situation (most commonly, hands to hold things).
* ''Franchise/StarFox'': Those are present as enemies in the first levels of ''VideoGame/StarFox64'' and ''VideoGame/StarFoxZero''
* In the ''[[VideoGame/TazManiaSega Taz-Mania]]'' 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.
* The second boss of ''VideoGame/{{Wrack}}'', Mechron, is a giant mecha with tank treads as it's lower half.

[[folder: Web Original]]
* In the ''Hacksmith'' video series detailing the DeFictionalization of the ''Film/{{Aliens}}'' power-loader, it was determined that it would basically have to be built with caterpillar tracks, as working mechanical legs and the RequiredSecondaryPowers nescessary for them to be used safely don't exist yet. The treads (and indeed, the engine for the machine) are provided by a repurposed Bobcat work-vehicle (donated by Caterpillar themselves, along with a few buckets of their official yellow paint).

Compare {{Centaurs}} (humanoid upper body, quadruped lower body) and HoverMecha (same principle but with hover or booster technology). Contrast WalkingTank, ChickenWalker and SpiderTank.

[[quoteright:350:[[Franchise/{{Gundam}} https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/zukutank_6.png]]]]
[[caption-width-right:350:Please, pay no attention to its machinegun [[PhallicWeapon placement]].]]

* In the ''ComicBook/XMen'' franchise there's [[https://marvel.wikia.com/wiki/Bonebreaker Bonebreaker]]; A cyborg with a missing lower half. In its place are a cluster of cybernetics attached on top of a tank platform. Besides the comic books, he has also appeared in ''WesternAnimation/XMenTheAnimatedSeries'' as well as a few video games such as the Punisher arcade game.

[[folder:Films -- Animation]]

[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]

* Johnny 5 and the other S.A.I.N.T.s robots from ''Film/ShortCircuit''.
* It's a slight stretch as the top half is a nearly full-body cyborg rather than a robot, but Mandroid from the '80s movie ''Film/{{Eliminators}}''. Mandroid is a laser-toting war robot mounted on tank treads, [[DoAnythingRobot who has a gadget for all occasions]].

* A double-length episode of ''Scrapheap Challenge'', the British version of ''Series/JunkyardWars'', involved making these, using excavators and other construction machines as bases. The result was a vehicle that ran on treads, with movable arms and a built-in flamethrower.

* ''TabletopGame/{{Rifts}}'' has some Magitek mecha in the ''Coalition War Campaign'' books in the defence of New Tolkeen, looking like big iron automata. One design definitely does have tractor-like track units.
** The core book's cyborg and sourcebook's robot creation rules have a variety of final drive options, including various different sized wheels, tracks, floats, hover units...
* ''TabletopGame/NuclearRenaissance'' has some robots left alive; the miniatures range has a tracked lower body option.

* ''VideoGame/{{Frobot}}'': Much of the cast are robots who move around on tank treads, including [[PlayerCharacter Frobot]], his ladybots, and any robot enemy who isn't a turret.
* The ''VideoGame/FrontMission'' series have quite a few examples. Many wanzers (Front Mission's term for their mecha) have normal arms and upper body, while sporting tank-tread-style legs. Notable ones include some variants of the Wildgoat wanzer and the Igel Zwei wanzer.
* The ninth boss of ''VideoGame/ChikiChikiBoys'', fought at the bottom of the tower, is a tank-treaded construction robot. It wears a construction helmet and attacks with a pick-axe. If done enough damage, the treads will be destroyed and the robot's upper body will hop around.

* In ''VideoGame/AM2R'' (the fan remake of ''VideoGame/MetroidIIReturnOfSamus''), Samus is accosted by the Tank Prototype when escaping the Power Plant's meltdown. It's a Chozo-esque torso mounted on tank treads -- several of its body parts can be destroyed separately (including the treads, which stops it from [[AdvancingBossOfDoom moving forwards]]).

* ''Franchise/StarFox'': Those are present as enemies in the first levels of ''VideoGame/StarFox64'' and ''VideoGame/StarFoxZero''
* In ''VideoGame/MetalMax'' Xeno, the Asura Tank and its variants are gun-toting robotic statues of Asura that have the lower half of their bodies mounted on tank treads.
* ''VideoGame/SLAISteelLancerArenaInternational'' features these on American Stars' Hartman-class SV. They have the most armor and weight capacity, but the lowest speed. This is okay, as the Hartman is already a MightyGlacier and even its fastest available leg parts would result in mediocre speed at best.

* Upon being defeated, Frank Fly of ''VideoGame/EarthBound'' sics his tank-treaded robot Frankystein Mark II on Ness and co. It can only perform physical attacks and one of its attacks, generating a burst of steam, does nothing.

* In the seventh episode of the first season of ''Ple-Ple-Pleiades~!'', a comedic SuperDeformed spinoff of ''Literature/OverLord2012'', local RobotGirl [=CZ2128=] Delta was rebuilt by two of her fellow Pleiades members, [[SlimeGirl Solution Epsilon]] and [[InsectoidAliens Entoma Vasilissa Zeta]], with the intent to further strengthen the Great Tomb of Nazarick's defenses. They've replaced her human lower half with a tank platform, [[ShoulderCannon a gun mounted on each shoulder]], her right forearm with an ArmCannon and her left forearm with a [[ThisIsADrill conical drill]] and to top it all off, a red super robot style crown was attached on her forehead. Finally, they call her new version "[=CZ2128=] Delta MK-II".

* In the seventh episode of the first season of ''Ple-Ple-Pleiades~!'', a comedic SuperDeformed spinoff of ''[[LightNovel/OverLord2012 Overlord]]'', local RobotGirl [=CZ2128=] Delta was rebuilt by two of her fellow Pleiades members, [[SlimeGirl Solution Epsilon]] and [[InsectoidAliens Entoma Vasilissa Zeta]], with the intent to further strengthen the Great Tomb of Nazarick's defenses. They've replaced her human lower half with a tank platform, [[ShoulderCannon a gun mounted on each shoulder]], her right forearm with an ArmCannon and her left forearm with a [[ThisIsADrill conical drill]] and to top it all off, a red super robot style crown was attached on her forehead. Finally, they call her new version "[=CZ2128=] Delta MK-II".

* The ninth boss of ''Mega Twins'', fought at the bottom of the tower, is a tank-treaded construction robot. It wears a construction helmet and attacks with a pick-axe. If done enough damage, the treads will be destroyed and the robot's upper body will hop around.

* In the ''ComicBook/XMen'' franchise there's [[https://marvel.wikia.com/wiki/Bonebreaker Bonebreaker]]; A cyborg with a missing lower half. In its place are a cluster of cybernetics attached on top of a tank platform. Besides the comic books, he has also appeared in the [[WesternAnimation/XMen animated series]] as well as a few video games such as the Punisher arcade game.

* ''Series/KamenRiderBuild'': One of Build's {{Super Mode}}s, [=TankTank=], is an [[UpToEleven exaggerated version]] of the tank-based powers that he can use as one half of his normal transformations. Among its abilities, it lets him transform his lower body into a tank.

** Some [[OurOrcsAreDifferent Ork]] Gargants are fitted with massive track units instead of legs. The technologically limited Feral Orks lack the ability to create proper walking war machines and so their primitive Steam Gargants are moved by means of large, boiler-powered tracks. The mammoth and rare Mega Gargants used by other Ork factions meanwhile are so large and heavy that it would be impossible to build legs strong enough to move them.

* ''VideoGame/RedAlert3'': The Futuretank X-1 is a ''{{Film/Terminator}}'' Hunter-Killer in all but name, intended in-universe to combine the toughness of Soviet armor with the advanced AI of Imperial warmachines.

[[quoteright:350:[[Franchise/{{Gundam}} https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/zakutank.png]]]]
[[caption-width-right:350: Please, pay no attention to its machinegun [[PhallicWeapon placement]].]]

** ''Warlords of Russia'' has at least one Heavy Machine cyborg body with small track units for feet.

* ''TabletopGame/Rifts'' has some Magitek mecha in the ''Coalition War Campaign'' books in the defence of New Tolkeen, looking like big iron automata. One design definitely does have tractor-like track units.