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As a large Arachnid used against Mobile Infantry, the Tanker Bugs resembles a giant beetle and plays the role of tanks/armors of the Arachnid forces.



Starship Troopers film universe[]

The Tanker Bugs are generally black in color and are nearly as large as Plasma Bugs. They have evolved the ability to spray a stream of flammable, corrosive liquid from its head.

The Tanker ejected fuel from a nozzle-like spout in the top of the head. With each Arachnid serving a specific military role, the Tanker Bug functions as a form of armor support. Their thick exoskeleton provides them with excellent protection, though not absolute immunity, from rifle rounds, allowing them to take quite a beating before finally being killed. On the other hand, they are rather vulnerable to explosives, such as grenades thrown by the human troopers, particularly in weakened areas of their shell.

Tanker Bugs were used by the Arachnids during the Klendathu System Campaign when the Federation tried to capture Arachnid planets in the system one at a time. During this campaign, several Tanker Bugs were seen on Planet P and Tango Urilla where they commonly attacked Mobile Infantry forces by tunneling underneath them and coming up behind the Mobile Infantry lines.

The tanker was first seen during the assault on Tango Urilla, where Mobile Infantry soldiers who were having great success after an air strike were ambushed by one such specimen, which attacked Corporal Bird and incinerated her right arm while the Lieutenant in charge rescued her. Rico launched a counterattack, jumping onto the bug from above and opening up with his weapon, which ruptured the tanker's shell. The soldier then threw a fragmentation grenade into the bug's innard, causing it to ignite and blow up.

A second tanker was seen in the ambush on Whiskey Outpost, and was presumably responsible for causing Lieutenant Raszcak's demise. This particular specimen emerged in the outpost, but was swiftly brought down by another fragmentation grenade, thrown by Dizzy Flores, which it swallowed.

Gallery[]



Roughnecks: Starship Troopers Chronicles[]

Tanker TV

The Tanker Bugs are the size of houses and breathe fire as their main offensive weapon. Although they don't move quickly, their ability to tunnel underground allows them to pop up unexpectedly in the middle of a battle. Their armored exoskeleton makes them near-impervious to everything except high explosives such as mini-nukes and plasma rockets.

Starship Troopers: The Miniatures Game[]


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Appearances[]

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