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Biography
Unreferenced|date=December 2009Orphan|date=December 2009 R.A.T.S. , an acronym for Robot Anti-Terror Squad (also sometimes known as Battle R.A.T.S. ), was a short-lived robot and vehicle toy-line created by Tomy and released in Europe in the early 1980s. The toyline consisted primarily of recolored robots and vehicles from Starriors , an American toyline also created by Tomy, but also featured additional vehicles not seen in the Starriors line. The primary gimmick of each toy was some example of wind-up automation, such as a rotating weapon or tool, or an electronics|electronic automation, such as firing discs or locomotion .
The only backstory for the toys was that which was provided on the packaging itself (in English language|English , French language|French and Italian language|Italian ):
From the depths of space came the enemy battle squadron...hostile hordes of alien robots. Earth was the prize they fought for and Earth was their battleground. But they were not prepared for Earth's last line of defence... An army created to crush and destroy any invader. They're the ultimate weapon — the last line of defence of Planet Earth. '''They're fierce. They're mean. They'll take on anybody ...anything& #33; They're R.A.T.S.& #33; The Robot Anti-Terror Squad.
The Toys
R.A.T.S. toys were manufactured primarily in Thailand and Singapore , though some were later produced in France . While only one wave of toys was publicized via the back of each toy's box or card, at least two releases exist that were not depicted in the initial wave, both of which were recolored Starriors toys. Due to the later manufacturer's reference numbers on their packaging, they may have been part of an unpublicized second (or supplementary) wave. There is at least one more possible release, a blue redeco of another Starriors figure, Bolar . This figure was pictured on the box of the rarely-seen Combat Command Centre (along with both Squad Reinforcement Personnel figures), but a physical sample has yet to surface.
Toy Name
Starriors equivalent
Reference Number
Country of Manufacture
GRAPPLOR
none
5305
Singapore
STARSHOOTER
none
5306
Thailand
TWIN-HORN
Twinhorn
5314
Thailand
FIRE-EATER
none
5314
Thailand
STRIKER
none
5315
Thailand
T-BIRD
Windstorm
5315
Thailand
BLADE
Slice
5316
Singapore
PROTECTRON
Ripsaw
5316
Singapore
FLASHFIST
Flashfist
5316
Singapore
DEVASTATOR
Twinblade
5316
Singapore
COMBAT COMMAND CENTRE
none
5318
Singapore
SPIT-FIRE & SPY-BIRD
Deadeye & Cricket
5319
Singapore
"SQUAD REINFORCEMENT PERSONNEL"
Gouge
5320
France
"SQUAD REINFORCEMENT PERSONNEL"
Hotshot
5320
France
A related, even more obscure toyline is known to exist, also called R.A.T.S., this time standing for ' Robot Anti- Transformation Squad . This series was also produced by Tomy, but so far little is known about its countries of manufacture or Distribution (business)|distribution . Two toys are so far confirmed to have been released: a redeco of the first R.A.T.S. Grapplor , and Badfoot , a battery-powered, bipedal walking robot.
External links
http://www.botchthecrab.com/gallery.asp? gallery=7 R.A.T.S. gallery at botchthecrab.com's picture archive
http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=DuexrzhpNuk R.A.T.S. (Robot Anti-Transformation Squad) Badfoot in action on YouTube
Category:Takara Tomy Category:Toys of the 1980s Category:Toy robots
Copyright Citations
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Click here for original article: R.A.T.S.
