List of G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero playsets and vehicles
The G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline was introduced by Hasbro in 1982, and lasted to 1994, producing well over 250 vehicles, and playsets. Many of these vehicles included action figures designed to be the driver/pilot of the vehicle. Other vehicles were sold separately, for use with any G.I. Joe character.
In the late 1980s, Toys "R" Us also produced several exclusive lines of G.I. Joe toys, which were repainted and recast versions of previously released toys.
G.I. Joe vehicles with drivers
Arctic Blast
The Arctic Blast was first released in 1989, packaged with the driver Windchill. This cold-weather vehicle featured a progressive air suspension system, two "Chain Gang" 30mm Gatling guns, two 7.62mm double-barreled machine guns, and side-mounted surface missiles.Avalanche
The Avalanche was first released in 1990, packaged with the driver Cold Front. It featured a digital ice mine deployer, a side-swipe missile-firing pulse cannon, six heat-seeking surface-to-air missiles, and a removable scout craft for arctic reconnaissance.A.W.E. Striker
The A.W.E. 'Striker was first released in 1985, packaged with the Crankcase action figure. It featured a removable engine, a 10-round 70mm launcher for projectiles, off-road tires and springing 4WD suspension. Its design was based on the Chenowth M1040/41 Fast Attack Vehicle first produced in 1982 though not fielded until 1991. In 1992, the cannon was replaced by a water-firing gun, and the vehicle was recast as the Eco-Striker', as part of the Eco-Warriors line.Blockbuster
The Blockbuster was first released in 1994, packaged with the Battle Corps version of Windchill. The heavily armored vehicle featured a double-barreled pom-pom cannon, with a ten shot auto-feeding rocket chamber, an anti-aircraft gun, and a front-mounted Gatling gun.Conquest X-30
The Conquest X-30 super-sonic jet was first introduced in the 1986 run of the toyline, packaged with the Slip Stream action figure. The Conquest is an advanced forward-swept wing jet fighter, based on the real-life experimental Grumman X-29 aircraft. It is armed with a laser guidance system, twin 25 mm revolver cannons, and four "AIM-12 Light Sparrow" missiles. The Conquest X-30 carries "11k" internal fuel, and two 350 gal. external fuel tanks. Hasbro marketed it as the Joe team's counterpart to Cobra's [|Night Raven].It was recast in a red and black cross "Snake Skin" camouflage, and released as the Python Conquest in 1989, as part of the Python Patrol line. It was later released again as the Conquest X-30 in 1998, with a different color scheme, and bundled with a different character, fellow G.I. Joe pilot Ace. It was released once more in 2003, again with a different color scheme, and Slip Stream back as the pilot.
In the Marvel Comics G.I. Joe series, the Conquest first appeared in issue #54, where it squared off against the Cobra Firebat. It would not be until G.I. Joe: Special Missions issue #5 that it would fight against the Night Raven. The Conquest X-30 is featured heavily in the second season of the TV series, when it replaced the Skystriker as the Joe team's primary fighting aircraft.
Crossfire
The Crossfire was the first radio-controlled G.I. Joe vehicle. It was first released in 1987, packaged with the action figure Rumbler. The 4WD vehicle came with a control module and twin-lever joystick, and could be controlled from up to 70 feet away. It featured two "Live-Wire" Sam-19 missiles, "Pumper" 20mm cannons, and real rubber tires. The Crossfire was available in two different radio frequencies, so that two vehicles could be operated in the same location.Crusader Space Shuttle
The Crusader Space Shuttle is based on the design of the Defiant that was released two years earlier. In lieu of the robot arm, the Crusader comes with the Avenger Scout Craft, which was a one-person recon jet, similar to the drone that accompanied the Cobra [|Night Raven S³P]. The Crusader also came with a repainted version of the Payload action figure.Desert Fox
The Desert Fox 6WD desert jeep was first released in 1988, packaged with the driver Skidmark. It featured two "Scorpion" anti-tank missiles, wheels that were heat and puncture resistant, and a rear-mounted anti-aircraft cannon. In 1993, it was recast and released as the Dino-Hunter Jeep, as part of the Dino-Hunter Mission Playset, which also included repainted versions of the figures Ambush and Low-Light.Dragonfly XH-1
The Dragonfly XH-1 assault copter was first released in 1983, packaged with the action figure Wild Bill. Armed with four Sidewinder air-to-ground missiles, two Sidewinder H.E. missiles, and a dual M-34 grenade launcher/2mm Vulcan nose cannon, it became a trademark for the G.I. Joe Team. The toy's design is based upon the Bell AH-1 SuperCobra. The Dragonfly is featured in the 1985 G.I. Joe computer game. Wild Bill also pilots a Dragonfly in the C64/CPC version of the Action Force video game. It was repainted and released as the Tiger Force Tiger Fly in 1988.Ghoststriker X-16
The Ghoststriker X-16 was introduced in 1993, as the latest in the G.I. Joe Team's high-tech flight technology. Based on the F-16 Fighting Falcon, the jet featured two Sidewinder missiles, four Phoenix missiles, retractable landing gear, and an image projection unit built into the nosecone of the toy. When activated, it would project the illuminated image of an enemy jet on a wall, so that the toy could "fire a missile" at the image and neutralize it. The Ghoststriker came packaged with the Battle Corps version of Ace.H.A.V.O.C.
The H.A.V.O.C. was introduced in 1986, and came packaged with the Cross-Country action figure. It was armed with dual recoilless cannons, and "Lancer" guided missiles. The rear of the vehicle opened to reveal a reinforced lift-off pad, and a one-man hover reconnaissance vehicle. Unlike much of the Joe team's vehicles and equipment up to that point, the H.A.V.O.C. was not based on any real-world vehicle, deployed or in development. It was repainted with chrome parts, and released as the Sky Patrol Sky H.A.V.O.C. in 1990.Killer W.H.A.L.E.
The Killer W.H.A.L.E. hovercraft was released in 1984. It came packaged with the Cutter action figure, and featured twin elevating cannons, two rotating machine guns, and six depth charges. The craft's four casters allow it to "hover" on a flat surface, and although not air-tight, the toy has positive buoyancy and is capable of floating on water. In the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero comic book, the acronym stood for Water-borne Hovercraft Assault Landing: Experimental, and it first appeared in issue #28, when it participated in an assault on Zartan's lair in Florida's Okefenokee Swamp. It was recast in black and red, and released as the Night Force Night Striker in 1988.Mauler M.B.T.
The Mauler M.B.T. was released in 1985, as a replacement for the M.O.B.A.T. toy which was discontinued the same year. It was based on the AAI Corporation's prototype RDF/LT produced in 1980. It came packaged with the Heavy Metal action figure. Like the M.O.B.A.T., the Mauler incorporated a small DC electric motor, powered by 4xC batteries. However, the Mauler toy was only capable of going forward, albeit with two speeds, unlike the M.O.B.A.T. which could also reverse and turn. It was repainted and fitted with new parts in 1989, and released as the Slaughter's Marauders Equalizer.Mean Dog
The Mean Dog 3-in-1 armored vehicle was first released in 1988, packaged with the driver Wild Card. It consisted of a main body with a tow hook and ten missiles, a removable M200 "Spitfire" 20mm cannon, and a fast-attack scout car with a.50 caliber machine gun.M.O.B.A.T.
The M.O.B.A.T. was first released in 1982, packaged with the action figure Steeler. The design was based on the MBT-70, with an extendable 130mm main cannon, and a.50 caliber machine gun. "Motorized" refers to the fact that toy was actually propelled by a small 2xD battery powered electric motor that drove the tank's tracks, allowing the toy to move forward/reverse and turn under its own power; its movement was controlled by moving the tank commander's cupola on the top of the turret. In later years, Hasbro was able to sell thousands of M.O.B.A.T. toys to former Soviet children through its Indian joint venture, Funskool Ltd.; the Russians ordered 100,000 units delivered instantly.In the Marvel Comics G.I. Joe series, the M.O.B.A.T.'s most prominent appearances include the first issue, where it is part of a concentrated attack on a Cobra island fortress. Subsequently, the M.O.B.A.T. is featured prominently in issue #5, in a story dedicated to the vehicle. In-story, the acronym stood for "Multi-Ordnance BAttle Tank".
The M.O.B.A.T. is one of the vehicles a player can use in the 1985 G.I. Joe computer game. The M.O.B.A.T. toy also receives a brief mention, along with the Terror Drome, in the Stephen King horror novel The Tommyknockers.