Target Hawk

Target Hawk is a Decepticon from the Operation Combination portion of the Generation 1 continuity family.

Named after one of the most endangered bird species.
(Note: This photo is of a pre-release toy with the wrong chest colors; the final release has a dark green chest.)

Target Hawk (ターゲットホーク Tāgettohōku) is a member of the Battle Gaia team, sent to Earth to capture energy to fuel the Decepticons' conquest.

They have the coolest name of the team.

Fiction

United EX

When Onslaught succeeded in purloining a set of drones intended for Choppermaster, a new combiner, Battle Gaia, was created from his old body's data. After reporting his success to Scrash, Onslaught released Battle Gaia in order to create a distraction that would allow him to continue his thefts. Prelude to the Siege

Operation Combination story pages

Target Hawk served as a limb for Battle Gaia. Big Pinch, Autobots! The Decepticons' Attack on Earth! Conclusion

Metrowars

Target Hawk was one of the Decepticons stationed aboard Metrotitan. Separated or combined with Battle Gaia, they were part of a Decepticon assault on Scramble City. They were forced to retreat when the Autobots showed off the power of a reborn Metroplex. Metrowars

Toys

Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers

• Battle Gaia (Multi-pack, 1992)

• ID number: TF-10
• Accessories: Left & right cannons, pistol, rotor blade

Released in the Operation Combination portion of the original Takara, Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers toyline, Target Hawk is a redeco of Vortex, transforming into a Kaman Aerospace SH-2 Seasprite helicopter. Using the Scramble City-style of combination, the figure can form any limb to a compatible torso, though Target Hawk's nominal placement is as the left arm to Battle Gaia.

Target Hawk was only available as part of the Battle Gaia giftset, along with Great Cannon, Leyland, Sandstorm, and Shuttle Gunner. As one of the last releases of the Japanese Transformers line, at a time when pretty much everyone had stopped buying Transformers, a loose set of the team can demand prices over a thousand U.S. dollars.

• More information on Target Hawk at TFU.info

Notes

• The Target Hawk depicted in the July 1992 issue of TV Magazine (as seen above) has some color differences compared to the final version; most notably, the retail toy's chest is dark green, and his grey parts are all a lighter grey.
• None of the Battle Gaia components were given individual bios. This was actually very common by this point in the Takara Transformers line, which was loaded up with multi-packs (mainly of Micromasters) where the singular on-package bio would cover the entire team, and there was very little fiction to even attempt to highlight anyone beyond "hey cool robot that fights good".