Medivac dropship

The Medivac Dropship (or Medical Evacuation Dropship) is a terran aerospace transport that also provides medical support for wounded troops.

Evolution
The medivac concept was first introduced as an improvised solution by the Terran Dominion's 19th Marine Division. The unit was operating in the acid storms of Thalon VII, and modifying the dropship to allow for remote control increased the combat life of medics by decaminutes.

A Terran Dominion post- analysis found a startling 37% of field-deployed troops became casualties requiring evacuation to the rear. In light of these findings, Emperor Arcturus Mengsk personally ordered dropships redesigned to produce the medivac transport. The redesigned dropship served as a forward triage station and kept units in the field longer.

The medivac dropship was very expensive to deploy, and the Dominion maintained the use of traditional infantry medics.

The success of the medivac design caused the Umojan Protectorate and Kel-Morian Combine to adopt them as well.

G-226 Medical Transport
By the Second Great War, the G-226 medical transport was in service. Procyon Industries won the contract to provide the G-226's laser scalpels and auto-sutures by being the lowest bidder. The accuracy and precision of these tools were questioned by the troops.

Game Unit
Medivacs appear in StarCraft II, dropping units quickly one at a time. There is a delay between every dropped unit. Transports have a drop animation which doesn't affect gameplay, although it will be more vulnerable as it will not automatically move away if attacked.

The medivac dropship picks units up extremely quickly, fast enough to enable units to dodge stalker attacks.

Against the zerg, medivacs work well with marauders as part of a "commando force."

The medivac dropship can transport a Thor. The Thor transforms into a cube and hangs underneath. This fills up the entire capacity of the dropship.

Wings of Liberty
Medivac dropships are unlocked by playing The Moebius Factor mission, available after Dr. Narud gave Raynor's Raiders control over their medivacs.

Strategies
Medivac dropships make great support to marines, especially those bolstered by ballistic alloy combat shields, which enables them to survive a hit from a high damage unit, after which they can be quickly healed.

Medivac dropships can support raiding very effectively. They can heal a cloaked ghost as it drops nukes.

Development
The medivac dropship was designed to replace medics. Medics could not keep up with reapers, which discouraged the latter's use in favor of the medic/marine combination. The medivac dropship allowed for more flexibility.

Quotations

 * Main Article: StarCraft II Medivac Dropship Quotations

Known Pilots

 * Maria Thalasses