Predator

The Predator (known as the Police Predator in the HD Universe) is a police patrol boat appearing in every game since Grand Theft Auto III (except Grand Theft Auto Advance and Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars).

Description
In all of its appearances, the Predator serves as the main patrol vessel used by the law enforcement. It is usually seen roaming in water areas or pursuing the player while having a wanted level.

3D Universe
The Predator in the 3D Universe is depicted as a police-issued speed boat with a small cabin and an open rear, loosely based on a Cougar Enforcer patrol boat (possibly a combination of the 35 and the 40 Gen4 models). It has two built-in .50 caliber machine guns on both sides of the hull.

In Grand Theft Auto III and Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories, the boat is relatively simple, featuring a simplistic hull, a rotating radar antenna and two large aerials on the back of the cabin roof. It is only seen in a blue primary color on the lower side with a white secondary color on the upper side, with "POLICE" markings on the sides. In the Xbox and mobile versions of GTA III, the Predator features a bow rail, a small ladder on the back, and buoys attached to the sides.

In Grand Theft Auto: Vice City and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories, the boat retains most of the design and features, but the upper hull area has vented details on the sides and the lower hull area has a worn appearance. In GTA Vice City, it is seen in a white color, while in GTA Vice City Stories, it spawns in a blue color.

In Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, the boat assumes the same features as the Vice City rendition, but adds a rear surfing-style rack with mounted police light beacons. These lights are permanently activated, though no siren sound is heard or activated.

The Predator has a brownish lower hull as the primary color and a grey upper hull as the secondary color.

Grand Theft Auto IV
In Grand Theft Auto IV, the Predator strongly resembles a, seen in the hull length, cabin area and vented details on the back, as well as the radar equipment and frame positioning.

The vehicle retains the general layout from previous iterations, but appears to take the appearance of a small patrol watercraft, with an enlarged and wider body. The front of the boat features two cleats and hand rails. An LCPD emblem is found on the trunk cabin, and on either side underneath the cabin side windows. LCPD text is found on the roof and POLICE markings along the platform coaming. The platform coaming also features hand rails. The washboard also features two aerials. Various naval accessories and a lamp are mounted onto the roof, and fenders are hung along the sides. Unlike previous renditions, the vehicle lacks any mounted weaponry.

The boat assigns a white primary color for most of the body, while a blue secondary color is applied on the lower hull and the gunwales.

Grand Theft Auto V and Grand Theft Auto Online
The Predator returns with an identical design to that of the GTA IV rendition, but slight changes were made. The "POLICE" markings are again found on the side, and "Dial 911" markings are seen along the top. The LSPD emblem is found on the trunk cabin and more "POLICE" text is seen on the radar. The lamp on the roof can be toggled on and off, like any watercraft.

Color distribution is the same as in GTA IV, but the secondary color is set to black.

3D Universe
As a police-issued boat, the Predator is generally fast and responsive, as well as having an average acceleration. Its resistance, however, is below average due to the thin armor and the poor capabilities for large combat. This is compensated by its machine guns, as the firepower and rate of fire makes these weapons a large threat, able to take out other boats easily. Other than the overheating or reloading mechanism, the machine guns seems to have no disadvantages.

Predators shoot the same rounds as NPC-controlled Police Mavericks, except in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories, where it uses Little Willie rounds, thus giving the player the ability to destroy any other boat directly in front of them; however, the guns are also revealed to seize briefly after prolonged firing, implying it is reloading ammunition.

Grand Theft Auto IV
The Police Predator is rather heavy compared to other speedboats such as the Jetmax or the Squalo, but is still a good choice thanks to its acceleration, top speed and handling. While the machine guns are absent on the HD Universe version, the Police Predator seems to be less sensitive to collisions and gunfire, given the general design and purpose.

Grand Theft Auto V and Grand Theft Auto Online
The Police Predator has impressive performance thanks to its powerful engines. The boat has mild steering which often "oversteers" (a bad radius issue with its props). The boat has reasonable acceleration and is not slowed down dramatically by waves or general current, however its stability while stationary in the water is often loose and therefore the boat has a tendency to move around unintentionally.

According to the files, the Police Predator is equipped with a radar in the manner as a mounted weapon, though does not serve any purpose and is likely made for the spin animation.

GTA V/GTA Online Overview
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Notable Owners

 * 3D Universe
 * Liberty City Police Department (A Drop in the Ocean, GTA III)
 * Vice City Police Department
 * While Predators are seemingly used by the corresponding city's police departments (whose character models are dependent on the location they spawn), they will announce themselves as coastguard over the loudspeaker to the player when wanted. Two sets of dialogue are played dependent on whether the wanted player is in the water or in a boat. Only two police officers spawn in the Predator, a driver and a passenger who is permanently fixed to the boat's stern. The passenger is armed with a pistol and presumably operates the loudspeaker, given the loudspeaker will no longer sound when he is killed.


 * HD Universe
 * Liberty City Police Department
 * Los Santos Police Department (wanted level)
 * San Andreas Coast Guard personnel will use Police Predators on water areas without wanted levels.

Grand Theft Auto IV

 * Buoys Ahoy - A Police Predator, operated by the LCPD Harbor Unit, is briefly seen in an attempt to stop the boats, before it is destroyed by Dimitri's goons.

Grand Theft Auto III
The Predator only appears parked empty in specific locations. It is not used by the local police and does not spawn during wanted levels.
 * At the docks next to Asuka Kasen's apartment, Newport.
 * By the northern runway of Francis International Airport.
 * At the Porter Tunnel dock in Portland after unlocking Staunton Island.

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
The Predator can be seen patrolling Vice City as well as parked in a specific location. Local police will also use the boat and give chase to the player when they have a wanted level of 2 stars or more.
 * Below the Links Bridge, next to Leaf Links.

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
The Predator can rarely be seen patrolling San Andreas, albeit with only the driver. Local police will use the boat and give chase to the player when they have a wanted level of 2 stars or more.

Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories
The Predator only appears parked empty in specific locations. It is not used by the local police and does not spawn during wanted levels.
 * At the docks next to Asuka Kasen's apartment, Newport.
 * By the southern runway of Francis International Airport.

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories
The Predator commonly appears patrolling Vice City and also spawns when the player has a wanted level of 2 stars or more.

Grand Theft Auto IV
The Predator only spawns when the player has a wanted level of 3 stars or more. They are pretty difficult to obtain, as there are two riflemen with Carbine Rifles and can kill the player easily if they are too close. However, Predator captains are scripted to give chase to the player only if they are swimming.

Grand Theft Auto V
The Police Predator regularly patrols the coast areas of Los Santos and Blaine County, particularly Fort Zancudo and Los Santos International Airport. Will also spawn if the player has a wanted level of 2 stars or more when the player is swimming or in a boat, but they will not spawn if the player is in an amphibious vehicle or an aircraft while flying over the water.

Grand Theft Auto V

 * The Police Predator gives the player a Carbine Rifle upon entry.

3D Universe

 * Despite being a police vehicle, the player will not get a wanted level should they collide upon the Predator in another boat, whereas colliding into another land police vehicle will usually issue a wanted level.
 * Despite being a police vehicle, the Predator does not have Vigilante missions associated with it.
 * In GTA San Andreas, if the player climbs on board the Predator, the policeman who drives the boat will jump off the boat. This glitch occurs on all boats in the game.
 * When flying in an aircraft, any pursuing Predator can shoot at the player from almost 90 degree angles, an unusual feat that cannot be achieved by the player.
 * The Predator in GTA San Andreas has a regular radio instead of a police scanner.

Grand Theft Auto V and Grand Theft Auto Online

 * The unit number (69269) on the LSPD Police Predator is a reference to the 69 sex position. This is also shared with the Police Bike.
 * In the original version of the game, a map of the Alamo Sea and Sandy Shores can be seen inside the Police Predator, also seen in the Dinghy. This is replaced with a blank screen in the enhanced version of the game, along with a high-quality boat interior.

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