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Laser Crusader ready for engagement!
- Laser Tank rolling out from the War Factory

The Laser Tank (also known as the Laser Crusader) was a futuristic replacement for standard US armour pioneered by Townes and his main battle tank (MBT).

Background[]

Keep the power flowing!
- Laser Tank

Based on a Crusader chassis (and thus often dubbed the 'Laser Crusader'), Laser Tanks had turrets equipped with deadly laser weapons, most effective against other vehicles and structures. The tank fulfilled the same role as the Crusader in Townes' forces, costing the same for him to acquire.

Much of the technology behind the Laser Tank remains classified. It is still unclear why, if Townes failed to maintain sufficient base power levels, the tanks became entirely inactive (this is probably because a portable reactor for such a lethal weapon could not be developed yet, and thus required a stationary reactor. This could mean that Townes could also have developed a way to provide energy without using direct connection); or why the lasers are not accurate against infantry.

Upgrades[]

Laser cannon targeting set!
- Laser Tank

Drones[]

CNCG Predator Drone Cameo
Scout Drone The Scout Drone simply fed battlefield information to the vehicle crew, increasing their sight range and revealing nearby stealthed units. Costs $100.
CNCG Battle Drone Cameo
Battle Drone The Battle Drone was armed with a small machine gun to defeat enemy infantry, and could also repair its parent vehicle. Costs $300.
CNCG Hellfire Drone Cameo
Hellfire Drone The Hellfire Drone, available in Zero Hour, fired a small but surprisingly powerful missile against enemy ground units. Costs $500.

Drones can be further upgraded with Drone Armor, increasing their durability.

Structure-specific[]

Composite Armor installed sir.
- Crusader
CNCG Composite Armour Cameo
Composite Armour This upgrade improves the armor of each Crusader. Purchasable at any Strategy Center for $2000
Gen1 Advanced Training Icons
Advanced Training Allowed Crusader, along with all other USA units gain veteran status twice as fast. Purchasable at any Strategy Center for $1500

Game Unit[]

Tactics[]

Power up the lasers!
- Laser Tank on the attack

The laser generated by the Laser Tank was more dangerous to enemy armor than even a standard 120mm tank shell. Only the Chinese Overlord could match the Laser Tank's damage, and Townes' machines were far cheaper and faster. This often afforded them much more flexibility in engagements than the cumbersome Overlord while still packing the same 'punch'. In large numbers, they were more than capable of decimating entire armored columns in seconds.

As with most US tanks, Laser Tanks, when in large groups, can even defeat Overlord Tanks.

Counters[]

Keep the power flowing!
- Laser Tank

Laser Crusaders had a unique weakness - the need to maintain a steady level of power at the nearest base for Laser Tanks to be used. This meant that destroying enough of Townes' power plants would not just shut down his base defenses, but also the Laser Tanks. Each Laser Tank drains one unit of energy - potentially turning troops supplied by captured Reinforcement Pads from a utility to a liability.

Laser Tanks are also fairly ineffective against infantry, needing support against rocket-toting infantry - a weakness inherited from its mainline counterpart. Avengers are effective for this purpose, while anti-infantry backup units or a combat drone upgrade to the tank itself are needed to deal with the rocket-armed infantry. Avengers are also a necessity to protect these tanks from air assault - the Laser Tank's cannon can eliminate ground-based threats while supporting Avengers tear apart encroaching aircraft with their own lasers.

This vehicle is also the reason the Paladin tank is not used by Townes.

Selected Quotes[]

The Crusader borrows the voiceset of the standard Crusader, with additional specialized lines.

Laser Crusader ready for engagement!
- When emerging from the War Factory
Keep the power flowing!
- When selected
Laser cannon targeting set!
- When selected
Power up the lasers!
- When ordered to attack
Releasing energy pulse!
- When ordered to attack
Raising intensity!
- When ordered to attack

Trivia[]

  • The tank shares some of its lines with the Crusader Tank, even the line "Crusader Tank responding". It does have several new lines (see Selected Quotes above), however. In quotes, the laser tank also refers to itself as a "laser crusader".
  • Insights, such as the Soviet Union's attempt at such an advanced weapon, indicate that a successful production of an actual laser weapon armored vehicle would also mean that it would be the most expensive tank in the world, topping the South Korean K2 Black Panther tank which sits at over $8 million a unit.
  • Although this unit is the original American Crusader Tank developed for Townes, the word "Crusader" is almost nowhere in the game except in the files.
  • The various laser weapons in Generals are typically very precise, yet the Laser Crusader suffers from the same lack of accuracy against infantry that the normal Crusader does. This was likely done for balancing reasons.
  • The Laser Crusader's and the GLA Black Market's cameo remains the only ones in all of Generals and Zero Hour that has incorrectly colored accents; Townes is an American general, so it should be colored blue (red is China's faction color).

See also[]

Gen USA Logo United States of America War against the GLA Arsenal Gen USA Logo
Sheppard Tanks CNCTW Scorpion Tank Cameo
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