Paladin tank (Generals)
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 | For the Allied tank, see Paladin tank (Red Alert iPhone). |
|---|
| Paladin Tank | |
|---|---|
 Paladin tank in combat action. | |
| Unit | |
| Affiliation | |
| Role |
|
| Armament |
Cannon (jet-assisted shells) |
| Protection |
High |
| Properties | |
| Hit points |
500 (600 with Composite Armor) |
| Armor type |
Tank Armor |
| Production | |
| Cost |
$1100 |
| Build time |
0:12 |
| Produced by |
|
| Requires |
1 promotion point |
| Hot key |
P |
| Combat | |
| Ground attack |
|
| Cooldown |
|
| Speed |
30 (25 if badly damaged) |
| Attack range |
|
| Sight range |
150-300 |
| Function | |
| Add-ons |
   |
| Upgrades |
  |
| Abilities |
Shooting missiles down |
| Notes | |
| |
| “ | Preserving Freedom - Paladin Tank leaving the War Factory | ” |
The Paladin Tank is an advanced USA main battle tank.
Contents |
Background
Edit
Deployment historyEdit
| “ | Protecting our people. - Paladin tank | ” |
Entering battlefield service as an advanced prototype, the Paladin quickly gained favor with US Generals. Early in the GLA conflict, Crusaders often made up the bulk of armored offensives, as in the attack against GLA-occupied Baghdad. In the later stages of the war, the Paladin became an increasingly common sight within US armored ranks. The Paladin is the first US units to use Point Defense Laser whose technology saw use later in the conflict in units such as the Avenger. Throughout its service in the war, the Paladin was revered for its ability to survive longer than Crusaders against guided and unguided rocket weapons, thanks to its Point Defense Laser active protection system. The prototype status didn't prevent requests for acquisition as battlefield assessment showed impending risk from the GLA's rocket buggies which could overwhelm the PDL system and Chinese deployment of Overlord tanks and nuclear technologies, not to mention the GLA's "prototype" of a more armored assault tank (most likley the marauder tank).
CharacteristicsEdit
| “ | Yes Sir. - Paladin Tank Ordered to Move | ” |
The Paladin is basically what can be described as a souped-up Crusader, a main battle tank it shares roles with. The Paladin's main gun fired "jet-assisted" shells, in addition to an antimissile laser. The antimissile laser made the Paladin less vulnerable to enemy rocket-propelled antitank weaponry such as guided missiles, although it did nothing against tank shells. The Paladin was notably quite expensive, even in comparison to the Crusader.
The Paladin's laser allowed it to zap missiles and infantry (especially suicide bombers, which are a constant bane to most vehicles) that get too close. A large column of Paladin's often caused opposing generals headaches due to all the anti-missile lasers. A Paladin has slightly more armor than a Crusader.
AvailabilityEdit
| “ | Enemies of The Free World. - Paladin Tank Ordered to Attack | ” |
Only the main US Army has access to Paladins, which is odd in the case of Gen. Townes, a regular user of laser technology. Rumor has it that Chinese Gen. Leang possesses Paladin technology and that she uses it as her standard main battle tank in place of the more indigenous Battlemaster.
The very complex tank-antimissile hybrid construct of the Paladin made it a weapon too valuable to fall into enemy hands. As such, the technology to build it is only granted to US Army generals who have risen in rank.
UpgradesEdit
DronesEdit
| “ | A welcome addition - Paladin upgrading with a Battlle Drone. | ” |
| Scout Drone | The Scout Drone simply fed battlefield information to the vehicle crew, increasing their sight range and revealing nearby stealthed units. Costs $100. |
| 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. |
| Hellfire Drone | The Hellfire Drone, available in Zero Hour, fired a small but surprisingly powerful missile against enemy ground units. Costs $500. |
Important Note: Drones can be further upgraded with Drone Armour.
Structure-specificEdit
| Composite Armour | This upgrade improves the armor of each Paladin. | Purchasable at any Strategy Center for $2000 |
| Advanced Training | Allowed Paladin, along with all other USA units gain veteran status twice as fast. | Purchasable at any Strategy Center for $1500 |
GameplayEdit
TacticsEdit
| “ | It would be a honor - Paladin Tank attacking | ” |
Despite being costlier than most other tanks, the Paladin fared better against rocket-toting infantry and was by no means slow or cumbersome for its class. Often, the Paladin is used as a Scorpion deterrent, as its Point Defense Laser can nullify incoming Scorpion rockets, minimizing the losses incurred on its side of the shootout. Its double-duty capabilities also make it favorable for removing Scud Launchers and their ballistic missiles. On a lesser role, Paladins serve as close-range fire support against infantry, as the Point Defense Laser is potent for killing infantry in one to two hits.
CountersEdit
| “ | Doing what's right. - Paladin | ” |
The Paladin's laser proves to be an effective active protection system against missiles, but the laser's poor rate of fire leaves a lot to be desired. A common tactic is to overwhelm a Paladin with more missiles than it can handle.
In open combat, the Paladin's inability to outshoot artillery and outrun bombardment becomes an exploitable weakness. Additionally, in warfare that does not involve missile carriers like Scorpions and RPG troopers, the Paladin's point defense laser becomes useless: the Paladin depends on a combination of armor, firepower and active protection to survive; abandoning the third characteristic forces the Paladin to fight short of one important combat perk.
Highly unconventional warfare such as vehicle theft and crew-killing is also a problem for Paladins. Jarmen Kell, GLA's elite marksman, could disable the Paladin by sniping its crew, leaving it open for commandeering.
GlitchesEdit
In older unpatched skirmish games, the Paladin's laser occasionally destroyed launched Chinese nuclear missiles, usually in one shot! The turrets also bent sometimes.
AssessmentEdit
ProsEdit
- Tougher than Crusaders.
- Deals heavier damage than Crusaders.
- Has an anti-missile laser.
ConsEdit
- Costlier than other main battle tanks.
- Slow-moving.
- Helpless against aircraft if not escorted by Avengers.
- Weaker than Overlord, ton for ton.
Selected QuotesEdit
| “ | Paladin Tank in the field - When selected | ” |
| “ | Is there a threat? - When selected | ” |
| “ | Polished and ready - When selected | ” |
| “ | Keep it clean - When selected | ” |
| “ | Doing what's right - When selected | ” |
| “ | Preserving Freedom - Paladin After is Being Created | ” |
| “ | Closing the distance - When moving | ” |
| “ | Confirmed - When moving | ” |
| “ | Yessir - When moving | ” |
| “ | Taking her in - When moving | ” |
| “ | We're moving - When moving | ” |
| “ | Enemies of the free world! - When ordered to attack | ” |
| “ | You can depend on it - When ordered to attack | ” |
| “ | We fight for peace - When ordered to attack | ” |
| “ | It will be an honor - When ordered to attack | ” |
| “ | It's the right thing to do - When ordered to attack | ” |
| “ | Protecting our people - When ordered to attack | ” |
| “ | We'll have to crush them - When ordered to run over | ” |
| “ | If they don't move, they'll be crushed - When ordered to run over | ” |
| “ | They shouldn't stand in our way - When ordered to run over | ” |
| “ | A welcome addition - When deploy Battle Drone | ” |
| “ | Something we can count on - When deploy Battle Drone | ” |
| “ | It will be good for morale - When deploy Battle Drone | ” |
TriviaEdit
- The tank's name is probably inspired by the real life M109A6 Paladin Howitzer, although they are different weapons systems.
- It is also possible that the Paladin tank was inspired by the XM1202 Future Combat Systems Manned Ground Vehicles and by looking at this image you'll see their resemblance.
- The Point Defense Laser may have been inspired by real life active protection systems like the American "Quick Kill", the Israeli "Trophy" and the Russian "Arena", all which are in use or to be used in main battle tanks.
| “ | Lasers would keep in clean - Laser Paladin unused quote | ” |
- There was originally going to be a variant of the Paladin for General Townes. Appropriately dubbed the Laser Paladin, it would have likely utilised a Laser turret and a stronger Point Defense Laser that was capable of not only stopping not only missiles, but even tank shells. In the final game however, only the audio remains within the game files.
- However, the Laser Paladin is made available for use by Townes in the non-canon fan modification ShockWave.
See alsoEdit
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