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General Ta Hun Kwai is one of the older generals of the PLA.
Operation Black Dragon went very well for General Ta Hun Kwai. His heavy armour divisions punched through weaknesses in enemy lines before they were strengthened, and laid waste to any armored opposition that met them. However, he has run into serious and difficult roadblocks, and sustained massive casualties when dealing with strong defensive formations. After the campaign, an order was issued to develop newer weapons systems based on the lessons learned from Operation Black Dragon. Designs poured out of research offices, just in time for the third major encounter with the GLA.
Units
Vehicles
Battlemaster Type II
Though his main battle tanks were manned by the finest and best trained crews to be found in the People's Liberation Army, they were still basically the same ones as those in the regular PLA army and so suffered from the same faults. A group of expert tank commanders were gathered together and expressed their opinions on the Battlemaster. From the information gathered from these men, designers set to work and in August of 2016, developed the Battlemaster Type II. The turret was enlargened to allow room for a bigger gun and more conventionally set in the middle to allow more room for the driver. A more powerful yet compact engine was installed, and the transmission system modified accordingly to support the engine. Armour protection was increased by a factor of 1.5 times the original strength, and a new smoothbore 130 mm tank gun capable of using the latest DU ammunition was created and put into the tank, but later production versions (Type IIb) can mount a cannon using a revolving autoloader containing space for three shells. Removal of unnecessary production procedures and trimmings on the tank resulted in a tank far superior to the original, yet capable of mass production at a price that closely matched it.
Role: Main Battle Tank
Armor Type: Tank
Primary Weapon: 125 mm ChDu BTC-15 smoothbore cannon
Upgrades to 125 mm TGC RC-165 rotary cannon in Type IIb version
Secondary Weapon: 7.62 mm Type 09 machine gun
$ 800
Strong vs. Tanks, Vehicles, Buildings
Weak vs. Infantry, Aircraft
Gatling Tank Type IIa
The original Type Ic Sparrow gatling tank was devastatingly effective against both infantry and aircraft, but it was almost always outclassed by other vehicles in its class and weight range. It could not adequately support tanks in armoured warfare against enemy armour, as it was too frail, and could not penetrate even thin-skinned vehicles So the basic design was taken back to shop, and modified slightly. The engines and transmission were strengthened, and armour plating was applied to the turret, one of the weakest parts of the whole design. The 16.52 mm G-48 Gatling Cannon was removed, and replaced with a 20 mm HG-24 Gatling Cannon, a more powerful weapon which uses special uranium cored rounds covered with a thin layer of molybdenum. This allowed for improved performance against all forms of opponents, and much more useful as a vehicle on its own. Some units of General Kwai's army have received improved ammunition feeders for the gun, enabling it to fire much faster.
Role: Heavy Support Scout
Armor Type: Vehicle
Primary Weapon: 20 mm ChDu HG-24 Gatling Cannon
Upgradeable in Type IIe versions to HG-24a version incorporating an improved feeding mechanism, allowing for increased firing rates.
$ 800
Strong vs. Infantry, Aircraft
Weak vs. Tanks
Warmaster
The Battlemaster was the main fist of Kwai's armoured force, and the Emperor was king of all tanks on the battlefield. Despite the power of these vehicles, it was recognized that there was a need for an intermediary vehicle. Something more mobile and less costly than an Emperor, but with enough firepower and armour to be able to take on most battlefield targets one on one. This culminated in the Warmaster Type I Tank. Armed with a 135 mm cannon and a generous amount of armour, it moved slower than the average Battlemaster, but could take a better whallop than it, and dish it out too. In base assault exercises with the Type I version, it was found that the 135 mm cannon had lower performance against fortifications than was desirable, and so there was a redisigned version incorporating a pair of Flare NR-42 rocket launchers. Though the issues with the cannon (and various other reliability issues) were resolved with the Type Id version, the rocket launchers were retained and all versions carrying the rocket launchers were rated Type IIr.
Role: Heavy Battle Tank
Armor Type: Tank
Primary Weapon: 135 mm ChDu HTC-23 smoothbore cannon
Secondary Weapon: NR-42 Flare rocket launchers (Type IIr only)
$ 1000
Strong vs. Tanks, Vehicles, Buildings
Weak vs. Missile-armed Infantry, Aircraft
Reaper
Due to his reluctance to construct any field artillery at all to support his tanks, Kwai often suffered massive casualties against heavily fortified positions. Tanks would simply be destroyed before they can ever reach their targets or do any significant damage. If the defenses utilize ECM/EMP weaponry, casualty rates could go up by as high as 40%, meaning that entire columns of tanks can be put out of action by a few well placed defences. Yet other reports indicated that the tanks did not move fast enough, and were highly vulnerable travelling through radioactive dust or toxic areas.
Alarmed by the steady drain on their manpower resources, Kwai's high command offered a contract for a heavily armored assault vehicle resistant to hazardous environments and immune to the effects of ECM/EMP weaponry - to be designed within 6 months. Only one company, Chengdu Military Industries, took up the challenge. They took as a basis the old Warlord Heavy Tank (predecessor of the Overlord) and removed the turret. They upsized the hull in order to accommodate the entire tank crew, and a heavy 250 mm mortar capable of reducing to ruins nearly anything in a few shots. To protect against biological and chemical weapons, and radioactivity, the crew were housed within a thick lead-lined steel shell inside the tank which also increased its overall durability. The only penetration into the shell was the ventilation system, which was fitted with an NBC filter. It could also seal up completely when travelling in areas with dangerously high levels of radiation and toxins, switching over to oxygen tanks which can provide enough air for up to 8 hours of continuous use. To reduce crew vulnerability to just about anything, crew hatches were automatically locked from the inside during use, and the only window access to outside were a pair of slits armored with 10 cm thick bulletproof glass.
Near the end of the 6 month deadline for the vehicle, the designers ran into a problem. The prototype for the vehicle and production examples were all ready (all designated Type Iax), but they lacked the 250 mm mortar, which ran into production difficulties at the Kuei Foundries where they were produced at. The company went bankrupt, and left the Chengdu engineers without a weapon for the vehicle. Lacking anything else, they attached a pair of 35 mm HG-12 gatling cannons originally designed for use in a anti-tank chopper that was later scrapped. The cannons were modified to fire high explosive dual purpose rounds, which performed well against vehicles and infantry, and somewhat effective against buildings. They presented this solution right before the end of the deadline, but by then the campaign was over, and the vehicles were placed into storage. Recent reports of possible GLA activity however, have activated existing vehicles and restarted production of the tank, by then called the Reaper.
Role: Heavy Assault Vehicle
Armor Type: Tank
Primary Weapon: Dual 35 mm NKN HG-12 gatling cannon
Upgradeable to NKN HG-A12 gatling cannon incorporating chain fed ammunition instead of drums.
$1500
Strong vs. Infantry, Vehicles
Weak vs. Aircraft
Advanced ECM Tank Type IIb
The ECM Tank is a staple of all Chinese forces. The ability to redirect 80% of all incoming missiles in countermeasure radius, plus the capability direct an ECM signal which distorts the radio receiver and controls of any one vehicle make it invaluable for both assault and defence. The latest Type IIb versions utilize an SNP-128 array developed by Shanghai ComTech, capable of actually amplifying its signal depending on the size of its target (rather than disabling a specific section), and over a longer distance as well. It also includes a larger and more capable countermeasure field with a to cover more friendly troops in its shield, though sadly it still cannot use both capabilities at the same time due to power requirements.
Role: Special Electronics Warfare Support Vehicle
Armor Type: Vehicle
Primary Weapon: ShCT SNP-128 distortion array
Secondary Weapon: ShCT WDF-32 countermeasure transmitter
$800
Strong vs. Vehicles, Buildings
Weak vs. Infantry, Aircraft
Emperor Tank
The Emperor Tank's development goes as far back as 2008, when China initiated a massive reconstruction program of their armoured divisions which would result in such robust and capable tanks like the Battlemaster. The Emperor and Overlord tanks were both competing designs commenced at the same time to replace the ineffective Warlord Heavy Tank. but eventually the Overlord tank went into production first. The reasons for this were that it was cheaper, easier to produce, possessed a unique modular capability, and the fact that it was finished before the Emperor. Nonetheless, Nanking National continued production of the design until its warfare division was acquired by Chengdu Military Industries. Impressed with the design, it received first priority, and development continued at a greatly accelerated pace. Eventually, this busy activity caught Kwai's eye, and he immediately ordered 150 of these behemoths. The first examples rolled off the assembly line in 2013, but did not enter service until 2014. They have seen action during battles with the GLA, and were very useful, despite problems with reliability. Most of the Emperor tanks were withdrawn back to the factories for a complete rebuild after the GLA defeat, but there are a few still ready for action.
It weighs in at a very hefty 500 tonnes when accounting for a full ammunition and fuel load, as well as full crew complement. To provide the power to move this mass, a new class of diesel turbine was designed which produced 2,000 horsepower per unit, a big improvement over the 1500 hp each provided by the diesel turbines in a standard Overlord tank. Despite this, the Emperor was slower in comparison to the standard Overlords, and fuel storage bunkers had to be enormous to contain the amount the tank needed for just a 60 mile trip. Some models however, were experimentally modified to a nuclear powered system, reducing the amount of fuel needed to virtually nil thereby improving speed and allowing for extra ammunition carriage, at the cost of decreased safety. With the safeguards built in however, the reactor is generally safe unless the containment unit's structural integrity is compromised by battle damage or simple wear and tear. The Emperor also has room in the rear of the turret for a command station, which houses some of the crew and the commanding officer of the tank. The station also contains a miniaturized version of the standard propaganda broadcast tower found in many PLA military bases, which also acts as a medium for broadcasting tactical orders, basically allowing Emperors to also act as forward command bases.
Firepower was also better compared to the Overlord tank. The Emperor tank is armed with a pair of 6.5-inch MCH Type 14 cannons, a scaled down and mass-produced version of the cannon used in the Shenzhen class of heavy cruiser. The shells however were very heavy, and needed to be moved from the ammunition storage in the hull to the guns by means of an elevator and hoist. Rate of fire at best is one shell a minute with an elite crew. In battle conditions, crews are normally able to achieve one shell every minute and a half. But this was more than compensated by the fact that the cannons were extremely powerful. High explosive shells fired from one have been to shatter most battle tanks with one direct hit and gouge out holes in reinforced concrete buildings. Armour piercing shells have been proved in tests to be able to cut through three Battlemaster tanks. Even dummy shells have been known to cause shockwaves which disrupt electronics. But due to its slow turret turning speed and the low rate of fire for its main cannons, the Emperor is still very vulnerable in combat to more agile targets and so to increase battlefield survival odds, Type IIIb versions have been fitted with a 12.3 mm DG-31 gatling turret on forward areas of the main tank turret. This allows for effective point defence against smaller targets such as light vehicles, aircraft, and infantry.
Defensive ratings at base levels were also higher than the Overlord. The Emperor employs double spaced layers of armour, both of which are composed of one layer of compressed uranium-cobalt alloy sandwiched between two layers of solid molybdenum steel. Despite some faults associated with compressing the uranium-cobalt alloy, this construction amounts to a RHA equivalent thickness of 1500 mm, making the Emperor virtually invulnerable to small arms fire and extremely resistant to damage from conventional anti-tank weaponry. Unlike the Overlord, track guards have been fitted on, reducing vulnerability to attacks from the sides, and also features improved internal subsystem and compartment arrangement to reduce the effects of battle damage on operational capability. Like all Kwai's tanks, mounting points for explosive-reactive armour have been attached, which increases defensive capability against shaped charge weaponry greatly.
Overall, the Emperor is extremely powerful, but slow and unwieldy, requiring battlefield support from more mobile weapons platforms. It also has an infamous reputation for unreliability.
Role: Super Heavy Assault Tank/Command Support Vehicle
Armor Type: Heavy Tank
Primary Weapon: Dual 6.5 inch MCH Type 14 Cannons
Secondary Weapon: 12.3 mm DG-31 Gatling Turret (optional)
$1900
Strong against Land Units
Weak vs. Artillery, Aircraft
Heavy Supply Truck
Larger and heavier tank components require a supply truck heavier than the standard ones can provide. To this end, a civilian double flatbed truck has been adapted for military use. This can carry twice the capacity of the original supply truck, but the vehicle comes at a higher cost.
Armor Type: Vehicle
Edited by AllStarZ, 15 January 2008 - 19:35.
. Kinda makes the Emperor sound like the King Tiger (with its buggy system and superior armour/firepower). 
