Gaiaterra: Elysea's Conflict/T-64 Rhino

"Rhino rolling out!"

-Rhino leaving the Tank Factory

The T-64, commonly known as the Rhino is the oldest tank in service of the Socialist Union of Voshkod that are only to the Vieran Reserves, replacing the Kodiak Tank for their respective sub-faction. Planned to be voiced by Matt McCoey.

Tactical analysis

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History
After the initial Aquila counterattack against Voshkod forces commanded by Joseph Conti, the Voshkod were forced, if unofficially, to acknowledge the Alliance Mastiff tank, Ironforge Tigers, Andora and Zemuria's Centurions, and Aquila's M48 Patton models as strategically superior to their own Ursa and EG heavy tanks. Though the Aquilan tank had long odds to defeat the Ursa one-on-one, it had far better range and speed while still being too powerful to defeat without another tank or specialized anti-tank weapons.

The inflexible Voshkod Ursa, so successful at first, could not beat an enemy that refused to fight on their terms, so Voshkod commanders quickly began demanding a supplementary tank that could engage the main three on its own turf and free the Ursa up for assault actions. It still took over a year for the request to reach Voshkod Command, with previous requests being interpreted as excuses or defeatism.

Soon after, the request went out for a upgunned version of the T-62; Under the codename Objekt 430, the final design consisted of a 50-ton tank capable of 50 km/h, with sloping armor and a single turret-mounted gun, purpose-built for engaging similar vehicles. This design flew in the face of current Voskod design philosophy, which pegged battle tanks at 90 tons plus with the iconic twin guns for the bunker-busting one-two punch.

Though the design was desperately needed on the front line, the project was death from a political standpoint; though (insert character) did not halt the project, (insert he/she/they) refused to bless it with a name fitting the revolutionary scheme, thus beginning the tradition of giving vehicles names that broke the "Tools of the People" scheme. The tank, dubbed the Rhino for its single, protruding main gun with an unusual over-the-barrel machine gun, was designed by the 788th Order Machine Building Design Bureau, who at the time were the primary providers of Voshkod armored vehicle designs.

The first machines hit the field late in 1964 V.C., and proved to be an equal match for the upgraded Mastiffs, Leopard 1s, Panzer 68s, Cheiftains and M60 Pattons in service. They slowly began to replace the Ursa, especially since the war had taken a defensive turn and the straightforward assault power of the Ursa was no longer as useful. By the 1970 V.C., Rhino production exceeded that of the Ursa; Ursa production was stopped soon after the war ended, but Rhinos continued to be produced until the creation of the T-72 Hammer-B, T-80 Rhino-B, T-90 Hammer-C then later upgraded to Kodiak program along with rumors of Armata (aka the Ogre) tanks in the works.

Contrary to popular belief, the Rhino is still the primary battle tank of the Voshkods. Though they employ the T-72/80/90 or the much more advanced Kodiak whenever possible, the Rhino is still the backbone on which the Voshkod war machine is built, though only within the Vieran Reserves. Part of its success is the extremely straightforward design; in an age where most tanks have advanced machinery like spectrum rangefinders, magnetic beams, Tiberium technology, hover technology, walker technology, or nanomachine shields, the Rhino is a straightforward gun turret on an armored chassis that can be easily upgraded to remain competitive. This keeps production costs low and maintenance times minimal, meaning that the Rhino can always be used in large numbers. Furthermore, like most early Voshkod designs, the Rhino can be built almost entirely from stamped parts, and the Rhino's chassis has proven quite upgradeable, with plans for a new hull and turret design incorporating many of the advances of the Kodiak and mounting a powerful 125mm gun.

Its reliability has also proven itself as (insert date) years later since its creation the only major improvement the Rhino has was the BM-31-2 Missile Mine Launcher when Nizhny Tagil Machinery Manufacturing Design Bureau's genius designer, Kartzev, began to make a great contribution: He got Inspiration from the Old BM-31 "Anderyussha" Missile Launcher, the famous "Teapot" can launch in 30.5cm diameter rocket toward the enemy's head in a few seconds; He considered: in Defensive Operations, the weapon can delay Enemy advancement and save remaining reinforcements; if we can install a BM-31 Missile Mine Launcher behind the tank, that means we can have a perfect role of defensive operations?

Obviously, Kartzev was right. Using the mature Anderyussha missile launcher production line, BM-31-2 Missile Mine Launcher was installed behind the turret of the new tank. The cost of the tank process is not high, it can make full use of the 1A33 FCS. the advantage of the Ballistic solution of the FCS. In this way, the mines thrown by the missile in a defensive battle will become a nightmare for various Guardians-affilated Tank Battalions: "Is it clear that the last batch of the tank divisions was safe last time, and this batch of tanks explodes on the road when they advance, should we begin attacking?"

Trivia

 * The Rhino is based off the ROTR and Red Alert Paradox version with the ability is from Red Alert 3: Corona.

Guardians of the Tacitus

 * Crusader/Laser Crusader (Aquila)
 * Coyote/Stryker MGS
 * Centurion Hovertank/Enforcer Hovertank
 * Grizzly Tank (Alliance)
 * Cavalier Tank
 * Liberty Tank
 * M1 Predator (ADI)
 * Type 74 MBT/Tsunami Tank (Protectorate)
 * Leopard 3 (Andora)
 * Guardian Tank
 * Panther
 * Battlemaster Tank (Empire)
 * Nuclearmaster
 * Cadillac Stingray (Community)
 * Bushmaster Tank (Wolf Clan)

Destroyers of Balthazar

 * Kodiak Tank (Voshkod)
 * T-64 Rhino
 * Ursa II Tank
 * Tick Tank (Brotherhood)
 * T-62
 * Type 59 (Horde)
 * Looted Lemia Russ Tank
 * T-72 "Scarab" (MLA)
 * Lasher Tank (Collective)
 * T-55 (Encantadia)
 * Ch'onma-Ho (Hathoria)
 * M15/42 (Lireo)
 * Devourer Tank (Scrin)

Neutrals

 * Predator Destructor (Coalition)
 * Sicaran Tank (Heralds)
 * Cleric Track (Order)
 * M48 Patton "Mastiff" (Survivors)
 * Talos AFV (Syndicate)
 * BMPT Terminator (Conglomerate)
 * Lemia Russ Tank (Legion)

Bonus Faction

 * MBT-52 Kuma (ASA)
 * OF-40 "Takhar" (Bastion)
 * MBT Creep (Rangers)
 * AAV-7 (Pirates)
 * PT-76
 * KPz T-62 "Hammer" (Ascalia)
 * White Shock Rhino Tank (Alfheimr Shock Corps)
 * Rama Tank (Elona)
 * Lion of Babylon
 * Predator Walker (Dominion)
 * M60 Sabra (Security)
 * Dandelin Armoured Rover (Ascendancy)

DLC

 * Bison (Federation)
 * Qilin Tank (Corona)
 * ... (Party)
 * AAT (Skynet)
 * Sd. KS 78 "Isegrim" (Elemental)
 * 2-M (Autocracy)
 * 59-Patton (League)
 * ... (Swarm)
 * TAM Tank (Confederation)
 * Oaxaca Tank
 * Tyrian Leopard 1D
 * Strv 103B (Kingdom)
 * Strider (Goo)
 * Panzerwagen (Imperium)
 * ... (Dynasty)
 * T-44 (Warlords)
 * Abomination (Cult)
 * Bison Combat Tank (Raiders)
 * Mark V (Theocracy)
 * Panzer IV (Reiksgard)
 * T-55AMV (Insurgents)
 * Conqueror (Guardians)
 * Phase Tank (Hierarchy)
 * ... (Sundered)
 * T-62M (Ecumene)
 * Centurion (Concordat)
 * Cromwell
 * Cantha-Panzer
 * M60-2000 (Contingent)
 * PL-01 (Eden)
 * Edenfire Crusader (InGen)
 * ... (Hallows)
 * M47-Mod (Commune)
 * Type 61 (The Uncorrupted)
 * Vickers (Clique)
 * Chi-Ha (Guild)
 * ... (Threat)
 * Gallagher Outlaw Mk. II (Traders)
 * CS-63 (Entente)
 * Mancubus (Oblivion)
 * ... (Corporation)
 * ... (Covenant)
 * H.I.S.S. Tank (Institute)
 * TT77 Nosorog (Eremite)