Tank/Laser Cannon
The Tank/Laser Cannon is the first of the tanks that must be manufactured, or third in the HWP hierarchy. It is a byproduct derived from the technologies used in the craft mounted Laser Cannon.
Though it borrows the old tracked tank torso, and suffers from the same limitations, it is fitted with a much more powerful variant of the Heavy Laser that is equal in strength to the Hovertank/Plasma's turret. It is therefore the most powerful tracked tank available and a most potent weapon against aliens.
The turret has a limit of 255 shots, but is recharged for free after every battle. The high damage gives a 4.55% chance of breaching an inner UFO wall, giving them a potentially useful role as a low-cost breaching weapon (see Destroying Terrain for more details).
Tank/Laser Cannons can be produced at a significantly lower cost than the more-advanced hovertanks, and do not require Elerium in their manufacture. However, they must be produced in a workshop, not bought, and like the Hovertanks, incur a large workshop space overhead (25 compared to 30 for hovertanks).
While not as immediately accessible as the standard tanks, the Tank/Laser Cannon are good for mass-produce production - whether for general use or for replacing fallen tanks - while still retaining high firepower. The slightly higher cost over conventional tanks is offset through the lack of ammunition costs
This weapons system is used in UFO: Enemy Unknown. In Terror from the Deep, the Coelacanth/Gauss is the equivalent.
Vital Statistics
| Cost: | Manufacture only. $500,000 |
| Manufacturing Requirements: | 1200 Engineer hours |
| Research Requirements: | Laser Cannon |
| Tracked Tank Specs | |
| Time Units | 70 |
| Health | 90 |
| Energy | 100 |
| Bravery | 110 |
| Reactions | 20 |
| Firing Accuracy | 60 |
| Throwing Accuracy | 0 |
| Strength | 60 |
| Psionic Strength | 100 |
| Psionic Skill | 0 |
| Armour | |
| Front | 90 |
| Left/Right | 75 |
| Rear | 60 |
| Under | 60 |
| Laser Turret Specifications | ||
| Ammunition | ||
| Type | Laser Beam | |
| Damage | 110 Laser | |
| Rounds | 255 | |
| Purchase Price | $Free | |
| Sale Price | $n/a | |
| Firing Modes | Accuracy | Cost |
| Aimed | 85%(51%) | 75%(52) |
| Snap | 50%(30%) | 33%(23) |
| Numbers in parenthesis are the actual values after modified by the chassis' abilities. Actual costs are in fixed Time Units | ||
Notes
- The laser cannon can penetrate UFO inner walls approximately 4.5% of the time. See Destroying Terrain for more information.
- Like all the advanced tanks, no research topic needs to be prompted to get the Tank/Laser Cannon.
