Lancer light tank

Mk.I Lancer
Lancer of the Richmond Light Horse on exercises.
Type	Reconnaissance vehicle, light tank
Place of origin	Vionna-Frankenlisch
Service history
In service	1983–present
Used by	Vionna-Frankenlisch
Production history
Designer	Royal Darlington
Designed	1981-83
Produced	1983-2010 (main run) 2010-present (limited runs)
No. built	ca. 2,320
Specifications
Weight	17,800 lb (8.074 tonnes)
Length	5.288 m (17 ft 4.2 in)
Width	2.134 m (7 ft 0 in)
Height	2.102 m (6 ft 10.8 in)
Crew	3 (commander, gunner, driver)
Armour	Aluminium armour, Cast and 1318b plate
Main armament	76mm smoothbore gun
Secondary armament	Coaxial Bren machine gun Swingfire ATGM mount (optional)
Engine	Cummins BTA 5.9-litre (diesel) 190 hp (140 kW)
Power/weight	22.92 hp (17.3 kW) / tonne
Transmission	Self Change Gears TN15X
Suspension	Torsion-bar
Operational range	756 km (470 mi)
Speed	72.5 km/h (45.0 mph)

The Mark.I Lancer is a Vionna-Frankenlischian light tank and reconnaissance vehicle. Designed and manufactured by Royal Darlington, the Lancer entered service with the Imperial Army in the 1980s. The vehicle filled a gap opened by the decommissioning of the C9 cruiser tank by the Howell regime during the Red Decade. Lightly-armoured and armed but fast, modern, and able to be fielded in large numbers, the Lancer equips many of Vionna-Frankenlisch's armoured cavalry regiments. The Lancer is remarkable for being one of the fastest production tanks in service; having been recorded doing 82.23 km/h (51.10 mph), a figure well in advance of its official speed of 72.5 km/h (45.0 mph).

Design History

In 1981, following the end of the Red Decade, the new Imperial administration began to bring the Vionna-Frankenlischian forces into line with their thinking and requirements. The previous light tank used by the Vionna-Frankenlischian army was the C9 cruiser tank which came into service in 1963. The DPRVF kept the C9 in service for several years after taking power but eventually in 1972 it was decommissioned and the remaining models were broken up or sold abroad. The reinstated Imperial Army wanted a vehicle to replace the C9 and the first prototype for the Lancer, dubbed the C10(a), was delivered in October 1981. Four more prototype models were produced (b-e) between January 1982 and March 1983 and the C10(e) was eventually accepted by the Imperial Army Acquisition Board and introduced into service as the Mark.I Lancer in June 1983.

In 1984, Montjoy Systems presented proposals to the Imperial Army Acquisition Board for a competing design. The C11(a) was a slower tank but more heavily armoured and armed with a Swingfire ATGM launcher. The design was rejected as the Lancer had already entered service but design details were passed on to Royal Darlington which designed the C10(f), which added a Swingfire launcher to the C10(e) design. The C10(f) then replaced the C10(e) as the design model for the Lancer and most vehicles produced after 1985 included a Swingfire mounting. A legal battle developed not long after as Montjoy Systems sued the Imperial Army Acquisition Board for passing on their C11 design before shifting the target of their suit to Royal Darlington. The lawsuit was eventually settled out of court and production continued unimpeded.