Edelweiss (tank)

Edelweiss
File:Edelweiss tank.jpg The Edelweiss during the 2013 InRanTri Exercises
Type	Main battle tank
Place of origin	Gallia-Bruhl
Service history
In service	1979–present
Used by	Belgen Gunther Welkin Gunther
Wars	The Troubles X924 (1998) Second Lucis Civil War Imperial Crisis
Specifications
Weight	45.2 tonnes
Length	9.54/8.29 m (gun forward/rearward)
Width	3.79 m
Height	2.39/2.70 m
Crew	4 (commander, driver, gunner, radio operator/loader)
Armor	spaced multilayer burlington armor, capable of bouncing 130mm shells at a range of 1,300 meters
Main armament	120mm Royal Ordnance L11A5 rifled gun (16 rounds in turret 40 rounds in hull)
Secondary armament	2 × 7.62 mm MG 3 co-axial and commander's hatch) (5500 rounds)
Engine	MTU MB 873 Ka-501 liquid-cooled V-12 Twin-turbo diesel engine 1,500 PS (1,479 hp, 1,103 kW) at 2,600 rpm 1,479 hp, 1,103 kW
Power/weight	24.1 PS/t (17.7 kW/t)
Suspension	Torsion-bar
Operational range	600km (on road), 450km (cross-country)
Speed	72km/h

The Edelweiss is a Post-War of Lorican Aggression Crisis era tank built and designed by Theimer as a concept to supersede the existing Leopard Mk Is and was used by his friend Belgen Gunther. It also served as the basis for the next-generation Leopard Mk II. The main difference of the tank that distinguished it from the Leopard Mk IA5 was that:

• It was armed with a 120mm L11A5 Rifled Gun, giving it a much better firepower than the Leopard Mk IA5.
• It was much more armored and is capable of bouncing 130mm shots at a range of 1,300 meters.
• It was fitted with an MTU MB 873, Ka-501 engine, which was to be fitted to the Leopard Mk II, giving it a better and improved cross country performance.
• It had an automatic loading system for the main gun, which was a rare feature for a Main Battle Tank during the 1970s.

The Edelweiss is currently owned by Welkin Gunther and has been in service for many years and is used during the Imperial Crisis and proved invaluable.