Lancer light tank
| Mk.I Lancer | |
|---|---|
.jpg) 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 |
| 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 |
| 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).
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.