Torka

In the parlance of the Imperial Charnean Army, a Chariot (Tamashek: ⵜⵧⵔⴽⴰ, Torka) is a gun truck derived from a ute or pickup truck that has been armed with a heavy machine gun, autocannon, recoilless rifle, ATGM, multiple rocket launcher or mortar. The earliest chariot vehicles were improvised tactical vehicles created by the Charnean Liberation Army to fight a guerilla campaign against the forces of Hatheria-Saadia and Fahran during the Ninvite War. Initially devised in lieu of purpose built military vehicles not available to the CLA, Charnean military organisations continued to use chariot fighting vehicles even when they had access to conventional military vehicles. In particular, the exellent mobility and range of the chariots made them cheap and effective combat vehicles despite their lack of armor protection. Under the Imperial Charnean Army, the use of chariot technicals has reached an all time high and become standardized. The chariots of the ICA are no longer the products of improvisation but are instead created according to a regular, serialized process converting civilian trucks acquired from the civilian market into fighting vehicles through a series of modifications and upgrades installed in house by a division of the Imperial Charnean Army Technical Corps, the same organ responsible for retrofits and upgrades of conventional armored vehicles, helicopters and jet aircraft.

The term chariot, or torka in the Charnean Tamashek language, comes from the resemblance between a open backed truck with a weapon mounted in the rear and an ancient chariot, a wagon pulled by a team of horses providing a mobile shooting platform for archers. Just like their ancient counterparts, the modern chariot vehicles are used to deploy and re-deploy light infantry around the battlefield. However, the battlefield niche of the modern motorized chariots is most similar to the role of light cavalry, resembling a motorized horse archer. Chariot forces are characterized by speed, agility and range, enabling them to deploy their firepower against an enemy's vulnerable points and evade retaliation by the enemy's stronger units. Because of these traits, the modern Imperial Charnean Army in some ways closely resembles the ancient and medieval armies employed by the first Empire of Charnea. The effectiveness of a well armed chariot unit can exceed that of conventional fighting vehicles like armored personnel carriers and main battle tanks in the open desert environment of the Ninva, where a lack of infrastructure, hostile climate and sparse human habitation define every engagement. Consequently, chariots are highly effective across most of Charnea and are prized by the ICA, police and paramilitary organizations in the country. In recent years, the ICA has introduced purpose built armored cars and reconnaissance vehicles in many of the same roles and units as chariot vehicles. However, this has not reduced the use of chariots, as these soft-skinned fighting vehicles are complimented and enhanced by the presence or equally mobile armored vehicles in their units.