Mammoth Mk. III

"Armoured superiority!"

- Mammoth pilot


 * For more uses see: Mammoth tank.

The '''Mammoth Mk. III (GDI designation: Mammoth 27''') is a GDI heavy assault tank that entered service prior to the Third Tiberium War. At the time it replaced the Mammoth Mk. II walker as GDI's premier land assault unit.

History
Following the Second Tiberium War, GDI concluded the technology did not yet exist to make widespread use or deployment of walkers an optimal solution. The Mammoth Mk. II walker was slated to be supplanted by the less expensive Mammoth Mk. III. This decision was not without its detractors; Colonel Nick Parker opposed the discontinuation of the massive walker and claimed it was the result of "bureaucratic penny pinching" rather than an appreciation of military realities. Nonetheless production of the Mammoth Mk. II ceased in 2039. This was followed by the Mammoth Mk. III entering production in Reykjavik, Iceland.

Notable deployments
During the Third Tiberium War the Mammoth Mk III was first deployed in Alexandria, where they proved very useful in destroying Nod's primary African port and base. The Mammoth would later serve in all remaining battles throughout the war including at Sarajevo, New Eden and the Italian Red Zone, however it did seemingly meet its match against the Scrin airforce and the Annihilator Tripods.

Legacy
Although these tanks still served in some capacity as late as 2074 (in BZ-1, Paris), they were largely replaced by next generation Mammoth tanks and the revived walker brother by 2077.

Overview
The Mammoth tank is designed with long-range operations in harsh environments in mind. For this purpose, apart from twin cannons, it is covered in thick, hexagonal armor. The vehicle is designed to incorporate an organic engineer crew to maintain it in the field. They could independently repair the vehicle to 50% effectiveness.

Technical specifications
It has a distinctive H shape that comes from General Combat Hull, Inc.'s patented quad-drive tread system, originally developed for the Bull tank. Each tread has two independent high-torque HTSC (High Temperature Superconductor) electromagnetic motors. The main power source are dual Mil-Spec CVJF (Combat Vehicle Jet Fuel) ducted turbine generators. This combination gives the Mammoth speed, durability, maneuverability and IR (heat signature) reduction.

Armament
The tank is equipped with dual 150-mm cannons on the turret (which can be later upgraded to railguns) and comes, in the vein of earlier models, with two 4.75-inch missile pods specially designed to attack infantry and aircraft.

Upgrades
An upgrade replacing the cannon with railguns became available prior to the Third Tiberium War, and vehicles continued to be retrofitted right through to the end of that conflict. Additional upgrade options dating to pre-TW2 years include adaptive armor and railgun accelerators; these were mostly found in Mammoths employed by the Steel Talons experimental combat technology division.

G-150
The G-150 Mammoth variant carried an infantry squad. G-150's were employed by the 22nd Infantry Division during the Third Tiberium War.

Mammoth Armed Reclamation Vehicle
While not strictly a variant, the Mammoth Armed Reclamation Vehicle was derived from the Mammoth Mk. III.

Advantages

 * Can crush Tier 1 and Tier 2 units
 * Strong armor; can be strengthened with Adaptive Armor upgrade
 * Railgun upgrade increases its already impressive firepower
 * Missiles can ward off aircraft and engage ground inuts for added effect
 * Very difficult to deter in large numbers
 * Cheaper than some other Tier 3 units
 * Adaptive Armor upgrade will grant immunity to EMP strikes
 * Railgun Accelerator can help negate the slow firing speed

Disadvantages

 * Very slow; can be outdone by every other units except Scrin Motherships
 * Slow rate of fire, especially with Railgun upgrade; increases slightly at Rank 3 (can be offset with Railgun Accelerator upgrade)
 * Expensive; only available at Tier 3
 * Cannot deal with swarms of anti-armor units
 * Missiles fire too slowly to threaten hit-and-run aircraft attacks
 * Outranged by Annihilator Tripods, Devastators and Plantetary Assault Carriers
 * Vulnerable to Fanatics and Vertigo bombers

Idle

 * Mammoth tank awaiting orders.
 * Mammoth tank ready.
 * Mammoth tank.
 * Mammoth tank assembled (when finished bulding).
 * Unrivaled.
 * Armor superiority.
 * Ready here.
 * What do you have?

Moving

 * Move it up.
 * Moving...
 * Unstoppable!
 * Pushing forward.
 * Taking it there.
 * Rollin'.
 * Mammoth advancing.
 * Yes sir.
 * Let's get to the front.

Attacking

 * Fire!
 * Take 'em down.
 * Drop 'em!
 * Flatten 'em.
 * Roll over them!
 * Take 'em out!
 * Let's have some fun!
 * Close in!
 * Going in!

Retreating

 * Back to base!

Development
The Mammoth tank was modelled by Mike Colonnese.

Appearances
The Mammoth Mk. III appears in Tiberium Wars, Kane's Wrath and Tiberian Twilight motion comic. In the latter, it appears as wreckage in the Paris invasion scene.