Mirage tank (Red Alert 2)

The Mirage Tank was a technological marvel and tank of the Allies developed by Albert Einstein. It was developed relatively late in the war, and incorporated holographic projection technology in order to disguise itself. Einstein designed this feature so that it could be used for ambushes. Like in Shakespeare's Macbeth, the mirage tank was designed so that the forest could move.

The Mirage consisted of a hemispherical turret mounted on a light tank chassis. The most prominent features, when not in hiding, were the twin projection units extending from the sides of the main turret.

The most important fact about Mirage tanks is that they would appear to be trees to enemy troops. They could take out enemies much like a sniper would, using incendiary ammunition.

It could kill almost all infantry, Soviet or Yuri, in just one or two hits. It could also take out most tanks in between three and five shots, and light vehicles like the Flak track did not stand much of a chance against the Mirage tank. However, its best use was as a defender of vulnerable areas, as a group of them could lie in wait and then quickly destroy nearby enemies.

Having light armour, several Rhino tanks or other Soviet heavy vehicles could make short work of a Mirage tank. Furthermore, the Mirage tank had no defence against air units. In addition, its very own strength is its Achilles' heel, especially in urban combat. Many careless Allied commanders ordered their tanks onto terrain where "no trees could ever have gone." Soviet commanders often laughed their heads off upon seeing trees in the middle of an asphalt road.

However, the need to force-fire on the position in order to hit the tank ensures that the Mirage tank always gets the first shot off. Enemy units would not automatically attack the mirage tank unless they see it move into position just before it attacks.

During World war III, the Mirage tank was modified to produce a stealth field. The new version of the Mirage tank is an advanced vehicle of the Allied Forces. The versatile tank can disguise itself as an enemy vehicle and its energy bubble can hide any Allied unit within.In RA3 the mirage tanks have a spectrum cannon,it's function is identical to the prism tanks who are absent in the game due to the elimination of Einstein.