Prism tank (Red Alert 2)

The Prism tank was a heavily modified prism weapon mounted upon a heavily modified grizzly chassis.

Description
Physically, it looked like an overbuilt tank - while Grizzlies of this period tended to have a very low profile, allowing greater protection, Prism tanks had smooth chassis reminiscent of those of armored personnel carriers, including the IFV. The weapon and power systems took up most of the extra space this chassis design provided. The weapon itself was noted for extreme range (though not as extensive as that provided by V3s, Hornets, or Dreadnoughts, and tendency to have a dispersed beam - basically the Prism tank's blast diffracts off of targets, causing subsidiary beams that fly out in all directions, but with extremely short range. Particularly in the case of highly seasoned Prism Tanks, these subsidiary beams can be extremely powerful. Unfortunately, the beams could not be combined into a more powerful blast like their tower-mounted "cousins".

Usage
Its most notable usage was at the very end of the GWWIII; a group of Prism Tanks demolished a Soviet Nuclear Silo that was about to counter attack the forces brought by the Chronosphere. It was highly effective against infantry, and better yet, had sufficient range and power to act as a siege unit, even against heavily fortified enemy bases. A group of prism tanks could easily lay waste to an undefended base. Three or four could destroy an Apocalypse tank. 

Counters
It suffered from light armor and no anti-air defenses. It usually had to be escorted by Grizzly Tanks and IFVs. The armor was so weak that a single volley from an Apocalypse tank was often sufficient to completely destroy a Prism Tank. Also, because of its characteristics, it was helpless when attacked by a Magnetron. The weapon it wielded was useless while in the air, and its incredibly weak armor meant that it could easily be destroyed (or worse, mind-controlled), once it reached its destination. It was also extremely vulnerable to all manner of flying craft, particularly siege choppers, owing to its lack of an anti-aircraft weapon.



In WWIII, the Prism technology is lost, but the Mirage tank took over its prism beam in the form of the Spectrum Beam.