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in: Generals 1 Chinese Arsenal, Tanks, Generals 1 vehicles
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Battlemaster tank

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“ China's tank division.
- Battlemaster tank rolling out of the War Factory 		”

The Type 88[1] Battlemaster tank, is China's main battle tank (MBT) in Generals and Zero Hour.

Overview

Relatively inexpensive and quick to build, the Battlemaster is designed to crush its opponents with great numbers; groups of 5 or more Battlemasters gain a Horde Bonus, improving their rate of fire. While it is not as advanced as American tanks, it is easily capable of crushing the relatively frail GLA armour in a head-on fight, and powerful upgrades are available from the Nuclear Missile Silo to make it even more formidable. The tank lacks any anti-air protection and effective anti-infantry weapons, but can run down infantry.

Upgrades

ZH Battlemaster Elite Training Icons.png Battlemaster Elite Training All Battlemaster were built as elite. Purchasable at General's promotion menu by General Ta Hun Kwai's of any rank.
ZH Autoloader Icons.jpg Autoloader Increases the Battlemaster's firing speed (fires three shots before reloading). Purchasable at General Ta Hun Kwai's Propaganda Center for a cost of 2500$.
ZH Isotope Stability Icons.jpg Isotope Stability Radiation released by the destruction of the Battlemaster stops harming friendly units. Purchasable at General Tsing Shi Tao's Propaganda Center for a cost of 2000$.
Gen1 Nationalism Icon.jpg Nationalism Increases the Battlemaster's horde bonus by 25%. Purchasable at any Propaganda Center for a cost of 2000$.
Gen1 Uranium Shells Icons.png Uranium Shells Increases the Battlemaster's damage by 25%. Purchasable at any Nuclear Missile Silo for a cost of 2500$.*
Gen1 Nuclear Tanks Icons.png Nuclear Tanks Increases the Battlemaster's speed by 25%. Purchasable at any Nuclear Missile Silo for a cost of 2500$.*
*Pre-installed on General Tsing Shi Tao's Battlemasters.

Game unit

“ We will prevail!
- Battlemaster 		”

The Battlemaster alone is something of a mediocre unit, lacking the speed of the GLA's basic Scorpion Tank and the armour of the USA's Crusader Tank. It is still quite effective against vehicles and structures as its gun is as strong as a Paladin's, but China's key armoured unit is the Overlord tank. The Battlemaster requires protection from other units to compensate for its weaknesses - Gatling tanks are most effective for this purpose.

The Battlemaster, however, is potentially an extremely capable anti-tank unit once its numbers reach a certain mass. When grouped in units of 10 or more, it can maintain the devastating horde bonus long enough to eliminate its enemies. However, commanders must keep in mind tactic still has some drawbacks. The Battlemaster is more fragile than an Overlord tank, meaning that an air strikes can decimate a horde of Battlemasters very quickly. Swarms of anti-armor infantry can also make short work of even groups of Battlemasters.

A mass of Battlemasters will also have a large footprint, making it impossible for them to have the entire platoon fire from stand-off distances, thus necessitating that Battlemasters close distance, possibly into enemy traps. Finally, as Battlemasters require large numbers to be effective; a true Battlemaster attack is a bit of a gambit, absorbing large quantities of resources without providing versatility to defend against its counter-units. A much more effective option would be a combined assault using both Battlemasters, Gatling Tanks, Dragon Tanks and/or Troop Crawlers.

Zero Hour

  • One of General Ta Hun Kwai's Generals Powers allows him to drop Battlemasters anywhere on the map by air (up to 4 Battlemasters at the highest level). Kwai's Battlemaster is also cheaper to produce and has the autoloader upgrade available (Kwai's unique upgrade), greatly increasing the tank's firepower.
  • General Shin Fai does not build Battlemasters, as he shuns tanks, but, after capturing a war factory of any other Chinese General, all Battlemasters gain the Nationalism upgrade and, when upgraded, also Patriotism.
  • Being a nuclear general, Tsing Shi Tao's tanks automatically roll out with nuclear shell and nuclear engine upgrades. This feature is clearly seen in the tank design (clearly distinctive from the common Battlemaster). The nuclear shell also leaves behind radiation (unlike the standard china battlemaster upgraded with nuclear shells), similar to GLA's toxin shell upgrade.

Appearances

The battlemaster tank is available to the player starting in The Dragon Awakes.

Changelog

Selected Quotes

“ China's tank division.
- When emerging from the War Factory 		”
“ Battlemaster Tank reporting.
- When selected 		”
“ Where is the battle?
- When selected 		”
“ Fighting for the Red Army.
- When selected 		”
“ Serving China's needs.
- When selected 		”
“ Right here.
- When selected 		”
“ Nuclear Battlemaster tank.
- General Tao's variant, when selected 		”
“ Upgraded Battlemaster here.
- General Tao's variant, when selected 		”
“ Moving to new area.
- When moving 		”
“ Yes, General.
- When moving 		”
“ China needs us there.
- When moving 		”
“ We will defend this territory.
- When moving 		”
“ Move order confirmed.
- When moving 		”
“ For the Red Army!
- When ordered to attack 		”
“ We will prevail!
- When ordered to attack 		”
“ We are invincible!
- When ordered to attack 		”
“ Destroy China's enemies!
- When ordered to attack 		”
“ Attack!
- When ordered to attack 		”
“ I have China's blessing!
- When ordered to attack 		”
“ We will crush them!
- When ordered to run over 		”
“ They won't escape!
- When ordered to run over 		”
“ Crush the enemy!
- When ordered to run over 		”
“ Depleted uranium shells ready, General.
- When the Uranium Shells upgrade is complete 		”
“ Nuclear tank upgrade complete.
- When the Nuclear Tank upgrade is complete 		”
“ The autoloaders are ready, General.
- General Kwai's variant, when the Autoloaders upgrade is complete 		”
“ We will fire much faster with the new autoloaders!
- General Kwai's variant, when the Autoloaders upgrade is complete 		”
“ The autoloaders will ensure our victory!
- General Kwai's variant, when the Autoloaders upgrade is complete 		”

Cut quotes

“ Fusion reactors will make us faster!
- When the cut Fusion Reactors upgrade is complete 		”
“ The fusion reactors upgrade is complete!
- When the cut Fusion Reactors upgrade is complete 		”
“ Make room for the new fusion reactor!
- When the cut Fusion Reactors upgrade is complete 		”
“ Weapons grade uranium shells are now available, sir.
- When the cut Weapons Grade Uranium Shells upgrade is complete 		”
“ The weapons grade uranium shells will destroy the enemy!
- When the cut Weapons Grade Uranium Shells upgrade is complete 		”
“ Weapons grade uranium shell upgrades are ready!
- When the cut Weapons Grade Uranium Shells upgrade is complete 		”

Trivia

  • The Battlemaster has what appears to be a rocket launcher(?) mounted on top of the turret though it is unused. It could also be an infrared searchlight for night combat.
  • The Battlemaster tank is largely representative of the real-life Type 59 Main Battle Tank (a basic copy of the Soviet T-54/55 tank).
  • Much of the Chinese arsenal in Generals resembles a Cold War-era military force (with obvious exceptions, like the Overlord). In the Battlemaster's case, this is almost certainly because the older, Soviet-style 'pudding-basin' turret makes it easy to visually distinguish from American tanks.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Electronic Arts Pacific, Command & Conquer: Generals. China mission 1: "The Dragon Awakes".
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