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Golem Tank, ready to rumble!
- Golem
Golem tank icon

Employed by General Aleksandr, the T-279 Golem Tank is an advanced heavy tank notable for its amphibious capability, as well as its sheer survivability in any kind of environment, being completely immune to biological and chemical hazards, electromagnetic pulse weapons, and nuclear radiation.

Lore

Originally designed to survive on a nuclear battlefield but scrapped upon orders of Chairman Khrushchev in 1960, the experimental heavy tank 'Obyekt 279' was given a new life as the T-279 'Golem' by General Aleksandr. During the Russo-European War, the Golem tanks of the Shock Divisions attained a reputation that even rivaled the mighty Sentinel tanks of the Russian Army. Some of the war's most notorious Russian tank aces such as Anatoliy Kovalenko, who was the first to force a Manticore tank to retreat with severe turret damage, or Polina Novikova, who stalled the advance of ECA Battlegroup Boudica for an entire day outside Amsterdam, commanded a Golem tank and as the front shifted back to Russian-held Germany in early 2049, many of these elite veterans were granted access to the new T-279M variant as a last ditch effort to turn the tide of war in Aleksandr's favor once again. The already massive 130mm cannon of the original tank was replaced by an excessive 152mm gun and the turret was equipped with two heavy 14.5mm KPV machine guns for anti-aircraft duty. In addition to its updated weaponry, the new model was also outfitted with the Shtora-2 active protection system, which consisted of two components: An array of powerful elector-optical jammers that prevent any missile or rangefinder from getting a clear lock on the tank and a battery of extremely powerful flash grenades which blind infantry. This combined effect of jamming, confusion and sheer terror makes it momentarily impossible to attack the Golem. However, even the new Golem only managed to delay what many already regarded as inevitable - including President Nikolai Suvorov himself.

Abilities

Ability Description
Golem tank activate shtora defense system icon
Activate Shtora Defense System
Employ electro-optical disruption techniques that prevents the Golem Tank from being targeted by enemy attacks and abilities for 8 seconds. 30 seconds cooldown.

Overview

Serves as a Tier 2 heavy tank, it is armed with a 152mm tank cannon and mounted 2 machine guns; the tank cannon is used on against ground units while the machine guns are used against air and infantry units. The main gun is highly effective against vehicles and armored units, surpassing the Kodiak tank. The machine gun is potentially effective, though not much against air, mostly fast moving ones.

Not to mention, that this tank has a better armor, although not heavy as the mighty Sentinel tank. But it differs from that, having a heavy resistance against missiles, rockets and even tank shells. It also is immune to deadly radiation, toxins and even EMP. When the Explosive Reactive Armor is deployed, consider this tank's armor has increased.

Additionally, the Shtora protection system, serves as the one of the another protection of itself. It has ability to make itself immune to enemy target for a few seconds. Another of its ability, unlike other heavy tanks, is able to cross water without the use of bridge to cross. Although it disables the main gun unless it is on the ground again.

It's cost is quite expensive at cost of $1800 than other heavy tanks have, also note that build time is longer which will take more time to build more of these. Like most of Russian vehicles, can be recovered by Badger Recovery Vehicle, which can be manned by infantry.

Tactics

This heavy tank is probably more advanced than other heavy tanks have, making a useful asset to the battlefield. The armor is significant, and its weapons are acceptable. It can toe-to-toe more of the MBTs and can sustain more damage before getting destroyed.

The Shtora protection system is great for protection against enemy fire, so this tank can have a chance to destroy the enemy units or advance through the player's objective effectively. The machine gun is use to protect against aircraft and infantry, just in case for it. It is potentially effective against infantry and even aircraft.

It's armor is no longer to worry about the deadly chemical substance, because it is immune to radiation, toxins and above all, EMP. So it can freely destroy Toxin tractors, evade from EMP attack and survive from nuclear radiation. Lastly, it can across through the water unlike other heavy tanks. Best tactic is to rush on the enemy's backdoor for ambush, combine with Maulers with infantries inside.

Counters

The aircrafts are still its counter, so as the Russian MBT, despite having its machine gun. Sudden aircraft attack will have easy work on Golem tank since the machine gun is quite ineffective. If using air units, alert with Grumbles or Tunguskas.

Like the Kodiak or the mighty Sentinel Tank, it has the slow speed, it can be biggest threat to hit-and-run and artillery vehicles such as Rocket Buggy or Nuke Cannon before Golem tank can even escape. Even with Shtora protection system, it doesn't last forever, the enemy fire once again free to target. Even with activated Shtora, the player-controlled units can simply shoot on the ground where the tank is standing on.

While on water, it cannot use its main gun except the machine gun. So the Pandurs or other amphibious vehicles will take out this tank.

Assessment

+
  • Amphibious
  • Heavy armor
  • Can attack aircraft
  • Becomes intargetable when Shtora defense system is active
  • Resistant to biological hazards
  • Immune to electromagnetic pulse
  • Resistant to explosives and rockets
  • Vehicle wreck can be recovered

  • Slow
  • Cannot use main gun when passing through water
  • Machine Gun is ineffective against large groups of aircraft
  • Shtora system only lasts for a few seconds
  • Shtora system has a reload time
  • Cannot use smoke grenades
  • Human players can order units to force fire on ground to attack enemy Golem tank with activated Shtora system

Quotes

The Golem Tank is voiced by George "Seòras" Exley.

Prior to 1.85 the Golem Tank uses the Hammer Tank's voiceset in Red Alert 3.

See: Russian unit quotes#Golem Tank

Gallery

Trivia

  • The Golem is based on a Soviet experimental tank by the designation of Object 279, which mounted a 130mm cannon and was designed to withstand the shockwaves from nuclear blasts. However, it was dropped and never mass-produced.

See also

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