Overlord tank (Generals 1)

Overlord Tank is the superheavy tank unit of China in Command & Conquer: Generals and its expansion, Zero Hour.
==Background==
Large and slow, but awesomely powerful, the Overlord tank is a battlefield force to be reckoned with. In addition to its powerful twin cannons, it is large enough to crush smaller vehicles. A bunker, a Gattling cannon, or a propaganda tower could be installed on its surface, allowing a significant degree of versatility.
General Ta Hun Kwai developed a more advanced version of the Overlord tank known as Emperor Overlord tank, which could support more weapons systems.
==Game Unit==
The slow-moving, overwhelmingly-armed Overlord epitomizes the basic approach of the Chinese army. In order to be most effective these tanks should be used in mixed squads, with varied upgrades and flank protection from other units.
With their double cannons and thick armor they make good tank destroyers and their sheer size and mass allows them to run over enemy vehicles, including enemy tanks. A large group of three or more upgraded Overlord Tanks is a serious threat requiring massed dedicated anti-armor weapons. Due to their armor they are ideal for making the initial breach in the enemy line and allowing smaller, faster, less armored units to attack the rear and fight in the confines of the enemy’s base. The Overlord can also play a role in defending a base or key areas on the battlefield before more permanent base defenses can be constructed.
Their massive size allows them to support various upgrades, making them quite versatile. Note that, because the upgrade platform is placed near the back of the Overlord, any weapons installed or garrisoned have reduced range against targets in front of the Overlord, but can also spot and destroy flanking enemies from a further range. The Battle Bunker allows five infantrymen to garrison the Overlord and fire from within. Overlords can also install a Gattling Cannon which, like its stationary counterpart is can detect stealth and is effective against both infantry and aircraft. If the Overlord is spearheading an assault, it can also be upgraded with a Propaganda Tower, which heals nearby units.
Overlords are unwieldy and the slow traverse of their turrets means that large groups of smaller and more mobile anti-tank units can quickly overwhelm them, although, it should be noted that when facing large number of smaller vehicles in a confined area, the Overlord can simply run them over. The Overlord is particularly vulnerable to rocket-wielding infantry units and enemy aircraft, although the Gattling Cannon upgrade compensates for this to an extent. Despite their apparent size, Overlords can be transported.
Because of its slow speed and other shortcomings, an Overlord should never be used on its own if possible. A wedge of Overlords centered on one that has been upgraded with a healing speaker tower makes a good basic formation.
=== Upgrades ===
The following upgrades are purchased for each individual tank. Only one may be applied to any single tank at a time.
====Base====
The following upgrades are purchased at various buildings, and apply globally to all Overlords on the field.
;Note: Nuclear Tanks deals 25 Explosion damage within a radius 0-25 and 10 Explosion damage within a radius 25-75 upon death. Before Isotope Stability is researched, Tao's Nuclear Tanks deals 110 Explosion damage within a radius 0-80 and 70 Explosion damage within a radius 80-100 upon death.
===Counters===
All factions additionally have their own techniques of eliminating the Overlord. The GLA can deploy the feared Jarmen Kell to snipe the vehicle and remove its crew, opening the Overlord to capture. Their slow speed, and correspondingly greater travel time, means that they can be harassed and their hit points worn down, and make them quite vulnerable to artillery and even unguided bombs. The Overlord is extremely slow and difficult to maneuver, and in general can be mobbed by groups of smaller anti-vehicle units, though this can be alleviated with upgrades. 
While all factions' siege units can destroy the Overlord, Chinese Nuclear Cannons loaded with Neutron Shells are particularly effective against both it and any escort units. All three specialized US generals have unique units (King Raptor, Aurora Alpha, Laser Crusader) that are effective against the Overlord. EMP weapons or units that achieve a similar effect also work, and would (in the case of EMP weapons, instantly) disable the Overlord. Note that, while the Gattling cannon and Speaker Tower will also be disabled, garrisoned infantry can still retaliate. 
The basic Overlord lacks any ability to deal with aircraft - a vulnerability that all American and Chinese generals, but especially General Granger and General Tao, can exploit to the fullest. The anti-armor abilities of the American F-22 Raptor, Chinese MiG, and other similar units can destroy Overlords with their hit-and-run attack style, and the Overlord can do very little against them. Upgrading the Overlord with a Gattling cannon or a Bunker and filling it with Tank Hunters somewhat covers this vulnerability, though General Granger's King Raptors' PDLs can destroy the missiles, and General Tao's nuclear-upgraded MiGs need only one missile to contact the Overlord before it is thrown into the air, disorienting and damaging it at best and destroying it at worst. Though the GLA do not field aircraft, their wide arsenal of explosives can prove effective against them. Terrorists and Bomb trucks can eliminate an Overlord relatively easily; they cannot be crushed (attempting to do so will simply detonate them) and a lone Overlord cannot destroy or outrun either before they connect. 
==Changelog==
* Generals sneak peek patch 1.02: fixed stacking of speaker tower healing on Overlord tanks
* Generals patch 1.05: build time increased from 20 to 25 seconds
==Selected Quotes==
==Gallery==
File:Gen Overlord Tank Concept Art.jpg|Concept art
File:Gen Beta Overlords.png|Overlord mock-ups in an early Generals screenshot
File:Overlod.jpg|Overlord tanks and Emperor Overlord tank
File:Generals Overlord.jpg|Two Overlords on the offensive
==Trivia==
* Other than the Emperor Overlord, the Overlord tank is the only vehicle that can crush other vehicles in Generals and Zero Hour.
* Out of all vehicles fielded in Generals, only the Overlord (and its variant) and an upgraded Marauder Tank have two gun barrels.
** The nominal damage on datasheet is per shot per barrel, equal to that of a Laser Crusader's beam (80 DPS) ,higher than Battlemaster (60 DPS), hinting that it used larger caliber guns.
*Contrary to portrayals in fiction, a quadruple-track heavy tank is impractical, if not completely impossible, to be fielded in real life, especially in combat conditions. Its tendency to sink into soft ground would make it largely road-bound even in dry weather conditions, while its width and weight would make it unable to cross many bridges. Its size and slow speed would make such a vehicle very vulnerable to air and missile attack. Urban warfare might be the best area for such tanks to be deployed but the concept alone poses serious maneuverability and maintenance issues.
==See also==
* Emperor Overlord tank, Ta Hun Kwai's improved variant
* Paladin tank
* Marauder tank
Category:Generals 1 vehicles
ru: C&C: Generals танк Overlord