Flak Track

The Flak track is a Soviet anti-aircraft infantry transport in Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 and Yuri's Revenge.
== Official description ==
==Game unit==
The great speed and good vision range can allow Flak tracks to not only act as fast transport for infantry, but also double as scout vehicles. However, they are poor choices against stronger tanks and buildings due to the weapons' ineffectiveness, as well as the vehicles lack of armour protection against high caliber fire. Unlike the Allied IFV, Flak tracks can squish enemy infantry. For example, they can run over enemy attack dogs before unloading engineers to ensure the capture of a key structure (this is popularly called the engi rush). The same tactic is used for Crazy Ivans and Cuban terrorists. Another one is used also for the Allied spies from Allied barracks built/captured with Allied battle lab to create chaos for spies to sneak in.
However, the main competive use of Flak Tracks is to be used as mass anti-air unit, due to the long ranged, instant hitting, area-of-effect AA attack. They are particularly effective against flying infantry (rocketeers).
===AI behavior===
Flak tracks controlled by the AI have the following attack patterns:
====Easy====
* 1x targeting production structures, accompanied by 2 Rhino Tanks
====Medium====
* 2x targeting production structures, accompanied by 3 Rhino Tanks
* 2x targeting base defenses, accompanied by 2 V3 Launchers
====Medium/Hard====
* 1x loaded with 3 Crazy Ivans proceed to unload near an Allied or Soviet construction yard before targeting it 
* 1x loaded with 5 terrorists proceed to unload near an Allied or Soviet construction yard before targeting it
* 5x guarding Tesla/Nuclear Reactors and Soviet Ore Refineries
** This strike force will only be constructed if the enemy owns a floating disc
====Hard====
* 1x loaded with 5 engineers proceed to unload near an Allied or Soviet construction yard before targeting it
* 2x targeting base defenses, accompanied by 2 Tesla troopers and 3 V3 launchers
* 2x targeting production structures, accompanied by 5 Rhino tanks
** The AI will use invulnerability on this strike force if the superweapon is available
==Changelog==
*Yuri's Revenge (release version 1.000):
**SecondaryFireFLH properly set
**new quote set
==Quotes==
Note: in Red Alert 2, the Flak track shares its quotes with the Rhino tank.
===When selected===
* Armored personnel carrier ready!
* Ready for transport!
* Let's clear the air!
* Do you have a plan?
* What is the mission?
===When moving===
* Making tracks!
* I'll carry out the operation.
* Getting in closer!
* Maneuvering!
* Cutting path!
===When ordered to attack===
* Firing salvo!
* Flak away!
* Tear them apart!
* Flak them down!
* Guns loaded!
==Trivia==
* Paradoxically, this unit can transport 5 infantry units yet it only takes up 3 slots in amphibious transports.
** This means an amphibious transport with 12 slots can actually carry 5 * (12 / 3) = 20 infantry if they're loaded onto Flak tracks and those Flak tracks are loaded onto the amphibious transport.
* This unit is inspired from a German made anti-aircraft half-tracks used by the Axis powers (the Sd.Kfz. 251/17 - Sonderkraftfahrzeug (2 cm), Sd.Kfz. 10/4 & 10/5, etc.) during World War II. After the war, it is still produced by Czechslovakia as the OT-810 Half Track.
* The Flak track also vaguely resembles a BTR-152 in overall shape; an actual Soviet APC and anti-air vehicle (albeit with 2 sets of rear-wheels instead of tracks), as well as somewhat resembling the American M3 half-track.
* The Flak track's original name was half-track, as seen in the game files. This name is often restored in mods.
* In the intro cinematics, the vehicle could be seen with a row of 5 rockets mounted on Katyusha-like rails. They are based on the closest real life AMRAAM which can be carried on hummers and are of US-origin. Although Soviet-type Buk, Kub, SA-125 exist, they are larger so fewer of these SAMs can fit on a typical half-track sized vehicle, either that or up to a max of 4 can just enough squeeze/fit on larger and heavier vehicles.
*OpenRA added a Soviet anti-air/anti-infantry unit inspired by the Red Alert 2 Flak Track, and dubbed it "flak truck". It is more of an armored car, smaller and more mobile.
* In Red Alert 2, when firing at air units, the smoke from the Flak Track's cannon is not properly positioned, as the SecondaryFireFLH value in art.ini was not set. It was set properly in Yuri's Revenge.
* The Flak Track is one of the few Red Alert 2 units mentioned in Red Alert 3's background stories, being mentioned in the Bullfrog's unit profile.
==Gallery==
RA2_Flak_Cannon_concept.jpg|Early concept art
Flak track Voxel Render.jpg|Voxel
===Cameos===
Alpha cameos:
==See also==
*Amphibious transport, vessel transport counterpart
*Sea Scorpion, anti-infantry/anti-air water counterpart
*Infantry Fighting Vehicle, Allied anti-air vehicle counterpart
*Battle Fortress, Allied infantry transport counterpart
*Gattling tank, Yuri counterpart
Category:Red Alert 2 vehicles