Apocalypse tank (Red Alert 2)

The Apocalypse assault tank is a Soviet super-heavy tank in Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 and Yuri's Revenge.
==Background==
The Apocalypse tank was a largely updated and refined version of the earlier Mammoth tank and was the signature Soviet super heavy tank in both iterations of the Third World War. It was described by Zofia as a "war in a can".Westwood Pacific, Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2. Soviet mission 7: "Operation: Chrono Defense". It possessed a pair of powerful cannons effective against both vehicles and structures, and was capable of eliminating light vehicles with a single volley. The Apocalypse also featured dual Mammoth Tusk missile launchers, effective against enemy aircraft. Like the Mammoth tank, the Apocalypse was designed to go toe-to-toe with any enemy unit, and emerge the last unit standing.
==Game unit==
The tank itself is much larger and slower than the Grizzly and Rhino tanks, but also much more powerful, doing more than twice the damage of the Rhino with its twin cannons. In addition to its cannons, the Apocalypse also features a pair of anti-air missile launchers. Although these missile launchers are slow to fire, they are significantly more powerful than other anti-air missiles such as those found on IFVs. This allows the Apocalypse tank to defend itself reasonably well against aerial threats, especially in conjunction with its advanced heavy armor. Its armor is only equaled by the Battle Fortress and Kirov airship. An integrated advanced self-repair system which is massively improved and refined over the older Mammoth tank, allowed the Apocalypse to slowly fully repair itself out of combat when damaged. 
When elite, they become extremely powerful, quickly firing a barrage of 4 high explosive AT rounds that are equally devastating against all armor types, including infantry although non-promoted tanks are still huge threats. And since they do heavy damage against buildings, the tanks can function as a viable siege unit, good for drawing fire from base defenses while dishing out heavy punishment.
===Usage===
The Apocalypse tank is mostly found by players to be a situational unit. Despite its power, its cost and slow speed meant that small numbers of tanks are often vulnerable. It is generally most effective if a large number of them were built, in which case they are often unstoppable. The resources this required, however, meant that this is not always possible to pull off.
Apocalypse tanks are reasonably good defensive assault tanks, as their high health means that multiple offensive units will have to be dispatched to deal with them (superweapons' damage is insufficient). However, they are also expensive at $1750, although less so at $1312 with an Industrial Plant, so if the enemy has enough firepower to one-shot an Apocalypse tank, it is more efficient to use two Rhino tanks.
===Counters===
Their ability to target both ground and air units makes brutal AI's Apocalypse tanks formidable defenders. However, as with its predecessor, the Mammoth tank, that comes at a huge expense of speed. Therefore, its tendency of getting caught out by even small packs of any kind of enemy units or even an occasional C4 from Tanya remains. Apocalypse tanks are only able to damage one unit at a time and it is hampered further by a relatively slow rate of fire. This makes it very vulnerable to being overwhelmed by large numbers of almost any unit type like the Grizzly, Rhino, Lasher tanks, or Tank Destroyers; Rocketeers, and other infantry units who resist the cannon rounds the best. Even small numbers of Guardian GIs can easily pick off individual apocalypse tanks from a long distance. However, once promoted to Elite, it gains a huge fire rate increase and improves its damage multiplier against infantry In which case, an Elite Apocalypse will be able to easily fend for itself against a good group of any ground units. Air threats are still the best way to take care of these tanks safely as its anti-air missiles are slow and lack firepower. Chrono Legionnaires are also another viable unit to stop them dead in its tracks as do mind controlling infantry in which case the faction will be able to reap the tank's capabilities and benefits. 
===AI behavior===
Apocalypse Tanks controlled by the AI have the following attack patterns:
====Medium====
* 1x targeting base defenses
** The AI will use Invulnerability on this strike force if the superweapon is available
====Hard====
* 4x targeting base defenses
** The AI will use Invulnerability on this strike force if the superweapon is available
==Appearances==
Apocalypse tanks were deployed during the initial invasion of the United States (several were seen in San Francisco when the Allies travelled back in time to stop Yuri). They can also be seen in the introduction video to Red Alert 2.
Apocalypse tanks are first encountered in the Allied campaign during Operation: Mirage.
Romanov's Black Guard possessed four elite Apocalypse tanks which were deployed around the Kremlin.
In the Soviet campaign, the Apocalypse tank becomes available during Operation: Chrono Defense. It is available in all subsequent missions. Apocalypse tanks were seen passing the Golden Gate Bridge in the cutscene before Operation: Sub-Divide, as well as in front of it after the time shift in Operation: Time Lapse.
==Quotes==
Note: in Red Alert 2, the Apocalypse tank shares its quotes with the Rhino heavy tank.
===When selected===
*The instrument of doom.
*It is day of judgement.
*Armageddon is here.
*Soviet power supreme.
*Annihilating.
===When moving===
*They will run in fear.
*I cast a deadly shadow.
*It will soon be a wasteland.
*Excellent.
*Be patient.
===When ordered to attack===
*Eradicate them.
*The end is at hand.
*These will be your last moments.
*Taste your mortality.
*The apocalypse has begun.
*Bringing down the hammer.
==Gallery==
RA2 Apocalypse Tank blueprints.jpg|Blueprints as seen before Operation: Chrono Defense1
RA2 Apocalypse Tank concept 1.jpg|Concept art
RA2 Apocalypse Tank concept 2.jpg|Ditto
Apocalypse tank Voxel Render.jpg|Voxel
Apocalypse Tank.jpg|Black Guard render (without anti-aliasing)
RA2_Black_Guard_with_anti-aliasing.jpg|Black Guard render (with anti-aliasing)
RA2_Black_Guard_Attacked.jpg|Black Guard Apocalypse tanks destroyed by a Harrier attack
Apocalypse_tank_Cutscene_Render.jpg|Blocking the Golden Gate Bridge
RA2 Apocalypse Tank in Generals loading screen.jpg|Apocalypse tank featured in a Command & Conquer: Generals loading screen
RA2 Apocalypse Tank alpha.png|Alpha appearance
1: The blueprint has two legible blocks of text, near the missile battery and the handle on the side of the main hull:
:this is an antiair weapon / this can kill kirovs with / just 10 shots / vs flak which takes 1200
:this handle has not / purpose in life is just / there for show / im not kidding you
===Cameos===
English and French versions share the same cameos.
Alpha cameo:
==Trivia==
*Although the opening to Red Alert 2 depicts Apocalypse tanks driving into Texas, they are not encountered in any missions in the Allied campaign set in America, but were present in the non-canon Soviet campaign. It is notable that in Yuri's Revenge, Allied commander did encounter the Apocalypse tanks while struggling in San Francisco.
*The game's cutscenes depict the tanks as black, while their in-game voxel is dark brown.
*Photographs of Red Alert 2 Apocalypse tanks were found displayed on the walls of a museum within the first Cairo Temple of Nod in the First Tiberium War.
*Apocalypse tanks appear in a loading screen in Command & Conquer: Generals that only appears in-game if no videos are found while loading. The image was also used in several promotional pieces for the game, as well as in the multiplayer sneak peek.
*Unlike the original Mammoth Tank, the Apocalypse can't use its missiles against ground targets due to both weapon settings and changes to the weapon system in Red Alert 2's version of the engine.
==See also==
*Battle Fortress, Allied counterpart
==References==
Category:Red Alert 2 vehicles
Category:Renegade mentioned-only vehicles
de:Apokalypse-Panzer