Scorpion tank (Generals 1)

The Scorpion tank was the GLA's main battle tank during the GLA Conflict.
==Background==
While fast, they are a poor match for more modern armour in direct combat. This was demonstrated amply in Iraq, when a division of USA Crusader tanks took on an equally-sized division of Scorpions, annihilating the latter without suffering any losses. Nevertheless, the GLA have plenty of upgrades available to make the Scorpion a viable weapon, such as the Scorpion rocket and the toxin shells upgrades. Like most combatant GLA vehicles, they could upgrade their primary weapon by salvaging parts from destroyed enemy vehicles in Zero Hour.
==Upgrades==
===Base===
	Scorpion Rocket	When purchased, all Scorpions are given a crude rocket launcher able to fire at ground targets. 	Purchasable at any Arms Dealer for a cost of $1000.
	Toxin shells 	When purchased, all Scorpions fire shells laced with toxin. 	Purchasable from a regular GLA Palace for a cost of $1000.
	Anthrax Beta 	When purchased, all Scorpions' toxin shells use a deadlier mixture. 	Purchasable from a regular GLA Palace for a cost of $2000.
	Anthrax Gamma 	When purchased, all Scorpions' toxin shells use a mixture improved upon the regular Anthrax Beta.	Purchasable from Dr. Thrax's Palace for a cost of $2000.
	AP Rocket 	When purchased, the Scorpion rocket does 25% more damage. 	Purchasable from any Black Market for a cost of $2000.
	Junk Repair 	When purchased, all Scorpion crews slowly repair their vehicles with improvised materials. 	Purchasable from any Black Market for a cost of $2000.
===Salvage===
In Zero Hour, the Scorpion can also be upgraded with salvaged parts.
*The first upgrade increases its cannon damage
*The second upgrade further increases its cannon damage, and adds a second rocket once the associated upgrade has been purchased.
==Game unit==
Speedy and inexpensive, Scorpions are good for hit-and-run missions in the early phases of a battle. The Scorpion's cannon is most effective against lighter vehicles and structures. The Scorpion rocket upgrade is very useful, significantly adding to the Scorpion's firepower and giving it an effective anti-infantry capability.
However, direct confrontation with technologically advanced USA and China heavy weapons is ill-advised in most cases due to the Scorpion's lighter armor. Scorpions are completely vulnerable to aircraft.
While scorpion tanks are the weakest MBT of the three factions at direct tank-to-tank engagements, the upgraded Scorpion's toxin-enhanced rocket allows it to fill an anti-personnel role that the Crusader tank and the Battlemaster tank cannot; note that chemical warfare specialist Dr. Thrax has even more effective Scorpion rockets. Combined with their superior speed, the scorpion is the best MBT for engaging a limited number of infantry.
==Changelog==
* Generals patch 1.05: build time increased from 10 to 14 seconds
* Zero Hour patch 1.03: now displays upgrade cameo for Anthrax Beta
==Quotes==
==Gallery==
Scorpion Tank concept art.jpg|Concept art (an FV430 APC)
GensZHChineseScorpion.png|The original Scorpion tank (turretless T72 tank)
GensZHGLAScorpion.png|Another unused model
Scorpion Texture.png|The original Scorpion tank texture
File:Carro-armato-m13-40.jpg|A World War 2 Italian Fiat M13/40 Carro Armato which greatly resembles the Scorpion Tank
==Trivia==
* There is a copy of Scorpion Tank named Lite Tank in the world builder.
* The Scorpion tank is the salvaged version of the Italian Fiat M13/40 Carro Armato tanks that were used in the North African campaign of World War 2.
* During the intro briefing of the GLA mission 2: Hidden Agenda set in Cairo, Egypt, a Scorpion tank being the first enemy unit to appear is a nod to the Egyptian Armed Forces' acquisition of a few abandoned M13/40 tanks during the 1948 Arab-Israeli postwar conflict.
* The concept and unused turretless model suggests the Scorpion was originally going to be a modified M113 or M114 APC.
* The Scorpion tank was originally meant to be a Chinese tank. While only an unfinished model (shown in the gallery) is available inside the game files, the original Scorpion tank looked like an actual scorpion, with its double barrels and a rocket launcher "tail".
* The second model of the Scorpion tank looks like the real life King Scorpion.
* If a Scorpion tank is destroyed in vanilla Generals, it uses the wreckage model of the Crusader tank. This is corrected in Zero Hour, where the Scorpion receives its own wreckage model.
==See also==
* Crusader tank, American counterpart
* Laser tank, General Townes counterpart
* Battlemaster tank, Chinese counterpart
Category:Generals 1 vehicles