Mortar Buggy

Step on it!

### Experience Value

Thrax & Kassad: 26, 34 (Veteran), 46 (Elite), 61 (Heroic)Juhziz: 27, 40 (Veteran), 58 (Elite), 83 (Heroic)

### Experience Required

Thrax & Kassad: 77 (Veteran), 103 (Elite), 137 (Heroic)Juhziz: 82 (Veteran), 119 (Elite), 174 (Heroic)

### Notes

Can clear garrisoned building after the Gas Warheads upgrade is purchased

### Upgrades

Junk RepairGas Warheads

Toxin Shells

Anthrax Gamma

## Introduction

The Mortar Buggy is tier 1 artillery vehicle for all GLA Generals, except for both Huchum and "Deathstrike" who use a more durable but slower artillery unit.

## Overview

As the Rocket Buggy proved ineffective in urban combat due to its rather flat projectile trajectory and too easily countered by American laser technology and Chinese ECM technology, GLA engineers come up with an idea of making an artillery unit that can attack over obstacles with keeping the fast nature of the Rocket buggy, However, since equipping a vehicle with a guided cannon that's both powerful and compact enough proved too expensive and complicated even for the ever pragmatic GLA engineers, instead, they opted to use a cheap but weak and inaccurate mortar. But this weapon is not only cost effective, but also perfect for urban terrain, for example, GLA generals could use these wonderful toys to ambush enemy forces moving to attack from uphill, the decent reloading of the mortar could destroy these before they could even destroy a single buggy, the generals can upgrade the mortar of these buggies to carry Gas Warheads useful for clearing out enemy garrisons.

## Strategy

The Mortar Buggy might just be one of the best Tier 1 artillery unit in *Contra*, despite having the weakest armor and firepower. The advantages of the Mortar Buggy are its low price which allows it to be mass produced easily; its reliance on shells instead of rockets which allows it to negate ECM disruption and PDL interception; and its impressive speed, which allows it to easily out run pursuing enemy ground forces.

With the Gas Warheads upgrade, the Mortar Buggy can now clear garrisoned enemy infantries from a safe distance, without having to risk losing your Toxin Tractors. Their shells can also be upgraded to toxic ones will also cause them to leave behind chemical contamination which can be lethal to infantries.

Mortar Buggies are best used as hit & run units, their long range allows them to easily strike down most base defenses without the fear of retaliation, and their speed allows them to leave their pursuers in the dust. However, their low projectile velocity makes it easy for fast moving targets to evade their shells. They're also very fragile, failing to pull back in time or running into enemy aircraft will often result in severe casualties.

## Upgrades

**Toxin Shells**

* Lace the Mortar Buggy's shells with anthrax and increase their effectiveness against infantry. Available at the Arms Dealer at Rank 1.

**Junk Repair**

* Allows the Mortar Buggy to repair itself on the field. Available at the Palace at Rank 3.

**Gas Warheads**

* Unlocks gas shells for Mortar Buggy which allows it to kill garrisoned soldiers.

**Anthrax Gamma**

* Increases the damage of the Mortar Buggy's chemicals by 50%.

## Assessment

Pros:

* Long firing range, can destroy base defenses from a safe distance away.
* Can use gas shells to clear out enemy garrisons (requires upgrade).
* Can fire toxin shells (requires upgrade).
* Faster than the Dana.
* Very mobile artillery unit.

Cons:

* Very weak armor, it's a buggy, after all.
* Ineffective against fast moving units.
* Helpless against aircraft.

## Quotes

Prior to 009 FINAL Patch 2, the Mortar Buggy reused the Rocket Buggy's voice lines.

### When Selected

* Need a quick mortar strike?
* Mortar is ready!
* Light weight artillery!
* Let's get going!
* What?

### When Ordered to Move

* Is that a secret way?
* Step on it!
* Roads are for jerks!
* Zig-Zag! \*laughs\*.
* Taking a Shortcut.

### When Ordered to Attack

* Big Death!
* Enemy position spotted!
* Destroy it! Quickly!
* Again!
* Incoming!