Helena

## Overview

The Helena is the Main Battle Landship(MBL) of the Arcean Union, occupying an air-liftable, mechanised heavy support role. Created to replace the previous Great War design of the Cassidy, with an emphasis on the tank being deployable from airfotresses, forming the pinnacle of modern Arcean tank design. It improves on its predecessor by means of a higher calibre main gun with Night-Vision capabilities, an improved airturret engine resulting in faster speeds than a regular landship's road engine, improved armour with lighter alloys to facilitate air transportation and a more ergonomic crew space. On top of these improvements, the addition of a fire control and stabilisation system taken from the Cranmore Airturret, allows for far more efficient and accurate firing while on the move. In addition, both the co-axial and the commander's telescopic machinegun can be used to zero the main gun, opposed to just the traditional sighting guns of previous tanks. The Helena requires a crew of four: Commander, Gunner, Driver and Loader and is seen in service with both the Arcean Army and its elite Aerorifles.

### Armament

The 120mm "Baker" main gun forms the central armament of the Helena- named after its creator. This rifled gun is capable of launching High Explosive, Sabot and Armour Piercing shells, though lags in part behind many contemporary MBLs. All this ammunition is stored in reinforced lockers within the turret, carrying 50 rounds in total. Most notable among its ammunition, it can fire the "Woomera"- a wire guided missile which is assembled from two parts in the turret, loaded into the breech and fired from the main gun where it can be guided onto enemy armour from outside of traditional gun range. In conjunction, the gunner and commander control a 20mm automatic each. The loader's sits in the co-axial position and can be used to sight the main gun or engage soft targets. The Commander's 20mm is operated by telescope and can also be used to sight the "Baker", allowing the Commander to sight on a fresh target even as their gunner engages and destroys a previous.

### Variations

* Hadieh: The Haideh RRL is a armoured recovery vehicle built off the Helena Chassis. Swapping the main gun for a crane, with an attached frontal winch, rear engine repair cradle and dozer blade, the RRL is a common sight accompanying Arcean armoured formations. Their lack of armament and common usage in humanitarian missions or attachment to civilian disaster relief services, makes the Mechanical and Electrical engineering sections of the Army and Areorifles a popular posting for conscientious objectors and pacifists.
* Hamasa: The Hamasa AEAV is an Armoured Engineering Assault Vehicle built off the Helena chassis. Forgoing the turret for an extra armoured plated hull to survive greater damage. A plough blade is standard attachment to the front but can be replaced with additional attachments, while the rear of the tank carries a excavator controlled from within the turret. Due to its frontline role, the Hamasa is heavily armoured and retains its commanders turret with 20mm machinegun to act in infantry support or suppress an enemy as the Hamasa performs its tasks.
* Huazifa: This variant in similar in body to the Hadieh, though exchanges the rear crane and frontal winch for a bridgelayer module able to carry a 26 meter long tank bridge, or a 13.5 meter bridge in an even shorter time. Deployed to span gaps to allow for rapid advance or in civilian capacity to repair damage to critical transport links.