Karkadann

Our cannons will shatter their resolve!

599 (Elite)

826 (Heroic)

2867 (Heroic)

Anthrax Beta

Recycling

## Introduction

The **Karkadann** (كرگدن) is the GLA Armored Assaults General Huchum's super unit in Command & Conquer Generals Zero Hour: Contra.

## Overview

While the GLA was reconstituting its forces, Mahmud al Huchum once found documents in the ruins of an abandoned Wehrmacht base about the *Landkreuzer Projekt*: an armament project aiming to produce a super-heavy tank weighing 1000 tons and armed with a dual-cannon gun turret of a battleship as the Landkreuzer P.1000 Ratte. These documents gave him the idea of creating a similar although smaller and lighter tank that we all know as the Karkadann. Impressed by such a concept, General Mohmar, the Leader of the GLA himself, asked Huchum to build him an all-purpose version of the Karkadann that he would call the Desert Cruiser.

The Karkadann is a super heavy artillery tank with an extremely big chassis and heavy armor. It has two three-barrelled gun turrets that might have been salvaged from an Israeli or an American battleship with a very elastic spring, advanced autoloading mechanisms salvaged from Chinese heavy tanks and high efficient cooling system that allow it to fire various HE shells rapidly like an autocannon without the fear of overheating. Its large chassis provides ample room for large quantities of ammunition as well as space for large amounts of armor. Because of its turrets and armor's extreme weight, the tanks move at a snail's pace. It can be upgraded with anthrax-tipped HE shells, dozer blades for removing mines and on-board repair kits to "recycle" any destroyed vehicle (restores the badly damaged vehicle to its original state).

The Karkadann is the GLA's dedicated super siege unit, but unlike other units of this category, such as the Zhu Rong or the Yan Wang which deals high damage per hit but has a low rate of fire, the Karkadann is the exact opposite. It's best described as a land battleship, it's a very sluggish vehicle due to its size and weight, but its heavy armor allows it to absorb impressive amounts of damage. The Karkadann is armed with two battleship triple turrets, giving it a total of six artillery guns with a truly impressive fire rate. This allows the Karkadann to demolish enemy bases and decimate approaching armored battalions swiftly from a safe distance away.

The Karkadann's shells can be upgraded to carry anthrax, allowing them to create toxic contamination on the battlefield, it can also be outfitted with dozer blades which allows the tank to plow through minefields without any worries. The Karkadann's most notable ability, however, is to recycle destroyed GLA vehicles around itself free of any charge, however, this ability needs to be researched at the Salvage Plant first. Also, the salvaged vehicles will be reset to default salvage level and lose all veterancy (regardless of GLA Training).

Despite its formidable firepower, the Karkadann is not without flaws, first of all, the tank lacks any form of point-defense weapons, so although its high rate of fire and long-range make it less likely to be overwhelmed, sufficiently fast units such as terrorist bikers can still approach it and deal damage. Thus the Karkadann needs to be escorted when assaulting an enemy base. Secondly, the Karkadann also lacks anti-air weaponry, therefore it's recommended to keep a few Quad Tanks or Battle Buses loaded with Stinger Troopers around to fend off strike fighters and helicopter gunships, but its slow speed makes it vulnerable to fast and hard-hitting aircraft like Aurora Bombers. Finally, the Karkadann lacks any method to detect stealth, so radar vans are also a necessary part of the Karkadann's escort if the enemy is known for employing stealth units.

## How to Counter?

The Karkadann is surprisingly harder to counter for a super siege unit. Most ground units will likely suffer severe damage due to the high rate of fire of the Karkadann's six artillery guns, and its armor makes it one of the most durable super units in *Contra*.

However, the Karkadann does share some of the weaknesses seen on similar super units. First and foremost, it lacks the ability to counter aircraft, so a large group of helicopters will eventually finish it off. Its slow movement speed also makes it vulnerable to the likes of the Aurora Bomber or the F-16XL. The Karkadann is also incapable of detecting stealth, so GLA generals can use stealth units to approach the Karkadann and attack it from within its minimum range. Stealth suicide units can also be rather effective against the Karkadann. General Fai's wheeled ECM Tank and General Ironhand's Leech Droid can use their high speed to approach the Karkadann quickly while avoiding the worst of the artillery barrage and use their ECM capabilities to disable the unit. It's advised to use multiple disablers, as super units in general are very resistant to ECM.

In General Huchum's challenge, two Karkadanns will be guarding his base regardless of difficulty. They will normally remain passive, but if the challenger launches an assault on his base or reaches rank 5, the Karkadanns will go on the offensive. General Huchum will announce when the Karkadanns become active and when they arrive at the challenger's base. Having two Karkadanns attack simultaneously can easily throw a challenger off guard, as their heavy firepower can easily lay waste to their units and defensive lines. Should the two land battleships be destroyed, however, only one Karkadann will be sent at a time afterward, due to the limitations applied by Tournament Mode.

## Upgrades

**Junk Repair**

* Grants the Karkadann self-repair capabilities. Available at the Palace at Rank 3.

**Toxin Shells**

* The Karkadann's artillery shells will leave behind toxin residue upon impact and damages units passing over them. Available at the Palace at Rank 3.

**Anthrax Beta**

* Upgrade the shell's toxin fillings to a more potent dosage of Anthrax, increases damage by 25%. Available at the Palace at Rank 3.

**Recycling**

* Allows the Karkadann to rebuild all destroyed friendly vehicles within an area. Available at the Salvage Plant at Rank 3.

## Assessment

Pros:

* Very powerful, with six artillery guns.
* Very high rate of fire for a siege unit thanks to its multiple guns.
* Very durable for being an artillery unit.
* Long firing range, can safely demolish base defenses from a long-distance away.
* Effective against all types of ground targets as long as they are not moving.
* Can recycle nearby destroyed allied vehicles with Recycling upgrade.
* Dozer Blades upgrade makes it immune to land mines.
* Being a super unit, it cannot be depiloted or hijacked.
* Outranges all base defenses.

Cons:

* Slow.
* Has a minimum range that can be exploited by certain units.
* Cannot attack aircraft.
* Very long creation time due to GLA lacking power plants.
* Weak against fast-moving targets such as Mortar buggies.

## Quotes (In English)

### When Selected

* We are no mere myth!
* To where might we travel?
* Karkadann.
* How kind of them to leave these for us.
* Nothing will stop us!
* They will learn the true might of the GLA!
* We shall be merciless!
* Our cannons will shatter their resolve!

### When Ordered to Move

* We draw ever closer...
* All will be crushed beneath us!
* Thundering onwards.
* Proceeding.
* We begin our assault.
* Karkadann moving.
* Their fate is inevitable...
* That is our destination.

### When Recycling other Vehicles

* We shall give them new purpose.
* Nothing I cannot fix.
* Bringing them back to working condition.
* They will be repaired.

### When Ordered to Attack

* Everything shall crumble!
* For the Great Cause!
* Like a symphony of destruction!
* Obliterating the target.
* Meet a true monster!
* We will leave nothing but dust and craters!
* We will crush them under a steel tide!

## Trivia

* The Karkadann is named after a legendary rhino said to live on the plains of Persia and India.

## Gallery

Karkadann with improved textures, note the dozer blade upgrade is applied.From left to right: stock, upgraded once, upgraded twice.Cameo