85K-a “Spatha”

**Versioning**

This article *could* contain outdated information that is inaccurate for the current version (1.52) of the game. It was last updated for 1.50.

## Cost

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###

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8
10
8

## Armament

* 40mm High-Velocity Tank Cannon
* Commander

## View Vehicle Strength Table

The **85K-a “Spatha”** is a Colonial Assault Tank. It is armed with a 40mm High Velocity cannon, which increases the 40mm damage output by 20%. It is a variant of the 85K-b “Falchion” and can only be obtained in the Light Vehicle Assembly Station with a Tank Factory upgrade. It requires a Falchion to upgrade and takes 7 minutes to complete.

Cost required to upgrade to a higher Tier at the Field Modification Center
Tier2
Processed construction materials 430
Assembly materials I 30
Assembly materials IV 24
. Tier3
Processed construction materials 1290
Assembly materials I 90
Assembled materials IV 72

## Description

### Crew

The Spatha houses a crew of 3: driver, gunner, and commander.

* The driver drives the tank and is the only one who can see the amount of fuel remaining.
* The gunner aims, shoots, and reloads the cannon. The only crew member who can see the ammo type fired.
* The commander can use Binoculars to scan the battlefield and use a secondary weapon. They can pop in and out of the tank hatch by pressing `E`. While inside the tank, the commander cannot be killed by small arms fire or explosives.

Although it is possible to use a tank without a commander, it's not recommended as it will limit your awareness on the battlefield.

### Inventory

The tank has 3 slots, one must be reserved for the 40mm shells (stacks up to 100 per slot).

### Armament

The Spatha is armed with a High-Velocity A/35 “Hesper” cannon chambering 40mm shells. The turret can rotate 360 degrees. The High-Velocity cannon provides a 20% increase to damage, has a 8s reload and a maximum range of 40m. The turret can be disabled if hit by explosives, making the tank defenseless until it's repaired.

When the hatch is open, the commander can use their secondary weapon to defend the vehicle if necessary.

### Health & Armor

The Spatha has the same health and armor as the Falchion but its armor is slightly more durable and its turret slighly less likely to be disabled. It can soak up small arms fire, shrapnel, and 12.7mm caliber. Anything else should be considered a threat. Its armor is thick enough to have a decent chance to deflect shells that are not Armour Piercing, especially from the front and at long ranges as long as the armor is in good shape. AP shells have a much higher chance to penetrate, which becomes a near certainty at any range or angle when the armor is in bad shape.

Its tracks can be disabled by explosives and Anti-Tank Mines, making the vehicle slow and thus vulnerable.

### Engine & Size

The Spatha has good speed both on and off road, only slightly slower than a Light Tank, but has a pretty high fuel consumption rate. With a 225L fuel tank, its fuel economy is very mediocre. The Fuel Tank is placed at the rear and can be disabled with explosives, making it leak fuel very rapidly.

It can be packaged, forming a large Shippable that can be lifted by a Crane but only transported by a Freighter, Barge or Train.

It is heavy enough to trigger anti-tank mines and too heavy to safely cross Field Bridges. It is large and powerful enough to cross trenches with ease, run over sandbags, tier 1 walls, and Barbed Wire Fences.

## Tactics

The Spatha is used to assault and flank enemy defenses. Similar to other tanks, they benefit greatly from having infantry support to protect them.

The 40mm shell doesn't have a lot of penetrative power, as such when fighting enemy tanks you'll be forced to hit the sides or the rear and at close range to increase your chance to penetrate the armor.

It is vulnerable to Anti-Tank Mines. Although a single mine won't kill the tank, it will cause big damage and always disable their tracks leaving them vulnerable to enemy Infantry with Anti-Tank weapons.
Enemy infantry with Anti-Tank Sticky Bombs also represent a danger because they have a good chance to disable the tracks as well.

Good crew communication and coordination is paramount. The commander must spot targets and threats and relay information and orders to the driver and gunner.

Like with every other armored vehicle, the crew should ALWAYS bring a Gas Mask and Filters to avoid dying to Gas Grenades.

Although the Tank's inventory can hold 100 shells it's advised to bring much fewer (20 to 60) because the shells can be salvaged by the enemy if your tank is destroyed.

## Trivia

* The spatha's hull is largely similar to the 85K-b “Falchion”, being based on the Porsche Tiger. However its turret is much different bearing a close resemblance to the Valentine Mk IX

* A "Spatha" is a form of sword common in the roman empire between the first and sixth centuries AD. It was used both by heavy infantry (replacing the Gladius in the role), Calvary, and gladiators. A silhouette of such a weapon can be seen painted on the sides of the tank.

* Early concept art of the Spatha indicates it was originally intended to carry a 68mm gun.

## Gallery

* A Spatha next to a crewmember in Tank Uniform.
* Early concept art of the Spatha, alongside other 85K-b “Falchion” variants.
* Tier2 Front
* Tier2 Side
* Tier3 front
* Tier3 Side
* Spatha in action.

## External Link

* Foxhole - Update 43 devlog - devtrackers