Siege Tank

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This article *could* contain outdated information that is inaccurate for the current version (1.52) of the game.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

###

155

## Armament

* 250mm Hades Petard Mortar
* Commander

## Crate Cost

###

465

## View Vehicle Strength Table

The **Siege Tank**, or **HC-7 “Ballista”**, is a Colonial tank with a 250mm petard mortar.

## Description

### Crew

Like most tanks, its crew is composed of a driver, a gunner, and a commander.

The driver is in control of positioning the vehicle. In the Siege Tank, this allows them to control when and how to commit the vehicle to combat. They also frequently have to adjust the facing of the tank to allow the mortar, which has a narrow firing arc, to fire at targets. The driver is the only crew member who can see the fuel gauge without leaving the vehicle and should carefully monitor its prodigious consumption.

The gunner is in charge of aiming and firing the tank's petard mortar. Use the `Mouse Scroll Wheel` to adjust the firing distance. The mortar fires in an arc, not in a straight line like other tank turrets. Since the firing arc is not shown to the gunner, the target distance must be provided by the spotter or be gauged by the gunner themself to then adjust the mortar's firing distance accordingly.

The commander/spotter can use Binoculars to see further than the other crew members and provide coordinates for the main gunner to fire. He can also fire Secondary Weapons from the cupola with extreme accuracy and can use this to prevent infantry from closing with the tank from the sides. Like on other Tanks, the commander/spotter is exposed and can be shot at and killed. However, he can close the hatch for protection by pressing `E`.

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

### Inventory

It has 10 slots, reserved for its shells (one per slot, no stacking).

### Armament

It is armed with a 250mm petard mortar with a 25m range and 8 seconds reload speed, designed for destroying structures. The weapon can potentially be disabled if hit by explosives. Although the mortar's caliber is impressive, it can't effectively engage enemy vehicles or infantry. It has a 60-degree firing arc.

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

### Health & Armor

It has a lot of health but its armor isn't particularly impressive for a medium tank. 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 already slow vehicle even slower and thus vulnerable.

### Engine & Size

The Ballista is one of the slowest vehicle in the game and has a pretty high fuel consumption rate. With a 200L fuel tank, its fuel economy is not good. The Fuel Tank is placed at the rear and can be disabled with explosives, making it leak fuel very rapidly.

The Siege Tank can be packaged, forming a large Shippable that can be lifted by a Crane but only transported by a Freighter or Barge.

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 Ballista's slow speed and lack of anti-armor and anti-infantry weapon forces it to be used with lots of support to be effective. Shooting infantry is ineffective and a waste of valuable shells. The Ballista is designed to break up enemy static defenses to allow for an infantry push. It excels at this task, but it is otherwise in danger of being overrun by enemy infantry or destroyed by enemy tanks.

Of utmost importance is keeping track of the location of enemy tanks and infantry with AT weapons, which are the greater threat to the Ballista.

## Trivia

* The Ballista's design is very similar to the German Sturmpanzer.

* A Ballista is a type of ancient catapult.

## Lore

*A relatively recent addition to the Colonial arsenal, the HC-7 or “Ballista” is a specialized tank fitted with a front-facing mortar cannon designed to level structures with ease. Built on the bones of the smaller but proven H-series chassis, the HC series of tanks brings improved armour, more reliable treads along with the formidable 250mm short-barreled Hades mortar.*

*The team behind the Ballista operated out of the Velian capital of Damokratos. This intrepid young crew apprenticed under the engineers responsible for the L-series or “Lance” battle tank, earning invaluable experience. One intrepid mechanic by the name of Dell'oro Ricci noted the H-series' inability to directly tackle defense structures and would often fall behind or suffer significant damage, thus identifying a gap in the Colonial arsenal.*

*The Ballista has since become a staple in the Legion's feared armour division and-living up to its namesake-lays siege to our enemies before they know what hit them.*

## Gallery

* Release image of the Siege Tank