Hopper Tank

The Hopper Tank is China's light scout tank. These cheap, quick to build, agile, lightly armored and armed tanks are built in pairs. These are aimed for functioning as cheap and quick force multipliers to easily maintain Horde bonus for Chinese vehicles, to provide basic recon and for quick raids against the enemy base.

Lore
Clocking in at a mere 6 tons in weight, this light scout tank is oddly reminiscent of the historical tankette vehicles that were developed between the First and Second World War, when the true military role of armored vehicles was yet to take shape. Affectionately called the 'Hopper' by the PLA for its amazing agility and comical shape, the new vehicle entered service very recently.

Whilst American military experts were quick to dismiss it for its anachronistic role and 'ridiculous' design, the Chinese like to point out that a single one of these vehicles is still more resource-efficient and quick to produce than a Humvee, to the point where Hopper Tanks are always built in twos. This allowed China to complete 10.000 units in a single year, which are now serving in the ranks of the PLA and a number of domestic police units.

The Hopper can use its stubby 75mm cannon to destroy lightly armored targets and draw the attention of heavier adversaries away from the actual battle tanks.

Its armor is capable of resisting bullets, but does not stand much of a chance against larger calibers, let alone dedicated anti-tank weapons, making the Hopper a vehicle that is best used as part of a massive offensive.

The crew consists of only two people: A driver and a commander, who also serves as the gunner. True to vehicle's function as a scout, the commander can be ordered to peek out of the hatch and spy ahead with his binoculars, substantially increasing the Hopper's sight radius at the cost of not being able to attack until the commander has re-assumed his position behind the gun.

Amazingly for an otherwise low-tech vehicle, the Hopper Tank can also be equipped with depleted uranium shells and a miniature atomic battery.