| St.Type-31 | |
|---|---|
| |
| St.Type-31a variant | |
Design
| |
| Designer | Stalker Inc. |
| Role | Heavy Tank |
Specifications
| |
| Weight | 59 tonnes |
| Armor | 200 / 77 / 50 mm |
| Primary Armament | 100mm Short Barrelled Cannon |
| Secondary Armament | none |
| Powerplant | 21.0L V12 Diesel |
| Top Speed | 24 km/h |
Development
The Type-31 is Stalker Inc.'s first mass produced vehicle in the heavy armour class. After the Korea incident it became clear that there was need for a well armed, well armoured battle tank suitable for tank to tank combat. The result was the Type-31 as we know it today. It was initially equipped with a 75mm Cannon, but because of its poor performance against well armoured targets it was soon replaced by a 100mm shortened cannon with high-velocity APHE ammunition. With a top speed of 24 km/h, the 59 tonne tank is slow but possesses excellent off-road characteristics. Production stopped and the design for the Type-31 was sold when the Type-25 and Type-34 entered active service.
Characteristics
Advantages
- Well armoured
- Excellent armament for tank to tank combat
- Good off-road performance
Disadvantages
- Low top speed
- No secondary armament, making it ineffective for combat against infantry
- Relatively weak armour in the rear of the chassis
Variants
Type-31a
The Type-31a is the main version of the tank, with a 100mm short barrelled cannon and small 360-degree rotating turret. This weapon is effective against light- to medium weight tanks, and for flanking tactics against heavier targets.
Type-31b
On rare occasions the 100mm cannon on the a-variant wouldn't suffice. However, the turret on the Type-34 was simply too small to fit anything larger than a 100mm cannon. Instead of mounting the weapon in the turret, the turret was scrapped altogether and the weapon was mounted in the hull. This version was officially designated as the Type-31b, and effectively became Stalker Inc.'s first tank destroyer. The vehicle became obsolete when the Type-32 entered service.
