| “ | Armoured personnel carrier ready! - Flak Track |
” |
The flak track was a Soviet anti-aircraft support vehicle used during the first and second iterations of the Third World War, being first mass-produced Soviet light support vehicle designed after the Second World War. It was also capable of transporting infantry across the battlefield.
Background[]
Flak tracks' main purpose was the first line of air defense, with the flak cannon mounted on them. Excellent against aircraft, these cannons were also effective against lighter vehicles and infantry, but were poor choices against stronger tanks and buildings. Their secondary purpose was to transport infantry to the front line. Each flak track could carry up to 5 infantries.
By the War of the Three Powers, the flak track was replaced (along with the Sea Scorpion) by the amphibious Bullfrog.
In-game[]
This light Soviet vehicle is designed to defend against both air- and light ground-assaults. It attacks by expelling flak, much like the Flak trooper, which effective against lighter vehicles and infantry, but are poor choices against stronger tanks and buildings. Unlike the Allied IFV, flak tracks can squish enemy infantry. For example, they can run over enemy attack dogs before unloading engineers to ensure the capture of a key structure (this is popularly called the engi rush). The same tactic is used for Crazy Ivans and Cuban terrorists. Another one is used also for the Allied spies from Allied Barracks built/captured with Allied battle lab to create chaos for spies to sneak in.
Assessment[]
Pros[]
- Good against infantry and aircraft.
- Decent against light vehicles.
- Can transport up to five infantry units. Engineers and friendly spies benefit from this.
- Cheap ($500; $375 with an Industrial Plant)
- Excellent scouting unit due to its fast movement speed and sight.
- Good for early rushing of a surprise package of engineers into an enemy base.
- Deals splash damage.
- Can crush infantry (except Tesla troopers, brutes, Chrono Legionnaires, commandos, and desolators).
- Can beat a deployed Guardian GI in a one-on-one fight.
Cons[]
- Useless against structures and tanks.
- Fragile.
Quotes[]
Note: If Yuri's Revenge is not installed, this unit will use quotes from the Rhino heavy tank.
| “ | Armored personnel carrier ready! - When selected |
” |
| “ | Ready for transport - When selected |
” |
| “ | Let's clear the air - When selected |
” |
| “ | Do you have a plan? - When selected |
” |
| “ | What is the mission? - When selected |
” |
| “ | Making tracks - When moving |
” |
| “ | I'll carry out the operation - When moving |
” |
| “ | Getting in closer - When moving |
” |
| “ | Maneuvering - When Moving |
” |
| “ | Cutting path - When moving |
” |
| “ | Firing salvo - When ordered to attack |
” |
| “ | Flak away - When ordered to attack |
” |
| “ | Tear them apart - When ordered to attack |
” |
| “ | Flak them down!! - When ordered to attack |
” |
| “ | Guns loaded - When ordered to attack |
” |
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- This unit is inspired from a German made anti-air halftracks used by the Axis powers (the Sdkfz 251/17 - Sonderkraftfahrzeug (2 cm FlaK38), Sdkfz 10/4 & 10/5, etc.) during World War II. After the war, it is still produced by Czechslovakia as the OT-810 Half Track.
- The flak track also vaguely resembles a BTR-152 in overall shape; an actual Soviet APC and anti-air vehicle (albeit with 2 sets of rear-wheels instead of tracks).
- Flak track's original name was Half-track, as seen in the game files. This name is often restored in mods.
- OpenRA added a Soviet anti-air/anti-infantry unit inspired by the Red Alert 2 flak track, and dubbed it "flak truck".
- In Red Alert 2, when firing at air units, the smoke from the flak track's cannon is not properly positioned, as the SecondaryFireFLH value in rules.ini was not set. It was set properly in Yuri's Revenge.
- The flak track is one of the few Red Alert 2 units mentioned in Red Alert 3's background stories, being mentioned in the Bullfrog's unit profile.
- The beta concept art shows dual quad cannons and side firing ports. If implemented into the game, the quad cannons would most likely function like the Gatling Tank. The side firing ports were to be probably vestigial without any use, like mounted machine guns on various tanks.
- The cinematics for the game intro shows a half-track vehicle with a row of at least 4 mounted SAMs on a Katyusha mount. Curiously, in real life, the Katyusha mount is a multiple rocket launcher system, and not really used for firing SAMs. The size of the 4 SAMs may suggest they are likely to be the Buk system, even though the fins are positioned differently likely due to oversight.
