Ares (Combat Vehicle)

Description
The Ares Medium Tank is designed to stand off and take down its enemies at long range. Its top speed of 86 km/h is fast for a fire support combat vehicle, so it is often paired with armored personnel carriers to support infantry. Four and a half tons of Ferro-Fibrous armor protect the vehicle and its crew; this somewhat meager amount encourages Ares crews to stay out of range of most return fire. The Ares also includes CASE, allowing its crew to survive an internal explosion. This tank is most popular with Clan Coyote and Clan Wolf, though it is present in some numbers in most Clans.

Weapons and Equipment
Primarily a stand-off fighter, the Ares carries a Series 7Ja ER Large Laser in its turret. Mounted in the front are Type X "Short Bow" LRM-10 and Type XV "Crossbow" LRM-15 launchers, each of which include an Artemis IV Fire Control System. In addition, the missiles can be fired indirectly with the help of a spotter; though somewhat un-Clanlike, indirect fire can preserve the safety of an Ares and its crew. On the other hand, the Clantech missiles have no problem arming quickly, making them just as potent up close, unlike their Inner Sphere counterparts; this makes the Ares that much deadlier at short range. However, the limited ammunition supply forces gunners to rely primarily on the laser, using the missiles sparingly.

Variants

 * Plasma : This is a Jihad era variant of the Ares which sees a slight revision of its weaponry. The ER Large Laser and LRM-10 are dropped for a 2nd Artemis IV enhanced LRM-15.  Replacing the Laser is a Plasma Cannon with twenty rounds of ammunition. The LRM-15's ammunition has been doubled.