Type-08 tank (FT)

The Type-08 tank, also known informally as the Maru-Hachi, is a 23rd-generation Imperial main battle tank manufactured by Mitsuhishi for the Imperial Army. Conceived for modern ground warfare, the Type-08 tank replaced the remaining Reunification War-era Type-95 tanks in the Imperial Army's arsenal and is the primary main battle tank of the Imperial Army in the modern era.

Combining auto-loaded twin 125 mm main guns, advanced composite armour, as well as hard and soft-kill active protection systems in a reliable, conventional package the Type-08 tank is combat proven to meet modern standards of armoured warfare.

Weapons
The Type-08 is armed with twin 125 mm Kirino Dynamics Type-08 smoothbore coil-assisted guns. The guns are loaded by an autoloading system and can both fire up to 10 rounds each per minute. The ammunition for the main guns are loaded in 16-shell magazines, and the tank has a total ammunition capacity of 44 rounds for its main armament. The Type-08's primary anti-tank munitions are tungsten APFSDS kinetic energy penetrators. For attacking unhardened targets, the Type-08 can use a programmable multi-purpose HEAT chemical energy round providing good offensive capabilities against personnel, unarmored and lightly armored vehicles on the ground as well as low-flying helicopters. Guided munitions and missiles can also be fired from the main gun, such as the Type-82 "Tripod Buster" flechette guided missile designed to take down Hierarchy walkers.

An advanced fire-control system linked to an LHF radar system is deployed on the frontal arc of the turret, along with a conventional laser rangefinder and crosswind sensor. The system is capable of a "lock-on" mode, which can acquire and track specific targets up to a range of 9.8 km (6.1 mi) using a thermographic camera. This allows the crew to fire accurately while moving as well as engage low-flying aircraft. The fire-control system is also linked to an advanced gun stabilizer and trigger-delay mechanism to optimise accuracy while moving in uneven terrain.

The commander of the tank has the ability to override the command to take control of the turret and gun from the gunner. The Type-08 can even be operated by a single crewmember in the driver position, as proven during the 277 Empire-Hierarchy War. The highly computerised fire control system can automatically spot and track visible targets, comparing them using the data link established with other friendly vehicles to prevent redundant target engagements. At least one crewmember is required to authorise the main guns to fire, however, to safeguard against potential takeover by enemy hackers.

Secondary weapons include a coaxial 10.2 mm Arisaka Type-52 machine gun and one remotely-controlled 21.1 mm Arisaka Type-12 heavy machine gun capable of 180 degree traverse and 85 degree elevation, enabling it to engage enemy infantry, light vehicles, and aircraft. A second pintle-mounted machine gun can also be mounted on the commander's hatch.

Protection
Composed of ceramic tiles encased within a metal framework and bonded to a backing plate and several elastic layers, the modular composite armour on the Type-08 is capable of defeating up to 130 mm APFSDS rounds. Spaced non-explosive reactive armour blocks are also present. Like most Imperial vehicles, the vehicle is also protected by nanocrystal titanium plating.

The micrometer band radar system mounted on the turret is capable of operating as a Missile Approach Warning System. The anti-missile system has both soft-kill and hard-kill reaction modes. The vehicle's computer in turn can triangulate incoming projectiles, immediately warn the vehicle crew and fire off Visual and Infrared Screening Smoke grenades, which can effectively block optical, infrared and radar signatures.

The Type-08 also has a Radar Warning Receiver and radar jammer. Four all-bearing Laser warning receivers are also present to alert the crew should the vehicle become "painted", and the computer can also deploy VIRSS grenades towards the direction of the beam. An automatic fire suppression system is programmed to detect and put out any internal fires that may occur, and atmospheric sensors alert the crew if the tank enters a hazardous environment

Empire-Hierarchy War
The Type-08 first saw combat in the Ice Wars, where many broke down due to the cold weather. They were upgraded and were the primary MBT of the Imperial Army by the Second Hyperpower War.

The Type-08 was also deployed in the Second Empire-Hierarchy War in 240. A total of 12,482 Type-08 tanks were deployed to the front lines on Aokessho and Matsutani. Though outclassed in terms of firepower, the Type-08 was superior to the Hierarchy's SEK 13 main battle tripod combat walker in various other ways. Around 2,300 Type-08s were damaged or destroyed during the war, mainly due to a lack of protection against the Hierarchy's "death ray" directed energy weapons.

The Revision 240 anti-laser polymer coating in use by the Imperial Navy at the time was never intended for sustained in-atmosphere use and degraded rapidly when constantly exposed to the elements and frontline conditions. Nevertheless, it was adopted by the Imperial Army as a stopgap measure against the Hierarchy forces' heavy use of energy weapons. Only after the war would a stable anti-laser polymer coating was developed for the Army, resulting in the Revision 245 Land-Type anti-laser polymer coating, which has since been deployed on almost all types of combat vehicles within the Imperial Army which would expect to face energy weapons.

Empire-Union War
During the Empire-Union War of 287, the Type-64 faced off with its natural rival and closest equivalent, the Interstellar Union's upgraded T-56A4 main battle tank.