CLR-80(Char Léger à Roues)
CLR-80 Prototypes
"CLR-80 "Sournois" in 1976 during the Vidange-Ceskohradkan Border crisis"
"CLR-80 in Ghararastrian service"
The CLR-80 began it's developpement in 1965 as the need for a fast maneuverable light tank,to counter Ceskohradkanian and Kardovijan mechas,in the mountain ranges and cities.But also be easily deployable to counter a possible naval invasion from FRKR or Shintoka.First designs were based on a four wheel APC chassis but,it was quickly realised that such a construction would proove unstable and hard to operate.So the Freshly develloped VTTB-69(Vehicule de Transport de Troupes Blindé Mle 69) and manufactured by Simca with a 3rd axle extention was chosen.While the turret design was given to 3 companies : Atélier SABA, Atélier Leonide, Atélier ANVa with Societé Aciéries Beamontaise Amerurie producing a turret that passed the most requerements, those being (Oscillating; hosting the new 80mm CA Mle 70; and keep the total weight of the vehicle under 15 tons.).CLR-80 finished it's trials in march '70 and went into prodution later that year.Equipped with night vision for both driver(to permit high speed & precision driving at night with no lights) and gunner it was one of the first production vehicles to sport such innovations.The oscillating turret spotted an autoloading mechanism rivaling in speed that of the Kardovijan B-70(at the time held as the fastest and most reliable system).Even with the higher command requesting an NBC package for the vehicle, it prooved impossible to proprely seal the CLR-80 while keeping it's weight under 16tons and keeping it's turret connected to the hull.CLR-80's first major conflict was the Vidange-Ceskohradkan Border crisis in 1976 where it was able to face off it's intended adversary in a couple skirmishes.
In service for the Republique de Vidange, CLR-80 served in most tank divisions and even had separate battalions created solely for them named BCR-# (Battalion de Chars à Roues).Which later adopted newer wheeled vehicles in the late 80s.
The tank also gained popularity amongst several nations looking for a decently capable,cheap light tank like: The Republic of Hebez in small numbers,Nordjland,Ghararastra,Bergteilreich in small numbers until selling them to to Ghararastra and [Redacted].Many other nations who were looking for such a vehicle either did not fulfil the Vidangien Export checklist or simply went for similar vehicles produced by Cantoria,Shintoka or [Redacted]
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