Technology of the Soviet (Red Alert series)

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This page lists various technologies employed by the Soviet Union in the fictional, alternate history setting of the Command & Conquer: Red Alert series real-time strategy computer games.

Contents 1 Air Force 2 Cloning Technology 3 Ground vehicles 3.1 Tanks 3.2 Rockets 3.3 Miscellaneous 4 Iron Curtain 5 Navy 6 Psychic Technology 7 Tesla Coil

[edit] Air Force

The Soviets have a distinct advantage in air power in the original Red Alert; Soviet commanders have access to the Mil Mi-24 Hind, the Yakovlev Yak-9, the MiG 29, and the Tupolev Tu-16. In Red Alert 2, the Red Air Force no longer has access to aeroplanes but instead possesses Kirovs, large airships which can unleash devastating aerial bombardments on ground targets. In the Yuri's Revenge expansion, the Red Air Force gains the Siege Chopper, which while in the air can act as an air assault vehicle, or deploy on the ground as mobile artillery.

[edit] Cloning Technology

In Red Alert 2, the Soviets develop a structure called a Cloning Vat, which allows infantry to be cloned and sent into battle. In Yuri's Revenge, Yuri uses cloned versions of himself for infantry.

[edit] Ground vehicles

[edit] Tanks

In the original Red Alert, the Soviets have access to a variety of powerful tanks. The standard Soviet tank is a twin-barrelled T-80ИМ which is more powerful than even the Allies' heaviest tanks. In addition, the Soviets have access to the gargantuan Mammoth Tank, an armoured behemoth capable of annihilating Allied vehicles with little effort, and also capable of firing rockets at airborne targets and infantry.

In Red Alert 2, Soviet tank technology has developed further. In this game, the standard Russian armoured vehicle is the Rhino tank, more heavily armoured than Allied equivalents. The Mammoth tank appears to have been upgraded and appears as the Apocalypse tank, an immensely powerful and heavily-armoured vehicle which mounts two cannon barrels and travels on four independent sets of caterpillar tracks. Like the Mammoth, the Apocalypse is capable of firing rockets at airborne targets and when used in large numbers, is virtually unstoppable.

[edit] Rockets

In both games, the Soviets have access to sophisticated missile-launching vehicles. In the original Red Alert, the Russians use FROG-7 rocket launchers that fire V-2 rockets. In Red Alert 2, similar vehicles launch V-3 rockets, a long-range missile with greater range and destructive power than the V-2.

It should be noted that V-2 Rockets were originally developed by Germany, and not the Soviet Union. Hence the designations "V-2" and "V-3" appear to be an oversight on the part of the game's developers.

[edit] Miscellaneous

The original game sees Soviet forces make use of minelayers capable of deploying effective anti-infantry mines. In Red Alert 2, the Soviets no longer have access to minelayers but instead have access to the "Flak Track, a fast armoured personnel carrier mounting a flak gun, effective against infantry and aircraft. Additionally, in Red Alert 2 the Soviets possess the Terror Drone, a complex spider-like robot which, when activated, seeks out enemy vehicles and drills its way inside, rapidly dismantling the vehicle from the inside out.

[edit] Iron Curtain

The Iron Curtain is a defensive system that makes an armored unit or structure invulnerable for a few seconds. In Red Alert, Einstein explains it works on a theory of resonating molecules to a certain frequency. However, the system was limited to making only one vehicle invulnerable, and only for a limited time. Also, infantry would be killed if the Iron Curtain was used on them. By Red Alert 2, the Iron Curtain was improved so it could affect multiple units.

[edit] Navy

In the original Red Alert, the Soviets are only able to deploy Victor class submarines, which are fairly effective against Allied shipping but which cannot attack land or airborne targets. The expansion pack Aftermath allowed the construction of missile submarines, capable of firing powerful SLBMs at land targets.

Red Alert 2 sees the Red Navy gain access to a much greater range of naval weaponry. The flak gunboat is capable of attacking airborne, land-based, and naval targets, while the submarines from the original game are more powerful and much faster. The Soviets' fleet of dreadnoughts is immensely powerful, with each vessel capable of launching a rapid barrage of powerful missiles against land and sea-based targets. A bizarre addition to the Soviets' naval forces are telepathically-controlled giant squids, which seek out enemy shipping and use their tentacles to drag ships to the bottom of the sea.

[edit] Psychic Technology

In Red Alert 2, the Soviets developed psychic technology with the help of Yuri. Yuri himself had powerful telepathic and telekenetic abilites. He could control a unit's mind, as well as send out lethal mind blasts. One such application of this technology was a modified telephone that Yuri could contact anyone and influence their behaviour. It was used to prevent a nuclear retaliation by the U.S. when the Soviets launched its invasion.

Psychic technology was also developed for gathering intelligence, such as the Psychic Sensor, and Yuri's own Psychic Radar. The Soviets also developed several structures to control the minds of people across a wide range, like a city. Other similar buildings were developed, increasing the telepathic control across continents, but these were often destroyed. In Yuri's Revenge, Yuri developed a Psychic Dominator to take over Earth.

In Yuri's Revenge, Yuri forces included Initiates, infantry that can send out a psychic blasts at units and buildings.

[edit] Tesla Coil

In the Red Alert series, Tesla coils are are weapons used by the Soviets. It generates an electric charge, and directs it to a target, which then electrocutes and burns it. It was used as a large, stationary defensive structure. Later, the Soviets developed smaller versions that allowed it to be placed on a tank, and also a soldier, dubbed the Tesla Tank and Shock Trooper, respectively.

In Red Alert 2, man portable Tesla Coils were used by special infantry called Tesla Troopers. These troopers shot electrical blots from the miniature Coil. In addition, Tesla Troopers could also provide energy to Tesla Coils in times of emergency.

In real life, Tesla Coils do actually exist but it only has one thick coil instead of the game's 3 coils and an electric ball. In reality, however, it is virtually impossible to control the direction of its electrical charge.