RDF/LT

The RDF/LT is a tier 6 Special Light Tank originating from the United States. It is an Premium Vehicle sold as part of the Collector's Edition packages.

Player Recommendations
The RDF/LT is an excellent long-range fire support vehicle whose low alpha damage is mostly compensated for by a blisteringly high rate of fire. While the RDF/LT has the mobility necessary for flanking maneuvers, it is slightly less mobile than some of the other light tanks, most notably the VFM Mk5, particularly regarding rapid acceleration. This, coupled with a relatively low turret traverse rate and its tinfoil-like armor plating, makes it better equipped to function as a mid- to long-range sniper than a close combat brawler. Artillery, high explosive ammunition, and autocannon armed AFVs all pose a significant threat to the RDF/LT because its frontal armor, despite being well angled, is simply too thin to bounce more than a few lucky shots from anything it is likely to face.

To perform well, the RDF/LT uses decent camo rating to stay out of trouble, as it lacks smoke grenades and the sheer acceleration of other light tanks for escaping dangerous situations. Ideally, it should fire on enemy vehicles from soft cover without being detected to make use of its incredible DPM potential. All three of the RDF/LT's ammunition choices are useful in different situations and swapping between them can maximize damage output based on the current target, as well as the firing angle. Despite having relatively low penetration values for its tier, the 76mm gun of the RDF/LT can still generally penetrate the side armor of most same tier MBTs with ease. If it outflanks them whenever possible, its DPM can be capitalized on. Some comparisons can be drawn between the BgPz. 57's DPM potential at tier 5 and the DPM potential of the tier 6 RDF/LT, as both are armed with powerful, autoloading guns.

Pros

 * Excellent stationary and on-the-move accuracy
 * Good DPM
 * Like most light tanks, it has good maneuverability.

Cons

 * Very light armor for its tier
 * Low alpha
 * The mix of high rate of fire and low damage per shot means that it is possible to run out of ammo, especially in PvE

Upgrade Suggestions
Premium vehicles in Armored Warfare come fully upgraded.

Retrofit Suggestions

 * Improved Gun Breech
 * Augmented Optics
 * Electro-Optical Absorbing Paint

Commander and Crew Skill Suggestions

 * Commander: Erin O'Connell or Sabrina Washington for visibility through foliage, camo factor, and camo from foliage
 * Driver: Smooth Ride, Offroad Driving
 * Gunner: Sharpshooter, Quick Draw

Upgrades
Premium vehicles come fully upgraded.

Variants

 * RDF/LT CLAW
 * RDF/LT NEON

History
Class: Light Tank (Prototype) Developed: 1980-1985 Service: N/A Vehicles Built: 1 Operators: N/A Since the days of the Vietnam War until the mid-1990s, the standard American light tank was the M551 Sheridan. As light tanks go, it was mediocre at best and with its problematic Vietnam record, it’s no wonder that the U.S. Army started to look for replacement. The RDF/LT (Rapid Deployment Force Light Tank) was one of such designs by AAI Corporation. It originated in an earlier Light Tank program that went nowhere (as usual), but the lessons learned allowed AAI to develop this tank in hope of further participation in the U.S. Marine AVCT program. The Marines needed something fast with a lot of firepower but at the same time light enough to be transported using a sling under a CH-53 helicopter. The original prototype AAI produced was armed with a 75mm Ares cannon but realizing its experimental nature, AAI opted to replace it with an older, well-tested 76mm M32 rifled gun that had been previously used on the M41 Walker Bulldog Light Tank. Despite this, the result was quite an advanced and fast vehicle with its hull made of aluminum and even the gun received new APFSDS shells. Regardless, despite these qualities, the Marines didn’t want it and that was the end of the RDF/LT. The end of the 1970s wasn’t really a good time for experimental projects with the funding being cut left and right as an aftermath of the lost Vietnam War. And so the Marines went for the LAV and HMMWV wheeled vehicles instead, leaving the RDF/LT in prototype stage only. The project was officially terminated in 1985.