New Unit: Centauro Tank Destroyer (July 28, 2005)

[Bjornlo]

Download the complete unit
Here
Updated to version 1.1 GIFs are not updated, but the animations are.
Preview:

default -> run -> fidget ->attack ->victory -> death
This unit includes

Civilopedia Icons (and a set of alternates)
Units32 icon
Animation files
Attack, Fidget/fortify, Victory, Default, Defeat, Run
Sound files
Attack, Fidget/fortify, victory, default, Defeat, Run
Civilopedia.txt content
Pediaicons.txt content
and 2 high-res wallpapers
http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/2335/centaurowallpaperbeach2tk.jpg
http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/9638/centaurowallpaperforest3hv.jpg
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The Centauro wheeled reconnaissance anti-tank(Tank Destroyer) fighting-vehicle
Armament: Oto Melara 105mm with an advanced Galileo Avionica fire control system.
Crew: 4
Speed: Capable of speeds in excess of 100km/h
Rough Terrain: capable of extremely steep grades (up to 60%), fording streams up to 1.5m without perperation
Misc: NBC protection, Laser warning, run flat tires
Transport: 4 infantry.

 

[Ares de Borg]

Info from fas.org:

The Centauro B1 tank destroyer was designed to carry out tactical reconnaissance and territorial defence tasks. The main mission of the Centauro heavy armored car is the protection of lighter vehicles and units of the Cavalry. It is not a reconnaissance vehicle, but a tank destroyer/wheeled tank. The cavalry unit is equipped with this vehicle which is fitted with a 105 mm high-pressure gyrostabilised gun and associated automated fire control system. It has high road mobility, a good power to weight ratio, a long range and good cross-country mobility. The Centauro carries a fully armed and equipped crew of 2 to 4 men, which makes it extremely flexible to use, especially in peacekeeping operations. Vehicles in the Centauro family have a basic protection guaranteed to withstand 14.5 mm bullets (25 mm on the front section). This can be increased to 30 mm by bolting on additional protection. The Centauro was deployed in Somalia and former Yugoslavia and has proved its toughness and the suitability of its gun system for use in peacekeeping operations as well as in the reconnaissance tasks for which it was designed and developed. Because of their characteristics, these tanks have been used to escort motor convoys, for wide area control and for road patrols, and have proven rapid intervention capability in unforeseen crises.

In order to have a troop carrier with mobility and protection specifications similar to those of the Centauro tank, development has begun on a family of medium tanks whose main characteristic is a high degree of interoperability with other tanks. The battlefield version (VBC 8 x 8) already exists in prototype. This will carry 7 fully equipped men in addition to the tank commander and the pilot and may be armed with a range of equipment such as a 12.7 mm machine gun and a 25 or 60 mm cannon, plus two missile launchers. Bearing in mind Italy’s recent experience in Somalia and Bosnia, a possible use has emerged for short-range heavy automatic armaments against interposing forces rather than a range of 400-500 m, as in a cold-war scenario.


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Another great unit. My Italian forces will be pleased. The model is nice and the animations, too. The only thing I don't like too much is the whole vehicle becoming black in death. Otherwise, thumbs up! Thank you.

 

[W.i.n.t.e.r]

Nizzze

 

[Vuldacon]

it's a Beauty! A "must have" unit...with so many tanks out and in the game...a Tank Killer is a necessity. Good Work Bjornlo

 

[Luddi VII]

Great work!

 

[odintheking]

Sweeet!!!!!!

 

[Bjornlo]

Thanks guys, I'm glad you like it. I had alot of fun making this unit. The original model I used was the nicest one I've had to work with so far.
And I forgot to mention it, but Thanks Wyrmshadow for your help.

 

[la_dav]

Yeah...Beauty!! I like it,cool unit!

 

[Chris85]

Whoa! The detail is amazing!

 

[plustaticman]

Very nice. We had these for a little while in our unit while we waited for our Strykers.

 

[Bjornlo]

Very nice. We had these for a little while in our unit while we waited for our Strykers.

hehe ironic that you now have this while you wait on me to finish my stryker.
Which is still on my list and near the top.

 

[Bungus]

Good job, Bjornlo. Like how you included a bounce and no bounce default (though I prefere the rumbley one) and that forest wallpaper render came out great. The offset is 8 or 9 pixels high on the Y-axis, though. Noticably so. Took like 30 seconds to correct, but I'm afraid my browsers acting stupid and I can't post it here right now.

 

[Bjornlo]

Good job, Bjornlo. Like how you included a bounce and no bounce default (though I prefere the rumbley one) and that forest wallpaper render came out great. The offset is 8 or 9 pixels high on the Y-axis, though. Noticably so. Took like 30 seconds to correct, but I'm afraid my browsers acting stupid and I can't post it here right now.

In which flc? I just went through them and they are not high. In fact I am using a just slightly below median height to model tire compression from the weight of the unit. The only FLC where the front end rises is as a result of the recoil in the fire.

--edit--
http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/5053/centaurowiretop7mc.jpg
http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/166/centaurowireside2yg.jpg
Here are a couiple of screen shots of the wireframe. The top view shows the x and z axis, the side view shows y and z axis.
One from the top, showing the unit to be perfectly centered. The gray diagonal line goes to the exact center of the unit, and this is the point of rotation.
The side view shows all 4 wheels touching the ground from a direct on angle where even a single pixel error, let alone an 8-9 pixel error, would be visible.

 

[Conan2002]

GRAZIE!!! Very good

 

[csep]

Great unit!!!!!! I may make it available to all Civs, or a unit for Rome and Spain.

 

[plustaticman]

hehe ironic that you now have this while you wait on me to finish my stryker.
Which is still on my list and near the top.

I know. The irony wasn't lost on my either.

I'm curious, were you going to make the whole family of Strykers, or just one, or just the big four?

Again, great unit, as usual.

 

[Bjornlo]

I know. The irony wasn't lost on my either.

I'm curious, were you going to make the whole family of Strykers, or just one, or just the big four?

Again, great unit, as usual.

At this point I haven't made up my mind. All I will say for certain is I will make the HMG version. I might make the TD version, but I haven't started on this version yet. I may or may not make other LAVs.
Vague enough for you? hehe.
Sorry man, but I don't like to make promises. I tend to keep them and making too many is a burden.

---
Also thanks for all the kind comments guys. I particularly liked this model, and so making the unit was fun.

Now, I am NOT looking to remake this unit; but if any of you do see problems with it, let me know.
Issues reported: Bungus reported that the unit was 8-9 pixel off on the y-axis (which is elevation). I checked both the centering and the elevation and can't see what he saw. So not planning on fixing this, since I can't find it.
Someone else send me a note saying some of the FLC's were too fast in game. But did not say which ones. Again, no fix as it is too vague. I looked at the FLC's and they seemed right to me.
All comments good or bad are welcome. I only ask that you limit any negative comments to constructive criticism (things I can use to make either this or the next unit better).

 

[Bungus]

Oh, Bjornlo, I meant it is offset too high in game. As in, the whole frame is approximately 8 pixels off, not the actual render itself.

 

[Bjornlo]

Oh, Bjornlo, I meant it is offset too high in game. As in, the whole frame is approximately 8 pixels off, not the actual render itself.

Ah.... I will check the offset on the FLC. Was it one FLC or multiple/all?
And, since the FLC has no height, I assume you felt it was offset too far to towards the top of the frame?

 

[plustaticman]

At this point I haven't made up my mind. All I will say for certain is I will make the HMG version. I might make the TD version, but I haven't started on this version yet. I may or may not make other LAVs.
Vague enough for you? hehe.
Sorry man, but I don't like to make promises. I tend to keep them and making too many is a burden.

Fair enough. The big four are the ICV (Infantry Carrier), ATGM (AntiTank Guided Missile, TOW II A, B, and BB missiles), the MCV (Mortar carrier, pretty cool cause the mortars fire from inside), and the MGS (Medium Gun System) The Stryker version of the Centauro. Again, if you need images of them fighting, moving, whatever (to include a limited number of vids) let me know, I would be glad to help where I can.

I understand the too many promises thing. Will look forward to even seeing one Stryker as I can't make them (not quite skilled enough, though I did try) and very much want them for CIV.

Thanks again