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Old October 26, 2001, 07:53   #1
aaglo
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Why do tanks need rubber (strategic resource)?
This one specific thing just keeps puzzling me, because I'm not a tank specialist.
Why is rubber required for building tanks? Is there a logical reason for this?
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Old October 26, 2001, 07:59   #2
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if you watch the movie Saving Private Ryan you know why rubber is that important.
Every tank has 'tires' (I don't know how to name it in english)
and if you 'destroy' these 'tires' (like in SPR) the tank is useless.

no rubber, no tanks.
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Old October 26, 2001, 08:09   #3
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do you mean the tanks tracks?
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Old October 26, 2001, 08:14   #4
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um kinda. well i guess they do not really need rubber but what would have been something extra that they would require so as to make them less readily availiable.
rubber was a strategic resource in WW2. i know germans had to switch to strategic variant.
try thinking about tanks as you do about mech divisions. they have not only tanks in them but many support vehicles. and they all need rubber.
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Old October 26, 2001, 08:21   #5
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IIRC tank tracks aren't made of rubber they are metal plates, that's why they don't drive on normal roads it would ruin the surface of the road.
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Old October 26, 2001, 08:26   #6
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bogie wheels
A tank's tread rolls on what are usually called "bogie wheels" -- you know, all those 8+ wheels on each side of the tank. The wheels would be on the ground if the 'track' (aka tank 'tread') was not there.

The wheels may be made of metal, but where they make contact with the track is lined with rubber. Sort of a permanent 'tire' on each wheel, I would guess 2 or 3 inches thick.

During World War II, Japan quickly conquered the vast majority of rubber producing areas in the whole world. Fortunately, "synthetic rubber" was invented by the Allies before stockpiles ran out.
I suppose the invention of synthetic substances isn't covered too well in Civ3.
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Old October 26, 2001, 08:27   #7
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Well thats what i thought too. I don't actually care if tank needs rubber or not as civilization is not a simulation. It's just a game balance thing to make game more fun.
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Old October 26, 2001, 08:35   #8
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The fact that units need resources is going to make the whole experience so much more interesting...

And as LaRusso stated, there are support vehicles. Each unit in Civ represents a battallion/division IRL.
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Old October 26, 2001, 08:36   #9
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Quote:
Originally posted by LaRusso

rubber was a strategic resource in WW2. i know germans had to switch to strategic variant. try thinking about tanks as you do about mech divisions. they have not only tanks in them but many support vehicles. and they all need rubber.
Hopefully you don't mind, LaRusso, but I'll have to
add that the rubber problem was a significant
problem also for Luftwaffe, and not only Wehrmacht.
But anyway, you're right large that Panzergruppe's need
large supply convoys (and also air protection).
That was one of the reasons for the setback in
Stalingrad.
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Old October 26, 2001, 10:22   #10
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Has anyone here ever worked on a car? Apparently not.

If you want to know why a tank needs rubber, then pop open the hood on any car you find and you'll notice a few rubber things in there such as...

Hoses
Gaskets
Belts
Seals

You still need rubber to have a decent engine and without an engine a tank would have a very hard time moving across the street much less the thousands of miles they might have to move to attack or defend some area.

The reasons listed are also more than likely why you need rubber for mass transit as well.

I guess some people thought tanks moved by magic?
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Old October 26, 2001, 10:26   #11
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In practical terms, Firaxis made it so that tanks would require rubber because tanks are a powerful unit in the game, and they wanted to make it hard to make.

Anyone agree?
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Old October 26, 2001, 10:50   #12
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I agree (FWIW).
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Old October 26, 2001, 10:51   #13
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Quote:
Originally posted by Jason Beaudoin
In practical terms, Firaxis made it so that tanks would require rubber because tanks are a powerful unit in the game, and they wanted to make it hard to make.

Anyone agree?
I agree. "Rubber" could be replaced with "The Strategical Resource Needed To Build Wheeled Industrious and Modern Units" and it would make no difference.
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Old October 26, 2001, 11:01   #14
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To Jason Beaudoin: You are right. As the resources oil and rubber appears very late in the game, it can turn the complete game. IMO is it good for gameplay.
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Old October 26, 2001, 11:08   #15
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That, my friends, is an example of how Civ3 can avoid the "inevitable winner" syndrome.
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Old October 26, 2001, 14:03   #16
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But I like the inevitable winner syndrome!
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Old October 26, 2001, 14:07   #17
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Rubber=Tanks
Actually, I have to agree with rubber being required for tanks - mainly because you would need rubber not for the tracks per se, but for the various gaskets/seals required for the engine and actual workings of the tank itself.
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Old October 26, 2001, 16:21   #18
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You might need rubber for 'protection'
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Old October 26, 2001, 16:27   #19
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Quote:
Originally posted by down th' pub
You might need rubber for 'protection'
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Old October 26, 2001, 16:39   #20
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Re: bogie wheels
Quote:
Originally posted by Jaybe
Fortunately, "synthetic rubber" was invented by the Allies before stockpiles ran out.
I suppose the invention of synthetic substances isn't covered too well in Civ3.
Actually, synthetic parts (or something that sounds like that) is the prereq for Modern Tanks. Maybe that means it doesn't require rubber. We'll see anyway.
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Old October 26, 2001, 17:01   #21
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Actually it's 'synthetic fibres' (AFAIR) and as the 'Modern Tank' unit is really an American Abrams M1/M1A it's probably because of the synthetic compounds used to make the armour for the tank more than the rubber.

Is it the Abrams or another tank like the Leopard which uses depleted uranium as armour plating ( non radioactive natch )
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Old October 26, 2001, 17:19   #22
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Technically, you could make a tank without rubber. Specifially natural rubber is probably not the best material for a tank.

Chains could replace belts. Hoses could be made of metal. Gaskets could be made of plastic. Rubber is nice, but not a necessity.

However, like mentioned above, the tank needs a resource to depend on. I guess rubber got the role.
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Old October 26, 2001, 18:39   #23
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Quote:
Originally posted by Faboba
Actually it's 'synthetic fibres' (AFAIR) and as the 'Modern Tank' unit is really an American Abrams M1/M1A it's probably because of the synthetic compounds used to make the armour for the tank more than the rubber.

Is it the Abrams or another tank like the Leopard which uses depleted uranium as armour plating ( non radioactive natch )
Yah, Synthetic fibers. Umm, IIRC the United States doesn't use depleted uranium for armor, the stuff is too dense.

However, the Abrams can fire sabbot rounds -- armor piercing rounds that are made of depleted uranium.
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Old October 26, 2001, 19:06   #24
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One thing I asked myself is: 'Why donīt they need iron?
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Old October 26, 2001, 19:57   #25
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Quote:
Originally posted by Faboba
Actually it's 'synthetic fibres' (AFAIR) and as the 'Modern Tank' unit is really an American Abrams M1/M1A it's probably because of the synthetic compounds used to make the armour for the tank more than the rubber.

Is it the Abrams or another tank like the Leopard which uses depleted uranium as armour plating ( non radioactive natch )
'Modern Tank' looks like an M1 Abrams but is just a Modern Tank.

It is NOT the armor plating that uses the depleted uranium. Depleted uranium (very dense material) is used in anti-armor ammunition. I don't remember for sure if it is used in tank rounds, but it is definitely used in the smaller caliber guns of modern armored infantry vehicles and the A-10 Warthog attack plane.
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Old October 26, 2001, 20:49   #26
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Quote:
Originally posted by Patriqvium
I agree. "Rubber" could be replaced with "The Strategical Resource Needed To Build Wheeled Industrious and Modern Units" and it would make no difference.
That would be more challenging to draw than rubber, though
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Old October 26, 2001, 22:00   #27
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ANd it woudln't help at all with the 'protection' element!
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Old October 26, 2001, 22:08   #28
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Quote:
Originally posted by Comrade Tribune
One thing I asked myself is: 'Why donīt they need iron?
Because they use composites.
and do you know how mch it would be ridiculous to have tank production cease because your iron ore has been lost?
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Old October 26, 2001, 22:37   #29
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Quote:
Originally posted by Jaybe

'Modern Tank' looks like an M1 Abrams but is just a Modern Tank.

It is NOT the armor plating that uses the depleted uranium. Depleted uranium (very dense material) is used in anti-armor ammunition. I don't remember for sure if it is used in tank rounds, but it is definitely used in the smaller caliber guns of modern armored infantry vehicles and the A-10 Warthog attack plane.
Yes it is used in tank rounds and yes it is used in the armor also.
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Old October 26, 2001, 22:56   #30
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Quote:
Originally posted by CyberShy
if you watch the movie Saving Private Ryan you know why rubber is that important.
Every tank has 'tires' (I don't know how to name it in english)
and if you 'destroy' these 'tires' (like in SPR) the tank is useless.

no rubber, no tanks.
They are called tires in English too
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