Editing Estevez

{{InfoBoxCombatVehicle
| image = estevez_mbt.jpg
| name = Estevez Main Battle Tank
| manufacturer = [[Novais Motors]]<ref name=ED:AoWp24-25>''Era Digest: Age of War'', pp. 24–25: "Estevez Profile"</ref>
| production year=2310
| year reference=<ref>''[http://www.masterunitlist.info/Unit/Details/4139/ MUL online date for the ''{{PAGENAME}}'']''</ref>
| Mission = Main Battle
| Type = Tracked
| Cost = ???
| mass = 80 tons
| armor = [[Nova-IV Hyper-Composite with Diamond Flex]]
| engine = [[NM/750 Combat Diesel]] [[ICE]]
| comsys = [[Valiant Echo Mk. II]]
| T&T = [[Thermoscan Optics FCS]]
| speed = 54
| Crew = 6
| armament = 
* 1x [[heavy rifle]]
* 2x [[machine gun]]
* 2x [[vehicular grenade launcher]]
| BV (2.0) = 647<ref name=ED:AoWp24-25/>
}}

==Description==
Named after a militia officer on [[New Avalon]] where it was built, the '''Estevez''' was the main battle tank of the [[Federated Suns]] throughout the [[twenty-fourth century]] and into the [[Age of War]]. It entered service in [[2310]] as one of the earliest and most effective tank designs developed outside the [[Terran Hegemony]]. With its sheer size and power the Estevez often caused lighter armed enemies to break and run, thus developing a fearsome reputation over decades of service.<ref name=ED:AoWp24-25/>

By the early 2400s, however, advancing technology had made the Estevez obsolete. Its 150mm main gun proved ineffective against more modern armor, made worse by its now-outdated fire control system and inability to fire specialized munitions. Its large crew and high fuel consumption also drained [[Federated Peacekeeping Forces]] resources in prolonged conflicts. The Estevez was eventually taken out of front line service in the [[twenty-fifth century|mid-twenty-fifth century]] after a disastrous simulated battle against [[Draconis Combine]] [[BattleMech]]s on [[Robinson]]. Some were kept in service for a few more years after conversion into anti-air tanks but eventually all Estevezes were scrapped and replaced by the more modern [[Tiger (Combat Vehicle)|Tiger Medium Tank]].<ref name=ED:AoWp24-25/>

==Weapons and Equipment==
The Estevez's main gun was a turret-mounted, large-caliber [[Avalon Slugger|Avalon Slugger Heavy Rifle]] which provided great punch against contemporary enemies. Its seven tons of ammunition stored in the hull also gave it enormous battlefield endurance. Two coaxial [[PC-50]] machine guns on the turret plus a smoke grenade launcher mounted on each side protected the tank against infantry.<ref name=ED:AoWp24-25/>

==Variants==
*;Kestrel : Built under license in the [[Free Worlds League]], it was virtually identical to the base model.<ref name=ED:AoWp24-25/> BV (2.0) = 647.<ref>''[http://www.masterunitlist.info/Unit/Details/4440/ MUL online date for the Kestrel MBT]''</ref>

*;Estevez AA : A [[2360]] conversion into a second-line garrison tank, the anti-air variant replaced the old turret armament with two [[Autocannon/2]]s with three tons of ammo and one machine gun while leaving everything else unchanged. BV (2.0) = 571.<ref>''Era Digest: Age of War'', Record Sheets</ref>

==References==
<references />

==Bibliography==
*''[[Era Digest: Age of War]]''

[[Category:Combat Vehicles]]
[[Category:Assault Combat Vehicles]]
[[Category:80 ton Combat Vehicles]]
[[Category:Tracked Combat Vehicles]]

[[Category:Main Battle Combat Vehicles]]
[[Category:Federated Suns Combat Vehicles]]