Rattlesnake light tank

The Rattlesnake (Tipsprek: Rattelslang), officially the "Rattlesnake" Armored Battle Crawler (Tipsprek: Panserestridkruper «Rattelslang») abbreviated as '''Psk. Rattelslang''', was a Tiperyn light tank used heavily during the Great Kesh War. Production of the Rattlesnake began in 1943 fielded in airlanding formations as a primary armor asset, the reconnaissance subunits of mainline armored divisions, and Tiperyn's primary export tank pre-war. The Rattlesnake was adapted into the Iguana infantry carrier in 1944 which was Tiperyn's most numerous armored vehicle in service during the war.

The Rattlesnake was the result of one of several tenders made by the Realm Guard for tracked armored fighting vehicles designed to fight in the soft sandy desert environment of Nasiria in preparation for the Great Kesh War. Prior to then, there had been very little in the way of tracked armored vehicle development in Tiperyn with the reconnaissance, screening, and exploitation roles being filled by. The Rattlesnake would be the primary armored vehicle of the II Light Cavalry Corps garrisoned in Nasiria, fulfilling reconnaissance, skirmishing, patrolling, and messenger duties. Meanwhile, the Cobra medium tank was adopted by the III Heavy Cavalry Corps in Nasiria to fulfill anti-tank and exploitation duties.

The Rattlesnake served in the Reconnaissance Battalion of deployed Realm Guard and Fleet Expeditionary Tank Regiments during the Great Kesh War while colonial and homeland-stationed units retained their armored cars. The Rattlesnake B assault gun carrier and Rattlesnake C tank destroyer variants also served in these battalions within specialist platoons under the battalion headquarters. Both Expeditionary Corps Rattlesnakes and armored cars in other theatres were replaced by the Psk. Pit Adder (Groefkopader) light tank in 1960.

Domestic armored fighting vehicles

 * Rattlesnake A1 - Original production variant introduced in 1943 armed with a 38mm tank gun
 * Rattlesnake A2 - Improvement of the original A1 introduced in 1950 with upgraded hull, upgraded 51mm tank gun, vertical gun stabilizer, additional space for radios, upgraded engine, and raised engine deck.
 * Rattlesnake B1 - Self-propelled assault gun variant of the A1 introduced in 1945 armed with a 89mm low velocity howitzer.
 * Rattlesnake B2 - Self-propelled assault gun variant of the A2 introduced in 1950 armed with a 89mm low velocity howitzer.
 * Rattlesnake C - Tank destroyer variant of the A2 introduced in 1950 armed with a 76mm high velocity anti-tank gun.

Domestic infantry carriers

 * Iguana - A line of infantry and weapons carrier variants introduced in 1944 based on the original Rattlesnake A1 chassis.

Export variants

 * Type 58 Ginsnake — Export variant for Kaya introduced in 1958 with an additional roadwheel, pneumatic roadwheels, and upgraded 51mm anti-tank gun
 * Type 58 Ginsnake APC — Armored personnel carrier variant of the Type 58.

Former

 *  Akiteiwa — Captured from Selengeria forces during the Great Kesh War
 *  Kodeshia — Captured from Selengeria forces during the Great Kesh War
 *  Asharistan — Provided by Tiperyn as military aid during and after the Great Kesh War
 *  Selengeria — Provided by Tiperyn as military aid during and after the Great Kesh War
 *  Kaya — The original Tiperyn-designed Rattlesnake was in service with the Banner Armies in cavalry units until 1958 when an upgraded Kayan variant, the Type 58 Ginsnake, was introduced. The Type 58 remained in official service until 1977 and is still used by civilian operators as a foresty and airfield tender vehicle.
 *  Nasiria — Used by the Nasiri Territorial Corps of the Realm Guard.
 *  Tiperyn — Used by the Realm Guard and Fleet Expeditionary in Reconnaissance Battalions within Tank Regiments until 1960.