Īlthough recognized as the peak of power armor design and associated with U.S. Veterans of China and Alaska faced themselves fighting their own countrymen, leading to a string of desertions across North America, as food riots escalated. Soon, they were also deployed against Americans: On January 22, 2077, the first domestic use of power armor occurred, in order to break protests and enforce quarantine. Military units equipped with the T-51 were also deployed to quell resistance fighters in occupied Canada, following the U.S.

The operation was considered a full success, reclaiming Alaska for the United States after eleven years of war. Their deployment significantly reduced casualties once past the Chinese pulse field, despite issues with adapting them to the cold. However, the T-51 demonstrated the full scope of its abilities in January 2077, when General Constantine Chase secured victory in Anchorage Reclamation, thanks to his mechanized troops equipped with winterized T-51b power armor and spearheading the assault. The renewed American offensive caused Chinese supply lines to break down. Their impact was tremendous, with some Chinese troops eventually surrendering as soon as they spotted soldiers wearing T-51b, carrying 5mm miniguns. The first production run of T-51b suits was sent to China in June 2076, immediately outperforming the T-45. Gyroscopic stabilizers and shock absorbers were subsequently added to rectify the situation. A prototype tested in September 2075 had the desired mobility and protection but landing tests proved the armor lacked stability. Test models were trialed in combat conditions at Fort Strong in Massachusetts from 2075 onwards, providing essential data to finalize the design. The development of T-51b prototypes hastened as the T-45 series underperformed in mainland China after the 2074 invasion. By 2069, it was the largest defense contractor of the United States government, with the T-51 series development their largest contract. It is also the very first type of power armor introduced in the Fallout series, prominently displayed on the cover of the first game, and featuring in virtually every game since.įollowing the successful deployment of the first operational power armor in 2067, the T-45 power armor model, West-Tek began development on an improved model. It remains prized after the Great War for its protective qualities.

In particular, their use minimized casualties sustained by the military in the attack. The newly equipped units proved incredibly effective against People's Liberation Army forces, and were instrumental to the success of Battle of Anchorage, commonly thought to be the series' debut on the battlefield.

Following a ten year development cycle, the T-51 finally entered service in June 2076, after final testing at Fort Strong. įormally designated Powered Infantry Armor Model T-51, it was created by West Tek under contract from the United States government, and represented the company's single largest contract. T-51 power armor series was the pinnacle of mechanized protection before the Great War, the armor provided a valuable balance of protection and mobility.

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