(1) activates tank in general. (2) activates commander's MG. VTOL and Trim to control direction of track. Pitch and Roll to control gun. The M6A1 Ardent was the primary Paternian main battle tank between 1946 and 1961. Entering service in 1946, it was perhaps one of the most advanced main battle tanks Armed with a 90mm high-velocity cannon, the M6A1 Ardent would be replaced by the M5 Victoria (the Victoria project was started first but entered service much later) in 1968, and the M6A2 Ardent, featuring a new 105mm cannon in a unique cast turret. The succeeding M6A3 would return to the original A1 cast turret but retained the 105mm gun. Most M6A1 were either upgraded to the A2/A3 standard, converted into specialist vehicles, sold as military surplus, expended as targets, or scrapped.