Rommel

The Rommel tank is a 65-ton armored combat vehicle, specializing in close range fighting and urban combat. Identical to its twin, the Patton, in every way but armament and armor configuration, the Rommel has primarily served with the Lyran Commonwealth and the Lyran Alliance. It is named after Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, a legendary commander of armored and mechanized forces renowned for his exploits during World War II on Terra.

Description
The Rommel was designed concurrently with the Patton in the early 3000s, when Defiance Industries decided that an armored combat vehicle capable replacing 'Mechs was needed. Since 'Mech production was nearly at a standstill, the ability to produce and field armored vehicles became a necessity for every Successor State.

With its default main weapon being the massive and immensely powerful but short-ranged AC/20, the Rommel is best suited to close range and urban fighting, where its heavy gun can be put to excellent use. A Rommel may lie in wait around a corner or down an alley, and then use its devastating armament to cripple or destroy a BattleMech when it comes into view. The main advantage the Rommel has over other, older designs is a combination of higher speed and more armor. With even more armor than a Demolisher tank, the Rommel can sustain more punishment, yet slip away faster to fight again from another position.

Weapons and Equipment
The Rommel uses a single Defiance 'Mech Hunter Autocannon/20 as its main armament. Able to cripple light and medium 'Mechs with a single well-placed shot from the main gun, the Rommel can also keep an enemy at bay with a Coventry LRM-5 System while retreating to another position. If attacked by infantry, or as a last resort, the tank commander can aim a single A5L Small Laser.

Variants

 * Gauss : This 3054 version of the Rommel replaces the standard weaponry with a Gauss Rifle, a pair of Medium Lasers, and a pair of Machine Guns in the turret. For additional anti-infantry capabilities, this version also mounts a pair of Machine Guns on the front of the tank and a single Machine Gun covers the rear. The only real weakness is that the design only provides a half ton of ammunition for all five Machine Guns. BV (2.0) = 1,178


 * Sealed : This 3076 variant uses Environmental Sealing to participate in amphibious attacks. It carries Heavy Ferro-Fibrous armor and a Guardian ECM Suite to protect itself, and trades in its weaponry for a Heavy PPC and a Streak SRM-6. To defend itself in the water, it also carries a bow mounted SRT-4 system. Two MG provide additinal protection on both sides against conventional infantry. BV (2.0) = 1,270


 * Howitzer Prototype : This version of the Rommel removes the standard weaponry and replaces it with weapons that are allegedly easier for newer troops to use and less likely to fall victim to electronic warfare or Anti-Missile systems. The main gun is a Long Tom Artillery Cannon. This weapon can inflict massive amounts of damage on the target and its immediate surroundings and it doesn't require a great gunner. The LRM-5 was replaced by a Thunderbolt 5 launcher to provide more punch at the cost of range. Two front mounted ER Medium Lasers provide ammunition-independent fire. Twelve tons of Heavy Ferro-Fibrous armor protects the tank. BV (2.0) = 1,507


 * Howitzer : The 3087 production model of the Rommel Howitzer replaces the XL engine with a standard fusion engine to reduce costs. This reduces the tank's top speed to 54 km/h. This version also carries a half-ton less of the Heavy Ferro-Fibrous armor, but the weapons systems remain the same as the prototype's. BV (2.0) = 1,353

Related Designs

 * Patton - The Patton tank is built on the same chassis, but carries an Autocannon/10, LRM-5, Small Laser, and a Flamer for anti-infantry work. The reduced weight of the main gun compared to the Rommel enables it to mount more armor.


 * Axel - Produced in a Mark I and a Mark II version on Spittal by Benson and Bjorn since the inception of the Free Rasalhague Republic, the Axel tanks are internal-combustion-engine variants of the Rommel and Patton designs, respectively.

Design Quirks
The Rommel Howitzer (Production) variant is subject of the following Design Quirks:
 * Distracting
 * Poor Targeting/Short Range
 * Trailer Hitch