Rommel

Rommel tank
Production information
Manufacturer	Defiance Industries
Production Year	3027
Mission	Close Range/Urban Combat
Type	Tracked
Cost	2,908,813 C-bills
Technical specifications
Mass	65 tons
Armor	Durallex Heavy
Engine	Magna 260 fusion
Speed	64.8 km/h
Crew	3
Communications System	TharHes Muse 54-58K
Targeting Tracking System	TharHes Mars5
Heat Sinks	10 single
Armament	1x Autocannon/20 1x LRM-5 1x Small Laser
BV (1.0)	550
BV (2.0)	933

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.

Description

The Rommel was designed concurrently with the Patton in the early 3000s, when Defiance Industries decided that an armored combat vehicle capable of 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.

Though aiding manufacture and support for both designs, Defiance Industries marketing department long lamented producing two visually similar tanks caused confusion among potential buyers. That the Clan Invasion Gauss upgrade of the Rommel encroached on the Patton's longer range role only worsened the situation, resulting in Defiance choosing to focus on distinct roles for both designs moving forward. While the Patton remained in its generalist Main Battle Tank niche, during the Word of Blake Jihad at the hands of Dr Oscar Logansburg the Rommel became an close-support artillery support tank under the Rommel Howitzer moniker.

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 Five-Tube LRM-5 System while retreating to another position. If attacked by infantry, or as a last resort, the tank commander can aim a single Defiance 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 additional 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 Kingston Long 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 Coventry Starscream Thunderbolt 5 launcher to provide more punch at the cost of range. Two front-mounted Defiance Model XII ER medium lasers provide ammunition-independent fire. Twelve tons of Durallex Special 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

Design Quirks

The Rommel Howitzer (Production) variant is subject of the following Design Quirks:

• Distracting
• Poor Targeting/Short Range
• Trailer Hitch

Notable Crewmembers

See: Category:Notable Rommel Crewmembers

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.

Notes

• Several early BattleTech products, most notably the Technical Readout: 3025 and Objective Raids, erroneously stated the Taurians produced the Hatchetman 'Mech and the Rommel tank. This has since been stated to be plainly wrong, and an error in the earlier products, by the line developers.

Gallery

• 

  Original Patton (identified by a small laser on top of the turret) from TRO:3025

• 

  Rommel Howitzer from TRO:Prototypes

Bibliography

• 20 Year Update
• Combat Operations
• Technical Readout: 3025
• Technical Readout: 3039
• Record Sheets: 3058 Unabridged (Inner Sphere)
• Technical Readout: 3085
• Recognition Guide: ilClan, vol. 27
• Record Sheets: 3085 Unabridged — Old is the New New
• Experimental Technical Readout: Steiner
• Technical Readout: Prototypes