Vehicle:

Schutzenpanzerwagen 46 "Rommel" Tank Destroyer
The Rommel fires its gauss weapon with typical ionising 'barrel glow'. The projectile can just be seen exiting from the barrel on this image
Manufacturer: Henschel, Terra
Mass: 38 tonnes
Dimensions Hull: length 6.8m; width 3.4m (at widest point); height (to top of main weapon) 3.2m (to top of hull) 1.9m
Armour: Iridium/Ceramic composite
Power Source: Fusion bottle
Propulsion: Internal fans blowing a Beryllium re-enforced fabric skirt
Top Speed: 100kph

Rear view showing the fusion bottle access panel
Max Lift: 0.5 metres
Amphibious: Yes
Crew: 2
Offensive Systems:
 Main Weapon: 25cm Heavy Rail Gun (gauss weapon firing penetrating, non explosive shells)
Secondary Weapon: 2cm Tri-barrel
Defensive Systems: Flechette Machine Gun
Limited capacity, Anti Buzz Bomb strip Mines
Artificial Intelligence computer suite rating Medium
In use with: Compagnie de Barthe
Side view showing the co-axial tri-barrel
The tank destroyer design has many advantages but also some drawbacks. The limited movement of the main weapon is - with an ACV - largely (though not completely) offset by the manoeuvrability afforded by the propulsion and lift system of a 'blower'.

The Schutzenpanzerwagen 46 "Rommel" is an atempt to combine the best features of a tank and a ank detroyer to overcome some of these problems. It mounts a 25cm Heavy Rail Gun - a gauss weapon firing penetrating, non explosive shells - in a large, remote controlled mount. This weapon gives good penetration against armour but is less effective against soft skin targets. The vehicle is still quite low (though not as low as other tank destroyers like the Hetzer, also by this manufacturer) but still retains a 'turret' to enable easy target tracking.

The Rommel features a tri-barrel Power gun co-axially with the main weapon and a Flechette Machine Gun in the bow for defence along with anti buzz bomb point defence strips.

Its low profile makes the Rommel harder to detect -and harder to hit - than a tank but fighting conditions are cramped. Henschel continue development work on larger tank destroyers.

This manufacturer specialises in Tank Destroyers and has several others on its books including the Jaeger and the Marder
Click here for next APC, similar vehicle, other vehicle, infantry