Project Desert Knights
Project Desert Knights was a Lyran Commonwealth research project which developed the Rommel and Patton tanks.[1] [2]
History
Recognizing as the Succession Wars dragged on and BattleMechs became increasingly more scarce that tanks would become even more important to the planetary militias defending the Lyran Commonwealth, Defiance Industries set about designing the new vehicles from scratch to fulfill need this rather than merely modifying existing Star League era designs. The project was lead by Hermann Steiner, Archon Katrina Steiner's uncle and a successful tank commander. Though he ensured that the security surrounding the design plans and the six prototypes was especially tight, he could not avoid some rumors reaching the Draconis Combine and the Free Worlds League. Realizing that more tanks for defensive purposes would free up 'Mechs for offensive operations, both realms looked at disrupting the project and the Commonwealth's efforts to expand fusion engine manufacture for both designs without success.[1] [2] [3]
Hermann Steiner chose the tank division of Hansen's Roughriders as the first unit to receive the new tanks as the mercenaries was among the most active and aggressive of all tank corps in the Lyran Commonwealth at the time and he believed that if any of the tanks had any flaws, the Roughriders were going to find it. Steiner's belief was amply proven when the six prototypes survived everything the Roughriders could throw at them, with both the Rommel and Patton entering full production in 3027. The fruit of the Desert Knight project would prove so successful that both frontline Lyran Commonwealth Armed Forces and the Armed Forces of the Federated Suns units would clamor for them as well as freeing up 'Mech elements for the Fourth Succession War as intended.[1] [2]