Thunderbolt 5

Thunderbolt 5
Production information
Type	Missile
Tech Base	Inner Sphere
Year Availability	3072
Technical specifications
Heat	3
Damage	5
Minimum Range	5
Short Range	1-6
Medium Range	7-12
Long Range	13-18
Tons	3
Critical Slots	1
Ammo Per Ton	12
Cost (unloaded)	50,000
Ammo Cost (per ton)	50,000
BV (1.0)	???
BV (2.0)	64/13 for launcher 8 for ammo

This article is about the missile weapon. For the BattleMech of the same name, see Thunderbolt.

Description

First developed by the Federated Commonwealth in the mid-3050s for the Solaris arenas, the Thunderbolt launcher is an offshoot of standard LRM technology. Instead of firing a group of five missiles, the Thunderbolt 5 launcher fires a single missile that inflicts as much damage as an Autocannon/5. This increased damage is made up for by the slightly reduced range and increases to the weapon's heat and weight. The Thunderbolt missile is also more vulnerable to anti-missile systems.

Thunderbolt missile launchers cannot use Artemis IV or Narc guidance systems, but operate like LRMs in every other way.