Editing Thorn (BattleMech)

{{Otheruses|the 20-ton BattleMech|the planetary system|Thorn (HL)}}
{{InfoBoxBattleMech
|image=Thorn_TRO2750.png
|name=''Thorn''
|manufacturer=[[Ford Military Limited]]<ref name=TRSWp12f>''Technical Readout: Succession Wars'', pp. 12–13: "THE-N Thorn"</ref> <!-- reprinted from TRO:3050U -->
|model=THE-N<ref name=TRSWp12f />
|production year=2490
|year reference=<ref name=TRO3039>''Technical Readout: 3039'', pp. 240-241</ref><ref name=TRO3050u>''Technical Readout: 3050 Upgrade'', pp. 186–187: "Thorn 'Mech Profile"</ref><ref name=TRSWp12f />
|cost= 1,653,120 [[C-bill]]s
|Tech Base = Inner Sphere
|mech type =BattleMech
|mass=20
|feet=biped
|chassis=[[Chariot Type II Endo Steel]] <!-- <ref name=TRSWp12f /> -->
|armor=[[Armorscale]] with [[CASE]] <!-- <ref name=TRSWp12f /> -->
|engine=[[GM 120]] <!-- <ref name=TRSWp12f /> -->
|comsys=[[Opus I Ultrabeam]] <!-- <ref name=TRSWp12f /> -->
|T&T=[[Orion 80]] <!-- <ref name=TRSWp12f /> -->
|heat sinks=10 [[Heat Sink|single]]
|speed =97 <!-- <ref name=TRSWp12f /> -->
|jumpjets=
|armament= <!-- <ref name=TRSWp12f /> -->
* 2x [[medium laser]]
* 1x [[LRM-5]]
|BV (1.0)=484<ref>''Combat Operations'', p. 129</ref>
|BV (2.0)=546<ref name=TRSWp12f /><ref name=TRO3050u/><ref>''Record Sheets: 3050 Upgrades Unabridged (Clan & Star League)'', p. 224</ref>
}}

==Description==
The '''''Thorn''''' is a [[BattleMech#Light|light]] [[BattleMech]] which was originally intended to operate as a scout. When the 'Mech first debuted for the [[Hegemony Armed Forces]] in the [[twenty-fifth century]], it was with a great deal of hype that unfortunately the ''Thorn'' could never truly match. Critics who look at the ''Thorn'' generally see it in one of two ways: as a light 'Mech that is not fast enough for its own good, or a light 'Mech that tries to do a job only a heavier 'Mech should. Looking at the ''Thorn'' with neither bias, it is easy to see where these two viewpoints come from; the ''Thorn'' is too slow to function in the traditional light 'Mech role of scouting and it does not have the armor or staying power of heavier machines. Facing competition from the ''[[Locust]]'', it was only when [[Ford Military Limited]] decided in [[2549]] to rebuild the ''Thorn'' with the very latest in technology, including the first-ever use of an [[endo steel]] chassis and [[Cellular Ammunition Storage Equipment]], that the HAF renewed their interest. Once in service, the ''Thorn'' found its niche as a light 'Mech hunter and infantry support platform, and supporters quickly pointed out the ''Thorn'' was, ton-for-ton, superior to most other light 'Mechs in terms of combat power and could reduce an opponent of similar weight to scrap in minutes. This aspect made it very popular for light 'Mech companies expecting heavy fighting and [[infantry]] in need of fire support.<ref name=TRO3039/><ref name=TRO3050u/><ref name=TRO2750>''Technical Readout: 2750'', pp. 18–19: "Thorn 'Mech Profile"</ref><ref name=TRO3025r>''Technical Readout: 3025 Revised'', pp. 8–9: "Thorn 'Mech Profile"</ref>

The ''Thorn'' continued to serve following the creation of the [[Star League Defense Force]], and often fought alongside the likes of similar designs such as ''[[Hoplite]]s'' and ''[[Hussar]]s''. Unfortunately, the reliance on advanced technology doomed the ''Thorn'' when the [[Star League]] dissolved and the [[Succession Wars (History)|Succession Wars]] began.  With the orbital manufacturing centers necessary for endo steel production destroyed by the time of the [[Second Succession War]], it became impossible to maintain what ''Thorns'' the [[Great Houses]] inherited in their original condition. Ford Military was forced to produce the original downgraded version in an attempt to keep the line going, but sporadic production barely kept it alive and by the time the Succession Wars were over the original ''Thorn'' could only be found in service to the [[Com Guards]].<ref name=TRO3039/><ref name=TRO3050u/>

When [[ComStar]] decided to supply the [[Draconis Combine]] as part of [[Operation ROSEBUD]] the ''Thorn'' was among those Star League-era 'Mechs gifted to the [[DCMS]], albeit with all of its advanced technology stripped out. That this necessitated the quite radical approach of rebuilding the 'Mech from the ground up with a standard chassis only highlighted the lengths ComStar would go to in order to maintain its monopoly on [[lostech]]. When the [[Clans]] [[Operation Revival|invaded]] it was discovered they had also maintained the ''Thorn'' in large numbers, although most were still stored in [[Brian Cache]]s and reserved for use by ''[[solahma]]'' troops. The invasion also forced ComStar to begin a hasty rearmament program that included the development of a new variant, the THE-N1. Following the [[ComStar Schism]] the [[Word of Blake]] was able to [[Operation Odysseus|seize Terra]] for themselves and direct the ''Thorn'' production line to equip their own [[Word of Blake Militia|military forces]] for the coming [[Jihad]].<ref name=TRO3050u/>

==Weapons and Equipment==
The ''Thorn'' carries a weapons array that is not usually seen on light 'Mechs: a [[Zeus]] [[LRM-5]] launcher mounted in the right arm with one ton of reloads in the right torso, paired with two [[Hellion Spitfire]] [[medium laser]]s split between the head and left arm. The long reach the LRM launcher provides is necessary, since the ''Thorn'' lacks the speed to catch faster light 'Mechs, although it is easily damaged in hand-to-hand combat. In particular, if the reload system is damaged missiles will become lodged in the upper arm, a most dangerous situation, but luckily the launcher can be easily replaced in a few hours. Indeed the entire 'Mech is noted for its ease of maintenance, a factor in ComStar's ability to completely rebuild it later on, with techs able to climb into its limbs to effect repairs on the inside.<ref name=TRO2750/><ref name=TRO3025r/>

Four and a half tons of armor provides the ''Thorn'' with good protection, especially when mated with [[CASE]] to contain any ammunition explosions. The use of an [[endo steel]] chassis is what allows the ''Thorn'' to carry all of this equipment, a bulky alloy twice as strong as standard materials. The [[GM 120]] [[fusion engine]] gives the ''Thorn'' a respectable cruising speed of 65 km/h, but the lack of [[jump jet]]s further compounds its issues with catching other light 'Mechs. Built with the standard number of 10 engine-mounted [[single heat sink]]s the ''Thorn'' is regarded as a "cool running" design, although the placement of the head laser right below the cockpit makes repeated firings uncomfortable, despite additional cooling systems.<ref name=TRO2750/><ref name=TRO3025r/>

==Variants==
*; THE-F : The original pre-[[endo steel]] model introduced in [[Introduction Year::2490]], the THE-F was replaced with the THE-N model. During the Succession Wars, when the advanced systems of the THE-N were lost, sporadic production of this variant was restarted. ComStar used its blueprints to produce the downgraded THE-S factory refit and, save for different subsystem components, both are functionally identical.<ref name=TRSWp12f /><ref name=TRO3050u/>

*; THE-Nb : The advanced model employed by the [[Star League Defense Force Royal Divisions]] in [[2743]] changed the role of the 'Mech from a missile to an energy boat, replacing the [[LRM-5]] launcher with an [[ER large laser]], but retained one [[medium laser]] and downgrading the other to a [[small laser]]. Dropping the unneeded [[CASE]], the 'Mech also used a [[MASC]] system for temporary speed bursts and [[double heat sink]]s to vent its increased waste heat output. The THE-Nb mounted an [[XL engine]] to save the weight to mount this extra equipment, at the cost of reduced survivability.<ref name="HOK">''Historical: Operation Klondike'', p. 159: "SLDF Royal Units - THE-Nb ''Thorn''"</ref> BV (2.0) = 770<ref>''Record Sheets: Operation Klondike, p. 21</ref>

*; THE-N1 : Developed in [[3051]] on the orders of [[Precentor Martial of ComStar|Precentor Martial]] [[Anastasius Focht]] to try and close the gap between the Clans and Com Guards, the factory refit THE-N1 received its baptism of fire during the [[Battle of Tukayyid (3052)|Battle of Tukayyid]]. Having reached a similar conclusion that resulted in the THE-Nb, the [[CASE]] was dropped and the standard engine was swapped for an [[XL engine]] to allow the standard weaponry to be stripped for an all energy weapon array: a right arm mounted [[Kinslaughter H-Class]] [[ER PPC]] and a head-mounted [[Intek]] [[small laser]]. This new weapons array, enhanced by [[double heat sink]]s, added a level of lethality never seen before on the ''Thorn''.<ref name=TRSWp12f /><ref name=TRO3050u/> BV (1.0) = 595,<ref>''Combat Operations'', p. 135</ref><ref>''Record Sheets: Upgrades'', p. 35</ref> BV (2.0) = 656<ref>''Record Sheets: 3050 Upgrades Unabridged (Clan & Star League)'', p. 225</ref>

*; THE-N2 : A new production variant of the THE-N1 developed by the Word of Blake in [[3071]], the THE-N2 took its cues from both the THE-N and THE-T variants, swapping the [[ER PPC]] with an [[MML-7]] and the standard [[small laser]] for a [[Diverse Optics (ERSL)|Diverse Optics]] [[ER small laser]]. A two-ton [[CASE]]-protected ammo bay allowed the THE-N2 to carry both LRM and [[SRM]] munitions to make best use of the [[Multi-Missile Launcher]].<ref name=TRSWp12f /><ref name=TRO3050u/> BV (1.0) = ??, BV (2.0) = 410<ref>''Record Sheets: 3050 Upgrades Unabridged (Clan & Star League)'', p. 226</ref> 

*; THE-S : Supplied by ComStar to the Draconis Combine as part of [[Operation Rosebud]] in [[3035]], the THE-S was a downgraded factory refit of the THE-N. Stripping out the advanced [[endo steel]] chassis and [[CASE]], the use of a heavier standard chassis forced a reduction in the ''Thorn''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s armor protection by half a ton, most of which was removed from the head and rear torso. The communications system was also changed to a more primitive [[Olmstead 30]], although the [[Omicron VII]] targeting-tracking system was similar in capabilities to the [[Orion 80]] it replaced.<ref name=TRO3039/> BV (1.0) = 445<ref>''Combat Operations'', p. 137</ref>, BV (2.0) = 510<ref>''Record Sheets: 3039'', p. 63</ref>

*; THE-T : Developed in [[3038]] by the Draconis Combine in an attempt to upgrade the 'Mech's short range firepower prior to the [[War of 3039]], the THE-T is a field refit of the downgraded THE-S that swaps out the [[LRM-5]] launcher for an [[SRM-4]].<ref name=TRO3039/> BV (1.0) = ??, BV (2.0) = 500<ref>''Record Sheets: 3039'', p. 64</ref>

==Design Quirks==
The ''Thorn'' has the following [[Design Quirk]]:<ref>[[BattleMech Manual]], p. 95: Design Quirk Table - Thorn Entry</ref><ref>''Strategic Operations'', p. 193: "Easy to Maintain"''</ref>
* [[Easy to Maintain]]

==Notable Pilots==
:''See [[:Category:Notable Thorn Pilots]]''

==Notes==
* In German products, the unit's proper name was translated to '''Dorn'''. The model code was changed accordingly to '''DOR-N'''.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Thorn TRO2750.png|Original THE-N ''Thorn'' from ''[[Technical Readout: 2750|TRO:2750]]''
Image:Thorn.jpg|THE-S ''Thorn'' from ''[[Technical Readout: 3025 Revised|TRO:3025 Revised]]''
Image:THE-S THORN.png|THE-S ''Thorn'' from ''[[Technical Readout: 3039|TRO:3039]]''
Image:3050U Thorn.jpg|THE-N ''Thorn'' from ''[[Technical Readout: 3050 Upgrade|TRO:3050 Upgrade]]''
Image:CCG Counterstrike Thorn.jpg|A THE-N ''Thorn'' in the field from ''[[BattleTech Trading Card Game|CCG]]''
</gallery>

==References==
<references />

==Bibliography==
{{div col|colwidth=25em}}
*''[[BattleMech Manual]]''
*''[[Combat Operations]]''
*''[[Historical: Operation Klondike]]''
*''[[Record Sheets: 3039]]''
*''[[Record Sheets: 3050 Upgrades Unabridged (Clan & Star League)]]''
*''[[Record Sheets: Operation Klondike]]''   
*''[[Record Sheets: Upgrades]]''
*''[[Strategic Operations]]''
*''[[Technical Readout: 2750]]''
*''[[Technical Readout: 3039]]''
*''[[Technical Readout: 3050 Revised]]''
*''[[Technical Readout: 3050 Upgrade]]''
*''[[Technical Readout: Succession Wars]]''
{{div col end}}

[[Category:'Mechs]]
[[Category:ComStar BattleMechs]]
[[Category:Draconis Combine BattleMechs]]
[[Category:Free Rasalhague Republic BattleMechs]]
[[Category:Star League BattleMechs]]
[[Category:Terran Hegemony BattleMechs]]
[[Category:Word of Blake BattleMechs]]
[[Category:German renamed units]]
[[Category:SLDF Royal BattleMechs]]