Editing Thunderbird (Aerospace Fighter class)

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{{Otheruses|the aerospace fighter|the battle armor|Thunderbird (Battle Armor)}}
 
 
{{InfoBoxASF
 
{{InfoBoxASF
| image = [[Image:Thunderbird_ASF_3057.png|191px]]
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| image = [[Image:Thunderbird.gif|191px]]
| name = ''Thunderbird''
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| name = Thunderbird
| manufacturer =
+
| manufacturer = ?
[[Alliance Aerospace Group]]<ref name="HB:MPSp92">''Handbook: Major Periphery States'', p. 92: "Alliance Aerospace Group"</ref>
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| model = THB-D36<sup>1</sup>
----
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| Class = Heavy
[[Lockheed-CBM Corporation]]<ref name="TRO:3075p286+"/>
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| Tech Base = Inner Sphere
----
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| Introduced = 3025 era<sup>1</sup>
[[Pinard Protectorates Limited]]<ref name="HB:MPSp119">''Handbook: Major Periphery States'', p. 119: "Pinard Protectorate Limited"</ref>
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| mass = 100 tons
----
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| frame = ?
[[Taurus Territorial Industries]]<ref name="HB:MPSp118">''Handbook: Major Periphery States'', p. 118: "Taurus Territorial Industries"</ref>
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| power plant = 300 Fusion
----
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| armament = *3x[[Large Laser]]s
[[Wangker Aerospace]]<ref name="HB:HDp184">''Handbook: House Davion'', p. 184: "Wanker Aerospace"</ref>
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*5x[[Medium Laser]]s
| model = TRB-D36
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*2x[[LRM-20]]
| Class = Heavy aerospace fighter
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| communications system = ?
| Tech Base = [[Inner Sphere]]<ref name="TRO:3075p286+"/>
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| tracking & targeting system = ?
| production year = 2480
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| heat sinks = 25 (single)
| year reference = <ref name="MUL1">''[http://www.masterunitlist.info/Unit/Details/5231/thunderbird-trb-d36 MUL online date for the ''{{PAGENAME}}'']''</ref>
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| BV (1.0) = 1,525<sup>1</sup>
| Cost = 6,610,500 [[C-bill]]s<ref name="COp138">''Combat Operations'', p. 138: "Force Faction Tables"</ref>
 
| mass = 100 tons<ref name="TRO:3075p286+"/>
 
| structural integrity = 10<ref>''Record Sheets: Operation Klondike'', p. 91</ref>
 
| frame = [[Lockheed/CBM 300-TRB]]<ref name="TRO:3075p286+"/>
 
| power plant = [[Vlar 300]]<ref name="TRO:3075p286+"/>
 
| armor = [[L/CBM AeroSteel]]
 
| Fuel = 5 tons (400 points)
 
| armament =
 
* 3x [[large laser]]<ref name="TRO:3075p286+"/>
 
* 5x [[medium laser]]<ref name="TRO:3075p286+"/>
 
* 2x [[LRM-20]]<ref name="TRO:3075p286+"/>
 
| communications system = [[Neil 6000-a]]<ref name="TRO:3075p286+"/>
 
| tracking & targeting system = [[Targeting-Tracking System#N|N&D Longreach]]<ref name="TRO:3075p286+"/>
 
| heat sinks = 25 [[single heat sink]]s<ref name="TRO:3075p286+"/>
 
| BV (1.0) = 1,525<ref name="COp138"/><ref>''AeroTech 2 Record Sheets'', p. 187</ref>
 
| BV (2.0) = 1,876<ref name="TRO:3075p286+">''Technical Readout: 3075'', pp. 286–287: "TRB-36D Thunderbird"</ref><br>1,932<ref name="MUL1"/><br>1,950<ref>''Record Sheets: 3075 Unabridged - Age of War'', p. 208</ref>
 
 
}}
 
}}
 +
  
 
==Description==
 
==Description==
While sporting a large and rather unconventional look, the '''''Thunderbird''''' is an old standby design and one of the most common, if dated, heavy [[aerospace fighter]]s in use across the [[Inner Sphere]] in the mid thirty-first century.<ref name="TRO:3075p286+"/>
 
 
Created in [[2480]] as part of an alliance between the Lockheed Corporation of [[Gibbs]] and CBM Aerospace of [[Donegal]], the original ''Thunderbird'' was built for the [[LCAF]] as an assault fighter, well suited to air-to-ground attack and [[DropShip]] escort missions in the so-called [[Age of War]]. Despite its less than sleek look, the sturdy and dependable ''Thunderbird'' spread across the [[Star League]] as a number of other manufacturers were able to precisely duplicate the fighter, ensuring the design survived the centuries.<ref name="TRO:3075p286+"/>
 
 
== Weapons and Equipment ==
 
Mounting a laser-intensive weapons load, the ''Thunderbird'' is well suited to both dogfighting and strafing runs. A [[LRM-20#FarFire_Maxi-Rack|FarFire Maxi-Rack]] [[LRM-20]] in each wing is supplemented by a [[RAMTech 1200]] [[large laser]] and [[Maxwell]] [[medium laser]], with further large and medium lasers mounted in the fighter's awkward nose. Four tons of missile reloads give the LRM launchers reasonable combat endurance, while two aft-mounted medium lasers discourage pursuit.<ref name="TRO:3075p286+"/>
 
 
== Variants ==
 
*; TRB-D36b : This version of the ''Thunderbird'' was developed in [[Introduction Year::2715]]<ref name="MUL2"/> utilized an extralight powerplant and mounted an [[ER large laser]], [[Gauss rifle]], and [[medium laser]] in each wing. The nose carried an ER large laser and a pair of medium lasers. The D36b carried two tons of Gauss rifle ammunition and 24 [[double heat sink]]s. BV (2.0) = 2,826<ref>''Record Sheets: Operation Klondike'', p. 91</ref><ref name="MUL2">''[http://www.masterunitlist.info/Unit/Details/3227/thunderbird-trb-d36b/ MUL online date for the TRB-D36b Thunderbird variant]''</ref><ref name=HOKp161>''Historical: Operation Klondike'', p. 161</ref>
 
 
*; TRB-D46 : A [[Star League era]] variant developed in [[Introduction Year::2724]]<ref name="MUL3"/> originally used by the LCAF and [[SLDF]] that was reintroduced in [[Reintroduction Year::3055]]. It uses three [[ER large laser]]s and [[Artemis IV FCS]]-enhanced [[LRM-15]]s in place of the [[LRM-20]]s with four tons of ammo. Other improvements includes one less heat sink, but all 24 remaining are [[double heat sink]]s; filling out the remaining space is an extra ton of fuel (480 points) and five more tons of armor. BV (2.0) = 2,320<ref>''Record Sheets: 3075 Unabridged - Age of War'', p. 209</ref><ref name="MUL3">''[http://www.masterunitlist.info/Unit/Details/5232/thunderbird-trb-d46/ MUL online date for the TRB-D46 Thunderbird variant]''</ref>
 
 
*; TRB-D50 : A variant developed by [[Pinard Protectorates Limited]] in [[Introduction Year::3065]],<ref name="MUL4"/> the D50 uses [[ferro-aluminum]] armor and lacks the [[LRM-20]]s. A second [[medium laser]] is added to each wing, while the medium laser from the nose is replaced with an [[AC/10]] and two tons of ammunition. The rest of the saved weight is spent on nine more [[single heat sink]]s and an increase in armor. BV (2.0) = 1,828<ref>''Record Sheets: 3075 Unabridged - Age of War'', p. 210</ref><ref name="MUL4">''[http://www.masterunitlist.info/Unit/Details/5233/thunderbird-trb-d50/ MUL online date for the TRB-D50 Thunderbird variant]''</ref>
 
 
*; TRB-D56 : Developed by Lockheed/CBM in [[Introduction Year::3074]]<ref name="MUL5"/> from the D46, the D56 is a heavy fighter and [[DropShip]] hunter which uses an [[XL engine]], 17 tons of [[ferro-aluminum]] armor and 20 [[double heat sink]]s. The D56 is armed with a [[heavy PPC]] and [[UAC/10]] in the nose and twin tail-mounted [[ER small laser]]s in its tail, backed up by [[Artemis IV]]-enhanced [[LRM-20]]s and wing-mounted [[ER medium laser]]s. BV (2.0) = 2,665<ref>''Record Sheets: 3075 Unabridged - Age of War'', p. 211</ref><ref name="MUL5">''[http://www.masterunitlist.info/Unit/Details/5234/thunderbird-trb-d56/ MUL online date for the TRB-D56 Thunderbird variant]''</ref>
 
  
*; TRB-XTS : This ''Thunderbird'' refit was developed by the [[Word of Blake]] through a shell company, [[Rim Salvage]], during the [[Jihad]]. The ''Thunderbird'' carried a [[RAC/5]] in each wing, along with a [[large pulse laser]] equipped with a [[Laser Insulator]]. The main weapons, however, were the paired [[Centurion Weapon System]]s in the nose. These could, in theory, shut down an enemy craft without inflicting damage on it. 19 [[double heat sink]]s and 15 tons of [[ferro-aluminum]] armor protected the craft. BV (2.0) = 2,494<ref name="XTRO:Pp13">''Experimental Technical Readout: Periphery'', p. 13: "TRB-XTS Thunderbird"</ref>
 
  
== Design Quirks ==
+
==Armament==
The ''TRB-XTS Thunderbird'' variant is subject to the following [[Design Quirks]]:<ref name="XTRO:Pp13"/>
 
* [[Prototype]]
 
  
== Notable Pilots ==
 
* [[Dustin Weaver]] piloted one of the last functional Star League D46 models during the Succession Wars. A famed ace, Weaver led a heavy fighter squadron as part of the [[Invincible (Individual Tharkad-class WarShip)|LCS ''Invincible'']]<nowiki>'</nowiki>s [[Eighth Battle of Hesperus II|relief mission]] to [[Hesperus II]] in 2853. He shot down at least ten [[DCMS]] fighters, while his squadron downed two [[Assault DropShip|assault DropShips]] and a [[Vigilant]]-class corvette. Weaver stayed on Hesperus rather than return to [[Tharkad]] with the ill-fated [[WarShip]]. Four years later, Weaver was still assigned to the defense of Hesperus when Combine forces attacked. Weaver was killed in an attack run on an [[Overlord]] DropShip.<ref>''Technical Readout: 3075'', p. 286</ref>
 
  
== Notes ==
+
==Variants==
* The ''Thunderbird'' was introduced in the ''[[AeroTech#Notes|AeroTech]]'' as one of the six original designs, but lacked model number, release date, or any description beyond its game stats. [[Randall Bills]], the [[FanPro]] BattleTech Line Developer, provided a few more details (era, model number) in the official file released with [[HeavyMetal Aero]]. The ''Thunderbird'' was finally detailed at length in ''Technical Readout: 3075'', pages 286–287.
 
  
* In German products, the unit's proper name was translated to '''''Donnervogel'''''. The model code was accordingly changed before, but altered after the hyphen to '''DRV-G4'''.
 
  
== Gallery ==
+
==Notes==
<gallery>
+
1 - The ''Thunderbird'' was introduced in the [[AeroTech]] as one of the six original designs, with no model number, release date, or 'fluff.' [[Randall Bills]], the [[FanPro]] BattleTech Line Developer, provided a few more details (era, model number) in the official file released with [[HeavyMetal Aero]].
File:Thunderbird_ASF_3057.png|Original TRB-D36 ''Thunderbird'' from ''[[Technical Readout: 3057|TRO:3057]]''
 
File:Thunderbird_ASF_3075.png|A ''Thunderbird'' in combat from ''[[Technical Readout: 3075|TRO:3075]]''
 
</gallery>
 
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
<references />
+
*[[AeroTech]]
 +
*[[AeroTech 2]]
 +
*[[HeavyMetal Aero]]: file provided by [[Randall Bills]], [[FanPro]] [[BattleTech]] Line Developer
  
==Bibliography==
 
{{div col|colwidth=25em}}
 
* ''[[AeroTech 2 Record Sheets]]''
 
* ''[[Combat Operations]]''
 
* ''[[Experimental Technical Readout: Periphery]]''
 
* ''[[Handbook: House Davion]]''
 
* ''[[Handbook: Major Periphery States]]''
 
* ''[[Master Unit List]]''
 
* ''[[Record Sheets: 3075 Unabridged - Age of War]]''
 
* ''[[Record Sheets: Operation Klondike]]''
 
* ''[[Technical Readout: 3057]]''
 
* ''[[Technical Readout: 3075]]''
 
{{div col end}}
 
  
[[Category:Aerospace Fighter classes|Thunderbird]]
+
[[Category:AeroSpace Fighters]]
[[Category:Heavy Aerospace Fighter classes|Thunderbird]]
 
[[Category:SLDF Royal Aerospace Fighter classes|Thunderbird]]
 
[[Category:German renamed units]]
 

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