Thunderbird (Aerospace Fighter class)

Thunderbird ASF 3057.png
Thunderbird
Production information
Manufacturer Lockheed-CBM Corporation[1]
Wangker Aerospace[2]
Pinard Protectorates Limited[3]
Alliance Aerospace Group[4]
Taurus Territorial Industries[5]
Production Year 2480[6]
Model TRB-D36
Class Heavy
Tech Base Inner Sphere[1]
Cost 6,610,500[7]
Technical specifications
Mass 100 tons[1]
Structural Integrity 10[8]
Frame Lockheed/CBM 300-TRB[1]
Power Plant Vlar 300[1]
Fuel 5 tons (400 points)
Armament

3x Large Lasers[1]
5x Medium Lasers[1]
2x LRM-20s[1]

Communications System Neil 6000-a[1]
Tracking & Targeting System N&D Longreach[1]
Heat Sinks 25[1]
BV (1.0) 1,525[7][9]
BV (2.0) 1,876[1]
1,932[6]
1,950[10]

Description

While sporting a large and rather unconventional look, the Thunderbird is an old standby design, one of the most common if dated heavy Aerospace Fighters in use across the Inner Sphere in the mid 31st century.[1]

Created in 2487 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.[1]

Weapons and Equipment

Mounting a laser-intensive weapons load, the Thunderbird is well suited to both dogfighting and strafing runs. A FarFire Maxi-Rack LRM-20 in each wing is supplemented by a RAMTech 1200 Large 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.[1]

Variants

  • TRB-D36b 
    This version of the Thunderbird was developed in 2715[11] 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 twenty four double heat sinks. BV (2.0) = 2,826[12][11]
  • TRB-D50 
    A variant developed by Pinard Protectorates Limited in 3065[15], the D50 uses Ferro-Aluminum armor and lacks LRMs. A second medium laser is added to each wing. 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 standard heat sinks and an increase in armor. BV (2.0)= 1,828[16][15]
  • 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 Rotary AC/5 in each wing, along with a Large Pulse Laser equipped with a Laser Insulator. The main weapons, however, were the paired Centurion Weapon Systems in the nose. These could (in theory) shut down an enemy craft without inflicting damage on it. Nineteen double heat sinks and fifteen tons of Ferro-Aluminum armor protected the craft. BV (2.0) = 2,494[19]

Design Quirks

The TRB-XTS Thunderbird variant is subject to the following Design Quirks:[19]

Notes

  • The Thunderbird was introduced in the 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, pp. 286-287.
  • In German products the unit's proper name was perfectly translated to Donnervogel. The model code was accordingly changed before, but altered after the hyphen to DRV-G4.

Gallery

References

  1. 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 Technical Readout: 3075, pp. 286-287, "TRB-36D Thunderbird"
  2. Handbook: House Davion, p. 184, "Wanker Aerospace"
  3. Handbook: Major Periphery States, p. 119, "Pinard Protectorate Limited"
  4. Handbook: Major Periphery States, p. 92, "Alliance Aerospace Group"
  5. Handbook: Major Periphery States, p. 118, "Taurus Territorial Industries"
  6. 6.0 6.1 MUL online date for the Thunderbird (Aerospace Fighter class)
  7. 7.0 7.1 Combat Operations, p. 138, "Force Faction Tables"
  8. Record Sheets: Operation Klondike, p. 91
  9. AeroTech 2 Record Sheets, p. 187
  10. Record Sheets: 3075 Unabridged - Age of War, p. 208
  11. 11.0 11.1 MUL online date for the TRB-D36b Thunderbird variant
  12. Record Sheets: Operation Klondike, p. 91
  13. 13.0 13.1 MUL online date for the TRB-D46 Thunderbird variant
  14. Record Sheets: 3075 Unabridged - Age of War, p. 209
  15. 15.0 15.1 MUL online date for the TRB-D50 Thunderbird variant
  16. Record Sheets: 3075 Unabridged - Age of War, p. 210
  17. 17.0 17.1 MUL online date for the TRB-D56 Thunderbird variant
  18. Record Sheets: 3075 Unabridged - Age of War, p. 211
  19. 19.0 19.1 Experimental Technical Readout: Periphery, p. 13, "TRB-XTS Thunderbird"

Bibliography