Mass:
65 tons
Tech Level: Clan Level 2
Primary Role: Close Support
Battle Value: 1,920
Cost:
6,634,761 C-bills
Designer: Karl Thurgood (used here with his
permission)
Chassis: Standard
Power Plant: 260 fusion
Cruising Speed:
43.2 kph
Maximum Speed:
64.8
kph
Jump Jets: None
Jump Capacity:
None
Armor: Ferro-fibrous
Armor Capacity:
100.0% of
maximum
Armament:
1 LRM-20 with Artemis
IV FCS
1 Large Pulse Laser
1 Medium Pulse Laser
3 ER Medium Lasers
Communications System: Unknown
Targeting/Tracking System: Unknown
Manufacturer: Unknown
Primary Factory:
Unknown
Internal
Structure...................................6.5
Engine.....................260......................13.5
Walking
MP's............4
Running
MP's............6
Jumping
MP's............0
Heat Sinks..................18
(36)..................8
Gyro.................................................3
Cockpit..............................................3
Armor Factor...............211
Ferro-fibrous........11
Internal Armor
Head............3...........9
C.
Torso.......21..........32
(rear)................10
R/L
Torso......15..........23
(rear).................7
R/L
Arm........10..........20
R/L
Leg........15..........30
Weapons
Loc. Crit
LRM-20....................RT...........4.............5
Artemis IV FCS............RT...........1.............1
Ammo (LRM) 18.............RT...........3.............3
CASE......................RT...........0.............0
Large Pulse Laser.........RA...........2.............6
Medium Pulse
Laser.........H...........1.............2
3 ER Medium Lasers........LT...........3.............3
Overview:
After the Pentagon campaign, the Clans were rapidly expanding their Touman. Clan Coyote scientists sort ways to combat units
carrying the new weapon systems which were being developed into the field as swiftly as possible. Rather than wait for new designs to be created
and put into production, they sought existing 'mechs that they could utilize. A Brian Cache on the Coyote homeworld yielded a haul of Thunderbolt's
brought to the cluster by the SLDF and placed in storage before the Pentagon civil war. Coyote Scientists saw the potential of upgrading this
venerable design with new technology in much the same way as they already had with the Guillotine. In a fraction of the time which would have been
required to field a new design the new Thunderbolt was arriving in Coyote Clusters. The design proved popular due to its versatile mix of long- and
short-range weaponry and in due course the Coyote's constructed a production line which manufactured the 'mech well into the Golden Century.
Reliable and capable, if unspectacular, the Thunderbolt has given good service to both front and second-line units during its long career.
The 'mechs moment of glory came when a trinary of the design were bid into a battle to defend the Coyote's newly developed Omnimech technology
from Snow Raven in a Trial of Possession. Through dogged determination of the Thunderbolt's and their Mechwarriors the Snow Raven's were
forced to yield the battle.
Capabilities:
The Coyote Scientists made very few changes to the basic Thunderbolt chassis with which they began. The
Large Laser was replaced
with a Pulse variant to improve the close-range capability and the 3 torso mounted
Medium Lasers were upgraded to improve their effective range, while the heat sinks were replaced with eighteen double capability sinks to
counter the increased heat build-up. The long range missile launcher was
replaced with a larger model supported by an Artemis IV fire control system, enhancing the
accuracy and firepower of the 'mechs primary long-range weapon. In accordance with Coyote doctrine, which
de-emphasized infantry units, the anti-personnel machine-guns were eliminated from the re-designed
'mech being replaced with a head-mounted small pulse laser to provide token anti-personnel capability.
To enhance the staying power of the 'mech the original armor was replaced with stronger
ferro-fibrous armor, allowing the Thunderbolt IIC
to weather more damage than its parent design.
Deployment:
Given the long construction history of the Thunderbolt IIC, it is unsurprising that a number of these 'mechs remain in service in
Clan Coyote's second-line units. Outside of the Coyotes a few Thunderbolt IIC's serve in the ranks of the Star Adders and some were
possessed by the now annihilated Smoke Jaguars. By the far the largest number of these 'mechs outside of Clan Coyote were in the hands
of the Wolves to whom the design was traded in the early part of the Golden Century. Many of these were destroyed during the carnage of
the Refusal war however.
In addition records suggest that Wolf's Dragoon's were equipped with a number of Thunderbolt IIC's when they departed for the Inner Sphere.
Battleforce 2 Statistics:
MP
Dmg. PB/M/L OH Armor/St Pts
Spec.
4.......7/6/3.......0......5/5......19....if
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Page last modified 31 December, 2003