BattleMech Technical Readout
Name/Model: Thorn THE-S
Designer: Catalyst Game Labs
Source(s): Record Sheets: 3039 Unabridged
Record Sheets: 3039
Record Sheets: 3025 & 3026
Technology: Inner Sphere
Technology Rating: D
Tonnage: 20
Role: Striker
Configuration: Biped BattleMech
Era/Year: Succession Wars / 3035
Rules (Current): Introductory
Rules (Era): Introductory
Rules (Year): Introductory
Total Cost: 1,522,320 C-Bills
Battle Value: 510
Chassis: Chariot Type II
Power Plant: GM 120
Walking Speed: 64.8 kph
Maximum Speed: 97.2 kph
Jump Jets: None
Jump Capacity: None
Armor: Durallex
Armament:
2 Hellion Spitfire Medium Lasers
1 Zeus LRM 5
Manufacturer: Ford Military Limited
Primary Factory: Terra
Communications: Olmstead 30
Targeting & Tracking: Omicron VII
================================================================================================
Overview:
The Thorn is an older BattleMech design, incorporated into the Hegemony Armed Forces during
the late twenty-fourth century. It was the first 'Mech to incorporate the Endo Steel II
skeleton. The basic skeleton used an alloy produced by mixing high strength steel with
lower-density titanium and aluminum in a zero-gee environment. The resulting alloy was twice
as strong per unit of weight as alloys created using conventional techniques, but also
bulkier.
By the beginning of the Second Succession War, the orbital manufacturing facilities
supplying this alloy had been destroyed. As a result, Ford Military had to use a heavier
chassis for the Thorn, which required other trade-offs in order to keep the unit in
production. Armor protection for the rear quadrant and head was reduced, and an innovative
ammunition storage technique that protected the 'Mech from the catastrophic result of an
ammo explosion was removed. These changes made the Thorn easier to manufacture, but
significantly degraded its ability to survive a firefight.
Capabilities:
The Thorn has received mixed reviews throughout its service. Supporters point out that the
design packs more punch per ton than any other 'Mech. In a long-range toe-to-toe slugfest,
the Thorn can usually reduce an opponent of equal weight to scraps in minutes.
Like the Hussar, the Thorn was designed to serve in frontline combat units as a
quick-reaction fire support platform, rather than a scout. Based on this goal, its inability
to jump was not considered detrimental. Nonetheless, the many commanders who tried to use
all light 'Mechs as scouts found the Thorn to be all but useless. The close-in ambush-style
engagements that scouts typically face negated the firepower of the Zeus missile launcher,
and the 'Mech did not have sufficient speed to quickly break off an engagement.
Opponents of the design also note that a 'Mech cannot hit what it cannot reach. Though
the 120 Class engine allows the 'Mech to run at a respectable speed, its lack of jump jets
leaves the Thorn at a disadvantage if its target jumps behind a stand of trees or a
convenient hill.
This willingness to favor weapons over maneuverability has made the Thorn a favorite of
'Mech companies looking for rapid fire support. The weapon placement and ease of maintenance
have given the design high marks in every technician's manual. The arms and legs are
completely accessible, allowing a service crew to actually enter the limbs and work on
repairs from inside.
The Thorn's main armament consists of two medium lasers. The design is noted as a "cool
running" 'Mech, but the placement of one laser directly under the pilot's feet commonly
deceives the MechWarrior into believing the Thorn is running hotter than the systems
indicate. Extensive cooling is provided in the cockpit area, but the lack of an effective
venting system for the medium laser makes repeated firing uncomfortable for the pilot.
The Zeus long-range missile system is extremely accurate, and the arm mount allows the
pilot to switch targets quickly. If damaged, the entire system can be replaced in a few
hours. This is a fortunate feature, because the launcher can easily be destroyed if the
'Mech engages in hand-to-hand combat. The missile-feed system, which routes reloads from the
torso storage compartment, is average at best. If damaged, reloads can become lodged in the
upper arm, where additional damage has been known to cause detonation, destroying the arm.
================================================================================================
Equipment Mass
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internal Structure: Standard 2.00
Engine: 120 Fusion 4.00
Walking MP: 6
Running MP: 9
Jumping MP: 0
Heat Sinks (Single): 10 0.00
Gyro: Standard 2.00
Cockpit: Standard 3.00
Armor Factor: 64 4.00
Type: Standard
Internal Armor
Structure Value
Head: 3 8
Center Torso: 6 8
Center Torso (rear): 4
R/L Torso: 5 6
R/L Torso (rear): 3
R/L Arm: 3 6
R/L Leg: 4 7
================================================================================================
Weapons and Ammo Location Critical Tonnage
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Medium Laser H 1 1.00
LRM 5 (Ammo 24) RT 1 1.00
LRM 5 RA 1 2.00
Medium Laser LA 1 1.00
================================================================================================
Alpha Strike Statistics
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point Value (PV): 18
TP: BM, SZ: 1, TMM: 2, MV: 12"
Damage: (S) 2 / (M) 2 / (L) 0*, OV: 0
Armor (A): 2, Structure (S): 2
Specials: IF0*
Distribution
Name/Model: Thorn THE-S
Technology: Inner Sphere
Tonnage: 20
Configuration: Biped BattleMech
==================================================================================
Left ArmHeadRight Arm
1. Shoulder 1. Life Support 1. Shoulder
2. Upper Arm Actuator 2. Sensors 2. Upper Arm Actuator
3. Lower Arm Actuator 3. Cockpit 3. LRM 5
4. Hand Actuator 4. Medium Laser 4. Roll Again
5. Medium Laser 5. Sensors 5. Roll Again
6. Roll Again 6. Life Support 6. Roll Again
1. Roll Again 1. Roll Again
2. Roll Again 2. Roll Again
3. Roll Again 3. Roll Again
4. Roll Again 4. Roll Again
5. Roll Again 5. Roll Again
6. Roll Again 6. Roll Again
Left TorsoCenter TorsoRight Torso
1. Heat Sink 1. Fusion Engine 1. Heat Sink
2. Heat Sink 2. Fusion Engine 2. Heat Sink
3. Roll Again 3. Fusion Engine 3. LRM 5 (Ammo 24)
4. Roll Again 4. Gyro 4. Roll Again
5. Roll Again 5. Gyro 5. Roll Again
6. Roll Again 6. Gyro 6. Roll Again
1. Roll Again 1. Gyro 1. Roll Again
2. Roll Again 2. Fusion Engine 2. Roll Again
3. Roll Again 3. Fusion Engine 3. Roll Again
4. Roll Again 4. Fusion Engine 4. Roll Again
5. Roll Again 5. Heat Sink 5. Roll Again
6. Roll Again 6. Heat Sink 6. Roll Again
Left LegRight Leg
1. Hip 1. Hip
2. Upper Leg Actuator 2. Upper Leg Actuator
3. Lower Leg Actuator 3. Lower Leg Actuator
4. Foot Actuator 4. Foot Actuator
5. Roll Again 5. Roll Again
6. Roll Again 6. Roll Again
Battle Value Breakdown
Name/Model: Thorn THE-S
Technology: Inner Sphere
Tonnage: 20
Configuration: Biped BattleMech
=================================================================================================
Defensive Battle Rating
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Armor (Standard): 64 x 2.5 x 1 160.000
Internal Structure (Standard w/ Fusion Engine): 33 x 1.5 x 1 x 1 (+) 49.500 = 209.500
Gyro (Standard): 20 x 0.5 (+) 10.000 = 219.500
Explosive Ammunition: 1 Critical Space (-) 15.000 = 204.500
Defensive Movement Factor: +3 (*) 1.30 = 265.850
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Final Defensive Battle Rating: 265.850
=================================================================================================
Offensive Battle Rating
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Heat Efficiency: Unit is efficient
6 (Base) + 10 (Heat Sinks) - 2 (Movement) - 8 (Weapons) = 6
Offensive Equipment:
Medium Laser 46.000
Medium Laser (+) 46.000 = 92.000
LRM 5 (+) 45.000 = 137.000
LRM 5 (Ammo 24) (+) 6.000 = 143.000
Total 'Mech Tonnage: (+) 20.000 = 163.000
Speed Factor: 9 (Run) + 0 (Jump) (*) 1.500 = 244.500
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Final Offensive Battle Rating: 244.500
=================================================================================================
BattleMech Battle Value
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Defensive Battle Rating: 265.850
Offensive Battle Rating: (+) 244.500 = 510.350
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Final BattleMech Battle Value: 510
Cost Breakdown
Name/Model: Thorn THE-S
Technology: Inner Sphere
Tonnage: 20
Configuration: Biped BattleMech
===================================================================================================================
Structural Cost
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Armor (Standard): (64 pts) 4.0 x 10,000 40,000.00
Internal Structure (Standard): 20 x 400 x 1 (+) 8,000.00 = 48,000.00
Myomer (Standard): 20 x 2,000 (+) 40,000.00 = 88,000.00
Engine (Fusion): (5,000 x 120 x 20) / 75 (+) 160,000.00 = 248,000.00
Gyro (Standard): 2.0 x 300,000 (+) 600,000.00 = 848,000.00
Cockpit (Standard): 200,000 (+) 200,000.00 = 1,048,000.00
Life Support: 50,000 (+) 50,000.00 = 1,098,000.00
Sensors: 20 x 2,000 (+) 40,000.00 = 1,138,000.00
Arm Actuators: 20 x ((100 x 2) + (50 x 1) + (80 x 1)) (+) 6,600.00 = 1,144,600.00
Leg Actuators: 20 x ((150 x 2) + (80 x 2) + (120 x 2)) (+) 14,000.00 = 1,158,600.00
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Structural Cost: 1,158,600.00
===================================================================================================================
Weapons and Equipment Cost
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LRM 5 30,000 30,000.00
LRM 5 (Ammo 24) [Empty Bin] 0 (+) 0.00 = 30,000.00
Medium Laser 40,000 (+) 40,000.00 = 70,000.00
Medium Laser 40,000 (+) 40,000.00 = 110,000.00
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Weapons and Equipment Cost 110,000.00
===================================================================================================================
BattleMech Cost
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Structural Cost: 1,158,600.00
Weapons and Equipment Cost: (+) 110,000.00 = 1,268,600.00
BattleMech Cost Multiplier: 1 + (20 / 100) (*) 1.20 = 1,522,320.00
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Final BattleMech Cost 1,522,320.00
Dark Age (3081 - 3150)
Introductory
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Tournament Legal
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Tournament Legal
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Advanced
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Star League (2439 - 2780)
Introductory
Introductory
Tournament Legal
Advanced
Experimental
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Alpha Strike Conversion
Name/Model: Thorn THE-S
Technology: Inner Sphere
Tonnage: 20
Configuration: Biped BattleMech
==================================================================================================================================
Determine Unit Type
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground Units: BattleMech = BM
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Final Unit Type: BM
==================================================================================================================================
Determine Weight/Size Class
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tonnage: 20 (less than 40) = 1
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Final Weight/Size Class: 1
==================================================================================================================================
Convert Movement and Movement Modes
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground Movement: 6 (Walk) = 12"
Ground Target Movement Modifier at 12" is 2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Final Movement and Movement Modes: 12"
==================================================================================================================================
Determine Short Range Damage Value
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Heat Efficiency: Unit is efficient
10 (Heat Sinks) = 10
2 (Movement) + 8 (Weapons) - 4 (Base) (-) 6 = 4
Offensive Equipment: = 0.000
LRM 5 (+) 0.150 = 0.150
Medium Laser (+) 0.500 = 0.650
Medium Laser (+) 0.500 = 1.150
Heat-modified damage value:
Damage subtotal rounded up to the nearest tenth = 1.2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Final Short Range Damage Value: 2
==================================================================================================================================
Determine Medium Range Damage Value
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Heat Efficiency: Unit is efficient
10 (Heat Sinks) = 10
2 (Movement) + 8 (Weapons) - 4 (Base) (-) 6 = 4
Offensive Equipment: = 0.000
LRM 5 (+) 0.300 = 0.300
Medium Laser (+) 0.500 = 0.800
Medium Laser (+) 0.500 = 1.300
Heat-modified damage value:
Damage subtotal rounded up to the nearest tenth = 1.3
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Final Medium Range Damage Value: 2
==================================================================================================================================
Determine Long Range Damage Value
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Heat Efficiency: Unit is efficient
10 (Heat Sinks) = 10
2 (Movement) + 2 (Weapons) - 4 (Base) (-) 0 = 10
Offensive Equipment: = 0.000
LRM 5 (+) 0.300 = 0.300
Heat-modified damage value:
Damage subtotal rounded up to the nearest tenth = 0.3
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Final Long Range Damage Value: 0*
==================================================================================================================================
Convert Armor
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Standard: 64 armor points x 1 64.000 = 64.000
Armor Factor Conversion (/) 30 = 2.133
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Final Armor Value: 2
==================================================================================================================================
Convert Structure
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Engine: Inner Sphere Fusion on a 20 ton BattleMech = 2.0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Final Structure Value: 2
==================================================================================================================================
Determine Special Abilities
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unit is equipped with forward facing weapons capable of firing indirectly = IF0*
==================================================================================================================================
Determine Point Value
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unit's Offensive Value:
Attack Damage Factor 2 (Short) + 2 (Medium) + 2 (Medium) + 0.5 (Long) = 6.500
Unit Size Factor 1 (Weight/Size Class) / 2 (+) 0.500 = 7.000
Overheat Factor 0 (Overheat) (+) 0.000 = 7.000
Special Ability Factor [IF0*] 0* (Ability Rating) (+) 0.500 = 7.500
Blanket Offensive Modifier 1 (Base) (*) 1.000 = 7.500
Defensive Interaction Rating:
Armor Factor 2 (Armor) x 2.0 (Non-Vehicle Unit) = 4.000
Structure Factor 2 (Structure) x 1.0 (Other Unit) (+) 2.000 = 6.000
Defense Factor 1 + {[2 (12" Move)] x 0.1} (*) 1.200 = 7.200
Final DIR Round to nearest half point = 7.000
Unit's Defensive Value:
Movement Factor 1.5 (0.25 per 2") = 1.500
Final DIR Defensive Interaction Rating (+) 7.000 = 8.500
Unit's Final Point Value:
Offensive Value = 7.500
Defensive Value (+) 8.500 = 16.000
Agile [2 (TMM) - 1] x 2 (Medium) (+) 2.000 = 18.000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Final Point Value: 18
0 out of 0 users (0.00%) have found this review useful
Rating:
2.50
Comment:
A mech for long range support in light lances able to defend itself against most other lights. If you encounter heavier mechs in this one: retreat! This one needs it´s lancemates to survive. Never field one alone.
No topic has been started for this review [Start Topic]
Member Review - Sleeping Dragon : 08-May-2006 00:00
0 out of 0 users (0.00%) have found this review useful
Rating:
3.50
Comment:
Very light fire support mech, but I think that it's weapons and armor are sufficient for acting as long range firepower for Locusts and Stingers. With twenty four shots for the LRMs you can afford to pepper enemy vehicles or annoy mechs from relative safety and cover your lance-mates retreat, because the missiles may be easily fired to the rear. If this mech is caught in fight against any serious opposition that it should retreat.
No topic has been started for this review [Start Topic]
Member Review - House Calderon 1 : 20-Feb-2006 00:00
0 out of 0 users (0.00%) have found this review useful
Rating:
4.00
Comment:
This is a great solid design. I do not truely understand why people do not like it. just as fast as the stinger or wasp, unfortunately lacking jump but some trade offs are inevitable in level one...heck any level...
LRM means that you can give scouting lances fire support in a relatively cheep mech.
No topic has been started for this review [Start Topic]
Member Review - mud : 21-Dec-2005 00:00
0 out of 1 users (0.00%) have found this review useful
Rating:
2.00
Comment:
There are a lot of good things to say about the Thorn; unfortunately, all of these positives come at the cost of a light 'mech's most important asset: mobility.
No topic has been started for this review [Start Topic]
Member Review - Spectre327 : 30-Oct-2005 00:00
1 out of 1 users (100.00%) have found this review useful
Rating:
4.00
Comment:
Now for a light mech, this one is very impressive. At 20 tons, not much can be carried bu to have an LRM and some backup lasers combined with averaage light-mech speeds, tihs design can whollop any in its class.
No topic has been started for this review [Start Topic]
"Never criticize a man until you've walked a mile in his moccasins." - American Indian Proverb