TRN-5 Tornado
Mass: 45 tons
Chassis: Vandenberg Technologies Medium IV
Power Plant: Nissan 225
Cruising Speed: 55.8 KPH
Maximum Speed: 87.3 KPH
Jump Jets: Lifter 25s
Jump Capacity: 150 meters
Armor: Hoyt StarPlate 8
Armament:
1 Taurus WarWorks Large Laser
1 Taurus WarWorks Medium Laser
1 Delta Bolt-6 Short Range Missile Rack
1 Westen Heavy Machine Gun
Manufacturer: Vandenberg MilTech, Concordat Heavy Manufacturing
Primary Factory: New Vandenberg (Vandenberg MilTech), Taurus (Concordat Heavy Manufacturing)
Communication System: VeraTech MilCom Suite 7
Targeting & Tracking System: Pinard-Dicolais SureShot 2
Type: Tornado
Technology Base: Inner Sphere
Tonnage: 45 tons
Equipment Mass
Internal Structure 4.5
Engine 225 10
Walking MP: 5
Running MP: 8
Jumping MP: 5
Heatsinks 11 1
Gyro 3
Cockpit 3
Armor Factor 144 9
IS Armor
Head 3 9
CT 14 20/5
LT/RT 11 18/4
LA/RA 7 12
LL/RL 11 21
Weapons & Ammo Location Critical Tonnage
Large Laser RA 2 5
SRM 6 LT 2 3
Ammo (SRM) 30 LT 2 2
Ammo (MG) 100 LT 1 0.5
MG LA 1 0.5
Medium Laser CT 1 1
Jump Jet CT 1 0.5
Jump Jets LL 2 1
Jump Jets RL 2 1
Overview:
In 2560 the TDF began to look for a new mech to replace the Talos. While the Talos was a well respected design, it was beginning to show it's age against newer designs from the Federated Suns and Capellan Confederation. Vandenberg MilTech was given a contract to develop the replacement to for their Talos. By 2565 the new design, designated the Tornado, had begun testing with the Taurian Guard. The design was accepted for production in 2569 and soon began replacing the Talos on some of Vandenberg MilTech's production lines. With the outbreak of the Reunification War, the TDF ordered Vandenberg MilTech to convert all of their remaining Talos lines to the Tornado. Eventually the design was licensed to Concordat Heavy Manufacturing on Taurus. The Tornado remained in production until the surrender of the Concordat at which point the factories producing the designs were shut down and tooling and plans were destroyed by the SLDF.
Capabilities:
The Tornado was designed to replace the Talos as the main medium class mech of the TDF. Armed with several decades of experience with the Talos, the design team sought to improve on the Talos' 2 major short comings- its limited mobility and its limited battlefield endurance due to the use of so many ammo dependent weapons.
The design team addressed the mobility issues by increasing the top speed of the new mech and incorporating jump jets. The result was a mech that could fulfill a wider variety of roles then the Talos, including both recon and cavalry roles. With the improved speed and mobility, the designers chose to focus on weapons that could be used at closer range. The large Westen autocannon the Talos was replaced with a Taurus WarWorks Large Laser. While this slightly reduces the damage potential, the laser is not dependent on ammo. The Laser is backed up by a 6 tube short range missile rack and a Taurus WarWorks Medium Laser. The SRM launcher is supplied with 2 tons of ammo, ensuring there are enough rounds for all but the longest engagements and allowing the pilot to use a variety of warheads. Lastly the Tornado mounts a single machine gun for protection against enemy infantry.
Even with the improved firepower and mobility, the Tornado does not sacrifice armor protection, mounting more armor then the Talos. During initial testing of the Prototypes, Vandenberg MilTech used several Talos pilots to put the new mech through its paces. At first they refused to believe the specifications that were presented to them, but soon after conducting several war game exercises, the pilots began to rave about the new design and it was their recommendation that led the TDF's decision to acquire the new mech.
Deployment:
The Tornado was in the process of replacing the Talos in the TDF when the Reunification War began. While a few units, such as the Taurian Guard were completely refitted with the new mech, demand for the Tornado was so heavy that Vandenberg MilTech could not keep up. Even after Concordat Heavy Manufacturing began producing the mech, it still did not manage to completely replace the Talos with the TDF.
The Tornado was well liked by the mechwarriors of the TDF and performed well through the war. In numerous cases, the mechs mobility allowed it to outflank slower Star League forces, inflicting heavy losses on them. Large numbers of Tornados were destroyed by the SLDF and the majority of the surviving units were later scrapped by the SLDF. Only a few units that were hidden away by the TDF managed to survive. These mechs would then be used by the periphery rebels during the Uprisings.
Variants:
Several models of the Tornado were developed during the war using advanced Star League technology that was reverse engineered by the Concordat. The most common model and the only one to enter mass production was the TRN-6. This model incorporated an endo steel structure to free up mass for other improvements. A single heat sink was removed, but heat dissipation was improved by using double strength heatsinks, The TRN-6 featured improved protection with a CASE for the ammunition and and additional half ton of armor. A Beagle Active Probe improved the mech's performance as a scout, while a second machine gun made the mech more potent against SLDF infantry.
The other 2 models only saw limited production and did not enter mass production. Both of the mechs started from the base of the TRN-6 and featured endo steel, double heatsinks and CASE. The TRN-7 increased the mech's speed using a 270 rated extra-light engine. The design also added an additional jump jet, a beagle active probe and a second SRM 6 missile rack. This mech was intended to serve as a heavy recon unit for the TDF. The TRN-8 increased the mech's speed even further by installing a 315 rated extra light engine. With so much mass and space dedicated to the engine, the design team was able to add only a single jump jet. It was expected that the TRN-8 would be used as a raider. Only a few prototypes and pre-production models were built before the Concordat surrendered. It is believed that the mechs were destroyed rather then allow the SLDF to gain access to them.
Notable Pilots:
Subaltern Henry Ross- Subaltern Ross was assigned to the 17th Concordat Chasseurs on New Vandenberg. During the battles Subaltern Ross' company found itself fighting a series of battles against units from the SLDF's striker regiments. Using the mobility of his Tornados, Subaltern Ross was able to turn the Striker's tactics against them, inflicting heavy losses. Subaltern Ross and his company were lost trying to launch an attack against General Forlough when he came to tour the planet.
