the Rolling Thunder

Heavily armed and armored, even above and beyond the norm for Gi Joe vehicles, the Rolling Thunder is a veritable force of nature. Large and powerful, it can easily maintain fire superiority in almost any conflict, even those which involve enemy tanks.

The Rolling Thunder itself is an 8WD powerhouse with multiple cannons and missile launchers, as well as a remote ATV scout vehicle and two powerful cluster bomb missiles (missiles with their own missiles inside)! The Rolling Thunder has these specific capabilities:

.50 Caliber Machine Guns (a): these twinned cannons, mounted on a turret above the five man control center of the Rolling Thunder, can be fired from within the vehicle proper. They inflict the gunner's Agility +7 damage in a short burst, raised to +8 when fired fully automatic.

All Terrain Scout Vehicle (i): this small, six wheeled vehicle is a more agile sub-vehicle that can be launched from an inner bay in the Rolling Thunder, allowing the operator of the Rolling Thunder greater field knowledge. It has a m.s. of 8, and these characteristics:

* Communications Array (i): the ATSV is equipped with a gigahertz frequency, frequency wobbler clandestine operations radio system. This makes for intensity 4 communications power (with a 25 mile range) that has intensity 10 signal encryption.

* Lightning Speed (a): the Rolling Thunder's ATSV can move much faster than its parent vehicle, a specific design choice. It can propel the vehicle at a considerable (for its size) 90 m.p.h., which translates into intensity 3 'lightning speed'.

* Punch It Cannons (a): the sole armament on the ATSV, these twinned .50 caliber cannons can deliver quite a powerful punch (hence their name). They can be fired in a short burst to inflict the driver's Agility +6 damage, raised to +7 when fired fully automatic.

Body Armor (s): the frame of the Rolling Thunder is built to withstand a pounding. It can more than merely survive the intense stresses produced by the use of its own missiles and cannons, and provides its occupants +4 protection thanks to its m.s. of 14.

Communications Array (i): the Rolling Thunder is equipped with a gigahertz frequency, frequency wobbler clandestine operations radio system. This makes for intensity 8 communications power (with a 2,500 mile range) that has intensity 10 signal encryption.

Double Team Rockets (i): these powerful, quad thruster solid propellant rockets are in fact cluster bombs! The missiles themselves are stored in a launch bay inside the Rolling Thunder until they're ready for use, and (by themselves) inflict intensity 12 damage.

The true threat provided by the Double Team rockets are their internal payloads, however. Each is filled with six roll-out 'Firefly' free-fall cluster bombs. By themselves these inflict intensity 10 damage, but they are primarily designed as force multipliers.

When they drop on a target, their damage is increased by one for every explosive that detonates at the same time. If the double team rocket also hits along with the bombs, their final damage is based on its score of 12, instead of 10 for the bombs by themselves...

Hot Point Laser Cannon (a): this chin-mounted, horizontally pivoting laser is built to strike targets in front of the Rolling Thunder - and to do so hard. It can be fired to inflict the gunner's Agility +8 energy damage per deadly strike - which can flatten most foes!

Lightning Speed (a): the eight wheels on the Rolling Thunder can move it along pretty fast, thanks to its massive engine. It can propel the vehicle at a staggering (for its size) 60 m.p.h., which translates into intensity 2 'lightning speed'.

Right On Missiles (i): mounted on the main turret (and barrel!) of the Rolling Thunder, these three offensive surface to air missiles have a considerable range. They inflict intensity 12 damage alone, adding a +1 for each additional missile that strikes a target.

Single Seat Laser Cannons (a): the Rolling Thunder has four twinned laser cannons, each in a seated turret mounted over its paired wheels. These cannons inflict the gunner's Agility +7 energy damage per blast, but their operators have no vehicular body armor.

Short Throw Cannon (a): the 'big gun' on the Rolling Thunder, this weapon is a 90mm cannon! This devastating weapon can fire shells capable of inflicting its operator's Agility +9 damage per deadly blast, enough to penetrate even the most heavy of armor!

Super Sidewinder Missiles (i): the Rolling Thunder has eight of these surface to surface anti-tank missiles, two of each mounted under each single seat laser cannon (four point forward, four to the rear). They inflict intensity 11 damage each, plus one for each additional missile used.

Turntable Air Defense Unit (i): the Rolling Thunder has air defense in the form of this removable unit, which can fire up to six missiles, each mounted to cover a different 45 degree area of sky. They inflict intensity 10 damage each, plus one for each additional missile used.

Extra Goodies:

Gi Joe directories featuring a version of the Rolling Thunder: