Vehicles
Below is a list of all 17 known Thunderbird machines. I've also added some miscellaneous vehicles that are quite interesting to know.
International Rescue
- TB-1 Advanced Space Shuttle
This ship can fly in both atmosphere and outer space. I'm not sure whether it can achieve orbit by itself, or requires help from TB-2. It can combine with TB-2 and TB-3. The TB-1 is Dylan's primary vehicle.
- TB-2 Hypersonic Transport
A rocket shape ship, which can fly in both atmosphere and outer space. Able to achieve orbit by itself. It can combine with TB-1 and TB-3. The TB-2 is Jesse's and J.J's primary vehicle.
- TB-3 Ground Operations Vehicle
A giant sized rover, which can hover a little. Always need the assistance of TB-2 in order to get to distant places. The TB-3 is Grant's primary vehicle.
- TB-4 Submarine
A large submarine equipped with both periscopes and a windshield (watershield?). It can go as fast as 60 knots under water and into great depth. Only the TB-14 can go deeper than this sub. The TB-4 is Kallan's primary vehicle.
- TB-5 Subterranean Vehicle
This vehicle is transported to danger areas using the TB-2. It has a turbo drill which can make a tunnel across a huge mountain very quickly.
- TB-6 Space Station
Described as a floating city. It houses some of the IR space operations vehicles, notably the TB-17. It also houses U.N Space Colonization Program, and Weather Control Service.
- TB-7 Single Seat Jet
High speed dartlike shape jet, often placed inside the wings of TB-1 or inside TB-2's large cargo bay. It has remote control capability which makes this ship act as a drone.
- TB-8 VTOL Jet
This unit seems to be a single seat VTOL jet. It was shown only in one episode ("Shockwave"). It was placed in the wings of TB-1, and has remote control capability, similar to TB-7.
- TB-9 Walker
Single seat, mechanical robot. It's used in outer space mission for precision works. Always stowed inside another ship for transport.
- TB-10 Small Multi-Personnel Rocket
This rocket can achieve orbit by itself, and strictly use for quick transport in areas between earth, all the way into the asteroid belt. It can achieve a speed of up to mach 176.
- TB-11 Unknown
This vehicle was never described in any of the 24 episodes. The TB-11 could be the dartlike shaped reusable escape pod used by the Thunderbirds. This escape pod is able to penetrate through hard surface and have backward retro rockets. Another possibility for TB-11 is a single seat motorcycle used in episode "Metal Head."
- TB-12 Heavylift/Dozer Vehicle
A small vehicle, which can clear debris and lift heavy objects (such as TB-2),over and under water.
- TB-13 Small Submarine
A small submarine that is often stowed inside TB-4 cargo hold. It can reach small places where it is unreachable by TB-4. It may have a capability to fly or hover above water at speed up to mach 1.
- TB-14 Deep Sea Bathyscape
Used for super deep operations. This vehicle has never been shown in any episodes, and only described in the epsiode "Child's Play."
- TB-15 Small Tracked Drill
Shaped like the TB-5 in the original Thunderbird. Only shown in an episode titled "Cloudburst." It's a tracked vehicle and has a small drill. Stowed in TB-3 and able to pull heavy objects such as a tanker. It also has drone capability.
- TB-16 Small Tracked Vehicle
Only shown in an episode titled "Cloudburst." Approximately the same size as TB-15, tracked and it seems to have a lot of sensors for reconnaissance/surveillance operations. Stowed in TB-3 and able to pull heavy objects such as a tanker. It also has drone capability.
- TB-17 Interplanetary Space Transport
By far, the largest of all Thunderbirds units. It can carry all the other units in its vast cargo hold. It has Ion Engines and capable of traveling in acceleration up to 10 Gs. It's docked inside the TB-6.
Others
- U.S.S Sunbeam
A large old research vessel orbiting the sun for 5 years on a research mission. It houses some of the most luxurious facilities in any star ships. The engines are ramjet like, that sucks in hydrogen much like present day jet engines.
- Thunderbolt
A large wing shaped ship, that was designed to carry passengers to colonize the stars. It can fly in atmosphere, and acts as a flying airport/aircraft carrier. It's size is comparable to that of a star destroyer from star wars. It was never designed to land.
- Centauri
A prototype ship, with ion engines. Built in orbit around Jupiter, and its purpose was to travel to the Alpha Centauri system for star colonization.
- Trial Tower
Made by the Pluto visitors alien. This vehicle can change shaped depending upon the crystal controller's holder's emotions.
- Space Police Fighters
A single seat space fighter designed for the space police to enforce law in Federation space.
- Dozeroid
Agricultural drone tractor, later designed for combat by a mad computer of Moonbase Omega.
- Fighteroid
A flying jetlike drone ship, designed for combat by mad computer of Moonbase Omega.
- X-15
A prototype ship, carrying a new Sublight/FTL engine, smaller in size, 10 times in output.
- Shadow Axis Capital Ship
A ship used by the Shadow Axis to conduct its mission on earth. It has submarine capability, and operated by as little as 2 crews.
- Guardian Series
A small 20th century ship. It has a computer that has neural linkup to the pilots, although reliable, sometimes it's hard to override the commands.
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