Thunderbird Four

Thunderbird 4

Here are the Canon Foundry facts about Thunderbird Four, all taken from the International Rescue Thunderbirds Agents’ Technical Manual written by Sam Denham (2012):

Dimensions

Length: 30 feet

Width: 11 feet

Weight: 16 tons

Performance

Underwater Speed: 160 knots

Surface Cruising Speed: 40 knots

Emergency Launch Speed: 30 knots

Maximum Operating Depth: 30,000 feet

Power

Power source: Twin atomic fusion reactors

Forward and Reverse Drive: 6 electrically driven reversible axial-flow turbine impellers

Main Turbo Drive: 2 axial-flow turbines providing forward thrust only

Emergency Launch Jets

4 vertical-thrust hover-jets
2 x 25 liquid fuel mini-rockets

Other Information

Rear top nacelle steering vanes can be closed to form an airtight seal if necessary
Atomic fusion generator powers auxiliaries and superheats air for surface jet engines and hover-jets
Rear starboard nacelle steering vanes control surfacing and diving
Inner nacelle bulkhead wall is watertight
2 topside airlock hatch doors
Access door to pilot’s cabin is watertight
Forward starboard vertical thrust hover-jet: if Thunderbird 2 is out of action, Thunderbird 4 can be launched from Pod 4 in its hangar on Tracy Island
Starboard nacelle jet engine turbine: used for surface cruising and sealed watertight when Thunderbird 4 is submerged
Fuel tanks contain rocket fuel
Rockets are used to launch Thunderbird 4 from Pod 4 on the surface of the water or from the hangar
Emergency airlock: telescopic system extends into cabin to provide a double-door airlock for emergency or additional access
Armorglass topside viewport is strengthened with Formula C/31 and cahelium additives
Main viewport provides 180-degree visibility for pilot, strengthened with Formula C/31 and cahelium
Life-support unit has zyolithic crystal converter to eliminate the buildup of carbon dioxide in the cabin
Pod re-entry docking clamp is electromagnetic
Adjustment sprocket allows tool tubes to be raised enabling equipment to be substituted prior to a rescue operation
If a missile is not loaded into the tool tube, a harpoon-drill can be fired. The drill is linked via tube to the auxiliary oxygen tanks and can be used to pump air into a downed submarine
Multi-jointed laser cutter arm enables the arm to be used accurately
Halogen lighting bar
Optional grappling arm: depending on the rescue requirements, any of the rescue tools at the front of Thunderbird 4 can be substituted for specialized equipment prior to the launch, via the tool tube access panel

Information from the Thunderbirds Information Sheet:

Colour – Yellow with red markings
Length – 30 feet
Pilot – Gordon Tracy