Thor

Early render of the Thor, note the 4-blade rotors instead of the 5-blade as shown in the game.

### Faction

USA (General Alexander and General Townes)

### Armament

20mm chain gun (Conventional)Anti-tank missiles (Conventional)

Tesla Coil (Futuristic)

Lightning Cannons (Futuristic)

Anti-tank lasers (Townes)

### Experience Value

Townes: 53, 77 (Veteran), 113 (Elite), 162 (Heroic)Alexander: 57, 93 (Veteran), 131 (Elite), 184 (Heroic)

### Experience Required

Townes: 100 (Veteran), 292 (Elite), 419 (Heroic)Alexander: 181 (Veteran), 259 (Elite), 374 (Heroic)

### Ground Attack

20mm chain gun: 12Laser cannons: 45x2 (at stock), 47x2 (veteran), 49x2 (elite), 53x2 (heroic)

AT missiles: 65

### Notes

Can be upgraded with aerial countermeasures to increase its survivability against missile-based AA

### Upgrades

CountermeasuresCarbon Lasers (Townes)

Emitters (Alexander)

EMP Rockets (Alexander)

## Introduction

The **Thor** is General Alexander's and General Townes' primary attack helicopter unit, which replaces the Comanche for the two generals.

## Overview

The Thor is the intended successor to the aging AH-64 Apache helicopter gunship. It's designed for providing close air support for USA ground forces.

The Thor has a typical design of a standard helicopter gunship with some twists: It has a pair of stub-wings sticking out from the sides its main body much like conventional helicopter gunships. For propulsion and maneuvering, the Thor uses a 5-bladed main rotor with fenestron tail rotor just like the Comanche, but the Thor's tail rotors come with two "arrowhead" shaped tail wings installed on its sides to provide stability.

Its main weapon is a triple-barreled chaingun installed right at its "nose" to deal with infantry units and lightly armored enemy vehicles. Under the Thor's stub-wings hardpoints for AT weapons are found, different types of heavy armament can be installed beforehand to demolish vehicles and buildings. Currently, there are only two types of AT weapons for this helicopter: Guided Missile Pods (which can load either conventional HEAT warheads or more advanced Energy-Emitter/EMP hybrid warheads) or laser cannons (which can be upgraded to more devastating Carbon Laser Cannons). For Townes' case, he can replace the chaingun with a slower firing but more powerful Carbon Laser Gun that can fry most enemy infantry in one-shot. Thors have simplified weapon systems and the pilot inside can both control the helicopter and aim the weapons without the need of a co-pilot as seen in the older Apaches. Laser Thors are also equipped with high capacity rechargeable batteries inside, so the helicopters can still continue their operations even when the base is on low power. All variants of Thor Gunship can be upgraded with magnesium flares to confuse heat-seeking AA Missiles so that the missiles hit the flares instead of the helicopter itself.

Compared to the Comanche, the Thor gunship is slower and less versatile (as it can only target ground targets) but possesses better armor, which allows it to survive longer when confronted to enemy AA firepower.

## Variants

There currently exist three variants of the Thor gunship. (Two separate variants for General Alexander):

### General Alexander

The Superweapon General's Thor gunship starts out as a fairly conventional one, it's armed with a chain gun which is effective against infantry and light vehicles, and missile launchers which are effective against armor and structures. Countermeasures can be outfitted to increase the Thor's survivability against missile-based AA weapons. However, the missiles can be further upgraded to carry EMP warheads, disabling structures and vehicles briefly on impact. When micromanaged properly, the Thor gunship can become a highly effective support unit. Upon selecting Future Path however, the Thor becomes Lightning Thor, armed with a Tesla Coil that zaps infantry and disables vehicles and structures with multiple shots. It's also armed with lightning cannons that fire lightning orbs against vehicles and structures.

### General Townes

General Townes' Thor gunships swap the standard missile pods for a pair of laser cannons, these weapons are pinpoint accurate, cannot be intercepted like missiles but deals rather mediocre damage against structures and vehicles. Therefore Laser Thors are best fielded in groups. Countermeasures can be outfitted to increase the Thor's survivability against missile-based AA weapons. Carbon Lasers upgrade can increase the laser cannons' damage and swap the Thor's chaingun for a rapid firing laser gun which remains effective against infantries. Unfortunately, like most other laser based units in Towns' arsenal, the Laser Thor requires power to remain operational (unlike other power dependent units, it is not disabled when on low power).

## Assessment

Pros:

* Effective against vehicles and infantries.
* Has better armor than the Comanche.
* Can fire on the move.
* Lightning Thor's Tesla Coil can disable vehicles with multiple shots.
* Can deal with armored vehicles and lightly defended bases when in numbers.
* Superweapon Thors can fire EMP missiles which can shut down enemy units and structures.
* Laser Thors are pinpoint accurate and their weapons cannot be evaded.

Cons:

* Vulnerable against AA weapons, especially base defenses.
* Futuristic variant consumes 1 power.
* Tends to clump together when attacking in groups, therefore highly vulnerable to AA weapons that deal splash damage.
* No air-to-air capabilities.
* Mediocre flying speed, being notably slower than the Comanche.
* Laser Thors consume power.
* Expensive ($1,400).

## Quotes

Before Contra X, the Thor and its variants uses the voice set of Harbinger from Red Alert 3 Uprising

### When Selected

* Just call me the god of thunder.
* Rarin’ to go.
* Howdy!
* Where’s the rodeo?
* Thor standin’ by.

### When Moving

* Coordinates received.
* Roger, movin’ out.
* Swoopin’ over.
* Giddy up!
* Gunship on approach.

### When Attacking

* AT missile, same-day delivery!
* Yeehaw!
* Time to bring the thunder!
* Y’all are in fer it now!
* Lettin’ loose!

### When Shot Down

* I’m losin’ ‘er, brace for impact!
* Thor down! Thor down!
* This is it, old girl!

## Laser Thor

### When Selected

* Lasers warmed up.
* Lead is obsolete.

### When Attacking

* One light show comin’ up!
* Cookin’ with lasers!

## Lightning Thor

### When Selected

* Puttin’ the “shock” in “shock and awe”.
* Rider on the storm.

### When Attacking

* Let’s zap ‘em!
* Ride the lightnin’!

## Trivia

* The Thor reuses the Harbinger's quotes from *Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3*.
* In Norse mythology, Thor is a god associated with thunder, lightning, storms, strength and protection.
* Judging by the new voice over and accent for the unit, the pilot is likely from Texas, USA.

## Gallery

The Laser Thor fielded by General Townes. (With Carbon Laser upgrade)