The Thunderbolt is a spy ship that was introduced
simultaneously with the X-Wing, and has seen extensive use since
then. The usual mission profile of the Thunderbolt is
reconnaissance around the edges of occupied systems, retrieving
data from existing spy probes, or careful examination of proposed
sites of bases, both for the Republic, and for the Empire. Those
smugglers that have gotten their hands on a Thunderbolt tend to use
it for very, very expensive cargos, as a Thunderbolt can out run
anything in hyperspace, and just about anything else if it can't
get into hyperspace.
To further enable it to avoid pursuit, the Thunderbolt is
equipped with Phantom Torpedoes. When these are fired, they
produce a sensor signature that looks a good deal like that of the
Thunderbolt. The Torpedo will accelerate away from the Thunderbolt
at almost the same speed, and after a twenty second fuel burn will
continue at that speed until it disintegrates, a process that can
last for three hours. When the Sensor mask is engaged, the
signature of the Thunderbolt is blurred enough to make it
indistinguishable from the pods. A thunderbolt can carry up to six
Torpedo, but that fills it's entire cargo bay. The usual load is
three torpedoes.