Inquiry-class Exploratory Cruiser

[Jame]

High Guard design. TL-14 5000 ton streamlined cone. Jump-4, 6G, Plant-8 (400 EP). 1400 tons fuel; processor and scoops. 4*Model/8fib. 3*CIC. 160 staterooms. 50 ton Missile Bay, 25 triple turrets, 15 heavy turrets (25 pulse laser, 25 missile racks, 25 sandcasters, 30 fusion guns. 24*10-ton fighters, 4 ship's boats, 2 grav APCs, 6 air rafts. Armor factor 5, factor-6 nuclear damper. 4 extended medlabs, lounge, 2 full vehicle workshops, 2 machine shops, 3 simple labs, 5 full hydroponics bays, 5 solar panels, 213 tons cargo. 120 crew, 80 troops. 32 months build time. (TL-13 version available: Nuclear Damper-3, 140 staterooms, 5 tons cargo, 420 MCr.)

The Inquiry-class Exploratory Cruiser is designed to seek out new worlds and civilizations and contact them - and, if necessary, rain destruction down on them. Or run from them if destruction won't work. Simple scientific labs are included so that newfound planets and other phenomenae are studied while in new space. To this end, Inquiry-class vessels carry diplomats, scientists and troopers to contact, study and fight, and are equipped with places to study, discuss and work while doing whatever is desired.

*This design is "inspired" (i.e. ripped off and scaled down from) by the Star Trek the Next Generation version of the Enterprise. Basically it goes out, explores and studies, but somewhat unlike the Enterprise, can do good damage fast.*

 

[whartung]

Is there really any reason to have a distinguishable difference between the Grav APC and Air Raft, or even for that matter, the Ships Boats?

The things I see lacking is that you have a lot of troops, but you don't have the vehicles to supprt them. Maybe the APC can hold more than I think, but I'm guess its complement is only 10 troops plus crew.

Basically all modern troops are essentially mechanized and have vehicular support. While grav belts give them mobility, they don't offer them the environmental and armor protection of vehicles, nor any extra heavy weapons fire support.

At a minimum I'd make it 4 APC and 2 Air Rafts vs the other way around. But I'd also think about perhaps a more multi-pupose orbit and ground combat capable assault shuttle/boat that would replace the APCs entirely and be used as a general puprose expeditionary shuttle, using an Air Raft for "Diplomatic" visits. But even then I'd want a larger vehicle to bring along a security contingent.

The ship doesn't really need its own "personal" vehicles based on its mision, were it in a friendly port, they can simply use a Navy vehicle from the base vehicle pool. In a potentially dangerous area, you'd want something larger.

The only scenario I could see for a armored ground vehicle is deep jungle, but those area tend to be rather inhospitable to vehicles anyway, simply due to density of the ground vegetation. At that point you may be stuck with grav belts and perhaps the assault shuttle flying a CAP nearby for overwatch.

 

[Jame]

This might be a good extended duration scout cruiser with much remodeling.

 

[Jame]

Inquiry Cruiser, TL12, MgT2E
5000 ton streamlined hull with 10 points crystaliron armor, 625 tons armor, total cost 530 mcr
Jump drive 3: 375 tons, 562.5 mcr
Manuever drive 4, 200 tons, 400 mcr
Power plant Fusion/12, 360 mcr, 360 mcr, 5250 power output
Fuel processors, 82 tons, 4.1 mcr, 82 power, 1640 tons output per day
Fuel: 1500 tons Jump fuel, 114 tons plant fuel
Bridge with holographic controls: 60 tons, 31.25 mcr
2 computer/20: 10 mcr
Improved sensors, 3 tons, 4.3 mcr, 4 power
2 small missile bays, 100 tons, 24 mcr, 100 power
8 particle beam barbettes 40 tons, 40 mcr
40 triple turrets, 40 tons, 40 mcr, with 30 beam lasers, 15 mcr, 120 power, 30 pulse lasers, 30 mcr, 120 power, 30 missile racks, 22.5 mcr and 30 sandcasters, 7.5 mcr
160 staterooms 640 tons, 80 mcr
80 common spaces, 80 tons, 8 mcr
Library, 4 tons, 4 mcr
4 medical bays in 2 suites, 16 tons, 8 mcr, 4 power
2 laboratories, 4 tons, 2 mcr
Workshop, 12 tons, 1.8 mcr
4 pinnaces in docking spaces, 176 tons, 34 mcr
4 grav AFVs, 44 tons, 4 mcr
12 10-ton fighters 122 tons, 120 mcr
Repair drones, 50 tons, 12.5 mcr
50 probe drones, 10 mcr, 5 mcr
25 tons missile storage (a variety)
5 tons sandcaster storage
275 tons cargo
2379.45 megacredits individually
120 crew, 40 ship troops, 20 small craft crew and support, 10 scout crew