Pondering starship evolution

[Spinward Flow]

TL=9

• 240*0.3+30+(25+7+13)+9+20+2=178 … 240-178=62 internal payload … 102 fuel … D/D/D=J3/3G + 1x Boxes external

Started working up the spreadsheet details for this variant ... and ... it just doesn't have the payload fraction.

It's "not quite big enough" for what it's trying to be, as a merchant starship.

Basically, the 240 ton form factor is simply "too tight" to manage a useful payload fraction (at all) while configured for J3/3G performance.
It has "plenty" of external load capacity while configured for J2/2G (140 tons of it!) ... but that's not the point. There's a "cheaper" version with C/C/C drives that yields J2/2G performance with a "useful" payload fraction just fine. As a J3/3G starship, it could transport 2x high passengers ... and nothing else ... which a "viable commercial merchant" does not make (especially if you're wanting to engage in speculative goods arbitrage).

Consequently, I'm thinking that any kind of J3/3G "clipper" version really NEEDS to be a larger hull form factor (and therefore drive letters set) in order to raise the payload fraction up to "sustainable" levels of ticket revenues that can defray operational expenses.



The 240 ton form factor was the best balance point between the different drive sets (C/C/C, C/F/F, D/D/D) yielding different unencumbered performance ratings (2/2/2, 2/5/5, 3/3/3 respectively). However, if the D/D/D drive set needs to "fall out of the picture" because it just can't "work" within the constraints I'm wanting to honor with this project, that then suggests that upscaling from 240 tons to 260 tons for the C/C/C=2/2/2 and C/F/F=2/4/4 variants is probably advisable (for a variety of downstream reasons that impact other metrics considerations for end users).

The C/C/C=2/2/2 @ TL=9 and 300 combined tons Far Trader then becomes the "entry level" starship in the family.
The C/F/F=2/4/4 @ TL=10 and 300 combined tons Fast Trader becomes the "next step upgrade" starship in the family.

Although a E/E/E=3/3/3 @ TL=10 and 251-333 combined tons Clipper is "doable" (probably at the 280, 300 or 320 ton breakpoints) and would have a maximum combined tonnage capacity of 1000 tons @ J1/1G ... a slightly "less optimized" setup of F/F/F=3/3/3 @ TL=10 and 320-400 combined tons Clipper would probably be a superior form factor and drive set to work with, even if still limited to a combined tonnage capacity of 1000 tons @ J1/1G (instead of 1200 tons) because of how things "change" for the accounting of small craft tonnages (at tonnage when carried by 1000 tons or less, at 130% tonnage when carried by 1001+ tons) and when accounting for crew requirements (1200 combined tons requires a crew of 12 as per LBB2.81, p16). Moving from a crew of 8 (1000 combined tons limit) to a crew of 12 (1200 combined tons limit) would be counterproductive, in a variety of ways, for increases in (useful) payload fraction.



So yet another RETHINK is happening, but I'm getting closer to freezing finalized designs for this family of "low" tech starships.

 

[Spinward Flow]

So, a bit of (spreadsheet details) progress, today.
Looks like the recompute is settling out into a pair of 260 ton hulls for the Far and Fast Traders ... and a 340 ton hull for the Clipper.

There are some common components in the embarked small craft that I'll repeat here before doing individual posts for each of the starships.

---

Gig Vehicle (Type-GV, TL=9)
20 ton small craft hull, configuration: 1 (MCr2.4)
0 tons for Armor: 0 (TL=9)
3.4 tons for LBB5.80 custom Maneuver-6 (Agility=6 requires 1.2 EP) (MCr1.7)
3.9 tons for LBB5.80 custom Power Plant-6 (EP=1.3) (MCr11.7)
0.7 tons for LBB5.80 jump capacitors (EP=25.2 capacity, 21 turns/7 hours @ EP=1.2 continuous output) (MCr2.8)
1 ton for fuel (16d 06h 41m endurance @ 1.2 EP output+basic power continuous) (basic power only consumes 0.01 tons of fuel per 7d)
4 tons for bridge (crew: 2, pilot, gunner, acceleration couches life support endurance: 12-24 hours) (MCr0.1)
2 tons for model/2 computer (TL=7, EP: 0) (MCr9)
1 ton for mixed triple turret: missile, pulse laser, missile (TL=9, batteries: 3, codes: 1/1/1, EP: 1, 3 missiles per battery, 12 reloads in turret shared between missile launchers) (MCr3.1)
* External Docking: 150 tons capacity (MCr0.3)
4 tons for grav vehicle berth: Air/Raft or Prospector's Buggy
0 tons for cargo hold

= 0+3.4+3.9+0.7+1+4+2+1+4+0 = 20 tons
= 2.4+0+1.7+11.7+2.8+0.1+9+3.1+0.3 = MCr31.1 single production
(18x HE Missiles = MCr0.09, bought after completing construction)
(Prospector's Buggy = MCr0.75 or Air/Raft = MCr0.6, bought after completing construction)

• 1G, Agility=0: 170 - 20 = 150 tons external load
• 1G, Agility=1: 130 - 20 = 110 tons external load
• 2G, Agility=1: 68 - 20 = 48 tons external load
• 2G, Agility=2: 65 - 20 = 45 tons external load
• 3G, Agility=3: 42 - 20 = 22 tons external load
• 4G, Agility=4: 30 - 20 = 10 tons external load
• 5G, Agility=5: 24 - 20 = 4 tons external load
• 6G, Agility=6: 20 - 20 = 0 tons external load

=====

Stateroom Box (Type-RU, TL=9)
20 ton small craft hull, configuration: 4 (MCr1.2)
0 tons for Armor: 0 (TL=9)
20 tons for 5x single occupancy starship staterooms (MCr2.5)
* External Docking: 4x 20 = 80 tons capacity (MCr0.16)
0 tons for cargo hold

= 0+20+0 = 20 tons
= 1.2+2.5+0.16 = MCr3.86 single production

=====

Multi-A Box (Type-RU, TL=9)
20 ton small craft hull, configuration: 4 (MCr1.2)
0 tons for Armor: 0 (TL=9)
12 tons for 3x single occupancy starship staterooms (MCr1.5)
6 tons for laboratory (MCr1.2)
2 tons for 4x single occupancy low berths (MCr0.2)
* External Docking: 4x 20 = 80 tons capacity (MCr0.16)
0 tons for cargo hold

= 0+12+6+2+0 = 20 tons
= 1.2+1.5+1.2+0.2+0.16 = MCr4.26 single production

=====

Multi-B Box (Type-RU, TL=9)
20 ton small craft hull, configuration: 4 (MCr1.2)
0 tons for Armor: 0 (TL=9)
12 tons for 3x single occupancy starship staterooms (MCr1.5)
8 tons for laboratory (MCr1.6)
* External Docking: 4x 20 = 80 tons capacity (MCr0.16)
0 tons for cargo hold

= 0+12+8+0 = 20 tons
= 1.2+1.5+1.6+0.16 = MCr4.46 single production

=====

Laboratory Box (Type-LU, TL=9)
20 ton small craft hull, configuration: 4 (MCr1.2)
0 tons for Armor: 0 (TL=9)
20 tons for laboratory (MCr4)
* External Docking: 4x 20 = 80 tons capacity (MCr0.16)
0 tons for cargo hold

= 0+20+0 = 20 tons
= 1.2+4+0.16 = MCr5.36 single production

=====

Environment Box (Type-LU, TL=9)
20 ton small craft hull, configuration: 4 (MCr1.2)
0 tons for Armor: 0 (TL=9)
20 tons for environment tank (MCr2)
* External Docking: 4x 20 = 80 tons capacity (MCr0.16)
0 tons for cargo hold

= 0+20+0 = 20 tons
= 1.2+2+0.16 = MCr3.36 single production

=====

Cargo Box (Type-AU, TL=9)
20 ton small craft hull, configuration: 4 (MCr1.2)
0 tons for Armor: 0 (TL=9)
* External Docking: 4x 20 = 80 tons capacity (MCr0.16)
20 tons for cargo hold

= 0+20 = 20 tons
= 1.2+0.16 = MCr1.36

 

[Spinward Flow]

Rule of Man Far Trader
260 tons starship hull, configuration: 1 (MCr31.2)
35 tons for LBB2.81 standard C/C/C drives (codes: 2/2/2, TL=9, EP=6) (MCr66)
72 tons of total fuel: 260 tons @ J2 = 52 tons jump fuel + 20 tons power plant fuel
0 tons for fuel scoops (MCr0.26)
9 tons for TL=9 fuel purification plant (200 ton capacity is minimum) (MCr0.038)
20 tons for bridge (600 ton rating, MCr3)
2 tons for model/2 computer (MCr9)
120 tons for hangar berths capacity (MCr0.24)

1. Gig Vehicle = 20 tons (air/raft)
2. Cargo or Environment Box = 20 tons
3. Multi-A Box = 20 tons (3x high passengers, 4x low passengers, V-c life support for 3)
4. Stateroom Box = 20 tons (starship pilot, small craft pilot, navigator, medic, gunner) (5x staterooms)
5. Laboratory Box = 20 tons (V-c life support for 10)
6. Stateroom Box = 20 tons (engineer, purser/purser, steward, 2x high passengers) (5x staterooms)

* External Docking: 340 tons capacity (MCr0.68)

1. Cargo or Environment Box = 20 tons
2. Cargo or Environment Box = 20 tons

2 tons for cargo hold

• 120 ton capacity collapsible fuel tank = 1.2 ton (MCr0.06)

= 35+72+9+20+2+120+2 = 260 tons

= 31.2+66+0.26+0.038+3+9+0.24+0.68+0.06 = MCr110.478+(31.1+0.6)+(1.36*2.6)+(4.26)+(3.86*1.8)+(5.36) =
MCr162.282 * 1.0 = MCr162.282 single (+volume duplicated boxes) production

= MCr110.478+(31.1+0.6)+(1.36*3)+(4.26)+(3.86*2)+(5.36) = MCr163.598 * 0.8 = MCr130.8784 volume production

Crew = 8 (Cr33,100 per 4 weeks crew salaries)

1. Pilot-1 = Cr6000
2. Ship's Boat-1 = Cr6000
3. Navigator-1 = Cr5000
4. Engineering-1 = Cr4000
5. Steward-1/Steward-1 (purser) = Cr5400
6. Steward-1 = Cr3300
7. Medical-3 = Cr2400
8. Gunnery-1 = Cr1000

• J2, 2G, Agility=2: 260 + 40 = 300 combined tons
• J1, 1G, Agility=1: 260 + 340 = 600 combined tons

Revenue Tonnage @ J2/2G

• 5x high passengers
• 4x low passengers
• 60 tons owned cargo capacity

Revenue Tonnage @ J1/1G

• 5x high passengers
• 4x low passengers
• 60 tons owned cargo capacity
• 300 tons external load charter capacity

 

[Spinward Flow]

Rule of Man Fast Trader
260 tons starship hull, configuration: 1 (MCr31.2)
50 tons for LBB2.81 standard C/F/F drives (codes: 2/4/4, TL=10, EP=12) (MCr102)
92 tons of total fuel: 260 tons @ J2 = 52 tons jump fuel + 40 tons power plant fuel
0 tons for fuel scoops (MCr0.26)
8 tons for TL=10 fuel purification plant (200 ton capacity is minimum) (MCr0.036)
20 tons for bridge (1000 ton rating, MCr5)
2 tons for model/2 computer (MCr9)
80 tons for hangar berths capacity (MCr0.16)

1. Gig Vehicle = 20 tons (air/raft)
2. Stateroom Box = 20 tons (starship pilot, small craft pilot, navigator, medic, gunner) (5x staterooms)
3. Laboratory Box = 20 tons (V-c life support for 10)
4. Stateroom Box = 20 tons (engineer, purser/purser, steward, 2x high passengers) (5x staterooms)

* External Docking: 740 tons capacity (MCr1.48)

1. Cargo or Environment Box = 20 tons
2. Cargo or Environment Box = 20 tons

8 tons for cargo hold

• Mail Vault = 5 tons
• 82 ton capacity collapsible fuel tank = 0.82 ton (MCr0.041)

= 50+92+8+20+2+80+8 = 260 tons

= 31.2+102+0.26+0.036+5+9+0.16+1.48+0.041 = MCr149.177+(31.1+0.6)+(1.36*1.8)+(3.86*1.8)+(5.36) =
MCr195.633 * 1.0 = MCr195.633 single (+volume duplicated boxes) production

= MCr149.177+(31.1+0.6)+(1.36*2)+(3.86*2)+(5.36) = MCr196.677 * 0.8 = MCr157.3416 volume production

Crew = 8 (Cr37,350 per 4 weeks crew salaries)

1. Pilot-1 = Cr6000
2. Ship's Boat-1 = Cr6000
3. Navigator-1 = Cr5000
4. Engineering-2/Engineering-2 = Cr6600
5. Steward-1/Steward-1 (purser) = Cr5400
6. Steward-1/Steward-1 = Cr4950
7. Medical-3 = Cr2400
8. Gunnery-1 = Cr1000

• J2, 4G, Agility=4: 260 + 40 = 300 combined tons
• J1, 3G, Agility=3: 260 + 140 = 400 combined tons
• J1, 2G, Agility=2: 260 + 340 = 600 combined tons
• J0, 1G, Agility=1: 260 + 740 = 1000 combined tons (limited by bridge and external docking capacity)

Revenue Tonnage @ J2/4G

• 2x high passengers
• 5 ton Mail Vault
• 42 tons owned cargo capacity

Revenue Tonnage @ J1/3G

• 2x high passengers
• 5 ton Mail Vault
• 42 tons owned cargo capacity
• 100 tons external load charter capacity

Revenue Tonnage @ J1/2G

• 2x high passengers
• 5 ton Mail Vault
• 42 tons owned cargo capacity
• 300 tons external load charter capacity

Revenue Tonnage @ J0/1G

• 2x high passengers
• 5 ton Mail Vault
• 42 tons owned cargo capacity
• 600 tons external load charter capacity

 

[Spinward Flow]

Rule of Man Clipper
340 tons starship hull, configuration: 1 (MCr40.8)
65 tons for LBB2.81 standard F/F/F drives (codes: 3/3/3, TL=10, EP=12) (MCr136)
132 tons of total fuel: 340 tons @ J3 = 102 tons jump fuel + 30 tons power plant fuel
0 tons for fuel scoops (MCr0.34)
8 tons for TL=10 fuel purification plant (200 ton capacity is minimum) (MCr0.036)
20 tons for bridge (1000 ton rating, MCr5)
2 tons for model/2bis computer (MCr18)
100 tons for hangar berths capacity (MCr0.2)

1. Gig Vehicle = 20 tons (air/raft)
2. Multi-A Box = 20 tons (3x high passengers, 4x low passengers, V-c life support for 3)
3. Stateroom Box = 20 tons (starship pilot, small craft pilot, navigator, medic, gunner) (5x staterooms)
4. Laboratory Box = 20 tons (V-c life support for 10)
5. Stateroom Box = 20 tons (engineer, purser/purser, steward, 2x high passengers) (5x staterooms)

* External Docking: 660 tons capacity (MCr1.32)

1. Cargo or Environment Box = 20 tons
2. Cargo or Environment Box = 20 tons
3. Cargo or Environment Box = 20 tons

13 tons for cargo hold

• Vehicle Berth: Speeder = 6 tons (MCr1)
• Mail Vault = 5 tons
• 100 ton capacity collapsible fuel tank = 1 ton (MCr0.05)

= 65+132+8+20+2+100+13 = 340 tons

= 40.8+136+0.34+0.036+5+18+0.2+1.32+1+0.05 = MCr202.746+(31.1+0.6)+(1.36*2.6)+(4.26)+(3.86*1.8)+(5.36) =
MCr254.55 * 1.0 = MCr254.55 single (+volume duplicated boxes) production

= MCr202.746+(31.1+0.6)+(1.36*3)+(4.26)+(3.86*2)+(5.36) = MCr255.866 * 0.8 = MCr204.6928 volume production

Crew = 8 (Cr37,350 per 4 weeks crew salaries)

1. Pilot-1 = Cr6000
2. Ship's Boat-1 = Cr6000
3. Navigator-1 = Cr5000
4. Engineering-2/Engineering-2 = Cr6600
5. Steward-1/Steward-1 (purser) = Cr5400
6. Steward-1/Steward-1 = Cr4950
7. Medical-3 = Cr2400
8. Gunnery-1 = Cr1000

• J3, 3G, Agility=3: 340 + 60 = 400 combined tons
• J2, 2G, Agility=2: 340 + 260 = 600 combined tons
• J1, 1G, Agility=1: 340 + 660 = 1000 combined tons (limited by bridge and external docking capacity)

Revenue Tonnage @ J3/3G

• 5x high passengers
• 4x low passengers
• 5 ton Mail Vault
• 61 tons owned cargo capacity

Revenue Tonnage @ J2/2G

• 5x high passengers
• 4x low passengers
• 5 ton Mail Vault
• 61 tons owned cargo capacity
• 200 tons external load charter capacity

Revenue Tonnage @ J1/1G

• 5x high passengers
• 4x low passengers
• 5 ton Mail Vault
• 61 tons owned cargo capacity
• 600 tons external load charter capacity

 

[Spinward Flow]

Rule of Man Far Trader
MCr130.8784 volume production

• J2, 2G, Agility=2: 260 + 40 = 300 combined tons
• J1, 1G, Agility=1: 260 + 340 = 600 combined tons

Revenue Tonnage @ J2/2G

• 5x high passengers
• 4x low passengers
• 60 tons owned cargo capacity

Revenue Tonnage @ J1/1G

• 5x high passengers
• 4x low passengers
• 60 tons owned cargo capacity
• 300 tons external load charter capacity

I may have been too hasty in jumping to the conclusion that a C/C/C drives install (35 tons total) was a good idea.
Why?
Because "raising ambitions" back up to D/D/D drives is yielding a dramatically improved payload fraction.
Take a look at these details ...

---

Rule of Man Long Trader
280 tons starship hull, configuration: 1 (MCr33.6)
45 tons for LBB2.81 standard D/D/D drives (codes: 2/2/2, TL=9, EP=8) (MCr88)
82.8 tons of total fuel: 280 tons @ J2 = 56 tons jump fuel + 20 tons power plant fuel
0 tons for fuel scoops (MCr0.28)
9 tons for TL=9 fuel purification plant (200 ton capacity is minimum) (MCr0.038)
20 tons for bridge (800 ton rating, MCr4)
2 tons for model/2 computer (MCr9)
120 tons for hangar berths capacity (MCr0.24)

1. Gig Vehicle = 20 tons (air/raft)
2. Multi-A Box = 20 tons (3x high passengers, 4x low passengers, V-c life support for 3)
3. Multi-A Box = 20 tons (3x high passengers, 4x low passengers, V-c life support for 3)
4. Stateroom Box = 20 tons (starship pilot, small craft pilot, navigator, medic, gunner) (5x staterooms)
5. Laboratory Box = 20 tons (V-c life support for 10)
6. Stateroom Box = 20 tons (engineer, purser/purser, steward, 2x high passengers) (5x staterooms)

* External Docking: 520 tons capacity (MCr1.04)

1. Cargo or Environment Box = 20 tons
2. Cargo or Environment Box = 20 tons
3. Cargo or Environment Box = 20 tons
4. Cargo or Environment Box = 20 tons
5. Cargo or Environment Box = 20 tons
6. Cargo or Environment Box = 20 tons

1.2 tons for cargo hold

• 120 ton capacity collapsible fuel tank = 1.2 ton (MCr0.06)

= 45+82.8+9+20+2+120+1.2 = 280 tons

= 33.6+88+0.28+0.038+4+9+0.24+1.04+0.06 = MCr136.258+(31.1+0.6)+(1.36*4)+(4.26*1.8)+(3.86*1.8)+(5.36) =
MCr193.374 * 1.0 = MCr193.374 single (+volume duplicated boxes) production

= MCr136.258+(31.1+0.6)+(1.36*6)+(4.26*2)+(3.86*2)+(5.36) = MCr197.718 * 0.8 = MCr158.1744 volume production

Crew = 8 (Cr37,350 per 4 weeks crew salaries)

1. Pilot-1 = Cr6000
2. Ship's Boat-1 = Cr6000
3. Navigator-1 = Cr5000
4. Engineering-2/Engineering-2 = Cr6600
5. Steward-1/Steward-1 (purser) = Cr5400
6. Steward-1/Steward-1 = Cr4950
7. Medical-3 = Cr2400
8. Gunnery-1 = Cr1000

• J2, 2G, Agility=2: 280 + 120 = 400 combined tons
• J1, 1G, Agility=1: 280 + 520 = 800 combined tons

Revenue Tonnage @ J2/2G

• 8x high passengers
• 8x low passengers
• 120 tons owned cargo capacity

Revenue Tonnage @ J1/1G

• 8x high passengers
• 8x low passengers
• 120 tons owned cargo capacity
• 400 tons external load charter capacity

---

By switching from C/C/C drives to D/D/D drives (and adding +20 ton to the starship hull to accommodate the increase):

• High passenger capacity increases from 5 to 8
• Low passenger capacity increases from 4 to 8
• Cargo capacity (owned) increases from 60 tons to 120 tons
• External charter load capacity increases from 300 tons to 400 tons @ J1/1G
• Total constructed hull tonnage increases from 260+20*8=420 tons to 280+20*12=520 tons ... an increase of +100 tons
• Volume construction cost increases from MCr130.8784 to MCr158.1744 ... an increase of +MCr27.296

That's, honestly, a pretty remarkable improvement in payload fraction for a relatively modest increase in construction cost (almost +100% payload fraction for +20.856% construction cost).

In fact, it's enough to make me want to rethink both my Far Trader (C/C/C @ 260 tons) and Fast Trader (C/F/F @ 260 tons) designs.
Makes me think that I ought to be looking at a more ambitious Fast Trader design using D/H/H drives (65 tons, combined) in perhaps a 320 ton form factor (code: 2/5/5 for drive performance) that is only rated up to 320+480 external=800 combined tons @ J1/2G drive performance.

 

[Spinward Flow]

Rule of Man Fast Trader
MCr157.3416 volume production

• J2, 4G, Agility=4: 260 + 40 = 300 combined tons
• J1, 3G, Agility=3: 260 + 140 = 400 combined tons
• J1, 2G, Agility=2: 260 + 340 = 600 combined tons
• J0, 1G, Agility=1: 260 + 740 = 1000 combined tons (limited by bridge and external docking capacity)

Revenue Tonnage @ J2/4G

• 2x high passengers
• 5 ton Mail Vault
• 42 tons owned cargo capacity

Revenue Tonnage @ J1/3G

• 2x high passengers
• 5 ton Mail Vault
• 42 tons owned cargo capacity
• 100 tons external load charter capacity

Revenue Tonnage @ J1/2G

• 2x high passengers
• 5 ton Mail Vault
• 42 tons owned cargo capacity
• 300 tons external load charter capacity

Revenue Tonnage @ J0/1G

• 2x high passengers
• 5 ton Mail Vault
• 42 tons owned cargo capacity
• 600 tons external load charter capacity

Hmmm ... yes.
Raising the bar on drive performance from C/F/F to D/H/H and increasing the starship (proper) displacement has some very interesting changes flow from that modification.
Have a look and see for yourself.

---

Rule of Man Fast Trader
300 tons starship hull, configuration: 1 (MCr36)
65 tons for LBB2.81 standard D/H/H drives (codes: 2/5/5, TL=10, EP=16) (MCr136)
110.2 tons of total fuel: 300 tons @ J2 = 60 tons jump fuel + 50 tons power plant fuel
0 tons for fuel scoops (MCr0.3)
8 tons for TL=10 fuel purification plant (200 ton capacity is minimum) (MCr0.036)
20 tons for bridge (800 ton rating, MCr4)
2 tons for model/2 computer (MCr9)
80 tons for hangar berths capacity (MCr0.16)

1. Gig Vehicle = 20 tons (air/raft)
2. Stateroom Box = 20 tons (starship pilot, small craft pilot, navigator, medic, gunner) (5x staterooms)
3. Laboratory Box = 20 tons (V-c life support for 10)
4. Stateroom Box = 20 tons (engineer, purser/purser, steward, 2x high passengers) (5x staterooms)

* External Docking: 500 tons capacity (MCr1)

1. Multi-A Box = 20 tons (3x high passengers, 4x low passengers, V-c life support for 3)
2. Multi-A Box = 20 tons (3x high passengers, 4x low passengers, V-c life support for 3)
3. Cargo or Environment Box = 20 tons
4. Cargo or Environment Box = 20 tons
5. Cargo or Environment Box = 20 tons

14.8 tons for cargo hold

• Speeder = 6 tons (MCr1)
• 80 ton capacity collapsible fuel tank = 0.8 tons (MCr0.04)

= 65+110.2+8+20+2+80+14.8 = 300 tons

= 36+136+0.3+0.036+4+9+0.16+1+1+0.04 = MCr187.536+(31.1+0.6)+(1.36*2.6)+(4.26*1.8)+(3.86*1.8)+(5.36) =
MCr242.748 * 1.0 = MCr242.748 single (+volume duplicated boxes) production

= MCr187.536+(31.1+0.6)+(1.36*3)+(4.26*2)+(3.86*2)+(5.36) = MCr244.916 * 0.8 = MCr195.9328 volume production

Crew = 8 (Cr37,350 per 4 weeks crew salaries)

1. Pilot-1 = Cr6000
2. Ship's Boat-1 = Cr6000
3. Navigator-1 = Cr5000
4. Engineering-2/Engineering-2 = Cr6600
5. Steward-1/Steward-1 (purser) = Cr5400
6. Steward-1/Steward-1 = Cr4950
7. Medical-3 = Cr2400
8. Gunnery-1 = Cr1000

• J2, 5G, Agility=5: 300 + 20 = 320 combined tons (non-standard load out)
• J2, 4G, Agility=4: 300 + 100 = 400 combined tons
• J1, 3G, Agility=3: 300 + 233 = 533 combined tons
• J1, 2G, Agility=2: 300 + 500 = 800 combined tons

Revenue Tonnage @ J2/4G

• 8x high passengers
• 8x low passengers
• 68 tons owned cargo capacity

Revenue Tonnage @ J1/3G

• 8x high passengers
• 8x low passengers
• 68 tons owned cargo capacity
• 133 tons external load charter capacity

Revenue Tonnage @ J1/2G

• 8x high passengers
• 8x low passengers
• 75 tons owned cargo capacity
• 400 tons external load charter capacity

---

Doing the same type of cross-comparison between the 260 ton C/F/F drive design and the 300 ton D/H/H drive design variants yields the following:

• High passenger capacity increases from 2 to 8
• Low passenger capacity increases from 0 to 8
• Cargo capacity (owned) increases from 40 tons to 76 tons
• External charter load capacity increases from 300 tons to 400 tons @ J1/2G
• Total constructed hull tonnage increases from 260+20*6=380 tons to 300+20*9=480 tons ... an increase of +100 tons
• Volume construction cost increases from MCr157.3416 to MCr195.9328 ... an increase of +MCr38.5912

Which isn't bad for a starship design that is meant to "pack 480 tons of hull(s) into a 400 ton displacement" for J2/4G performance (or can be cut down to "pack 400 tons of hull(s) into a 320 ton displacement" for J2/5G performance if you really need to run a blockade with a lighter load).

 

[Spinward Flow]

So ... something interesting popped out of the math of the last 2 iterations that won't be apparent to anyone (besides me) until I explain it, because I've got the complete regression for these designs.



Obviously I've been working on the basis of a 20 ton modular building block (lately), because it's a "convenient min/max size" for an incredible variety of Stuffs™. However, on thing that absolutely WON'T fit into a 20 ton form factor is a fighter small craft with a model/4 computer.

I can squeeze a model/3 computer into a TL=9 fighter small craft of 20 tons. It's a tight fit and the resulting design has "short legs" due to life support endurance limitations (acceleration couches only, not enough room left over for small craft cabins).

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Fighter Decoy (Type-FQ, TL=9)
20 ton small craft hull, configuration: 1 (MCr2.4)
0 tons for Armor: 0 (TL=9)
3.4 tons for LBB5.80 custom Maneuver-6 (Agility=6 requires 1.2 EP) (MCr1.7)
6.9 tons for LBB5.80 custom Power Plant-B (EP=2.3) (MCr20.7)
0.55 tons for LBB5.80 jump capacitors (EP=19.8 capacity, 9 turns/3 hours @ EP=2.2 continuous output) (MCr2.2)
1 ton for fuel (8d 23h 23m endurance @ 2.2 EP output continuous+basic power continuous) (basic power only consumes 0.01 tons of fuel per 7d)
4 tons for bridge (crew: 2, pilot, gunner, acceleration couches life support endurance: 12-24 hours) (MCr0.1)
3 tons for model/3 computer (TL=9, EP: 1) (MCr18)
1 ton for triple turret: missile, missile, missile (TL=9, batteries: 3, codes: 1/1/1, EP: 0, 3 missiles per battery, 12 reloads in turret shared between missile launchers) (MCr3.35)
* External Docking: 150 tons capacity (MCr0.3)
0.15 tons for cargo hold

= 0+3.4+6.9+0.55+1+4+3+1+0.15 = 20 tons
= 2.4+0+1.7+20.7+2.2+0.1+18+3.35+0.3 = MCr48.75 (21x HE Missiles = MCr0.105, post-construction)

• 1G, Agility=0: 170 - 20 = 150 tons external load
• 1G, Agility=1: 130 - 20 = 110 tons external load
• 2G, Agility=1: 68 - 20 = 48 tons external load
• 2G, Agility=2: 65 - 20 = 45 tons external load
• 3G, Agility=3: 42 - 20 = 22 tons external load
• 4G, Agility=4: 30 - 20 = 10 tons external load
• 5G, Agility=5: 24 - 20 = 4 tons external load
• 6G, Agility=6: 20 - 20 = 0 tons external load

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If I take the same basic design premise/mission role and bump it up to TL=10 in order to fit a model/4 computer into it, the hull basically needs to go from 20 tons up to 30 tons (while still having "short legs" due to life support endurance limitations because acceleration couches only, not enough room left over for small craft cabins).

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Fighter Missile (Type-FM, TL=10)
30 ton small craft hull, configuration: 1 (MCr3.6)
0 tons for Armor: 0 (TL=9)
5.1 tons for LBB5.80 custom Maneuver-6 (Agility=6 requires 1.8 EP) (MCr2.55)
11.4 tons for LBB5.80 custom Power Plant-C (EP=3.8) (MCr34.2)
0.95 tons for LBB5.80 jump capacitors (EP=34.2 capacity, 9 turns/3 hours @ EP=3.8 continuous output) (MCr3.8)
1.5 tons for fuel (7d 19h 21m endurance @ 3.8 EP output continuous+basic power continuous) (basic power only consumes 0.015 tons of fuel per 7d)
6 tons for bridge (crew: 2, pilot, gunner, acceleration couches life support endurance: 12-24 hours) (MCr0.15)
4 tons for model/4 computer (TL=10, EP: 2) (MCr30)
1 ton for triple turret: missile, missile, missile (TL=9, batteries: 3, codes: 1/1/1, EP: 0, 3 missiles per battery, 12 reloads in turret shared between missile launchers) (MCr3.35)
* External Docking: 225 tons capacity (MCr0.45)
0.05 tons for cargo hold

= 0+5.1+11.4+0.95+1.55+6+4+1 = 30 tons
= 3.6+0+2.55+34.2+3.8+0.15+30+3.35+0.45 = MCr78.1 (21x HE Missiles = MCr0.105, post-construction)

• 1G, Agility=0: 255 - 30 = 255 tons external load
• 1G, Agility=1: 180 - 30 = 150 tons external load
• 2G, Agility=1: 102 - 30 = 72 tons external load
• 2G, Agility=2: 90 - 30 = 60 tons external load
• 3G, Agility=2: 63 - 30 = 33 tons external load
• 3G, Agility=3: 60 - 30 = 30 tons external load
• 4G, Agility=3: 46 - 30 = 16 tons external load
• 4G, Agility=4: 45 - 30 = 15 tons external load
• 5G, Agility=5: 36 - 30 = 6 tons external load
• 6G, Agility=6: 30 - 30 = 0 tons external load

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Obviously at this point you're starting to get into some "milspec" type performance for the tech level (9-10). It's the computer model and fusion power plant combination that is causing the construction cost to start "going vertical" while marching down the tech tree.

In terms of "what a speculative tramp speculative goods merchant NEEDS" in a fighter escort (to discourage piracy attacks), some variety of the 20 ton fighter with a model/2 computer will typically suffice ... since that form factor leaves 4 tons of payload fraction that can be spent on small craft staterooms (2 single occupancy for a crew of 2, increasing radius of action endurance), or a vehicle berth (either an air/raft or a prospecting buggy).

Ditching that payload option to increase the tonnage allocated to computer+fusion power plant is what makes the model/3 @ TL=9 variant possible (the Fighter Decoy). But to fit a model/4 computer @ TL=10 requires (basically) 30 tons of hull displacement.

And it's that 20-30 ton differential that has me now questioning my decision to use increments of (divisible by) 20 tons starship hull displacements as perhaps being a case of premature optimization. So instead of looking at starship hull displacements of 280, 300, 320, 340, etc. ... which all add increments of +20 VERY CONVENIENTLY in order to reach "nice round numbers" such as 400 and 800 ... perhaps I ought to be looking at "half increments" such as 290, 310, 330, 350, etc. in order to "leave room" for a 30 ton external load docking space. This would then make it (theoretically) possible to "upgrade path" from a modest 20 ton fighter with a model/2 computer installed in it up through the 20 ton fighter with a model/3 computer all the way on up to a 30 ton fighter with a model/4 computer installed in it. That "top of the line" 30 ton fighter option would be EXPENSIVE to pursue ... but if you look at it as an investment (in both offensive AND defensive capability) you start getting into the "bonded courier" type of mission roles that require "higher than nominal security" guarantees.

So although that kind of "milspec" level of investment may not make sense for most customers of the starship classes, deliberately designing them in such a way that "buying the extra gold plating" remains a viable option that won't cause integration problems elsewhere downstream for specialist end users would seem to be a prudent choice of design parameter specifications to convey to the naval architect's office.