T5 Smallcraft

[robject]

At least for the moment, smallcraft design has merged with starship design. Here are some sample smallcraft using the draft system.

Lifeboat

Volume: 8.5 tons
Crew: 2
Passengers: 12 (dispatch)
Performance: 1G (orbit to 100D), 2G (aerodynamic)
Life support: 2 person-weeks
Cargo: 1t

The lifeboat is a small ship's boat, used for ferrying passengers and small cargo lots to and from orbit.

Variants: With four tons of configurable space, the craft can be outfitted to shuttle up to 24 passengers, or carry 4.5 tons of cargo, or support two crewmembers for 8 or 9 weeks. Drive upgrades can boost performance, and cabin space can be sacrificed to make room for more drive space. A gunned version has fixed lasers, and missiles on the wings.

Promo: For safety, cost, and durability, nothing beats a gravitic drive (G-drive). These babies are sealed units, complete with drive and fusion+. They're cheaper than M-drives, don't require operational maintenance or access points, and their fuel supply lasts for a year. If you've got an orbital transfer vehicle, or surface-to-orbit craft, or a slow interplanetary liner, then the G-drive is the drive for you.

 

[robject]

Reconnaissance Craft

The recon craft is a very small craft with some pep, used for various planetary reconnaissance ops.

Variants: A 2.5-ton version exists, which disposes of one square of cabin space to boost performance. 'Stretched' versions also exist which boost performance higher.

 

[far-trader]

Hi robject, just curious. These ship design "squares" look like they represent a full 1/2 ton (for most areas) but they seem to imply that the shape is actually cylindrical in which case they wouldn't be. So what's the actual case? If you can explain it in a few words please.

 

[Jeffr0]

This is looking good.

The lack of this in T4 is a significant irritation.

I see that the "SSD" is incorporated into the design now: also very nice. The deckplan is now a damage record; this one-ups Star Fleet Battle's more abstract approach. This has the potential for a well crafted design with features lacking in other editions.

 

[Jeffr0]

Originally posted by robject:
Promo: For safety, cost, and durability, nothing beats a gravitic drive (G-drive). These babies are sealed units, complete with drive and fusion+. They're cheaper than M-drives, don't require operational maintenance or access points, and their fuel supply lasts for a year. If you've got an orbital transfer vehicle, or surface-to-orbit craft, or a slow interplanetary liner, then the G-drive is the drive for you.

robject,

How do you say "Uncle Albert" in Vilani?

 

[robject]

Originally posted by far-trader:
Hi robject, just curious. These ship design "squares" look like they represent a full 1/2 ton (for most areas) but they seem to imply that the shape is actually cylindrical in which case they wouldn't be. So what's the actual case? If you can explain it in a few words please.

Are you saying I'm wordy?

From Marc's original smallcraft draft:

Hidden Space: Non-Deck Space (NDS) is volume or tonnage placed in the overhead or the bilges. It exists in some Tube Hulls (e.g. 4.5m and 6.0m diameter) because the square grid deck plan cannot accurately reflect curved spaced above or below the deck levels.

 

[robject]

Originally posted by Jeffr0:
robject,

How do you say "Uncle Albert" in Vilani?

Daluu Aalubek, maybe. Makes me think of Admiral Halsey...

 

[robject]

Slow Freighter

The Slow Freighter is a nonatmospheric craft made to ship vacuum-safe cargo containers insystem. Since this low-TL craft uses G-drives, effective acceleration ends at 100D from the source world, and doesn't pick up again until 100D from the target world. Thus, acceleration and deceleration is limited to 200 diameters of the smaller of the two worlds.

Generous, configurable living space is provided, due to the long periods of time needed to complete a transit. Additionally, a small multipurpose craft is provided for orbit-to-surface operations, such as crew transfer or emergency separation.

Long Transit Times Example: running from Earth to Mars, the ship can accelerate at 1.4G for 200 x Mars' diameter, or 1,300,000 km, after which time the ship will be cruising at 0.5 AU per week.

Variants: A more costly version of this vessel uses one or more M-drives to push the loaded craft at about 1G. These drives are usually powered by one or more Fusion+ plants, to reduce maintenance requirements. The M-drives still require a dedicated engineer in addition to the usual crew.

A cheaper version of this vessel has vastly reduced drive capability, and relies on getting a boost from a tug at the sourceworld and being 'caught' by a receiving tug at the target world.

 

[Jeffr0]

Are the squares the same as the ones in Snapshot?

 

[robject]

I think so: each square is 1/2 ton.

 

[robject]

Fast Boat

The Fast Boat is modeled after the CT Fast Boat, a 30-ton surface-to-orbit craft.

Promo: When performance matters, you need a MF+combo drive. A combination Maneuver Drive plus Fusion+ powerplant, not only is it more than ten times as powerful by volume as the G-drives, its range extends to 1000 planetary diameters. These drives are worth the expense and the dedicated drive technician. And since they can use Fusion+ power, you still have a yearly refuelling schedule.

 

[atpollard]

Originally posted by robject:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Jeffr0:
How do you say "Uncle Albert" in Vilani?

Daluu Aalubek, maybe. Makes me think of Admiral Halsey... </font>[/QUOTE]Then YOU are not a member of the AADA, where everyone knows that "Uncle Al, the Auto Duelist's Pal" wrote the Car Wars guns and ammo bible.

 

[atpollard]

Originally posted by robject:
And since they can use Fusion+ power, you still have a yearly refuelling schedule.

Can T5 still be called Traveller if you are not arguing about the fuel consumption of the Fusion power plant, its efficiency/energy output and what the extra hydrogen is REALLY used for?

I see some things that have surely stired my curiosity. Any word on DEEP SPACE propulsion? (like what happens past 1000 diameters).

 

[robject]

Originally posted by atpollard:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by robject:
And since they can use Fusion+ power, you still have a yearly refuelling schedule.

Can T5 still be called Traveller if you are not arguing about the fuel consumption of the Fusion power plant, its efficiency/energy output and what the extra hydrogen is REALLY used for?

I see some things that have surely stired my curiosity. Any word on DEEP SPACE propulsion? (like what happens past 1000 diameters). </font>[/QUOTE]Sure. I'll start a new thread.

 

[Jamus]

This looks really neat. I must admit my interest is piqued<sp>

 

[robject]

Small Orbital Station

This craft is made entirely with TL7 materials: primitive weapons, primitive hull material, and a brittle solar collector for power. Designed as a threat to unauthorized vessels entering its firing range. It has no grav plates; the interior is a zero-G environment. A hatch in each weapon module provides access to the outside of the craft, and has standard docking fittings for service craft (as shown).

Variants: Higher-tech variations of the interdiction station include lifters or G-drives, grav plates, more powerful weapons, and less cramped conditions. These stations are usually low-tech solutions; advanced stations tend to be more general-purpose (like naval bases or civilian habitats), while interdiction becomes the task of mobile craft (i.e. system defense boats).

 

[robject]

Patrol Module

This is one possible configuration for a cutter module. It has integral Fusion+ to power two turrets, and life support to sustain the crew for several weeks. There's even room for a tiny interdiction G-craft (whose guns must actually be missile tubes; its drives cannot put out enough surplus energy to power lasers).

Better space savings would be realized if the craft were in a fitted slip or cradle; setting it in a hangar permits easy maintenance and repair.

 

[robject]

Emergency Transport Vehicle

This craft was inspired by the emergency rescue vehicle from the Firefly espisode "Ariel". The crew rebuild one of these critters in order to get into a core world hospital, posing as hospital staff.