 |
Pocket Empires |
Mark Bridgeman
Civilian Scout/Courier
Using a 100-ton hull the scout courier is intended for exploration, survey and courier duties, with many in service throughout known space. It is used when a ship of long duration and high sensor capabilities are needed. The ship is fast and capable of operating for months without returning to a base or planet. The model described below is the one that is most often given to detached scouts or transferred over (sold) into civilian use, its powerful computer systems and sensor suite have been replaced with a civilian version, still adequate for typical detached duty, whilst interior accommodations have been altered to allow a small air/raft hanger to be installed to increase the functionality and usefulness of the ship (although there is no reason why small cargos could not be stowed there).
The vessel illustrated (on page 24 T4 starships book), shows the typical Villani design philosophy that comprises mass build logistics, functionality and Villani styling (which tends to be flamboyant when compared to their conservative culture) hence a close structured frame, lightly armoured to improve durability and life span in frontier regions in addition to slick streamlining to allow the craft to take off and land in an atmosphere. (The vessel illustrated belongs to a belter community who have attached additional survey instruments and equipment to the hull. Needless to say this equipment would have to be removed prior to atmospheric insertion or fuel skimming operations, as non-permanent equipment of this nature would simply not survive such stresses, not to mention the effects suffered due to loss of streamlining.
The craft comes equipped with fuel scoops and a high performance purifier capable of refining all of the scout's fuel within an hour, making it ideal for quick passes through a solar system, refuelling and immediately jumping out to its next destination.
Cargo is adequate, at 13 tons displacement, allowing it to make small courier runs or even indulge in the odd bit of speculative trading.
Though not as nice looking as the more Solomani influenced designs available this craft is sturdy, survivable and much loved by its crews…
Civilian Scout/Courier
Class: Scout courier Ep Output: 2.0 Tech Level: 12 Agility: 0 Size: (medium 100 Tons) Initiative: 0 Streamlining: Streamlined. AC: 12 Jump Range: None Repulsors: None Acceleration 2G Nuclear Dampers: None Fuel 2.0 Tons (Liquid Hydrogen) Meson Screens: None Duration: 4 weeks Black Globes: None Crew: 1 AR: 2 Staterooms: 4 SI: 100 Small Cabins: 0 Main Computer: Model 2 Bunks: 0 Sensor Range: Close (model 2) Couches: Comm. Range: Close (model 2) Low Berths: 0 Cargo Space: 13 Tons Cost: Mcr 43.232 (Mcr 34.856 in Quantity) Atmospheric speeds Noe= 275 kph Cruising = 825 kph Maximum = 1100 kph Other Equipment: Hanger for air/raft (5 Ton) Design Worksheet. Installed Component Tonnage MCR Ep Notes. Hull +100 6.0 ---- Close Structure Improved Armour 6.0 1.5 ---- AR=2/AC+2 Upgrade Streamlining ---- 0.5 ---- Streamlined Bridge 20.0 0.5 ---- Computer 0.2 8.0 ---- Model 2 Avionics 0.8 (1.8) ---- Model 2 Sensors 0.6 (1.2) ---- Model 2 Commo 0.4 (1.0) ---- Model 2 M-Drive 2.0 3.5 -2.0 2G Thruster Jump Drive 3.0 12.0 -2.0 Jump=2 Jump Fuel 20.0 ---- ---- 1 x Jump 2 Power Plant 3.0 9.0 +2.0 Fusion Tl-9 Fuel 4 weeks 2.0 ---- ---- Liquid Hydrogen Hardpoint ---- 0.1 ---- 1 Hardpoint Turret space 1.0 ---- ---- Empty Missile Magazine 1.0 ---- ---- Space for 40 missiles Fuel Scoops ---- 0.1 Purification Plant 6.0 0.032 ---- 22 Tons in 53 minutes 4 x Stateroom 16.0 2.0 ---- Air/Raft Hanger 5.0 ---- ---- Cargo 13.0 ---- ---- Totals 100.0 43.232 2.0 Excess Power = none
Original T4 Design: Not Credited
Design Adapted for T20, by Mark Bridgeman.
Imperial Scout/Courier
Identically the same, yet this version contains and armed triple turret, an upgraded hardened computer system (immune to radiation effects), and effective long range sensors and communications, in order to accommodate this the cargo space was reduced and the air/raft hanger removed so that its primary function as an effective courier would not be compromised. Whilst expensive for such a small craft it is nonetheless useful, having long service lives (including detached duty), and eventually sold to civilians, corporations and in some cases client governments of the Imperium to recover some of the operational costs and to part finance other projects such as the building of replacement vessels etc. This model of scout courier is the one most often used in conjunction with the Imperial Navy and other armed forces as a fleet courier and dispatch messenger.
Imperial Scout/Courier
Class: Scout courier Ep Output: 4.0 Tech Level: 12 Agility: 0 Size: (medium 100 Tons) Initiative: 0 Streamlining: Streamlined. AC: 12 Jump Range: None Repulsors: None Acceleration 2G Nuclear Dampers: None Fuel 4.0 Tons (Liquid Hydrogen) Meson Screens: None Duration: 4 weeks Black Globes: None Crew: 1-2 AR: 2 Staterooms: 4 SI: 100 Small Cabins: 0 Main Computer: Model 2 Bunks: 0 Sensor Range: Close (model 2) Couches: Comm. Range: Close (model 2) Low Berths: 0 Cargo Space: 11.8 Tons Cost: Mcr 96.082 (Mcr 76.865 in Quantity) Atmospheric speeds Noe= 275 kph Cruising = 825 kph Maximum = 1100 kph Other Equipment: None Crew Detail, 1 x bridge, 1 gunner can also be used in place of computer control of the turret if combat is essential taking crew requirements up to 2. Design Worksheet. Installed Component Tonnage MCR Ep Notes. Hull +100 6.0 ---- Close Structure Improved Armour 6.0 1.5 ---- AR=2/AC+2 Upgrade Streamlining ---- 0.5 ---- Streamlined Bridge 20.0 0.5 ---- Computer 0.4 49.6 -2.0 Model 4 fib Avionics 0.8 (1.8) ---- Model 2 Sensors 1.2 (2.4) ---- Model 4 Commo 0.8 (2.0) ---- Model 4 M-Drive 2.0 3.5 -2.0 2G Thruster Jump Drive 3.0 12.0 -2.0 Jump=2 Jump Fuel 20.0 ---- ---- 1 x Jump 2 Power Plant 6.0 18.0 +4.0 Fusion Tl-9 Fuel 4 weeks 4.0 ---- ---- Liquid Hydrogen Hardpoint ---- 0.1 ---- 1 Hardpoint Turret space ---- ---- ---- Missile racks x 3 1.0 2.25 ---- USP=2 Missile Magazine 1.0 ---- ---- 40 missiles/13 rounds Fuel Scoops ---- 0.1 Purification Plant 6.0 0.032 ---- 24 Tons in 58 minutes 4 x Stateroom 16.0 2.0 ---- Cargo 11.8 ---- ---- Totals 100.0 96.082 2.0 Excess Power = none
Design by Mark Bridgeman.
Contact the Web Emperor to request $10/year hosting for your Traveller content on this site. No ads, no banners, no pop-ups, just a great web address!
® Traveller copyright by and trademark of Far Future Enterprises. In addition, any program/article/file on this site cannot be republished or distributed without the consent of the author who contributed it.