Having five versions of the list of ship mission / type codes inflicted on me over various version of Traveller and fandom I'd like to supply a definition to work from and a worked example.
From my perspective the Mission / Type code determines the design of the ship: Size, shape, internal components like armor, weapons, crew, cargo, sensor setup, drive potential and so on. The lengthy and varied set of modifier codes are meant to more accurately describe the details of the ship design.
Also the categories are relative to the architects TL, budget, and available resources. So for one world their cutting edge Dreadnought would barely be a match for another world's escorts.
From my perspective the Mission / Type code determines the design of the ship: Size, shape, internal components like armor, weapons, crew, cargo, sensor setup, drive potential and so on. The lengthy and varied set of modifier codes are meant to more accurately describe the details of the ship design.
Also the categories are relative to the architects TL, budget, and available resources. So for one world their cutting edge Dreadnought would barely be a match for another world's escorts.
Code | Classification | Notes |
---|---|---|
A | Merchants | General merchants with combined cargo and passengers. Couriers, Packets, unscheduled free traders, Military Auxiliary and transport craft |
B | Battleship | Main Naval Combatants, Heavy armor and weapons (spinal mounts), reasonable mobility, and designed for fleet operations: Dreadnoughts, Ship of the Line. Battle Riders, Destroyers |
C | Cruiser | Secondary Naval Combatant. Prefers mobility over weapons/armor with long duration independent action. Ships designed to operate behind enemy lines: Cruiser, privateers, Marauders, Raiders |
D | Defender | Secondary Naval Combatant, Prefers weapons/armor and defenses over mobility. Orbital fortresses, System Defense craft, Convoy protection, Monitors |
E | Auxiliaries | Catchall for armed ships not in the other categories: patrol and picket ships, customs enforcement, mine layers, ortillery and planetary assault ships, Gunships, fighters |
G | General Commercial | A catchall category for commercial/non-military ships not covered by other codes. Orbital ports, Far Ports, Mobile Repair bases, Mobile Docks, Tugs, Tenders, Agricultural, Colony ships, orbital prisons |
H | Hospital | Medial ships, search and rescue vessels, recovery ships |
J | Resource Extraction | Ships to gather resources, gas giant skimmers, mining ships, prospectors, mobile refinery, salvage, Factory ships |
L | Science | Lab and science research vessels. Sensor platforms, Lab ship, Beagle |
M | Liners | Passenger carriers, Troop transports, Entertainment carriers, Combat transports |
R | Freighter | Cargo/freight carriers, bulk cargo, tankers, Container carriers. Usually on scheduled routes. Military resupply and ordinance carriers |
S | Scout | Long duration scouting and exploration. Military spy ships |
V | Carriers | Ships designed to carry other ships: Battle rider carriers, Fighter carriers, LASH merchant ships |
Y | Private | Catchall category for any private ships, safari ships, charter vessels |
Z | Special | Unclassified ships, experimental designs |
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