[Shipyard] List of Imperial and Solomani Starships

[robject]

Here's a list of mostly canonical small (i.e. Adventure-Class) starships for Traveller. Anybody got any favorites I missed? Which ones are in the T5 Core book that I've missed?

Draft Versions

Imperial - A-BS11 Free Trader
Imperial - A2-BS12 Far Trader [pendragonman]
Imperial - E-DU55 Gazelle
Imperial - K-BA12 Safari Ship
Imperial - L-DC12 Lab Ship
Imperial - M-FC13 Subsidized Liner
Imperial - M2-HS24 Brilliance-class Liner
Imperial - S-AL22 Murphy-class Scout
Imperial - Y-EU42 Yacht
Imperial - X-AC04 Xboat
Imperial - XQ-AU06 Disguised Express Courier [copperhamster]

Solomani - SX-BS34 Fleet Courier [murdoc]


Up For Grabs

Imperial - A-AL82 Blockade Runner
Imperial - A2-BS12 Starhome
Imperial - A2-8S23 Speculative/Spice Trader
Imperial - C-DA43 Patrol Cruiser
Imperial - C-HU33 Mercenary Cruiser
Imperial - E-KU64 Chrysanthemum
Imperial - E-KU64 Fer-de-lance
Imperial - F-KS13 Oberlindes Freighter
Imperial - F-Q2U14 Tukera Freighter
Imperial - F-TS13 Dakaar
Imperial - G-DU44 Route Protector
Imperial - G-VS33 Sydkai-class Frigate
Imperial - J-AL22 Prospector
Imperial - K-AS22 Light Excursion Ship
Imperial - M2-KS14 Long Liner
Imperial - P-CS63 Smuggler
Imperial - P-DU32 Corsair
Imperial - R-DA11 Subsidized Merchant
Imperial - R-EU12 Maru Merchant
Imperial - R-TU43 Leviathan
Imperial - S-AA22 Serpent
Imperial - S-AA82 Racing Scout
Imperial - S2-DB23 Donosev
Imperial - Imperiallines Frontier Transports (TI/TJ)
Imperial - X-KU11 Xboat Tender
Imperial - Y-BU81 Racing Yacht
Imperial - Y-FS13 Luxury Cabin Cruiser

RCES - G-FB35 Aurora Clipper


Potentially helpful writeups: (more writeups on page 3)


Cutpurse-class Smuggler. Synopsis. Built from a custom 100-ton lift-body hull, the Cutpurse is a “trader”, or more correctly, a blockade runner/smuggler ship, built for those who defy world or corporate regulations in transporting small, highly valuable cargos. It is fitted with the Gayle Field type V1 jump drive, the Degani D Number 18 maneuver drive, and the Deltic Mk8868-D power plant, giving performance of Jump-2 (but read further) and 8G acceleration. Fuel tankage of 26 tons supports 2 weeks of operations and one jump-1. On the bridge is a computer Model/5, with a semi-organic brain which can handle most shipboard functions when required. The sensor suite includes a jammer, and the hull is stealth coated to prevent detection. It can carry 6 tons of cargo and has an extra stateroom. The ship carries one smallcraft: a 10t fast boat, which itself has a 4.5 ton cargo hold.

Combat. The ship is not equipped with combat in mind; nevertheless, a triple beam laser turret is installed.

Operations. The blockade runner is deployed from a mothership hiding in the outsystem, or hidden in the atmosphere of a gas giant, or standing off one parsec away, perhaps in deep space. It sets a coasting course if stealth is needed, or else rockets in at high speed and brakes all the way down. After landing, it transfers cargo, fills its tanks, then roars out at full speed, outrunning missiles or pursuit craft, and jumps to rendezvous back with the mothership.

Needless to say, it requires a highly skilled crew. Plus, it is technically low on fuel; if a Jump-2 were attempted, the crew is likely to die in transit when the ship's fuel runs out and the jump field catastrophically fails. So, this is a government- or corporate-only specialized ship, when need dictates something that can deliver or gather up someone or something, through a blockade if it has to, and in a hurry. In one highly unusual situation, the crew survived a 2-parsec jump by carrying extra fuel in the cargo hold; however, this is not a recommended practice.


Broadsword-class Mercenary Cruiser. Used extensively in the outer areas of the Imperium, the Broadsword class mercenary cruiser is designed to perform light military functions over extended periods of time and with great coverage of distance. The cruiser design was specifically commissioned by the Imperium, and examples are used by independent military organizations operating with Imperial approval. In effect, mercenary organizations serve to enforce a basic policy of peace and order in areas where the lmperium itself does not have the resources.

Using an 800-ton hull, the mercenary cruiser is built to carry small troop units for corporate or government operations. It is equipped with the Glisten Engines 3xm jump drive, the ISMM Model M35 maneuver drive, and the LSP Power M power plant, giving performance of Jump-3 and 3G acceleration. On the bridge is a computer Model/5. The ship carries 2 modular cutters, 2 spare modules, and one air/raft. The hull is unstreamlined.

Built in Regina's orbit, the Javelin was built on contract for Sir Matiin's Royal Dragoons, an elite platoon of soldiers cross-trained in infantry and vehicle combat. Fuel tankage of 272 tons supports the power plant for up to 3 weeks and provides fuel for one jump-3. It has fuel scoops and a purification plant. There are 28 staterooms, and no low berths. The ship has eight hardpoints: 3 triple laser turrets, 1 particle accelerator barbette, 3 triple missile turrets, and one salvo rack bay is installed. The two spare cutter modules are vehicle modules, each with 3 Torgee-1 Grav Tanks (T5 VehicleMaker, chapter 16, p.22). Cargo capacity is 22 tons.

The mercenary cruiser requires a crew of eight: commanding officer, pilot, astrogator, four engineers, and medic. Additionally, there are 2 staterooms allocated for up to 4 gunners, and another stateroom for the cutter pilots. Troops are carried in the 18 Troop-designated staterooms.


Chrysanthemum-class Fleet Escort. The Chrysanthemum class escort is intended for fleet and squadron escort duties. The design has served the Imperial Navy for over a century. Chrysanthemums are ubiquitous, being encountered with larger fleet elements as well as working alone.

The 1,000-ton hull is fitted with the LSP V/4 Starpoint jump drive, the LSP Impulse Z6 maneuver drive, and the Zf-6 Cold Sun power plant, giving performance of Jump-4 and 6G acceleration. Fuel tankage of 513 tons supports one Jump-4 and up to 3 weeks' normal operations. The ship is unstreamlined.

The Chrysanthemum is well-armored and features a military armament mix: a fusion barbette, two particle accelerator barbettes, two quad turret missile launchers, three quad turret sandcasters, one quad turret commcaster and one quad turret datacaster.

The ship requires a crew of 14: two astrogators, three pilots (one for the cutter), three engineers, five gunners, and one medic. Nine additional staterooms are reserved for up to 18 troops. There are 51 tons of cargo space (sometimes reallocated to support a full platoon of troops).

Duties include:
Squadron escort
Orbital patrol
Police operations
Garrison duty
Limited strike missions


Fer-de-lance Convoy Escort. During the height of the Third Frontier War (979 to 986), high losses in civilian shipping and among transport vessels impressed into Imperial service resulted in the issuance of an Admiralty specification for a mid-sized escort vessel expressly for close protection of unarmed transport craft. The design which was finally accepted was the Fer-de-lance class destroyer escort.

Performance characteristics for this class make it capable of staying with most Imperial fleets (jump-4, 6-G acceleration), and thus this type of vessel can be found escorting most squadrons as well as more typical convoys.

Duties include:

Convoy escort
Squadron escort
Orbital patrol
Blockade runner


Susa-class Freighter [Oberlindes]. Using the 1000-ton hull, the Susa is a freight transport vessel typical of the ships operated by Oberlindes lines. It is equipped with the Systems Inc. L-392Q jump drive, the Slipstream Qk.33 maneuver drive, and the Qf-3 Cold Sun power plant, and is capable of Jump-3 and 3G acceleration. Fuel tankage of 270 tons supports 2 weeks of operations and one jump-3. On the bridge is a computer Model/4.

There are 20 staterooms and 10 low berths. 5 of the 6 triple turrets are deployable to serve as emergency lifepods. There is one ship's vehicle: an air/raft. Cargo capacity is 434 tons. The hull is streamlined, and has fins to improve its performance in atmosphere.


Type AT Freighter [Tukera]. Freighter (type AT): Using a 3000-ton hull, the Tukera freighter is a main-route cargo vessel employed in freight transport activities throughout the Imperium. It mounts jump drive Z+N2, maneuver drive M, and power plant Z+N2, giving performance of jump-4 and 1 G acceleration. Fuel tankage for 1150 tons supports the power plant and one jump-4. Adjacent to the bridge is a Model/5 computer.

There are 25 staterooms and 5 emergency low berihs. The ship has 10 hardpoints and 10 tons allocated to fire control. Only two triple turrets are generally installed; each carries a heterogeneous mix of one beam laser, one missile rack, and one sandcaster. There is one ship's vehicle: a 95-ton shuttle. Cargo capacity for the freighter is 1170 tons; the shuttle can be carried with its 70 ton cargo bay filled as well. The hull is not streamlined.

The Tukera freighter requires a crew of 13: captain/pilot, astrogator, 6 engineers, medic, steward, shuttle pilot, and 2 gunners. It can carry up to 8 high passengers and 2 middle passengers.

The Tukera freighter is a standard Tukera transport ship design, and provides freight-handling service along the many Tukera routes within the Imperium. Tukera's freighters sport a variety of names, often vaguely reminiscent of advertising slogans: Golden Harvest, Safety First, or Star Lines.

 

[Murdoc]

What, no Solomani? What about my beloved Fleet Courier?

 

[madmike]

I would love to see the T5 stats for the A2 far Trader

Are you intending to make these available at some point because you have done some fantastic work there.

 

[SpaceBadger]

Wow, that is one big pile of ships! Are these slated for book release? Lots of Aslan ships - does that mean an Aslan book is coming?

Also, how developed are these? T5 stats only, or deckplans and descriptions, too?

 

[robject]

@Badger: stats and a few paragraphs of description, usually line art from CT, and stats for carried smallcraft. Few or no deckplans that I know of, but if any of these were published, deckplans would be required.

@Badger: do you want another Aslan book?

@Madmike: yeah, I totally want to do these. With deckplans. But I'm not too greedy - I know two other guys who design T5 ships, maybe better than I.

@Murdoc: AHA! Thanks Murdoc! They completely slipped my mind. Got to add those to the list... and the Hiver and K'Kree ships, as well (I think I know someone who wanted to do those).

@Badger, again: The descriptions are usually basic, although some have extended entries. My general intention is to have a template that gives options such as historical notes, sample production runs, and of course potential plot hooks.

The Dhaztuen-class Packet has a typical example of a basic description:

Type: Vargr Enhanced Merchant-12
Cost: MCr 245

Using a 600-ton hull, the Dhaztuen is a Vargr merchant ship, intended to carry passengers and some freight to ports of convenience. It is equipped with the Knudhue Mark 3 jump drive, the Sizful 111m maneuver drive, and the Jf-3 Sefue power plant, giving performance of Jump-3 and 1G acceleration. Fuel tankage of 186 tons supports 2 weeks of operations and one jump-3. On the bridge is a computer Model/5.

There are 36 staterooms and 10 low berths. The ship has six single turrets: two single beam lasers, two single missile racks, and two single sandcasters. There is one ship's vehicle: a 95-ton interplanetary cargo shuttle. Cargo capacity is 54 tons (supplemented by 60 tons capacity in the shuttle, which generally travels loaded). The ship is unstreamlined.

The Vargr merchant ship requires a crew of nine: pilot, astrogator, three engineers, medic, three stewards, and three gunners. The ship can carry 24 high or middle passengers and 10 low passengers. The pilot and a steward/gunner crew the shuttle. The shuttle can carry 40 passengers and 60 tons of cargo.

 

[curmudgeon]

Am I right in assuming that the Imp - C-HU33 Mercenary Cruiser is the Broadsword class of ships? If so, cool! If not, then I would love to see that one. With each version of Traveller it is the one I try and create right after I create the Scout ship.

 

[robject]

Am I right in assuming that the Imp - C-HU33 Mercenary Cruiser is the Broadsword class of ships? If so, cool! If not, then I would love to see that one. With each version of Traveller it is the one I try and create right after I create the Scout ship.

Yup, it's the Broadsword.

It seems that you're implicitly following the main point of small-ship design in Traveller: variety. And exercising that variety is one of the "smoke tests" of a Traveller ship design system.

 

[SpaceBadger]

@Badger: do you want another Aslan book?

Hmm. No, I guess not. Or rather, there are lots of other things I'd like to see first. I already have the original JTAS Contact article, plus the CT Aliens: Aslan module, plus the GT book that covers Aslan. But if there were to be a new Ships book, I'd be happy to see your Aslan examples included.

@Badger: stats and a few paragraphs of description, usually line art from CT, and stats for carried smallcraft. Few or no deckplans that I know of, but if any of these were published, deckplans would be required.

@Badger, again: The descriptions are usually basic, although some have extended entries. My general intention is to have a template that gives options such as historical notes, sample production runs, and of course potential plot hooks.

The Dhaztuen-class Packet has a typical example of a basic description:

Nice description, good "color" with the types of drives and how the ship usually operates. As you note, it would be good to have both exterior views and deckplans.

I guess I'm a little confused; what is the intended purpose of your list of ships in the OP? I just notice that the thread title says "Outdated". Are you planning to publish these somewhere? I love ships and am not terribly persnickety about exact fit w rule changes and min-maxing, so would be very happy to see your descriptions and whatever else you want to share on this whole big pile of ships!

[Edit: I don't yet have any version of T5. Wasn't around for the beta or Kickstarter, so I'm waiting until Marc gets all of the Kickstarter stuff sent out, then will probably order T5 as PDF when available in online store.]

 

[pendragonman]

I guess I'm a little confused; what is the intended purpose of your list of ships in the OP? I just notice that the thread title says "Outdated". Are you planning to publish these somewhere?

At least perhaps post here as a consolidated pdf of these builds?

 

[robject]

I guess I'm a little confused; what is the intended purpose of your list of ships in the OP? I just notice that the thread title says "Outdated".

I'm looking for interest, I think. Those ships are all "2009 Edition" designs -- the ship design system was quite young at that time, and I decided to put it through its paces and figure out what I liked and didn't like. And provide feedback.

The result: a Pile of Non-Useful, Old, Invalid Designs. I can't use them as-is. Even the ship sheet has changed. It's sad.

But. But, I SO want to see these ships.

 

[SpaceBadger]

I'm looking for interest, I think. Those ships are all "2009 Edition" designs -- the ship design system was quite young at that time, and I decided to put it through its paces and figure out what I liked and didn't like. And provide feedback.

The result: a Pile of Non-Useful, Old, Invalid Designs. I can't use them as-is. Even the ship sheet has changed. It's sad.

But. But, I SO want to see these ships.

I'm certainly interested. As I said, I'm not a stickler for rules compliance in ship designs, and the kind of detail you showed in your example is just the thing needed for introducing a ship that maybe wasn't planned for an adventure but shows up as an encounter or unplanned side-mission. It would be a great shame for all of your work on these to be left on the shelf, even if not compliant w current T5 rules.

 

[madmike]

Completely agree. If they need reworking, that can be done at the referee's discretion

 

[DaddyDragon]

I may have missed it in the list, since the codes don't yet come to straight to mind without referencing the book, but is/are the Type TI/TJ Imperiallines Frontier Transports in that list?

 

[robject]

I may have missed it in the list, since the codes don't yet come to straight to mind without referencing the book, but is/are the Type TI/TJ Imperiallines Frontier Transports in that list?

They're not. I don't know if the Tukera Type AT is there, either, though I intended for it to be.

Also missing is the Brilliance-class liner, and the Sydkai-class cruiser.

A certain percentage of these ships are relatively straightforward Traders, with a minim of armor and open hardpoints. They are certainly the low-hanging fruit of the bunch.

However, there are many ships which are just interesting and classic. The Broadsword, the Leviathan, the Shivva. And they are just screaming to be done. In a short while I'll be starting on some of these.

 

[robject]

Attached is a slightly outdated ship design sheet for the Beowulf Free Trader. It is not T5 compliant in a couple of areas (the QSP is incorrect, and the prices for bridge controls are not included); in other respects it is current.

To make the document complete, I would attach some line art with the description, and add deckplans on a subsequent page.

 

[Dragoner]

How is your ship builder going, Rob? Plenty of these could be cranked out using the canonical deck plans, imo.

 

[robject]

I actually started tinkering with it yesterday, after about six months of rest. It's close. And you're right. I designed a "90% correct" Beowulf in a minute, not including tweaks to the design and testing bugfixes.

If I could design 10 ships an hour, and spent one hour a day designing ships, I could be done in a couple weeks.

 

[robject]

Original post edited. Since my ship design program generates T5-canonical designs, I think the conversion can be said to be underway.

 

[pendragonman]

Far Trader---Pretty Darn Close!

A-2 BS12 Shady Lady for your review, Lord Eaglestone

I used CT Traders and Gunboats for comparison. Thoughts?

J-2, 1 G. 2 crew staterooms w/ shared fresher, 1 Owner's suite, crew lounge

7 Passenger staterooms, 1 common and one shared fresher, passenger lounge, clinic, 4 low births.

3 air locks, 2 cargo locks, 1 mail vault, 46 tons cargo. Air raft with vehicle lock.

Comfort 0, Passenger demand -2

 

[robject]

I see at least two serious display bugs in my PDF generator.

Post the text description, please; it's easier to survey in any browser and doesn't require a PDF viewer. And I won't have to look at my program bugs