Fighter Cockpits

[RabidVargr]

Do I have to devote 4 tons of my fighter to a "bridge" even though that's like 40% of this things mass? That's how it seems to read in the book, but it seems a bit off to have the bridge controls (cockpit) nearly outweigh the engines/powerplant.

RV

 

[themink]

The cockpit can seat 2! It also include lifesupport etc for 4 weeks (ish) and is really designed for a small starship.

If you picture carriers as something that launches lots of small "ships" which then go off to do missions, then this seems very fair.

If you picture fighters as something with an endurance measured in hours rather than weeks, you may want to adjust the rules. For this sort of "fighter" I would only assign 2 tons for the bridge. However I would limit them to a 6 hour "strike range".

If you do this, remember to drop the fusion plants fuel requirement for 4 weeks to practically nothing.

See my earlier post about the "minimum" size for a fighter - they are compfortably down at 7 tons - over half of this is bridge space.

It is imnportant to remember that the standard small fighter has the same combat capability, sensors etc as a scout ship. If it is dual seat, it is probably as dangerous!

 

[elofgren]

My fighters usually have the full bridge, and a small craft cabin to boot, usually because I have an extra ton or two to spare, and I like to increase survivability and lower crew fatigue.

My carriers, if going into combat, deploy their fighters very early, so that they don't have to launch them one at a time as the shooting starts. They're usually manned by a head pilot, and a releif pilot/gunner, who takes shifts with the head pilot until combat.

And yes, a squadron of these does indeed put the hurt on.

 

[RabidVargr]

Rgr that, thanks much for the feedback guys!

RV