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OTU Only: Fleet Organization

See that my main criticism was about the ships selected, more than about the organization itself...
 
The M6 limit in High Guard, along with the J6 limit, was a carry over from book 2. Here I would believe the limit was established because 6 sounded like a good number.

Many later Traveller versions (TNE, T4, GT) all had design sequences allowing M drives to be greater than M6. The dampers were always limited to 6G, so anything faster required special equipment for the crew. I've seen T4 designs (very specialized) that could manage 12G for a couple of hours. And GT missile designs in the 15G range.

Traveller 5th now also has the hop and skip drives to allow jumps further than 6 parsecs.

Compensated G's = TL-9 in TNE. (FF&S, Page 78)
 
I agree with McPerth also about the The Longbow class destroyers--especially looking at their stats they are definitely not a patrol or anti-piracy unit--rather they are and ought to be part of a StrikeRon, with long J Strike Cruisers and the Longbow makes a good escort ship for such units.

Also regarding the shaping and forming of Squadrons, Task Forces and Flotillas--the ships that form them need to have the the same Jump capacity, the same Maneuver and relatively the same agility. The Longbow works well with the SEH class light Cruiser.

Why not go with some standard DEs? Also don't pile up on the Gazelles.. look for the Lucifer or the Valor class missile Corvettes (again from CT FASA) designs. I loved the FASA ships from the 80s... they are small Escort class ships. The Gazelle with its Jump 4/5 is often better used supporting long range StrikeRons for CruRons whose is composed of J5 ships. Or for long range Escort Patrols.

And if you are doing Patrol duty, where are the T4 Patrol Cruisers?

I better stop.. when I saw your original post it kept leading me to more and more thoughts. Sorry about the number of replies.
 
Wow. LOTS of thoughts. OK, I don't have any of the FASA stuff; my MT stuff is in storage, and a right PITA to get to (long story), so I'm limited to what's online or in the CT CD-Rom, and I don't have anything bar MgT:SF past MT. So.

While I follow the thinking on unified jump capabilities, the border patrol along the Reft has to be capable of jumping out there, having a look-see, and jumping back, without refuelling, hence J-6. It also has, when things go south in a hurry, to be capable of dumping a spill of missiles on target rapidly, and then getting the wossit out of dodge to sprint back and sound the alarm. Hence the Nam Pak CSs.

The Longbows, while only J4, are heavily armed compared to others, hence the selection; as I just mentioned, I don't have access to the FASA stuff; are there recommendations from GDW pubs or online material you can suggest?

I really wanted to find some CLPs, but no joy - any ideas given the material restrictions above?
 
Why not go with some standard DEs? Also don't pile up on the Gazelles.. look for the Lucifer or the Valor class missile Corvettes (again from CT FASA) designs. I loved the FASA ships from the 80s... they are small Escort class ships. The Gazelle with its Jump 4/5 is often better used supporting long range StrikeRons for CruRons whose is composed of J5 ships. Or for long range Escort Patrols.

And if you are doing Patrol duty, where are the T4 Patrol Cruisers?

I better stop.. when I saw your original post it kept leading me to more and more thoughts. Sorry about the number of replies.
Yep. Valor is one of my favorites. I'd suggested mixing it up with not all SDBs. The same would go for Gazelles.

Redcap,

When i did MTU T20 conversions these we're the specs for the Valor. The deck plans/CT specs are on DriveThruRPG in the Adventure class FASA ships.
http://www.angelfire.com/empire2/savage/1WorldOrder/CT-Conversions-T20/Valor_MC.html
 
Ye gods. 400 tons? That's small! OK, it's a corvette, but still and all, that's small!

Trying to get Ships III running on this Linux box, but vb6 runtimes won't install properly, dammit :( Anyone know of an online ship design site that's CT/MT compatible?
 
OK, found an excell spreadsheet to do book 2 designs, cobbled together this 2kton DL...

Vigilance-class DL Light Destroyer

Using a 2000-ton hull, the Vigilance-class DL Light Destroyer is intended for Solo Patrol and border protection. It mounts Jump Drive-Z, Maneuver Drive-Z, and Power Plant-Z, giving performance of Jump-5 and 5Gs of acceleration. A 1050-ton fuel tank provides fuel for the power plant and sufficient fuel for 1 jump-5. Adjacent to the bridge is a computer Model/7.

There are 43 staterooms and 82 low berths. The ship has 20 hardpoints and 20 tons allocated for fire control. Installed on the hardpoints are 20 triple turrets, with 20 missile launchers, 20 beam lasers, and 20 sandcasters.

There are 2 ship's vehicles: Pinnace, Shuttle.
Cargo capacity is 91 tons. The hull is streamlined.

The DL Light Destroyer requires a crew of 45: 3 pilot(s), 3 navigator(s), 15 engineer(s), and 20 gunner(s). The ship carries 32 ship's troops. The ship carries 0 other crew. A command staff of 5 officers oversees the crew. The ship can carry 0 passengers and 0 low passengers.

The ship costs MCr947.6 and takes 32 months to build.

Code:
Book 2 Ship Design							
Ship Type			DL Light Destroyer
Ship Class			Vigilance		
Description of Duties and Purpose	Solo Patrol and border protection						
				Minimum	Warnings		Value		Performance	Cost (Mcr)	Tons
TL							15				
Hull Size							2000				200	
Engineering								
	Jump Drive					Z		5		125		240
	Maneuver Drive					Z		5		47		96
	Power Plant		Z			Z		5		73		192
Fuel Tankage								
	Power Plant		50			50						50
	Jump Drive		1000			1000						1000
Bridge							40				20		40
Computer				Model/ 5			7				60		5
Accommodations								
	Civilian/Military?					military				
	Staterooms		41			43				21.5		172
	Low Berths		0			82				4.1		41
Armament								
	Hardpoints					20				2	
	Triple Turrets					20				20	
	Fire Control					20				20		20
	Missile Launchers					20				15	
	Beam Lasers					20				20	
	Sandcasters					20				5	
Ship's Vehicles						Pinnace 1			40		20
							Shuttle 1				95		33
Cargo Capacity						91		2		91
Streamlined?						Streamlined			200	
Special Features							
Crew							
	Pilots			1			3			
	Navigators		1			3			
	Engineers		15			15			
	Stewards			0			2			
	Medics			0			2			
	Gunners			20			20			
	Troops			0			32			
	Other			0			0			
	Command Staff		5			5		45		
Construction Time						32 months
Totals											947.6		2000

I can supply the completed spreadsheet on request :)

If this design meets approval, it'll be stuck into the OrBat :)
 
Wow. LOTS of thoughts. OK, I don't have any of the FASA stuff; my MT stuff is in storage, and a right PITA to get to (long story), so I'm limited to what's online or in the CT CD-Rom, and I don't have anything bar MgT:SF past MT. So.

While I follow the thinking on unified jump capabilities, the border patrol along the Reft has to be capable of jumping out there, having a look-see, and jumping back, without refuelling, hence J-6. It also has, when things go south in a hurry, to be capable of dumping a spill of missiles on target rapidly, and then getting the wossit out of dodge to sprint back and sound the alarm. Hence the Nam Pak CSs.

And how will J6 help in this?

There are only a handul of planets that can be reached from the Islands (with J4-J5 ships), but in all cases they must stop at halfway and jump again (so they need fuel for 2 jumps, tanker support or refueling bases halfway).

In all the cases, this stop will be at 4-5 parsecs of your border, so the capability of your J6 ships to make a J3 and return is useless for this recon...

I can even believe that some burocrate in Capital heard "rift" and decided that it needs the highest jump ships available, but it really does not make sense, as J4-5 will really be enough (that will allow them to even cross the rift if they can jump twice, as a J6 could while not even J6 can do it in a single jump) and allow for far better combat ships...

The Longbows, while only J4, are heavily armed compared to others, hence the selection; as I just mentioned, I don't have access to the FASA stuff; are there recommendations from GDW pubs or online material you can suggest?

According the link you gave us, the Longbow is J6 and M3. No agility is given, but it says its main weapon is a missile bay.
 
Hmm. Interesting point re jump ability; hadn't considered that - thanks :D

Yeah, I just cottoned onto the missile bay thing this morning (that'll teach me to do things while tired!). Cheers for the confirmation :)
 
Right, found a ship design program that works under WINE in Ubuntu Linux (YAY!), it's called High Guard Shipyard, available from Downport.com.

I've re-hashed the Vigilance design with it, increased the hull to 1,500dt, borne in mind the comments above regarding Reft jump issues, and here's the output.

Code:
Ship: Vigilance
Class: Vigilance
Type: Pursuit Destroyer
Architect: Roger Stenning
Tech Level: 15

USP
         DP-A1467F3-240200-30003-0 MCr 1,138.323 1.5 KTons
Bat Bear             5     5   5   Crew: 81
Bat                  5     5   5   TL: 15

Cargo: 15 Fuel: 705 EP: 105 Agility: 4 Shipboard Security Detail: 2 Marines: 35 Pulse Lasers
Craft: 1 x 30T Ship's Boat
Fuel Treatment: Fuel Scoops and On Board Fuel Purification

Architects Fee: MCr 11.233   Cost in Quantity: MCr 913.658

With Drop Tanks

         DP-A1242F3-240200-30003-0 MCr 1,138.323 2.205 KTons
Bat                  5     5   5   TL: 15
Bat Bear             5     5   5   Crew: 81
Drop Tanks Cost: MCr 0.705

Comments/thoughts?
 
Right, found a ship design program that works under WINE in Ubuntu Linux (YAY!), it's called High Guard Shipyard, available from Downport.com.

I've re-hashed the Vigilance design with it, increased the hull to 1,500dt, borne in mind the comments above regarding Reft jump issues, and here's the output.

Code:
Ship: Vigilance
Class: Vigilance
Type: Pursuit Destroyer
Architect: Roger Stenning
Tech Level: 15

USP
         DP-A1467F3-240200-30003-0 MCr 1,138.323 1.5 KTons
Bat Bear             5     5   5   Crew: 81
Bat                  5     5   5   TL: 15

Cargo: 15 Fuel: 705 EP: 105 Agility: 4 Shipboard Security Detail: 2 Marines: 35 Pulse Lasers
Craft: 1 x 30T Ship's Boat
Fuel Treatment: Fuel Scoops and On Board Fuel Purification

Architects Fee: MCr 11.233   Cost in Quantity: MCr 913.658

With Drop Tanks

         DP-A1242F3-240200-30003-0 MCr 1,138.323 2.205 KTons
Bat                  5     5   5   TL: 15
Bat Bear             5     5   5   Crew: 81
Drop Tanks Cost: MCr 0.705

Comments/thoughts?

Is it really a Pursuit Destroyer? I mean is to to pursue Corsairs and enemy patrol craft or offer Escort protection to a Fleet. The name says the former but the type of weapons and arms suggest the latter. I'd up gun it a bit, allowing it to easily have critical kills on most Ships under 600tons.
 
I looked at a 50-ton missile bay, but that took most of the hardpoints, for some reason, with nothing left for close-in defence such as lasers or sandcasters. I can post a link to the ship file for HGSY, so you can see what you can do with it, it you like?
 
I looked at a 50-ton missile bay, but that took most of the hardpoints, for some reason, with nothing left for close-in defence such as lasers or sandcasters. I can post a link to the ship file for HGSY, so you can see what you can do with it, it you like?

If you are going to kill pirates/corsairs or hit enemy patrol and light scouts... why not go for the bay and forgo the sand casters, just give yourself a bit better armor. But I have found that at 1-2Ktons its hard to get J4 6G ships.

I also like to use High Guard Shipyard v1.31 and the .hgs file would.

But again, the performance and the kind of weapons are connected to the mission of the ship. And the performance says one thing but the weapons and how they are arrayed say another.
 
Cliff -

File is at: http://www.coldwarprovost.org.uk/tlg/downloads/Vigilance.hgs (remember to 'right click' and 'save as'! ;))

It was made with HGS 1.314

Tell me about the juggling act, it was hard enough to get that lot right; I had the dual mission of raider/pirate protection and Reft border patrols in mind, and for a 1.5kt bucket, that, as you so rightly said, isn't an easy fix ;)

I could go all-out and make a relatively safe patrol cutter (corvette in size), but it wouldn't have the boarding party of marines, and it'd be well light on weapons. Likewise, it most likely wouldn't have a subordinate vessel, such as a ship's boat, to use either. Either way you look at it, small warship design is an exercise in compromises :(
 
Right, think I've got it sussed. Please meet the Biathlon-Class EP Fast Corvette...

Ship: Gani Eshiirnii
Class: Biathlon
Type: Fast Corvette
Architect: Roger Stenning
Tech Level: 15

Code:
USP
         EP-5166663-030000-20002-0 MCr 419.770 500 Tons
Bat Bear             5     5   5   Crew: 19
Bat                  5     5   5   TL: 15

Cargo: 3 Emergency Low: 14 Fuel: 230 EP: 30 Agility: 4 Pulse Lasers
Fuel Treatment: Fuel Scoops and On Board Fuel Purification

Architects Fee: MCr 4.198 Cost in Quantity: MCr 335.816

With Drop Tanks

Code:
         EP-5133163-030000-20002-0 MCr 419.770 830 Tons
Bat                  5     5   5   TL: 15
Bat Bear             5     5   5   Crew: 19
Drop Tanks Cost: MCr 0.330

Detailed Description (High Guard Design)

HULL
500.000 tons standard, 7,000.000 cubic meters, Needle/Wedge Configuration

CREW
Pilot, Navigator, 5 Engineers, Medic, 5 Gunners, 4 Security, 2 Gig Crew

ENGINEERING
Jump-6, 6G Manuever, Power plant-6, 30.000 EP, Agility 4

AVIONICS
Bridge, Model/6 Computer

HARDPOINTS
5 Hardpoints

ARMAMENT
5 Triple Mixed Turrets each with: 1 Pulse Laser (Factor-2), 1 Missile Rack (Factor-2).

DEFENCES
1 Sandcaster in each Mixed Turret, organised into 5 Batteries (Factor-3)

CRAFT
None

FUEL
230 Tons Fuel (4 parsecs jump and 28 days endurance)
On Board Fuel Scoops, On Board Fuel Purification Plant (Includes Purification for Drop Tanks), 330.000 ton drop tanks

MISCELLANEOUS
12 Staterooms, 14 Emergency Low Berths, 3 Tons Cargo

USER DEFINED COMPONENTS
1 Ship's Gig (20.000 tons, Crew 2, Cost MCr 14.000)

COST
MCr 423.968 Singly (incl. Architects fees of MCr 4.198), MCr 335.816 in Quantity

CONSTRUCTION TIME
91 Weeks Singly, 73 Weeks in Quantity

Biathlon Class Fast Corvette

HULL
Hull: 0.000 Td; MCr 60.000
Armour Factor-0: 0.000 Td; MCr 0.000

ENGINEERING
M-Drive Factor-6: 85.000 Td; MCr 42.500
J-Drive Factor-6: 35.000 Td; MCr 140.000
P-Plant Factor-6: 30.000 Td; MCr 90.000; +30.000 EP

FUEL
P-Fuel: 30.000 Td; MCr 0,000
J-Fuel: 200.000 Td; MCr 0.000
Scoops: 0.000 Td; MCr 0.500
Purification: 3.000 Td; MCr 0.030
L-Hyd Drop Tanks: 0.000 Td; MCr 0.340

AVIONICS
Bridge: 20.000 Td; MCr 2.500
Computer Model/6: 7.000 Td; MCr 55.000; -5 EP

WEAPONRY
5 x Mixed Turrets: 5.000 Td; MCr 7.500

CRAFT
1 x Ship's Gig: 20.000 Td; MCr 14.000; -0.000 EP

ACCOMMODATIONS
12.0 x Staterooms: 48.000 Td; MCr 6.000
14 x Emergency Low Berths: 14.000 Td; MCr 1.400
Cargo: 3.000 Td; MCr 0.000

COMMENTS

The Biathlon-class Fast Corvette is intended for anti-piracy and border patrol missions. They are named after gold medal-winning Biathlon athletes from the Unity Games that are held every four years throughout the Imperium.

In anti-piracy missions, doctrine is to deploy them without drop tanks, in flotillas of three or four ships, so as to surround pirate vessels leaving them with no avenues for escape, the intention being to capture and put on trial those pirates they encounter. For such operations, they can carry four security troops or marines, who double as damage control parties while on board.

In border patrol operations, Biathlon class vessels are deployed singly, with their drop tanks, to allow for longer-duration patrol missions. Their general standing orders in the event of discovering threats to the Imperium, such as hostile incursions in force, are to "spot and scoot", reporting back to higher command at the earliest opportunity. For border patrol missions, the security troops are generally disembarked, with additional consumable stores brought on board to be stowed in the now vacant cabins.

The 14 Emergency Low berths are primarily for casualties, but also for prisoners that might be taken: A small ship is not the place to secure prisoners, so in the short term, it's more practical to secure them in the low berths, where they (a) will not stress available life support resources, and (2) removes the risk of them causing trouble in-voyage.

High Guard Shipyard hgs file available here: http://www.coldwarprovost.org.uk/tlg/downloads/Biathlon.hgs

If anyone's into drawing deck plans, cabin assignments and ranks of the crew are as follows:

Pilot (CO).......... ......Lt Cdr
Nav (XO)................. .Lt
Eng Ofr (2nd Ofr).....Lt
Gig Pilot..... .............Lt JG
Giv Nav............. .. .....CPO
Medic........ ..............PO3
Gun 1 .................PO3
Gun 2 .................SN
Gun 3, 4, 5.... ..........SA
Sy1............. ............PO1(Sy) or Cpl (E4)
Sy2................... ......SN(Sy) or LCpl (E3)
Sy 3, 4........ ............SA(Sy) or PFC (E2)


Cabin 1.....CO
Cabin 2.....XO
Cabin 3.....Eng Off (2nd Ofr)
Cabin 4.....Gig Pilot
Cabin 5.....Gig Nav
Cabin 6.....Medic & Gun 1
Cabin 7.....Eng 1 & 2
Cabin 8.....Eng 3 & 4
Cabin 9.....Gun 2 & 3
Cabin 10....Gun 4 & 5
Cabin 11....Sy1 & 2
Cabin 12....Sy3 & 4
 
Last edited:
OK, I've been told that the links to the HGS files for Vigilance & Biathlon are iffy, at best. I've therefore linked to them via my traveller pages, see the land grab link in the sig strip below. They've been archived in zip format, so should work. If you have problems with the files, please let me know.
 
OK, I've been told that the links to the HGS files for Vigilance & Biathlon are iffy, at best. I've therefore linked to them via my traveller pages, see the land grab link in the sig strip below. They've been archived in zip format, so should work. If you have problems with the files, please let me know.

Roger, I went to your Land Grab but where exactly is your archive or the place to download the zipped files.. as I couldn't find them. Perhaps I looked in the wrong places. Thanks.
 
Flag Squadron (Home Base: Reft 2738 Cyril)
• 1 Grendal Class BB Battleship
• 1 Metlay Class EA Fleet Escort
• 3 Reckless Errand Class EL Close Escorts
• 1 Dromedary Class AZA Tanker/Replenishment Ship

Doing something similar and after reading the various threads my idea of a standard Batron settled on

1 x battleship
1 x escort carrier (80 fighters)
3 x fleet escorts
1 x corvette/courier
2 x auxiliaries (1 tanker, 1 other)

the escort carrier's fighters are the local recon
the fleet escorts are "just in case" anti-swarm protection
the corvette/courier is a courier plus any other odd jobs like admiral making courtesy visits on a planet

pulling directly from supplement 9 fighting ships
- escort carrier is the light carrier (29k)
- fleet escorts are either the destroyers (3k) or fleet escorts (5k)
 
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