Grav-Hauler cargo transport (images and plan)

[Beerfume]

More Traveller fun, posted to my blog as part of my A-Z blog challenge: G is for Grav-Hauler.

Are you confident enough in your manhood to pilot the smallest ship in the galaxy?

 

[kilemall]

I'd standardize on 5-ton and 10-ton containers, just to mesh with the CT cargo types.

I wouldn't expect this doing interface work, but certainly perfect for the local truck, whether starport or highport.

 

[Beerfume]

I've always thought 3m x 3m x 6m (4 tons) was the standard (or 12m if a long container), but I don't remember where I saw that published. I don't think I've ever seen 5 and 10 ton containers in any publication, but we might be looking at different resources.

 

[aramis]

I've always thought 3m x 3m x 6m (4 tons) was the standard (or 12m if a long container), but I don't remember where I saw that published. I don't think I've ever seen 5 and 10 ton containers in any publication, but we might be looking at different resources.

The only published plans for standard containers I've seen are in the deckplans for the Subsidized Merchant. Which is the 3x3x6 container at 4 Td. Mention is made of 1 and 2 Td containers with the same face elsewhere.

 

[kilemall]

I've always thought 3m x 3m x 6m (4 tons) was the standard (or 12m if a long container), but I don't remember where I saw that published. I don't think I've ever seen 5 and 10 ton containers in any publication, but we might be looking at different resources.

Absolutely no publication or claim of a game standard, other then the aforementioned trade table Major Minor lot shipments, and 5 dton/10 dton works out roughly to our existing 20'/45' container sizes.

Just handier I figure to think in those terms for those rules. For other versions that don't use those tables, obviously not a 'thing'.

 

[Beerfume]

Sorry - I guess I misunderstood you. You're right, it would make sense for the standard container size to match the standard cargo allotments. Geez, why don't these games designers work out everything before publishing?

 

[kilemall]

Sorry - I guess I misunderstood you. You're right, it would make sense for the standard container size to match the standard cargo allotments. Geez, why don't these games designers work out everything before publishing?

Containerized shipping did exist in 1977, but it wasn't the huge standard and game changer it is today.

 

[boomslang]

Sorry - I guess I misunderstood you. You're right, it would make sense for the standard container size to match the standard cargo allotments.

FWIW, I adopted some standardized shipping container dimensions IMTU a while back to address this while still remaining backward-compatible with the Type R deckplans.

standardized Shipping Boxes
   1dt:  1.5m by 3m by 3m
   5dt:  7.5m by 3m by 3m
  10dt:  7.5m by 6m by 3m
   
large cargo holds (60dt+) often fit 6m (double-height) ceilings

This scheme allows a combination of smaller-sized Box containers to fit within the dimension of larger ones -- including the less-useful 4dt one described with the Type R, which now fits into the footprint of a 5dt "Box" with room for a 1dt unit on the end.

A ship's hold will then typically be configured to accommodate the largest possible number of the 10dt Box containers, plus a single 5dt one and up to four 1dt ones if necessary, up to its full capacity. Such a hold can then fit any number and combination of component containers likely to be generated from the Cargo Tables (with a 6dt Incidental Cargo being packed in six 1dt Boxes, presumably) up to its listed displacement limit.

And all of them will fit through a 6m by 6m cargo hatch, if your loadmaster is careful.

 

[atpollard]

Actually, 5 and 10 dTon cargo lots in 4dTon containers makes sense. Few things fit so perfectly and have zero wasteage. So a 10 dTon cargo of machine parts in 3 x 4 dTon containers is probably a lot closer to the real world than each container holding the same volume of consumer electronics as if it had been carefully filled with tiny ball bearings.