Refitted X-Boats - VW Beetles in Traveller

[Patron Zero]

I've always had a liking for refitting stock design starships, those that have been decommissioned-mothballed after serving in naval or scout fleets or other services.

In particular the X-boat has shown the most potential for such treatment, given as is it's only a long-legged jump-4/maneuver-0 craft in it's factory delivered form, definitely such is not an impossible challenge to overcome.

The most expedient and cost-efficient solution to the maneuver-0 issue is mating 100 ton annular 'wing' service section to the existing hull, this 'wing' structure to contain the necessary m-drives and additional fuel tankage and other support systems in a fully streamlined package complete with integral fuel scoops.

A few changes made to the former X-boat itself to be reborn as a complete starship are a given, the most obvious is the lack of hardpoints which should be an easy enough task in itself to correct, more involved work would be the addition of deployable landing 'struts' and reallocating the space left from the now-vacant data banks of decks 3 and 4 to other needs.

Mind addition of said service section reduces the newly configured vessel to a jump-2 capacity.

Not a bad compromise in performance since the craft now can refuel by means of fuel-skimming gas giants or dipping into the oceans of water worlds.


The above all said, the newly packaged former X-boat could operate in may different capacities, personal yacht, safari ship, packet courier, etc. Applications generally limited to those of a typical starship of 200 tons and always exceptions to said 'rule' are possible.

 

[HG_B]

Interesting possibility. However, I think it would be cheaper to just get an old Type S and rearrange the inside.

 

[Patron Zero]

Interesting possibility. However, I think it would be cheaper to just get an old Type S and rearrange the inside.

Thank you for the kind comment, I'm quite fond of the 100 ton Type S scout/couriers as well the possibilities with such for refits and the like, I have tinkered with a few variants IMTU with varying results.

I was just looking at refitted X-boats in particular as a possible 'overlooked' resource for additional texture and color to add to the campaigns of others.

 

[Matt123]

Hmm, not a bad idea at all. Whilst I'm not sure of the package you have (streamlined, etc) the concept of using Scout surplus x-boats is excellant.

I can picture already some retired Scout/Engineer welding an M & PP drives onto the rear, wiring it into the existing fuel capacity and knocking up a cradle for a 10 ton fuel/cargo shuttle. Unstreamlined of course and ugly as hell and guaranteed to get safety inspected at every major starport.

But it'd be interesting!

 

[DaveChase]

One of the things that I retro fitted some old X-boats into were as drop assualt craft.

Gutted the inside, placed on plated armor on the inside, gave a short duration M drive and placed anti tank/anti personnel weapons in the turret.

Just like a teardrop falling on to the planet.

Dave Chase

 

[Patron Zero]

Hmm, not a bad idea at all. Whilst I'm not sure of the package you have (streamlined, etc) the concept of using Scout surplus x-boats is excellant. .....But it'd be interesting!

I'm seeing different packages offered for the additional ring-shaped hull, such varying in their available 'options' to appeal to a vast market of buyers.

As you mentioned there would be those interested in utility and work-applicable features, perhaps Seeker-Miner packages to include deployable robot arms cable of both brute and fine labors, dedicated laser-plasma drilling and cutting 'mini-turrets' and of course the litany of supporting systems needed by any skilled prospector.

A variant of the above would be slanted towards salvage and recovery operations of disabled-abandoned starships and space-going vessels.
That might also include a sort of EMT crewed emergency response craft, onboard triage-trauma facility and short-term cold-sleep berths for casualties needing advanced treatment.

I tagged the concept as VW Beetles of Traveller as such a myriad of the classic Bugs have been seen in so many different jobs and applications it just made sense.

 

[E.D.Quibell]

Thank you for the kind comment, I'm quite fond of the 100 ton Type S scout/couriers as well the possibilities with such for refits and the like, I have tinkered with a few variants IMTU with varying results.

I was just looking at refitted X-boats in particular as a possible 'overlooked' resource for additional texture and color to add to the campaigns of others.

I can't believe that they didn't base the X-boat on the Type S in the first place.

It should be far easier and cheaper to build, operate and maintain the X-boat network if they had.

Regards

Ewan

 

[rancke]

I can't believe that they didn't base the X-boat on the Type S in the first place.

It should be far easier and cheaper to build, operate and maintain the X-boat network if they had.

It's a legacy problem. The design worked according to 1st edition Book 2 (at least, I assume it worked; I've never actually checked it out) and the only way to achieve jump-4 with a 100T ship was by leaving out the maneuver drive. When they changed the rules to 2nd edition Book 2, the design became illegal (I think), but instead of retconning the design, they ignored it. With High Guard the problem became that now there was plenty of room for a maneuver drive, but they still didn't want to retcon the original concept.

Perhaps they felt the 'no maneuver drive' concept was too damn cool to lose.

Anyway, long story short, we're all requested and required by TPTB to ignore the metaphorical elefants in the room playing tag with each other when we contemplate the X-boats.


Hans

 

[far-trader]

It's a legacy problem...

Perhaps they felt the 'no maneuver drive' concept was too damn cool to lose.

IIRC the concept comes from some bit of influential fiction, though just what it was escapes me at the moment.

Anyway, long story short, we're all requested and required by TPTB to ignore the metaphorical elefants in the room playing tag with each other when we contemplate the X-boats.

...among other things :rofl:

TAG! You're it! THUMP THUMP THUMP...

 

[robject]

I think the ideas here (200t bolted-on J2 design and the 100t assault/drop capsule) are creative, fun, and in the spirit of Traveller. Great job!

 

[HG_B]

I was just looking at refitted X-boats in particular as a possible 'overlooked' resource for additional texture and color to add to the campaigns of others.

It would be cool to see those flitting around as small cargo ships.

 

[Major B]

It would be cool to see those flitting around as small cargo ships.

How about purely in-system cargo boats? Rip out the J-Drive completely, put in just enough for M1 and use the remaining space for cargo. Good for in-system use, shuttling cargo for ships unable to land on the surface. Probably much cheaper than a scratch-built design too.

Edit: Got another idea from Sir Brad's thread on a mining ship design - refitted X-Boats as above fitted as mining ships, and X-Boat tenders to gather the ore and jump them to where they can be sold. Or better, fit the X-Boat Tender out to do some refining of the ore and you might be able to turn a higher profit margin by transporting more refined products and less of the material surrounding the raw ore.

 

[E.D.Quibell]

It's a legacy problem. The design worked according to 1st edition Book 2 (at least, I assume it worked; I've never actually checked it out) and the only way to achieve jump-4 with a 100T ship was by leaving out the maneuver drive. When they changed the rules to 2nd edition Book 2, the design became illegal (I think), but instead of retconning the design, they ignored it. With High Guard the problem became that now there was plenty of room for a maneuver drive, but they still didn't want to retcon the original concept.

Perhaps they felt the 'no maneuver drive' concept was too damn cool to lose.

The design does work against 1st edition LBB 2, because you don't need a power plant (or the fuel) if you don't have a manueuver drive. In 2nd edition LBB 2 you need a power plant if you have either a jump drive or a manueuver drive. The Xboat won't work in 2nd edition LBB 2 because you need 10 tons of power plant fuel (for two weeks duration) so you can't fit everything you need into 100 tons.

However they still could have based the X-Boat on the Type S in 1st edition LBB 2 because it would still workand it would have been cheaper.

Anyway, long story short, we're all requested and required by TPTB to ignore the metaphorical elefants in the room playing tag with each other when we contemplate the X-boats.

Hans

1st edition LBB 2

Using the Type S hull (100 standard, hardpoint, firecontrol and streamlining)

100 ton standard hull (MCr 2)
Jump B - 15 ton - (MCr 20 and fits into the drive space nicely)
Fuel - 40 ton
Computer 4 - 4 ton - (MCr 30)
Bridge - 20 ton - (MCr 0.5)
Staterooms 2 - 8 ton - (MCr 1)
Hardpoint - (MCr 0.1)
Fire control - 1 ton
Streamlinig - (MCr 1)

total cost MCr 54.6
Remainig space 12

If you fill the cargo space with storage (Model 1 computers) it costs MCr 24 and you get 48 storage units (it's the cheapest way to get storage).

Total cost MCr 78.6, or MCr 70.74 with volume discount.

Just a little more than the original X-Boat at 70.65

The original X-Boat I emagine replaced the firecontroll, streamlining and hardpoint for another Model 1, reducing the cost by MCr 0.1 (giving the MCr 70.65 after discount).

(The S type X boat would have the 1 ton fire controll as cargo space)

However there must be significant cost savings to be had on the maintenance training and operatios of the X-Boat and Type S fleet if they all all based on the same fundemental design.

This might also make the Type P an original IISS design to go and pick up all the stranded X-boats that missjumped.

And as you could re-fit the X-boats and Type-S's either way around quite easily it would make for easier construction and replacment for war/peace time losses ... and almost any C class starport could patch up the hulls without too much problems.

Anyway cannon is what it is ... IMTU however ...

Regards,

Ewan

 

[Patron Zero]

My thanks for all the replies and positive responses, kudos to E.D.Quibell for the work crunching out the stats of the refitted X-boat, much appreciated.


I did have a thought to share about the 100 ton annular 'wing/ring-shaped hull, referred to as a 'service' hull in an earlier post.

Essentially picture a scaled down 400 ton Type L Lab Ship as the 'service' hull, such 'mates' to the X-boat hull by way of several support pylons for jump-related operations. Said pylons capable of extending-retracting during docking, the couplings could be housed from either hull or perhaps a male-female arrangement on-in both.

Seeing as such as contains the m-drives needed for non-jump travels, that as a given, then could not said hull operate independently as a 100 ton ship's 'boat ?

If so then cargo could be transferred dirtside as well as use of any vehicles carried aboard said vessel (ATVs or air/rafts come to mind) for shore party activities.

Any crew accommodations would be spartan, basically fold-down bunks or convertible troop seats, a communal fresher facility and no-frills automat-style galley to meet basic needs during 'local' space travels and planetary excursions.


I see this detachable 'service' hull also becoming an extended duration lifeboat if need arises, mind the X-boat hull could also be used as such depending on circumstances of such an emergency.

Image below of general 'service' hull alignment.

 

[ThunderChilde]

I had a side adventure that the PC's didn't choose to go on where there was a small cluster of worlds that had grabbed up an auctioned lot of surplus X-Boats that were being used as X-Boats, as power modules in lash up stations, as light freighters, system traffic control platforms, etc. MGT rules by the way.

 

[Seriayne]

http://www.travellerrpg.com/CotI/Gallery/index.php?n=1049

Did Megatraveller loadout of a 150 ton ship, keeping an eye on burning space to account for it being a hybrid of an old ship plus the new extensions (adding whole drive and maneuver units in the interpolation instead of half units, Environmental controls are whole vessel for all components, etc.)

Steppin Out - 150 Tons Non Standard
Designed at TL13 spec.

Refit to J4, 2G, 30 Days endurance. Added avionics - 170NOE.
Radio TL12x3, Maser TL12x3
EMSAct FOrb TL12 x1, EMSPassInterstellar TL13 x1
Retains original Model 4 Computers, but HUD Holo, and 42 Holo links are installed to improve ease of control.
4 'luxurious' staterooms (6Dtons ea instead of 4).
4 Std Low Berths.
Subcraft bay, up to 4 tons displacement (6tons taken up)
Cargo 20 tons

No armaments, fuel scoops or purification plant - The Steppin' Out is strictly 'civilized space' vehicle, originally commissioned in Vland Sector by a wealthy ex-Scout, Dame Ellen Valdisham, apparently a Jackson Brown fan, hence the ship name and color scheme. Though the refit would have cost at least 30-40 MCr all told, some strings pulled, pockets padded, palms greased let her get the modified package for a grand total of 22MCr, surplus X-boat included (dubbed the IG-99 by a its longest inhabiting scout circa early 1000's).

 

[Gray Lensman]

As usual.. very nice

 

[ThunderChilde]

too cool for school Seriyane. Kuddos, Impressed yet again.

 

[Mithras]

Dunno Major,a Jump 4 drive is worth alot of Mega credits. I'd be tempted to reuse it somehow, in the new design.

mighty

How about purely in-system cargo boats? Rip out the J-Drive completely, put in just enough for M1 and use the remaining space for cargo. Good for in-system use, shuttling cargo for ships unable to land on the surface. Probably much cheaper than a scratch-built design too.

Edit: Got another idea from Sir Brad's thread on a mining ship design - refitted X-Boats as above fitted as mining ships, and X-Boat tenders to gather the ore and jump them to where they can be sold. Or better, fit the X-Boat Tender out to do some refining of the ore and you might be able to turn a higher profit margin by transporting more refined products and less of the material surrounding the raw ore.

 

[Major B]

Dunno Major,a Jump 4 drive is worth alot of Mega credits. I'd be tempted to reuse it somehow, in the new design.

Agree completely. I can't think of anyone letting anything that valuable go to waste.

But if I was planning to start a mining operation out in the belts and looking for anything available to get the ore moved to where it could be processed, to get off the ground I wouldn't be too choosy. So if my profit was to be made in-system and there were some X-Boats available for purchase I'd sell the jump drive to finance the refitting of the hull and get to work.

I know there are plenty of ifs in there, but it sounds plausible to me. The key is what the purchaser has in mind and what is available. I wouldn't pick the old X-boats if there was a cheaper alternative, but if that's all I've got then I'll figure out how to make it work.