Type SC Scout Cruiser

[Sir Brad]

The 1000 d-ton TYpe SC Scout Cruiser is among the smallest K-Ton range purpose built Scout ship in use by the IISS intended for medium term (three to twelve months) Survey and Exploration missions. there are two basic patterns in use, one is preferred by the Survey Office and the other buy the Exploration Office.

The Survey Office Type SC are named for the Sub-Sectors they are commissioned to create and maintain Survey data on, fitted with more powerful Manurer Drives (3G acceleration) to more quickly transit friendly and safe systems allowing them more time on station to carry out their survey and mapping missions, or to make quicker tactical retreats in unfriendly systems.

The Exploration Branch Type SC are named for the Star Clusters they are first commissioned to explore, the Mass and Displacement freed up by the less powerful Manurer Drives (2G acceleration) is given over to the fitting of Laboratories, Workshops, Infirmaries, Diplomatic Suites, additional cure quarters and so forth as determand to be needed at time of construction.

The Type SC requires a crew of ten and carries an additional ten Scout Mission Specialists who act as back ups to the ships crew and as Gunners and Small Craft Cures. The Type SC is capable of Jump Three and carries enough fuel to carry out four parsecs of Jump Travel and to support the Power Plant for Six Weeks without having to refuel. there are internal bays for two modular cutters and two hundred tons of Cargo (Additional Cutter modules are carried in the cargo bay). the Type SC is fitted with six double turrets, one is always fitted as a mixed Sandcaster (for defence) and Missile Launcher (for the deployment of RPV's), the other turrets are fitted with whatever weapons are available at time of construction.

 

[Ran Targas]

Nice concept. Consider a Search and Rescue variant with the capability of lifting a Type S. The 200dT bay could be repurposed to support this as well as a medical bay.

 

[wbyrd]

Not a bad idea for special purpose ships.

Might also consider A version designed to carry smaller scouts on docking clamps, or in hangers would be a good add. Fit the mother ship with just enough thrust to move around, and long range jump drives.

When it enters a new system it could launch it's smaller scouts to do the footwork while scientists and experts on the mother ship carry out research and catalog samples brought back by the smaller scouts.
This way all of the labs, and brainy types stay safely in the outer system while field teams go down and get eaten, injected with parasitic young, torn to bits, by the local wildlife.

 

[sabredog]

What about something like this:

http://freelancetraveller.com/features/shipyard/mongoose/murmansk.html

 

[wbyrd]

What about something like this:

http://freelancetraveller.com/features/shipyard/mongoose/murmansk.html

Now that's a good design, almost a mobile sector survey base

I was thinking a bit smaller...although that big girl gives me some great ideas.

 

[Patron Zero]

As always, I'd enjoy seeing any deckplans if such become available.

 

[sabredog]

Now that's a good design, almost a mobile sector survey base

I was thinking a bit smaller...although that big girl gives me some great ideas.

The main idea is that the Jump-5 capability gives the ship the ability to quickly and easily get out to the frontiers, where it then acts as a mobile base for the scouts on board. Since they are modular they are also linked up to provide a mobile base for scouts attached to the Navy and Marines IMTU during wartime as pathfinders and recon/intel units. Extra sensors and ELINT gathering suites can be added as 50 ton modules plugged into docking stations. Weapons can be added the same way using 100 ton combat modules with turrets and their own power supply, computers, and fire control systems.

For scientific missions it gives the scouts a lot of extended time on station with some elbow room. 50 ton research base modules will be added to some of the docking stations so extra labs and computer/sensor gear can be added to the ship's capabilities, two per docking station. Also, the modules can be moved down to planets for field use by the shuttles and joined together to form temporary (though long term) research stations.

If a weapon module is wanted for the base it can be split into two sections for transport and reassembled on the ground. Since they have their own power supply, a weapon module is useful as auxiliary power for a base even if the turret is used only as a laser communications array and the missile rack just launches small survey satellites.

 

[wbyrd]

I can say you certainly thought that out

I've been working on similar support vessels. the idea of a mobile support base for scouts seems like something that would be a major project for anyone who had a large frontier to explore, or monitor.

 

[Patron Zero]

Just my thoughts but I would tend to envision a mobile scout base as something perhaps of modular construction, say the 'basic' components being 1000Ton Express Boat Tenders (XBTs).

Seeing as XBTs are essentially self-contained and capable of transporting themselves in support of X-boats, then why not re-purpose such to be deployable in other roles as needed ?

With the pairing of two (2) or more separate XBTs to a location, a small 'base' could be established by both hulls being joined with way of box-beam framework and a pressure-capable 'hanger' space created between such.

No major hull modifications to the XBTs other than reinforced exterior 'anchor-points' for the framework and perhaps a deployable boarding 'gantry' to create access-ways between separate 'modules'.

Using that concept as a 'template', a field-base could easily be set-up quickly in either two, three, four or even six module configurations.

Two or four module 'assemblies' would be simple affairs to construct, having the XBTs hanger doors facing inward to compose a box-like 'hanger' space with newly-located entry-egress through side or end located 'bay' doors. Said 'hanger' space created by the open sides of the 'box' now skinned with pressure-capable panels, said door assemblies found in such.

A larger perhaps more 'long-term' facility might be composed of six XBTs so configured to form a hexagonal-shaped block, such having three outward facing maintenance-transport bays and three inward facing bays re-purposed or refitted with mission-specific 'pallets'.

IMTU, triangular 'blocks' were commonly established as relay-points along X-boat network routes and hexagonal 'blocks' were often encountered as 'small town' armories and motor-pools for Imperial Navy presence outside-away more permanent and traditional facilities.

 

[Sir Brad]

I kind of envisioned the Type SC as a 3I starfaring version of Cook's Endeavour and it's age of sail ilk, you know, load up on supplys and talk off to some interesting star cluster, float around for a bit to do some mapping than land take some scientific samples, harass the natives for a bit then move on to the next system.