Small Craft: Difference between revisions
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== Small Craft - The Minor Spacecraft of the Confederacy == | == Small Craft - The Minor Spacecraft of the Confederacy == | ||
"Small Craft" is the generic title given to the various boats, tenders, barges, skiffs and assault shuttles that hang around the larger [[Warships|warships]] of the [[Navy]]. <br> | "Small Craft" is the generic title given to the various boats, tenders, barges, skiffs and assault shuttles that hang around the larger [[Warships|warships]] of the [[Navy]]. <br> | ||
Note that the Confederacy does not use any small craft analogous to Earth's 20th-century 'bombers', as any such craft cannot survive in the same battlespace as lightspeed weapons and homing missiles. By the time the battlespace is safe for their use, there is no need for their function. <br> | |||
<br> | <br> | ||
=== V32 [[Leopard]] Assault Shuttle === | === V32 [[Leopard]] Assault Shuttle === | ||
Can carry two full platoons of infantry and provide a modicum of fire support for the initial landings. Lighter and therefore more | Can carry two full platoons of infantry and provide a modicum of fire support for the initial landings. Lighter and therefore more maneuvrable than the newer [[Panther]]. <br> | ||
Masses 160 metric tons <br> | Masses 160 metric tons <br> | ||
<br> | <br> | ||
=== V35 [[Panther]] Assault Shuttle === | === V35 [[Panther]] Assault Shuttle === | ||
Can carry two full platoons of infantry and provide fire support for the initial landings. Improved fire support capabilities over the [[ | Can carry two full platoons of infantry and provide fire support for the initial landings. Improved fire support capabilities over the [[Leopard]] and fitted with better armor for the flight deck. <br> | ||
Masses two hundred metric tons. <br> | Masses two hundred metric tons. <br> | ||
<br> | <br> | ||
=== VC39 [[Bengal]] Assault Shuttle === | === VC39 [[Bengal]] Assault Shuttle === | ||
Known as 'The Big One' amongst other titles it was a shuttle designed to carry a large force. Unfortunately no thought had been given as to how the shuttle was to be carried to the target area. It is too big to fit into the Tarawa, the main Marine transport. | Known as 'The Big One' amongst other titles it was a shuttle designed to carry a large force. Unfortunately no thought had been given as to how the shuttle was to be carried to the target area. It is too big to fit into the Tarawa, the main Marine transport design in use. On the other hand, its size has proved to be very useful around Earth during rural extraction operations. <br> | ||
<br> | <br> | ||
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=== [[Galileo]] Shuttle === | === [[Galileo]] Shuttle === | ||
These atmosphere-capable shuttles were original equipment on the [[ | These atmosphere-capable shuttles were original equipment on the [[K'treel]] class ships. <br> | ||
<br> | <br> | ||
=== | === House-Cat Cargo and General Purpose Shuttle === | ||
The House-Cat is a low-cost but rugged cargo design that is in common use throughout the Confederacy. They were standard equipment on the Aurora class of Darjee freighters that were turned over to us in the beginning of the war for general use. They were also used on the [[Peter Minuit]] Class Trade Survey ships, which were variants on the Aurora design. Note that the name is unofficial; it is merely an afterthought, a play on the feline names chosen for the armed shuttle designs. <br> | The House-Cat is a low-cost but rugged cargo design that is in common use throughout the Confederacy. They were standard equipment on the Aurora class of Darjee freighters that were turned over to us in the beginning of the war for general use. They were also used on the [[Peter Minuit]] Class Trade Survey ships, which were variants on the Aurora design. Note that the name is unofficial; it is merely an afterthought, a play on the feline names chosen for the armed shuttle designs. <br> | ||
The House-Cat design was the basis for both the [[Leopard|Leopard Assault Shuttle]] and early survival shuttles. They have the same cargo capacity as the Leopard, but are unarmed, unarmored, and use less powerful maneuver drives. <br> | The House-Cat design was the basis for both the [[Leopard|Leopard Assault Shuttle]] and early survival shuttles. They have the same cargo capacity as the Leopard, but are unarmed, unarmored, and use less powerful maneuver drives. <br> | ||
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The Hypershuttle, originally built at the Jupiter yard, was the first human-designed vessel with a hyperdrive. The design was an experimental meld of the standard Darjee "House-cat" personnel and cargo shuttle with the engineering plant from the Patrician class of patrol corvette. While it was capable of FTL, it had very limited environmental services and could only be used for short trips. <br> | The Hypershuttle, originally built at the Jupiter yard, was the first human-designed vessel with a hyperdrive. The design was an experimental meld of the standard Darjee "House-cat" personnel and cargo shuttle with the engineering plant from the Patrician class of patrol corvette. While it was capable of FTL, it had very limited environmental services and could only be used for short trips. <br> | ||
Envisioned as a way to shorten the 20-25 hour trip between Earth and Jupiter, it was a success in that the hyperdrive lowered this trip to at most three hours. Several were built for the Earth-Jupiter run, then several more for the Earth-Saturn run. Later, the design was revisited to take over the supply runs to the early-warning stations we manned in the systems nearest to Sol. Even though the hypershuttles were marginal for this task, this allowed the [[Aurora]]s which had been doing it to be added to [[DECO]]'s colony transport fleet, thus giving them several more ships and speeding up our early colonization effort. <br> | Envisioned as a way to shorten the 20-25 hour trip between Earth and Jupiter, it was a success in that the hyperdrive lowered this trip to at most three hours. Several were built for the Earth-Jupiter run, then several more for the Earth-Saturn run. Later, the design was revisited to take over the supply runs to the early-warning stations we manned in the systems nearest to Sol. Even though the hypershuttles were marginal for this task, this allowed the [[Aurora]]s which had been doing it to be added to [[DECO]]'s colony transport fleet, thus giving them several more ships and speeding up our early colonization effort. <br> | ||
The hypershuttles as originally built had the ion shield from the Darjee's shuttle, but they were soon converted to the starship-version [[ | The hypershuttles as originally built had the ion shield from the Darjee's shuttle, but they were soon converted to the starship-version [[Navigational Shield|Nav Shield]]. With the engineering plant from a corvette but the mass of a large shuttle, they were able to accelerate at 50g in normal space as well as travel 20LY/day in hyperspace. <br> | ||
The Styx class is rumored to be the design predecessor to the Sir Lancelot class of assault ship. <br> | The Styx class is rumored to be the design predecessor to the Sir Lancelot class of assault ship. <br> | ||
<br> | <br> | ||
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=== [[Pod Tender]] === | === [[Pod Tender]] === | ||
(While pod tenders are automated or "drone" vessels, they are used as a type of cargo shuttle so they are listed here.) <br> | (While pod tenders are automated or "drone" vessels, they are used as a type of cargo shuttle so they are listed here.) <br> | ||
Pod tenders are designed to clamp onto one [[Pods|Pod]] and carry it to the surface of the planet or from the surface back to orbit. They are part of the assigned equipment for any pod ship. There are two assigned to the [[Aurora]] class, one in the bow section and one in the stern section. The [[Kilo]] class ships carry twenty four. <br> | |||
<br> | <br> | ||
=== YO === | === YO === | ||
A YO is a cargo shuttle optimized for liquid and/or gas cargo, with built-in tanks and transfer systems. The name is taken from the US Navy's designation for fuel lighters which had the type designation of "Yard | A YO is a cargo shuttle optimized for liquid and/or gas cargo, with built-in tanks and transfer systems. The name is taken from the US Navy's designation for fuel lighters which had the type designation of "Yard Craft, Fuels". <br> | ||
All starships need periodic replenishment of both reaction mass and life-support mass. Most starships use Helium for reaction mass, although Hydrogen can be used in an emergency. Life Support systems in a ship with replicators generally only need Oxygen, Nitrogen, Water, and any convenient organic feedstock. All other needs are trace elements which usually can be recycled. <br> | All starships need periodic replenishment of both reaction mass and life-support mass. Most starships use Helium for reaction mass, although Hydrogen can be used in an emergency. Life Support systems in a ship with replicators generally only need Oxygen, Nitrogen, Water, and any convenient organic feedstock. All other needs are trace elements which usually can be recycled. <br> | ||
<br> | <br> | ||
Latest revision as of 05:25, 17 December 2024
(Copied straight from .XML 'backup' file, needs formatting and corrections. ZM User (talk) 20:15, 22 April 2024 (PDT))
Small Craft - The Minor Spacecraft of the Confederacy
"Small Craft" is the generic title given to the various boats, tenders, barges, skiffs and assault shuttles that hang around the larger warships of the Navy.
Note that the Confederacy does not use any small craft analogous to Earth's 20th-century 'bombers', as any such craft cannot survive in the same battlespace as lightspeed weapons and homing missiles. By the time the battlespace is safe for their use, there is no need for their function.
V32 Leopard Assault Shuttle
Can carry two full platoons of infantry and provide a modicum of fire support for the initial landings. Lighter and therefore more maneuvrable than the newer Panther.
Masses 160 metric tons
V35 Panther Assault Shuttle
Can carry two full platoons of infantry and provide fire support for the initial landings. Improved fire support capabilities over the Leopard and fitted with better armor for the flight deck.
Masses two hundred metric tons.
VC39 Bengal Assault Shuttle
Known as 'The Big One' amongst other titles it was a shuttle designed to carry a large force. Unfortunately no thought had been given as to how the shuttle was to be carried to the target area. It is too big to fit into the Tarawa, the main Marine transport design in use. On the other hand, its size has proved to be very useful around Earth during rural extraction operations.
VC42 Cheetah Assault Shuttle
Smaller than any of the previous assault shuttles, this bird is described as "a demented cross between an American A-5 Vigilante bomber from the 1960's and a German Horton 229 flying wing from the Second World War".
It is hypersonic, to get troops in close to the Sa'arm while being hard for Sa'arm gunners to hit. It carries no troops itself, merely a stack of Kitten self-transporting nexuses in a tight-fitting tubular storage bay that disgorges them through the aft of the craft.
V43 Ocelot Tactical Transport/Close Support Craft
The Ocelot is a multipurpose high-G capable transport. It can be configured to carry troops, cargo, or wounded. A close support heavy armored variant exists to provide pinpoint close support and squad insertion/extraction missions.
Galileo Shuttle
These atmosphere-capable shuttles were original equipment on the K'treel class ships.
House-Cat Cargo and General Purpose Shuttle
The House-Cat is a low-cost but rugged cargo design that is in common use throughout the Confederacy. They were standard equipment on the Aurora class of Darjee freighters that were turned over to us in the beginning of the war for general use. They were also used on the Peter Minuit Class Trade Survey ships, which were variants on the Aurora design. Note that the name is unofficial; it is merely an afterthought, a play on the feline names chosen for the armed shuttle designs.
The House-Cat design was the basis for both the Leopard Assault Shuttle and early survival shuttles. They have the same cargo capacity as the Leopard, but are unarmed, unarmored, and use less powerful maneuver drives.
- Overall length 40 meters
- Mass 120 metric tons
Warship Survival Shuttle or "Liferaft"
These small craft were adapted from the "House-Cat" shuttle design for use with our early patrol and scout ships. They have improved piloting and navigation equipment and an AI roughly equivalent to a habitability pod, and the life support systems are rated to support 60 adults for two months. They have four inflatable "bubble" bedrooms that each provide enough cubic for 20 adults to lay down, meaning that even if only one bubble can be deployed the entire 60-person capacity can sleep in shifts. If all bubbles can be deployed, the survivors have much more personal space.
Each Castle (and variants: Ainsworth, Shiro, etc) and Patrician carries one outside the hull -between the fuel tanks- as this allows for the evacuation of the entire crew if needed. Each Mercury carries one on the hangar deck for the crew; it is assumed that any embarked marines will also bring sufficient assault shuttles to hold them all. Larger ships may carry more as convenient; any ship large enough to have a dedicated small-craft bay will carry a mix of normal shuttles and liferafts.
The version carried by the Lawrence Class of patrol-bomber mothership has a hyperdrive installed instead of an airlock. If the mounting hatch is damaged there is no other vacuum barrier; the passengers may have to spend their entire trip to the nearest safe base in their skinsuits.
"Styx" Class Hypershuttle or Ferry
The Hypershuttle, originally built at the Jupiter yard, was the first human-designed vessel with a hyperdrive. The design was an experimental meld of the standard Darjee "House-cat" personnel and cargo shuttle with the engineering plant from the Patrician class of patrol corvette. While it was capable of FTL, it had very limited environmental services and could only be used for short trips.
Envisioned as a way to shorten the 20-25 hour trip between Earth and Jupiter, it was a success in that the hyperdrive lowered this trip to at most three hours. Several were built for the Earth-Jupiter run, then several more for the Earth-Saturn run. Later, the design was revisited to take over the supply runs to the early-warning stations we manned in the systems nearest to Sol. Even though the hypershuttles were marginal for this task, this allowed the Auroras which had been doing it to be added to DECO's colony transport fleet, thus giving them several more ships and speeding up our early colonization effort.
The hypershuttles as originally built had the ion shield from the Darjee's shuttle, but they were soon converted to the starship-version Nav Shield. With the engineering plant from a corvette but the mass of a large shuttle, they were able to accelerate at 50g in normal space as well as travel 20LY/day in hyperspace.
The Styx class is rumored to be the design predecessor to the Sir Lancelot class of assault ship.
Pod Tender
(While pod tenders are automated or "drone" vessels, they are used as a type of cargo shuttle so they are listed here.)
Pod tenders are designed to clamp onto one Pod and carry it to the surface of the planet or from the surface back to orbit. They are part of the assigned equipment for any pod ship. There are two assigned to the Aurora class, one in the bow section and one in the stern section. The Kilo class ships carry twenty four.
YO
A YO is a cargo shuttle optimized for liquid and/or gas cargo, with built-in tanks and transfer systems. The name is taken from the US Navy's designation for fuel lighters which had the type designation of "Yard Craft, Fuels".
All starships need periodic replenishment of both reaction mass and life-support mass. Most starships use Helium for reaction mass, although Hydrogen can be used in an emergency. Life Support systems in a ship with replicators generally only need Oxygen, Nitrogen, Water, and any convenient organic feedstock. All other needs are trace elements which usually can be recycled.
Kitten self-transporting transporter nexus
Standard transporter nexus, mounted on the dorsal surface of a V-STOL drone.
Also See
(Someday this will be a navigation template. It will provide a bar across the bottom of each article with useful navigation links. Until then, this is just a placeholder to get rid of all the red "broken link" indicators. -ZM User (talk) 10:00, 3 May 2024 (PDT))
