Battleship

Capital Ship Combatants			Escort Combatants			Military Smallcraft				Support Ships
Battleship	Cruiser	Carrier	Destroyer	Escort	Frigate	System Defense Boat	Fighter	Assault Transport	Smallcraft	Auxiliaries

Commercial Mercantile Ships			Non-Mercantile Commercial Ships		Non-Commercial Ships			Civilian Smallcraft	Highports & Satellites
Merchant	Liner	Transport	Commercial Industrial	Commercial Ships	General	Research	Private	Auxiliary	Orbital Complexes	Satellites

Battleships are jump-capable starships intended to stand in the line of battle in space combat.

• Some ships in this mission or supraclass are known as Dreadnoughts with certain specific characteristics.
• The Supraclass designation is also known as Ship Mission, Ship Mission Code, Mission, or Ship Hull Designation.
• It is a starship supraclass.

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Please refer to the following AAB Library Data for more information:
Starship:

• Starship User Types
  • Civilian Ship
  • Paramilitary Ship
  • Military Ship
• Ships by Function
  • Bigcraft
  • Boat
  • Non-starship
  • Smallcraft
  • Spaceship
  • Starship
  • Subcraft
  • Warship
• Advanced Ship Classifications
  • Ship Mission Code / Supraclass
  • Ship Type Code / Superclass
  • Ship Class Code / Class
  • Model (TL)
  • Bloc (Lot)
• Basic Ship Classifications
  • Adventure Class Ship
  • Battle Class Ship
  • Fleet Class Ship
  • Size-Role Classification
  • QSP
  • USP
  • World Class Ship
• Speed of Travel
  • FTL
  • NAFAL (STL)

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Description (Specifications)

A Battleship is a jump-capable capital ship intended to stand in the line-of-battle in space combat. Battleships are usually supported by cruisers, which stiffen the flanks of the line-of-battle.

Strategy & Tactics (Doctrine)

The power of the Imperial Navy is concentrated in its battleships. The definition of a battleship is a starship which, due to its armament and protection, is capable of standing in the line of battle. When a battleship meets any lesser type of ship, its victory is almost guaranteed. When battleships on two sides meet, victory goes to the better armed, better armored, and better directed ship.

Two opposite views in naval architecture have dominated the design of the major battleships of space navies:

1. BATTLESHIP CONCEPT: The battleship concept involves large, well-armed and armoured starships of massive tonnage, capable of meeting any adversary. Armament and protection are appropriate to this mission. They generally have little better primary armament than cruisers. However, their extensive secondary batteries render them virtually immune to missiles and small craft attack, while their bulk provides a tremendous ability to absorb damage and keep fighting. Moreover, in a battle against a superior force, the battleship can flee combat by using its own jump drives.
2. BATTLERIDER CONCEPT: The opposite is the battle rider concept, involving a large jump-capable battle tender carrying a complete Battle Squadron (BatRon) of two to ten heavily armed and armoured non-jump-capable battle riders. The Battle Tender strategy does not allow for the possibility of superior force; no matter how good a rider is, if it meets a superior adversary, it is placed in a position of winning or dying. Retreat is nearly impossible without losses.

Supraclass Roles

Battleships typically serve the following roles:

1. Battle Rider (BR)
2. Battleship (BB)
3. Dreadnought (BDN) (...old DN)
4. Frontier Battleship (BF)
5. Heavy Battleship (BA)
6. Heavy Monitor (BMA)
7. Hybrid Battle Rider (BZ)
8. Light Battleship (BL)
9. Monitor (BM)
10. Planetoid Monitor (BMP)
11. Pocket Battleship (BP)
12. Strike Battleship (BS)
13. Super Battleship (BBS)
14. Super Dreadnought (BDNS)

Supraclass Archtypes

Major Battleship Classes:

Battleship Supraclass Archtypes
Archtype	Type Code	TL Range	Remarks
Battleship	BB	TL:11-13	The technological basis for Imperial battleships is the BB- 11. From it was developed the BB-12 and then the BB-13. Battleships are representative of the rest of the vessels of this category. They are both heavily armed and armored and are considered the backbone of any naval force. They are strong enough to take enormous damage and still act effectively. On the downside, like the heavy battleship they are resource hogs, and the maintenance burden is significant.
Heavy Battleship	BA	TL:13-15	The heavy battleship has been called a number of names, such as superbattleship, or more commonly dreadnought. Although many were developed from independent designs, a number were logical extension of the earlier battleship lines. Some militaries, including the Imperial Navy, use the designation of dreadnought to designate its latest, most-effective battleships, and may redesignate them simply as battleships when their superior abilities are supplanted by newer construction. These ships represent the ultimate projection of naval power, and their power often dwarfs other ships. As such, their construction represents a tremendous outlay of resources in materials, and manpower.
Battle Rider	BT/R	TL:14-15	The Battle Rider system was developed in an attempt to produce battleship strength vessels in greater numbers. The BT/R-14 system combines non-jump battle riders with a jump capable battle tender. The BT/R-15 system is an evolution of the BT/R-14. Although the battle rider is a non-jump capable vessel, it is otherwise armed and armored like a battleship. With the elimination of the jump drives and the associated controls and power plant support, the internal space can be reallocated to additional armor, weaponry, or agility. On a ship to ship basis, battle riders normally have superior combat capabilities compared to jump-capable battleships of similar tonnage, but they, of course, lack the ability to retreat from a system without their tender. Due to the battle riders need for battle tenders for transportation between star systems, the battle tender tends to be the largest vulnerability of battle rider system. Elimination of the lightly armor tender removes battle riders strategic flexibility, isolating them to their current system.
Hybrid Battle Rider	BZ	TL-15	The Battle Rider Hybrid takes the battle rider system one step further and places a battle rider on a battleship for combat support deployment. This design is a hybrid of the BT/R-15 system and the BL-15. This change addresses the greatest weakness associated with the battle rider/battle tender system.
Light Battleship	BL	TL:13-15	The light battleship line is based on the BB-12, but showed great innovation in producing a smaller tonnage vessel. The BS-15 is also a member of this line. This class of vessel is an attempt to field a ship with most of the offensive weight of a battleship, but to try to hold down the cost associated with building and maintaining such a vessel.
Monitor	BM	TL:14-15	Monitors are usually known as large spaceship with armament equivalent to a battleship, used primarily for system defense roles. Generally based on a planetoid hull (and so automatically unstreamlined), these craft depend heavily on pre-positioned caches and fuel shuttles. The large size of these craft make them generally impossible to move inter-system. Like battle riders, they are in a conquer-or-die situation if facing superior forces. Their deterrent value is therefore fragile as well as powerful. They are generally viewed as more of a mobile fortress than anything else. The term of monitor is also used with smaller craft. Any semi-mobile fortification, lacking jump capability may be known as a system monitor, but are often grouped in other classes.
Strike Battleship	BS	TL-15	The Strike designation is typically associated with a vessel having a long jump and/or a high maneuver capability. Often the term is an unofficial designation associated with new, faster construction. These vessels are based strongly on light battleship designs, with enhanced mobility attributes.

History & Background (Dossier)

The battleships of the Imperium are designed to overcome any opponent in battle. As technology advances, these designs also advance, both to take advantage of any possible technological benefits, and to experiment with new strategies and construction techniques.

Image Repository

1. A typical Tigress heavy battleship or dreadnought in action.
   

Selected Variant Types & Classes

Battleship:

1. Type BB class Battleship
   1. Connecticut class Battleship
   2. Cordell class Battleship
   3. Grendal class Battleship
   4. Grzying class Battleship
   5. Harp class Battleship
   6. Hedron class Battleship
   7. Howe class Battleship
   8. Illinois class Battleship
   9. Indomitable class Battleship
   10. Jeremiah O'Brien class Battleship
   11. Joyeuse class Battleship
   12. Justinian class Battleship
   13. Kearsage class Battleship
   14. Magada class Battleship
   15. Maine class Battleship
   16. Malos Lobos class Battleship
   17. Minsk class Battleship
   18. Miotos class Battleship
   19. Murrain class Battleship
   20. Nexus Dauntless class Battleship
   21. Prince Colin III class Battleship
   22. Sylean class Battleship
   23. Tenjada class Battleship
   24. Vander class Battleship
   25. Virginia class Battleship
   26. Zirukaruna class Battleship
2. Type BA class Heavy Battleship
   1. Charming class Battleship
   2. Cheveldi class Battleship
   3. Chiqrr class Battleship
   4. Cluj class Battleship
   5. Concord class Battleship
   6. Dirqral class Battleship
   7. Jotvobl class Battleship
   8. Kirunika'rra class Battleship
   9. Kushiahatai class Battleship
   10. Mastigo class Battleship
   11. Mother of War class Battleship
   12. Oblivion class Battleship
   13. Okedi class Battleship
   14. Pride of Talokan class Battleship
   15. Prince John III class Battleship
   16. Prince Stuart IV class Battleship
   17. Retribution class Battleship
   18. Shianzpla class Battleship
   19. SLC5 Kaayur class Battleship
   20. Tigress class Dreadnought
   21. Triumph class Battleship
   22. Wavel class Battleship
3. Type BF class Frontier Battleship
   1. Staklen class Frontier Battleship
4. Type BP class Pocket Battleship
   1. Chtrfiak class Battleship
   2. Courageous class Battleship
   3. Fauve class Battleship
   4. Furious Anger class Battleship
   5. Kline class Battleship
   6. Kokirrak class Dreadnought
   7. Lefaen class Battleship
   8. Marat class Battleship
   9. Plankwell class Dreadnought
   10. Prince Ian II class Battleship
   11. Prince Morris I class Battleship
   12. Prince Roger III class Battleship
   13. Sarriaklir class Battleship
   14. Smelchak class Battleship
   15. Viepchakl class Battleship
   16. Voroshilef class Battleship
   17. Yrkath Ossu E*Wr class Battleship
5. Type BS class Strike Battleship
   1. Artemsus class Strike Battleship
   2. Mukusi class Strike Battleship

Battle Rider

Battle Rider:

1. Type BR class Battle Rider
   1. TBD class Battle Rider
2. Type BZ class Hybrid Battle Rider
   1. TBD class Hybrid Battle Rider

Dreadnought

Dreadnought:

1. Type BDN class Dreadnought
   1. Dark Nebula B1 class Dreadnaught
   2. Dark Nebula B2 class Improved Dreadnaught
   3. Ixobis class Dreadnought
   4. Pador class Dreadnought
2. Type BDNA class Heavy Dreadnought
   1. Amoreuxi class Dreadnought
   2. Audacious class Dreadnought
   3. Commandant class Dreadnaught
   4. Depression class Dreadnought
   5. Duke of Sanches class Dreadnought
   6. Formidable class Dreadnought
   7. Grendal class Dreadnought
   8. Jarnac class Dreadnought
   9. Khurkish class Dreadnought
   10. Krohn class Dreadnought
   11. Miller class Dreadnought
   12. Thingen class Dreadnaught
   13. Titan class Dreadnought
   14. Usan class Dreadnought
   15. Warmoon class Dreadnaught

Monitor

Monitor:

1. Type BM class Monitor
   1. Archipelago class System Monitor
   2. Cabon class System Monitor
   3. Donnager class Monitor
   4. Stormrider class Monitor
   5. Uffan class Monitor
2. Type BMA class Heavy Monitor
   1. Methuselah class System Defense Monitor
3. Type BML class Light Monitor
   1. Guardian class Asteroid Monitor
   2. Knuckle Head class System Defense Monitor
   3. Peset class Asteroid Monitor
   4. Porton class Asteroid Monitor
4. Type BMP class Planetoid Monitor
   1. Empress Troyhune class Planetoid Monitor
   2. Obsidian class Asteroid Monitor
   3. Quesha FR-6 class Buffered Asteroid Monitor
   4. SH2K Frost G class Medium Asteroid Monitor
   5. SH7K Fromaag class Heavy Asteroid Monitor
   6. Temarn class Asteroid Monitor
   7. Type M2M class Battle Station

Super Battleship

Super Battleship:

1. Type BBS class Super Battleship
   1. Idlev class Superbattleship
2. Type BDNS class Super Dreadnought
   1. Pandinus class Super Dreadnought

Ship Summary List

0 Representative Battleship (BB) Classes
No results

0 Representative Heavy Battleship (BA) Classes
No results

0 Representative Frontier Battleship (BF) Classes
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0 Representative Pocket Battleship (BP) Classes
No results

6 Representative Battle Rider (BR) Classes

Class Mission Code TL Tons Jump G Origin Canon Quick ship profile Class Mission Code TL Tons Jump G Origin Canon Quick ship profile Ch'kaahi class Battle Rider BRV 11 1,000 0 6 Sath Alliance BRV-TBD Houdini class Battle Rider BRL 11 20,000 0 6 Varellan Empire No. Unpublished, non-canon fan design. TBD Parasite class Battle Rider BRL 12 13,000 0 6 Old Worlds No. Unpublished, non-canon fan design. TBD PartiCard class Battle Rider BRV 12 100 6 Third Imperium BRV-AU60 Punisher class Light Battle Rider BRV 12 1,000 0 6 Ras Tennol Force No. Unpublished, non-canon fan design. TBD Xarbo class Battle Rider BRL 11 10,000 0 6 Regency of Muirimi No BR-0BS60

0 Representative Dreadnought (BDN) Classes
No results

2 Representative Monitor (BM) Classes
Class Mission Code TL Tons Jump G Origin Canon Quick ship profile Class Mission Code TL Tons Jump G Origin Canon Quick ship profile Dauntless class Battleship BM 12 100,000 2 3 Nexus Fleet Forces No. Unpublished, non-canon fan design. TBD Tenjada class Battleship BM 12 100,000 3 3 Tenjada Moralitate No. Unpublished, non-canon fan design. TBD

1 Representative Strike Battleship (BS) Classes
Class Mission Code TL Tons Jump G Origin Canon Quick ship profile Class Mission Code TL Tons Jump G Origin Canon Quick ship profile Depression class Dreadnought BS 12 500,000 3 3 Old Worlds No. Unpublished, non-canon fan design. TBD

References & Contributors (Sources)

This article is missing content for one or more detailed sections. Additional details are required to complete the article. You can help the Traveller Wiki by expanding it.

This list of sources was used by the Traveller Wiki Editorial Team and individual contributors to compose this article. Copyrighted material is used under license from Far Future Enterprises or by permission of the author. The page history lists all of the contributions.

• John Harshman, Marc Miller, Loren Wiseman. Library Data (A-M) (Game Designers Workshop, 1981), 16. (Classic Traveller Supplement 8)
• Timothy B. Brown. Fighting Ships (Game Designers Workshop, 1981), 38-42. (Classic Traveller Supplement 9)
• Marc Miller. Fighting Ships of the Shattered Imperium (Game Designers Workshop, 1990), 10-38.
• Ben W. Bell, Martin Dougherty. Fighting Ships (QuikLink Interactive, 2003), 11-12,18-21.
• Traveller Wiki Editorial Team
• Author & Contributor: Lord (Marquis) and Master of Sophontology Maksim-Smelchak of the Ministry of Science