Editing Carrier

{{:Starship-Nav-Bar-Two-2019CE}}
[[Carrier|V-class Carrier]]s are designed to carry large numbers of combatant [[smallcraft]] (...under 100 [[ton]]s), which in turn attack the enemy’s combatant vessels or world surfaces.
* [[Tender]]s and [[Carrier]]s form the mission category: [[Subcraft Carrier]]s. 
* The most common types are '''[[Carrier]]s''' and '''[[Tender]]s.''' [[Carrier]]s carry [[smallcraft]] [[fighter]]s and [[tender]]s carry [[bigcraft]] [[battle rider]]s.
* Commercial or [[civilian tender]]s tend to be called [[Ship Transporter]]s among other terms.
* The [[Supraclass]] designation is also known as [[Ship Mission]], [[Ship Mission Code]], Mission, or [[Ship Hull Designation]]. 
* It is a [[starship]] [[supraclass]].
[[File: Technical Data.jpg|right]]

=== Library Data Referral Tree ===
Please refer to the following [[AAB]] [[Library Data]] for more information: <br>
'''[[Starship]]:'''
{{:Referral-Tree-Starship-User-Types}}
{{:Referral-Tree-Advanced-Ship-Classifications}}
{{:Referral-Tree-Basic-Ship-Classifications}}
{{:Referral-Tree-Ships-by-Function}}
{{:Referral-Tree-Speed-of-Travel}}

== Description ([[Specifications]]) ==
[[Carrier]]s are [[starship]]s designed to carry large numbers of small combat vessels, termed either [[fighter]]s or [[system defense boat]]s, to screen the battle fleet or support a planetary invasion. The [[smaller craft]] are arranged into groupings known as carried squadrons.
* [[Fighter]]s and light SDBs are little more than an annoying distraction in a major fleet action, but they can be extremely effective against ships of [[cruiser]] class or less.
* Frequently large displacement [[hull]]s are used with an [[unstreamlined]] [[dispersed structure]]. Imperial navies prefer hulls which can carry some armor and often use large [[launch tube]]s for rapid fighter deployment and recovery, often in place of a [[spinal mount]]ed weapon, and sometimes in addition to it. [[Screen]]s, [[repulsor]]s, and defensive batteries are a top priority for protection and numerous small beam batteries are used to shoot down enemy fighters.

=== Image Repository ===
This image repository contains a selection of carrier images:

'''[[Assault Carrier|Type VA Assault Carrier]]:'''
# No image yet available.

'''[[Battle Carrier|Type VB Battle Carrier]]:'''
# No image yet available.

'''[[Command Carrier|Type VC Command Carrier]]:'''
# No image yet available.

'''[[Defense Carrier|Type VD Defense Carrier]]:'''
# No image yet available.

'''[[Escort Carrier|Type VE Escort Carrier / Very Light Carrier]]:'''
# A [[Hyperion class Escort Carrier|''Hyperion'' class Escort Carrier]] in [[Nist (world)|Nist]] military service cruising past a [[moon]]. <br>[[File:Hyperion-class-Escort-Carrier Ade-Stewart 02-Nov-2019.jpg|400px]]

'''[[Fleet Carrier|Type VF Fleet Carrier]]:'''
# No image yet available.

'''[[Assault Carrier|Type VH Heavy Carrier]]:'''
# No image yet available.

'''[[Assault Carrier|Type VL Light Carrier]]:'''
# No image yet available.

'''[[Assault Carrier|Type VM Medium Carrier]]:'''
# No image yet available.

'''[[Assault Carrier|Type VP Pocket Carrier]]:'''
# No image yet available.

'''[[Assault Carrier|Type VS Superheavy Carrier]]:'''
# No image yet available.

'''[[Assault Carrier|Type VT Tender]]:'''
# Please see [[Tender]] article.

'''[[Assault Carrier|Type VU Ultraheavy Carrier]]:'''
# No image yet available.

=== Strategy & Tactics (Doctrine) ===
To understand carrier operations is to understand the utility and limitations of fleet fighters. Carriers are used to defend fleets from enemy fighters. They can maintain a combat space patrol. Fighters with sufficiently large and sophisticated computers can score hits on enemy minor combatants and degrade enemy escort strength. One squadron per escort is typical for massed volley fire. Fusion armed fighters rush in for close assaults to increase their chances of scoring penetrating hits against low agility lightly armored targets. Fighters can be used to finish weakened ships which have withdrawn from the line of battle for repairs. They can provide cover for boarding operations as well. They can provide close point defense by intercepting homing ordinance targeting friendly fleet assets. They are invaluable for planetary assaults and are critical for marines to survive. Close fighter support allows assault capsules to land, supplies to arrive and wounded to be evacuated. Fighter strikes are used to smash hard targets so that marine forces can bypass centers of resistance and maintain an accelerated offensive tempo vital for their style of assault. They leave protracted siege to follow on army units.

=== Supraclass Roles ===
''[[Subcraft Carrier]]''s typically serve as [[Carrier]]s or [[Tender]]s:

''[[Carrier]]''s typically serve the following roles: <br>
''[[Largecraft]] & [[Bigcraft]]:''
{| class="wikitable sortable" 
!colspan="4"| V-class Carrier Supraclass Archetypes
|-
! Archetype
! Type Code
|-
| [[Assault Carrier]] 
| VA
|-
| [[Battle Carrier]] 
| VB
|-
| [[Carrier]] 
| V (namesake)
|-
| [[Command Carrier]] 
| VC
|-
| [[Escort Carrier]] 
| VE
|-
| [[Fleet Carrier]] 
| VF
|-
| [[Heavy Carrier]] 
| VH
|-
| [[Light Carrier]] 
| VL
|-
| [[Mercenary Carrier]] 
| VE
|-
| [[Micro-Escort Carrier]] 
| VE
|-
| [[Pocket Carrier]] 
| VP
|-
| [[Provincial Combat Carrier]] 
| VF
|-
| [[Range Carrier]] 
| VF
|-
| [[Strike Carrier]] 
| VA
|-
| [[System Defense Carrier]] 
| VD
|-
|}

'''[[Tender]]s''' typically serve the following roles: <br>
''[[Largecraft]] & [[Bigcraft]]:''
{| class="wikitable sortable" 
!colspan="4"| VT-class Tender Supraclass Archetypes
|-
! Archetype
! Type Code
|-
| [[Attack Boat Tender]]
| VTB
|-
| [[Battle Tender]]
| VTB
|-
| [[Battlerider Carrier]]
| VTB
|-
| [[Command Tender]]
| VTC
|-
| [[Commercial Tender]]
| TV
|-
| [[Communication Tender]]
| XT
|-
| [[Cruiser Tender]]
| VT
|-
| [[Defense Tender]]
| VTD
|-
| [[Destroyer Tender]]
| VT
|-
| [[Escort Tender]]
| VTE
|-
| [[Fast Tender]]
| VTF
|-
| [[Fighter Tender]]
| VT
|-
| [[Fleet Tender]]
| VTF
|-
| [[Frontier Tender]]
| VTF
|-
| [[Heavy Tender]]
| VTH 
|-
| [[Interdiction Tender]]
| VTD
|-
| [[Jump Carrier]]
| TV
|-
| [[Jump Shuttle]]
| TV
|-
| [[Light Tender]]
| VTL 
|-
| [[Medium Tender]]
| VTM 
|-
| [[Repair Tender]]
| VT
|-
| [[Ship Tender]]
| VT
|-
| [[Ship Transporter]]
| TV
|-
| [[Strike Tender]]
| VTB
|-
| [[Superheavy Tender]]
| VTS
|-
| [[System Defense Boat Tender]]
| VTD
|-
| [[Tender]] (Militarized)
| VT (Namesake)
|-
| [[Ultraheavy Tender]]
| VTU
|-
| [[Very Light Tender]]
| VTE
|-
| [[Xboat Tender]]
| XT
|-
|}

==== Size-Class Roles for Carrier Vessels ====
''[[Carrier]]s:''
# [[Utility Craft]] (U) (1 to 99 [[ton]]s)
# [[Escort Carrier]] (VE) (100 to 2,499 [[ton]]s)
# [[Light Carrier]] (VL) (2,500 to 99,999 [[ton]]s)
# [[Medium Carrier]] (VM) (100,000 to 199,999 [[ton]]s)
# [[Pocket Carrier]] (VP) (200,000 to 249,999 [[ton]]s)
# [[Heavy Carrier]] (VH) (250,000 to 499,999 [[ton]]s)
# [[Superheavy Carrier]] (VS) (500,000 to 999,999 [[ton]]s)
# [[Ultraheavy Carrier]] (VU) (1,000,000 or more [[ton]]s)

=== Supraclass Archetypal Roles ===
These vessels typically serve the following archetypal roles:
{| class="wikitable sortable" 
!colspan="4"| V-class Subcraft Carrier Supraclass Archetypes
|-
! Archetype
! Type Code
! Exemplar 
! Remarks
|-
| [[Subcraft Carrier]]
| V (namesake)
| [[Lurenti class Battle Carrier]]
| V-class vessels represent a school of thought using larger vessels to deploy smaller ones, or [[subcraft]]. The [[Subcraft Carrier]] [[supraclass]] includes both [[carrier]]s and [[tender]]s. [[Carrier]]s carry [[smallcraft]] [[fighter]]s and [[tender]]s carry [[bigcraft]] [[battle rider]]s.
* V = Vehicle Carrier, a'''V'''iation or voler, [[etc.]]
* ''Voler'' is a [[Terran]] [[French]] word meaning "to fly."
|-
| [[Assault Carrier]]
| VA
| [[Wind class Strike Carrier]]
| ''[[Assault Carrier]]s'' specialize in planetary assault using their [[fighter]]s to conduct round-the-clock surface bombardment missions and then shuttling down [[troop transport]]s and [[armored fighting vehicle]]s. 
* A = Assault, Attack, Strike, [[etc.]]
* VA-14:  These Carriers carry assault landers and other craft whose missions are focused on ground assault mission, rather then fighters.  These vessels usually carry large numbers of troops.
* VS-13/-15: The VS-13/-15 series is a new line of '''carriers''' designed independent of the VF-11/-12 series.
|-
| [[Battle Carrier]] 
| VB 
| [[Wind class Strike Carrier]]
| ''[[Battle Carrier]]:'' Interstellar ship transport intended to carry [[fighter]]s into combat. Generally a [[dispersed structure]] (...of up to one million [[ton]]s), it transports a squadron of a number of [[fighter]]s ready for immediate launch upon entry into a [[system]]. While the fighters press the attack, the battle carrier stays in reserve for protection.
* B = Battle, Combat, Far, Fast, Frontier, [[etc.]]
|-
| [[Command Carrier]]
| VC
| [[War Child class Command Carrier]]
| ''[[Command Carrier]]s'' perform [[flagship]] roles, coordinating large numbers of [[fighter]]s. [[courier vessel]]s, [[scout vessel]]s, and line combatants, as the center of a battle fleet. This role is ordinarily taken by a fleet's premier [[battleship]]s. 
* C = Command 
|-
| [[Defense Carrier]]
| VD
| No exemplar yet available.
| ''[[Defense Carrier]]s'' are a specialized form of carriers that forward deploy [[fighter]]s in similar roles to [[SDB]]s. The use of defense carriers can strategically deny fleets access to [[gas giant]]s or other [[Jump Bridge|fuel source]]s and thus deny enemy battle battle fleets strategic mobility and flexibility. 
* D = Defense 
|-
| [[Escort Carrier]]
| VE
| [[Hyperion class Escort Carrier]]
| ''Escort Carriers'' or ''[[Very Light Carrier]]s'' are small vessels that displace between 100 to 2,499 [[ton]]s in size. While not very useful for larger fleet formations, they are great in an escort role, putting out a sensor picket, protecting against other [[fighter]]s, or for strikes against lightly defended targets. They can also be built relatively quickly, staffed quickly, and quickly deployed into action. Many fleets operate escort carriers because of their usefulness within their identified roles.  
* E = Escort, [[Very Light Carrier]], [[etc.]] 
|-
| [[Fleet Carrier]]
| VF
| [[Antiama class Fleet Carrier]] 
| ''Fleet Carriers'' are built to operate as part of a fleet, not independently. Their [[subcraft]] provide tactical and strategic support to a line a battlefleet a [[CruRon]] or a [[BatRon]]. Their fighters provide sensor pickets, an expanded sensor net, either in a tactical or strategic sense, provide missile shields intercepting enemy munitions, or provide strike assets damaging enemy [[capital ship]]s. They are dependent on other [[capital ship]]s and [[auxiliary]] elements such as [[tanker]]s or [[combat support ship]]s.
* F = Fleet, Combat Support, Strategic, [[etc.]]
* VF-11: The massive VF-11 was produced to provide support for the vast numbers of [[fighter]]s that fleet tactics required. The size and design of the VF-11 call for an independent refueling [[tanker]], the TV-11. 
* VF-12: The technological development of the VF-11 into the VF-12 also called for a similar [[tanker]], but rather than design a new vessel, the TV-11 was used without change. 
|-
| [[Heavy Carrier]] 
| VH
| [[Midway class Heavy Carrier]]
| A ''[[Heavy Carrier]]'' is a size-displacement category which includes [[vessel]]s that weigh between 250,000 to 499,999 [[ton]]s. Heavies are very large craft, as big as many [[cruiser]]s and [[battleship]]s and capable of carrying a large, powerful load of [[subcraft]], enough [[fighter]]s to seriously threaten most battle fleets. 
* H = Heavy
* VH-13: Very large carrier designed to serve as a force [[flagship]], carrying a large suite of defensive weaponry.  Due to its size, cost, and complexity, they were not considered effective units. The smaller carriers are favored due to cost effectiveness and tactical flexibility.
|-
| [[Light Carrier]]
| VL
| [[Skimkish class Light Carrier]]
| A ''[[Light Carrier]]'' is a size-displacement category which includes [[vessel]]s that weigh between 2,500 to 99,999 [[ton]]s. Light vessels can be impressive craft, just under 100k in tonnage, which is more than large enough to threaten [[merchant vessel]]s, smaller system defense fleets, and many lesser targets including smaller [[world-state]]s. 
* L = Light 
* VL-15: The higher-tech trend is to smaller '''carriers'''. The VL-15 [[Light Carrier|light carrier]] 
|-
| [[Medium Carrier]]
| VM
| [[Antiama class Fleet Carrier]]
| A ''[[Medium Carrier]]'' is a size-displacement category which includes [[vessel]]s that weigh between 100,000 to 199,999 [[ton]]s. Medium vessels are large vessels, [[cruiser]]-sized, and are general considered [[capital ship]]s, serious combatants. They require serious resources, logistical support, and large crews, but they project power across interstellar distances when used correctly in ways that no [[escort]] or [[destroyer]] can match. 
* M = Medium 
|-
| [[Pocket Carrier]]
| VP
| [[Horror class Strike Carrier]]
| A ''[[Pocket Carrier]]'' is a size-displacement category which includes [[vessel]]s that weigh between 200,000 to 249,999 [[ton]]s. 
* P = Pocket
* VP-15:  Even smaller than the light carriers is the VP-15 [[Pocket Carrier|pocket carrier]] continuing the higher-tech trend to smaller, more inexpensive vessels.
|-
| [[Superheavy Carrier]]
| VS
| [[Mordax class Fleet Carrier]]
| A ''[[Superheavy Carrier]]'' is a size-displacement category which includes [[vessel]]s that weigh between 500,000 to 999,999 [[ton]]s. Superheavies are incredibly large vessels, bigger than the resources of the typical [[pocket empire]] or [[world-state]] can construct. They take years to build, requiring huge costs, massive expenditures of [[resource]]s, and massive [[crew]]s. They are rarely available in other than very small runs, but they have massive combat power. 
* S = Superheavy 
|-
| [[Tender]]
| VT (namesake)
| [[World class Battle Tender]]
| ''[[Tender]]s'' carry [[bigcraft]], which is to say [[subcraft]] that are 100 [[ton]]s or larger in displacement. These subcraft are significantly larger, more powerful, and longer-legged than the [[smallcraft]] [[fighter]]s carried by traditional [[carriers]]. This gives significantly more strategic options than a [[fighter]]-equipped carrier, but not always better striking power within a fighter's range envelope. The [[Battle Rider]] is the prototypical bigcraft carried by [[Battle Tender]]s and entire schools of naval strategy have arisen concerning their usage and deployment. {{Unpublished cite|author= [[Maksim-Smelchak]] }}
* T = Tender, [[Ship Transporter|Military Ship Transporter]], [[Battle Tender]], [[etc.]] 
|-
| [[Ultraheavy Carrier]]
| VU
| [[Kliqrv class Battle Carrier]]
| A ''[[Ultraheavy Carrier]]'' is a size-displacement category which includes [[vessel]]s that weigh 1,000,000 or more [[ton]]s. Ultraheavies are not for the thrifty... Only the largest of [[supra-polities]] can afford them, and they are almost always specialized for very specific roles, typically as [[flag ship]]s for the largest fleets.  
* U = Ultraheavy
|-
| [[Commercial Tender]] & [[Ship Transporter]]
| TV
| [[Mariner class Frame Carrier]]
| ''[[Ship Transporter]]''s or [[commercial tender]]s are similar to [[carrier]]s and [[tender]]s, but instead of military subcraft, they carry civilian [[subcraft]]. The concept is similar to the [[battle rider]] concept, except in a civilian application. The class also includes various kinds of [[jump ship]]s or [[jump train]]s, specialized to carry variable cargos, or as [[jump shuttle]]s.
* T = [[Transport]]
* V = [[Vehicle Carrier]], [[Subcraft Carrier]], Jump Con'''V'''eyance, [[Jump Shuttle]]s, [[Ship Transporter]], [[etc.]]
|-
!colspan="4"| ''NOTES:'' There is semantic overlap between many of the classes and codes. Some codes organize by mission or capability, others by size and [[ton]]nage, and yet others by other characteristics.
|-
|}

== History & Background ([[Dossier]]) ==
Historically different navies have used fighters differently.
* Imperial fleets do not heavily emphasize carriers as the ships that decide battles.  They carefully pair carriers with assault squadrons and battle squadrons with fleet tenders.  Fighters can screen the launching and recovery of battle riders.  Battle riders are used to destroy enemy ships of the line and the fighters make sure some survive recovery operations.
* [[Vargr]] fighter pilots are widely regarded as fierce and unpredictable opponents.  Corsairs use fighters when available.  Fighter pilot duty is seen as extremely charismatic among the Vargr.
* [[Zhodani]] fleets are more likely to place fighters on small patrol ships for intelligence gathering and recon.  Some of this is thought to be supplemented by psionic crew members.  They use the fighters as a force multiplier to give smaller ships more batteries to bring to bear against smaller combatants and are very helpful during commerce raiding deep behind enemy lines.

=== Selected Variant Types & Classes ===
{{:Referral-Tree-Type-VA-Assault-Carrier}}
{{:Referral-Tree-Type-VB-Battle-Carrier}}
{{:Referral-Tree-Type-VC-Command-Carrier}}
{{:Referral-Tree-Type-VD-Defense-Carrier}}
{{:Referral-Tree-Type-VE-Escort-Carrier}}
{{:Referral-Tree-Type-VF-Fleet-Carrier}}
{{:Referral-Tree-Type-VH-Heavy-Carrier}}
{{:Referral-Tree-Type-VL-Light-Carrier}}
{{:Referral-Tree-Type-VM-Medium-Carrier}}
{{:Referral-Tree-Type-VP-Pocket-Carrier}}
{{:Referral-Tree-Type-VS-Superheavy-Carrier}}
{{:Referral-Tree-Type-VU-Ultraheavy-Carrier}}

=== Ship Summary List ===
Some of the most commonly used [[vessel]]s in this role or these roles include:
{{Ship summary list|name= Subcraft Carrier |tdes= V}}
{{Ship summary list|name= Assault Carrier |tdes= VA}}
{{Ship summary list|name= Battle Carrier |tdes= VB}}
{{Ship summary list|name= Command Carrier |tdes= VC}}
{{Ship summary list|name= Defense / Interdiction Carrier |tdes= VD}}
{{Ship summary list|name= Escort Carrier |tdes= VE}}
{{Ship summary list|name= Fleet Carrier |tdes= VF}}
{{Ship summary list|name= Heavy Carrier |tdes= VH}}
{{Ship summary list|name= Light Carrier |tdes= VL}}
{{Ship summary list|name= Medium Carrier |tdes= VM}}
{{Ship summary list|name= Pocket Carrier |tdes= VP}}
{{Ship summary list|name= Supraheavy Carrier |tdes= VS}}
{{Ship summary list|name= Tenders |tdes=VT}}
{{Ship summary list|name= Ultraheavy Carrier |tdes= VU}}
{{Ship summary list|name= Commercial Carrier / Ship Transporter |tdes= TV}}

== References & Contributors ([[Sources]]) ==
{{Intermediate}}
{{Detail}}
{{Sources
|S1= {{Ludography cite|name= Library Data (A-M) |page=TBD|version=Classic Traveller}}
|S2= {{Ludography cite|name= Fighting Ships|page=34-36|version=Classic Traveller}}
|S3= {{Ludography cite|name= Fighting Ships of the Shattered Imperium|page=54-64}}
|S5= [[HIWG]] Papers
|S4= {{Ludography cite|name= Fighting Ships|page=14-15|version=Traveller D20}}
|S7= Author & Contributor: Lord (Marquis) and Master of Sophontology [[Maksim-Smelchak]] of the [[Ministry of Science]], Emeritus
}}


[[Category: Ship Organization]]
[[Category: Ship type definitions]]
[[Category: Supraclass]]
{{LEN|}}