Modular Ship
Modular Ships are ships that make widespread, fundamental use of modular technology.
- The Supraclass designation is also known as Ship Mission, Ship Mission Code, Mission, or Ship Hull Designation.
- It is a starship supraclass.
Library Data Referral Tree
Please refer to the following AAB Library Data for more information:
Starship:
- Advanced Ship Classifications
- Ship Mission Code / Supraclass
- Ship Type Code / Superclass
- Ship Class Code / Class
- Model (TL)
- Bloc (Lot)
- Astronomical Unit (AU)
- FTL
- Light Speed (c)
- Light-week (lw)
- Light-year (ly)
- NAFAL (STL)
- Parsec (pc)
Description (Specifications)
Almost all ships use interchangeable parts to a large degree, but not all ships use large interchangeable system modules that weigh in at 10.0 tons or more in size, weight, or displacement. The ubiquitous LSP Modular Cutter is probably the best known modular smallcraft in Charted Space. The very common Chrysanthemum class Destroyer Escort might be the best known largecraft in Charted Space.
Image Repository
- A top view of Chrysanthemum class Destroyer Escort.
- A Salamander-class coming into a starport to trade.
- This is a side view and a top view of a smaller layout of the modular ship known as the Roca Maestro class Modular Ore Hauler.
- A stock Modular Cutter image by a famous starcraft artist.
Strategy & Tactics (Doctrine)
Modular ships serve numerous roles and ae useful in nearly all of them. Modular technology allows a ship to adapt to its mission, being able to make payload and equipment adjustments to fit the needs of the mission.
Supraclass Roles
Modular Ships typically serve the following roles:
Modular Largecraft & Bigcraft:
- Capsular Transport
- Modular Heavy Fleet Auxiliary
- Modular Light Fleet Auxiliary
- Modular Liner
- Modular Merchant
- Modular Ore Hauler
- Modular Starship
- Modular Subsidized Merchant
- Modular Systems Vessel
- Modular Trader
- Modular Warship
- Multimission Clipper
Supraclass Archetypal Roles
These vessels typically serve the following archetypal roles:
Modular Ship Supraclass Archetypes | |||
---|---|---|---|
Archetype | Type Code/s | Exemplar | Remarks |
Modular Trader | Various (MT) | Salamander class Far Trader | The Modular Trader is a mission-based ship classification including all ships performing mercantile trade missions. They can be any size or displacement and their key identifying characteristic is that they use modular technology.
|
Modular Warship | Various (MW) | Chrysanthemum class Destroyer Escort | The Modular Warship is a mission-based ship classification including all ships performing combatant missions. They can be any size or displacement and their key identifying characteristic is that they use modular technology.
|
Modular Smallcraft | Various (UMM) | Inthe class Modular Cutter | The Modular Smallcraft is a mission-based ship classification including all ships performing auxiliary utility missions. They can be only be 1.0 to 99.9 tons in size or displacement and their key identifying characteristic is that they use modular technology.
|
NOTES: There is semantic overlap between many of the classes and codes. Some codes organize by mission or capability, others by size and tonnage, and yet others by other characteristics. |
History & Background (Dossier)
A hull is a hull is a hull... goes one school of naval architecture that theorizes that the primary differences between two hulls are simply the mission package. Under this design school, a ship with a modular mission package should be available to perform any mission for which it's hull is suited, and for which it possesses the appropriate mission package. While aspects of modularity have caught on among many various standardized ship equipment components, the entire design school has never acquired a large following. Adjustable hulls, especially telescoping or capsular hulls have their own complications, especially when making jump calculations. Images of unidentified precursor hulls are widely assumed to have solved the problems of these modular hulls with technologies not available to high end TL:13-15 Charted Space. [1]
In the mean time, modular hulls have caught on with large parts of the shipping industries, both replacing, complementing, and in some cases superceding conventional container ship hulls. Most clippers are now manufactured with modular hull technologies. The standard cutter has almost entirely disappeared, which has been replaced by the now far more common Modular Cutter. And some warships such as the Chrysanthemum class Destroyer Escort use very large, interchangeable mission packages. It has yet to be seen whether these modular technologies will become more widespread. [2]
Ship Turrets, Bays, Sockets & Cargo Containers
Contemporary interstellar vessels already use a variety of standardized and modular subcomponents including:
- Barbette
- Bay
- Cargo Container
- Drop Troop Pod Launcher
- External Cradle
- External Fuel Probe
- Launch Tube
- Ship's Hardpoint
- Ship Turret
- Standard Door
- Surface Mount
Universal Manufacturing Templates (UMT's)
UMT's are very specific data files that describe in excruciating detail the specifications to manufacturing a technological device. They contain critical pathways, dual use methodologies, prerequisite technology paths, and in depth instructions for both an object and all of the technologies leading to it. Such information can be incredibly valuable or decidingly commonplace. The simpler UMT's can be purchased from the street peddlers of more technologically advanced worlds while more sensitive technologies might only be available on megacorporation fab worlds or naval depots.
Selected Variant Types & Classes
- Type MT class Modular Trader
- Aurora class Multimission Clipper
- Brown class Jump Ship
- Caccil class Merchant
- Garuda class Modular Systems Vessel
- Ghost Galleon class Cargo Ship
- Hummingbird class Courier
- Krinyaoth class Capsular Transport
- LSP Modular Starship
- Maggart class Clipper
- Queen class Modular Subsidized Merchant
- Revolver class Modular Liner
- Roca Maestro class Modular Ore Hauler
- Salamander class Far Trader
- Spartan class Modular Merchant
- Type TJ class Jump Ship
- Xebec class Modular Merchant
- Type MW class Modular Warship
- Type UMM class Modular Utility Craft
Ship Summary List
Some of the most commonly used vessels and smallcraft in this role or these roles include:
References & Contributors (Sources)
- Traveller Wiki Editorial Team
- Author & Contributor: Lord (Marquis) and Master of Sophontology Maksim-Smelchak of the Ministry of Science
- ↑ Information provided to the library by Maksim-Smelchak
- ↑ Information provided to the library by Maksim-Smelchak