Ship Mission Code

Ship Mission Codes are used somewhat inconsistently throughout Charted Space to identify ships.

• This code is a very generalized approximation of the primary mission of a vessel such as Free Trader.
• They generally consist of a word or phrase such as Corvette, Missile Cruiser, or Bulk Cargo Carrier.
• This hierarchical designation is also known as Ship Mission, Ship Mission Code, Mission, Ship Hull Designation, or 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)

The List of Hull Designations comprises an alphabetical list of the starship and spacecraft hull classification types (Superclass letter designations) to identify the type of a ship. The base description for the hull designations comes from Ship Type Codes.

• The combination of a letter designation and hull number are used by the Third Imperium to identify Imperial vessels uniquely. A heavily modified or repurposed ship may receive a new designation, and either retain the hull number or receive a new one. Also, the system of letter designations has changed a number of times, so ships' alphanumerical designations sometimes change without anything being done to the physical ship. Some of the ship hull designations listed here may not be presently in use.
• The Imperial Quick Ship Profile (QSP) is an abbreviated form of this measure.
• Additionally, due to changes over the millennia, some ship hull designations may be duplicated with alternate meanings. In other words, some letter codes have multiple meanings.

Imperial Ship Classification Synopsis

The basic system of ship classification and organization for ships within Charted Space and particularly within Imperial Space works on a simple hierarchy of mission (generalized use), type (specific use), class (very specific use), model (technological level), and lot or bloc (production run):

Imperial Ship Classification
#	Level	Designation	Synopsis	Example/s
1.	Ship Mission Codes	SUPRACLASS	MISSION	Free Trader AKA Merchant It is also known as Ship Mission, Ship Mission Code, Mission, Ship Hull Designation, or Supraclass.
2.	Ship Type Codes	SUPERCLASS	TYPE	Type A class Free Trader It is also known as Ship Type, Superclass, Ship Type Code, Craft Type Code, or simply Type.
3.	Ship Class Codes	CLASS	CLASS	Beowulf class Free Trader It designation is also known as Ship Class, Ship Class Code, or simply Class.
4.	Ship Model Codes	MODEL	TL & Model	TL-14 Beowulf Build Models aren’t always mentioned, but if they are, they are usually referred to by a TL designation.
5.	Ship Bloc Codes	LOT or BLOC	Named Ship	“The Lonesome Wolf” of ‘Bloc 312-1115d’ Ship Lots or Bloc Codes are rarely used except by naval shipyards, patrol craft, and the like. They are recorded in the ship’s computer as well as a number of places on the hull.

Overview of Imperial Ship Classification

Imperial Ship Classification
#	Level	Example	Remarks
1.	Supraclass (Function)	Dreadnought	It’s the largest organizational grouping by a generalized function or mission. For instance, battleships and cruisers have different generalized missions although they can perform many of the same jobs.
2.	Type (Superclass)	Type BB class Dreadnought	It’s a larger type grouping by a specific function or mission. Different kinds of battleships or types may perform different yet broadly similar missions.
3.	Class (Ship)	Tigress class Dreadnought	The ship itself is synonymous with a class. The first produced version becomes the class namesake under most practices. It has an even more specific mission that the craft type code (type) or superclass.
4.	Model (Version)	TL-15 Tigress Model 1105-Q3-9PR	This classification may include incremental improvements often as a result of TL advances. Some classes of ships can be built at several different TL’s. For instance, the ubiquitous Beowulf Free Trader has builds from TL-10 to TL-15.
5.	Lot (Block)	Block 365-1105 Reg-A-4702-4826-9931	This classification is also known as a Production Bloc. Blocs may have differences from lot to lot. Sometimes aftermarket or post-production modification (customization) may yield very different ships from the originally manufactured ship class.

History & Background (Dossier)

If one thing can be said about Charted Space, it might be that non-conformity reigns supreme. Even within the runaway superpower of the Third Imperium, the prototypical Feudal Confederation, naval fleet organization has often been haphazard. At least three major naming and organizational schema have been used since the Holiday Year.

All major race navies use similar yet significantly different systems.

Early Imperial Type Codes

The earliest Imperial Navy organizational codes were borrowed wholesale from the Sylean Federation Naval Service. They served the Imperium well until the First Civil War.

Ship Hull Designation Codes #1
Code	Primary	Secondary (M)	Secondary (C)
A	Military Auxiliary	Heavy	Heavy
B	Battleship	Battle	Battle
C	Cruiser	Cruiser	Construction Vessel
D	Destroyer	Destroyer	Transport
E	Escort	Escort	Tug
F	Frigate	Frigate	-
G	Commercial	Gunned	Governmental
H	Non-Commercial	Fuel	Fuel
IJ	Intruder	Interfacecraft	Interfacecraft
K	Safari Ship	Courier	Courier
L	Lab	Light	Light
M	Merchant	Missile	Mining Vessel
N	-	-	-
O	-	Ordinance	-
P	Fighter	Pursuit	Law Enforcement Vessel
Q	Military Specialty	Decoy	-
R	Liner	Rider	Residential Vessel
S	Military Smallcraft	Strike	Survey Vessel / Scout Vessel
T	Transport	Tender	Tender
U	Utility Craft	-	-
V	Carrier	Replenishment	Agricultural Vessel
W	Orbital Complexes	-	-
X	-	-	-
Y	Yacht	-	Private
Z	-	Hybrid	-	-

Alternative Ship Type Encoding

There are a number alternative ship type encoding.

• Starship type codes are between one and four or more characters long. In order there is an optional race or empire qualifier, a required primary mission identifier, and an optional mission qualifier.
• MegaTraveller has a subtly different set of ship type codes available. Nothing taken away, but a few additions are made.
• See Military Starship Types and Civilian Starship Types for more information.
• The full list is under the MT Primary and MT Qualifier below.

Mid-Imperium Ship Type Codes

The First Civil War really shook up the Third Imperium and caused naval strategists to rethink fleet organization. By the year 700, this new schema had been implemented.

Ship Hull Designation Codes #2
Code	Race	Primary	Qualifier	—	MT Primary	MT Qualifier
A	Aslan	Merchant	Armored	—	Merchant	Armored
B	-	Battle	Battle; Boat	—	Battle	Battle; Boat
C	-	Cruiser; Carrier	Cruiser; Close	—	Cruiser; Carrier	Cruiser; Close
D	Droyne	Destroyer	Destroyer	—	Destroyer	Destroyer
E	-	Escort	Escort	—	Escort	Escort
F	-	Frigate; Fighter	Fast; Fleet	—	Frigate; Fighter	Fast; Fleet
G	-	Gig; Refinery	Gunned	—	Gig	Gunned
H	Hiver	-	Heavy	—	Hunter	Heavy
I,J	Julian Protectorate	Intruder	-	—	Intruder	Imperial
K	K'kree	Pinnace	-	—	Pinnace	Courier
L	-	Corvette; Lab	Leader; Light	—	Lab; Corvette	Leader; Light
M	-	Merchant	Missile	—	Merchant	Missile
N	-	-	Non-Standard	—	Ferry	Non-Standard
P	-	Planetoid	Provincial	—	Planetoid	Provincial
Q	-	Auxiliary	Decoy	—	Auxiliary	Decoy
R	-	Liner	Raider	—	Liner	Raider
S	Solomani	Scout; Station	Strike	—	Scout; Station	Strike
T	-	Tanker; Tender	Troop; Transport	—	Tanker; Tender	Troop; Transport
U	-	-	Unpowered	—	Tug	Unpowered
V	Vargr	-	Vehicle	—	Carrier	Vehicle
W	-	Barge	-	—	Barge	Slow
X	-	Express	-	—	Express	Alternate
Y	-	Yacht	Shuttle; Cutter	—	Yacht	Shuttle; Cutter
Z	Zhodani	-	Experimental	—	Special	Experimental

Late Imperial Type Codes

Around the year 900, these codes began to predominate. The Imperial Navy adopted them wholesale before the year 1,000.

Late Imperial Ship Classification
Code Code	A. Mission 1. Supraclass	B, Qualifier 2. Superclass	C. Type 3. Class	D. Activity 4. Model	E. Service 5. Bloc (Lot)
C	Cruiser	Principal	Offensive	Combat	Military
G	Frigate	Major	Offensive	Combat	Military
E	Corvette	Minor	Offensive	Combat	Military
H	Ortillery Ship	Attack	Siege	Combat	Military
T	Assault	Invasion	Siege	Combat	Military
S	Sentinel	Defender	Siege	Combat	Military
B	Monitor	Principal	Defensive	Combat	Military
D	Defender (SDB)	Major	Defensive	Combat	Military
E	Escort	Minor	Defensive	Combat	Military
P	Corsair	Anti-Shipping	Independent	Combat	Military
P	Marauder	Anti-Port	Independent	Combat	Military
R	Raider	Anti-Commerce	Independent	Combat	Military
T	Transport	Major	Supply	Auxiliary	Military
W	Barge	Minor	Supply	Auxiliary	Military
T	Tender, Tug	Resupply	Supply	Auxiliary	Military
E	Corvette	Information	Supply	Auxiliary	Military
M	Liner	Passenger	Scheduled	Merchant	Civilian
R	Merchant Ship	Cargo	Scheduled	Merchant	Civilian
F	Freighter Ship	Freight	Scheduled	Merchant	Civilian
T	Transport	Freighter	Unscheduled	Merchant	Civilian
A	Trader	Cargo	Unscheduled	Merchant	Civilian
U	Packet Ship	Passenger	Unscheduled	Merchant	Civilian
K	Safari Ship	Recreation	Charter	Merchant	Civilian
K	Expedition Ship	Active	Charter	Merchant	Civilian
Y	Yacht	Luxury	Charter	Merchant	Civilian
S	Courier Ship	Small Goods	Information	Non-combat	Paramilitary
S	Messenger Ship	Data Files	Information	Non-combat	Paramilitary
X	Express Ship	Goods & Files	Information	Non-combat	Paramilitary
S	Scout Ship	First Look	Exploration	Non-combat	Paramilitary
S	Survey Ship	Re-Look	Exploration	Non-combat	Paramilitary
N	Beagle	Data Collection	Exploration	Non-combat	Paramilitary
N	Hospital Ship	Medical Data	Exploration	Non-combat	Paramilitary
L	Lab Ship	Data Analysis	Exploration	Non-combat	Paramilitary
J	Seeker (Prospector)	Resource Search	Exploration	Non-combat	Paramilitary
P	Picket Ship	Inspection	Bureaucratic	Non-combat	Paramilitary
P	Patrol Ship	Enforcement	Bureaucratic	Non-combat	Paramilitary
P	Privateer	Anti-Shipping	Privateer	Combat	Paramilitary
Z	Unclassified	Unclassified	Unclassified	Unclassified	Unclassified

References & contributors (Sources)

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.

• Marc Miller. Starships (Game Designers Workshop, 1977), 17-20.
• Marc Miller, Frank Chadwick, John Harshman. High Guard (Game Designers Workshop, 1980), 20.
• Marc Miller. Referee's Manual (Game Designers Workshop, 1987), TBD.
• Rob Caswell, William W. Connors, Joe Fugate, Gary L. Thomas. Starship Operator's Manual (Digest Group Publications, 1988), TBD.
• Frank Chadwick, Dave Nilsen. Traveller: The New Era (Game Designers Workshop, 1993), TBD.
• Don Perrin. Starships (Imperium Games, 1996), TBD.
• Doug Stewart, Tony Lee. Naval Architect's Manual (Imperium Games, 1997), TBD.
• Martin Dougherty, Hunter Gordon. The Traveller's Handbook (QuikLink Interactive, 2002), TBD.
• Martin Dougherty, Hunter Gordon. Gateway to Destiny (QuikLink Interactive, 2004), TBD.
• Citation Missing - Mongoose Traveller Main Rulebook
• Gareth Hanrahan, Dom Mooney. High Guard (Mongoose Publishing, 2008), TBD.
• Bryan Steele, Stuart Machin, Dom Mooney. Fighting Ships (Mongoose Publishing, 2009), TBD.
• Marc Miller. "A Brief History of the Universe." T5 Core Rules (2013): 330.
• Citation Missing - High Guard
• Citation Missing - High Guard: Aslan
• Citation Missing - Starter Set
• Traveller Wiki Editorial Team
• Author & Contributor: Lord (Marquis) and Master of Sophontology Maksim-Smelchak of the Ministry of Science