Editing Ton

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A [[Ton]] is both a measure of volume and a measure of mass or weight with two  primary meanings:

A Displacement Ton (abbreviated as ''dTon'' or ''dT''), a unit of volume is equal to between 13.5 and 14.0 [[Kiloliter|cubic meter]]s. It is derived from the volume of a ton (mass) of liquid [[hydrogen]], the most common [[Ship Fuel|fuel]] used by [[starship]]s. 

A [[wikipedia:Ton|Ton]] (or tonne) (abbreviated as ''T'') is a unit of mass equal to one thousand [[kilogram]]s.

=== Additional Nomenclature ===
The foundation of the [[starship]] is the [[hull]], into or onto which all other [[Ship Equipment|component]]s are placed. [[Hull]]s are identified by their mass displacement (...expressed in tons; one ton equals approximately 14 [[Kiloliter|cubic meter]]s) and by their configuration.{{Page cite|name= High Guard |page=21-22 |version=Classic Traveller}}

Ships may be very large and for convenience have their masses measured in kilotons (abbreviated to [[Kton]]s), a unit equal to 1,000 standard tons. Ships of at least a megaton (or Mton), which is 1,000,000 standard tons, are rare enough that "megaton" is not commonly used. "Gigaton" (or Gton), being 1,000,000,000 standard tons, and higher units are almost unheard of when describing ships. Typically when talking about objects in space of a megaton or more (and not talking about moons, planets, stars, or larger objects), one is talking about [[planetoid]]s instead of ships. These prefixes derive from the pre-spaceflight [[Terra]]n International System of Units as expressed in [[Anglic]] (which also gives tera for 1,000,000,000,000, peta for 1,000,000,000,000,000, exa for 1,000,000,000,000,000,000, zetta for 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000, and yotta for 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000). Most [[human]] races have ten fingers, so most of their mathematical systems use base 10, thus their native languages have exact translations of these prefixes, which has helped drive their adoption.

In the USP, a Tonnage Code is given. This is a power of ten of the tonnage; 0 = up to 1 ton, 1 = up to 10 tons, 2 = up to 100 tons, 3 = up to 1000 tons, and so forth.

=== Many Kinds of Tons ===
Ever wondered why ship entries often have wildly different tonnage measures? Here's why:
# [[Assay Ton]]
# [[Deadweight Ton]]
# [[Displacement Ton]] ([[dTon]])
# [[Dry Ton]]
# [[Explosive Ton]] (Ton of TNT)
# [[Freight Ton]]
# [[Gigaton]] (Gton)
# [[Harbour Ton]]
# [[Hydrogen Ton]]
# [[Imperial Ton]]
# [[Kiloton]] ([[Kton]])
# [[Long Ton]]
# [[Longweight Ton]]
# [[Measurement Ton]] 
# [[Megaton]] (Mton)
# [[Metric Ton]] (T)
# [[Refrigerant Ton]]
# [[Register Ton]]
# [[Short Ton]]
# [[Shortweight Ton]]
# [[Water Ton]]

# [[Gross Tonnage]] (GT)
# [[Net Tonnage]] (NT)
# [[Gross Register Tonnage]] (GRT)
# [[Net Register Tonnage]] (NRT)

== History & Background ([[Dossier]]) ==
The creation of starship [[deck plan]]s is based on the assumption that one ton of mass displacement equals fourteen [[Kiloliter|cubic meter]]s. The standard [[displacement ton]] used for these calculations is derived from the volume of liquid [[hydrogen]], the [[fuel]] source for most standard star faring [[vessel]]s.{{Page cite|name= Adventure Class Ships Volume 1 |page= 3 |article= Book 2 |version= Classic Traveller|citeName=ACS3}} 

The square grid scale used on most deck plans is 1.5 meters on a side. Clearance between decks is normally 3 [[meter]]s. This means that two floor squares, extended floor to ceiling, equals four 1.5 [[Kiloliter|meter cube]]s or nearly 14 [[Kiloliter|cubic meter]]s (four lots of 1.5 [[Meter|m]] x 1.5 [[Meter|m]] x 1.5 [[Meter|m]] = 13.5 [[Kiloliter|cubic meter]]s), or one ton. A 100 [[dTon]] [[starship]] would thus contain approximately two hundred grid squares within.{{Page cite|citeName=ACS3}} 

Allowances of approximately + or - 10% were made in most areas to allow for better representation of specific parts of the ship and to cover various anomalies. For example, [[crew quarter]]s call for four tons per [[sophont]]: the actual tonnage allocated on many plans is often less than that, but additional area is devoted to communal areas such as [[galley]], [[mess]], [[wardroom]], and [[recreation area]]s.{{Page cite|citeName=ACS3}} 

Also, a limited volume of passages has been added to some [[starship]]s. Passages and access ways which have no other use may be safely added to a ship without affecting volume or displacement for construction purposes. These additional passages should amount to no more than an additional 10% of the ship's total volume.{{Page cite|name= Adventure Class Ships Volume 1 |page= 4 |article= Book 2 |version= Classic Traveller}}

== References & Contributors ([[Sources]]) ==
{{Metadata}}
{{Wikipedia|Ton}}
{{Intermediate}}
{{Sources
 | {{Ludography cite|name= High Guard |page= 21-22 |version=Classic Traveller}}
 | {{Ludography cite|name= Traders and Gunboats |page= 5|version=Classic Traveller}}
 | {{Ludography cite|name= Adventure Class Ships Volume 1 |page= 3-4 |article= Book 2 |version= Classic Traveller}} 
 | [[Ken Pick]] - [http://www.freelancetraveller.com/features/shipyard/tonnage.html What is Tonnage?] at [[Freelance Traveller]]
}}


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