Battleship
B-class 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 that may or may not be identical to conventional battleships.
- Monitors are rated as H-class Defensive Vessels.
- 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[edit]
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)[edit]
A Battleship is a capital ship: a starship intended to stand in the line-of-battle in space combat. Battleships are usually supported by cruisers, which stiffen the ranks of the line-of-battle. Battleships typically displace two hundred thousand tons or more. They require thousands of crew, vast resources, and enormous costs. Yet, nothing can replace a battleship and the overwhelming power of its spinal mount on the interstellar battlefield.
Image Repository[edit]
- A side view of an Indomitable class Battleship.
- View of a Dominator-class from a highport lounge.
- No image yet available.
- Three Sylea class Battleships abreast clearing a star system of corsair vessels.
- A Sutherland class Dreadnought.
- A Kokirrak class Dreadnought in combat.
- A side view schematic of a Yrkath Ossu E*Wr class Battleship with a Beowulf class Free Trader for size comparison.
- A side view schematic of a Pador class Dreadnought with a Beowulf class Free Trader for size comparison.
- A World class Battle Tender laden down with five Nolikian class Battle Riders.
- A Gallant class Battle Rider flanked by two Type S'es on patrol..
Type BS Superheavy Battleship:
- A typical deployed Tigress with smallcraft in action (...viewed from the aft).
Battleship vs. Dreadnought[edit]
Dreadnought: A dreadnought is a superbattleship, designed to be the best possible battleship. The Imperial Navy places the dreadnought designation on its latest, most-effective battleships, redesignating them simply as battleships when their superior abilities are supplanted by newer construction.
- The concept of dreadnought does not mean that battleships are not built as well. Due to the expense of dreadnoughts, the Imperial Navy also acquires battleships as such. [1]
Strategy & Tactics (Doctrine)[edit]
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:
- 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.
- 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[edit]
Battleships typically serve the following roles:
B-class Battle Supraclass Archetypes | |||
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Archetype | Type Code | ||
Battle Rider | (BR) | ||
Battleship | (B) (Namesake) | ||
Dreadnought | (B) (...old DN) | ||
Frontier Battleship | (BB) | ||
Heavy Battleship | (BH) (...old BA) | ||
Heavy Monitor | (HM) | ||
Hybrid Battle Rider | (BZ) | ||
Light Battleship | (BL) | ||
Line Battleship | (BB) | ||
Medium Battleship | (BM) | ||
Missile Battleship | (BB) | ||
Monitor | (HM) | ||
Strike Battleship | (BB) | ||
Super Battleship | (BS) | ||
Super Dreadnought | (BS) | ||
Ultraheavy Battleship | (BU) |
Military Subcraft[edit]
Military subcraft (...both smallcraft and bigcraft) are carried by some of these vessels:
- Battle Rider (BR)
- Combat Barge (WBG)
- Combat Transport Smallcraft (UI)
- Fighters (F)
- Militarized Utility Craft (UQ)
Supraclass Archetypal Roles[edit]
These vessels typically serve the following archetypal roles:
B-class Battleship Supraclass Archetypes | |||
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Archetype | Type Code | Exemplar | Remarks |
Battleship | B (Namesake) | Plankwell class Battleship | 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.
|
Line Battleship | BB | Dominator class Battleship | Line battleships are flexible combat vessels built to operate independently or in groups as part of a concerted strategy. In other words, they do it all with an emphasis on destroying enemy fleets. Many also vary fighter squadrons, planetary bombardment weaponry, specialized sensors, extensive onboard facilities, and a variety of other equipment. Line battleships show the flag wherever they go. 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.
|
Heavy Battleship | BH | Tigress class Dreadnought | The heavy battleship are placed between 250,000 tons to 499,999 tons in displacement and are known by a variety 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.
|
Light Battleship | BL | Gunhound class Light Battleship | Light battleships typically displace between 2,500 to 99,999 tons. 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.
|
Medium Battleship | BM | Murrain class Medium Battleship | Medium battleships typically displace between 100,000 to 199,999 tons.
|
Pocket Battleship | BP | Plankwell class Battleship | Pocket battleships typically displace between 200,000 to 249,999 tons.
|
Battle Rider | BR | Nolikian class Battle Rider | 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.
|
Superheavy Battleship or Superheavy Dreadnought | BS | Idlev class Superbattleship | Superheavy battleships typically displace between 500,000 to 999,999 tons.
|
Ultraheavy Battleship or Ultraheavy Dreadnought | BU | Cluj class Super Battleship | Ultraheavy warships of any superclass are simply massive weighing in at a million or more tons in weight and displacement. They take years to build and require massive investments of resources. Typically, only the major races can afford to build them. On the other hand, they are tough to counter with smaller vessels although it certainly can be done.
|
Hybrid Battle Rider | ZEB (BZ) | No unclassified models. | 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.
|
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)[edit]
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.
Selected Variant Types & Classes[edit]
Military Ship - Warship - Line Battleship:
Military Ship - Warship - Heavy Battleship:
- Type BH class Heavy Battleship
- Aedekho class Dreadnought
- Arrghonz class Dreadnought
- Charming class Battleship
- Cheveldi class Battleship
- Chiqrr class Battleship
- Concord class Battleship
- Dirqral class Battleship
- Dominator class Battleship
- Formidable class Dreadnought
- Grendal class Dreadnought
- Kirunika'rra class Battleship
- Jotvobl class Battleship
- Khurkish class Dreadnought
- Mastigo class Battleship
- Mother of War class Battleship
- Mukusi class Strike Battleship
- Oblivion class Battleship
- Okedi class Battleship
- Pride of Talokan class Battleship
- Prince John III class Battleship
- Prince Stuart IV class Battleship
- Retribution class Battleship
- Shianzpla class Battleship
- Staklen class Frontier Battleship
- Triumph class Battleship
- Usan class Dreadnought
- Wavel class Battleship
Military Ship - Warship - Light Battleship:
Military Ship - Warship - Medium Battleship:
- Type BM class Medium Battleship
- Connecticut class Medium Battleship
- Cordell class Battleship
- Dauntless class Battleship
- Domain class Medium Battleship
- Grendal class Battleship
- Harp class Battleship
- Hedron class Battleship
- Howe class Battleship
- Illinois class Battleship
- Jeremiah O'Brien class Battleship
- Joyeuse class Battleship
- Kalere class Dreadnought
- Kearsage class Battleship
- Maine class Battleship
- Malos Lobos class Battleship
- Minsk class Medium Battleship
- Murrain class Medium Battleship
- Prince Colin III class Medium Battleship
- Sylea class Battleship
- Sylean class Battleship
- Tenjada class Battleship
- Vander class Battleship
- Virginia class Battleship
Military Ship - Warship - Pocket Battleship:
- Type BP class Pocket Battleship
- Artemsus class Strike Battleship
- Chtrfiak class Battleship
- Courageous class Battleship
- Fauve class Battleship
- Fenris class Dreadnought
- Furious Anger class Battleship
- Ixobis class Dreadnought
- Kline class Battleship
- Kokirrak class Dreadnought
- Lefaen class Battleship
- Marat class Battleship
- Pador class Dreadnought
- Plankwell class Dreadnought
- Prince Ian II class Battleship
- Prince Morris I class Battleship
- Prince Roger III class Battleship
- Sarriaklir class Battleship
- Smelchak class Battleship
- Sutherland class Ship of the Line
- Tronskia class Dreadnought
- Type VB class Battleship
- Viepchakl class Battleship
- Voroshilef class Battleship
- Yrkath Ossu E*Wr class Battleship
Military Ship - Warship - Superheavy Battleship:
- Type BS class Superheavy Battleship
- Amoreuxi class Dreadnought
- Audacious class Dreadnought
- Commandant class Dreadnaught
- Depression class Dreadnought
- Duke of Sanches class Dreadnought
- Idlev class Superbattleship
- Jarnac class Dreadnought
- Krohn class Dreadnought
- Miller class Dreadnought
- Thingen class Dreadnaught
- Tigress class Dreadnought
Military Ship - Warship - Ultraheavy Battleship:
Ship Summary List[edit]
Some of the most commonly used vessels in this role or these roles include:
9 Representative Battleship (B) Classes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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0 Representative Line Battleship (BB) Classes | |
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0 Representative Heavy Battleship (BH) Classes | |
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0 Representative Light Battleship (BL) Classes | |
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2 Representative Medium Battleship (BM) Classes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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0 Representative Pocket Battleship (BP) Classes | |
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6 Representative Battle Rider (BR) Classes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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1 Representative Superheavy Battleship (BS) Classes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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0 Representative Ultraheavy Battleship (BU) Classes | |
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References & Contributors (Sources)[edit]
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 article is an amalgamation of many different materials published since 1977.
- 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.