Jump Torpedo
Jump Torpedos don't officially exist in the canon OTU despite several key references in foundational Classic Traveller materials.
- A jump torpedo is a vehicular FTL starcraft that masses under a hundred tons yet has a jump drive in violation of canon.
Description (Specifications)[edit]
Many to most sources describe a jump torpedo as an unmanned starship under a 100 Dtons in size.
- They were intended to carry messages like giant carrier pigeons or X-boats, which later supplanted and replaced them in canon literature.
- The iconic X-Boat later replaces this story device.
- Later canon statements specifically prohibit jump drives in smallcraft at TL-15 or below.
- By later definition, the jump torpedo would be a large drone or a robot if its mind was intelligent enough.
Ortillerist class Torpedo Ship[edit]
Ships such as the Ortillerist class Torpedo Ship, which are at least one hundred tons but dedicate much of their tonnage to torpedo systems, are the closest thing to a jump torpedo that OTU supports, especially fully-automated drone or robot versions - but these are to torpedoes like carriers are to fighters.
Explanative Jump Torpedo Theories[edit]
David Jaques-Watson recorded several of the theories mulled over by fans and the TML:
- Theory 1. "Not in MY Traveller Universe!:" Disallow sub-100t jumpcraft completely. This means ignoring both Leviathan and the RSB.
- Theory 2. "The Moon's A Balloon:" Explain that the Leviathan's jump torps deploy an expandable structure that fills out to 100t displacement before initiating jump; this allows such craft as "jump lifeboats" carrying emergency low berths.
- Theory 3. "Clarke's Law:" Allow sub-100t jumps at TL-16. This is the simplest and most elegant solution ...the Leviathan's J-torps are therefore experimental technology supplied by Glisten, the Regency's jump-boats are cutting-edge tech developed during the cross-fertilisation of ideas between HRD/Deneb and the Darrians. The only canon change is to raise the TL of the jump drives installed on the jump-boats to TL-16.
History & Background (Dossier)[edit]
Fans argue about these matters quite often since several early Traveller works discuss these works and present statistics for the jump torpedo.
- Please see the discussion tab for this article.
External Link/s[edit]
This technology has the following external links available:
- EXTERNAL LINK: Are jump torpedoes allowed by canon? by David Jaques-Watson
References & Contributors (Sources)[edit]
- Bob McWilliams. Leviathan (Game Designers Workshop, 1980), 35. (Classic Traveller Adventure 4)
- Jim Cunningham. High Passage 3 (FASA, 1982), 16.
- Dave Nilsen. The Regency Sourcebook (Game Designers Workshop, 1995), 88.
- Traveller Wiki Editorial Team
- Author & Contributor: Lord (Marquis) and Master of Sophontology Maksim-Smelchak of the Ministry of Science
- Author & Contributor: Adrian Tymes