Missile Rack

Missile Racks are launchers for small anti-ship missiles or other kinds of GUW ordinance.

• Most missile racks employ conventional ordnance, but have the capability to launch Thunderballs.
• Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD's) are known colloquially as Thunderballs, are controlled through tradition and the more explicit Imperial Rules of War.

Description (Specifications)

The typical missile used by standardized ship’s missile racks is a homing type which constantly seeks the target ship, ultimately being destroyed by the target's defenses, or exploding and doing damage to it. Such missiles may also be converted to planetary surface bombs, or to surveillance drones.

Typical Missile Rack Costing

Ship Weapons
Equipment Type	Typical Cost (Cr)	Weight
Missile Rack	Cr750,000	1.0 ton

NOTE: Other ship weapon types and mountings exist, including some very exotic weaponry.

Typical Anti-ship Missile Costs

Individual missiles weigh about 50 kg, and cost Cr5,000 (or more) each.

History & Background (Dossier)

GUW missiles typically premier in most sophont societies in the TL:4-6 tech epoch with simple guidance systems. By the TL:7-9 tech epoch, they are miniaturized and perfected. GUW ordinance can be used for almost any application from antipersonnel to antitank, to antiaircraft, to antishipping indications.

Other Terms for Missile Racks

A number of terms exist for missile racks or similar devices:

1. Guided Missile System
2. Launch Rack
3. Missile Bay
4. Missile Launch Rack
5. Missile Launcher
6. Missile Rail
7. Missile Tube
8. Missile Turret

Reloading Missile Racks

Reloading: Each launcher (sand or missile) has an inherent capacity for three missiles or canisters. This means that a triple turret with three missile launchers has a total of nine missiles in ready position.

When a launcher's missiles or canisters are exhausted, it can be quickly reloaded by the turret's gunner. Reloading three launchers takes slightly longer. A gunner engaged in reloading is unable to fire other weaponry in the turret.

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), 5.
• Terrance McInnes. COACC (Game Designers Workshop, 1989), TBD.
• Marc Miller. T5 Core Rules (Far Future Enterprises, 2013), TBD.
• Traveller Wiki Editorial Team
• Author & Contributor: Lord (Marquis) and Master of Sophontology Maksim-Smelchak of the Ministry of Science