A Needle Hull is a kind of ship structure, fuselage, chassis, or hull.
Needle Hulls are noted for having long, elognated fuselages, most often coming to an aerodynamic point.
Such a hull is the traditional shape of reaction-powered rockets, of the type typically used by many societies to achieve first spaceflight.
Image Repository[edit]
- A common hull type.

- The Needle Hull, Cylinder Hull, and Cone Hulls are among the most common streamlined hulls.

CBPUSAL Function Designation Streamlining Spectrum[edit]
The Imperial Ship Builders Association (ISBA) qualifies modern naval hulls across this spectrum:
- C. Cluster. An accumulation of compartments.
- B. Braced Cluster. Structured for higher acceleration.
- P. Planetoid. A hollowed nickel-iron asteroid.
- U. Unstreamlined. Protrusions increase drag.
- S. Streamlined. Cowlings and fairings decrease drag.
- A. Airframe. Winged for performance in atmosphere.
- L. Lifting Body. Radically streamlined lifting-surfaces.
History & Background (Dossier)[edit]
Before the advent of gravitic control technology, all aircraft were designed around aerodynamic, streamlined airframes. Spaceplanes, designed for performance in an atmosphere and the vacuum, kept to the same conventions. Spacecraft had little to no need for streamlining, in fact, since it represented extra cost, many dedicated spacecraft use no streamlining.
However, wilderness refueling involves diving into a gas giant so many ships use partial or full streamlining despite mission profiles that never involve atmospheric entry.
Despite the many advantages of dedicated spaceflight hulls, the ISBA estimates that most craft built within Imperial Space use streamlined or partially streamlined hulls. The increased efficacy of wilderness refueling and atmospheric flight with a streamlined hull are simply too tempting.
Selected Craft Using Needle Hulls[edit]
43 Representative Needle Hull configuration ships
|
|
Class | Superclass | Tons | TL | Origin | G | Jump | Illustration | Canon |
Class | Superclass | Tons | TL | Origin | G | Jump | Illustration | Canon |
Amazone class Light Cruiser | CL | 20,000 | 15 | Third Imperium | 4 | 4 | No | | Andrew class Commercial Shuttle | AK | 95 | 15 | Third Imperium | 3 | 0 | Yes | No | Asia class Scout | SN | 300 | 11 | Daprolix Juncture of Suns | 4 | 2 | No | | Avian class Far Trader | AF | 200 | 11 | Third Imperium | 2 | 2 | Yes | No | Ch'kaahi class Battle Rider | BRV | 1,000 | 11 | Sath Alliance | 6 | 0 | No | | Chatl class Leader Scout | SC | 150 | 14 | Zhodani Consulate | 3 | 5 | Yes | Yes | Convoyer class Close Escort | ECE | 1,000 | 12 | Anubian Trade Coalition | 6 | 3 | No | No. Unpublished, non-canon fan design. | Daytona class Orbital Fighter/Interceptor | FI | 99 | 9 | Third Imperium | 0 | 0 | Yes | Yes | Dienjzhiae class Fleet Intelligence Corvette | B | 800 | 14 | Zhodani Consulate | 4 | 4 | No | | Dunkle class Fleet Scout | BN | 420 | 12 | Mapepire Cluster | 6 | 3 | No | | Fairmile Model G class Scout | S | 200 | 12 | Principality of Caledon | 2 | 2 | No | | Fanzhhienz class Far Trader | AF | 200 | 9 | Zhodani Consulate | 2 | 2 | Yes | No | Frost Bite class System Defense Boat | B | 3,000 | 8 | Distant Fringe | 5 | 0 | No | | Nexus Gearing class Destroyer | DVL | 2,000 | 12 | Distant Fringe | 5 | 2 | No | No. Unpublished, non-canon fan design. | Gold of Zurrian class Long Liner | M | 1,000 | 15 | Third Imperium | 1 | 4 | Yes | | Iguna class Trader | RN | 300 | 11 | Distant Fringe | 2 | 2 | No | | Intruder class Shuttle | AY | 30 | 14 | Zhodani Consulate | 6 | 0 | Yes | No | Jeremey class Recovery Boat | AN | 20 | 12 | Jelmiri Marches | 2 | 0 | Yes | | KE3d Korsu class Fast Scout | Explorer | 300 | 13 | Korsumug Empire | 6 | 4 | Yes | | KE3d Korsu class Fast Scout | S | 300 | 13 | Korsumug Empire | 6 | 4 | Yes | | Kforuzeng class Scout | S | 100 | 13 | Vargr Extents | 4 | 4 | No | | Lance Marcus class Scout | SC | 100 | 15 | Third Imperium | 2 | 2 | Yes | | Lightning class Frontier Merchant | AK | 400 | 11 | Terran Confederation | 3 | 2 | Yes | Yes | Lucifer class Destroyer Escort | DE | 400 | 15 | Third Imperium | 6 | 4 | No | No | Machii class Scout Cruiser | S | 1,000 | 13 | Third Imperium | 2 | 4 | Yes | Yes | Magash class Heavy Scout | SC | 300 | 15 | Third Imperium | 3 | 5 | Yes | | Ninz class Scout | S | 100 | 14 | Zhodani Consulate | 2 | 2 | Yes | Yes | Pathfinder class Fleet Scout | S | 100 | 15 | Third Imperium | 2 | 4 | No | | Prata class Attack Scout | SN | 100 | 15 | Taakas Yh'Drak | 6 | 1 | No | | Princess Gunnhilde class Far Trader | AF | 200 | 13 | Vargr Extents | 1 | 2 | yes | Yes | S-223 Moon Raven class Covert Surveillance Scout | S | 300 | 13 | Talokan Armed Forces | 4 | 4 | No | | Saladin class Fleet Scout | SN | 600 | 15 | Third Imperium | 6 | 4 | No | | Sering class Scout | SC | 100 | 12 | Third Imperium | 2 | 2 | Yes | No | Talon class Scout | SN | 100 | 10 | Tellerian Cluster | 3 | 1 | No | | Tripwire class Early Warning Scout | AN | 200 | 10 | Distant Fringe | 1 | 1 | No | | Type JL class Espionage Vessel | S | 200 | 15 | Third Imperium | 3 | 3 | Yes | No | Vanguard class Attack Scout | SN | 100 | 12 | Geonee Confederation | 6 | 2 | No | | Wasp class Fleet Scout | SN | 600 | 14 | Malorn Union | 6 | 4 | No | | Witch of Endor class Corsair | PP | 400 | 11 | Cydia | 3 | 2 | No | No. Unpublished, non-canon fan design. | Xero class Scout | S | 100 | 11 | Distant Fringe | 3 | 2 | No | | Xero class Scout | S | 100 | 11 | Lon Mardos Defense Forces | 3 | 2 | No | | Zydmnar class Scout | S | 100 | 9 | Zydarian Codominium | 6 | 1 | No | | Aurora class Light Patrol Fighter | FL | 19.00 | 10 | Bain Defense Squadron | 6 | 0 | Yes | no |
|
30 Representative Wedge Hull configuration ships
|
|
|
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.
|