Needle Hull

A Needle Hull is a kind of ship structure, fuselage, chassis, or hull.

• It is a kind of Ship Equipment and a kind of Hull.

Description (Specifications)

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

1. A common hull type.
   
2. The Needle Hull, Cylinder Hull, and Cone Hulls are among the most common streamlined hulls.
   

CBPUSAL Function Designation Streamlining Spectrum

The Imperial Ship Builders Association (ISBA) qualifies modern naval hulls across this spectrum:

1. C. Cluster. An accumulation of compartments.
2. B. Braced Cluster. Structured for higher acceleration.
3. P. Planetoid. A hollowed nickel-iron asteroid.
4. U. Unstreamlined. Protrusions increase drag.
5. S. Streamlined. Cowlings and fairings decrease drag.
6. A. Airframe. Winged for performance in atmosphere.
7. L. Lifting Body. Radically streamlined lifting-surfaces.

History & Background (Dossier)

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

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

Class Superclass Tons TL Origin G Jump Illustration Canon Class Superclass Tons TL Origin G Jump Illustration Canon Alexandria class Free Trader AF 200 12 Third Imperium 1 1 Yes No B-46 class Attack Torpedo Boat HD 300 10 Jurisdiction of Nadon 6 0 No No. Unpublished, non-canon fan design. Basil class Merchant AF 200 Third Imperium 2 1 No No Beowulf class Free Trader AF 200 10 Third Imperium 1 1 Yes Yes Celestial Star class Luxury Liner M 2,000 15 Third Imperium 1 6 No ColonyCord class Fast Trader AF 2,000 12 Second Imperium 3 3 No Condor class Subsidized Liner M 400 13 Third Imperium 1 3 No Coriander class Free Trader AF 300 12 Third Imperium 2 2 No Deneb class Modular Starship RV 300 12 Third Imperium 2 2 Yes No Diaspora class Battlecruiser CB 200,000 14 Third Imperium 5 4 No Yes Firebolt class Light Fighter FL 20 9 Distant Fringe 6 0 No Harrier class System Defense Boat HSVL 600 12 Distant Fringe 6 0 No No. Unpublished, non-canon fan design. Hunter class Armored Scout S 100 14 Solomani Confederation 3 3 Yes Hunter class Armored Scout SN 100 14 Solomani Confederation 3 3 Yes Jayhawk class Far Trader AF 200 12 Third Imperium 1 2 Yes Yes KA15c Glutton class Transport RN 1,500 12 Korsumug Empire 2 3 Yes KF2a Hostility class Fighter FA 13 10 Korsumug Empire 6 0 Yes Lauritson class Picket Ship B 400 14 Third Imperium 5 5 Yes No Moraine class Free Trader AF 200 10 Third Imperium 1 1 Yes Yes Qasar class Scout Cruiser S 1,000 13 Third Imperium 2 4 Yes Yes Salamander class Far Trader AF 200 11 Third Imperium 2 2 Yes Yes Siyuihwye class Armored Trader R 300 12 Aslan Hierate 2 2 No Soho class Light Freighter AF 200 12 Third Imperium 2 2 Yes No Solostar class Far Trader R 300 12 Rule of Man 3 2 No Star Butler class Yacht YK 300 12 Rule of Man 3 2 No The Green Hornet ZUSC 100 15 Third Imperium 2 2 No Type A class Free Trader A 200 12 Third Imperium 1 1 Yes Yes Type HT class Bounty Hunter HH 100 0 Third Imperium 0 0 No No [[Type S class Science Scout SICP|Type S class Science Scout SICP]] 100 14 Xyz 2 2 yes Zheug class Fueling Shuttle UF 95 13 Vargr Extents 3 0 No

References & Contributors (Sources)

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 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. 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