Gig

A Gig is an often encountered institution at starports throughout the Third Imperium. It is a type of smallcraft optimized for speed to provide transport for the captain to and from their ship. Gigs are also employed to take pilots and crew to and from ships, carrying mail and people for vessels, salvage and lifesaving – and for smuggling.

Description

The illustration shows the gig in its modified configuration (Darlene class Gig). Originally, the flat shields on either side of the drive were not installed; the arrangement was perfectly acceptable in naval operations. But for starport use, the heat spill from the drives becomes a danger to the lesser trained individuals operating the craft, especially in the close quarters of docking with ships to be inspected. As a result, most of the gigs have been retrofitted with the large protective shields shown.

Image Repository

1. A Darlene class Gig under spaceflight.
   
2. A stock Armed Gig image by a famous starcraft artist.
   
3. A Goblin class Gig.
   

History & Background (Dossier)

This tech level 13 gig is an often encountered institution at starports throughout the Imperium. Technically a vessel of the Imperial Navy, it is crewed by local starport personnel and used to perform orbital inspections and other light duties.

Class Naming Practice/s & Peculiarities

Gigs tend to be named after famous naval aviators and pilots, often female, as well as after low grade fantasy antagonists.

Being smaller craft, gigs are very often noted for having basic, no frills electronics and equipment packages. A well equipped gig is almost invariably a gig upgraded with aftermarket upgrades. Few gigs are equipped with long endurance air recycling or life support systems meaning that a long endurance gig patrol will be notably uncomfortable and odoriferous.

Most Common Standardized Smallcraft Types

1. Type-QPL Small Pod/Lifepod (5-ton)
   1. Type-QAL/QLS Lifepod (5-ton)
2. Type-QF Fighter (10-ton)
3. Type-QA Light Launch (10-ton)
   1. Lifeboat (10-ton)
   2. Cockboat (10-ton)
4. Type-QL Launch (20-ton)
   1. Type-QG Gig (20-ton)
5. Type-QB Boat (30-ton)
   1. Slow Boat (30-ton)
   2. Fastboat (30-ton) ( »» Shipsboat (30-ton))
6. Type-QN Pinnace (40-ton)
   1. Slow Pinnace (40-ton)
   2. Fuel Skimmer (40-ton)
7. Type-QC Cutter
   1. Modular Cutter (50-ton)
   2. Heavy Modular Cutter (Multicutter - 90 ton)
8. Type-QS Shuttle
   1. Passenger Shuttle (90-ton)
   2. Cargo Shuttle (95-ton)

Selected Variant Types & Classes

Civilian Ship - Utility Craft - Smallcraft - Gig:

1. Type UMG class Gig
   1. Darlene class Gig
   2. Generic Gig
   3. Goblin class Gig
   4. Pratt class Gig

References

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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 Mongoose Publishing or by permission of the author. The page history lists all of the contributions.

• Timothy B. Brown. Fighting Ships (Game Designers Workshop, 1981), 27.
• Marc Miller. The Spinward Marches Campaign (Game Designers Workshop, 1985), 35.
• Frank Chadwick, Dave Nilsen. "Technical Booklet." Brilliant Lances (1994): 48.
• Don Perrin. Starships (Imperium Games, 1996), 22-23.
• Marc Miller, Robert Eaglestone, Don McKinney. Starships (Far Future Enterprises, 2019), 69.