Smallcraft

Line Combatants (Primary - Capital)				Escort Combatants (Secondary - Subcapital)				Military Auxiliary (Tertiary)
B- Battleship	C- Cruiser	O- Ortillery	V- Carrier	D- Destroyer	E- Escort	F- Fighter	H- Defense/Security	I- Combat Transport	Q- Combat Support	S- Scout	U- Utility	X- Commo	Z- Special

Mercantile Commercial Ships (Trade & Profit)				Non-Mercantile Commercial Ships (Industry & Profit)					Non-Commercial Ships (Nonprofit)			System Craft (Intrastellar)
A- Tramp	M- Freighter	R- Liner	T- Transport	G- Industrial	J- Prospector	K- Expedition	P- Corsair	U- Utility	L- Science	N- Medical	Y- Private	WB- Barge	WA- Satellite	WO- Space Station

Small Craft: Vessels under a hundred tons are considered to be small craft.

• Smallcraft are non-jump spacecraft under a 100 dTons in displacement.
• There are two primary types of smallcraft:
  • Combatant Smallcraft usually known as Fighters or Attack Boats
  • Noncombatant Smallcraft usually known as Utility Craft
• Smallcraft meant to be carried internally in other, larger ships are often called subcraft.
• Various standard types of small craft exist.

Description (Specifications)

Small craft designs are intended to be as useful as possible. As a result, basic smallcraft design templates are highly configurable and their basic descriptions only cover the basic performance of the craft, crew, and minor load details. Specifics such as the specific utilisation of smallcraft excess interior space and performance variants are noted in the details and fittings for its specified funcion when procured. Any fitting or combination of fittings available may be specified for a standard design small craft.

Shuttling between planets, small non-starships run errands, make deliveries. and generally do much of the dirty work that larger craft can't or won't do. Small craft displace less than 100 dtons and are thus incapable of interstellar flight.

Standard Smallcraft Designs & Variants

Some of the common variants based on the sandard plans available for small craft include:

Smallcraft (Generic "Type-Q-"):

1. Type-QPL Small Pod/Lifepod (5-ton)
   1. Type-QAL/QLS Lifepod (5-ton) - (Emergency escape and survival craft).
2. Type-QF Fighter - (Armed (and possibly armored) combat craft).
   1. Light Fighter (10-ton) - (Most common Paramilitary and Colonial Navy Fighter).
   2. (Std.) Fighter (15-ton)
   3. (Medium/Specialized) Fighter (30-ton)
   4. Heavy Fighter (50-ton)
3. Type-QA Light Launch (10-ton)
   1. Lifeboat (10-ton) - (Emergency escape and survival craft).
   2. Cockboat (10-ton)
   3. Lightboat (15-ton)
      1. Runabout (15-ton) - (Short-duration Fast Utility Lightboat/Launch)
4. Type-QL Launch (20-ton) - (Small multi-purpose craft capable of world-landings - "Very-light Lander" ).
   1. Fast Launch (20-ton)
   2. Type-QG Gig (20-ton) - ("Fast Utility Lightboat" - Fast naval utility craft for personnel and cargo transfer between ships and/or port).
5. Type-QB Boat (30-ton)
   1. Slow Boat (30-ton) - (Slow Packet-Boat)
   2. (Standard) Spaceboat (30-ton)
   3. Fastboat (30-ton)
      1. Shipsboat (30-ton) - (Fast general purpose or VIP/personnel transport craft assigned to a specific ship). - (Term has come into generic use for a particular class of Fastboats).
   4. Strikeboat (40-ton)
6. Type-QN Pinnace (40-ton)
   1. Slow Pinnace (40-ton) - (Small Cargo Lighter).
   2. (Standard) Pinnace (40-ton)
      1. Interface/Landing Pinnace (40-ton) - (General purpose craft optimized for orbital interface and landing on worlds).
      2. Fuel Skimmer (40-ton)
   3. Fast Pinnace (40-ton)
7. Type-QC Cutter (50-ton) - (Mid-sized multi-purpose small craft).
   1. Modular Skiff (40 ton)
   2. Slow Cutter (45 ton)
   3. Fast Cutter (Large Skiff - 50/60 ton)
   4. Modular Cutter (50 ton) - (Modular multi-mission small craft).
   5. Heavy Modular Cutter (Multicutter - 90 ton) - (Dual-module modular multi-mission large small craft).
8. Type-QR Lander (60-ton) - (Very-heavy Launch - Paramilitary Orbital/Surface Interface Vessel for personnel & vehicles/equipment)
   1. Longboat (60-ton)
   2. Large Launch (60-ton) - (Very-heavy Launch - Commercial Orbital/Surface Interface Vessel for personnel & cargo)
9. Type-QS Shuttle (70-ton) - (Large passenger and freight transporter capable of landing on worlds. Built to travel between two points (worlds; locations)).
   1. Passenger Shuttle (90-ton)
   2. Cargo Shuttle (95-ton)
   3. Mining Shuttle (95-ton)
   4. Motivator/Tug (95-ton)
10. Type-QK Picket Boat (80-ton) - (Heavy paramilitary Enforcement & Inspection Pinnace).
11. Type-QT Fuel Lighter/Tanker (90-ton) - (Fuel Shuttle/Lighter).

Smallcraft as Military & Paramilitary Auxiliaries

Just as Smallcraft are employed in the civilian commercial and non-commercial arenas, they also find specialized roles within military and paramilitary vessel hierarchies. A number of smallcraft and ACS combatants exist in the Lightcraft Combatant category.

Escort Combatants (Secondary) - The Lightcraft Hierarchy

Smallcraft (F or U) (0 - 99 tons) (* System craft / non-Jump *)

1. Fighter: Interceptor / Picket (FD / FE / FP / FR) (10 - 50 tons)
2. Gunboat / Torpedo Boat (GB / MB / DB / EB) (40 - 99 tons)
3. Cutter (sC/qC) (45+ tons)
4. Light Sloop (ESL) (50 - 99 tons)

Bigcraft (W or Other) (100 tons or larger) (* System vessel / non-Jump *)

1. Escort Vessel (ES/ESV):
   1. Sloop-of-War (ESB/ESG) (100 - 600 tons)
   2. Gun-Brig (EB/EBG) (400 - 1000 tons)
2. Defense Boat (DB/SDB) (100 - 1,000 tons)
3. System Defense Vessel (DV/SDV) (1,000 - 2,499 tons or larger)
   1. Defense Frigate (DG) (800 - 1,200 tons)
   2. Escort Defense Cruiser (EDC) (1,000 - 2,000 tons)

Largecraft (100 tons or larger) (* Jump-capable *)

1. Escort (E):
   1. Jump-Sloop (ESJ) (100 - 600 tons)
   2. Close Escort (EC/CE) (300 - 600 tons)
   3. Corvette (E/EG) (300 - 800 tons)
2. Frigate (G):
   1. Destroyer Escort (DE) (400 - 1,000 tons)
   2. Escort Frigate (EG) (500 - 1,200 tons)
   3. Gunned Frigate (G) (500 - 1,200 tons)
3. Destroyer (D):
   1. Escort Destroyer (ED) (1,000 - 2,499 tons or larger)
4. Escort Cruiser (EC):
   1. Detached Cruiser (CC) (1,000 - 2,499 tons or larger)
      1. Colonial Cruiser (CC) (1,000 - 2,499 tons or larger)
      2. Provincial Cruiser (CC) (1,000 - 2,499 tons or larger)
   2. Destroyer Leader (DGL/DGC/DLC) (1,000 - 2,499 tons or larger)
   3. Heavy Gun-Frigate (EGC/GFC) (1,000 - 2,499 tons)

Traditionally, the historical vessels from which the names of the modern examples above are taken increased in size along the progression below.

»» For more detailed background information, please see: Origins of Vessel Naming Nomenclature.

• Gunboat »» Sloop (Single-mast) »» Sloop-of-War (Brig-Sloop (2-mast) »» Ship-Sloop (3-mast)) »» Corvette »» Escort/Patrol Frigate (Destroyer Escort) »» Destroyer (Escort Destroyer / Fleet Destroyer) »» (Destroyer Leader <> Heavy Gun Frigate) »» Cruiser »» (Heavy) Gun Cruiser

Paramilitary & Military Vessels by Size-Role

Smallcraft and Lightcraft Combat Vessels form a part of the larger spectrum of paramilitary and military combatants. These vary in tonnage and in their intended function or role in fleet maneuvers and tactics.

Ship Classification by Size
#	Type	Tonnage	Examples	Remarks
1.	Smallcraft	0 - 99 tons	Fighter/Interceptor Launch/Gig Slowboat Cutter Shuttle	Smallcraft are typically Subcraft, designed to be carried by carrier craft. Small/Light ACS Craft Ship-Type Code "Q-"
2.	Spacecraft	100 tons or larger	SDB Rider Monitor	Spacecraft are in-system vessels, lacking interstellar drives. (Occasionally known as "Bigcraft" or "Spaceships" or "System Ships") Some Spacecraft are Subcraft, designed to be carried by carrier craft.
3.	Starships	100 tons or larger	Scoutship Merchant Vessel Corvette Luxury Liner Freighter Colonial Cruiser Battlecruiser	Starships are vessels with interstellar drives. (Occasionally known as "Largecraft")
4.	Adventure Class Ships (ACS)	10 tons - 2,400 tons	Merchant Corsair Vessel Escort Colonial Cruiser/Mercenary Cruiser	Adventure Class Ships are usually jump-capable. Naval parlance may use the term Auxiliary Class Ships. They serve many roles including customs, patrol, planetary defense, tramp freighters, etc. Small Adventure Class (Small ACS): 10 ton - 100 ton ("Smallcraft") "Standard" Adventure Class (Small ACS): 100 ton - 1000 ton Large Adventure Class (Large ACS): 1000 ton - 2400 ton ("Very Light" Battle Class Ships (BCS))
5.	Battle Class Ships (BCS) Capital Class Ships (CCS)	2,500 tons - 250 ktons	Sleeper Ship Bulk Trader Auxiliary Tender Fleet Escort Cruiser Fleet Fighter-Carrier Battlecruiser/Battleship (Capital Ships/Primaries)	Battle Class Ships are warships and comprise both smaller Capital Primary Warships as well as Subcapital Secondary Warships that include Cruisers & Fleet Escorts. They are usually jump-capable. Civilian corporate concerns may use the term Bulk Class Ships for vessels they field in this size category. Such ships require major investment and only service major roles including megacorporate interstellar trade, warships, Capital Ships, and major endeavors. Small Battle Class 1 ("Very Light" BCS ( = Large Auxiliary Class Ships (ACS)): 1,000-ton - 2,400-ton » "Subcapital Ships": Escort Cruisers: Provincial/Colonial Cruisers; Heavy System Defense Boats Small Battle Class 2 ("Light" BCS): 2,500-ton - 10-kton » "Subcapital Ships": Fleet Escorts; System Defense Cruisers "Standard'" Battle Class ("Standard" BCS): 10-kton - 100-kton » "Subcapital Ships": Cruisers (Fleet & Independent); System Dominance Vessels; System Monitors "Capital Class" (CCS) / Large Battle Class (Heavy BCS): 100-kton - 250-kton ( = "Light" Fleet Class Ships (FCS) -OR- "Very Light" World Class Ships (WCS)) » "Light & Standard Capital Ships / Battleships"; "Supermonitors"
*	Capital Class Ships (CCS)	100 ktons - 250 ktons		The Higher End of Battle Class Ships and the Lower End of Fleet Class Ships (100,000 - 250,000 tons) have had varying categorizations to various commentators. The category is generally seen to overlap both, depending upon one's chosen definition of Battle Class and Fleet Class.
6.	Capital Class Ships (CCS) Fleet Class Ships (FCS)	100 ktons - 1 Mton	Fleet Rider-Carrier Fleet Battle-Tender Dreadnought	Fleet Class Ships are Capital Primary Warships. They are usually jump-capable. Such ships require major investment and only service major roles including major megacorporate interstellar trade and capital projects, Heavy Capital Warships, and other similar major endeavors. Capital Class (CCS): 100-kton - 250-kton ( = "Very-Light" World Class Ships (WCS)) Fleet Class (FCS): 250-kton - 1 Mton ( = "Light" World Class Ships (WCS)) Fleet Class 1 (FCS) - Capital Class (CCS): 100-kton - 250-kton - "Battleships" Fleet Class 2 (FCS) - Heavy Capital Class (CCS): 250-kton - 500-kton - "Heavy Battleships" Fleet Class 3 (FCS) - Superheavy Capital Class (CCS): 500-kton - 750-kton - "Superbattleships / Dreadnoughts" Fleet Class 4 (FCS) - Ultraheavy Capital Class (CCS): 750-kton - 1-Mton - "Superdreadnoughts"
7.	World Class Ships (WCS)	> 1 Mton	Loeskalth planetoid generation ship.	World Class Ships are beyond expensive and represent suprapolity-level investment. They take many years to build. This class represents immense World-Ships, very large Super Dreadnoughts, Superweapons, etc. Operational staff are typically residents as much as crew. These ships are interacted with as worlds or events, rather than ships. Small World Class 1 ("Very Light" WCS): 100-kton - 250-kton ( = "Capital Class Ships" (CCS): "Heavy" Battle Class Ships (BCS)) Small World Class 2 ("Light" WCS): 250-kton - 1-Mton ( = "Fleet Class Ships" (FCS)) "Standard" World Class ("Standard" WCS): 1-Mton - 10-Mton Large World Class ("Heavy" WCS): 10-Mton - 25-Mton +

History & Background (Dossier)

Each small craft design is intended to be as useful as possible. As a result, smallcraft descriptions cover the basic performance of the craft, and indicates price, crew, and other details. Each craft also has a feature called excess space: this interior tonnage may be used by the purchaser for a wide variety of purposes. In effect, when the craft is procured, it is customized by the purchaser for some specific use. Any fitting or combination of fittings available may be specified for a standard design small craft. The prices, however, are ignored, and are considered to be included in the standard design price.

There are eight standard designs available; each design plan is available for Cr100. All take approximately twelve months to build. All are streamlined, and can enter atmospheres. All can operate with unrefined fuel; they have fuel scoops which allow them to skim fuel from a gas giant.

Standard plans are available for the following small craft:

Smallcraft (Generic "Type-Q-"):

Dependent Craft:

1. Type-QP Pod (Sub-hull) (variable tonnage < 100 tons)
   1. Type-QM Module (30 tons):
      
      1. Basic Modules:
         1. Type-QM Open Module (30 tons)
         2. Type-QMH Fuel Module (30 tons)
         3. Type-QMV Vehicle Carrier Module (30 tons)
            
      2. Other Standard Modules:
         1. Type-QM Standard Modules (various) (30 tons)
         2. Type-QMM Military Assault Modules (various) (30 tons)
2. Type-QD Drone (variable tonnage < 100 tons)

Independent Craft:

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)

Library Data Referral Tree

Please refer to the following AAB Library Data for more information: (Click "Expand" to reveal)

Starship:

• Starship User Types
  • Civilian Ship
  • Military Ship
  • Non-Commercial Vessel
  • Paramilitary Ship

• Advanced Ship Classifications
  • Ship Mission Code / Supraclass
  • Ship Type Code / Superclass
  • Ship Class Code / Class
  • Model (TL)
  • Bloc (Lot)

• Basic Ship Classifications
  • Adventure Class Ship (Auxiliary Class Ship)
  • Battle Class Ship (Bulk / Subcapital Class Ship)
  • Capital Ship (Capital Class Ship)
  • Fleet Class Ship (Capital Class Ship)
  • Size-Role Classification
  • Subcapital Ship (Small & Large Battle Class Ships)
  • QSP
  • USP
  • World Class Ship

• Ships by Function
  • Bigcraft
  • Boat
  • Capital Ship
  • Largecraft
  • Non-starship
  • Smallcraft
  • Spaceplane
  • Spaceship
  • Starship
  • Subcapital Ship
  • Subcraft
  • System Craft
  • Warship

Speed of Travel

• NAFAL (STL) - (Not As Fast As Light) / (Slower Than Light)
• Light Speed (c)
• FTL - (Faster Than Light) - "Superluminal"

• Astronomical Unit (AU)

» Imperial Standard Astronomical Unit

• Light-second (ls)
• Light-minute (lm)
• Light-hour (lh)
• Light-day (ld)
• Light-week (lw)
• Light-year (ly)
• Parsec (pc)

» Solomani Parsec

» Vilani Parsec ("Deshi")

» Imperial Standard Parsec

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References & Contributors (Sources)

This article has metadata.

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.

• Marc Miller. Starships (Game Designers Workshop, 1977), —.
• Marc Miller. Imperial Encyclopedia (Game Designers Workshop, 1987), —.
• Mike Jackson. "Traveller Craft." Third Imperium 10 (1988): —.
• Mike Jackson. "Traveller Craft." Third Imperium 11 (1988): —.
• S.R. Greene. SGS: Imperial Small Craft (Seeker Gaming Systems, 1992), —.
• S.R. Greene. SGS: Imperial Small Craft Vol. 2 (Seeker Gaming Systems, 1992), —.
• Frank Chadwick, Dave Nilsen. Traveller: The New Era (Game Designers Workshop, 1993), 378.
• Dave Nilsen. Reformation Coalition Equipment Guide (Game Designers Workshop, 1994), —.
• Jason Kemp. Stellar Reaches 04 (FLTGames Gaming Group, 2006), —.