Difference between revisions of "Cruiser"
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| + | | CS | ||
| + | | [[TBD class Strike Cruiser]] | ||
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| + | * S = Strike, Attack, Combat, War, [[etc.]] | ||
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| [[Mercenary Cruiser]] | | [[Mercenary Cruiser]] | ||
Revision as of 01:09, 11 September 2019
C-class Cruisers are military starships capable of independent operations and of support of the main line of battle.
- Cruisers are intended to fulfill two diverse missions: Independent operations (Raider CruRons) and Dependent operations (Support CruRons).
- A CruRon is a Cruiser Squadron, a major military combat or line formation.
- The Supraclass designation is also known as Ship Mission, Ship Mission Code, Mission, or Ship Hull Designation.
- It is a starship supraclass.
Library Data Referral Tree
Please refer to the following AAB Library Data for more information:
Starship:
- 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
- NAFAL (STL) - (Not As Fast As Light) / (Slower Than Light)
- Light Speed (c)
- FTL - (Faster Than Light) - "Superluminal"
-
- Light-second (ls)
- Light-minute (lm)
- Light-hour (lh)
- Light-day (ld)
- Light-week (lw)
- Light-year (ly)
- Parsec (pc)
Description (Specifications)
Cruisers are intended to fulfill two diverse missions. In battle, they support and reinforce capital ships (... either battleships or battle rider squadrons) which are present and which form the main line of battle, generally from the flanks. They also perform independent operations, often forming the center of task forces which have no capital ships. Cruisers are also put to use as independent ships.
Cruisers are often multi-mission capable vessels defined by their higher maneuver capability and/or longer independent cruising range (... normally defined as higher jump capability and/or fuel capacity) than what is normally considered standard for fleet mobility parameters. Nevertheless there are some vessels that are called cruisers that do not quite match the high-mobility standards typical of the supra-class, most of which tend to suffer reassignment or reclassification of their mission descriptor at some subsequent point in their operational history.
Image Repository
- A Zhodani Vlezhdatl strike formation in high guard position.
- The Aek Naz class Battlecruiser is a sturdy, utilitarian design built by the Vargr for hard combat.
- A Foghoks class Heavy Cruiser under high velocity in deep space.
- A line drawing of a Kinunir class Vanguard Cruiser.
- A Nemesis class Intruder Cruiser patrolling in front of a moon lit up by a nearby star.
- A Broadsword-class exiting an atmosphere with a modular cutter.
Heavyweight Cruiser vs Speedy Cruiser?
CONFUSING TERMINOLOGY: The term Cruiser can often be misleading. Defined namesake cruisers are large, heavyweight vessels that can support the line-of-battle, and are meant to slug it out in main fleet engagements. They are large, well armed ships, that can even overwhelm dreadnoughts and super-heavy vessels in sufficient numbers. Vessels such as the Arakoine class Strike Cruiser or Aek Naz class Battlecruiser represent these large vessels which can have displacements in the range of multiple tens of thousands of tons. Obsolescent members of the Cruiser classification (... such as the Lightning class Fleet Intruder, now reclassified as the Lightning class Frontier Cruiser) are often sold off to the IISS, to Colonial or Provincial Subsector Navies, or are put into strategic reserve for reactivation and reassignment to Subsector Navies in time of war.
There are also vessels called "Cruisers" which lack the size and hitting power of the aforementioned Imperial Navy cruisers, but typically possess speed and endurance. They cruise or move speedily compared to larger capital ships. These are often small, speedy vessels that hit over weight for their size class, but would stand next to no chance against a naval-fleet sized slugger of a combatant. Vessels such as these are generally referred to as "Colonial Cruisers" and are typically found in Subsector and/or Planetary Naval forces as heavy patrol vessels. Vessels massing in the 800-3000 ton range (... such as the Sydkai class Colonial Cruiser or Broadsword class Mercenary Cruiser) are representative of this smaller latter type. By Imperial Navy standards, they are cruisers in name only.
Strategy & Tactics (Doctrine)
Cruisers are more lightly armored and less heavily armed than battleships. To unarmed, unarmored ships, this difference is negligible since a cruiser can easily attack and destroy any noncombatant ships. Cruisers are assigned to support battleships and carry combat to areas where a battleship is not considered necessary.
Supraclass Roles
Cruisers typically serve the following roles:
Largecraft & Bigcraft:
| C-class Cruiser Supraclass Archetypes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Archetype | Type Code | ||
| Armored Cruiser | (CA) | ||
| Assault Cruiser | (CB) | ||
| Asteroid Cruiser | (CP) | ||
| Attack Cruiser | (CB) | ||
| Battle Cruiser | (CB) | ||
| Bombardment Cruiser | (O) | ||
| Colonial Cruiser | (CF) | ||
| Command Cruiser | (CC) | ||
| Control Cruiser | (CF) | ||
| Cruiser Rider | (BR) | ||
| Defense Cruiser | (CD) | ||
| Exploratory Cruiser | (L) | ||
| Fast Cruiser | (CF) | ||
| Fleet Intruder | (CF) | ||
| Flotilla Leader | (CC) | ||
| Frontier Cruiser | (CF) | ||
| Heavy Cruiser | (CH) (...old CA) | ||
| Intelligence Cruiser | (CR) | ||
| Intruder Cruiser | (CJ) | ||
| Light Cruiser | (CL) | ||
| Medium Cruiser | (CM) | ||
| Mercenary Cruiser | (CY) | ||
| Merchant Cruiser | (A, M, R, T) | ||
| Missile Cruiser | (CGM) | ||
| Patrol Cruiser | (CP) | ||
| Provincial Cruiser | (CF) | ||
| Rift Cruiser | (CJ) | ||
| Scout Cruiser | (CP) | ||
| Screening Cruiser | (CB) | ||
| Strike Cruiser | (CB) | ||
| Superheavy Cruiser | (CS) | ||
| Support Cruiser | (CB) | ||
| Vanguard Cruiser | (CF) | ||
| Ultraheavy Cruiser | (CU) | ||
| Very Light Cruiser | (CVL) | ||
| War Cruiser | (CB) | ||
Size-Class Roles for Cruiser Vessels
- Utility Craft (U) (1 to 99 tons)
- Escort (E) (100 to 2,499 tons)
- Escort Cruiser or Very Light Cruiser (CE) (100 to 2,499 tons)
- Mercenary Cruiser (CY) (100 to 2,499 tons)
- Light Cruiser (CL) (2,500 to 24,999 tons)
- Medium Cruiser (CM) (25,000 to 49,999 tons)
- Heavy Cruiser (CH) (50,000 to 99,999 tons)
- Battlecruiser (CS) (100,000 or larger tons)
Military Subcraft
Military subcraft (...both smallcraft and bigcraft) are carried by some of these vessels:
- Battle Rider (BR)
- Combat Barge (WBG)
- Combat Transport Smallcraft (UI)
- Fighters (F)
- Militarized Utility Craft (UQ)
Supraclass Archetypal Roles
These vessels typically serve the following archetypal roles:
| C-class Cruiser Supraclass Archetypes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Archetype | Type Code/s | Exemplar | Remarks |
| Cruiser | C | Kinunir class Vanguard Cruiser | The overarching cruiser designation covers a variety of lone combatants with less combat ability than a battleship, but more than a destroyer or escort. However, like all designations, craft across vast many technology epochs are still in service, so there is a vast overlaps of many vessels definitions and types.
|
| Armored Cruiser | CA | Ghalalk class Armored Cruiser | Armored Cruisers are designed to combine long range, high speed, and heavy weapons. Their spinal mounted armament is the same size or only slightly smaller than that of ships of line, like their larger cousins the battleships and dreadnoughts. It is difficult to strike and perfect balance between mobility, protection and weapons. Imperial armored cruisers typically fall in the 50,000-75,000 ton range, larger cruisers often slip into the battle cruiser range. Armored cruisers usually carry armor and screens sufficient to protect them from any hits from turret mounted weapons. Only the largest missile bays and spinal mounts have any hope of seriously wounding them. These ships are often called upon for long range patrol and raiding. They might be tasked as a flag ship for a group of smaller ships. They often protect large fleet assets, such as carriers and assault transports. Their copious missile armament means they can provide devastating artillery barrages. Many commanders look upon their heavy cruisers as versatile survivors, ships capable of a wide variety of roles and tasks.
|
| Battlecruiser | CB | Vlezhdatl class Strike Cruiser | Battle Cruisers combine the spinal mounted meson or particle accelerator firepower of battleships and the armor and screen protection of cruisers. They tend to be fast with good strategic jump mobility. The trade off is in the realm of heavy armor plating. They are unable to sustain the punishment that battleships can deal out and absorb. Battle Cruisers' operational philosophy is to out run whatever they can not out gun. They are built to destroy and survival is of secondary importance. They often lead deep penetration raids to disrupt "secure" rear areas and terrorize merchant shipping lanes with a few fast escorts. Strike Cruisers involve certain trade offs. They sacrifice nearly everything for extreme jump range, they all use the maximum jump drive for their respective tech level of manufacture. As a result they carry so much jump fuel, occasionally drop tanks or dis-mountable fuel tanks, they have less space left over for weapons, maneuver drives, or armor. This is the logical extension of the hit and run design philosophy. The deep strikes behind enemy lines require a special mind set, the captain of these ships act as assassins picking off key targets, vital assets, before sprinting away.
|
| Missile Cruiser | CBM | TBD | Missile Cruisers were developed to emphasize the overall benefits of missile armaments. Missile cruiser sacrifice the spinal mount to mount additional heavy missile bays.
|
| Command Cruiser | CC | TBD | Command Cruisers are usually a battle cruiser or armored cruiser. These vessels may have a more extensive command deck and are normally assigned to a force of several vessels, as a flagship.
|
| Escort Cruiser | CE | TBD | Escort Cruisers often forego a spinal mount in favor of powerful secondary and tertiary defenses in order to stick close to and defend high-value capital assets in a fleet formation (such as flag dreadnoughts or battle tenders) from attack or harassment by missiles and/or smaller and faster light vessels. Patrol Cruisers may fill the role of both frontier and rear area security. Although this role more properly belongs to smaller vessels, occasionally more powerful vessels are assigned. Reconnaissance Cruisers are lighter cruisers with limited armament, but high jump and maneuver, and are equipped with extensive sensor suites. Also called Intelligence Cruisers.
|
| Frontier Cruiser | CF | Lightning class Frontier Cruiser | Frontier Cruisers are usually mid-sized vessels with high jump capabilities assigned to frontier areas. They fill a variety of roles including frontier security, SAR, intelligence gathering, and force projection. Ships of this class may also be known as Fleet Intruders, and Scout Cruisers. These vessels are also known as Provincial Cruisers.
|
| Heavy Cruiser | CH | TBD class TBD | TBD. (50,000 to 99,999 tons)
|
| Rift Cruiser | CJ | TBD | Rift Cruisers are designated base on their operational area, stellar rifts. They have longer jump drive capabilities, and often have a priority on the assignment of naval personnel and replacement parts. Personnel assigned to a Rift Cruiser often get "risk" pay for duty in stellar rifts.
|
| Light Cruiser | CL | Gionetti class Light Cruiser aka SEH class Light Cruiser |
A Light Cruiser is typically the smallest fleet combatant with a spinal mount. They as fast as a destroyer with the range of a heavy cruiser. They don't carry as much armor. They are not intended to last on the line of battle versus heavier ships. They are used to escort carriers, troop transports, tankers and logistical ships. They are also used to lead groups of destroyers. They scout ahead of main fleet elements and protect the flanks of large fleets. Imperial light cruisers are from 10,000 tons to just below 50,000 tons. Ships below 10,000 tons are fleet escorts, but some designs in that range are labelled light cruisers.
|
| Medium Cruiser | CM | TBD class TBD | TBD. (25,000 to 49,999 tons)
|
| Stike Cruiser | CS | TBD class Strike Cruiser | TBD
|
| Mercenary Cruiser | CY | Broadsword class Mercenary Cruiser | Mercenary Cruisers are an answer to the relative lawlessness of some regions of the Imperium that have long posed a problem to those in authority; they are torn between a need to provide protection and order to all areas under Imperial domain, and a rational understanding that cost is a continuing factor in such actions. One solution is the toleration of hired troop units within especially troublesome subsectors. Such units help maintain a basic semblance of order to the worlds and systems within, and are available (at a nominal additional cost) to those in the region desiring more action or greater attention to their own problems. The Imperial hand in such arrangements is clearly seen in their tacit approval of mercenary actions, including referrals in some cases where calls for help are received. The Imperial bureaucracy, in its efforts to provide assistance, has also taken the step of commissioning the design of a standard mercenary cruiser to carry such units throughout their areas of responsibility, and has made these ships available through the provision of low cost construction loans. The design itself is well thought out and has been used for innumerable other tasks, including some Imperial and subsector military missions, and as fleet auxiliaries to the Imperial Navy. There have been numerous arguments that such vessels should not have military designations, but they continue to do so. They constitute a naval reserve with many navies.
|
| Cruiser Rider | BR | TBD | Cruiser Riders are any cruiser rated vessel which lacks independent jump capability, but instead relies on another vessel to provide jump capability. Such vessels are usually called "Cruiser Tenders." Due to the lack of a jump drive and associated fuel tanks, designers reallocate tonnage to weapons, armor, and in-system maneuverability.
|
| Bombardment Cruiser "Siege" |
O | Huron class Bombardment Cruiser | Bombardment Cruiser (CAB/CLB): Usually a heavy or light cruiser type containing armaments focused on providing supporting planetary assault operations.
|
| NOTES: There is semantic overlap between many of the classes and codes. Some codes organize by mission or capability, others by size and tonnage, and yet others by other characteristics. | |||
Caledonian Frigates
| Caledonian Frigate-Cruiser Supraclass Archetypes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Archetype | Type Code/s | Exemplar | Remarks |
| Caledonian Frigates | CL | TBD | In Caledonian navy parlance, cruisers are called "frigates" (heavy and light). This is mostly for historical and traditional reasons.
|
| NOTES: There is semantic overlap between many of the classes and codes. Some codes organize by mission or capability, others by size and tonnage, and yet others by other characteristics. | |||
History & Background (Dossier)
Even before the advent of spacefaring and later starfaring naval ships, in an era of oars, sails, and maritime navies, cruisers tend to form the backbone of any viable navy. Cruisers are the largest combat ships in an affordable class since battleships are prohibitively expensive and only available to the superpowers of their era. Cruisers can be built much more quickly than battleships. Many cruisers can be built in two years or less compared to some battleships which might take many years.
Selected Variant Types & Classes
Military Ship - Warship - Cruiser:
Ship Summary List
Some of the most commonly used vessels in this role or these roles include:
| 43 Representative Cruiser (C) Classes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 0 Representative Armored Cruiser (CA) Classes | |
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| No results |
| 4 Representative Battlecruiser (CB) Classes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 0 Representative Missile Cruiser (CBM) Classes | |
|---|---|
| No results |
| 1 Representative Command Cruiser (CC) Classes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| 0 Representative Escort Cruiser / Very Light Cruiser (CE) Classes | |
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| No results |
| 0 Representative Frontier Cruiser (CF) Classes | |
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| No results |
| 9 Representative Heavy Cruiser (CH) Classes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 0 Representative Rift Cruiser (CJ) Classes | |
|---|---|
| No results |
| 15 Representative Light Cruiser (CL) Classes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 4 Representative Medium Cruiser (CM) Classes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 5 Representative Strike Cruiser (CS) Classes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 2 Representative Mercenary Cruiser (CY) Classes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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References & Contributors (Sources)
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This page uses content from Wikipedia. The original article was at Armored_cruiser. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. The text of Wikipedia is available under the Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. |
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This page uses content from Wikipedia. The original article was at Battlecruiser. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. The text of Wikipedia is available under the Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. |
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This page uses content from Wikipedia. The original article was at Cruiser. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. The text of Wikipedia is available under the Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. |
| This article has metadata. |
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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 Mongoose Publishing or by permission of the author. The page history lists all of the contributions.
- This article is an amalgamation of many different materials published since 1977.
- Marc Miller. Imperium (Game Designers Workshop, 1977), All.
- John Harshman, Marc Miller, Loren Wiseman. Library Data (A-M) (Game Designers Workshop, 1981), 22. (Classic Traveller Supplement 8)
- Timothy B. Brown. Fighting Ships (Game Designers Workshop, 1981), 28-33. (Classic Traveller Supplement 9)
- Marc Miller. Dark Nebula (Game Designers Workshop, 1983), All.
- Marc Miller. Fighting Ships of the Shattered Imperium (Game Designers Workshop, 1990), 40-52.
- Citation Missing - Fighting Ships
- Traveller Wiki Editorial Team
- Author & Contributor: Lord (Marquis) and Master of Sophontology Maksim-Smelchak of the Ministry of Science