Battleship

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

B-class Battleships are jump-capable starships intended to stand in the line of battle in space combat.

• Some ships in this mission or supraclass are known as Dreadnoughts with certain specific characteristics that may or may not be identical to conventional battleships.
• Monitors are rated as H-class Defensive Vessels.
• 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:

• 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
  • Battle Class Ship
  • Capital Ship
  • Fleet Class Ship
  • Size-Role Classification
  • Subcapital Ship
  • 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

• Astronomical Unit (AU)
• FTL
• Light Speed (c)
• Light-week (lw)
• Light-year (ly)
• NAFAL (STL)
• Parsec (pc)

Description (Specifications)

A Battleship is a jump-capable capital ship intended to stand in the line-of-battle in space combat. Battleships are usually supported by cruisers, which stiffen the flanks of the line-of-battle. Battleships tend to be very large vessels often a hundred thousand tons are more. They require numerous crew, vast resources, and enormous costs. Yet, nothing can replace a battleship and the overwhelming power of its spinal mount on the interstellar battlefield.

Battleships: The power of the Imperial Navy is concentrated in its battleships. The definition of a battleship is a ship which, due to its armament and protection, is capable of standing in the line of battle. When a battleship meets any lesser type of ship, its victory is almost guaranteed. When battleships on two sides meet, victory goes to the better armed, better armored, and better directed ship. The broad type of battleship is further divided into many more clearly defined types.

• Besides battleships, there are dreadnoughts,battle riders, and battle tenders.

Dreadnought: A dreadnought is a superbattleship, designed to be the best possible battleship. The Imperial Navy places the dreadnought designation on its latest, most-effective battleships, redesignating them simply as battleships when their superior abilities are supplanted by newer construction.

• The concept of dreadnought does not mean that battleships are not built as well. Due to the expense of dreadnoughts, the Imperial Navy also acquires battleships as such.

Image Repository

Type BB Line Battleship:

1. A side view of an Indomitable class Battleship.
   

Type BH Heavy Battleship:

1. View of a Dominator-class from a highport lounge.
   

Type BL Light Battleship:

1. No image yet available.

Type BM Medium Battleship:

1. Three Sylea class Battleships abreast clearing a star system of corsair vessels.
   

Type BP Pocket Battleship:

1. A Sutherland class Dreadnought.
   
2. A Kokirrak class Dreadnought in combat.
   
3. A side view schematic of a Yrkath Ossu E*Wr class Battleship with a Beowulf class Free Trader for size comparison.
   
4. A side view schematic of a Pador class Dreadnought with a Beowulf class Free Trader for size comparison.
   

Type BR Battle Rider:

1. A World class Battle Tender laden down with five Nolikian class Battle Riders.
   
2. A Gallant class Battle Rider flanked by two Type S'es on patrol..
   

Type BS Superheavy Battleship:

1. A typical deployed Tigress with smallcraft in action (...viewed from the aft).
   

Type BU Ultraheavy Battleship:

1. No image yet available.

Battleship vs. Dreadnought?

CONFUSING TERMINOLOGY: The terms are widely exchangeable. Some navies use it to indicate an older battleship, while others use it interchangeably with the term battleship. In Imperial Navy parlance, some of this ambiguity is kept, but the terms are mostly used with the following connotations:

1. Battleships focus on heavy gun armament, which is to say spinal mounts. They tend to carry lesser armor than a comparable dreadnought. Battleships tend to be faster platforms as well, with more strategic mobility and larger maneuver drives. Battleships tend to be multi-purpose platforms while dreadnoughts focus on anti-shipping missions.
2. Dreadnoughts focus on heavy armor and protection, but may be from older generations of vessels before spinal mounts were developed and perfected. Many of them were not originally equipped with spinal mounts and had to later be retrofitted with them. Dreadnoughts tend to be slower, with smaller jump drives (...thus less strategic mobility) and maneuver drives. Dreadnoughts, as a generality, are specialized to focus on anti-shipping missions as in destroying other line combatants.

As an aside, the very largest, most capable, hard-hitting vessel in a navy is often nicknamed a dreadnought.

Strategy & Tactics (Doctrine)

The power of the Imperial Navy is concentrated in its battleships. The definition of a battleship is a starship which, due to its armament and protection, is capable of standing in the line of battle. When a battleship meets any lesser type of ship, its victory is almost guaranteed. When battleships on two sides meet, victory goes to the better armed, better armored, and better directed ship.

Two opposite views in naval architecture have dominated the design of the major battleships of space navies:

1. BATTLESHIP CONCEPT: The battleship concept involves large, well-armed and armoured starships of massive tonnage, capable of meeting any adversary. Armament and protection are appropriate to this mission. They generally have little better primary armament than cruisers. However, their extensive secondary batteries render them virtually immune to missiles and small craft attack, while their bulk provides a tremendous ability to absorb damage and keep fighting. Moreover, in a battle against a superior force, the battleship can flee combat by using its own jump drives.
2. BATTLERIDER CONCEPT: The opposite is the battle rider concept, involving a large jump-capable battle tender carrying a complete Battle Squadron (BatRon) of two to ten heavily armed and armoured non-jump-capable battle riders. The Battle Tender strategy does not allow for the possibility of superior force; no matter how good a rider is, if it meets a superior adversary, it is placed in a position of winning or dying. Retreat is nearly impossible without losses.

Supraclass Roles

Battleships typically serve the following roles:

Largecraft & Bigcraft:

B-class Battle Supraclass Archetypes
Archetype	Type Code
Battle Rider	(BR)
Battleship	(B) (Namesake)
Dreadnought	(B) (...old DN)
Frontier Battleship	(BB)
Heavy Battleship	(BH) (...old BA)
Heavy Monitor	(HM)
Hybrid Battle Rider	(BZ)
Light Battleship	(BL)
Line Battleship	(BB)
Medium Battleship	(BM)
Missile Battleship	(BB)
Monitor	(HM)
Pocket Battleship	(BP)
Strike Battleship	(BB)
Super Battleship	(BS)
Super Dreadnought	(BS)
Ultraheavy Battleship	(BU)

Size-Class Roles for Battleship Vessels

1. Light Battleship (BL) (2,500 to 99,999 tons)
2. Medium Battleship (BM) (100,000 to 199,999 tons)
3. Pocket Battleship (BP) (200,000 to 249,999 tons)
4. Heavy Battleship (BH) (250,000 to 499,999 tons)
5. Superheavy Battleship (BS) (500,000 to 999,999 tons)
6. Ultraheavy Battleship (BU) (1,000,000 or more tons)

B-class Battleship Archetypal Size Spectrum

B-class Battleship Archetypal Size Spectrum
Archetype	Code	Tonnage
Light Battleship	BL	2,500 tons to 149,999 tons
Medium Battleship	BM	150,000 tons to 199,999 tons
Pocket Battleship	BP	200,000 tons to 249,999 tons
Heavy Battleship or Dreadnought	BH	250,000 tons to 499,999 tons
Super Battleship or Super Dreadnought	BS	500,000 tons to 999,999 tons
Ultraheavy Battleship or Ultraheavy Dreadnought	BU	1,000,000 tons or larger

Military Subcraft

Military subcraft (...both smallcraft and bigcraft) are carried by some of these vessels:

1. Battle Rider (BR)
2. Combat Barge (WBG)
3. Combat Transport Smallcraft (UI)
4. Fighters (F)
5. Militarized Utility Craft (UQ)

Supraclass Archetypal Roles

These vessels typically serve the following archetypal roles:

B-class Battleship Supraclass Archetypes
Archetype	Type Code	Exemplar	Remarks
Battleship	B (Namesake)	Plankwell class Battleship	The technological basis for Imperial battleships is the BB- 11. From it was developed the BB-12 and then the BB-13. Battleships are representative of the rest of the vessels of this category. They are both heavily armed and armored and are considered the backbone of any naval force. They are strong enough to take enormous damage and still act effectively. On the downside, like the heavy battleship they are resource hogs, and the maintenance burden is significant. B = Battleship
Line Battleship	BB	Dominator class Battleship	Line battleships are flexible combat vessels built to operate independently or in groups as part of a concerted strategy. In other words, they do it all with an emphasis on destroying enemy fleets. Many also vary fighter squadrons, planetary bombardment weaponry, specialized sensors, extensive onboard facilities, and a variety of other equipment. Line battleships show the flag wherever they go. The Strike designation is typically associated with a vessel having a long jump and/or a high maneuver capability. Often the term is an unofficial designation associated with new, faster construction. These vessels are based strongly on light battleship designs, with enhanced mobility attributes. B = Battleship B = Battle, Attack, Combat, Strike, etc.
Heavy Battleship	BH	Tigress class Dreadnought	The heavy battleship are placed between 250,000 tons to 499,999 tons in displacement and are known by a variety of names, such as superbattleship, or more commonly dreadnought. Although many were developed from independent designs, a number were logical extension of the earlier battleship lines. Some militaries, including the Imperial Navy, use the designation of dreadnought to designate its latest, most-effective battleships, and may redesignate them simply as battleships when their superior abilities are supplanted by newer construction. These ships represent the ultimate projection of naval power, and their power often dwarfs other ships. As such, their construction represents a tremendous outlay of resources in materials, and manpower. B = Battleship H = Heavy (...the Navy once used A = HeAvy)
Light Battleship	BL	Dimin class Pocket Cruiser	Light battleships typically displace between 2,500 to 99,999 tons. The light battleship line is based on the BB-12, but showed great innovation in producing a smaller tonnage vessel. The BS-15 is also a member of this line. This class of vessel is an attempt to field a ship with most of the offensive weight of a battleship, but to try to hold down the cost associated with building and maintaining such a vessel. B = Battleship L = Light
Medium Battleship	BM	Murrain class Medium Battleship	Medium battleships typically displace between 100,000 to 199,999 tons. B = Battleship M = Medium
Pocket Battleship	BP	Plankwell class Battleship	Pocket battleships typically displace between 200,000 to 249,999 tons. B = Battleship P = Pocket
Battle Rider	BR	Nolikian class Battle Rider	The Battle Rider system was developed in an attempt to produce battleship strength vessels in greater numbers. The BT/R-14 system combines non-jump battle riders with a jump capable battle tender. The BT/R-15 system is an evolution of the BT/R-14. Although the battle rider is a non-jump capable vessel, it is otherwise armed and armored like a battleship. With the elimination of the jump drives and the associated controls and power plant support, the internal space can be reallocated to additional armor, weaponry, or agility. On a ship to ship basis, battle riders normally have superior combat capabilities compared to jump-capable battleships of similar tonnage, but they, of course, lack the ability to retreat from a system without their tender. Due to the battle riders need for battle tenders for transportation between star systems, the battle tender tends to be the largest vulnerability of battle rider system. Elimination of the lightly armor tender removes battle riders strategic flexibility, isolating them to their current system. B = Battleship R = Rider
Superheavy Battleship or Superheavy Dreadnought	BS	Idlev class Superbattleship	Superheavy battleships typically displace between 500,000 to 999,999 tons. B = Battleship S = Superheavy, Super, etc.
Ultraheavy Battleship or Ultraheavy Dreadnought	BU	Cluj class Super Battleship	Ultraheavy warships of any superclass are simply massive weighing in at a million or more tons in weight and displacement. They take years to build and require massive investments of resources. Typically, only the major races can afford to build them. On the other hand, they are tough to counter with smaller vessels although it certainly can be done. B = Battleship U = Ultraheavy
Hybrid Battle Rider	ZEB (BZ)	No unclassified models.	The Battle Rider Hybrid takes the battle rider system one step further and places a battle rider on a battleship for combat support deployment. This design is a hybrid of the BT/R-15 system and the BL-15. This change addresses the greatest weakness associated with the battle rider/battle tender system. Z = Special E = Experimental B = Battleship
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)

The battleships of the Imperium are designed to overcome any opponent in battle. As technology advances, these designs also advance, both to take advantage of any possible technological benefits, and to experiment with new strategies and construction techniques.

Selected Variant Types & Classes

Military Ship - Warship - Line Battleship:

1. Type BB class Line Battleship
   1. Grzying class Battleship
   2. Indomitable class Battleship
   3. Justinian class Battleship
   4. Magada class Battleship
   5. Miotos class Battleship
   6. Zirukaruna class Battleship

Military Ship - Warship - Heavy Battleship:

1. Type BH class Heavy Battleship
   1. Aedekho class Dreadnought
   2. Arrghonz class Dreadnought
   3. Charming class Battleship
   4. Cheveldi class Battleship
   5. Chiqrr class Battleship
   6. Concord class Battleship
   7. Dirqral class Battleship
   8. Dominator class Battleship
   9. Formidable class Dreadnought
   10. Grendal class Dreadnought
   11. Kirunika'rra class Battleship
   12. Jotvobl class Battleship
   13. Khurkish class Dreadnought
   14. Mastigo class Battleship
   15. Mother of War class Battleship
   16. Mukusi class Strike Battleship
   17. Oblivion class Battleship
   18. Okedi class Battleship
   19. Pride of Talokan class Battleship
   20. Prince John III class Battleship
   21. Prince Stuart IV class Battleship
   22. Retribution class Battleship
   23. Shianzpla class Battleship
   24. Staklen class Frontier Battleship
   25. Triumph class Battleship
   26. Usan class Dreadnought
   27. Wavel class Battleship

Military Ship - Warship - Light Battleship:

1. Type BL class Light Battleship
   1. Dark Nebula B1 class Dreadnaught
   2. Dark Nebula B2 class Improved Dreadnaught
   3. Gunhound class Light Battleship

Military Ship - Warship - Medium Battleship:

1. Type BM class Medium Battleship
   1. Connecticut class Medium Battleship
   2. Cordell class Battleship
   3. Dauntless class Battleship
   4. Domain class Medium Battleship
   5. Grendal class Battleship
   6. Harp class Battleship
   7. Hedron class Battleship
   8. Howe class Battleship
   9. Illinois class Battleship
   10. Jeremiah O'Brien class Battleship
   11. Joyeuse class Battleship
   12. Kalere class Dreadnought
   13. Kearsage class Battleship
   14. Maine class Battleship
   15. Malos Lobos class Battleship
   16. Minsk class Medium Battleship
   17. Murrain class Medium Battleship
   18. Prince Colin III class Medium Battleship
   19. Sylea class Battleship
   20. Sylean class Battleship
   21. Tenjada class Battleship
   22. Vander class Battleship
   23. Virginia class Battleship

Military Ship - Warship - Pocket Battleship:

1. Type BP class Pocket Battleship
   1. Artemsus class Strike Battleship
   2. Chtrfiak class Battleship
   3. Courageous class Battleship
   4. Fauve class Battleship
   5. Fenris class Dreadnought
   6. Furious Anger class Battleship
   7. Ixobis class Dreadnought
   8. Kline class Battleship
   9. Kokirrak class Dreadnought
   10. Lefaen class Battleship
   11. Marat class Battleship
   12. Pador class Dreadnought
   13. Plankwell class Dreadnought
   14. Prince Ian II class Battleship
   15. Prince Morris I class Battleship
   16. Prince Roger III class Battleship
   17. Sarriaklir class Battleship
   18. Smelchak class Battleship
   19. Sutherland class Ship of the Line
   20. Tronskia class Dreadnought
   21. Type VB class Battleship
   22. Viepchakl class Battleship
   23. Voroshilef class Battleship
   24. Yrkath Ossu E*Wr class Battleship

Military Ship - Warship - Superheavy Battleship:

1. Type BS class Superheavy Battleship
   1. Amoreuxi class Dreadnought
   2. Audacious class Dreadnought
   3. Commandant class Dreadnaught
   4. Depression class Dreadnought
   5. Duke of Sanches class Dreadnought
   6. Idlev class Superbattleship
   7. Jarnac class Dreadnought
   8. Krohn class Dreadnought
   9. Miller class Dreadnought
   10. Thingen class Dreadnaught
   11. Tigress class Dreadnought

Military Ship - Warship - Ultraheavy Battleship:

1. Type BU class Ultraheavy Battleship
   1. Cluj class Super Battleship
   2. Pandinus class Super Dreadnought
   3. SLC5 Kaayur class Super Battleship
   4. Titan class Super Dreadnought
   5. Warmoon class Super Dreadnought

Ship Summary List

Some of the most commonly used vessels in this role or these roles include:

9 Representative Battleship (B) Classes

Class Mission Code TL Tons Jump G Origin Canon Quick ship profile Class Mission Code TL Tons Jump G Origin Canon Quick ship profile Ch'kaahi class Battle Rider BRV 11 1,000 0 6 Sath Alliance BRV-TBD Dauntless class Battleship BM 12 100,000 2 3 Nexus Fleet Forces No. Unpublished, non-canon fan design. TBD Depression class Dreadnought BS 12 500,000 3 3 Old Worlds No. Unpublished, non-canon fan design. TBD Houdini class Battle Rider BRL 11 20,000 0 6 Varellan Empire No. Unpublished, non-canon fan design. TBD Parasite class Battle Rider BRL 12 13,000 0 6 Old Worlds No. Unpublished, non-canon fan design. TBD PartiCard class Battle Rider BRV 12 100 6 Third Imperium BRV-AU60 Punisher class Light Battle Rider BRV 12 1,000 0 6 Ras Tennol Force No. Unpublished, non-canon fan design. TBD Tenjada class Battleship BM 12 100,000 3 3 Tenjada Moralitate No. Unpublished, non-canon fan design. TBD Xarbo class Battle Rider BRL 11 10,000 0 6 Regency of Muirimi No BR-0BS60

0 Representative Line Battleship (BB) Classes
No results

0 Representative Heavy Battleship (BH) Classes
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0 Representative Light Battleship (BL) Classes
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2 Representative Medium Battleship (BM) Classes
Class Mission Code TL Tons Jump G Origin Canon Quick ship profile Class Mission Code TL Tons Jump G Origin Canon Quick ship profile Dauntless class Battleship BM 12 100,000 2 3 Nexus Fleet Forces No. Unpublished, non-canon fan design. TBD Tenjada class Battleship BM 12 100,000 3 3 Tenjada Moralitate No. Unpublished, non-canon fan design. TBD

0 Representative Pocket Battleship (BP) Classes
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6 Representative Battle Rider (BR) Classes

Class Mission Code TL Tons Jump G Origin Canon Quick ship profile Class Mission Code TL Tons Jump G Origin Canon Quick ship profile Ch'kaahi class Battle Rider BRV 11 1,000 0 6 Sath Alliance BRV-TBD Houdini class Battle Rider BRL 11 20,000 0 6 Varellan Empire No. Unpublished, non-canon fan design. TBD Parasite class Battle Rider BRL 12 13,000 0 6 Old Worlds No. Unpublished, non-canon fan design. TBD PartiCard class Battle Rider BRV 12 100 6 Third Imperium BRV-AU60 Punisher class Light Battle Rider BRV 12 1,000 0 6 Ras Tennol Force No. Unpublished, non-canon fan design. TBD Xarbo class Battle Rider BRL 11 10,000 0 6 Regency of Muirimi No BR-0BS60

1 Representative Superheavy Battleship (BS) Classes
Class Mission Code TL Tons Jump G Origin Canon Quick ship profile Class Mission Code TL Tons Jump G Origin Canon Quick ship profile Depression class Dreadnought BS 12 500,000 3 3 Old Worlds No. Unpublished, non-canon fan design. TBD

0 Representative Ultraheavy Battleship (BU) Classes
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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.

• This article is an amalgamation of many different materials published since 1977.
• John Harshman, Marc Miller, Loren Wiseman. Library Data (A-M) (Game Designers Workshop, 1981), 16. (Classic Traveller Supplement 8)
• Timothy B. Brown. Fighting Ships (Game Designers Workshop, 1981), 38-42. (Classic Traveller Supplement 9)
• Marc Miller. Fighting Ships of the Shattered Imperium (Game Designers Workshop, 1990), 10-38.
• Ben W. Bell, Martin Dougherty. Fighting Ships (QuikLink Interactive, 2003), 11-12,18-21.
• Traveller Wiki Editorial Team
• Author & Contributor: Lord (Marquis) and Master of Sophontology Maksim-Smelchak of the Ministry of Science