Editing Communications Vessel

{{:Starship-Nav-Bar-Two-2019CE}}
[[Communications Vessel|X-class Communications Vessel]]s serve communication functions throughout [[Charted Space]].
* The grouping  includes [[X-boat]]s, [[X-boat Tender]]s, [[Courier Vessel]]s, [[Relay Boat]]s, [[Packet Boat]]s, and many other kinds of communications vessels.
* The [[Supraclass]] designation is also known as [[Ship Mission]], [[Ship Mission Code]], Mission, or [[Ship Hull Designation]]. 
* It is a [[starship]] [[supraclass]].
[[File: Technical Data.jpg|right]]
 
=== Library Data Referral Tree ===
Please refer to the following [[AAB]] [[Library Data]] for more information: <br>
'''[[Starship]]:'''
{{:Referral-Tree-Starship-User-Types}}
{{:Referral-Tree-Advanced-Ship-Classifications}}
{{:Referral-Tree-Basic-Ship-Classifications}}
{{:Referral-Tree-Ships-by-Function}}
{{:Referral-Tree-Speed-of-Travel}}

== Description ([[Specifications]]) ==
''Communications Vessel''s is a ship hierarchy category that covers a variety of [[vessel]]s that have a primary mission of conducting communications and connecting [[mainworld]]s and/or [[fleet]]s. Not every [[polity]] has a well developed [[X-boat]] system, but every [[polity]] uses [[starship]]s to conduct communications missions, varying electronic messages, couriers, diplomats, envoys, and a variety of sophont messengers as well as message mediums. {{Unpublished cite|author= [[Maksim-Smelchak]] }}

=== Image Repository ===
This image repository contains a selection of communications vessel images: 

'''[[Express Boat|Type XB Express Boat]]:'''
# An image of a [[Xavier class Express Boat]]. <br> [[File: X-boat Ian-Stead 50865284 27-June-2019a.jpg|400px]]

'''[[Commercial Courier|Type XC Commercial Courier]]:'''
# The familiar [[Wedge Hull|wedge]]-shaped [[Messenger class Commercial Courier|''Messenger'' class Commercial Courier]]. <br> [[File:J2 100dT Courier.jpg|400px]]
# The [[Tathoe class Scout/Courier]], one of the most common [[courier ship]]s within the [[Vargr Extents]]. <br> [[File:Tahoe-Courier-MGT- Marco-Morte-RESIZE-pg-73 26-Sept-2019b.jpg|400px]]

'''[[Express Boat Tender|Type XT Express Boat Tender]]:'''
# A typical [[Purcell class Express Boat Tender]], one of the prototypical [[Express Boat Tender]]s. <br> [[File: Xboat-Tender-Keith-Supp7 Pg11-15 13-Jan-2019a.jpg|400px]]

'''[[Armed Packet Ship|Type XUA Armed Packet Ship]]:'''
# A top down image of the most common [[Imperial Armed Packet]] in a common livery. <br> [[File: Armed-Packet-T5-Core-Rules-FFE 29-May-2019a.png|250px]]

=== Strategy & Tactics (Doctrine) ===
''Communications Vessel''s are rarely armed or armored. They are combat multipliers meant to affect battles by getting the right information and intelligence to the right forces at the right time. Every combatant fleet protects its auxiliaries and its communications lines, commo vessels included. When engaged, the commo vessel has only two choices, run as fast as possible, or hopefully hide out in [[jumpspace]] if the [[jump drive]]s are charged and ready. {{Unpublished cite|author= [[Maksim-Smelchak]] }}

=== Supraclass Roles ===
''Communication Vessel''s typically serve the following roles: <br>
''[[Largecraft]] & [[Bigcraft]]:''
# [[Armored Packet]] (XUA)
# [[Communications Vessel|Commercial Courier]] (XCL)
# [[Communications Vessel]] (X) (Namesake)
# [[Courier Vessel]] (XC)
# [[Packet Ship|Diplomatic Courier]] (XUD)
# [[Dispatcher]] (XC)
# [[Communications Vessel|Far Courier]] (XCL))
# [[Communications Vessel|Express Courier]] (XCF)
# [[Courier Vessel|Fast Courier]] (XCF)
# [[Fleet Courier]] (XCF)
# [[Communications Vessel|Fleet Dispatch Courier]] (XUD)
# [[Communications Vessel|Frontier Courier]] (XCL)
# [[Communications Vessel|Long Range Fleet Courier]] (XCF)
# [[Packet Ship|Mail Ship]] (XU)
# [[Packet Ship|Messenger Ship]] (XU)
# [[Packet Ship|Packet Boat]] (XU)
# [[Relay Boat]] (XC)
# [[Relay Ship]] (XC)
# [[Express Boat|X-Boat]] (XB)
# [[Type XT class Express Boat Tender|X-Boat Tender]] (XT or VXT)

==== Size-Class Roles for Communications Vessels ====
# [[Communications Craft]] (UQX) (1 to 99 [[ton]]s)
# [[Light Communications Vessel]] (XL) (100 to 999 [[ton]]s)
# [[Medium Communications Vessel]] (XM) (1,000 to 1,499 [[ton]]s)
# [[Heavy Communications Vessel]] (XH) (1,500 to 2,499 [[ton]]s)
# [[Super Heavy Communications Vessel]] (XS) (2,500 or more [[ton]]s)

==== Civilian Subcraft ====
Civilian [[subcraft]] (...both [[smallcraft]] and [[bigcraft]]) are carried by some of these [[vessel]]s:
# [[Barge]] (WB)
# [[Utility Craft]] (U)

=== Supraclass Archetypal Roles ===
These vessels typically serve the following archetypal roles:
{| class="wikitable sortable" 
!colspan="4"| ''Selected Communications Vessel Archetypes''
|-
! Archetype
! Type Code/s
! Exemplar
! Remarks
|-
| [[Communications Vessel]]
| X (Namesake)
| [[Type X class Express Boat]]
| [[Charted Space]] possesses no [[FTL]] communications devices or [[ansible]]s. Thus, communications is generally limited to a pony express type of communications network, as in a network of couriers, packets, and the like. The [[Third Imperium]] maximized the efficiency of its courier system by developing [[X-boat]]s, ships dedicated solely to communications functions, but there are other solutions used by other [[polities]]: relay systems, fleet couriers, postal unions, military express messengers, [[X-mail]], [[etc.]] 
* X = e'''X'''change
|-
| [[X-Boat]]
| XB
| [[Xavier class Express Boat]]
| The [[Express Boat]] (…also called an [[xboat]]) is a small, fast ship filled with a [[pilot]] compartment, [[message data bank]]s, and [[jump drive]]s. The fit is so tight that there is no room even for [[maneuver drive]]s. Each is capable of Jump-4 (…four [[parsec]]s per week); it jumps, relays its messages to the station on arrival, and then waits to be picked up by a tender, to be refuelled and sent on its way with a new load of messages. The local station, meanwhile, accepts messages, encodes them, and transmits them to a tender at the edges of the [[stellar system]]. Messages brought by the arriving xboat and intended for further down the line are consolidated with the new data and all are sent on to another xboat already fuelled and standing ready to leave. The entire network operates like the pony express — messages are always moving at top speed. Transfer time for messages from one xboat to another can be as short as ten minutes, and is rarely more than an hour. {{Page cite|name= Traders and Gunboats |page= 8 |version= Classic Traveller}}
* X = e'''X'''change
* B = Boat
|-
| [[Courier Vessel]]
| XC
| [[Yetsabl class Courier]]
| [[Courier Vessel]]s are communications ships, ships intended to carry communications in a universe where communications are limited to the speed of travel. This includes vessels that would be XB class but do not fit one or more of the criteria (such as having a Jump rating less than 4, a total crew count other than 1, or any form of [[maneuver drive]]) and thus do not fit into [[Third Imperium|Imperial]] x-boat service.
* X = e'''X'''change
* C = Courier
|-
| [[Heavy Communications Vessel]]
| XH
| [[Echtovr Dazhia class Council Cruiser]]
| None
* X = e'''X'''change
* H = Heavy
|-
| [[Light Communications Vessel]]
| XL
| [[Dhaztuen class Far Merchant]]
| None
* X = e'''X'''change
* L = Light
|-
| [[Medium Communications Vessel]]
| XM
| [[Iris class Armored Packet]]
| None
* X = e'''X'''change
* M = Medium
|-
| [[Super Heavy Communications Vessel]]
| XS
| [[Kahk'rik'kreng class Yacht]]
| None
* X = e'''X'''change
* S = Superheavy
|-
| [[X-Boat Tender]]
| XT 
| [[Purcell class Express Boat Tender]]
| The express boat system would not work without the express boat tender. These [[tender]]s, stationed in each [[system]] that express boats stop at, serve two purposes. First, they tend express boats, recovering them when they arrive, refueling them and repairing minor problems, and then sending them on their way. Second, they serve as a relay station between the planetary surface based message center and the express boat itself. Messages are forwarded to the tender for transmittal to the xboat just before it leaves for the next [[star system]]. {{Page cite|name= Traders and Gunboats |page= 11 |version= Classic Traveller}}
* X = e'''X'''change
* T = Tender
|-
| [[Packet Boat]]
| XU
| [[Xerxes class Armed Packet Ship]]
| ''Packet Ships'' conduct similar missions to [[liner]]s and [[courier vessel]]s. They are generally understood to perform unscheduled missions where [[postal route]]s do not exist. Most are equipped with [[mail vault]]s and secure [[stateroom]]s. {{Unpublished cite|author= [[Maksim-Smelchak]] }} 
* [[Vessel]]s such as [[Armed Packet]] (UF-CA33) perform unscheduled passenger service for those in a hurry. The [[crew]] can be trusted, but these little [[ship]]s can still find themselves jumping into harm's way. {{Page cite|name= T5 Core Rules |page=738}}
* Generally, packet trade is any regularly scheduled [[cargo]], [[passenger]], and [[X-mail]] trade conducted by [[space ship|space]] or [[starship]]. The ships are sometimes called "[[packet boat]]s"&mdash;in the same manner as [[IISS]] [[communications craft]] are called "[[x-boat]]s"&mdash;since their original function was to carry [[x-mail]]. However, in modern times they only supplement the official system. While "packet" can mean any small parcel, its usage here most likely comes from its meaning during the pre-spaceflight [[Terra]]n ''Age of Sail,'' where it meant a parcel of important correspondence&mdash;usually governmental&mdash;or valuable items for urgent delivery. {{Unpublished cite|author= [[Maksim-Smelchak]] }} 
* X = e'''X'''change
* U = comm'''U'''nication
|-
| [[Communications Craft]]
| UQX
| [[Yaeai class Recon Pinnace]]
| Communications and intelligence smallcraft serve at roles below the more common 100 ton scout vessels, often star system monitoring or fleet picket duties not requiring FTL jump capabilities. 
* U = Utility, Multipurpose, [[etc.]]  
* Q = Quartermaster, Combat Support, Logistics, [[etc.]]
* X = e'''X'''change
|-
!colspan="4"| ''NOTES:'' There is semantic overlap between many of the classes and codes. Some codes organize by mission or capability, others by size and [[ton]]nage, and yet others by other characteristics.
|-
|}

== History & Background ([[Dossier]]) ==
[[Charted Space]] possesses no [[FTL]] communications devices or [[ansible]]s. Thus, communications is generally limited to a pony express type of communications network, as in a network of couriers, packets, and the like. The [[Third Imperium]] maximized the efficiency of its courier system by developing [[X-boat]]s, ships dedicated solely to communications functions, but there are other solutions used by other [[polities]]: relay systems, [[fleet courier]]s, [[postal union]]s, military express messengers, [[X-mail]], [[etc.]]. {{Unpublished cite|author= [[Maksim-Smelchak]] }}   

=== Selected Variant Types & Classes ===
''[[Paramilitary Vessel]] - [[Express Boat]]s:''
{{:Referral-Tree-Type-X-class-Express-Boat}}
 
''[[Paramilitary Vessel]] - [[Courier Vessel]]s:''
* [[Type XC class Courier Vessel]]
** [[Chantoql class Courier]]
** [[Express Rock class Mail Drone]]
** [[Giciifichu class Dispatcher]]
** [[Hummingbird class Courier]]
** [[Kankur class Frontier Courier]]
** [[Kr'ghrr class Courier]]
** [[Ktiyhui class Courier]]
** [[Messenger class Commercial Courier]]
** [[Orowani Deep Space class Courier]]
** [[Ranger class Courier]]
** [[Swift Missive class Courier]]
** [[Thorez class Courier]]
** [[Type VX class Courier]]
** [[Type ZC class Courier]]
** [[Vehrsabl class Courier]]
** [[Venture class Frontier Courier]]
** [[Victrix class Courier]]
** [[Yetsabl class Courier]]
** [[Zofagic class Utility Vessel]]

''[[Paramilitary Vessel]] - [[Fleet Courier]]s:''
* [[Type XCF class Fleet Courier]]
** [[Adlerstein class Fleet Courier]]
** [[Barnett class Fleet Courier]]
** [[Columbus class Fleet Courier]]
** [[Gepard class Express Courier]]
** [[Khadumir class Fast Courier]]
** [[Last Line class Fleet Courier]]
** [[Marathon class Fleet Courier]]
** [[Phidippides class Fast Courier]] 
** [[Sundowner class Fleet Courier]]
** [[Swift class Fleet Courier]]

''[[Paramilitary Vessel]] - [[Express Boat Tender]]s:''
{{:Referral-Tree-Type-XT-class-Express-Boat-Tender}}

''[[Communication Vessel]] - [[Packet Ship]]:''
{{:Referral-Text-Type-XU-class-Packet-Ship}}

=== Ship Summary List ===
Some of the most commonly used vessels in this role include:
{{Ship summary list|name= Communications Vessel |tdes= X}}
{{Ship summary list|name= Express Boat |tdes= XB}}
{{Ship summary list|name= Courier Vessel |tdes= XC}}
{{Ship summary list|name= Fleet Courier |tdes= XCF}}
{{Ship summary list|name= Heavy Communications Vessel |tdes= XH}}
{{Ship summary list|name= Light Communications Vessel |tdes= XL}}
{{Ship summary list|name= Medium Communications Vessel |tdes= XM}}
{{Ship summary list|name= Superheavy Communications Vessel |tdes= XS}}
{{Ship summary list|name= Express Boat Tender |tdes= XT}}
{{Ship summary list|name= Packet Ship |tdes= XU }}
{{Ship summary list|name= Multipurpose Communications Craft |tdes= UM}}
{{Ship summary list|name= Dedicated Communications Craft |tdes= UQ}}

== References & Contributors ([[Sources]]) ==
{{Intermediate}}
{{Detail}}
{{Sources
|S1= This article is an amalgamation of many different materials published since 1977.
|S2= [[Traveller Wiki Editorial Team]]
|S3= Author & Contributor: Lord (Marquis) and Master of Sophontology [[Maksim-Smelchak]] of the [[Ministry of Science]] 
}}


[[Category: Ship Organization]]
[[Category: Ship type definitions]]
[[Category: Supraclass]]
{{LEN|}}