Difference between revisions of "Ship Mission Code"

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Revision as of 16:47, 9 April 2022

Naval Commercial Non-Commercial
B - Fleet C - Independent D - Defense E - Auxiliary A - Trader J - Resources M - Liner R - Freighter T - General L - Science S - Scout Y - Private
Technical Data.jpg

A Ship Mission Code (also known as a Ship type code or Ship design code) is a classification of a ship's design purpose. Given the cost in materials and time to build and maintain a Starship, they are designed and built with a specific purpose in mind. The ship mission code categorizes these specific purposes into one of twelve primary categories with an optional one or two modifiers to more exactly define ship mission. The purpose being to define and categorize ships designed and built for similar purposes.

There are a great many different mission encoding systems in existence. Almost every space-faring empire has constructed one based upon their specific needs and cultural assumptions. The mission code system used by the Imperial Encyclopedia is a compromise, combining several different systems in an attempt to provide the broadest possible categorization.

Individual governments also assign their own mission code to ships, both their own and those of near by governments. They purpose ranges from simple curiosity about fleets, to tracking economic activity and potential threats, to enforcing policy and treaties.

It is a universal truth that a ship never spends it's entire lifespan performing the mission for which it was designed or build. The mission code assigned in the Encyclopedia are based on the original design specifications. The policy of re-assigning mission codes to specific ships or classes of ships based upon changing circumstances is determined by the governments assigning their own codes.

Mission description

The mission encoding has two parts: A name or short phrase to define the specific primary mission and any modifiers, and a set of letter codes which capture the same primary mission and modifiers. In more precise terminology the Mission Code refers to the short phrase while the type code refers to the letter codes. There is enough overlap the terms are sometimes used interchangeably

The Ship Mission code has the following format

type code class mission description

The type code is the one to three character encoding of the mission. The expected format is the primary mission code followed by any modifier codes.

The mission description is a short phrase to describe the mission. This generally is not the precise language used by mission code descriptions, but rather a description given by the designer.

For example, a ship may be given the mission code of CA class armored cruiser. The CA gives a mission code of C (Naval independent operations) with a modifier of A (Armored).

Giving specific names to the mission, like cruiser, leads to comparison of the ships with the same mission name, especially with military ships. This in turn causes analysis issues when trying to describe two designs separated by spans of time or availability of resources. Trying to compare a Lightning class Frontier Cruiser to an early Terran Confederation cruiser leads to substantial argument about what qualifies as a "Cruiser".

Primary missions

For each primary mission there is a title and a code given for the mission encoding and the type codes. Each mission has a longer description and list of examples to provide guidance for assigning a primary code.

Navy
These are warships designed for combat operations. Their design includes weapons, armor, shields, and the crew to support these operations.
Fleet - Code B
Naval fleet ships are designed for primary front-line combat duty to engage and destroy enemy forces. These ship serve as the direct offense and the first line of defense. Frequently designed around a Spinal Weapons Mount or other heavy weapons. Navy fleet ships work in concert with each fleet elements to defeat enemy forces in detail.
Independent - Code C
Naval independent ships are designed for combat operations independent of the larger fleet elements, emphasizing mobility. These ships operate alone or in small groups, frequently on extended operations away from support elements. Operations might include quick reaction forces for defending against unexpected feints or operations behind enemy lines to disrupt supply lines and logistics.
Defenders - Code D
Naval defender ships are designed for defending important assets like worlds, naval bases, and supply lines. Designs emphasize fire-power and defensive capabilities over strategic mobility.
Auxiliary - Code E
Naval auxiliary ships are designed for combat operations other than strategic naval fleet operations. A broad category of designs for specific military operations usually captured by the mission modifiers.
Commercial
These ships support profit making enterprises like resource extractions, manufacturing, and trade. Commercial ships may or may not be lightly armed and are not designed for combat.
Trader - Code A
Commercial trader ships are designed as general purpose mixed mode cargo and passenger carriers. Their primary goal is the opening of new markets, so designs emphasize independent operation and without specific logistical support.
Resource Extraction - Code J
Commercial resource extraction ships are designed for the specific purpose of finding, extracting, and processing raw materials and resources.
Liners - Code M
Commercial liners are designed to transport people as comfortably as possible. Commercial liners travel well known scheduled routes and can expect to have specific logistical support at all stops along the way.
Freighter - Code R
Commercial freighters are designed for carrying cargo or freight like goods or raw materials. Like Liners these travel well known schedule routes and can expect to have specific logical support at stops along the way.
General - Code T
General commercial ships are designed for commercial operations not covered by other mission definitions. A broad category with specific designs for different missions.
Non-commercial
Ships for performing missions not directly related to war or profit making like science experiments, experimental ship designs, and private vessels. Like the commercial ships, these may or may not be lightly armed and are not designed for combat.
Science - Code L
Science ships are designed for performing scientific research and survey operations. Designs emphasize sensors and on site operations, with a passenger comforts also being important. Many are built for a specific mission rather than general purpose designs.
Scout - Code S
Scout ships are designed for long duration independent missions to explore new territory and contact new civilizations.
Private - Code Y
Private ships are designed for private operations not covered by other categories. A broad category of designs with specific examples called out by the modifier codes.

Mission Modifiers

Code Modifier name(s)
A Alternate, Improved, Armored, Attack
B Boat. Bulk. Battle. Big.
C Close. Carrier. Communications. Construction. Cutter.
D Defense. Defending. Interceptor. Transport
E Escort. Essential. Electronic Warfare
F Fast. Fat. Frontier. Far. Flag. Free. Fleet. Fighter
G Gunned. Upgunned. Gas, Governmental. Gig
H Fuel. Tanker. Hydrogen. Heavy
J Survey. Prospector. Interface. Intruder
K Subsidized. Fast, Diplomatic, Courier
L Lifeboat. Exploratory. Light. Leader. Launch.
M Military. Militia. Mercenary. Motivator. Tug. Mining, Missile
N Naval. Nuclear. Fleet. Non-standard. Pinnace.
P Patrol. Plus. Passenger, Mercenary, Pursuit. Provincial
Q Disguised. Decoy. Quarantine, Mother
R Recon. Rescue. Rider. Resident. Raider
S Slow. System. Special. Luxury. Small. Strike. Survey. Shuttle
T Tramp. Tender. Transport. Tanker.
U Unarmed, Hulk. De-activated. Inoperative
V Vehicle Carrier, Drone. Remote. Replenishment. Agricultural
W Unpowered. Non-Jump. Barge
X Experimental. Special. Express.
Y Hull. Subhull. Pod. Rider. Modular. Private. Shuttle. Cutter
Z Unassigned, Experimental.

Type encoding

As a way of providing better application of the mission encoding listed here are several examples.

A-class Commercial Merchant

A-class Ship mission classification
Code Master Ship Mission Example
A Commercial Merchant Merchant Vessel, Tramp Vessel
AA Armored Merchant Armored Merchant
AC Commercial Communications Communications Vessel
AF Commercial Far Traders Far Trader, Free Trader
AK Commercial Courier Courier Vessel
AP Commercial passenger Packet Ship
AQ Commercial Mother Ship Colony Ship, Sleeper Ship, Generation Ship
AW Commercial Station Space Station, Trade Station, X-Boat Station, Far port

B-class Naval Fleet

Naval fleet ships are designed for primary front-line combat duty to engage and destroy enemy forces.

B-class ship mission classification
Code Master Ship Mission Example
BB Naval Fleet Battleship
BC Close Fleet Brigantine
BL Light Fleet Corvette, Patrol Corvette
BN Naval Fleet Destroyer
BS Small Fleet Sloop, War Sloop
BY Naval Fleet Battle Rider

C-class Naval Independent

C-class ship mission classification
Code Master Ship Mission Example
CB Naval Independent Cruiser
CJ Naval Intruder Intruder
CL Light Independent Frigate
CP Naval Pursuit Marauder
CR Naval Raider Raider Vessel
CS Naval Strike Privateer Vessel, Corsair Vessel

D-class Naval Defender

D-class ship mission classification
Code Master Ship Mission Example
DB Naval Battle Defender Monitor
DD Naval defense interceptor Picket
DE Naval Escort Escort, Type E class Escort
DH Naval heavy defender Sentinel
DSB Naval Defender System Defense Boat
DW Naval Defender Station orbital fortress

E-class Naval Auxiliary

E-class ship mission classification
Code Master Ship Mission Example
E Naval Auxiliary Combat Support Ship, Military Specialty Craft, Auxiliary Vessel
EB Naval Otillery Ortillery Ship, Bomber
ED Naval Patrol Interceptor Customs Enforcement
EE Naval Auxiliary Security Security Vessel
EF Naval Fighter Fighter
EG Naval Gunboat Gunboat
EJ Naval planetary assault Planetary Assault
EK Naval Courier Fleet Courier
EP Naval Auxiliary Patrol Patrol Vessel
EQ Naval Decoy Q-Ship
ET Naval Combat Transport Combat Transport, Fleet Tanker
EU Naval Utility Utility Craft, Type U class Auxiliary
EV Naval Carrier Carrier, Subcraft Carrier, Escort Tender

J-class Commercial Resource

J-class ship mission classification
Code Master Ship Mission Example
JG Commercial Gas Skimmer
JJ Commercial Prospector Prospector Vessel, Type J class Seeker
JH Commercial Fuel Fueling Craft
JM Commercial Industrial Industrial Vessel
JU Commercial Salvage Salvage

L-class Science

L-class ship mission classification
Code Master Ship Mission Example
L Science Science Vessel, Biomedical Vessel
LF Science Far Beagle Vessel
LL Science Expedition Expedition Ship
LS Science Survey Survey ships
LW Science Platform Sensor Platforms

M-class Commercial Liner

M-class ship mission classification
Code Master Ship Mission Example
M Commercial Liner Liner, Type M class Subsidized Liner
MC Commercial cutter Cutter
MF Commercial Fast Liner Clipper
MR Commercial Resident Prison

R-class Commercial Freighter

R-class ship mission classification
Code Master Ship Mission Example
R Commercial Freigher Freighter, Mega-Freighter
RB Commercial Bulk Cargo Bulk Cargo
RH Commercial Tanker Tanker
RT Commercial Transport Transport
RX Commercial Express Communications Express Boat, Express Boat Tender, Relay Vessel

S-class Scout

S-class ship mission classification
Code Master Ship Mission Example
S Scout Scout Vessel
SC Scout Communications First Contact
SL Scout Explorer Exploration Vessel
SN Scout Naval Military Scout Vessel
SW Scout Sensor Platform System Surveillance

T-class Commercial Transport

T-class ship mission classification
Code Master Ship Mission Example
T Commercial Transport Industrial Vessel, Commercial
TD Commercial Transporter Jump Shuttle
TL Commercial Life Boat Life Boat
TM Commercial Motivator Tug
TN Commercial Fleet Repair mobile repair facility
TT Commercial Transport Transport, Tender,
TP Medical support Medical Vessel, Type N class Medical Vessel
TR Commercial Rescue Rescue ship
TS Commercial Small craft Smallcraft
TU Commercial Utility Utility Craft
TV Commercial Agricultural Drone, Agricultural ship
TW Commercial Barge Barge, Type W class Orbital Facility

Y-class Yacht

Y-class ship mission classification
Code Master Ship Mission Example
Y Yacht Private Vessel, Non-Commercial Vessel, Type Y class Yacht
YG Private Governmental Diplomatic Transport
YK Private Safari Type K class Safari Ship
YL Private Expedition Expedition Ship
YM Private Mercenary Bounty Hunter Vessel
YP Private Passenger Charter Vessels
YW Private Station Private habitat

See Also

Please refer to the following AAB Library Data for more information:
Starship:

Imperial Ship Classification Synopsis

The basic system of ship classification and organization for ships within Charted Space and particularly within Imperial Space works on a simple hierarchy of mission (generalized use), type (specific use), class (very specific use), model (technological level), and lot or bloc (production run):

Imperial Ship Classification
# Level Designation Synopsis Example/s
1. Ship Mission Codes SUPRACLASS MISSION Free Trader AKA Merchant
2. Ship Type Codes SUPERCLASS TYPE Type A class Free Trader
3. Ship Class Codes CLASS CLASS Beowulf class Free Trader
4. Ship Model Codes MODEL TL & Model TL-14 Beowulf Build
  • Models aren’t always mentioned, but if they are, they are usually referred to by a TL designation.
5. Ship Bloc Codes LOT or BLOC Named Ship “The Lonesome Wolf” of ‘Bloc 312-1115d’
  • Ship Lots or Bloc Codes are rarely used except by naval shipyards, patrol craft, and the like. They are recorded in the ship’s computer as well as a number of places on the hull.

Overview of Imperial Ship Classification

Imperial Ship Classification
# Level Example Remarks
1. Supraclass (Function) Dreadnought It’s the largest organizational grouping by a generalized function or mission. For instance, battleships and cruisers have different generalized missions although they can perform many of the same jobs.
2. Type (Superclass) Type BB class Battleship It’s a larger type grouping by a specific function or mission. Different kinds of battleships or types may perform different yet broadly similar missions.
3. Class (Ship) Tigress class Dreadnought The ship itself is synonymous with a class. The first produced version becomes the class namesake under most practices. It has an even more specific mission that the craft type code (type) or superclass.
4. Model (Version) TL-15 Tigress Model 1105-Q3-9PR This classification may include incremental improvements often as a result of TL advances. Some classes of ships can be built at several different TL’s. For instance, the ubiquitous Beowulf Free Trader has builds from TL-10 to TL-15.
5. Lot (Block) Block 365-1105 Reg-A-4702-4826-9931 This classification is also known as a Production Bloc. Blocs may have differences from lot to lot. Sometimes aftermarket or post-production modification (customization) may yield very different ships from the originally manufactured ship class.

References & Contributors (Sources)

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.
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