Editing Tender

{{:Starship-Nav-Bar-Two-2019CE}}
[[Tender|VT-class Tender]]s are designed to carry significant numbers of [[bigcraft]], typically [[battle rider]]s into combat.
* [[Tender]]s and [[Carrier]]s form the mission category: [[Subcraft Carrier]]s. 
* The most common types are '''[[Carrier]]s''' and '''[[Tender]]s.''' [[Carrier]]s carry [[smallcraft]] [[fighter]]s and [[tender]]s carry [[bigcraft]] [[battle rider]]s.
* Commercial or [[civilian tender]]s tend to be called [[Ship Transporter]]s among other terms.
* 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]]) ==
''Subcraft Carrier''s are important and might one day disrupt the dominance of big gun battleships as they once did in the navies of maritime Terra, reversing the trend again. They transport a variety of [[smallcraft]] and [[bigcraft]] to the battlefield, where they perform combat support missions attacking skirmisher secondaries, disrupting missile flights, and decreasing the effectiveness of big gun battle wagons. As [[technology]] progresses, better miniaturized antishipping weaponry may lead to the fall of those same big gun battle wagons.
* Various [[battle rider]] and [[jump tender]] strategies have already begun to innovate and experiment with a carrier strong future.
* The "V" classification code is a holdover from pre-spaceflight (and pre-[[Anglic]]) [[Terra]]n naval history. When wet-navy ships were first used as floating bases for aircraft, said ships were classified as "aViation" (from [[English]], with the same meaning as in [[Anglic]]) or "Voler" (from [[French]] for "to fly") by some of their larger navies at the time.
* Arguably it could now be used for "Vessel" (as in "carries other Vessels") or "Void" (since the system of a [[carrier]] and its [[smallcraft]], when deployed, extends through the space between them). However, most naval officers in charge of classification who have expressed an opinion on this have preferred to cite historical precedent as justification.

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

'''[[Battle Tender|Type VTB Battle Tender]]:'''
# No image yet available.

'''[[Command Tender|Type VTC Command Tender]]:'''
# No image yet available.

'''[[Defense Tender|Type VTD Defense Tender]]:'''
# No image yet available.

'''[[Escort Tender|Type VTE Escort Tender / Very Light Tender]]:'''
# The [[Aslan]] [[Owatarl class Tender]], easily convertible between an [[escort tender]] and a very light [[cargo liner]] or [[freighter]]. <br> [[File: Owatarl-Tender-MGT-RESIZE-German-Ponce-pg-104 26-Sept-2019b.jpg|400px]]

'''[[Fleet Tender|Type VTF Fleet Tender]]:'''
# No image yet available.

'''[[Heavy Tender|Type VTH Heavy Tender]]:'''
# A silhouette of a [[Lurenti class Battle Carrier]]. <br> [[File: Lurenti-clsss-Battle-Tender-SMC 07-Aug-2019d.jpg]]
# A [[World class Battle Tender]] laden down with five [[Nolikian class Battle Rider]]s. <br> [[File: World-class-Tender Starter-Trav-CT 24-July-2019a.jpg|400px]]

'''[[Jump Shuttle|Type VTJ Jump Shuttle]]:'''
# No image yet available.

'''[[Light Tender|Type VTL Light Tender]]:'''
# A [[Bullfrog class Fighter Tender]] in deep space deploying small [[spheroid]] [[subcraft]]. <br> [[File: Bullfrog-class-Boyd-Stone-T5-Jim-K 25-July-2019a.jpg|400px]]

'''[[Medium Tender|Type VTM Medium Tender]]:'''
# No image yet available.

'''[[Superheavy Tender|Type VTS Superheavy Tender]]:'''
# No image yet available.

'''[[Ultraheavy Tender|Type VTU Ultraheavy Tender]]:'''
# No image yet available.

=== Strategy & Tactics (Doctrine) ===
''Subcraft Carrier''s are not intended to enagage in direct ship-to-ship combat with the forward line of warships. rather they deploy their [[subcraft]] as combat multipliers meant to help the heavy [[spinal mount]] [[warship]]s deploy in the most advantageous positions and they are meant to disrupt the maneuver of the enemy's fleet combat elements.

=== Supraclass Roles ===
''[[Subcraft Carrier]]''s typically serve as [[Tender]]s:

'''[[Tender]]s''' typically serve the following roles: <br>
''[[Largecraft]] & [[Bigcraft]]:''
{| class="wikitable sortable" 
!colspan="4"| VT-class Tender Supraclass Archetypes
|-
! Archetype
! Type Code
|-
| [[Attack Boat Tender]]
| VTB
|-
| [[Battle Tender]]
| VTB
|-
| [[Battlerider Carrier]]
| VTB
|-
| [[Command Tender]]
| VTC
|-
| [[Commercial Tender]]
| TV
|-
| [[Communication Tender]]
| XT
|-
| [[Coreship]]
| TV
|-
| [[Cruiser Tender]]
| VT
|-
| [[Defense Tender]]
| VTD
|-
| [[Destroyer Tender]]
| VT
|-
| [[Escort Tender]]
| VTE
|-
| [[Fast Tender]]
| VTF
|-
| [[Fighter Tender]]
| VT
|-
| [[Fleet Tender]]
| VTF
|-
| [[Frontier Tender]]
| VTF
|-
| [[Heavy Tender]]
| VTH 
|-
| [[Interdiction Tender]]
| VTD
|-
| [[Jump Carrier]]
| TV
|-
| [[Jump Shuttle]]
| TV
|-
| [[Light Tender]]
| VTL 
|-
| [[Medium Tender]]
| VTM 
|-
| [[Mercantile Tender]]
| TV
|-
| [[Military Tender]]
| VT 
|-
| [[Repair Tender]]
| VT
|-
| [[Ship Tender]]
| VT
|-
| [[Ship Transporter]]
| TV
|-
| [[Strike Tender]]
| VTB
|-
| [[Superheavy Tender]]
| VTS
|-
| [[System Defense Boat Tender]]
| VTD
|-
| [[Tender]] (Militarized)
| VT (Namesake)
|-
| [[Ultraheavy Tender]]
| VTU
|-
| [[Very Light Tender]]
| VTE
|-
| [[Xboat Tender]]
| XT
|-
|}

==== Size-Class Roles for Tender Vessels ====
''[[Tender]]s:''
# [[Utility Craft]] (U) (1 to 99 [[ton]]s)
# [[Escort Tender]] (VTE) (100 to 2,499 [[ton]]s)
# [[Light Tender]] (VTL) (2,500 to 99,999 [[ton]]s)
# [[Medium Tender]] (VTM) (100,000 to 249,999 [[ton]]s)
# [[Heavy Tender]] (VTH) (250,000 to 499,999 [[ton]]s)
# [[Superheavy Tender]] (VTS) (500,000 to 999,999 [[ton]]s)
# [[Ultraheavy Tender]] (VTU) (1,000,000 or more [[ton]]s)

==== Military Subcraft ====
Military [[subcraft]] (...both [[smallcraft]] and [[bigcraft]]) are carried by nearly all of these [[vessel]]s:
# [[Battle Rider]] (BR)
# [[Combat Barge]] (WBG)
# [[Combat Transport Smallcraft]] (UI)
# [[Fighter]]s (F)
# [[Militarized Utility Craft]] (UQ)

=== Supraclass Archetypal Roles ===
These vessels typically serve the following archetypal roles:
{| class="wikitable sortable" 
!colspan="4"| VT-class Tender Supraclass Archtypes
|-
! Archetype
! Type Code
! Exemplar
! Remarks
|-
| [[Subcraft Carrier]]
| V
| [[Lurenti class Battle Carrier]]
| ''[[Subcraft Carrier|V-class vessel]]s'' represent a school of thought using larger vessels to deploy smaller ones, or [[subcraft]]. The [[Subcraft Carrier]] [[supraclass]] includes both [[carrier]]s and [[tender]]s. [[Carrier]]s carry [[smallcraft]] [[fighter]]s and [[tender]]s carry [[bigcraft]] [[battle rider]]s.
* V = Vehicle Carrier, a'''V'''iation or voler, [[etc.]]
* ''Voler'' is a [[Terran]] [[French]] word meaning "to fly."
|-
| [[Tender]]
| VT (Namesake)
| [[World class Battle Tender]]
| ''[[Tender]]s'' carry [[bigcraft]], which is to say [[subcraft]] that are 100 [[ton]]s or larger in displacement. These subcraft are significantly larger, more powerful, and longer-legged than the [[smallcraft]] [[fighter]]s carried by traditional [[carriers]]. This gives significantly more strategic options than a [[fighter]]-equipped [[carrier]], but not always better striking power within a fighter's range envelope. The [[Battle Rider]] is the prototypical bigcraft carried by [[Battle Tender]]s and entire schools of naval strategy have arisen concerning their usage and deployment. {{Unpublished cite|author= [[Maksim-Smelchak]] }}
* V = [[Vehicle Carrier]], a'''V'''iation or voler, [[etc.]]
* T = Tender, [[Ship Transporter|Military Ship Transporter]], [[Battle Tender]], [[etc.]] 
|-
| [[Battle Tender]]
| VTB
| [[World class Battle Tender]]
| ''[[Battle Tender]]:'' Interstellar ship transport intended to carry [[battle rider]]s into combat. Generally a [[dispersed structure]] (...of up to one million [[ton]]s), it transports a [[Battle Squadron]] ([[BatRon]]) of two to ten [[battle rider]]s ready for immediate launch upon entry into a [[system]]. While the riders press the attack, the tender stays in reserve for protection.
* V = Vehicle Carrier, a'''V'''iation or voler, [[etc.]]
* T = Tender, [[Ship Transporter|Military Ship Transporter]], [[Battle Tender]], [[etc.]] 
* B = Battle, Combat, Strike, Far, Fast, Frontier, [[etc.]]
|-
| [[Command Tender]]
| VTC
| [[S-1a class Space Command Battle Tender]]
| ''[[Command Tender]]s'' perform flagship roles, coordinating large numbers of [[courier vessel]]s, [[scout vessel]]s, and line combatants, as the center of a battle fleet. This role is ordinarily taken by a fleet's premier [[battleship]]s.
* V = Vehicle Carrier, a'''V'''iation or voler, [[etc.]]
* T = Tender, [[Ship Transporter|Military Ship Transporter]], [[Battle Tender]], [[etc.]] 
* C = Command
|-
| [[Defense Tender]]
| VTD
| [[Arachnae class System Defense Boat Tender]] 
| ''[[Defense Tender]]s'' are a specialized form of [[battle tender]]s that forward deploy [[SDB]]s instead of [[battle rider]]s. The use of defense tenders can strategically deny fleets access to [[gas giant]]s or other [[Jump Bridge|fuel source]]s and thus deny enemy battle battle fleets strategic mobility and flexibility.
* V = Vehicle Carrier, a'''V'''iation or voler, [[etc.]]
* T = Tender, [[Ship Transporter|Military Ship Transporter]], [[Battle Tender]], [[etc.]] 
* D = Defense
|-
| [[Escort Tender]]
| VTE
| [[Fagad Avalar class Tender]]
| An ''[[Escort Tender]]'' or ''[[Very Light Tender]]'' is a size-displacement category which includes [[vessel]]s that weigh between 100 to 2,499 [[ton]]s. While not very useful for larger fleet formations, they are great in an escort role, putting out a sensor picket, protecting against other [[fighter]]s, or for strikes against lightly defended targets. They can also be built relatively quickly, staffed quickly, and quickly deploy into action. Many fleets operate escort tenders because of their usefulness within their identified roles. 
* V = Vehicle Carrier, a'''V'''iation or voler, [[etc.]]
* T = Tender, [[Ship Transporter|Military Ship Transporter]], [[Battle Tender]], [[etc.]] 
* E = Escort, [[Very Light Tender]], [[etc.]] 
|-
| [[Fleet Tender]]
| VTF
| [[Bulwark class Fleet Tender]]
| ''[[Fleet Tender]]s'' are built to operate as part of a fleet, not independently. Their [[subcraft]] provide tactical and strategic support to a line a battlefleet a [[CruRon]] or a [[BatRon]]. Their fighters provide sensor pickets, an expanded sensor net, either in a tactical or strategic sense, provide missile shields intercepting enemy munitions, or provide strike assets damaging enemy [[capital ship]]s. They are dependent on other [[capital ship]]s and [[auxiliary]] elements such as [[tanker]]s or [[combat support ship]]s.

A [[Fleet Tender]] is a generic name used for all tenders who carry combat oriented [[non-starship]]s ([[vessel]]s of 100+ [[ton]]s). For any given ship tonnage, a ship which is not burdened with [[jump drive]]s and jump fuel can be better armed and armored than a ship which must carry those [[jump drive]]s. The concept of ''fleet tenders'' takes advantage of this fact. A ''fleet tender'' is a large [[jump drive]] equipped ship which carries several big craft, each of which is well-armed, well-armored, and usually fitted with high acceleration [[Maneuver Drive|maneuver drive]]s. They are usually produced with dispersed structure hulls in order to allow simultaneous launch of all craft carried as the ship arrives in a system. Since the tender cannot skim [[gas giant]]s for refueling, the ships it carries must contain sufficient fuel tankage to refuel the tender in a reasonable time; often they must be streamlined to allow them to gather fuel from oceans if there is no [[Gas Giant|gas giant]] in the system they move to. Riders tend to be streamlined, and can perform refueling operations quite nicely.
* V = Vehicle Carrier, a'''V'''iation or voler, [[etc.]]
* T = Tender, [[Ship Transporter|Military Ship Transporter]], [[Battle Tender]], [[etc.]] 
* F = Fleet, Combat Support, Strategic, [[etc.]]
|-
| [[Heavy Tender]]
| VTH
| [[Rita class Fleet Tender]]
| A ''[[Heavy Tender]]'' is a size-displacement category which includes [[vessel]]s that weigh between 250,000 to 499,999 [[ton]]s. Heavies are very large craft, as big as many [[cruiser]]s and [[battleship]]s and capable of carrying a large, powerful load of [[subcraft]], enough [[battle rider]]s to seriously threaten most battle fleets.
* V = Vehicle Carrier, a'''V'''iation or voler, [[etc.]]
* T = Tender, [[Ship Transporter|Military Ship Transporter]], [[Battle Tender]], [[etc.]] 
* H = Heavy
|-
| [[Militarized Ship Transporter]]
| VTJ 
| [[WP-768 class Jump Shuttle]]
| ''[[Militarized Ship Transporter]]s'' operate like tenders specialized to carry any kind of vessel, from [[bigcraft]] to [[largecraft]] and anything in-between. Some work as [[jump shuttle]]s and attach to other non-jump-capable vessels while others latch onto other vessels and create a truly enormous jump bubble. They are not always the most economic option, but when needed, there is no other substitute. They are also known as   [[Jump Shuttle]]s or [[Combat Support Tender]]s among other terms.
* V = Vehicle Carrier, a'''V'''iation or voler, [[etc.]]
* T = Tender, [[Ship Transporter|Military Ship Transporter]], [[Battle Tender]], [[etc.]] 
* J = [[Jump Shuttle]]
|-
| [[Light Tender]]
| VTL
| [[Bullfrog class Fighter Tender]]
| A ''[[Light Tender]]'' is a size-displacement category which includes vessels that weigh between 2,500 to 99,999 tons. Light vessels can be impressive craft, just under 100k in tonnage, which is more than large enough to threaten [[merchant vessel]]s, smaller system defense fleets, and many lesser targets including smaller [[world-state]]s.
* V = Vehicle Carrier, a'''V'''iation or voler, [[etc.]]
* T = Tender, [[Ship Transporter|Military Ship Transporter]], [[Battle Tender]], [[etc.]] 
* L = Light
|-
| [[Medium Tender]]
| VTM
| [[Bulwark class Fleet Tender]]
| A ''[[Medium Tender]]'' is a size-displacement category which includes vessels that weigh between 100,000 to 249,999 tons. Medium vessels are large vessels, [[cruiser]]-sized, and are general considered [[capital ship]]s, serious combatants. They require serious resources, logistical support, and large crews, but they project power across interstellar distances when used correctly in ways that no [[escort]] or [[destroyer]] can match.
* V = Vehicle Carrier, a'''V'''iation or voler, [[etc.]]
* T = Tender, [[Ship Transporter|Military Ship Transporter]], [[Battle Tender]], [[etc.]] 
* M = Medium
|-
| [[Superheavy Tender]]
| VTS
| [[Stisahsheql class Battle Carrier]]
| A ''[[Superheavy Tender]]'' is a size-displacement category which includes vessels that weigh between 500,000 to 999,999 tons. Superheavies are incredibly large vessels, bigger than the resources of the typical [[pocket empire]] or [[world-state]] can construct. They take years to build, requiring huge costs, massive expenditures of [[resource]]s, and massive [[crew]]s. They are rarely available in other than very small runs, but they have massive combat power. 
* V = Vehicle Carrier, a'''V'''iation or voler, [[etc.]]
* T = Tender, [[Ship Transporter|Military Ship Transporter]], [[Battle Tender]], [[etc.]] 
* S = Superheavy
|-
| [[Ultraheavy Tender]]
| VTU
| [[Nianemiev class Battle Carrier]]
| An ''[[Ultraheavy Tender]]'' is a size-displacement category which includes vessels that weigh 1,000,000 or more tons. Ultraheavies are not for the thrifty... Only the largest of [[supra-polities]] can afford them, and they are almost always specialized for very specific roles, typically as [[flag ship]]s for the largest fleets.
* V = Vehicle Carrier, a'''V'''iation or voler, [[etc.]]
* T = Tender, [[Ship Transporter|Military Ship Transporter]], [[Battle Tender]], [[etc.]] 
* U = Ultraheavy
|-
| [[Commercial Tender]] & [[Ship Transporter]]
| TV
| [[Mariner class Frame Carrier]]
| ''[[Ship Transporter]]''s or [[commercial tender]]s are similar to [[carrier]]s and [[tender]]s, but instead of military [[subcraft]], they carry civilian [[subcraft]]. The concept is similar to the [[battle rider]] concept, except in a civilian application. The class also includes various kinds of [[jump ship]]s or [[jump train]]s, specialized to carry variable cargos, or as [[jump shuttle]]s.
* T = [[Transport]]
* V = [[Vehicle Carrier]], [[Subcraft Carrier]], Jump Con'''V'''eyance, [[Jump Shuttle]]s, [[Ship Transporter]], [[etc.]]
|-
| [[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, [[Ship Transporter|Military Ship Transporter]], [[Battle Tender]], [[etc.]] 
|-
!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]]) ==
In the 57th century, travel between the stars has long been an accepted fact of life. [[Starship]]s with powerful [[jump drive]]s form the basis of interstellar commerce, and the [[warship]]s that protect that commerce. {{Page cite|name= Battle Rider |page= 2}}
 
But [[jump drive]]s are bulky and take up volume that could be fitted with [[defensive system]]s or [[offensive weapon]]ry. A specialized vessel, optimized for large fleet actions, gained popularity during the [[Second Imperium]] and came toc ompletely dominate the [[fleet]]s of the [[Third Imperium]]. These [[vessel]]s had no [[jump drive]]s, had nothing in fact not directly related to producing the most effective line-of-battle combatant possible. {{Page cite|name= Battle Rider |page= 2}}

They were carried from [[star]] to [[star]] by huge [[jump tender]]s, [[vessel]]s with little or no combat ability of their own which would release their deadly cargo before the battle started and withdraw to a safe distance. These [[warship]]s became the very symbol of large fleet actions. Because the [[warship]]s were carried from star to star, they were called [[Battle Rider]]s. {{Page cite|name= Battle Rider |page= 2}}

=== Selected Variant Types & Classes ===
{{:Referral-Tree-Type-VTB-Battle-Tender}}
{{:Referral-Tree-Type-VTC-Command-Tender}}
{{:Referral-Tree-Type-VTD-Defense-Tender}}
{{:Referral-Tree-Type-VTE-Escort-Tender}}
{{:Referral-Tree-Type-VTF-Fleet-Tender}}
{{:Referral-Tree-Type-VTH-Heavy-Tender}}
{{:Referral-Tree-Type-VTJ-Jump-Shuttle}}
{{:Referral-Tree-Type-VTL-Light-Tender}}
{{:Referral-Tree-Type-VTM-Medium-Tender}}
{{:Referral-Tree-Type-VTS-Superheavy-Tender}}
{{:Referral-Tree-Type-VTU-Ultraheavy-Tender}}

''[[Civilian Ship]] - [[Merchant Ship]] - [[Transport]]:'' <br>
''[[Type T class Transport]]:'' <br>
# [[Type TV class Ship Transporter]]
## [[Brown class Jump Ship]]
## [[Brutus class Ship Transporter]]
## [[Corporate class Range Carrier]]
## [[Endeavor class Ship Transporter]]
## [[High Liner class Bulk Freighter]]
## [[Mariner class Frame Carrier]]
## [[Marius class Ship Transporter]]
## [[Orowani Deep Space class Commercial Tender]]
## [[Sagacity class Bulk Freighter]]
## [[Type JS class Jump Ship]]

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

=== Ship Summary List ===
Some of the most commonly used [[vessel]]s in this role or these roles include:
{{Ship summary list|name= Tenders |tdes= VT}}
{{Ship summary list|name= Battle Tender |tdes= VTB}}
{{Ship summary list|name= Command Tender |tdes= VTC}}
{{Ship summary list|name= Defense / Interdiction Tender |tdes= VTD}}
{{Ship summary list|name= Escort Tender |tdes= VTE}}
{{Ship summary list|name= Fleet Tender |tdes= VTF}}
{{Ship summary list|name= Heavy Tender |tdes= VTH}}
{{Ship summary list|name= Militarized Jump Shuttle |tdes= VTJ}}
{{Ship summary list|name= Light Tender |tdes= VTL}}
{{Ship summary list|name= Medium Tender |tdes= VTM}}
{{Ship summary list|name= Superheavy Tender |tdes= VTS}}
{{Ship summary list|name= Ultraheavy Tender |tdes= VTU}}
{{Ship summary list|name= Commercial Tender / Ship Transporter |tdes= TV}}
{{Ship summary list|name= Communication Tender |tdes= XT}}

== References & Contributors ([[Sources]]) ==
{{Intermediate}}
{{Detail}}
{{Sources
|S1= This article is an amalgamation of many different materials published since 1977.
|S2= [[TBD]]
|S3= [[Traveller Wiki Editorial Team]]
|S4= 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|}}