Type A Trader
This page describes a kind of starship; for the source book with a similar name, see: GURPS Traveller: Far Trader
| Naval | Commercial | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fleet (B) | Siege (C) | Defense (D) | Assault (E) | Trader (A) | Resources (J) | Liner (M) | Freighter (R) | Explorer (S) |
The Type A Trader is an elementary commercial starship. It carries freight, cargo and passenger service along routes on mains, so designs emphasize independent operation without specific logistical support.
The definition of the Trader ship mission role is the component payload consists of a majority of cargo space and includes passenger space or low berths. Traders are one of three roles part of the Transport role and one of the five roles part of the Commercial role.
There is a summary list.
General Design
Construction is on the fine line of least expensive options with maximum capabilities. They operate with minimal crew (and in some cases are under-crewed) to maximize profit. They typically have the cheapest drives possible, and no armor.
The cargo-to-passenger-stateroom ratio is typically around 10 to 1; that is, the ship typically has ten tons of cargo space for every passenger stateroom. Vehicles or small craft are common for carrying passengers and cargo from ship to surface and back again. Most have Low Berths to carry more passengers.
Most designs are streamlined with good landing capability, as they assume the ports lack orbital facilities. Most designs incorporate Fuel Scoops and Fuel Purifiers to allow wilderness refueling.
All designs have hardpoints. Rarely are weapon load-outs consistent between ships. Sensor upgrades are a common enhancement. Ships on safe mains might not have weapons. Most ships do.
Specific Missions designs
| Type A Ship mission classification | ||
|---|---|---|
| Code | Master Ship Mission | Example |
| A | Commercial Trader | Merchant Vessel |
| AC | Clipper Trader | Clipper |
| AF | Free Traders | Far Trader, Free Trader |
| AK | Subsidized Trader | Subsidized Trader |
| AN | Naval Trader | Combat Support Ship |
| AQ | Commercial Mother Ship | Colony Ship, Sleeper Ship, Generation Ship |
| AW | Commercial Station | Space Station, Trade Station, X-Boat Station, Far port |
Commercial Trader
The Commercial Trader is the default design for the Traders. Combining carrying cargo and freight with passengers along known scheduled routes. These routes cover two to six medium to high population worlds, usually within a subsector or smaller sized area. These ships are operated by a company having a presence on all of the scheduled worlds to ensure there is sufficient freight and passengers for the next visit.
The Ship Mission Code assigned to these ships is A.
Clipper
A Clipper is a fast moving trade ship designed for transporting cargo and passengers across the several jumps distance without needed to find the intermediate transports. These ships have longer jump capability and more luxurious passenger spaces. While usually scheduled, the lengthy journey makes the exact timing of the ships arrival uncertain.
The Ship Mission Code assigned to these ships is AC.
Subsidized Trader
Subsidized Traders have been hired by a local group of worlds to run a scheduled route between them. The goal is to provide a regular transit of cargo, passengers, and mail between these worlds. These worlds may be low population worlds with poor ports and not considered profitable to larger trade companies. The terms guarantee full subsidization of ship expenses, in exchange for half of the profits along the scheduled route. Most of these deals allow the ship to engage in some speculative trade with the understanding the regular cargo has priority.
The Ship Mission Code assigned to these ships is AK.
Free Trader
Free Trader is the term given to an independent interstellar merchant ship, which plies the space lanes carrying cargo and passengers. These free traders are a small and relatively cheap type of merchant ship operating as Fledgling Lines. Usually, a free trader is a 200-ton vessel capable of Jump-1. This restricts their operation to a Main or Cluster of systems. An example of this type of ship is the standard 200-ton Beowulf class Free Trader.
The Ship Mission Code assigned to these ships is AF.
Far Trader is a variant designation of a free trader. A far trader typically has a Jump-2 capability. A standard example of this type is the 200-ton Empress Marava class Far Trader.
The Fast Trader is another, rarer, variant of a free trader. Built for more dangerous space, the fast trader sports high-G drives to help it stay clear of hostile ships. A standard example of this type is the 200-ton Maada class Fast Trader.
Because Free Traders operate on unstable schedules they are referred to as tramp vessels, tramp traders, tramp liners, or tramp freighters, a vessel that does not run regularly between fixed ports. These ships focus on the speculative cargo trade and as the routes become establish they tend to be supplanted by larger liners and freighters.
Some crews view the term tramp, and its many synonyms and translations, as insulting. The word includes definitions of unreliability and criminality. In cultures where these activities are strongly frowned upon causes friction. Other crews embrace the definitions of freedom from corporate and governmental control.
The Naval Auxiliary is a trade ship designed for transporting of Naval personnel and equipment.
The Ship Mission Code assigned to these ships is AN.
Image Repository
A top down schematic of a Beowulf with a typical shuttle.
A simple sketch of a tail-sitter Tequila class Free Trader.
The flattened spheroid Tachyon class Light Trader, a rarely encountered design.
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An image of a variant Type A class Free Trader.
An early model Beowulf under spaceflight.
A contemporary trade vessel, a Jayhawk class Far Trader, which is also known as a Marava II class Far Trader.
The venerable Wulf class Free Trader.
The A1 is externally identical to the Early model A2, a Garu.
A Salamander-class coming into a starport to trade.
A very merchant prince-customized Jayhawk class Far Trader.
A Star class Armored Merchant on a trade mission to a potentially hostile rich world.
Merchant Vessel - Trader:
An Eakhau class Trader on route to destination with a crew of crafty Aslan females.
A pair of Fanzhhienz-class Far Traders on approach to a Zhodani controlled world in the Spinward Marches Sector.
See also
134 Representative Trader (A) Classes
A
- Akkigish class Far Trader
- Akkigish class Subsidized Merchant
- Alexandria class Free Trader
- Amkarim class Trade Liner
- Anchorage class Orbital Station
- Andrew class Commercial Shuttle
- Anhk class Merchant
- Anjou class Freighter
- Aoa'iw class Light Trader
- Apollo class Runabout
- April Hare class Far Trader
- Athelstan class Merchant
- Avian class Far Trader
- AX-H class Modular Heavy Fleet Auxiliary
- AX-L class Modular Light Fleet Auxiliary
B
- Basil class Merchant
- Beowulf class Free Trader
- Bloodwell class Merchant
- Bluestone class Cargo Barge
- Borazio class Heavy Freighter
- Bremen class Caravel
- Brutus class Ship Transporter
- Burning Sky class Merchant Schooner
C
- Caccil class Merchant
- Caine class Troop Transport
- Caroline class Heavy Pinnace
- Cihzicih class Transport
- Ciigusna class Pinnace
- ColonyCord class Fast Trader
- Congo class Cargo Barge
- Consul class Provincial Trader
- Coriander class Free Trader
D
- Delta Princess class Merchant
- Denuli class Hunting Launch
- Desiree Keah class Yacht
- Dhaztuen class Far Merchant
- Doji Hoturi class Bulk Freighter
E
- Eakhau class Trader
- Echtovr Dazhia class Council Cruiser
- Empress Marava class Far Trader
- Entremis class Military Transport
- Exile class Yacht
F
- Fanzhhienz class Far Trader
- Farrou class Far Trader
- Fat Cat class Far Trader
- Freespace Gateway class Freighter
G
- Gamma Haden class Liner
- Garu class Far Trader
- Ghent class Subsidized Merchant
- Gizicih class General Trader
- Goliath class Provincial Freighter
- Guilder class Subsidized Merchant
H
- Harbor class Orbital Station
- Hercules class Commercial Tender
- Hero class Far Trader
- Hnneshant class Trade Boat
I
J
- Jasper class Provincial Merchant
- Jayhawk class Far Trader
- Jelmirt Marquis class High Liner
- Jeremey class Recovery Boat
- Jose Cadiz Royal Galleon class Cargo Carrier
- Joshim P. Stone class Provincial Trader
K
L
- Lanthium Petal class Speculative Trader
- Last Armada class Launch
- Last Armada class Survey Shuttle
- Launch
- Liberty III class Independent Merchant
- Lightning class Frontier Merchant
- Lushina class Fast Cutter
M
- Maada class Fast Trader
- Manta class Small Merchant
- Maru class Merchant
- Mauripo class Subsidized Merchant
- Mavuzo class Super Freighter
- Mooring class Orbital Station
- Mora class Freighter
- Moraine class Free Trader
N
P
- Palatine class Merchant Trader
- Paya class Light Freighter
- Perseus class Free Trader
- Petty class Subsidized Merchant
- Port of Nickle Eugenia class Bulk Container Vessel
- Pratt class Gig
- Princess Gunnhilde class Far Trader
Q
R
References
- Marc Miller, Robert Eaglestone, Don McKinney. Starships (Far Future Enterprises, 2019), 68-69.