The Cleaved Helm

Sacnoth Dominate Exploring Expeditions

"The world we have named Hoding is more arid than Terra and its atmosphere is somewhat more dense, but it is the most Terra-like world to have been discovered in the Rim frontier."
— Kaptajn Veit Damsgaard, Commander's Log, 27 Janúar 31 D.E.

Home | History | Worlds | Library Data | Ref's Notes | Sources | Contact

News Service | Venture Sparks | Chance Meeting | Exploring Expeditions

Damsgaard Expedition

The Second Rim Frontier Exploring Expedition — the "Damsgaard Expedition" — leaves Biter on 23 Júlí 29 D.E. and returns three years later on 14 September 32 D.E., travelling rimward along the rimward trace of the Pilgrim frontier main as far as Lydia (ten one-parsec jumps from Biter) in the Hoding cluster, exploring fifteen star systems, including two port calls at Caladbolg.  This Sacnoth Dominate naval expedition is led by Kaptajn Veit Damsgaard, who commands the barque Gabrielle.  The other ships of the expedition are the brigantine Formue, commanded by Kommandor Morten Spångberg, the auxiliary ship Øststjerne, commanded by Fänrik Andrian Nathaliesson, the auxiliary ship Sanjō, commanded by Fänrik Kereta Yangsson, the cutter Helgensværd, commanded by Løjtnant Aleksei Basovsson, and the sloops Johanne and Et-øje, commanded respectively by Fänrik Teodor Kupumua and Fänrik Emilie Stephansdottir.

The expedition includes a "scientific corps" of civilians, a diverse collection of astrophysicists, ecologists and geoscientists and a handful of sophontologists and archivists who assist in surveying planetary systems and their worlds, identfying valuable mineral resources and local flora and fauna with potential agricultural uses, and cataloguing information for potential future exploitation efforts.

Expedition Course

Damsgaard Expedition Course (Modified from The Traveller Map)

Depart Biter, 23 Júlí 29 D.E.

Worlds visited:
• Lodestone, 29 D.E. (08)
• Nyord, 29 D.E. (09-10)
• Vanaheim, 29 D.E. (11-12)
• Nidhog, 30 D.E. (01-02)
• Mithril, 30 D.E. (03-04)
• Igliim, 30 D.E. (05-06)
• Skofnung, 30 D.E. (07)
• Caladbolg, 30 D.E. (08-09)
• Skofnung (2nd), 30 D.E. (10)
• Caliburn, 30 D.E. (11-12)
• Hoding, 31 D.E. (01)
• Sauvagine, 31 D.E. (02)
• Graban, 31 D.E. (03-04)
• Sauvagine (2nd), 31 D.E. (05)
• Mistelten, 31 D.E. (06)
• Lydia, 31 D.E. (07-08)
• Mistelten (2nd), 31 D.E. (09)
• Elisabet, 31 D.E. (10-11)
• Hoding (2nd), 31 D.E. (12)
• Caliburn (2nd), 32 D.E. (01)
• Skofnung (3rd), 32 D.E. (02)
• Caladbolg (2nd), 32 D.E. (03)
• Skofnung (4th), 32 D.E. (04)
• Igliim (2nd), 32 D.E. (05)
• Mithril (2nd), 32 D.E. (06)
• Nyord (2nd), 32 D.E. (07)
• Lodestone (2nd), 32 D.E. (08)

Return Biter, 14 September 32 D.E.

Worlds Surveyed

Barque Gabrielle

Barque Gabrielle[ᚠ]

The Gabrielle is a Surtur-class barque.  The ship has acccommodations for 25 crew and 20 passengers with a handful of single-occupancy staterooms, double-occupancy staterooms for most crew and passengers and no low berths.  The ship carries two pinnaces (50-ton small craft), two all-terrain vehicles and one air/raft.  It is armed with triple pulse laser turrets.  The partially-streamlined ship has fuel scoops for skimming unrefined fuel from a gas giant and a fuel purification plant.

Crew consists of the ship commander (Kaptajn Damsgaard), pilot (fänrik), navigator/chief gunner (løjtnant), chief engineer (fänrik) and senior medic (småbetjent), one signals/detection officer (småbetjent), three engineers (bådsmand, rummands), seven gunners (småbetjent, bådsmands, rummands), two pinnace pilots (bådsmands), two pinnace gunners (rummands), two medics (småbetjent, bådsmand), three yeomen — one adminisration, two operations (rummands), and twenty scientific corps members (seven geoscientists, seven ecologists, four astrophysicists, one sophontologist and one archivist).

Generally, the Gabrielle is responsible for planetary landings (or planetoid belt or gas giant moon surveys when a system does not have a main world).  The ship's pinnaces enable its scientific corps complement to reach a world's surface.  The majority of Gabrielle's scientific corps is comprised of the geoscientists and ecologists most suited to world surveys.  Scientific corps members are also frequently exchanged among the ships of the Expedition so that those with the appropriate skills are available in the locations where those skills would be most useful.

Brigantine Formue

Brigantine Formue[ᚢ]

The Formue is a Rykke-class brigantine.  The ship has accommodations for 20 crew with a handful of single-occupancy staterooms (the medic's also serving as sickbay), double-occupancy staterooms for most crew and no low berths.  The ship carries one pinnace (40-ton small craft).  It is armed with triple pulse laser turrets.  The partially-streamlined, armored ship also has fuel scoops for skimming unrefined fuel from a gas giant.

Crew consists of the ship commander/navigator (Kommandor Spångberg), pilot (fänrik), chief engineer (fänrik) and ship's medic (småbetjent), one signals/detection officer (småbetjent), six gunners (fänrik, småbetjent, bådsmands, rummands), four engineers (småbetjent, bådsmand, rummands), one pinnace pilot (bådsmand), one pinnace gunner (rummand), one medic's mate (rummand) and two yeomen — one administration, one operations (rummands).

The principal role of Formue is Expedition security.  The ship assumes the traditional high guard position when the other ships of the Expedition are refueling.  In situations where there are deemed to be few security threats, Formue often surveys a secondary gas giant or an interesting secondary world.  Formue carries no scientific corps complement — its crew of naval personnel is nevertheless well-suited to orbital surveying — but the ship's pinnace is often used to ferry scientific corps members between other ships of the Expedition.

Auxiliary Øststjerne

Auxiliary ship Øststjerne[ᚦ]

The Øststjerne is a Reservere-class auxiliary.  The ship has accommodations for ten crew and sixteen passengers with a handful of single-occupancy staterooms and double-occupancy staterooms for most crew and passengers.  The ship's original low berths have been converted into a sickbay and laboratory and specimen storage for the scientific corps.  The ship has extensive cargo space which can also be used as surplus fuel tankage.  The ship carries one pinnace (40-ton small craft) and is armed with single pulse laser turrets.  The partially-streamlined ship has fuel scoops for skimming unrefined fuel from a gas giant and a fuel purification plant.

Crew consists of the ship commander/navigator (Fänrik Nathaliesson), pilot (bådsmand), ship's gunner (småbetjent), two gunner's mates (rummands), ship's engineer (småbetjent), two engineers (bådsmands), ship's medic (bådsmand) and boat pilot (bådsmand) and sixteen scientific corps members (five geoscientists, five ecologists, four astrophysicists, one sophontologist and one archivist).

The principal role of Øststjerne is Expedition support.  The ship carries extensive supplies in its cargo holds, including spare components for critical systems of the ships of the Expedition (two of Øststjerne's engineers are responsible for Expedition ship maintenance).  Øststjerne's fuel purification plant processes unrefined fuel for other Expedition ships and Øststjerne itself can be used as a fuel tanker in extreme circumstances, though its ordinary cargo must be off-loaded in such situations.  Øststjerne must use its pinnace to deliver its scientific corps to a world's surface.  The corps complement, though slightly smaller, is similar in composition to that of Gabrielle.

Auxiliary Sanjō

Auxiliary ship Sanjō[ᚨ]

The Sanjō is a Shuinsen-class auxiliary.  The ship has accommodations for nine crew and twelves passengers with a handful of single-occupancy staterooms and double-occupancy staterooms for most crew and passengers.  (The ship's original low berths have been converted into a sickbay and laboratory for the scientific corps.)  The ship has extensive cargo space which can also be used as surplus fuel tankage.  The ship carries one launch (20-ton small craft) and is armed with single pulse laser turrets.  The streamlined ship has fuel scoops for skimming unrefined fuel from a gas giant and a fuel purification plant.

Crew consists of the ship commander/navigator (Fänrik Yangsson), pilot (småbetjent), gunner (bådsmand), ship's engineer (småbetjent), two engineers (bådsmands), medic's mate (rummand), gunner's mate (rummand) and boat pilot (bådsmand) and twleve scientific corps members (four geoscientists, four ecologists, two astrophysicists, one sophontologist and one archivist).

The principal role of Sanjō is Expedition support.  The ship carries extensive supplies in its cargo holds, including spare components for critical systems of the ships of the Expedition (two of Sanjō's engineers are responsible for Expedition ship maintenance).  Sanjō's fuel purification plant processes unrefined fuel for other Expedition ships and Sanjō itself can be used as a fuel tanker in extreme circumstances, though its ordinary cargo must be off-loaded in such situations.  Sanjō is able to deliver its scientific corps directly to a world's surface and for this reason the corps complement, though slightly smaller, is similar in composition to that of Gabrielle.

Cutter Helgensværd

Cutter Helgensværd[ᚱ]

The Helgensværd is a Vethrfölnir-class cutter.  The ship has accommodations for twelve crew with a handful of single-occupancy staterooms, double-occupancy staterooms for most of the crew and no low berths.  Helgensværd carries one launch (20-ton small craft).  It is armed with triple pulse laser turrets.  The partially-streamlined, armored ship has fuel scoops for skimming unrefined fuel from a gas giant.

Crew consists of the ship commander/navigator (Løjtnant Basovsson), pilot (småbetjent), chief gunner (fänrik) and ship's medic (bådsmand), and one gunner (bådsmand), two gunner's mates (rummands), two engineers (bådsmands), two engineer's mates (rummands) and one launch pilot (bådsmand).

Helgensværd supports Formue in the Expedition security role, including performing the high guard function when Formue is refueling.  Like Formue, in situations where there are deemed to be few security threats, Helgensværd often surveys a secondary gas giant or an interesting secondary world.  Helgensværd also carries no scientific corps complement but its crew of naval personnel is similarly well-suited to orbital surveying.  The ship's launch is also often used to ferry scientific corps members between other ships of the Expedition.

Sloop Johanne

Sloop Johanne[ᚲ]

The Johanne is a Vardøhus-class sloop.  The ship has accommodations for four crew and three passengers with a single-occupancy stateroom, double-occupancy staterooms for most of the crew and the passengers and no low berths.  Johanne carries one air/raft and is armed with a double pulse laser turret.  The streamlined ship has fuel scoops for skimming unrefined fuel from a gas giant and a fuel purification plant.

Crew consists of the ship commander/pilot (Fänrik Kupumua), navigator/gunner (småbetjent), engineer (bådsmand) and medic's mate (rummand), and three scientific corps members (three astrophysicists).

Johanne supports Formue and Helgensværd in the Expedition security role.  Like Formue and Helgensværd, in situations where there are deemed to be few security threats, Johanne often surveys a secondary gas giant, an interesting secondary world or a planetoid belt.  Johanne carries a small scientific corps complement which is adept at orbital surveying.  The ship also can be used to ferry scientific corps members between other ships of the Expedition or to a world's surface.

Sloop Et-øje

Sloop Et-øje[ᚲ]

The Et-øje is a Vardøhus-class sloop.  The ship has accommodations for four crew and three passengers with a single-occupancy stateroom, double-occupancy staterooms for most of the crew and the passengers and no low berths.  Et-øje carries one air/raft and is armed with a double pulse laser turret.  The streamlined ship has fuel scoops for skimming unrefined fuel from a gas giant and a fuel purification plant.

Crew consists of the ship commander/pilot (Fänrik Stephansdottir), navigator/gunner (småbetjent), engineer (bådsmand) and medic's mate (rummand), and three scientific corps members (three astrophysicists).

Et-øje supports Formue and Helgensværd in the Expedition security role.  Like Formue and Helgensværd, in situations where there are deemed to be few security threats, Et-øje often surveys a secondary gas giant, an interesting secondary world or a planetoid belt.  Et-øje carries a small scientific corps complement which is adept at orbital surveying.  The ship also can be used to ferry scientific corps members between other ships of the Expedition or to a world's surface.

Image credits:
^[ᚠ] Original illustration by Jennel Jaquays (of Broadsword-class mercenary cruiser) which originally appeared in the Journal of the Travellers' Aid Society #8.  No endorsement of the Cleaved Helm has been made or is implied.
^[ᚢ] Original illustration by William H. Keith, Jr. (of Endeavor-class patrol ship) which originally appeared in Adventure Class Ships, Volume II.  No endorsement of the Cleaved Helm has been made or is implied.
^[ᚦ] Original illustration by William H. Keith, Jr. (of Type-MH merchant) which originally appeared in Adventure Class Ships, Volume I.  No endorsement of the Cleaved Helm has been made or is implied.
^[ᚨ] Original illustration by uncredited artist (of a 400-ton "Girl" class merchant) which originally appeared in "Ships of the Imperium" in Gryphon #4, p. 29.  No endorsement of the Cleaved Helm has been made or is implied.
^[ᚱ] Original illustration by Jennel Jaquays (of Gazelle-class close escort) which originally appeared in Supplement 9: Fighting Ships.  No endorsement of the Cleaved Helm has been made or is implied.
^[ᚲ] Original illustration by William H. Keith, Jr. (of Type-S scout/couriert) which originally appeared in Supplement 7: Traders and Gunboats.  No endorsement of the Cleaved Helm has been made or is implied.

Home | History | Worlds | Library Data | Ref's Notes | Sources | Sitemap

News Service | Venture Sparks | Chance Meeting | Exploring Expeditions

The original material presented on this website and in its files is ©2004 - 2025 by Zarthani.net.  The contents of this website are for personal, non-commercial use only.  This material is not official and is not endorsed by Far Future Enterprises, the owner of the Traveller® game in all forms, or by any of its Traveller® licensees, or by the owners of the late H. Beam Piper's copyrights.  Any use of copyrighted material or trademarks anywhere on this site and its files is not intended to be — and should not be viewed as — a challenge to those copyrights or trademarks.  In addition, any material displayed on or served by this site should not be republished or distributed without explicit consent from Zarthani.net.  (Viking font made from OnlineWebFonts is licensed by CC BY 3.0.)