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Shipwright: Starships of the Colonies Sphere

"The Ring has certain side effects that may manifest themselves upon the [passenger]."
— Douglas Lent (paraphrased), Dragon, November 1984

Starships of the Colonies Sphere

Ring of Truth
Independent schooner

Ring of Truth^[α]

A decommissioned Commonwealth Ui‑te‑Rangiora-class schooner (originally C.N.S. Ringgold, but renamed by the current owner) currently operating in Pollux and Jagannath Districts. Ring of Truth has a streamlined, 400 displacement-ton hull with jump-3 capability, 4-G acceleration and 160 tons of fuel capacity. (The streamlined hull includes integral fuel scoops but Ring does not have a fuel purification plant.) The schooner has twelve staterooms, providing capacity for a crew of 18 with some double-bunking (pilot, navigator, three engineers, medic, four gunners and eight troops), and four low berths. Ring of Truth is armed with four triple turrets, two mounting pulse lasers and two mounting missile racks. Cargo capacity is 50 tons plus a hangar for a 30-ton ship's boat and a grav-carrier.

(Design based upon the Lurushaar Kilaalum-class patrol ship — a variant of the standard Type-T patrol cruiser that originally appeared in Traveller Book 2: Starships, 2nd. ed. — which appears in Adventure Class Ships, Volume II.)

Bright Prospect
Commonwealth jump ferry

Pan Commonwealth's Bright Prospect^[β]

Commissioned from General Hulls and Drives by Pan Commonwealth Starlines and laid down at General's Jakarta shipyards on Earth, Bright Prospect is the first starship of its kind: a purpose-built, commercial jump ferry. Bright Prospect has an unarmored, dispersed-structure, 200,000 displacement-ton hull with jump-3 capability, 1-G acceleration and 44,000 tons of fuel capacity. The ship has a crew of 980 and can accommodate 100 high or medium passengers and 130 low passengers. Bright Prospect has no hardpoints for armament and no armour or defensive systems. Cargo capacity is 127,000 tons, including a 5000-ton enclosed hold. The ship has two 40-ton ship's boats and ten 50-ton lifeboats.

Bright Prospect was recently christened by Pan Commonwealth. The ship will typically carry five 20,000-ton freighters and/or liners and a variety of smaller mercantile starships.

(Design inspired by the World-class battle tender which originally appeared in Supplement 8: Library Data A-M.)

C.N.S. Foch
Commonwealth frigate

C.N.S. Foch^[γ]

Foch, the lead ship of its class, was commissioned from General Hulls and Drives and laid down at General's Cayenne shipyards on Earth. The Foch-class frigates are a workhorse of the Commonwealth Navy, with over 300 built to date. Most are serving in frontline positions, patrolling border regions across Commonwealth space and beyond. The frigate has an armored, close-structure, 400 displacement-ton hull with jump-4 capability, 6-G acceleration and 204 tons of fuel capacity (with integral fuel scoops and fuel purification plant). The frigate has a crew of ten and is armed with two double fusion gun turrets and two triple missile rack turrets. It carries no small craft.

The Foch recently destroyed an Aztlán Maza-class escort encountered at the Commonwealth world of Epimetheus / Pollux.

(Design inspired by the Lucifer-class destroyer escort which originally appeared in Adventure Class Ships, Volume 1.)

B.I.A. Cachiporra
Aztlán Maza-class frigate

B.I.A. Cachiporra^[δ]

Cachiporra, was an Aztlán Maza-class frigate recently destroyed at Epimetheus / Pollux by the Commonwealth's C.N.S. Foch. Cachiporra was laid down by Astilleros Aztlán at its Cárdenas shipyards on Aztlán. The Maza-class escorts are the Aztlán Navy's most common frontier patrol vessel. The escort has an armored, cylindrical, partially-streamlined, 300 displacement-ton hull with jump-4 capability, 5-G acceleration and 81 tons of fuel capacity (with integral fuel scoops and fuel purification plant). The frigate has a crew of twelve and is armed with two particle accelerator barbettes and two triple laser turrets. It carries a 20-ton ship's boat.

(Design inspired by the Gazelle-class close escort which originally appeared in Journal of the Travellers's Aid Society #4.)

Malheur
Quebecer armed merchant

Malheur retrieving its launch^[ε]

Malheur is an armed version of a Bon Chance-class Quebecer merchant which recently destroyed the Aeroi free trader Omokm‑oi at Chicoutini / Kiangsi. Malheur was originally laid down by Chantier Laurentien at its shipyards on Nouveau Québec. The Bon Chance-class merchants are the Quebecer Republic's most common merchant traders. They are often armed for anti-piracy operations with subsidies from the Republican government and therefore can be called-up as needed as military auxiliaries. The armed merchant has a streamlined, 400 displacement-ton hull with jump-1 capability, 1-G acceleration and 50 tons of fuel capacity (with integral fuel scoops and fuel purification plant). The armed trader has a crew of seven, including two gunners, and is armed with two triple pulse laser turrets. It has seven high passenger cabins (which can alternatively accommodate up to fourteen middle passengers) and 200 displacement-tons of cargo capacity. It carries a 20-ton ship's boat.

(Design inspired by the standard Type-R subsidized merchant which originally appeared in Book 2: Starships.)

Omokm‑oi
Aeroi trader

Aeroi trader Omokm‑oi^[ζ]

Omokm‑oi was an Aeroi trader recently destroyed by the Quebecer armed merchant Malheur at Chicoutini / Kiangsi. Omokm‑oi is believed to have been typical of an unknown class of Aeroi traders which are ubiquitous throughout the Colonies Sphere. The trader class has a streamlined, 200 displacement-ton hull with jump-2 capability, 1-G acceleration and 50 tons of fuel capacity (with integral fuel scoops and fuel purification plant). The trader has four crew staterooms (pilot/navigator, engineer, steward/medic and supercargo) but does not include hardpoints for weapons mounts. There are six staterooms for high or middle (with double-occupancy) passengers and 61 displacement-tons of cargo capacity. The trader carries a air/raft.

(Design inspired by the Type-A2 far trader which originally appeared in Supplement 7: Traders and Gunboats.)

R.C.N.S. Mysuru
Rajasthani destroyer

R.C.N.S. Mysuru^[α]

The R.C.N.S. Mysuru is a Jodhpur-class destroyer. The 3000-ton Mysuru was laid down by government-owned Mazgaon Dock Ltd. at its Rajdhani Highport facilities at Rajasthan and is the first ship of its class to enter service in the Confederate Navy. The Jodhpur-class design is based upon the Commonwealth of Earth's Yama-class destroyer and mounts the same General Hulls and Drives J-4 jump drives and 6G manoeuvre drives. The destroyer carries two 50-ton ship's boats.

The partially-streamlined Mysuru has a crew of 33. Weaponry consists of one 50-ton particle accelerator bay, six triple missile rack turrets organized into one battery and eight triple beam laser turrets organized into four batteries. For defensive measures, Mysuru has a meson screen, nuclear damper and six triple sandcaster turrets organized into three defensive batteries.

The recently commissioned Mysuru is based at the Confederate naval base at Rudra / Jagannath, enabling the Confederate Navy to demonstrate a credible patrol presence in the nadir-rim portions of the district (which includes several Federation of Nyanza worlds). Three more Jodhpur-class destroyers are slated for completion through the end of next year and will be based throughout the Confederacy.

(Design inspired by the Midu Agashaam-class destroyer which originally appeared in Supplement 9: Fighting Ships.)

Midnight Wrecker
Independent schooner

Midnight Wrecker^[θ]

A decommissioned Synodic Lerax-class schooner currently operating in Vega and Fomalhaut Districts. Renamed by its current owner, Midnight Wrecker has a streamlined, 400 displacement-ton hull and jump-3 capability, 4-G acceleration and 120 tons of fuel capacity. (The hull includes integral fuel scoops and a fuel purification plant has been added.) The schooner has twelve staterooms, providing capacity for a crew of eighteen — pilot, navigator, three engineers, medic, four gunners (double-bunked) and eight troops (also double-bunked), and four low berths. Midnight Wrecker has hull armour and is armed with four triple turrets, two mounting pulse lasers and two mounting missile racks. Cargo capacity is 50 tons plus a hangar for a 30-ton ship's boat and a grav-carrier.

(Design inspired by the standard Type-T patrol cruiser which originally appeared in Traveller Book 2: Starships, 2nd. ed.)

Ahmad ibn Fadlan-class sloop
Synodic scout/courier

An Ahmad ibn Fadlan-class seeker^[ι]

The Ahmad ibn Fadlan-class sloop is a mainstay of the Abrahamic Synod's Discovery Service, used both for survey and exploration and as the primary mechanism for bringing the Abrahamic faith to new worlds — sometimes while assigned to "detached duty." Ahmad ibn Fadlan-class sloops have a streamlined, 100 displacement-ton hull and are capable of Jump-2 and 2-G acceleration. The ship is equipped with four staterooms, which can accommodate double-occupancy, but the sloop can be operated by a single crew member (serving as pilot/navigator and engineer — and gunner, if necessary). There are no low berths. The ship has a single hardpoint, with double turret and fire control system installed and mounted with a beam laser and a missile rack. The hold contains an air/raft, with its own docking hatch, and an additional three tons of cargo space. Integral fuel scoops are incorporated into the hold but no fuel purification plant is included in the original design. There are 40 displacement-tons of fuel tankage.

(Design based upon the Type-SX scout/courier which originally appeared in the Journal of the Travellers' Aid Society '#2.)

Ufiuwn‑yl-class merchant ship
Ysinal udi-Quinan trader

An Ufiuwn‑yl-class merchant^[α]

The Ufiuwn‑yl-class merchant is the workhorse of Aeroi mercantile house Ysinal udi-Quinan, ubiquitous throughout the Colonies Sphere wherever the Aeroi trade. Ufiuwn‑yl-class starships have a streamlined, 400 displacement-ton hull and are capable of Jump-1 and 1-G acceleration. The ship is equipped with thirteen staterooms, eight for high or middle passengers (with double-occupancy) and five for the crew (master, pilot/navigator, engineer, steward/gunner and medic/gunner), and nine low passage berths. The ship has two hardpoints, each mounting double laser turrets. Cargo capacity is 200 tons plus a bay for a 20-ton ship's boat. The ship has integral fuel scoops and a fuel purification plant; fuel tankage in 50 tons. (The ship carries fuel bladders which allow 50 tons of cargo space to be converted to fuel tankage for deep-space jumps.)

(Design based upon the standard Type-R subsidized merchant which originally appeared in Traveller Book 2: Starships.)

Havre
Quebecer freighter

Havre^[κ]

The Havre is a Chantier Laurentien Baleine-class freighter which is configured, typically, for the class, as a hydrogen fuel tanker. Havre, which recently suffered an accident, has a partially-streamlined, 40,000 displacement-ton hull with jump-2 capability, 2-G acceleration and 8,800 tons of fuel capacity. (The hull includes integral fuel scoops and a fuel purification plant.) The ship has 136 staterooms (most with double-occupancy) for its crew of 222, fourteen staterooms for high or middle passengers and twenty low berths. Havre is armed with eighty triple beam laser turrets and sixty triple missile turrets. (There are 160 unused hardpoints each with one displacement-ton set aside for fire control systems.) The hull is unarmoured — and there are no defensive screens — but Havre mounts 100 triple sandcaster turrets for defence. Hydrogen fuel cargo capacity is 22,200 displacement-tons; there are an additional 300 displacement-tons of ordinary cargo hold. Havre has hangars for three 50-ton ship's boats configured as 85-person lifeboats.

(Design based upon the Baleen-class heavy tanker designed by Ade Stewart.)

Tutankhamen
Commonwealth Scout/Explorer

Scout/explorer Tutankhamen^[λ]

Tutankhamen is a surplus Commonwealth Scout Service Klenova-class scout/explorer. Klenova-class starships have a streamlined, 200 displacement-ton hull and are capable of Jump-1 and 1-G acceleration. The ship is equipped with ten staterooms, two of which have been combined into a science laboratory, providing accommodations for a crew of four (pilot, navigator, engineer and steward/medic) and up to eight science personnel (with double occupancy). There are no low berths. The ship has a single hardpoint with one ton reserved for fire control systems but with no weaponry installed. The hold contains a 30-ton ship's boat, an air/raft and an all-terrain vehicle, each with their own docking/loading hatch. There are an additional 16 displacement-tons of cargo space and 60 displacement-tons of fuel tankage (sufficient for two consecutive jumps without refuelling). Integral fuel scoops are incorporated into the hold but no fuel purification plant is included in the original design.

Tutankhamen, owned and operated by the Ensanche Archaeological Institute, was recently presumed to have been lost after an apparent misjump from Livingstone / Nyanza.

(Design based upon the standard Type-Y yacht which originally appeared in Traveller Book 2: Starships.)

SNS Musashi
Shinnihon cruiser

SNS Musashi^[μ]

The SNS Musashi, recently dispatched on an extraordinarily unorthodox mission, is a Bokuden-class cruiser. The 30,000-ton Musashi was laid down by Maeda-Akamatsu Heavy Industries at its Highport facilities on Ehime. The Bokuden-class design is based upon the Empire of Aztlán's Oñate-class cruiser and mounts the same Astilleros Aztlán J-4 jump drives and 5G manoeuvre drives. The carrier carries five 50-ton ship's boats.

The partially-streamlined Musashi has a crew of 211 plus accommodations for twenty ship's troops. Weaponry consists of one meson gun spinal mount, 200 triple missile rack turrets organized into twenty batteries, fifty triple beam laser turrets organized into five batteries and six dual fusion gun turrets organized into three batteries. For defensive measures, Musashi has a nuclear damper, a 100-ton repulsor beam projector bay and 24 triple sandcaster turrets organized into eight defensive batteries.

(Design inspired by the Gionetti-class light cruiser which originally appeared in Supplement 9: Fighting Ships.)

N.G.C.O. Pesar
Ouroran destroyer

N.G.C.O. Pesar^[α]

The N.G.C.O. Pesar is a Tristeza-class destroyer. The 5000-ton Pesar was laid down by Casa Carniero at its Nova Manaus Highport facilities on Amazonas. The Pesar mounts J-4 jump drives and 6G manoeuvre drives. The destroyer carries three 50-ton ship's boats. It is equipped with fuels scoops, a fuel purification plant and 2450 tons of fuel tankage.

The partially-streamlined Pesar has a crew of 40. Weaponry consists of two 50-ton missile bays and thirty triple beam laser turrets organized into three batteries. For defensive measures, Pesar has a nuclear damper, a meson screen and an armoured hull.

The Tristeza-class ships are the most common destroyers in the Ouroran military. Operated by Casa Carneiro, the Pesar and its sibling ships operate throughout the Community and beyond. The class is recognized across the Colonies Sphere for its performance, ensuring the credibility of the Community's military posture to allies and adversaries alike. The Pesar is currently based at Roraima / Ourora and has frequently been deployed to Europa District, making it a familiar presence to Meren forces there.

(Design inspired by the Sloan-class destroyer which originally appeared in Supplement 9: Fighting Ships.)

Msichana-class
Nyanzan merchant

The Msichana-class merchant Nyota^[η]

The Msichana-class merchant ship is a heavily standardized design which is widely encountered throughout the Federation of Nyanza, with over 700 ships currently in service. Designed by Kumwanza Shipwrights and first laid down at its shipyards on Nyanza, Msichana-class merchants are now built at shipyards throughout the Federation. The ship has a streamlined, 400 displacement-ton hull with jump-2 capability, 4-G acceleration and 94 tons of fuel capacity (with integral fuel scoops and fuel purification plant). The merchant has a crew of seven and is armed with one triple missile turret. It has eight high passenger cabins (which can alternatively accommodate up to sixteen middle passengers), two low passage berths and 66 displacement-tons of cargo capacity. It carries an air/raft and a 20-ton life boat.

The maneuver drive capability of the Msichana-class is unusual for similar class merchant ships. The design has led some observers to claim that the high acceleration of the Msichana-class ships makes them especially well equipped for piracy because of their ability to out-maneuver most other commercial freighters and liners. Kumwanza has consistently denied these claims, noting that it cannot be held responsible for the uses to which its customers might employ its ships. The Federation government does not publish statistics on the types or numbers of ships apprehended or destroyed in anti-piracy operations.

(Design inspired by the Girl-class 400-ton merchant which originally appeared in Gryphon #4.)

Image credits:
^[α] Commissioned illustration for Melbourne Times by Matt Matteo.
^[β] Original illustration by William H. Keith, Jr., (of World-class battle tender) which originally appeared in Supplement 8: Library Data A-M. No endorsement of the Earth Colonies Campaign has been made or is implied.
^[γ] Original illustration by William H. Keith, Jr., (of Lucifer-class destroyer escort) which originally appeared in Adventure Class Ships, Volume 1. No endorsement of the Earth Colonies Campaign has been made or is implied.
^[δ] Original illustration by Jennell Jaquays (of Gazelle-class close escort) which originally appeared in Supplement 9: Fighting Ships. No endorsement of the Earth Colonies Campaign has been made or is implied.
^[ε] Original illustration by William H. Keith, Jr., (of Type-R subsidized merchant) which originally appeared in Supplement 7: Traders and Gunboats. No endorsement of the Earth Colonies Campaign has been made or is implied.
^[ζ] Original illustration by William H. Keith, Jr., (of Type-VA far trader) which originally appeared in the The Traveller Adventure. No endorsement of the Earth Colonies Campaign has been made or is implied.
^[η] 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 Earth Colonies Campaign has been made or is implied.
^[θ] Original illustration by William H. Keith, Jr., (of Type-T patrol cruiser) which originally appeared in The Traveller Book. No endorsement of the Earth Colonies Campaign has been made or is implied.
^[ι] Original illustration by Bob Liebman (of Type-SX scout/courier) which originally appeared in an unknown Traveller work. No endorsement of the Earth Colonies Campaign has been made or is implied.
^[κ] Original illustration by Rostyslav Zagornov. No endorsement of the Earth Colonies Campaign has been made or is implied.
^[λ] Uncredited illustration served by BoardGameGeek. No endorsement of the Earth Colonies Campaign has been made or is implied.
^[μ] Uncredited illustration served by Space Battleship Yamato Wiki. No endorsement of the Earth Colonies Campaign has been made or is implied.

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