			    TRAVELLER Digest 444

Topics covered in this issue include:

  1) RE: economies by That Computer Guy <darkstar@UDel.Edu>
  2) Why Use Low TL Production? by A.S.Lilly@bnr.co.uk (Andy Lilly)
  3) Llanvull Oguu-class Vargr Frigate by Alvin Plummer <alvin.plummer@sheridanc.on.ca>
  4) Archives back up... by Joseph Heck <ccjoe@showme.missouri.edu>
  5) Comments on Various Rice Papers by lewis@chara.gsu.edu
  6) TL 17 by Hans Rancke-Madsen <rancke@diku.dk>
  7) Various... by Christopher_Griffen@dmcwave.com (Christopher Griffen)
  8) Re: couple of questions by Scott and Vivian Nolan <nolan@DGS.dgsys.com>
  9) TL-14 Diplomatic Courier - Contract Bid by Michael Bailey <pd82495@wapol.gov.au>
 10) TL D Ugvarran-class Vargr Assault Ship by Alvin Plummer <alvin.plummer@sheridanc.on.ca>

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Tue, 10 Oct 1995 02:14:22 -0400
From: That Computer Guy <darkstar@UDel.Edu>
To: traveller@MPGN.COM
Subject: RE: economies 
Message-ID: <199510100614.CAA01072@chopin.udel.edu>

In Reply to Your Message of Mon, 09 Oct 1995 21: 01:18 EDT
Date: Tue, 10 Oct 1995 02:14:22 -0400
From: That Computer Guy <darkstar@chopin.udel.edu>

[stuff deleted]
: >Quite simply, a TL15 world has no need to create lower TL starships. 
: >There is enough demand on them to create TL15 ships.  So, as a firm,
: >they will want to maximize their profits by producing what is being
: >demanded of them.
: 
: What makes you think that because a world has a TL rating of 15 there will
: be no demand for ships of less than TL15 or indeed <TL15 shipyards on that
: world. Due to retooling and capital replacement lags it is more likely that
: a world rated as TL15 is not able to satisfy all shipyard demands in TL15
: yards. In fact some TL14 and 13 yards would continue to operate profitably

[stuff deleted]

You just agreed with me.  I'm saying that TL15 shipyards will be
damanded to make TL15 ships.  However, that doesn't mean that TL12-14
shipyards will automatically disappear.  In fact, they'll have new
found business repairing displaced ships.

: firm. One simply can't look at shipyards as adding all the value. They are
: the clicking the components together stage. 

They are the "clicking" stage.  However a TL15 shipyard will need TL15
components.  Thus, it will stock these from whomever can supply them. 
It's called import and export.  A shipyard just like any other
business, and any interstellar business has no reason to limit itself
to domestic components if it doesn't need to.

[stuff deleted]

: >When a society advances beyond a given level of production (they start
: >to modernize or move into other markets) there are others that are also
: >moving ahead (just behind them).  For example, most sneakers are now
: >made in Indonesia, whereas before they were made in Korea, and before
: >that in Hong Kong.  Both HK and Korea advanced enough technologically
: >that it wasn't cost effective for companies to produce the lower tech
: >good there anymore.
: 
: Sneakers are made completely in the same factory. I think that starships
: would differ significantly in that they contain millions of components that
: would most likely not be produced all at the same yards or in the same factory.
: What is more, the TL rating of a world in no way reflects the wealth of that
: world or the wisdom of its distribution. One world may be able to produce
: large numbers of TL15 ships but has turned half the world into a wasteland
: and gutted its satellites for resources, while another world may be only
: capable of TL12 ships while having energy efficient environmentally friendly
: facilities of TL15. The Soviet Union may have had a nuclear arsenal but it
: also had Chernobyl.

Actually, sneaker components are produced in a variety of places and
are assembled in said locations (rubber soles from Mexico, canvas from
China, yet, they're all put together in Indonesia).  Not to sound
snooty, but you're making the mistake of assuming that shipyards aren't
opperating like any other normal business.

I never said that the TL of a world reflected its wealth or wisdom.  I
said that it reflects its technological capacity.  I also said that
market forces would have a TL15 shipyard produce TL15 ships.  That's
about it...  8)

       --Jerry

8) Jerry Alexandratos                %  "Nothing inhabits my    (8 
8) darkstar@strauss.udel.edu         %   thoughts, and oblivion (8
8) darkstar@canary.pearson.udel.edu  %   drives my desires."    (8

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 10 Oct 1995 10:22:47 +0100
From: A.S.Lilly@bnr.co.uk (Andy Lilly)
To: traveller@MPGN.COM
Subject: Why Use Low TL Production?
Message-ID: <199510100935.FAA06309@Mithril.MPGN.COM>

Hi all,

Been out of touch a while with holidays and work, but I just thought I'd
chip in on the "Why Use TL13 production if you Could Use TL15?" debate.

I see a major cause being the customer. Military customers tend to be
pushing for the latest tech' (even if currently it takes years to get
through all the approvals, etc. - perhaps they'll have sorted this out in
3000 years time). Civil customers just want things made easier - a few worry
about the actual 'tech', i.e. to show off to the Joneses next door, but
usually people just want something that _looks_ new. Lower tech may suddenly
come back into fashion, perhaps labourers from a less developed area of a
planet (assuming it is in any way balkanised like Earth) may only be able to
handle lower tech tools, etc.

Vincennes might already be at TL17 for the military, but perhaps the
interesting new weapons they've thought up are still going through approvals
- that could make it 10-20 years before large numbers begin appearing in
active service. Tech 17 doesn't mean everything's that tech either - the
good old World Builder's Handbook allowed separate techs for common people
to military to medecine, etc. so I think people should be wary of talking
too much about immediate subsector domination (or whatever) by a world that
suddenly 'clicks' from tech 16 to 17.

As someone pointed out (sorry, forgot name), the other problem with TL17
stuff is it's no good as exports: it'll be costly initially and replacement
parts will be equally so. No sensible neighbouring power will buy TL17
equipment for anything critical (military, power, etc.) when their entire
supply of spares is reliant upon the good will of the source planet...

Then there's just the plain repairability. Take TL 7 vs. TL 6. Ever tried
repairing the internal workings of a modern car vs. an old VW Beetle or
Polo? I know which I prefer - and second-hand spares are cheaper! However,
this only works for a limited range of tech levels - spares become very
sparse if one tries to repair a Model T Ford, for example.

How simple are a knife and fork? What tech are yours produced at? If yours
got broken, could you repair them yourself (ignores shouts of "Yes, I've got
my own arc-welding set" from the Beetle enthusiasts at the back). More
likely you'd buy new ones or (on a hypothetical desert island) resort to
forked sticks and sharpened stones or somesuch.

Tech is partly real tech (i.e. advancements in theory, understanding,
processes and materials) and partly the application of thought to already
existing tech (e.g. a sudden boom in the use of infra-red beams to link
remote devices - cash tills, etc. - where infra-red technology has been
around many years but no one got around to using it in this manner except
for TV remote controls...).

As per almost _any_ situation in Traveller, you usually only have to take a
look at the world around you to find an equivalent real-life situation. That
saves a lot of hypotheses!

Cmdr Lilly, PITS (Political Intelligence Team, Scout)
PITS Team motto: "We are never outgunned."
* Nothing I say or do in any way reflects the views of my very kind
  and generous employers who have no interest in outgunning anyone. *


------------------------------

Date: Tue, 10 Oct 1995 09:02:00 -0400 (EDT)
From: Alvin Plummer <alvin.plummer@sheridanc.on.ca>
To: traveller@MPGN.COM
Subject: Llanvull Oguu-class Vargr Frigate
Message-ID: <Pine.OSF.3.91.951010075158.15340A-100000@hubble.sheridanc.on.ca>


Sorry: you'll have to wait till tomorrow for my diplo design.  Until then...

TL F Llanvull Oguu-class Vargr Frigate

Disp   20 000               Armour   125       
Len    140m                 Vol.     280 000
MCr    15 161               Target   L
Config Open Frame USL       TL       F
Mass   161 876/148 546 mt

P.Plant     90 000 MW (300 Mw/H), 5.3 months duration.  671 MW surplus
Jump        3
G-Rating    9 (!)
G-Turns     61.1 (70.3 with jfuel), 2023 kl of fuel each
Maint       5372

Computer    3 * TL F fb
Commo       2 * 1000 AU Radio (20 Mw), 14 * 1000 AU maser (.6 Mw),
            2 * 1000 AU laser (.3 Mw)   
Avionics    TL A+
Sensors     2 * P-EMS folding (240 000 , .3 Mw), 2 * A-EMS (480 000, 25 Mw), 
            20 * Ladar (300 000, .6 Mw each)
ECM/ECCM    2 * EMS jammers (480 000: 50 MW ea.), EMM Masking

Offensive   TL F 30 000 Mj Spinal Meson (Arc 1, 8333 Mw, 84 Crew) (-2 Diff)
               6:866  12:408  24:201  48: (Nil)
            TL F 10 000 Mj Parallel PA  (Arc 1: 2778 Mw, 9 Crew) (-2 Diff)
               10:500 20:500  40:500  80:500
            TL F 150 Mj Laser Turrent  (-1 Diff)
               (25 Turrents, Loc: 10, Arc 2,3,4, 21 Mw ea.  20 Uncrewed, but 
                with w/station.)
               (25 Turrents, Loc: 12, Arc 2,3,4,5 21 Mw ea. 20 Uncrewed, but
                with w/station.)
               10:1/10-31 20: 1/10-31  40:1/10-31  80:1/10-31
            50 Missle barbettes (25 Loc 10, 25 Loc 12, Arc: all)

Defensive   TL F Sandcaster Turrents * 20  (10 Turrents Loc 10, 10 Turrents 
               Loc 12:1 Mw each, 1 Crew)
            TL F Damper Turrents * 5 ( 2 Turrents: Loc 10, 3 Loc 12. 3 Mw) 
            TL F Meson Screen, Value 657

MFDs        23 Missile/Beam, -6 Diff, Msl, 10 hex, 1.71 Mw ea., 1 Crew
            45 Beam, -6 Diff, No Msl, 10 hex, 1.56 Mw ea., 1 Crew
10 Decoy launchers, of 100 decoys each

Extended Life Support (56 Mw), Grav Comp (6G: 1400 Mw)
Crew        1041
            Eng 600    Gunnery 189  Troops/Gunnery 20  Medical 8
            Elec  8    Maint    43  Command       144  Flight  6
            Maneuver             2  Stewards       21
Small Staterooms * 80 (2-Vargr, Officers, .0005 Mw ea.) 
Lg. Staterooms * 60 (5-Vargr, hot bunking, .001 Mw ea.)
Facilities  Elect Shop (.6 Mw), Machine shop * 2 (1 Mw), Sickbay (1.8 Mw)
Cargo       488 kl
Small Craft 2 grapples for ship's boats
Airlock     200
Fuel Purifier: does all jfuel in 30 hours

Surface Area
1-2   1-9 P-EMS #1
      10  Radio #1
      11  Radio #2
      12-20  Meson Gun Bore (for those who are curious...)
3     1  1-3 A-EMS #1
         4-6 A-EMS #2
         7  Ladar, Laser, Maser Commo: MFD antennae
         8-20 Hull
      2  1-10   EMM
         11-20  PA Bore
      3-20 EMM
4     1  1-10 EMM
        11-20   PA Bore
      2-20 EMM
5     P-EMS #2
6     1-10 Grapple #1
7     1-10 Grapple #2
8-9   Hull
10   1-6 Airlocks

Damage Area (1-3 is always Meson Gun)      System Damage
1-3  1-3 Meson                             Elect 
     4-9 Elect                               Maser, Laser, Radio, Ladar 
    10-15 Qtrs                                   (1h) Ant (1h)
    17-20 Wpns (PA)                          P-EMS (3h) Ant 3H
4-5  4-20 Hold                               A-EMS (4h)
6-7  4    Wpn (PA)                           EMM 28H Ant (280h)
     5-20 Hold (1% of volume is labs)      Quarters
8-9  4-20 Hold                               Sm. Staterooms (2h) ea.
10   4-8  Wpns                               Lg. Staterooms  1H ea.
     9-20 Hold                               ArtiGrav    56H
11:13-15  4-20 Hold                          LS  156H
12   4-8  Wpns                               ELS 76H
     9-10 Wpms (PA)                        Engineering
    11-20 Hold                               JumpD   224H
16-19     4-20 Eng                           HEPlaR   75H
20  4-11 Eng, 12-20 Hold                     FuelP    15H
                                           Weapons
Battle Rider Stats                           Meson   357H 
    VF  Llanvull Oguu                        N-PAW    68H
M(-2)6:11-9-6-X         -3                   LaserT    1H * 50
P(-2)10:10            TL F                   Missiles  1H * 50
-                    FC -6                   Sandcas.  1H * 20
L(*17,-1)10:1    M:40(250)                   Meson Screen 41H
A:16[P:8]J:16Msk (P) J3 G9                   DamperT   1H * 5
AV:4                     -                   Decoy L   (3h)   
MS:10 SC:6 D:1          67                 Hold  
                                             Labs      1H * 3
                                             Grapple   2H * 2

This particular starship was fairly uncommon during the Rebellion, and 
was largely found attacking the coreward Domain frontiers during the 
early years of the Final War.  While certainly not capable of joining the 
Line of Battle, it was fairly well used as a major commerce & convoy raider.
A peculiar Gvurrdon design, it stresses speed and weaponry over armour.
  
It obtains it's extraordiary maneuverability by sacrificing nearly all 
it's armour, making it quite vulnerable to PA and laser strikes.  An 
excellent missile platform, it was heavily used for Vargr planetary 
bombardment from orbit.  A massive meson gun is supplies, with a PA 
accellerator for fighting at longer ranges. 

While it does have a fuel purifier, it's massive, unweldly form (rear end 
is similar to a massive concave mushroom, with it's stalk covered with 
spikes and odd bumps) makes it impossible to operate in atmosphere.

It's large communication suite makes it a viable command platform: a flag 
bridge can easily be installed to suit the commander's needs, as the fuel 
tanks are capable of handling life support.  However, since fuel is the 
lifeline for such a thinly-armoured craft like the Llanvull Oguu and it's 
sisters, no bridge is installed initially.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alvin Plummer
"Preserve what we created, Norris, and remember what we stood for."
                               - Strephon, 179-1126

Reply to: alvin.plummer@SHERIDANC.ON.CA
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 10 Oct 1995 08:32:36 -0500 (CDT)
From: Joseph Heck <ccjoe@showme.missouri.edu>
To: traveller@MPGN.COM (TML Submissions)
Subject: Archives back up...
Message-ID: <199510101332.IAA107282@gold.missouri.edu>

After a move in the site, the archives are back in action.

The ftp/gopher site is now only an FTP site and it's location has moved...

ghost.cc.missouri.edu no longer responds, but "deneb.cc.missouri.edu" should
provide everything that was there before.
-- 
 joe                          (314) 882-5000
 ccjoe@showme.missouri.edu    University of Missouri - Columbia  
 "with a little practice, writing can be an intimidating and
 impenetrable fog!" -- Calvin
 <A HREF="http://www.missouri.edu/~ccjoe">ccjoe</A>

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 10 Oct 95 10:26:19 -0400
From: lewis@chara.gsu.edu
To: traveller@MPGN.COM
Subject: Comments on Various Rice Papers
Message-ID: <9510101426.AA19497@chara.gsu.edu>

Just got around to reading a bunch of the more recent RICE Papers, and
a few comments.

Antra:
>The immigrants - refered to as "visiting workers" by upper-class Antrans, 
>"thugees" by lower-class Antrans, and "toilers" by themselves - are hired 
>on one, five, or ten-year workterms, with a continous flow of about 2 
>million people either entering or leaving Antra (keeping over 40,000 
>subsidized liners employed). 

40,000 Subsidized liners seems like an awfull lot.  I think it would
make more sense if instead they used giant cargo ships, like the Common
Imperial Transport from the Rebellion Handbook. They could fill the
cargo bay with low berth compartments and just freeze the immigrants.  
THe CIT had about 145,000 kilo liters of cargo space, and low berths
take up 14 kl, so that is over 10,000 people a trip.  That would only
take 200 trips a year.  So what if a few thousand of the proles die in
transit, they are only "low-brow, low-tech thugs"

HRD:
>     Also maintained at the dirtside 
>     base are 18 batteries of meson dampers and 12 deep-site particle 
>     accelerators to be used for offensive or defensive fire.

I thought only meson guns could be put underground.  Particle
accelerators fire protons or nuetrons, which have too high of a cross
section to go through dense matter.

Kubishush:
The paper talks about how the Gl'lu orignally lived on a small gas
giant.  I find that pretty hard to believe.  Neptune and Uranus are
both small gas giants, and have small rocky cores surrounded by mantles
of H and He.  The temperatures are about 7000 K and the atmosphere has
a pressure of 7 million bar, in the interior. (Astronomy: A Physical
Perspective, Kutner 1987) This sounds pretty different then the listed
stats for Kubishush of  B8B6AAA-D.  Maybe the Gl'lu came from a
similiar planet in  another star system, or their home planet was
destroyed and used to be in a now empty orbit.  

Lewis Roberts
 

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 10 Oct 1995 16:05:36 +0100 (MET)
From: Hans Rancke-Madsen <rancke@diku.dk>
To: traveller@MPGN.COM
Subject: TL 17
Message-ID: <199510101505.QAA12953@embla.diku.dk>

Alex Holt wrote:

>In my mind TL advancement is not something that can be actually controlled.

It is my contention that TLs up to TL 15 are purely a matter of economics:
the knowledge exists, but some worlds can't afford the infrastructure. If
this is accepted (and I for one can't see any other explanation for (most
of) the different TLs in the Traveller Universe) TL advancement is
controllable to the degree that you believe that economy is controllable.

>The knowledge exists, there is the advancement.

If that was all that was necessary then every world in Charted Space would
be TL 15 (at least, maybe 16 or even 17 like Vincennes, depending on the 
rate of dissemination of the knowledge).

>To summarize, in my campaign(s) and mind, Vicennes is in the process of 
>going to TL17.  This process could take 2-20 years.  This process is also 
>happen on other worlds going from any tech level to another.  I guess I 
>am just put off by the statist/socialist aproach in the RSB.  

I haven't read the Regency Source Book yet. I gather that they say that
Vincennes has reached TL 17 in knowledge? In my own universe Vincennes 
was borderline TL 16 in 1115; that is, they were just discovering TL 16
technologies. I believe this is non-canonical and that in the Official
Traveller Univers Vincennes was solid TL 16 in 1115. Even so, the
discoveries that led to TL 16 must be fairly recent (otherwise more of
the important planets like Mora and Capital would be TL 16 too. Advancing
a whole _discovery_ TL in just 70 years seems awfully fast to me. In my
campaign Vincennes will advance to solid TL 16 in that time, no more.
(Assuming for purposes of argument that my campaign ever reaches 1200).


      Hans Rancke
University of Copenhagen
     rancke@diku.dk
------------
        "A  subsector  official  pompously states that the
        subsector  armed  forces  have  four Kinunir class
        ships in service,  each with enough troop strength
        to put down any military operations that threathen
        the peace of the Imperium."

                        ---Adventure 1, The Kinunir

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 10 Oct 1995 08:28:38 -0700
From: Christopher_Griffen@dmcwave.com (Christopher Griffen)
To: traveller@MPGN.COM
Subject: Various...
Message-ID: <07a918d0@MailXFER.DMCWAVE.COM>

     Responding to Scott Nolan:
     
     >>I've recently had my interest in Traveller reawakened.  What are the 
     best available sources for broad-spectrum information on the old (CT & 
     MT) Imperium?  Especially subsector and system names, data, etc.   
     Also the sort of basic data one should know before attempting a RICE 
     paper.<<
     
     I recommend tapping into GEnie's game forum.  There is a huge amount 
     of information there, including sector stats for just about every 
     sector ever published.  Subsector makers (separate versions available 
     for both PC and Mac) available in the forum can make graphical maps, 
     so you can pretty much create a sector map for any area of space in 
     which you want to conduct a campaign.
     
     If you have deep pockets, you may want to buy some of the old stuff.  
     I recommend Weekend Warrior in L.A., at 818-988-1441, if you want the 
     most comprehensive collection.  A bit pricey, but if there's an item 
     you just gotta have, Ken will most likely have it.
     
     I don't remember what RICE stands for, actually.  I think it was way 
     back in TML # 4 or 7.  You will need access to World Builder's 
     Handbook, an old MT book by DGP, in order to create RICE stats.
     
     
     Responding to Michael Schwartz:
     
     >>The best scenario is a combined attack from Chronor timed to an 
     outbreak of Virus after the Fleet begins to deploy away from Corridor 
     in about 1135.  The Zho go defensive (they already have an operating 
     anti-Virus blockade, but  they did not have to redeploy their fleet) 
     and wait for the Virus to work on  the Regency main industrial/
     technology centers.  Maybe go in later just to make sure the
     "evil dozen" worlds are silenced.  Then go away for forty-fifty 
     years.<<
     
     But we now know that the Zhodani have been involved in a possible war 
     with an entity at the Core since 1119.  Apparently their resources are 
     being eaten up by that conflict.  There are other apparent problems 
     that are destroying the very psionic core of their society as well.  
     The Zhos are in no shape to conquer anybody.
     
     >>I don't have the Regency Book - and I don't plan to buy it.<<
     
     You're missing out, my friend.  Excellent book.
     
     
     Responding to Steve Bonneville:
     
     >>Actually, judging by your comments about "a platoon of troops", what 
     you want is something like a Broadsword-class cruiser...I didn't 
     design it, but can I submit it?  :)  It's only MCr 315.  Reduce it to 
     one squad and put diplomats and staff in the staterooms freed up.  If 
     eight laser turrets are too many, replace some with escape pods or 
     whatever.  It's jump-3, 2G, TL15, and even in the right crew range.<<
     
     I wouldn't recommend it.  Though the Broadsword fits several of the 
     parameters of the ship described, what it symbolizes is extremely 
     _un_diplomatic.  In the wilds, most folks may not know the history of 
     the Broadsword, so perhaps it could work, but these ships are designed 
     for the transportation of killers for hire, not diplomats.
     
     Accommodations are tight and the ship is generally outfitted with an 
     armory, marshalling area and cutter modules used for ground action.  
     Sure, they could all be refitted for a more civilian use, but it would 
     buck tradition.
     
     As far as the platoon of troops is concerned, I think he might do 
     better to have his gunners trained in small arms use, or something.  
     It sounds like Charles wants a slightly Star Trek feel to his 
     campaign.  Maybe he could have members of his crew skilled in weaponry 
     and unarmed martial arts and operate like those poor red-shirted 
     security troops who always seemed to get killed in the original ST 
     series. <g>
     
     --Chris

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 10 Oct 1995 13:04:21 -0400 (EDT)
From: Scott and Vivian Nolan <nolan@DGS.dgsys.com>
To: traveller@MPGN.COM
Subject: Re: couple of questions
Message-ID: <Pine.SOL.3.91.951010130223.8845A-100000@DGS>



On Mon, 9 Oct 1995, Joni M Virolainen wrote:

> 1. Do you think that RC has monetary union? I mean do you think RC has 
> only one Credit that can be used in all member worlds?

In the TNE novel "To Dream of Chaos", it is mentioned that Krutercorp 
mints a gold coin with the Kruyter logo.  This is a favorite of the RCES 
for use in the wilds.  So there appears to be more than one currency.

Scott

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 11 Oct 1995 02:10:05 -1600
From: Michael Bailey <pd82495@wapol.gov.au>
To: traveller@MPGN.COM
Subject: TL-14 Diplomatic Courier - Contract Bid
Message-ID: <9510101808.AA17045@phq1002.wapol.gov.au>

Here is the Fremantle Shipyards' bid for the hotly contested Diplomatic
Courier contract.  Fremantle Shipyards is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the
Balyanov Group.

Fremantle Shipyards 'Emsu Kushukhimir' Class (Type 510)
Diplomatic Transport / Courier

General Data

Displacement:   500 tons                Hull Armour:    306
Length:         60 meters               Volume:         7000 m^3
Price:          MCr 318.651 (indiv.)    Target Size:    Small
                MCr 286.786 (volume)
Configuration:  Wedge SL                Tech Level:     14
Mass:           8160.61 (loaded)
                7642.24 (empty)

Engineering Data

Power Plant:    1250 MW Fusion Power Plant (96 MW/hit), 1 year duration 
                (36.67 MW excess power)
Jump Perf.:     4 (1120 m^3 fuel)
G-Rating:       4 (250 MW/G), Contra-grav lifters (50 MW)
G-turns:        58 (90.2 using jump fuel), 32.5 m^3 fuel each
Maint:          341

Electronics

Computer:       3 x TL-14 Fb Computers (0.5 MW each)
Commo:          1000 AU radio (unlim., 20 MW)
                1000 AU maser (unlim., 0.6 MW)
Avionics:       TL-10+ Avionics
Sensors:        Active EMS 480,000 km (16 hexes, 25 MW)
                Passive EMS folding array 150,000 km (5 hexes, 0.15 MW)
ECM/ECCM:       EM Masking (7 MW)
                EM Jammer 480,000km (16 hexes, 50 MW)
Controls:       Bridge with 7 workstations, plus 12 other workstations

Armament

Offensive:      2xTL-14 150 Mj Laser Turret (Loc 6, 8: Arcs 1,2,3; 4.2 MW, 1
crew ea.)
MFD's:          2xTL-14 (5 diff mod; 8 hexes; 0.07 MW, 1 crew ea.)
Defensive:      2xTL-14 Sandcaster Turret (Loc 6, 8: Arcs 1,2,3; 1 MW, 1
crew ea.)

150 Mj Laser Turret     2:1/10-31  4:1/10-31  8:1/10-31  16:1/10-31

Accommodations

Life Support:   Extended (1.4 MW), Grav Compensators (5G, 35 MW)
Crew:           25 (2 x Maneuver, 10 x Engineering, 2 x Maintenance, 2 x
Electronics,
                    2 x Gunnery, 2 x Steward, 3 x Command)
Crew Accom.:    1 x Large Stateroom (0.001 MW), 12 x Small Staterooms
(double occupancy,
                0.0005 MW ea.)
Troops:         42
Troop Accom.:   14 x Bunks (hot bunking)
Passenger Acc.: 5 x Small Staterooms (0.0005 MW ea.), 2 x Large Staterooms
(0.001 MW)
Cargo:          136.19 m^3, 2 x large cargo hatch
Small Craft:    Hangar Space for 30 tons (minimal, internal)  
Air Locks:      5

Notes:

The 'Emsu Kushukhinir' Diplomatic Transport / Courier designed to meet a
Regency specification issued in late 1201.  Designed to carry diplomatic
teams into potentially dangerous areas, and operate for extended periods of
time, the Type 510 relies on it's extensive EW suite and hull armour for
survivability against hostile encounters.  The Type 510 carries powerful EM
masking and jamming equipment to avoid detection and lock-on by attacking
forces, and it's hull armour is much thicker than normally found in
non-military starships.

The ship's 4 hardpoints are typically configured as 2 x sandcasters and 2 x
laser turrets, although other configurations are possible, depending on
mission requirements.

The ship's crew includes steward and medical personnel, these can be omitted
or replaced by mission-specific personnel.  The Type 510 can carry up to 14
passengers, if the normal crew complement is on-board, although 7-10
passengers is the norm.  Passenger staterooms are seperated by demountable
wall compartments, and can be reconfigured in any combination fitting within
their space.  Provision is also made for up to 42 troops.

The ship's cargo bay is designed to accomodate covert insertion of assets.
An auxilliary cargo hatch can be used for Drop Capsule / Meteoric Insertion
operations, although some cargo area must be sacrificed to accomodate drop
capsules.

An export/budget version of the Type 510 is available.  The Type 510-A
dispenses with EM masking and jamming equipment (reclaiming 145 m^3 of
space), but has a greatly reduced cost (MCr 263.651 / 237.286 volume).  The
reclaimed space is used to install increased weaponry (3 x turrets, or 1 x
barbette and 1 x turret), to increase survivability.

The Type 510 is named for Duke Emsu Kushukhinir, Duke of Rhylanor from
1069-1091.  Kushukhinir negotiated the cease fire and armistice agreements
that ended the Fourth Frontier War in 1084.  Subsequent vessels will be
named for noted diplomats and peacemakers in the Regency's history.
Michael Bailey (pd82495@wapol.gov.au)

"...the scum also rises..."
                          Hunter S. Thompson



------------------------------

Date: Tue, 10 Oct 1995 15:08:34 -0400 (EDT)
From: Alvin Plummer <alvin.plummer@sheridanc.on.ca>
To: traveller@MPGN.COM
Subject: TL D Ugvarran-class Vargr Assault Ship
Message-ID: <Pine.OSF.3.91.951010134059.15888A@hubble.sheridanc.on.ca>

Another Rebellion-era Vargr ship...

TL D Ugvarran-class Vargr Assault Ship
Disp     20 000             Armour      800
Len        220m             Volume  280 000
MCr      12 772             Target        L   
Config  Slab AF             TL            D
Mass    516 872/499 720mt

P.Plant    85 000 Mw (1994 Mw unused) (100Mw/Hit)  2 Months Duration
Jump            3
G-Rating        3 (26 667 Mw/G)   
G-Turns        18.4 G-hrs, 20.6 w/jfuel (6463 kl per G-hr)
Maint        7608

Computer       3 * Tl D fb
Commo          Maser (1000 AU, .1 Mw), Radio (300 000, 10 Mw), 
               Radio * 10 (3000, .1 Mw ea.) 
Sensors        A-EMS * 3 (3000, 8 Mw ea.), P-EMS * 3 (90 000, .1 MW ea.)
               A-EMS jammer * 5 (60 000, 25 Mw ea.) 
Decoys         Launchers * 4, 10000 decoys per launcher
Avionics       TL A+, Terrain TL D
EMM Masking    (28Mw/Hit)
Meson Screen   PV  671 (100 Mw/hit)
MFDs           Beam only * 110 , 3000 km (Long range in same hex) 
                                 (Diff -4, .81 Mw)
               Beam/Missile * 50, 60 000 km (Diff -4, 1.46 Mw)

50-ton, 1000 Mj Meson bay * 10 (Long range in same hex, Arcs 2, 3,4
                Loc 10, 11, -2 Diff)
    (in km)     3000:158, 6000:158, 12 000:158, 24 000: 94
             
                [No energy cost: each bay is self-sufficent in energy, 
                Oxygen tanks for 20 hours, active EMS sensor (3000 km)   
                286 Mw of power in private power plant, year-long fuel 
                supply]

150 Mj laser turrent * 100  (4.2 Mw Ea., Arc 2,3,4, Loc 10,11)
                1:1/10-31   2:1/10-31   4:1/10-31   8:1/10-31
100 Sandcasters    (1 Mw each)
50 Missile barbettes (.15 Mw ea.)

Extended L.S., W/ArtiGrav (4G: 25Mw/hit)
Crew            1430 
      Eng   850  Gunnery  183  Stewards  31
      Commo   6  Maint    141  Medical   20
      Maneu.  2  Command  197  
Passangers      2752 troops (probably green troops) or
                664 troops (prob. regular) or
                332 troops (prob. veteran or elite) , with 28 kl of room 
                          per trooper for "bring-on" equipment  
Crew accomo 99 sm. staterooms for officers (2/room)
            98.5 lg staterooms for crew (4/room, hot bunking)
Psg. accomo 233.5 lg staterooms for trrops
Airlocks * 200
Cargo      1000 kl
Internal Hangar (min) for 10 95ton shuttles
Facilites: Elect. Shop, Machine Shop, 5 * Sick Bays
No fuel scoops, or purification plants...

[Note: if both troop rooms and hangar is used to store plunder rather 
than troop gear, the ship can carry an extra 20,592 kl worth of tax-free 
"earnings"...]

Battle Rider Stats                   Missiles are usually a mix of 
                                     planetary bombardment munitions
       VA Uguarron                   and anti-ship missiles (with 
M(-2) 0:4              -3            HEPlaR Drives, of course... ;)
-                    TL D
-                   FC -4            Combat move:  737/  24
L(*33)10:1      M:50(250)            Travel:     21200/1020
A:0 P:3 J:2 Msk    J3 G3*   
AV:11                   -            NOE: 170
MS:10 SC:33            58            Top speed: 5300 kph

Surface Area                   Damage Area
 1   1 Radio (300 000)            1  Quarters
    2-3 MFDs Ant                 2-3 Electrical
2-3  Meson Screen ant            4-5 1-3 Quarters
4-5  1-3 Meson Screen ant.           4-20 Hold
6-11 [Hull]                         (4-6 Hangar
12-13 1-19 EMM Masking               7 Cargo
14+ [Hull]                           8 Sick Bays
                                     9-20 Fuel)
System Damage                     6-9 Hold
Elect                             10  Weapons 
      Masers, Radios, Jammers     11 1-8  Weapons
        (1h)  Ant (1h                9-20 Fuel
      A-EMS, P-EMS                12-13  Quarters
        (2h) Ant (1h)             14-15  1-3 Quarters
      Decoy Launnchers * 4                  4-20 Hold
      MFD - beam (1h) Ant (1h), missile (2h) Ant (1h)  
      Meson Screen    5H          16-17  Hold
Hold                              18-19  Engineering
      Elect., Machine Shops 1H ea.   20  1-4 Engineering             
      Cargo  [10H, if full]             5-20 Hold 
      Hangar                    4H
      Sickbays * 5              3H ea.
Quarters
      Sm Stateroom * 99        (2h) ea.
      Lg Stateroom * 332        1H ea.
      Life Support           2267H
      Emergency Life Support 1133H
      Artifical Gravity        56H
Engineering
      Jump Drive              252H
      HEPlaR                   80H
      P.Plant                 850H
Weapons   
      Meson bay * 10            8H ea.
      Sandcasters * 100         1H ea.
      Laser Turrents * 100      1H ea.
      Missile Barbettes * 50    1H ea.


Quite an ugly old hog.  However, it will cause all sorts of trouble for 
the local yokels downbelow: the Uguarran is a good platform for meson, 
missile and laser orbital fire, while it's thick hide and stolid meson 
screen will filter out most counterattacks.  Among the more common - and 
loathed - sights on the coreward frontier during the Rebellion, from 
Deneb to Vland.  Still in use among the surviving Vargr states in 
Gvurrdon sector.

It's major weakness, of course, is it's pathetic fuel capasity.  It's 
survival depends on other Vargr elements clearing out most [Imperial] 
opposition before it can get to work zapping the dirtsiders.  By 1122, 
almost all have switched over to TL F electronics and EMM masking (with 
deep gratitude to the captured Corridor depot for supplying the needed 
equipment)   

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alvin Plummer
"Preserve what we created, Norris, and remember what we stood for."
                               - Strephon, 179-1126

Reply to: alvin.plummer@SHERIDANC.ON.CA
------------------------------------------------------------------------------



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End of TRAVELLER Digest 444
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