Freelance Traveller

Donohue-class Cargo Hauler

designed by Brett Kruger

This article originally appeared in the May/June 2017 issue.

Originally built as a light supply vessel to support Imperial fleets out of the naval base on Syrim, the Donahue-class Cargo Hauler proved to be a rock-solid performer and has only been replaced by newer designs in recent years. A large-capacity cargo ship, the Donahues were snapped up by shipping companies that needed a good-sized cargo hold for haulage between medium-population worlds. The cargo hold is also large enough that several companies use them for hauling smaller ships between systems, with bow cargo doors that fully open to expose the full length of the cargo hold.

When operating in Imperial space the ships were rarely armed, leaving 3 staterooms spare for incidental passengers. However, those companies crossing the borders will often arm them to warn off casual bandits. This, plus the hardened store room with independent computer core, is enough for most companies to be awarded mail contracts. The Donahue is also equipped with fuel scoops and a fuel purification plant, allowing for both unrefined fuel use in frontier areas, and wilderness refuelling, both options that are popular with cross-border shipping companies.

In total some 800 Donahues were constructed and many are still in service across Old Expanses and neighbouring sectors. Three are known to have been lost in Imperial Navy service, cause is still classified. Two are lost, assumed due to misjumps due to proximity to main worlds, and one has been scrapped after a collision with another vessel. All others are still in service with one company or another, and Karse Transfer Lines is known to operate 50 of the Donahues.

Though the Donohue design is neither new nor innovative, it has proven to have staying power, and the construction at Syrim’s shipyards has proven durable. This is one of the reasons that so few have been taken out of service, and many of the current operators of Donohues have no concerns about putting them onto long runs.

Karst Transfer Lines has made a fleet of Donohues the mainstay of their business. Their Jump-3 performance and large cargo capacity has made them ideal for shipping in frontier areas and across borders where scheduled shipping may be problematical or uneconomic. They also do a good business in shipping small craft from various shipyards to worlds where they are needed.

Like other ships in the Donahue class, the Lucky Lady is not a spacious ship but the crew does have all the modern conveniences. Given the long runs out from their home ports that many of these ships do, this is almost a given.

Ship: Lucky Lady
Class: Donahue-class Cargo Hauler
Type: AP Merchant, Provincial
Architect: William Morgan
Tech Level: 13 

        AK-A131331-030000-20002-0 MCr522.030 1 KTons
Bat Bear            1     1   1   Crew: 10
Bat                 1     1   1   TL: 13


Cargo: 447 Crew Sect: 1 (10) Fuel: 360 EP: 30 Agl: 1
Fuel Treatment: Fuel Scoops, On-Bd Fuel Purification 

Architects Fee: MCr5.220 Cost in Quant: MCr417.624
Port of Const: Syrim/Bascoj/Old Expanses 2835 in 1080
Construction Company: Yuing Tong Heavy Industries

Detailed Description
Book 5 High Guard Design

HULL

1,000 tons standard, 14,000 cubic meters, Needle/Wedge Configuration

CREW

Pilot, Navigator, 4 Engineers, Medic, 3 Gunners

ENGINEERING

Jump-3, 1G Manuever, Power plant-3, 30 EP, Agility 1

AVIONICS

Bridge, Model/3 Computer

HARDPOINTS

10 Hardpoints, 5 Empty

ARMAMENT

2 Single Missile Turrets organised into 1 Battery (Factor-2), 1 Single Beam Laser Turret organised into 1 Battery (Factor-2)

DEFENCES

2 Single Sandcaster Turrets organised into 1 Battery (Factor-3)

CRAFT

None

FUEL

360 Tons Fuel (3 parsecs jump and 60 days endurance)
On Board Fuel Scoops, On Board Fuel Purification Plant

MISCELLANEOUS

10 Staterooms, 447 Tons Cargo

USER DEFINED COMPONENTS

None

COST

MCr 527.250 Singly (incl. Architects fees of MCr 5.220), MCr 417.624 in Quantity

CONSTRUCTION TIME

120 Weeks Singly, 96 Weeks in Quantity