Freelance Traveller - The Shipyard - Classic Traveller Designs

Type RX and RX2 Subsidized Merchants

The Type R Standard "Fat Trader" Spec (400 tons, M1J1, crew of 5-6, 14 passenger staterooms plus 10 low berths) is the basis for the classic small Subsidized Merchant. Stretch versions of the Type R (the Type R2, RL, and RL2) increase the size and performance for larger and more efficient small merchant starships while retaining the basic specs.

The 1000-ton Type RX (and its Jump-2 RX2 version) are the ultimate "stretches" of the original Type R spec, filling the size gap between the 600-ton RL & RL2 and the 2000-ton Type TI. Unlike the other Type R variants (which are true stretches of the Type R hull), the RX hull is an original design incorporating a Type R bridge and accommodations section within a completely-new hull.

They are intended for a TL11-12 "pocket empire" where the maximum typical speed is jump-2. "CER" stands for "Commercial Efficiency Ratio", a cost/benefit measurement.

Commercial Efficiency Ratio (CER) Calculations

Total the Net Tonnage ("rentable space") of the ship in tons, counting each stateroom as 4 tons and each low berth as 1/2 ton. Multiply this net tonnage by the Jump number, then divide by the ship's cost in MCr. A CER of 3 is considered minimum for practical commercial service if including spec-trading, 5 if common-carrier only; if the ship is primarily a passenger ship (passengers pay more per ton), the CER can get down to around 2.5.

CER = NetTonnage * JumpNumber / MCr

RX Subsidized Merchant (TL9). 1000 tons. Jump-1, 1-G. 110 tons fuel. Model/2. 14 staterooms, 10 low berths. 4 hardpoints. Launch with 7 emergency low berths. 711 tons cargo. Streamlined. 6 crew, 8 passengers, 10 low passengers.

MCr 253.3; 27 months. CER 2.95.

Large Subsidized Merchant (Type RX). Using a 1000-ton hull, the Large Merchant incorporates the Type R Subsidized Merchant facilities in a much larger hull. It mounts jump drive-F, maneuver drive-F, and power plant-F, giving a performance of jump-1 and 1-G acceleration. Fuel tankage for 110 tons supports the power plant and allows one jump-2. Adjacent to the bridge is a computer Model/2. There are 14 staterooms and ten low berths. The ship has four hardpoints and four tons allocated to fire control; no weapons are mounted. There is one ship's vehicle: a 20-ton launch fitted as a lifeboat with seven emergency low berths. Cargo capacity is 711 tons; the cargo hold is plumbed for collapsible and demountable fuel tanks and may be subdivided for ship's vehicle bays, including a second launch hangar opposite the first. The hull is streamlined.

The Large Merchant requires a crew of six: pilot, navigator, two engineers, medic, and steward. The ship can carry eight high/middle passengers and ten low passengers; maximum life-support capacity is 28. The ship costs MCr 253.3 (not counting weapons) and takes 27 months to build at Tech Level 9.

RX2 Large Subsidized Merchant (TL11). 1000 tons. Jump-2, 2-G. 220 tons fuel. Model/2. 24 staterooms, 20 low berths. 2 hardpoints. 2 launches with 12 emergency low berths. 491 tons cargo. Streamlined. 8 crew, 16 passengers, 20 low passengers.

MCr 351.4; 27 months. CER 3.22.

Large Subsidized Merchant (Type RX2). Using a 1000-ton hull, the Large Merchant is a Jump-2 version of the Type RX Large Merchant with a second passenger deck doubling the passenger capacity. It mounts jump drive-K, maneuver drive-K, and power plant-K, giving a performance of jump-2 and 2-G acceleration. Fuel tankage for 220 tons supports the power plant and allows one jump-2. Adjacent to the bridge is a computer Model/2. There are 24 staterooms and 20 low berths. The ship has four hardpoints and four tons allocated to fire control; no weapons are mounted. There are two ship's vehicles: 20-ton launches fitted as lifeboats with 12 emergency low berths. Cargo capacity is 491 tons; the cargo hold is plumbed for collapsible and demountable fuel tanks and may be subdivided for ship's vehicle bays. The hull is streamlined.

The Large Merchant requires a crew of eight: pilot, navigator, three engineers, medic, and two stewards. The ship can carry 16 high/middle passengers and 20 low passengers; maximum life-support capacity is 48. The ship costs MCr 351.4 (not counting weapons) and takes 27 months to build at Tech Level 11.