Freelance Traveller

designed by Ken Pick

The Type SD Large Scout/Courier was an ill-fated attempt at a larger version of the Type S Scout/Courier, doubling the size and increasing the performance by 50%.

The SD Hull is a distinctive 200-ton, thirty-meter disk tapering down from a five-meter-thick center to a thinner rim, broken only by a faired-in bridge on the top and a matching sensor fairing on the belly marking the "bow". Hardpoints and turrets are top and bottom at the center of the disk, giving total coverage with no blind spots. Like most hulls of its period, the engine compartment (35 tons) is shielded and separate from the rest of the interior.

The SD designation is presumed to stand for "Scout, Deep". A more off-color unofficial designation became widespread after its introduction.

The Type SD Deepscout (the original design)

With the introduction of Jump-3 drives at Tech Level 12, the Scout Service commissioned an improved scout/courier to take advantage of the new jump speeds. The Type SD Deepscout was based on the Type S design requirements, but with a speed of jump-3 and 3-G acceleration. Upon entry into service, the Deepscout was proven to be an expensive bust. Three times the price and personnel of the Type S but with little increase in capacity and only 50% greater performance, the Deepscout was soon superseded by modified Type T patrol cruisers in the heavy scout and fast courier roles, and the Scout Service cancelled their order in favor of the heavier, more versatile 400-tonners.

Some of the original-configuration Deepscouts remain in service with the Scout Service as couriers; some were sold off to corporate owners who also use them as couriers. In either hands, the Type SD is a rare -- if unmistakeable -- sight. As the Scout Service is trying to minimize its use of the Deepscouts, they are often available for Detached Duty assignments (i.e. player-character ships).

"Deepscout"-class Type SD Large Scout/Courier (TL12). 200 tons.
Jump-3, 3-G. 90 tons fuel. Model/2bis. 4 staterooms.
2 hardpoints (double turrets). 35 tons user-definable.
Streamlined. 4 crew.
MCr 89.3; 11 months.

Using a 200-ton SD hull, the Deepscout is intended for exploration, survey, and courier duties. It mounts jump drive-C, maneuver drive-C, and power plant-C, givin performance of jump-3 and 3-G acceleration. Fuel tankage of 90 tons supports the power plant and one jump-3. Adjacent to the bridge is a computer Model/2bis. There are four staterooms and no low berths. The ship has two hardpoints and two tons allocated to fire control. Installed on the hardpoints are two double turrets, but no weaponry is mounted. Cargo and ship's vehicle capacity is 35 tons. The hull is streamlined.

The Deepscout requires a crew of three: pilot/navigator, engineer, and medic. The ship can carry one passenger (five passengers double-occupancy) in non-commercial service only. The ship costs MCr 89.3 (including 10% discount for standard design) and takes 11 months to build at Tech Level 12.

The Spotscout-class System Defense Boat (most common variant)

When the Scout Service went with the Type T and cancelled the remainder of their order for the Deepscouts, the builders tried to stave off bankruptcy by converting their unfinished and committed hulls. The most common of these conversions was the "Spotscout" type System Defense Boats, sold to planetary defense forces too small to afford the larger SDBs. The conversion entailed gutting the engine room, replacing the Deepscout engine package with a large maneuver drive; because of the hard-shielded drive section, five tons went unused. Hull armor and gunners' staterooms were added, and the double turrets replaced by triples, with an ammunition magazine added down the center of the hull between the turrets. Some minimal cargo capacity remains for ship's stores or search-and-rescue fittings for general insystem patrol duties.

"Spotscout"-class SDB (TL12). 200 tons. No Jump, 6-G. 60 tons fuel.
Model/5. 6 staterooms. 2 hardpoints (triple turrets), 6 tons magazines.
Armor-6. 20 tons cargo. 5 tons waste space.
Streamlined. 6 crew.
MCr 178.5; 11 months.

The Spotscout-class SDB is a military non-starship used for insystem patrol and system defense. It mounts maneuver drive-F and powerplant-F, giving 6-G acceleration and no jump capability. Fuel tankage of 60 tons supports the power plant. Adjacent to the bridge is a computer Model/5. There are six staterooms and no low berths. The ship has two hardpoints and two tons allocated to fire control. Installed on the hardpoints are two triple turrets, but no weaponry is mounted. Six tons are reserved for magazines, giving a total capacity of 60 rounds of missile and/or sandcaster ammunition. The hull is armored to Armor-6. Cargo capacity is 20 tons; five tons in the engine compartment are wasted space from the conversion. The hull is streamlined.

The Spotscout requires a crew of six: pilot, navigator, engineer, medic, and two gunners. No passengers are normally carried. The SDB costs MCr 178.5 (including 10% discount for standard designs) and takes 11 months to build.

The Skyventure-class High-performance Yacht (custom conversions)

A very few of the Deepscouts were converted into high-performance yachts; mixing the accomodations of a standard Type Y with twice the jump speed and four times the sublight acceleration. The engine package was swapped out, the turrets removed, and staterooms and owner-aboard suite added. The resulting Skyventure-class yacht sacrifices the Type Y's ship's boat for its increased performance and atmospheric-entry capability.

"Skyventure"-class High-performance Yacht (TL12). 200 tons.
Jump-2, 4-G. Model/2. 10 staterooms, 1 suite.
2 hardpoints. 13 tons user-definable.
Streamlined. 4 crew, 8 passengers.
MCr 95.2; 11 months.

The Skyventure class is similar to the Type Y Yacht but with triple the performance. It mounts jump drive-B, maneuver drive-D, and power plant-D, giving performance of jump-2 and 4-G acceleration. Fuel tankage of 80 tons supports the powerplant and allows one jump-2. Adjacent to the bridge is a Model/2 computer. There are ten staterooms, one double-size suite for the owner-aboard, and no low berths. There are two hardpoints and two tons allocated for fire control; no turrets are mounted. Cargo/ship's vehicle capacity is 13 tons. The hull is streamlined.

The Skyventure-class yacht requires a crew of four: pilot, navigator, engineer, and medic/steward. Additional stewards, gunners, and other personnel may be added. The ship can carry up to 7-8 passengers in non-commercial service. The yacht costs MCr 95.2 (no standard-design discounts, as these are custom conversions) and takes 11 months to build.