Freelance Traveller

Naklaad-class Interface Merchant

designed by Timothy Collinson

This article originally appeared in the January/Feburary 2017 issue. The Classic Traveller and (GDW) High Guard data originally appeared in the March/April 2017 issue.

[The description follows Mongoose Traveller 1st Ed.; Where they differ, Cepheus Engine (CE) and Mongoose Traveller 2nd Ed. (MgT2) details are given in square brackets.]

Interface lines put many demands on their ships. The varied situations they face demand good Jump capability to avoid worlds or work around rifts; decent manoeuvrability to deal with threats from the environment or opposition; and the need for ships at the smaller end of the scale to be able to carry as much in the way of cargo and passengers as possible. The Naklaad-class has been designed to meet those often conflicting needs in as efficient way as possible and has served well on the Imperium’s trailing border out to the Hinterworlds.

Based on an unstreamlined conglomeration of two hulls, the Naklaad offers functionality that can’t be found in similar sized craft. With 182 tons [CE 159, MgT2 214] set aside for cargo in the mixed-use variant and 218 tons [CE 198, MgT2 252] in the cargo-only variant, as well as the option of carrying as many 14 double berthed passengers (more if crew double up), the vessel can get goods and people to where they need to be. It carries a standard 50-ton cutter to assist in cargo operations as well as a 4-ton air/raft for crew use. A Jump 3 drive offers flexibility in the thinner regions of space around Ral Ranta and aids in moving around awkwardly placed systems. The manoeuvre drive gives speed when necessary and if need be allows the main hull to land on worlds with sizes well above normal. Self-sealing crystaliron armour offers four points of protection.

Generally, the ship doesn’t land on worlds, using high ports where available or staying in orbit and using the cutter for delivery. However, with two-sophont hours of EVA work the five connecting struts and integrated airlocks can be detached to allow the main hull to land. In this configuration the hulls are classified as ‘standard’.

“She flies like a rump pig, but she’s our pig and she’s as reliable as the Dauphin Quasar – got me out of a tight spot more than once.” – Dalyte Oosma, Captain of the Hinter and Yon.

The main (starboard) hull carries over half the cargo, the passengers if any and houses the manoeuvre drive and power plant; the secondary (port) hull holds the remainder of the cargo space, the cutter berth and the Jump drive. If specified before construction, the ship can be built with the secondary hull to starboard and the internal layout reversed.

320 tons of fuel (240 for the Jump drive and 80 tons for the power plant) offer one Jump 3 and up to eight weeks of operation. [MgT2 250 tons of fuel]

The Main Hull

The forward end of this hull is given over to fuel although most of the fuel tankage is located in half decks situated on ventral half decks below both main hulls. [MgT2: All fuel is on the half decks.] On the port side there is a generous ship’s locker and on the starboard side an air/raft bay. These can be switched over during construction or in dry dock during annual maintenance. A large hatch on the hull allows egress of the air/raft, depressurizing the hanger. Both are accessible via iris valves from the bridge aft which contains a standard fit out for mixed cargo and passenger vessels of this size. The standard computer specification is a Model 2, Rating 10 [MgT2 Model/10] but this can be modified if required. Basic civilian electronics are fitted as standard. The forwardmost interconnect is accessed from the bridge.

Aft of the bridge are twelve staterooms on the passenger/cargo variant, with the three forward of a full beam passenger lounge designated for crew although depending on exact crew numbers and whether double occupancy is used, some of the other staterooms (usually the starboard trio) may be used by crew as well. Often such usage will depend on whether gunners or stewards are carried and the exact passenger numbers if the line can make the extra Credits with paying sophonts. On the cargo variant there are only six staterooms and the passenger lounge becomes a crew lounge.

Each of the staterooms has an escape pod located in the deck. One of the advantages of the Naklaad-class is the fractionally larger than normal stateroom size – attractive to both passengers and crew. These intrude through the fuel deck to allow quick egress in an emergency. There is no access to the escape pods from the fuel deck although they can be seen as cylindrical ‘pillars’ between the baffles during cleaning or repair of the tanks. The passenger (or crew) lounge gives access to the second, #2, interconnect with the secondary hull although this one is often not used and is sometimes not present.

After the living area is the main (#1) cargo hold. This can accommodate up to 98 tons [CE 90, MgT2 141] of cargo across the full width of the hull (120 tons [CE 110, MgT2 154] on the cargo variant). The ‘outer’ bulkhead – on the side away from the secondary hull – has large cargo hatches for loading and unloading. Two interconnects are located here giving access to the #2 cargo hold in the port hull.

“If I could change one thing, it would be putting the repair ’bots back in – I understand they were in the original design but cut as a cost saving measure. Typical.” – Dalyte Oosma, Captain of the Hinter and Yon.

Aftmost in this hull is engineering space which contains the manoeuvre drive and main power-plant. There are ten tons of fuel processors here capable of processing 200 tons of fuel per day, allowing complete replenishment from wilderness refuelling in 40 hours. The final (#5) interconnect is located here giving engineers easy access between the engineering spaces as well as an emergency exit if needed. Alternatively, there is a double sized airlock to the exterior. 20 low berths can be found here on the passenger/cargo variant. Located in this space is access to the dorsal triple turret armed with a beam laser, missile battery and sandcaster.

Secondary Hull

On the port side of the secondary hull (starboard in the reversed configuration) is a bay for the cutter. Like the cargo space the outer hull contains a hatch for egress and there is enough room around the cutter to allow fairly easy manoeuvring. Running alongside this space is a crew lounge and galley with two additional staterooms. The forward stateroom is a little larger and usually designated as the captain’s cabin. On the cargo only variant the lounge is converted to cargo space and an additional ventral turret is located here, accessed through the fuel deck from outside the Captain’s cabin.

“She’s not pretty, she’s not everyone’s first choice, but she can move and she gets you where you want to go in the hinterlands.” – Dalyte Oosma, Captain of the Hinter and Yon.

Aft is the secondary (#2) hold which can accommodate 84 tons [CE 69, MgT2 75] of cargo on the passenger/cargo variant and 98 tons [CE 88, MgT2 100] on the cargo variant. Again there are loading hatches on the outer hull. Aft of the hold is a second engineering space containing the Jump drive and a smaller power-plant to maintain life support and station-keeping thrusters when the hulls are separated. One again, there is a double sized airlock to the exterior; on the cargo variant this is brought forward although some original models of this variant retain it in its original position.

Deckplans and Data Sheets

The following deckplan is for Mongoose Traveller 1st Edition and Cepheus Engine

Cepheus Engine

Using an 800-ton hull (16 Hull, 16 Structure), the Naklaad-class is an Interface Merchant. It mounts Jump drive K, manoeuvre drive G and power plant K, giving a performance of Jump 3 and 2-G acceleration. Fuel tankage of 320 tons supports the power plant for 8 weeks of power and one Jump-3. Adjacent to the bridge is a computer Model 2. The ship is equipped with Basic Civilian sensors (DM-2). There are 14 staterooms and 20 low berths in the mixed-use variant; the cargo-only variant has 8 staterooms and no low berths. The ship has 8 hardpoints and one ton allocated for fire control. Installed on one hardpoint is a triple turret (Beam Laser, Missile Rack & 12 standard missiles, Sandcaster & 20 sandcaster barrels); the cargo-only variant equips a second hardpoint identically. There is a 65-ton Cutter hanger and 5-ton Air/Raft hanger. Cargo capacity is 159 tons (198 tons in the cargo-only variant). The hull is Standard and armoured with Crystaliron (4 points), has fuel scoops and 10 tons of fuel processors capable of handling 200 tons of fuel/day. There are 28 Escape Pods (16 in the cargo-only variant), sufficient for every stateroom under double occupancy (although this is rarely the case). The ship requires a crew of 7: Pilot, Navigator, Engineer × 2, Medic, Steward & Gunner; the Steward is replaced with a second Gunner in the cargo-only variant. The mixed-use variant can carry up to 14 additional passengers at double occupancy and 20 low berth passengers. The ship costs MCr340.835 (MCr337.86 for the cargo-only variant) and takes 92 weeks to build.

Notes: Table includes both Mixed-Use and Cargo-Only variants; where data differs, Cargo-Only variant data is shown in [bracketed italics].

Mongoose Traveller 1st Edition

Notes: Table includes both Mixed-Use and Cargo-Only variants; where data differs, Cargo-Only variant data is shown in [bracketed italics].

Mongoose Traveller 2ed

Notes: Table includes both Mixed-Use and Cargo-Only variants; where data differs, Cargo-Only variant data is shown in [bracketed italics].

Variations from Mongoose Traveller 1st Edition: Fuel requirements are much reduced: from 320 tons to 248 tons. Hangers are now formally included in tonnage. Some elements of turrets now incur additional weight and cost. Computer ‘ratings’ are changed to ‘bandwidth’. A cargo crane has been added to each hold. Very strictly, it can’t reach 4 tons of cargo space at the rear of hold #1 (High Guard allows one crane per 150 tons of hold). This can either be fudged as close enough, or add to role-playing by saying that it is temperamental in the last metre or so of hold. There are six airlocks on the ship which is within the permitted eight for an 800-ton hull. However, this does not include the five interconnectors which can act as airlocks. If desired, count three as an additional 6 tons and MCr0.6. Reduce cargo capacity by six tons and increase the price and monthly payments to MCr324.647 & Cr27,053 respectively. Stewards can now handle many more passengers.

[Author’s Note: Only some of the designs presented in the Mongoose Traveller 2nd Edition version of High Guard seem to include the power requirements of anything other than the main four constituent parts: M-Drive, J-Drive, Basic Ship Systems and Sensors. However, turrets, weapons, low berths and other systems clearly demand power. They’ve been shown here for clarity, but may be deleted to provide equivalence with published designs if required.

Classic Traveller

Using an 800-ton hull, the Naklaad-class Interface Merchant is a flexible merchant ship for sparse or border regions of space. There are two variants: a passenger/cargo option given in the text below and a cargo only variant with figures in [ ] below where different. The Naklaad mounts jump drive-M, manoeuvre drive-H, and power plant-M, giving performance of jump-3 and 2-G acceleration. Fuel tankage for 300 tons supports the power plant, one jump-3 and 8 weeks of operation. Adjacent to the bridge is a computer Model/3. There are 14 [9] staterooms and 20 [0] low berths. The ship has 1 [2] hardpoint[s] and 1 [2] ton[s] allocated for fire control. Installed on each hardpoint is a triple turret carrying 1 beam laser, 1 missile rack, and 1 sandcaster. There are two ship’s vehicles: a 50-ton Cutter and 4-ton Air/Raft. Cargo capacity is 228 [257] tons. The Interface Merchant requires a crew of nine: both variants require Pilot-1, Navigator-1, Medic-1, 4×Engineer-1, and Gunner-1. The passenger/cargo variant additionally requires Steward-1, and may require additional stewards if the crew is housed double-occupancy and more than eight High Passengers are carried. The cargo-only variant substitutes a second Gunner-1 replacing the Steward-1. The ship can carry 5 [0] passengers and 20 [0] low passengers, costs MCr 380.467 [MCr380.063] and takes 25 months to build.

Notes: Table includes both Mixed-Use and Cargo-Only variants; where data differs, Cargo-Only variant data is shown in [bracketed italics].

(GDW) High Guard

Notes: Table includes both Mixed-Use and Cargo-Only variants; where data differs, Cargo-Only variant data is shown in [bracketed italics].

NAKLAAD-CLASS INTERFACE MERCHANT                                        TL12

Passenger/Cargo Variant
AI-0001 Naklaad 8432331-010000-10001-0       MCr516.7564            800 tons
        batt bear        1                                    Crew=9.  TL=12
        Batt             1
Passengers=5. Low=20. Cargo=216. Fuel=294. EP=24. Hardpoints=1. Agility=2. Cutter, Air/Raft.
Crew Requirements: Pilot-1, Navigator-1, Engineer-1 × 4, Steward-0, Medic-1, Gunner-1

N.B.: Additional Stewards may be required if crew use double occupancy and more than 8 High Passengers are carried. More passengers than the rated 5 can be carried with double occupancy or the crew under double occupancy.

Cargo Variant
AI-0002 Hinter & Yon 8432331-010000-20001-0  MCr515.2414            800 tons
        batt bear             2                               Crew=9.  TL=12
        Batt                  2
Passengers=0.  Low=0. Cargo=243. Fuel=294. EP=24. Hardpoints=2. Agility=2. Cutter, Air/Raft.
Crew Requirements: Pilot-1, Navigator-1, Engineer-1 × 4, Medic-1, Gunner-1 × 2