bay weapons

[mhensley]

The rulebook says that bay weapons are only found on large ships, but there doesn't seem to be any restrictions other than the need for 50 tons of free space. Is this correct?

Also, what does a bay weapon look like? Missiles are easy as I assume them to be like a vertical launch system on a warship today. But what about the others? Are they big turrets? Mini-spinal mounts?

 

[captainjack23]

The rulebook says that bay weapons are only found on large ships, but there doesn't seem to be any restrictions other than the need for 50 tons of free space. Is this correct?

Also, what does a bay weapon look like? Missiles are easy as I assume them to be like a vertical launch system on a warship today. But what about the others? Are they big turrets? Mini-spinal mounts?

According to High Guard, any ship can mount at least one Bay, if it has the tonnage (50 +1 for Fire control). There are further limits on energy weapons based on the ships Power output, but, if you don't have HG, don't worry.


As to what they look like, thats been unclear for most of their history; probably because the different systems possible would have very different deployment at different techs. So, say, a tech 8 particle bean Bay might well be a big honkin Turret ; whereas at Tech 14, they may just be a smooth hemisphere that can emit a beam in any direction.

And missles don't really need a turnable array, as in theory they can go in any direction once launched or dropped.

So there ya go. keep in mind too, that the concept of (I forget the French term for it) "Fierce Face" often reappears into naval archatecture, which holds that a really dangerous piece of equiptment should look really really threatening*. Thus, Fusion guns are always Blunt heavy seared metal tubes with scary looking radiator fins poking out of a Massive vaguely skull shaped turret. If nothing else, the taxpayers feel they get their money's worth......


*I'm not making this up. Its most famous in the french predeadnaught school of design, but can also be found in Age of sail warships all the way to modern airplane design.

 

[mhensley]

Thanks for the info. I found a very interesting bit about these "fierce face" ships -

Unlike the English the French often built a single example of each new design. Therefore the French navy was mocked as a " fleet of samples". Bizarre experimental warships appeared—a series of German warships were built with dozens of small guns to repel smaller craft, a British vessel was built using a turbine engine (which ironically became the main propulsion system for all ships), whilst an entire class of French battleships — known as "fierce-face" — were designed without regard to symmetry or harmony of appearance, sometimes even trying to intimidate enemy crews through their aggressive appearance.

 

[captainjack23]

Thanks for the info. I found a very interesting bit about these "fierce face" ships -

Unlike the English the French often built a single example of each new design. Therefore the French navy was mocked as a " fleet of samples". Bizarre experimental warships appeared—a series of German warships were built with dozens of small guns to repel smaller craft, a British vessel was built using a turbine engine (which ironically became the main propulsion system for all ships), whilst an entire class of French battleships — known as "fierce-face" — were designed without regard to symmetry or harmony of appearance, sometimes even trying to intimidate enemy crews through their aggressive appearance.

Yeah, thats the one. Glad I could be helpful. Man, I love that period. Its just so.....goofy.

Later examples can be argued to include standard decorations - like the famous shark mouth on the P-40; and, IIRC, the color scheme of stealth planes has more to do with image than maxiumum camoflage (Flat ultra- black is somewhat less effective on night aircraft than a dark bluish grey -or just dark grey. Especially from above; But, ain't noone going to eyeball intercept a B-2, anyway, so why not ?'

 

[Infojunky]

Weather some like it or not, Mongoose has gone with the Small ship model for Traveller. I think it is fine. But then again My view is that the majority of shipping in Traveller is in the 1000 to 10,000 ton range.

While the big battle-wagons are feasible, they don't make economic sense as effective military units. But we knew this, the Eurisko designs all where under 10,000 tons.

So IMHO the changes are good....