Capital Ship Design Crew Question 1

[snrdg121408]

Evening all,

I'm confused on the crew requirements for the Gunnery Section HG p. 67.
1. Turrets

The text states "turret weapons should have a crew of at least 1 per barrage" while the table lists "1/turret."

Reading the text on HG p. 74 my impression is a barrage is the same as the CT battery which is a group of 10 turrets mounting the same weapons.

Is my impression correct?

If I'm on the right track then a ship can have 1 gunner per 10 turrets/1 barrage or 1 gunner per installed turret.

Which of the above crew requirements has precedence 1 gunner/barrage or 1 gunner/turret?

2. Fighters and Turret Drones (HG p. 67)
"Each operational fighter or turret drone required at least 1 crew member."

Why are fighters in the Gunnery Section? A fighter is a small craft and should be in the Flight section, right?

My impression is that a turret drone is a unmanned small craft that can either be remotely piloted or operate under an onboard computer. If I'm correct shouldn't the turret drone also be in the Flight section?

As always any help is appreciated.

 

[AndrewW]

I'm confused on the crew requirements for the Gunnery Section HG p. 67.
1. Turrets

The text states "turret weapons should have a crew of at least 1 per barrage" while the table lists "1/turret."

Reading the text on HG p. 74 my impression is a barrage is the same as the CT battery which is a group of 10 turrets mounting the same weapons.

Is my impression correct?

Not exactly, a barrage isn't limited to 10 turrets. See High Guard page: 73.

If I'm on the right track then a ship can have 1 gunner per 10 turrets/1 barrage or 1 gunner per installed turret.

Which of the above crew requirements has precedence 1 gunner/barrage or 1 gunner/turret?

Not sure what was intended there I'm guessing the table should have read 1 per turret or barrage.

2. Fighters and Turret Drones (HG p. 67)
"Each operational fighter or turret drone required at least 1 crew member."

Why are fighters in the Gunnery Section? A fighter is a small craft and should be in the Flight section, right?

My impression is that a turret drone is a unmanned small craft that can either be remotely piloted or operate under an onboard computer. If I'm correct shouldn't the turret drone also be in the Flight section?

As always any help is appreciated.

It does list Pilots under the Flight Section. Why this is duplicated under Gunnery Section when fighters typically require only 1 crew...

Turret drones could be considered remotely operated weapons putting them under the Gunnery Section rather then Flight Section.

 

[snrdg121408]

Not exactly, a barrage isn't limited to 10 turrets. See High Guard page: 73.

Okay, a barrage must include a minimum of 10 weapons of the same type per the first part of the text on p. 74. Which means I was out to lunch thinking that a barrage equalled a CT battery. Oh well I like lunch anyway.

Can you translate "or all the weapons on the ship of that type if fewer are mounted." This section of text indicates that a barrage can be fewer that 10 weapons of the same type and is at odds, at least to me, with the first part of the sentence.

Not sure what was intended there I'm guessing the table should have read 1 per turret or barrage.

Okay, I agree that the table requirement should be pen and inked to reflect 1 gunner per turret or barrage.

The turret crews detailed in HG Capital Ship Design Example Step 8 on p. 72 top of column 2 has me very confused. The rules on HG p. 67 states either at least 1 per barrage or 1 per turret which is not, at least to me, what is provided in the example.

80 triple PA turrets with 40 gunners or 1 gunner per 2 turrets
240 triple beam lasers with 120 gunners or 1 gunner per 2 turrets (Note 1)
100 triple missile turrets with 25 gunners or 1 per 4 turrets
200 triple sandcaster turrets with 10 gunners of 1 per 10 turrets.

Note 1: The text lists 210 triple beam laser gunners which appears to be a typo and was corrected to 120.

It does list Pilots under the Flight Section. Why this is duplicated under Gunnery Section when fighters typically require only 1 crew...

Okay, I think that I'll just ignore the pilot in the gunnery section and I'm glad that I'm not the only one puzzled.

Turret drones could be considered remotely operated weapons putting them under the Gunnery Section rather then Flight Section.

A turret drone, HG p. 55, is a type of fighter drone than can be operated remotely or autonomously by an onboard computer. I guess that a gunner could handle flying the drone, but I think a pilot might do a better job of getting the drone back to the mothership after a battle.

Thanks again for the reply.

 

[Rikki Tikki Traveller]

I would say that if the drone is operated by the computer, no Gunner is needed. If a drone is operated by a Person, then a Gunner would be used.

I would not let a Pilot fly his vessel AND a drone at the same time, but that is just me.

 

[snrdg121408]

Hello Rikki Tikki Traveller,

I will agree that if the turret drone in under computer control then a gunner is not required.

If the turret is being operated by a person I can see the gunner using the weapons. Is he also piloting the drone?

I agree that a pilot flying a fighter or other craft should not be flying the fighter drone or turret drone at the same time. Heck, them flying jockeys are dangerous piloting just one craft. I recall all the times my Traveller mechanic had to patch their fighters up without them being combat. I'd hate to have to repair both the fighter and drones.;-)

 

[Rikki Tikki Traveller]

I would allow a dedicated gunner to fly a drone and operate the rest of the turret at the same time. Remember, turns are a LONG time.

 

[AndrewW]

I would allow a dedicated gunner to fly a drone and operate the rest of the turret at the same time. Remember, turns are a LONG time.

Not to mention a fighter pilot can both fly the craft and use the weapons.

 

[snrdg121408]

I would allow a dedicated gunner to fly a drone and operate the rest of the turret at the same time. Remember, turns are a LONG time.

Hello Rikki Tikki Traveller,

To a certain degree I agree with you, however the gunner would have to have an additional skill set of remote vehicle/drone piloting. The additional skill set is based on the Fighter Pilot requirements, HG p. 23, that shows Gunnery (turret). So maybe the gunner's subset skill would be something like Remote Pilot (Small craft).

 

[snrdg121408]

Not to mention a fighter pilot can both fly the craft and use the weapons.

Hello AndrewW,

Yep, a fighter jock has piloting and gunnery skills, HG p. 23, allowing the person to fly the craft and use the weapons systems. Which is why I feel that a gunner using the weapons and flying the turret drone the person should also have some sort of small craft piloting skill.

Of course I could be out in a field, your choice of which side, in my thinking.

Thank you and Rikki Tikki Traveller, sorry for not thanking you earlier, for replying to my question.

 

[Rikki Tikki Traveller]

Remote Operations is the skill for piloting drones.

 

[snrdg121408]

Evening Rikki Tikki Traveller,

Thank you and my apologies for not looking in the Core Rulebook on p. 57 for the skill set of Remote Operations. I am more of a gearhead now so I sometimes forget to look for the skills.