Mating Airlocks to Cargo Hatches

I think my comment was badly worded there and we are actually in agreement. When I said some cargo bays are multideck, i meant that they extend through several of the ships's normal deck levels, as one space. I certainly did not intend that to be taken as "those cargo areas comprise of distinct layered decks", which I can now see my wording might imply.
Fair enough.

I'd much rather violently agree than violently disagree. I'll join you at the bar for a celebratory pint :)
 
The cutters literally stick out of the ship!

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Cutter? It is labelled Pinnace. So the wrong small craft with the wrong tonnage. Based on rules for things like docking clamps wouldn't an external mounting (even partial as in the image) render the ship unstreamlined?

From High Guard 2016 Mercenary Cruiser description:

The platoon can be deployed to a planet’s surface within the two modular cutters housed inside the ship, and can then disembark using the ATVs the two cutters carry.

Seems that the image you provided has the Cruiser carry the ATV not the "pinnace" and it clearly states the modular cutters are carried INSIDE the ship.
 
Cutter? It is labelled Pinnace. So the wrong small craft with the wrong tonnage. Based on rules for things like docking clamps wouldn't an external mounting (even partial as in the image) render the ship unstreamlined?

From High Guard 2016 Mercenary Cruiser description:



Seems that the image you provided has the Cruiser carry the ATV not the "pinnace" and it clearly states the modular cutters are carried INSIDE the ship.
Yeah, but it's a sphere so only partially streamlined anyway. You are paying the same price and tonnage to have it fully enclosed so you might as well keep the benefit. It is a bit of a unicorn frankly. They seemed to be more consistent in the MGT2 drawing of the ship as that has the cutters fully enclosed in the spherical hull and in the design and rules that fall out of that, but then chickened out in the deck plan for retro-bility :)

No logic applies to the variations along the way since CT.
 
Something halfway sticking out is alright, as long as there is a vacuum proof seal.

The advantage might be faster exits.

Though, I wouldn't know how to calculate the docking space required.

Arguably, easier docking, than having to deal with hangar doors.
 
Partially streamlined is better than unstreamlined when landing in atmosphere.
In the current rules, but the earlier CT versions did not have partial streamlining. The 1977 CT Cruiser was unstreamlined (and had two pinnaces). The 1982 Cruiser was unstreamlined and instead had two cutters and two extra modules. It wasn't until 1980 CT HG that had the spherical Hull as partially streamlined (so not even consistent with the later Starships book - though to be fair it does not specify the Merc Cruiser is spherical as far as I can see).

The 1983 starter version published by Games Worshop shows the Merc Cruiser as spherical and states it is unstreamlined (and it has the cutters).

None of these mention the small craft being external (and the images do not hint at that either).

The image shown is from A07 (1982) and this talks about a specific class of mercenary cruiser (which has the 2 cutters). It also has the weird cutter well that is entirely unique and does not represent the standard docking space in any regard. It purports to be based on the Type C of book 2 - which is not stated as spherical so maybe it is just using the same components and tonnage but just changing the configuration (dramatically) and adding in a huge dollop of made-uppo. It is listed in A07 as unstreamlined. It doesn't mention the cutters being "external" but implies a degree of externality as it only talks about shutters to protect the front end of the cutters.

Of course since it is designed to interact with planets via those cutters, it is hardly necessary for the cruiser itself to land (though it stated to be able to fuel skim and land on vacuum worlds).

Make of all this what you will. Traveller is egalitarian, whatever view point you wish to harbour Traveller will provide a set of contradictory rules to prove you both right and wrong (often in the same version).
 
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As illustrated, if the cutters are half sticking out, it would be considered external cargo.

Though, again, wouldn't know how to calculate that.

But, whatever it is, that's added on to total tonnage when calculating the Broadsword's engineering performance.
 
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