Tramp

Tramp JS TRO3057r.png
Tramp-class JumpShip
Production information
Manufacturer SelaSys Incorporated[1]
Use Mercantile, Military
Tech Base Star League
Cost 770,000,000 C-Bills
Introduced 2754
Technical specifications
Mass 250,000 tons
Length 660 meters
Sail Diameter 1160 meters
Fuel 500 tons (1,250)
Burn Rate 39.52
Top Thrust 0.1 Gs
Sail Integrity 4
KF Drive Integrity 5
LF Battery (only on variants)
Armament
Armor 31.5 tons standard armor
DropShip Capacity 3
Crew 23[1]
  • 4 Officers
  • 15 Enlisted
  • 4 Gunner

Bay Personnel: 10

Grav Decks 1 x 140 meters diameter
Escape Pods/Life Boats 5 Escape Pods
Heat Sinks 0 + 122
Structural Integrity 1
BV (1.0) 1,652[2]


Description[edit]

The Tramp class JumpShip is similar in size to the vastly more common Star Lord class, but can only carry half the number of DropShips (three compared to six). Most shipyards chose to build the more popular Star Lord by the early 29th century. Since it is armed, the Tramp was a success among Periphery traders when it was first launched in 2754 but never built in large numbers and eventually phased out, being produced only sporadically throughout the Succession Wars.[1]

Almost three centuries later, post-attempted Andurien Secession in 3040, SelaSys Incorporated already produced the Star Lord at Loyalty in the Free Worlds League, and chanced on the old design specifications for the Tramp when looking for ways to expand their market share. They found that the similarity in size between the two meant drastic savings in tooling up their shipyards to produce the Tramp as well and their first prototype Tramp was launched to Alterf in 3046. Production was halted in 3052 when it was found that the drive coils of the first eleven ships built were defective. The reason, a faulty mesh spinner, was quickly rectified and the ships in question were overhauled over the next three years. This damaged the design's reputation and made the class comparatively easy to acquire. Production resumed in 3055 and by 3057, fourteen craft had been built in total.[1][3]

Armament[edit]

Designed as traders in the "wilder" parts of the Periphery, Tramps are among the most heavily armed civilian JumpShips, mounting eight ER large lasers and twelve anti-missile systems, with ample ammunition. Still, they should avoid combat since their armor is very thin. They also lack integral fighter support; the vessel's two small craft bays are unsuitable for the majority of fighter designs currently produced.[1][3]

Cargo[edit]

The standard Tramp has two Small Craft bays and can carry 2834 tons of cargo.[1]

Variants[edit]

  • As of 2764 several SLDF regiments had permanently attached Tramps that were equipped with lithium-fusion batteries.[4] The wording suggests the L-F batteries were a refit, and not standard on Tramp-class vessels of the era. (It is not mentioned how many Docking Hardpoints these vessels had.)
  • According to the ComStar document known as the Technical Readout: 3057, the Clans, most notably Clan Nova Cat, were observed operating Tramp class ships that make use of Lithium-Fusion Batteries and mount a fourth Docking Hardpoint, greatly reducing the internal cargo capacity and the armor by nearly 20%. Since these ships are reportedly believed to be Star League-era vessels it could be speculated that this layout was the original version of the Tramp, and that SelaSys later only produced a downgraded version. Later versions of the same book (marked as "corrected 3rd printing") omit the half-sentence where it says this particular Clan variant carried four DropShips, while not expressly repealing the earlier report either.[3]

The existence of such a Tramp variant with four hardpoints remains unconfirmed in the fashion of a Canon Rumor; the underlying reports may have been in error.

Individual vessels[edit]

Gallery[edit]

References[edit]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Technical Readout: 3057 Revised, p. 102-103
  2. AeroTech 2 Record Sheets, p. 273
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Technical Readout: 3057, p. 104-105
  4. Field Manual: SLDF, p. 50

Bibliography[edit]