Tramp

Tramp-class JumpShip
Production information
Manufacturer	Isesaki Shipping SelaSys Incorporated
Use	Mercantile, Military
Tech Base	Inner Sphere
Cost	500,137,500 C-Bills
Introduced	2754
Technical specifications
Mass	250,000 tons
Length	660 meters
Sail Diameter	1,160 meters
Fuel	500 tons
Burn Rate	39.52
Top Thrust	0.1 g
Sail Integrity	4
KF Drive Integrity	5
LF Battery	No (only on variants)
Armament	8x ER large laser 12x Anti-Missile System
Armor	39 tons standard
DropShip Capacity	3
Crew	23 4 Officers 15 Enlisted 4 Gunner Bay Personnel: 10
Grav Decks	1 x 140 meters diameter
Escape Pods/Life Boats	5/0
Heat Sinks	122 single
Structural Integrity	1
BV (1.0)	1,652

Description

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. ComStar was the only power known to continue to make use of the original Tramp, as the so-called "Succession Wars Downgraded" was being produced only sporadically throughout the Succession Wars.

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.

About 3067, Isesaki Shipping produced a limited number of the class every few years directly for the company. Surplus Jumpships were often sold to independent buyers and some other shipping corporations at auction.

Armament

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 fragile. They also lack integral fighter support; the vessel's two small craft bays are unsuitable for the majority of fighter designs currently produced.

Cargo

The standard Tramp has two Small Craft bays and can carry 2,837 tons of cargo.

• Bay 1: Small Craft (2), 2 doors
• Bay 2: Cargo (1,418.5 tons), 1 door
• Bay 3: Cargo (1,418.5 tons), 1 door

LF Variant

• Bay 1: Small Craft (2), 2 doors
• Bay 2: Cargo (171.5 tons), 1 door
• Bay 3: Cargo (171.5 tons), 1 door

Variants

• Tramp JumpShip (Lithium-Fusion)

  Introduced in 2755, several SLDF regiments had permanently attached Tramps that were equipped with lithium-fusion batteries. This required a reduction in armor by 7.5 tons and a much-reduced cargo capacity. This version is noted to have been lost to the Inner Sphere but continued in use among the Star League in Exile and their Clan descendants. The LF refit nearly tripled the cost of such vessels to 1,448,867,500 C-Bills. BV (1.0) = 1,652

• Tramp JumpShip (SW Downgrade)

  A "downgraded" version is noted as widely available throughout the Inner Sphere from at least 2901. It is unclear how exactly this version differs from any other known versions. It is presupposed to not be descended from the LF battery variant as ComStar's Operation HOLY SHROUD was well in effect and keeping this advanced technology in the hands of only ComStar would have been a priority. The original class's LosTech weaponry likewise is a candidate for scrutiny, and so may have been replaced with Succession Wars level equipment. This variant is the only version known to be in production throughout the Succession Wars and so may be considered the "base" version as the most widely available.

• Unconfirmed 4 Hardpoint version

  According to the ComStar document known as the (original) 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. Any such vessel is likely to be based on the LF variant. 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.

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 and the vessels are simply the LF variant as above.

Individual vessels

• See Category:Individual Tramp-class JumpShips

Gallery

• 

  Original Tramp from TRO:3057

Bibliography

• AeroTech 2 Record Sheets
• Field Manual: SLDF
• Handbook: House Kurita
• Technical Readout 3057
• Technical Readout: 3057 Revised