As noted in an earlier post on Local Defense Forces and System Defense Boats, systems are typically protected by a locally controlled force composed of heavily armed and armored, non-jump-capable defense craft. These craft are built at a wide variety of tonnages and technology levels. Given such a variety, it seems natural that terminology gets a little slippery. Small craft below 100 tons are generally called fighters or gunboats. Defense craft of 100 to 1,000 tons are generally called system defense boats (SDBs). Monitors are “multikiloton naval vessels armed similar to a battleship but without jump drives. They are designed for system defense only” (COACC: Close Orbit and Airspace Control Command 82).
Defense craft between 1,000 and 5,000 tons fall somewhere between SDBs and monitors and are sometimes called either heavy SDBs or light monitors depending on the source. Both are justifiable, and it seems likely that the terminology is probably inconsistent within the Third Imperium setting. Personally, I think the two primary distinctions of a monitor are size and spinal weapons. Since craft between 1,000 and 5,000 tons are too small to mount a spinal weapon in Mongoose Traveller, I’ll be calling them heavy system defense boats.
There is a little precedent for this usage. The Traveller News Service bulletin dated 186-1107 in the Fifth Frontier War boardgame notes that “While all naval personnel at Regina Naval Base were put on full readiness, all ten heavy system defense boats were launched and are rumored to be vectored toward Prometheus, the large gas giant which would be a first priority target of a hostile fleet” (7). After reviewing CT sources, Chris Thrash concluded that the assumed median system defense craft is 2,000 tons.
Heavy SDBs are probably larger than needed for anti-piracy missions. They are small enough that they could only harass and ambush naval forces from a hostile interstellar state, just like regular SDBs. Their primary utility might be as a deterrent to planetary navies from rival systems: they are large enough to challenge smaller cruisers or destroyers. There is certainly enough inter-system conflict in Magyar sector to justify their procurement.
Looking through my Traveller books, I found a few examples of heavy SDBs that would likely appear in Magyar. The Ramrod-class heavy system defense boat first appeared in Assignment: Vigilante (1992) and makes a cameo in 1248 Sourcebook 4: The Freedom League (2008). The Wasp and Scorpion heavy SDBs appeared in the adventure “The Fourth Imperium” from Traveller’ Digest No. 7 (1986), which is set in a naval depot. The Valiant-class monitor is from Fighting Ships of the Solomani (2009). The Castle-class SDB is from the TNE adventure Guilded Lilly 3: Into The Darkness (2008).
Ramrod-class Missile Boat (SD-KS60). 1,000 tons (streamlined hull), 6g, no jump capability, TL-13, Model 5/fib. 6 tons fuel. 33 crew. 10 hardpoints. 13 tons cargo. MCr534.
Wasp-class Heavy SDB (SD-KU60). 1,000 tons (standard hull), 6g, no jump capability, TL-15, Model 7/fib. 24 tons fuel. 46 crew. 10 hardpoints. 18 tons cargo. MCr817.
Scorpion-class Heavy SDB (SD-VU60). 2,000 tons (standard hull), 6g, no jump capability, TL-15, Model 7/fib. 36 tons fuel. 62 crew. 20 hardpoints. 6 tons cargo. MCr1,296.
Valiant-class Heavy SDB. 3,000 tons (streamlined hull), 6g, no jump capability, TL-13, Model 3/fib. 68 tons fuel. 89 crew. 30 hardpoints. Two 20-ton Gigs. 263 tons cargo. MCr1,296.
Castle-class Heavy SDB. 5,000 tons (streamlined hull), 5g, no jump capability, TL-13, Model 5/fib. 132 tons fuel. 144 crew. One main meson gun. 50 hardpoints. One 50-ton Modular Cutter. 112 tons cargo. MCr3,356.
Below are conversions of these five heavy SDBs using Mongoose Traveller 2e High Guard.
Solomani Ramrod-class Missile Boat
A mainstay of various home defense fleets throughout Solomani space and Imperial frontier regions, these cheap, mass-produced, single-purpose craft are often carried into combat by larger vessels.
Hull Points 440
Crew Captain, Officer x2, Pilot x3, Engineer x3, Maintenance x2, Medic, Gunner x20, Administrator
Maintenance Cost MCr0.0445 per month
Purchase Cost MCr534
| TL13 | Tons | Costs (MCr) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hull | 1,000 tons, Streamlined | - | 60 |
| Reinforced | - | 30 | |
| Armor | Crystaliron, Armor:13 | 163 | 59 |
| Radiation Shielding | - | 25 | |
| M-Drive | Thrust 6 | 60 | 120 |
| Power Plant | Fusion (TL12), Power 860 | 57 | 57 |
| Fuel Tanks | 4 weeks operation | 6 | - |
| Bridge | 20 | 5 | |
| Computer | Computer 25/fib | - | 15 |
| Sensors | Improved | 3 | 4.3 |
| Countermeasures Suite | 2 | 4 | |
| Enhanced Signal Processing | 2 | 8 | |
| Weapons | Small Bays (missile) x10 | 500 | 120 |
| Ammunition | Missile Storage (240 missiles) | 20 | - |
| Systems | Briefing Room | 4 | 0.5 |
| Fuel Scoops | 0 | 1 | |
| Fuel Processor (10 tons) | 0.5 | 0.025 | |
| Staterooms | Standard x19 | 76 | 9.5 |
| High x1 | 6 | 0.8 | |
| Software | Maneuver/0 | - | - |
| Intellect | - | 1 | |
| Evade/3 | - | 3 | |
| Fire Control/5 | - | 10 | |
| Library | - | - | |
| Common Areas | 21 | 2.1 | |
| Cargo | 60 | - |
Wasp-class System Defense Boat
This TL15, 1,000-ton vessel is used by the Imperial Navy to defend naval bases or other military installations.
Hull Points 440
Crew Captain, Officer x3, Pilot x3, Engineer x3, Maintenance x2, Medic, Gunner x32, Administrator
Maintenance Cost MCr0.0681 per month
Purchase Cost MCr817
| TL15 | Tons | Costs (MCr) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hull | 1,000 tons, Standard | - | 50 |
| Reinforced | - | 25 | |
| Armor | Bonded Superdense, Armor:15 | 120 | 90 |
| Radiation Shielding | - | 25 | |
| M-Drive | Thrust 6 | 60 | 120 |
| Power Plant | Fusion (TL15), Power 1,100 | 55 | 110 |
| Fuel Tanks | 16 weeks operation | 24 | - |
| Bridge | 20 | 5 | |
| Computer | Computer 35/fib | - | 45 |
| Sensors | Advanced | 5 | 5.3 |
| Military Countermeasures Suite | 15 | 28 | |
| Enhanced Signal Processing | 2 | 8 | |
| Weapons | Medium Bays (missile) x2 | 200 | 140 |
| Medium Bays (particle beam) x2 | 200 | 80 | |
| Small Bays (fusion gun) x2 | 100 | 16 | |
| Triple Turret (sandcaster) x4 | 4 | 7 | |
| Ammunition | Missile Storage (240 missiles) | 20 | - |
| Sandcaster Barrels (120 barrels) | 6 | - | |
| Screens | Meson Screen | 10 | 20 |
| Nuclear Damper | 10 | 10 | |
| Systems | Briefing Room | 4 | 0.5 |
| Medical Bay | 4 | 2 | |
| Staterooms | Standard x26 | 104 | 13 |
| High | 6 | 1 | |
| Software | Maneuver/0 | - | - |
| Intellect | - | 1 | |
| Evade/3 | - | 3 | |
| Fire Control/5 | - | 10 | |
| Library | - | - | |
| Common Areas | 28 | 2.8 | |
| Cargo | 3 | - |
Scorpion-class System Defense Boat
Scorpion SDBs, like the smaller Wasps, are used by the Imperial Navy to defend bases or other military installations.
Hull Points 880
Crew Captain, Officer x5, Pilot x3, Engineer x6, Maintenance x4, Medic, Gunner x40, Administrator x2
Maintenance Cost MCr0.108 per month
Purchase Cost MCr1,296
| TL15 | Tons | Costs (MCr) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hull | 2,000 tons, Standard | - | 100 |
| Reinforced | - | 50 | |
| Armor | Bonded Superdense, Armor:15 | 240 | 180 |
| Radiation Shielding | - | 50 | |
| M-Drive | Thrust 6 | 120 | 240 |
| Power Plant | Fusion (TL15), Power 1,940 | 97 | 194 |
| Fuel Tanks | 12 weeks operation | 30 | - |
| Bridge | 40 | 10 | |
| Computer | Computer 35/fib | - | 45 |
| Sensors | Advanced | 5 | 5.3 |
| Military Countermeasures Suite | 15 | 28 | |
| Enhanced Signal Processing | 2 | 8 | |
| Weapons | Large Bays (missile) x2 | 1,000 | 250 |
| Small Bays (particle beam) x2 | 100 | 40 | |
| Small Bays (fusion gun) x2 | 100 | 16 | |
| Triple Turret (sandcaster) x6 | 6 | 11 | |
| Ammunition | Missile Storage (240 missiles) | 20 | - |
| Sandcaster Barrels (120 barrels) | 6 | - | |
| Screens | Meson Screen | 10 | 20 |
| Nuclear Damper | 10 | 10 | |
| Systems | Briefing Room | 4 | 0.5 |
| Medical Bay | 4 | 2 | |
| Staterooms | Standard x34 | 136 | 17 |
| High x2 | 12 | 2 | |
| Software | Maneuver/0 | - | - |
| Intellect | - | 1 | |
| Evade/3 | - | 3 | |
| Fire Control/5 | - | 10 | |
| Library | - | - | |
| Common Areas | 37 | 3.7 | |
| Cargo | 6 | - |
Solomani Valiant-class System Defense Boat
The Valiant was considered the standard Confederation Navy monitor of the Solomani Rim War, when it was deployed in squadrons of 4–8 vessels to defend strategic bases. High-tech planetary navies also incorporated Valiants into their system defense forces. Now considered a heavy SDB, the Valiant is still in wide use throughout Magyar.
Hull Points 1,320
Crew Captain, Officer x7, Pilot x3, Engineer x10, Maintenance x6, Medic, Gunner x56, Administrator x3, Gig Pilot x2
Maintenance Cost MCr0.106 per month
Purchase Cost MCr1,275
| TL13 | Tons | Costs (MCr) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hull | 3,000 tons, Streamlined | - | 180 |
| Reinforced | - | 90 | |
| Armor | Crystaliron, Armor:13 | 488 | 176 |
| Radiation Shielding | - | 75 | |
| M-Drive | Thrust 6 | 180 | 360 |
| Power Plant | Fusion (TL12), Power 2,520 | 168 | 168 |
| Fuel Tanks | 16 weeks operation | 68 | - |
| Bridge | 60 | 15 | |
| Computer | Core 25/fib | - | 15 |
| Sensors | Improved | 3 | 4 |
| Countermeasures Suite | 2 | 4 | |
| Enhanced Signal Processing | 2 | 8 | |
| Weapons | Large Bay (particle beam) x2 | 1,000 | 40 |
| Single Turret (beam laser) x5 | 5 | 4 | |
| Single Turret (sandcaster) x15 | 15 | 7 | |
| Ammunition | Sandcaster Barrels (200 barrels) | 10 | - |
| Armored Bulkheads | Power Plant | 17 | 3 |
| Maneuver Drive | 18 | 4 | |
| Fuel | 7 | 1 | |
| Bridge | 6 | 2 | |
| Sensors | 1 | 0 | |
| Large Bays | 100 | 20 | |
| Craft | Full Hangar | 80 | 16 |
| Gig (20 tons) x2 | - | 13 | |
| Systems | Fuel Processor (60 tons per day) | 3 | 1.5 |
| Medical Bay x3 | 12 | 6 | |
| Workshop x3 | 18 | 3 | |
| Repair Drones | 30 | 6 | |
| Staterooms | Standard x89 | 356 | 45 |
| Software | Maneuver/0 | - | - |
| Intellect | - | 1 | |
| Evade/3 | - | 3 | |
| Fire Control/5 | - | 10 | |
| Auto Repair/2 | - | 10 | |
| Library | - | - | |
| Common Areas | 89 | 9 | |
| Cargo | 263 | - |
Castle-class Heavy System Defense Boat
The Castle-class Heavy SDB is an old design from the 700’s and was developed in what is now the Solomani Rim. As the Solomani Confederation was still part of the Third Imperium at this time, the design spread through the trailing edge of the Imperium.
Castle-class heavy SDBs are based around the Solomani idea of a big gun. The vessel uses a meson accelerator as a main weapon mount, which is essentially a small spinal. The design is commercially available and such vessels are often the flagship of modest planetary defense forces. Imperial forces use such vessels as part of a balanced system defense taskforce to counteract the Castle’s shortcomings.
Hull Points 2,200
Crew Captain, Officer x12, Pilot x3, Engineer x16, Maintenance x10, Medic, Gunner x95, Administrator x5, Shuttle Pilot
Maintenance Cost MCr0.2797 per month
Purchase Cost MCr3,356
| TL13 | Tons | Costs (MCr) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hull | 5,000 tons, Standard | - | 300 |
| Reinforced | - | 150 | |
| Armor | Bonded Superdense, Armor:13 | 813 | 293 |
| Radiation Shielding | - | 125 | |
| M-Drive | Thrust 5 | 250 | 500 |
| Power Plant | Fusion (TL12), Power 4,850 | 323 | 323 |
| Fuel Tanks | 16 weeks operation | 132 | - |
| Bridge | 60 | 25 | |
| Computer | Computer 25/fib | - | 15 |
| Sensors | Improved (Distributed Arrays) | 9 | 13 |
| Countermeasures Suite | 2 | 4 | |
| Enhanced Signal Processing | 2 | 8 | |
| Weapons | Main - meson | 2,500 | 1,250 |
| Triple Turret (beam laser) x25 | 25 | 63 | |
| Screens | Meson Screen x5 | 50 | 100 |
| Nuclear Damper x5 | 50 | 50 | |
| Armored Bulkheads | Power Plant | 32 | 6 |
| Maneuver Drive | 25 | 5 | |
| Fuel | 13 | 3 | |
| Bridge | 6 | 1 | |
| Meson Screens | 5 | 1 | |
| Nuclear Dampeners | 5 | 1 | |
| Sensors | 1 | 0 | |
| Craft | Full Hangar | 100 | 20 |
| Modular Cutter (50 tons) | - | 10 | |
| Systems | Fuel Processor (140 tons/day) | 7 | 0.4 |
| Briefing Room x3 | 12 | 2 | |
| Medical Bay x3 | 12 | 6 | |
| Repair Drones | 50 | 10 | |
| Staterooms | Standard x79 | 316 | 39.5 |
| High x1 | 6 | 0.8 | |
| Software | Maneuver/0 | - | - |
| Intellect | - | 1 | |
| Evade/3 | - | 3 | |
| Fire Control/5 | - | 10 | |
| Auto-Repair/2 | - | 10 | |
| Library | - | - | |
| Common Areas | 81 | 8 | |
| Cargo | 112 | - |
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