07-24-2018, 08:16 PM | #1 |
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Portland, Oregon
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Collapsibles and Drop Tanks
As I understand the problem with these is that it detracts from the paradigm of having thick traffic routes, and therefore they need limitations. FT did not suggest what they were.
Two possible ones: Collapsibles take up holdspace. They are only worth it for really high profit cargo. Drop tanks require external craddles. And here's a thought: on a critical failure they can be lost in jump space leaving a ship stranded.
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"The navy could probably win a war without coffee but would prefer not to try"-Samuel Eliot Morrison |
07-25-2018, 02:08 AM | #2 | |
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Alsea, OR
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Re: Collapsibles and Drop Tanks
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Canonically, the tanks have to clear the 100 diameter limit of the ship or be destroyed. |
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07-25-2018, 09:49 AM | #3 | |
Join Date: Aug 2007
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Re: Collapsibles and Drop Tanks
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So drop tanks or no drop tanks you still have your regular tanks and the normal opportunities to refuel so you might not be stranded. Maybe if yiou were trying to carry the tanks into a place where there was absolutely no way to refuel you could ahve this problem but that's not really very likely. But soem of the reasosn GT:Starships has the Fiery-class with its' permanent tankage as a replacment for the Gazelle. you can take this as canon implying the the Gazelle-class was moslty a failure ad that is how I would take things IMTU.
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Fred Brackin |
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07-25-2018, 10:26 AM | #4 | |
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Portland, Oregon
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Re: Collapsibles and Drop Tanks
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"The navy could probably win a war without coffee but would prefer not to try"-Samuel Eliot Morrison |
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07-25-2018, 11:18 AM | #5 | |
Join Date: Aug 2007
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Re: Collapsibles and Drop Tanks
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A simpler system of carrying fuel for 2 jumps instead of just 1 makes more sense.
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Fred Brackin |
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07-25-2018, 01:54 PM | #6 | |
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Portland, Oregon
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Re: Collapsibles and Drop Tanks
Quote:
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"The navy could probably win a war without coffee but would prefer not to try"-Samuel Eliot Morrison |
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07-25-2018, 02:18 PM | #7 |
Join Date: Aug 2007
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Re: Collapsibles and Drop Tanks
You mean Jump space? Then no, one of the complexities that is necessary for the "initiate Jump but leave your drop tanks behind you" is that you use all H2 before entering Jump space.
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Fred Brackin |
07-25-2018, 02:55 PM | #8 |
Join Date: Feb 2005
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Re: Collapsibles and Drop Tanks
IMTU Gazelles are more successful, as escorts and patrol vessels in subsector navies and planetary defense fleets, but really only use their drops tanks for strategic mobility. Conversely the Fiery is much less successful being limited to J4 and 4Gs. It's also faster and less expensive than a Patrol Cruiser.
Admittedly IMTU most Gazelles have been refit with the alternate/optional missile racks in place of the PAs. IIRC a Gazelle can J2 on internal fuel, can J4 retaining the tanks (jumping as a 400dt ship) and J5 dropping the tanks (and jumping as a 300dt ship)... or J2 into a system with tanks and have enough fuel to J2 out again without refueling if it drops the tanks then. ...and without tanks it's maneuver is 5Gs. I envision Gazelles escorting merchants and/or patrolling along J1 or J2 mains, and drop tanks being available at bases and Class A & B starports... places where merchants don't actually have to be escorted much. So a Gazelle leaves base, drops tanks and J5s out to begin a patrol... saving over 3 weeks and allowing patrol vessels to appear relatively far from bases and major starports quickly. If war is declared and all the Gazelles have to gather to begin escorting logistics convoys a Gazelle can do the equivalent of J9 in two weeks: J4 retaining tanks, refuel and drop the tanks for a J5. With a little creativity that puts it anywhere in a subsector in two weeks. |
07-25-2018, 05:07 PM | #9 |
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Portland, Oregon
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Re: Collapsibles and Drop Tanks
No, I don't mean stranded in jump space (that is a different problem, from a freak accident and dealt with by a lot of technobabble outside this thread). I mean one of the main reasons to use jump tanks would be to cross a gap. If in fact one had to come out of Jump space in the middle of a gap and the tank was lost, one is in sort of a Gilligan's Island position. I am assuming of course that tanks can come off in jump space. That is not in canon but is a reasonable limitation on their use.
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"The navy could probably win a war without coffee but would prefer not to try"-Samuel Eliot Morrison |
07-25-2018, 06:39 PM | #10 | |
Join Date: Aug 2007
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Re: Collapsibles and Drop Tanks
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collapsible tanks would be far more common and the usual rift-crosser is soemthing like a LASH tender with fuel tanks replacing some of the usual load.
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Fred Brackin |
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