FTL rate of movement for GURPS SPACESHIPS

[ericbsmith]

Originally Posted by Rupert

It would likely kill carrier+fighter and carrier+rider concepts, because the big carrier would be strategically slow compared to a fleet of small ships.

I disagree. Modern day carriers are lumbering hulks compared to jet planes. However, modern day carriers are not meant to be front line vessels, they are meant to serve as a base of operation for the much faster fighters, a place where the pilots can take their fighters to rest, refuel, rearm, and repair.

I see nothing about the proposed setup that would change that, though it does open the door for a different class of medium-occupancy "corsair" fighter which has limited fuel, repair/maintenance capabilities, and extremely cramped living space but is based out of a carrier allowing the crew to rotate and any necessary repair/maintenance to be done back on board the carrier. These would be larger than your typical fighter, capable of operating on their own for a few weeks, but smaller than your typical independent ship. Given the background description such vessels could dart around ahead of the larger fleet, performing reconnaissance or hit-and-run operations.