Q-Ships are merchant vessel designs which are converted to Warships while keeping the appearance of a relatively innocent merchant ship. These ships are relatively to construct. There are many different groups which build Q-Ships, with some just regular merchant ships with just a few added weapon systems while others are virtually completely rebuild or are new construction. Sizes of these ships vary as well with some being tiny, only around the size of corvettes, while others are much larger and are around the size of a heavy cruiser. The most common size of a Q-Ship is around the size of a large destroyer which coincides with the size of a standard merchant hull sometimes also called "Tramp Freighters."
It is thought that few, if any, Q-Ships are operated by the Consortium Navy itself although numbers are operated by independent defense forces within Consortium Space. The Trans-Galactic Empire is the complete opposite. While they claim to not operate any Q-Ships or provide them to other powers, they actually operate a large number of Q-Ships and also are one of the chief sources for Q-Ships found around the Three Galaxies. Suspect numbers vary, some sources give as few as a hundred while others put the number of Q-Ships operated by the Trans-Galactic Empire as high as a thousand. Most sources give numbers around three to four hundred. The number of Q-Ships operated by independent groups is more tentative but there are suspected to be at least around one hundred of these ships operated independently. Recently, the Trans-Galactic Empire has been trying to promote that the Q-Ships are actually being operated by the Free Worlds Council although few believe the Empire's claims.
The class listed here belongs to the most common basic class of Q-Ship. It is a bit larger than most destroyers and is much larger than the Trans-Galactic Empire's "Berserker" attack ship. The basic hull is based on that of a standard merchant hull but is built using hardware commonly carried on the previously mentioned 'Berserker" class attack ship although a larger payload is carried. The design is not a ship with a few additional weapon systems but instead is assumed to either be a fully reconstructed vessel or one which has been built from the keel out as a new vessel. Normally, ship which are built from the keel out have additional internal armor and compartmentalization. As a result, the new construction ships are tougher and are able to withstand additional damage. All full Q-Ships normally have the bridge armored to withstand additional damage from hits on the bridge. Some Trans-Galactic Empire officers actually prefer Q-Ships, with their weaknesses, over Berserker class due to having better armor and carrying additional ordnance.
Most merchant vessels do carry some weaponry to deal with pirates and others who may wish to seize their cargo. Standard for the typical merchant hull is four light laser batteries and four medium range missile batteries. These are retained on the Q-Ship design although payload is increased for the missile launchers. This gives the ship an ability to defend itself at longer ranges compared to the Berserker and is other reason why some Trans-Galactic Officers prefer it over the Berserker. Still, the true firepower of the Q-Ship is mounted in concealed weapon systems which take up most of the cargo space in the vessel. The concealed weapons on some designs are hidden under plates which can be jettisoned while other designs use powered hatches which open to fire weaponry. A common tactic is to allow an enemy ship to get close and then suddenly fire all weapons while the other ship still thinks that they are a standard merchant vessel. As might be expected, the Q-Ship carries both powerful energy weapon mounts and missile systems. Two cruise missile batteries are carried which are identical to those carried on the Berserker class attack ship and the ship can fire volleys of up to twenty missiles at a time. Payload on cruise missiles is also identical to that of the Berserker with a total of one hundred missiles. Beam weaponry are two heavy laser cannons internally the same system as the Horn Cannons carried on the Berserker although mounted in concealed mountings. To compliment the four light lasers, the Q-Ship carries eight mounts which combine a point defense gravity rail gun and a mini-missile launcher. Like the ships heavier weaponry, these mounts are concealed and retracted when not in use.
While the ship's propulsion systems, both normal space drives and faster than light drive, are standard for a merchant design, most other ship systems have been upgraded. While the engines are a bit slow, they were retained for economy reasons. The standard merchant shields are replaced by full variable shields like those carried on the Berserker class warship and the design carries military radiation and particle shields. The ship also carries the sensors of a Berserker class vessel instead of standard merchant type sensors. To hide all of the internal systems and special equipment, the ship is protected from internal scans by a stealth system that gives false readings like those reading you would get from a normal merchantman.
For fighter support, the ship has a small concealed hanger to carry a half squadron or six medium fighters. Most common fighter carried is the Flying Fang but some Q-Ships which are operated independently may carry other classes of fighters. Nine light fighters can be squeezed into the hanger instead of six medium fighters. The space is where normally the main cargo hatch is. In addition to carrying the fighters, the ship can also carry up to sixty small to medium power armors. Usually a combination of Warlord Mark I and Warlord Mark II power armors are carried although again some independent parties may substitute others light and medium power armor designs.
Starship design uses modified starship speeds and weapon ranges. See Revised Starship Rules for Phase World for more details.
Model Type: KMR-80Q
Vehicle Type: Q-Ship (Built on a Merchantman type hull)
Crew: 105 (26 Officers and 79 enlisted)
Troops: 120 Marines, 12 fighter pilots
Vehicles:
Power Armors:
| 40 | IPA-WI-K Warlord Mark I Combat Suit | |
| 20 | IPA-WI-H Warlord Mark II Combat Suit |
| 6 | FF-100 Standard Flying Fangs or FFB-120 Flying Fang Bombers (Carries 4 Cruise missiles) |
| M.D.C. By Location: | Rebuilt Vessel: | New Construction: |
| Concealed 12 cm Heavy Laser Cannons (2): | 600 each | 700 each | |
| Laser Batteries (4): | 500 each | 500 each | |
| Concealed GR Cannons/Missile Batteries (8): | 300 each | 400 each | |
| Concealed Cruise Missile Batteries (2): | 800 each | 1,000 each | |
| Medium Range Missile Batteries (4): | 300 each | 400 each | |
| Concealed Fighter Hanger Doors (2): | 500 each | 600 each | |
| [1] Contra-Grav Engines (2): | 2,000 each | 2,500 each | |
| [2] Bridge: | 1,200 | 1,800 | |
| [3] Main Body: | 5,000 | 5,500 | |
| [4] Variable Force Field: | 1,000 side (6,000 total) | 1,000 side (6,000 total) |
Notes:
[1] Destroying the main engines means that ship FTL systems are destroyed
and maximum sublight speed is reduced by half.
[2] In reality this is how much damage needs to be done for a weapon
to hit the bridge through the ships armor. This ship does not have an auxiliary
bridge. Even if the bridges is destroyed, the ship can still be piloted
from engineering but ship is -3 to dodge and all weapon systems will be
at local control. Weapon hits near the bridge that do not penetrate the
ships integrity can injure crew members on or near the bridge.
[3] Depleting the MDC of the main body will put the Q-Ship out of commission.
All internal systems will shut down, including life support and internal
gravity. The ship itself will be an unsalvageable floating wreck.
[4] Shields positions can be varied and all could be combined in one
shield. Shields regenerate at the rate of 5% (300 MDC) per melee
Speed:
Driving on the Ground: Not Possible.
Sublight: Has a special sublight engine that allows the ship
to travel up to 60 percent of the speed of light. Star Ship can accelerate/decelerate
at the rate of 0.7 percent of light per melee. Ship has had the merchant
radiation and particle shields replaced with military ones.
Atmospheric Propulsion: Maximum speed is 300 mph ( 482 kph),
can enter an atmosphere because flight system is by contra grav.
Stardrive: Uses a Gravitonic Drive system that allows the ship
to reach a maximum of 3 light years per hour.
Maximum Range: Effectively Unlimited by either Drive system.
Carries about three years worth of supplies on board.
Statistical Data:
Length: 600 feet (182.9 meters)
Height: 70 feet (21.3 meters)
Width: 90 feet (27.4 meters)
Mass/ Weight: 13,500 tons (12,250 metric tons)
Power System: Fusion with a 20 year life span. The ship normally
only goes 5 years between refueling and refitting.
Cargo: Cargo holds are scattered about the ship that allows
for carrying up to 1,500 tons of Cargo in addition to standard compliment
of supplies and ammunition. Each enlisted crew member has a small locker
for personal items and uniforms. Ships officers have more space for personal
items. Most of the ships spaces are take up by extra ammunition, armor,
troops, weapons, engine, and other equipment.
Market Cost: 280 million credits for a rebuilt ship and 320
million credits for a new built vessel.
WEAPON SYSTEMS:
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