Dawkins class Light Shuttle:

Large cargo shuttles are often considered the heavy cargo trucks of the Three Galaxies, carrying large amounts of cargo from large starships to the ground and transporting large cargo throughout a star system. Still, there are many jobs which they are not well suited for. Some of these roles include carrying light cargo which simply does not warrant a heavy shuttle, carrying small but valuable cargo, doing small scale orbital work, dropping satellites. and carrying passengers. For this reason, there are vast numbers of light shuttles which operate in most star system and from starships. The Dawkins class is one of the most common classes of light shuttles although there are thousands of other light shuttle designs operating within the Three Galaxies. Most light shuttle designs are similar to the Dawkins class including military design light shuttles.

While often neglected when embarked craft are listed for military ships, most larger military ships carry at least a few light shuttles. While most of configured for both cargo and passengers, they are most often used for the carrying of passengers. Only destroyers and frigates generally do not carry light shuttles due to space considerations. Destroyers and Frigates can usually land fairly easily on planets so the need is not as great as with larger vessels. Most cruisers carry at least two light shuttles with some carrying four. Heavier ships such as battleships carry many more, normally at least eight light shuttles with some large ships carrying sixteen or twenty-four being embarked. Many flagships will have a specifically designated light shuttle which is used as the admiral's gig. They are often plushly decorated.

As might be expected, the Dawkins class light shuttle can be configured to carry passengers or cargo. The shuttle is fitted with a pair of doors for passengers and a rear door for cargo. A total of twenty tons of cargo can be carried on the shuttle when configured for carrying cargo. For carrying passengers, the shuttles can be configured to carry to carry twenty-four passengers in comfort or thirty-six passengers in more cramped conditions. A wide variety of interiors are also available for the shuttle including some which convert the shuttle into an inner system yacht. In that configuration, a small stateroom and take up most of the ship’s space. Most individuals able to afford such ships generally want ships which have faster than light drives but there is a market for the small shuttles as well. The pilot and co-pilot sit side by side in the cockpit of the shuttle. Often these shuttles are operated by only a pilot.

While similar in appearance to some star fighters, light shuttles in no way should be considered fighters. They simply do not have the acceleration of a fighter and few militaries even arm their light shuttles. They would be destroyed by any engagement in any engagement involving a true fighter. As far as acceleration, when being used to transfer personnel or cargo between military starships, the large ships involved often have to reduce their acceleration to allow the shuttles to transfer between ships. The shuttle is faster than most heavy cargo shuttles when operating in an atmosphere and has folding wings for atmospheric operations. Still, the shuttle is far slower than most fighters in an atmosphere and would be an easy target. As well, the light shuttles are simply not well enough armored to be used for a landing against contested ground areas.

This starship design uses modified starship speed and weapon range rules. See Revised Starship Rules for Phase World / Three Galaxies for more details.

Model Type: LPS-2240
Vehicle Type: Light Cargo / Passenger Shuttle.
Crew: Two (Can be run by one)
Passengers: Twenty-Four or Thirty-Six depending on configuration

M.D.C. By Location:

	Landing Gear (3)	10 each
	Side Passenger Doors (2):	40 each
	Rear Cargo Door:	100
	[1] Wings (2):	250 each
	[2] Main Body:	450
	Cockpit:	150

Notes:
[1] Destroying a wing will cause the shuttle to crash if it is flying within an atmosphere. Destruction of a wing has no effect in space.
[2] Depleting the M.D.C. of the main body will put the shuttle out of commission. All internal systems will shut down, including life support and internal gravity. The ship itself will be an unsalvageable floating wreck.

Speed:
Driving on the Ground: Not Possible.
Sublight: Has a special sublight engine that allows the ship to travel up to 20 percent of the speed of light. Star Ship can accelerate/decelerate at the rate of 0.5 percent of light per melee.
Atmospheric Propulsion: Maximum cruise speed is Mach One (741.5 mph / 1,193.3 kph), can enter and leave an atmosphere because flight system is by contra grav.
Maximum Range: Effectively Unlimited by Drive system but only has supplies for crew members for about two weeks.

Statistical Data:
Length: 56 feet (17.1 meters).
Height: 12 feet (3.7 meters).
Width: 16 feet (4.9 meters) with wings folded and 38 feet (11.6 meters) with wings fully extended
Weight: 48 tons (43.5 metric tons)
Power System: Advanced Fusion with 20 year life span.
Cargo: Cargo hold that can carry up to 20 ton of cargo if not configured for passengers The cargo hold is 12 x 8 x 30 feet in dimensions (3.6 x 2.4 x 9.1 meters).
Market Cost: 20 to 40 million credits for a standard Dawkins class light shuttle depending on model.

WEAPON SYSTEMS:
None Standard.

[ Altara TM, Brodkil TM, Bushido Industries TM, CAF TM, Catyr TM, CCW TM, Consortium of Civilized Worlds TM, Coyles TM, Free Worlds Council TM, Gene Splicers TM, K-Hex TM, Kankoran TM, Kittani TM, Kreeghor TM, Kydian TM, Machine People TM, M.D.C. TM, Mega-Damage TM, Metzla TM, M’Kri Hardware TM, Monro TM, Mutants in Orbit TM, Naruni Enterprises TM, Noro TM, Paradise Federation TM, Phase World TM, Psylite TM, Rifter TM, SAMAS TM, S.D.C. TM, Seljuks TM, Splugorth TM, Sunaj TM, Trans-Galactic Empire TM, Tri-Galactic Military Service TM, United Worlds Warlock TM, U.W.W. TM, Wolfen TM, and Zembahk TM are trademarks owned by Kevin Siembieda and Palladium Books Inc. ]

[ Beyond the Supernatural®, Heroes Unlimited®, Nightbane®, Ninjas & Superspies®, Palladium Fantasy®, and Rifts® are registered trademarks owned by Kevin Siembieda and Palladium Books Inc. ]

Writeup by Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune).

Return