Chapter 5: Common Watercraft

This section describes some of the watercraft that can be commonly encountered in Cepheus Engine campaigns. These are not the only types of vessels that exist, and creative Referees are encouraged to integrate vehicles of their own creation or from other sources as they see fit.

TL9 Destroyer

Using a closed 800-ton chassis (160 Hull, 160 Structure [Personal Combat Scale], 16 Hull, 16 Structure [Space Combat Scale], Armor 6), the Destroyer is a fast, maneuverable long-endurance watercraft built for military action, intended to escort larger watercraft in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller powerful short-range attackers. It carries an Early Fusion power plant, Code K, and a Screw Propeller propulsion system, Code K, giving a top speed of 60kph, a cruising speed of 45kph and an Agility DM of -3. 496 kiloliters of hydrogen support the power plant for 28 days. This vehicle is designed with an increased Agility, already included in the Agility DM above. This vehicle is equipped with Advanced controls, a Class IV communication system (Continental), Basic Civilian sensors (DM -2), and a Model/1fib computer. This vessel is equipped with Autopilot (Ocean Ships-2). There is an extended control cabin that supports 30 crew on shift), and 29 standard staterooms. The vehicle has 160 weapon points, but only 23 are used. The vehicle has four small turrets armed with Autocannon-TL 8, one small turret armed with a Heavy Mass Driver-TL 8, eight small turrets armed with Heavy Rocket Artillery-TL 7, four missile racks (armed with Smart Standard HE missiles), and two HE torpedo ordinance bays (3 torpedoes each). This vehicle also carries 1800 rounds of Autocannon ammunition, 300 rounds of Heavy Mass Driver ammunition, 900 rounds of Heavy Rocket Artillery ammunition, 900 Smart Standard HE missiles, and 240 Standard HE torpedoes. Cargo capacity is 70.615 tons. The chassis is additionally armored with Titanium Steel (×2). The vehicle requires a crew of 28: 1 Captain, 1 Executive Officer, 3 Pilots, 1 Navigator, 1 Engineer, 1 Sensors Operator, 17 Turret Gunners, 2 Bay Weapon Gunners, and 1 Chief Security Officer. The vehicle can carry up to forty additional passengers in twenty standard staterooms, or forty-two if both the Captain and Executive Officer share a stateroom. The vehicle costs KCr51,521.940 (including discounts and fees) and takes 92 weeks to build.

TL7 Hovercraft

Using a closed eight-ton chassis (1 Hull, 2 Structure, Armor 3), the Hovercraft is a ground effect vehicle supported on a cushion of air roughly two meters high, with the ability to move about on both water and land, so long as travel conditions and surfaces are not irregular, turbulent or rough. It carries a Gas Turbine engine, Code L, and an Air Cushion propulsion system, Code L, giving a top speed of 100kph, a cruising speed of 75kph and an Agility DM of +1. 430 liters of hydrocarbons support the power plant for 16 hours. This vehicle is equipped with Basic controls and a Class III communication system (Regional). There is a basic cockpit and 15 cramped chairs. The vehicle also has a fresher installed. Cargo capacity is 4.35 tons. The vehicle requires a crew of one: the pilot. The vehicle can carry up to fifteen additional passengers in cramped seating. The vehicle costs KCr144.660 (including discounts and fees) and takes 36 hours to build.

TL5 Motor Boat

Using a closed 60-ton chassis (12 Hull, 12 Structure [Personal Combat Scale], 1 Hull, 1 Structure [Space Combat Scale], Armor 2), the Motor Boat is a watercraft designed to transport a limited amount of passengers and cargo from point to point over small bodies of water. The vehicle is streamlined. It carries an Internal Combustion engine, Code sC, and a Screw Propeller propulsion system, Code sC, giving a top speed of 100kph, a cruising speed of 75kph and an Agility DM of -2. 1.29 kiloliters of hydrocarbons support the power plant for 10 hours. This vehicle is equipped with Basic controls, and a Class II communication system (Very Distant). There are a standard control cabin and five standard staterooms. Cargo capacity is 22.74 tons. The vehicle requires a crew of two: one Pilot and one Engineer. The vehicle can carry up to eight additional passengers in four standard staterooms. The vehicle costs KCr2,698.450 (including discounts and fees) and takes 32 weeks to build.

TL4 Steamship

Using a closed 200-ton chassis (40 Hull, 40 Structure [Personal Combat Scale], 4 Hull, 4 Structure [Space Combat Scale], Armor 2), the Steamship is a seafaring watercraft that transports people and supplies to various ports of call over large bodies of water. It carries an External Combustion power plant, Code B, and a Screw Propeller propulsion system, Code B, giving a top speed of 40kph, a cruising speed of 30kph and an Agility DM of -5. 200 kiloliters of coal support the power plant for 10 days. There is an extended control cabin for 5 crew members and 8 standard staterooms. This vehicle has a galley that can serve 15 people. Cargo capacity is 43.1 tons. The vehicle requires a crew of five: one Captain, one Pilot, one Navigator, one Engineer, and one Steward. The vehicle can carry ten passengers in five standard staterooms, or eleven passengers if the Captain is willing to share his stateroom. The vehicle costs KCr5,730.030 (including discounts and fees) and takes 44 weeks to build.

TL6 Submersible

Using a closed 100-ton chassis (20 Hull, 20 Structure [Personal Combat Scale], 2 Hull, 2 Structure [Space Combat Scale] , Armor 2), the Submersible is an underwater vehicle that transports people and supplies to and from underwater locations, such as domed cities, while avoiding surface weather conditions for safety and convenience. This vehicle has the Submersible chassis option. It carries a Fission power plant, Code C, and a Screw Propeller propulsion system, Code C, giving a top speed of 40kph, a cruising speed of 30kph and an Agility DM of -5. 7.68 kiloliters of radioactives support the power plant for 12 weeks. This vehicle is equipped with Basic controls and a Class III communication system (Regional). This vehicle comes equipped with Autopilot (Submarine-0). There is an extended control cabin for 5 crew members and 8 standard staterooms. This vehicle has one airlock, a galley that can serve 15 people, both hostile and vacuum environmental protection systems, and extended life support (15 people for up to 90 days). Cargo capacity is 45.022 tons. The vehicle requires a crew of five: one Captain, one Pilot, one Navigator, one Engineer, and one Steward. The vehicle can carry ten passengers in five standard staterooms, or eleven passengers if the Captain is willing to share his stateroom. The vehicle costs KCr31,194.670 (including discounts and fees) and takes 36 weeks to build.