With my interest in Scifi role-playing and drawing deck plans I browse a lot of star ship images and web sites that host them. I was fortunate to run across David Mueller’s Speculative Starship Designer site.  I recommend that you go and have a look. An interesting mix of philosophy and science fiction.  I began corresponding with David and asked his permission to try to do some of my deck plans based on some of his designs.  He readily agreed and I have started with his Useful-class Freighter from his “STAR VESSELS” PROJECT.

David kindly provided me with some of the wire cage and WIP images he used to produce the images on his site, a few of which are published here. Please go to his site and spend some time browsing – you wont be disappointed.

His write up on the Star Hauler Useful

Star Hauler Useful

The “Useful” class Star Hauler is the most common Human medium cargo ship currently in service. It can tow two large cargo containers in addition to internally stowed freight. The main cargo bay can be accessed from both the front and rear of the vessel. A small complement of passengers can be accommodated along with the cargo. This stalwart second generation Tech Level 6 design has also been produced in survey ship and small hospital ship variants.

Date Entered Service : 464 RE (Radiant Era)

Length: 100.9 meters

Crew: 40

Passengers: 20

Maximum Sublight Speed: 0.19 c

Maximum Warp-Jump Performance: 5.9 light years per day fully loaded

Smallcraft Carried: 2 cargo shuttles, 11 repair drones

As far as stats for RPG games go – I have only worked this ship up as  GURPS Space Ship design.  As far as Traveller goes I am thinking about 4-5000Dtons comparing it to my other designs. As  GURPS Spaceships design (my current favourite design system)  it is a  SM+10 ship (About 10,000 Stons).

GURPS Space 4e – Spaceship – Useful-class Freighter

Deckplans: Bridge Deck.

Full size Image