Type 21 Modular Shuttle

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Griffin
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Type 21 Modular Shuttle

Post by Griffin »

I apologise for the crudity and cartoonishness of the drawings.

Type 21 Modular Shuttle

Image
Image

Affiliation: Federation
Type: Shuttle Craft
Unit run: 35
Commissioned: 2384 onwards
Dimensions:
Length : 20m
Beam : 7.5m
Height : 4.6 m
Decks : 1
Mass:28.3 Metric tons
Crew: 1, plus 10 passengers
Armament:
4 x Type IV phaser bank
2 x Micro photon torpedo tube with 60 rounds.

Defence Systems:
Standard shield system, total capacity 67,500 TeraJoules
Light Duranium/Tritanium Single hull.
Low level Structural Integrity Field

Warp Speed (TNG Scale):
Normal Cruise : 5
Maximum Cruise : 5.5
Maximum Rated : 6 for 3 hours.

Expected Hull life:50
Refit Cycle:
Minor : 1 year
Standard : 1 years
Major : 15 years



Designed with Starfleet's new shuttle design philosophy of giving crews free rein to produce their own shuttlecraft fleets (I know that's not canon and is just Graham's speculation, but I like it) the Type 21 was designed to produce a standard bed for various “modular upgrades” that could be quickly refitted to perform a wide variety of roles.

However the project soon hit a snag when the crew of the USS Selby took 4 hours to attach a simple passenger module, which was one of the easiest to refit.

While it was clear that the refit on a whim idea was impossible, and therefore the shuttle was not as prevalent as hoped, it has found use in starbases and vessels with large shuttle bays, with a few shuttles left in different configurations to be used as needed, while retaining the ability to be changed if the need arises and the crew know that they may need a different configuration.

Modules (stats are assumed same as base shuttle unless specified (except mass), and are for the shuttle as a whole when the module is installed):

Passenger Module:
Image
Decks: 2
Crew: 1, plus 30 passengers
Dimensions:
Height: 6.4m
Length: 23.4m

Designed by the Starfleet design bureau at the same time as the shuttle, the Passenger module was designed to be able to provide the ability to transport a large amount of ambassadors in circumstances which would mean transporters are either unavailable or are not the best option.


Medical module:
Image
Crew: 1 pilot, up to 5 medical staff.
Dimensions:
Length: 22.3m
Developed by Starfleet medical in the early stages of the Type 21's design, this module was designed to give emergency medical support to away teams in the event transporters were offline.
However, since refitting the shuttles takes longer than initially expected, this module has been deemed impractical, but remains in the shuttle design database.

Modules no longer considered "canon":

AWACS Module.
Image
Crew, 2.
Warp Speed (TNG Scale):
Normal Cruise : 4
Maximum Cruise : 4.5
Maximum Rated : 5 for 1 hour.

Armament:
2 x Type IV phaser bank,
1 x Micro photon torpedo tube with 60 rounds.


With its advanced sensory package the AWACS module can be used in search and rescue operations, scientific research, or border patrols when escorted by larger more powerful vessels.

“Speed” module.
Image
Crew: 1, 3 passengers
Warp Speed (TNG Scale):
Normal Cruise : 5
Maximum Cruise : 7
Maximum Rated : 8 for 3 hours.

The first crew designed module, the “speed” module utilises a lager power reactor and an extra warp nacelle to allow better control of the warp field.
Last edited by Griffin on Thu Jun 02, 2011 9:55 am, edited 5 times in total.
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Re: Type 21 Modular Shuttle

Post by Mikey »

I like that idea an awful lot, Condan. The only issue I see is that in the last one, the power supply and feed systems would be a lot harder to swap out than just a module - more like stripping the whole thing down and rebuilding it.

The overall concept is great, though, and I appreciate how it follows from the so-called "Type XI" and "Scout" models.
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Re: Type 21 Modular Shuttle

Post by Griffin »

Aye, I didn't really think about the last one very much, I didn't think I had enough modules and rushed that one.
Mikey wrote:and I appreciate how it follows from the so-called "Type XI" and "Scout" models.
Is that something in the stats or from the pictures.
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Re: Type 21 Modular Shuttle

Post by Captain Seafort »

One minor nit - you forgot to paint it green. :P

Very nicely done, and while the basic concept isn't original your execution of it is excellent, with the exception of the last one, where I must echo Mikey's concerns regarding the difficulties of swapping out the entire main power system. If your concern is regarding the number of variants, maybe add a heavy weapons variant?
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Re: Type 21 Modular Shuttle

Post by Lighthawk »

Transporter variant, something to land on a planet to beam people safely through interference.

Also nice little ship.
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Re: Type 21 Modular Shuttle

Post by Captain Seafort »

Lighthawk wrote:Transporter variant, something to land on a planet to beam people safely through interference.
Shuttles have already got transporters. Are you talking about fitting a decent sized transporter pad, approaching the size of a shipboard model?
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Re: Type 21 Modular Shuttle

Post by Lighthawk »

Captain Seafort wrote:
Lighthawk wrote:Transporter variant, something to land on a planet to beam people safely through interference.
Shuttles have already got transporters. Are you talking about fitting a decent sized transporter pad, approaching the size of a shipboard model?

Aye. Something that can move many people at a time all day long through the whatever interference of the day prevents acquiring a proper transporter lock. It'd be something you'd use with pre-fab structures to set up short term science/military outposts.
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Re: Type 21 Modular Shuttle

Post by BigJKU316 »

I am not sure the AWACS model would find much utility.

They are useful on Earth due to the curvature of the earth and the impact that has on radar systems. An airborne one beats a shipbound or landbound one. In space all sensors are on an equal playing field and I would presume that bigger space and sensor platforms would be better than smaller ones. Plus there is the issue of speed. The bigger modern ships are faster than this shuttle. Where on earth the AWACS is faster than a shipbound or landbound radar set.

I could see use for it as a picket in many circumstances but I always thought the Nebula was the ideal sensor based platform. You would have tons of room for very heavy sensor outfits as well as plenty of room for people to digest the data and command a fleet from the location.

The big drawback on the AWACS module is the speed I think. You can't search as much space with the shuttles as you could with one big ship. Assuming I am trying to search at two ends of a line it would take this thing 90 days to get out 25 LY's. Assuming I sent one in each direction to search I could still make that distance in a Nebula (75 LY round trip) in 18 days due to the much greater speed. It would really depend on the endurance of the ship. It would have to be fairly high to make it useful in that role. If it is a few days or weeks then I am not sure at that speed it can get far enough away from its parent ship to make it useful.

Could be useful for starbases I suppose though.
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Re: Type 21 Modular Shuttle

Post by Mikey »

Condan1993 wrote:Is that something in the stats or from the pictures.
I didn't go over the specs TOO closely, but both, really.
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Re: Type 21 Modular Shuttle

Post by Griffin »

Good points guys, thanks for the constructive criticism.

Consider the speed variant gotten rid of, it doesn't make sense and I don't like it anymore.

- Seafort: Good idea on a heavy weapons variant, I think I'll give it a shot.

- Lighthawk: I may give that one a go too.

- Big: Good points. Would it be believable to make it a bit faster? Would it really help at all? The reasoning behind the lower speed is that the dish would fall off to the ship went to fast, or make the ship slower at warp, but thinking about it I doubt that would be the case.

- Mikey: Ah, good. I'm glad that's managed to come across from the pictures, I was worried it wouldn't be evident, given the crudity.
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Re: Type 21 Modular Shuttle

Post by Reliant121 »

Would a point defence fit be feasible?
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Re: Type 21 Modular Shuttle

Post by Captain Seafort »

Condan1993 wrote:Seafort: Good idea on a heavy weapons variant, I think I'll give it a shot.
And the paint job? :P
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Re: Type 21 Modular Shuttle

Post by BigJKU316 »

I think an AWACS could make sense in some respects as part of a networked sensor system. The key is the thing needs the range and speed to get back to the fleet if it picks up and moves. As it is now the mothership would pretty much need to come pick them up to get enough useful distance between the groups. The limitation on them is effectively how far can they get before they run out of fuel and food and/or the crew goes insane in the small space.
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Re: Type 21 Modular Shuttle

Post by Griffin »

Captain Seafort wrote:
Condan1993 wrote:Seafort: Good idea on a heavy weapons variant, I think I'll give it a shot.
And the paint job? :P
I didn't get the joke/reference.
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Re: Type 21 Modular Shuttle

Post by Griffin »

Sorry for double post.

BigJKU316 wrote:I think an AWACS could make sense in some respects as part of a networked sensor system. The key is the thing needs the range and speed to get back to the fleet if it picks up and moves. As it is now the mothership would pretty much need to come pick them up to get enough useful distance between the groups. The limitation on them is effectively how far can they get before they run out of fuel and food and/or the crew goes insane in the small space.
In that case, I think it would be better to have a dedicated original design rather than a module.
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