Sat, Mar 6, 2021 at 12:54 PM
David,
Thanks so much for the feedback.
I agree with your tactical thinking on spreading out the weapons systems.
My reasoning for the turret form of missile launcher is that it can be aimed down and away very easily since the vessel is rather constrained when in normal service by being attached to the cargo container. Adding the charpac into the turret is simply so that both weapons are aimed in the same direction simultaneously, giving the gunner choice of firepower.
Perhaps one or two extra weapons systems could be added in for redundancy and safety in event of someone else getting in a first strike. What about a second turret on the underside of the forward middle deck? [see attached render] With two turrets and a few extra drones with missiles, charpacs and (possibly) lantern guns this cargo hauler might be a bit heavily armed when only out on its own. Hauling a load of cargo containers would be another issue, especially if set upon by more than one pirate ship at a time.
The drones make more and more sense. I see the ship carrying a basic compliment of drones, good enough to protect when itself changing locations between hauler jobs but also enough for work with the smaller sizes of containers. When larger containers are transported (or multiple containers) then I would envision the captains hiring on extra drones for that passage.
I've still to give some thought to the shape and size of these drones and how they mount on the cargo containers, but even so, when not in use I see redundant drones being carried on the underside of the forward middle deck as well as behind the bridge. Plenty of room in both places... depending upon the size of the drones.
When the cargo hauler is required to fly between systems without a load (for whatever reason) then the required sensor, thruster and weapons drones would naturally attach themselves to those wide pads on the support platform that contact the flanks of the cargo containers. They then serve to cover the blind spots of the one or two turrets below. If attached up on those support pads a pair of lantern gun drones would easily be able to deploy to the sides.
Your sketch and explanation of the lantern guns makes perfect sense. The only thing I'm trying to wrap my head around is the appearance and form of a believable extension structure that would be deployable from a somewhat smallish drone. It wouldn't have to be skyscraper strong, but not too flimsy either... and graphically acceptable (if we have to deploy them). Hmmmmmmm.
Am I making sense?
Cheers,
- Ignatz