The Can

J Roberson ([email removed]) says:

>>A 3-ton missile can holds 2 missiles.  Assuming that they call
>>them "Cans" for a reason (ie. they are cylinders), the only way to
>>fill two-thirds of the can with a pair of smaller cylinders is to

>I wouldn't assume so. Think of other definitions of "can" and other words
>and you'll see what I mean. I would take can to be slang for 'storage/launch
>unit'. But then again, I don't have Brilliant Lances.


  My assumption is based on two things: The cross-section of a turret
can in the TNE rulebook, and the universally circular 'can-covers'
shown in the starship pictures, both in TNE and BL.

  A cylindrical can makes sense from the modularity angle as well.  In
an ideal world, all ship designs have their can-interface hatches in
the same place relative to the direction of travel, and thus a boxy
can is designed with its workstation in a standard spot relative to
the corners of the can.
  Alas, neither this nor Traveller is a perfect world, and interface
hatches are aligned as required by the configuration of the ship. In
order to avoid having to build different boxy cans for each possibility,
the standard modular can is a cylinder.  Simply drop it into the socket
and spin it until the hatches line up.  Too simple.

  This said, I don't believe for a minute that all ships use the
modular cans and sockets.  Some weapon setups are going to require
too much customization to retain their modularity.  The Dragon SDB
(also called the Shukugan in BL) is the classic case.  Its hinge-out
missile barbettes are clearly not cylinders, and just as clearly are
an integral part of the design.  I don't consider it possible to
swap out those missile barbettes for something else without a fair
amount of shipyard work.
  Of course, I think the Dragon SDB should have an autoloader for its
missiles, but that's a different topic yet again.

  Based on the various ship pictures in TNE and BL, I'm assuming that
turret sockets take up 9 square meters of hull area for the socket
cover and its mechanisms (part of the socket, not the can, BTW).  I
figure that _modular_ barbette sockets are the same depth at turret
sockets (6m) but a bit less than 4.5 meters across (around 4.25),
producing a surface area figure of around 20 square meters hull area
per modular barbette.  Any weapon mount is welcome to take more or less
than these numbers, but is assumed to be a hard-installed instead
of modular.  IMO, of course.

  As a final bit of info, reliable sources have placed missiles at
7 cubic meters.  On a good day, Traveller nukes will float, and also
happen to be the right size to fit side by side in a 3-meter-wide
turret can.

James Kundert [email removed]

There was a young lady named Bright,
Whose speed was much faster, much faster than Light.
She departed one day in a relative way,
And returned on the previous Night.
   --Albert & the Heart of Gold