Hello all,

Crud, I forgot to check and reference the modification from CT Adventure 5 (CT A5),1981 1st printing, Trillion Credit Squadron (TCS) Fuel Tankage pages 13-14. After reading the details for drop tanks on page 14 of TCS and comparing them to the MT Referee's Manual Flowchart 10 - Fuel Step 4 Special Fuel Tankage Drop Tanks my opinion is that material seems to have overlooked or, is different or, needs clarification when the MT Referee's Manual  was written.

1. The intent of drop tanks, in my opinion, is for the jump drive. According to the drop tank material a hull with a higher rated jump drive without the available fuel load out would install them to meet the fuel requirement. The fuel load of the drop tanks is consumed first to start the jump drive charging process. When the drop tanks are empty they are jettisoned and the jump drive fuel load out finishes the charging allowing the maximum jump rating to be used. Alternately, drop tanks could be used to allow a ship to have jump fuel remaining at the destination.

My opinion was formed by, IIRC, mentioning drop tanks in a JTAS Traveller New Service update followed by the JTAS Gazelle-Class Close Escort article, Consolidated CT Errata and the material from CT LBB5 HG2, CT Supplement 7,  and CT TCS.

2. The information that installed drop tanks "reduce ship tonnage" in CT TCS and MT Referee's Manual is not, in my opinion, accurate after reviewing CT  Supplement 7 1980 8th printing page 30.

A Gazelle has a Jump Drive-5, Maneuver Drive-5, and Power Plant-7. The internal jump fuel tanks IIRC limit a Gazelle to Jump 2 with a Maneuver Drive rating of 5, with drop tanks attached the range is Jump-4 with a Maneuver Drive rating of 4, and when jettisoned prior to entry into jump space a rating of Jump 5 with the Maneuver Drive returning to 5 at the destination.

From the material above drop tanks,in my opinion, when installed reduces the needed internal jump fuel tankage requirement to meet the required Jump number when a ship's tonnage can not support the requirement.

3. Per TCS page 14 the number of weapons allowed is determined by the ship's total tonnage without the drop tanks which as far as I can tell is not mentioned in MT Referee's Manual Craft Design.

Tom Rux