Hello Phil,

> On November 6, 2019 at 11:44 AM "Phil Pugliese (via tml list)" <xxxxxx@simplelists.com> wrote:

> But wouldn't the 200dT approximation also apply when you said this?;

> > On Tuesday, November 5, 2019, 08:10:11 PM MST, Thomas RUX <xxxxxx@comcast.net> wrote:

> > Evening from the Pacific Northwest Phil,

> > With the tanks retained the scout courier could make an initial jump of 2
> > followed by a second J1 jump using a Mode/2 computer.

> If the Scout can't make a J2 at 140dT's, it seems to me that it couldn't at

> 120dT's either. Or am I missing something here?

When I made my comment I was using my spreadsheet that was set-up for the custom 100 ton hull from the Drive Potential Table using a Type-B drive performing a 2 parsec jump. A 200-ton hull using a Type-B drive can make a 2 parsec jump. I also forgot about the CT LBB 2 requirement for a custom hull using the next larger hull size.

> In any case, even if the Scout can only make J1, it could still load up with

> 100dT's of D-tanks, totaling, with internal fuel, 120dT's & that should be 
> enough fuel, if the D-tanks were retained, for TWELVE(!) J1 jumps w/o

> refueling, wouldn't it?

To make a 1 parsec jump a 200-ton hull requires 20 tons of fuel. With 20 tons of internal fuel and 100 tons of drop tank fuel available I get the Scout as being able to make 120/20 = 6 jumps each covering 1 parsec.

> Now that would be pretty impressive & just might be why MM/GDW chose to

> sorta' 'de-emphasize' drop tanks after they were an important part of the early

> adventures what with the scheme to upgrade the X-boat net to J6 capability &

> all.

The CT LBB 2 and CT LBB 5 construction systems require that all ship's have a power plant. Non-starships must also have a maneuver drive and starships must have a jump drive with the maneuver drive as an optional system.

The official X-Boat omits any mention of a power plant which in my opinion and supported by the Consolidated CT Errata is a broken design.

> p.s. Imagine a FarTrader piling on a mass of D-tanks, retaining them, going
> back to just J1 capability but gaining a really long, multi-jump, unrefueled

> range.

A 200-ton Far Trader requires 40 tons of fuel to make J2 using a Type-B drive. Strapping on drop tanks, per CT LBB 2, bumps the hull size to a 400 ton hull. A 400 ton hull requires 0.1 x 400 x 1 = 40 x 1 = 40 tons of fuel to make a 1 parsec jump. Adding 200 tons of fuel in drop tanks I think equals 200/40 = 5 jumps of 1 parsec plus a sixth jump on the internal 40 ton jump fuel tankage.

Tom Rux