BATTLERIDERS

the old TRAVELLER battlerider concept was thus; a huge,  FTL capable
carrier that  was lightly or completely unarmed, relatively slow in
normal space, and had from 2 though 4 non-FTL capable, fast, well
armored and armed battleships that were physically docked  with the
carrier during FTL jumps.

a battlerider's crew lived inside the warship  when it was  attached to
the  carrier, and  there were various and assorted airtight bulkheads/
doors connecting the battlerider/carrier.

a 100,000 ton battlerider was always better armed, better armored, etc,
than an 100,000 ton FTL capable battleship.

but . . .

docking/undocking was an involved, time consuming process, with both
battleriders and carrier being very vulnerable to attack, damage,
destruction.

also once the carrier was destroyed, the battleriders were effectively
trapped in system until another carrier was dispatched to make a pick
up.

so, you , see, battleriders/carrier combos, are not tugs, at all.
battleriders are nearly always streamlined, battle rider carriers are
NOT streamlined.  

tenders are vessels that  provide administrative, personnel,  logistical
and  maintenance support for other warships or patrol vessels. they are
not tugs, either.
always FTL capable, may or may not be streamlined.

repair ships are mobile heavy repair facillities, but are not mobile
docks or  tugs. may or may not be streamlined, always FTL capable.

mobile docks, are huge self propelled vessels capable of extensive
repair, maintenace, and even construction for other ships. non
streamled, space ops only.  

tugs, to me, would be classified by mission requirements into several
types of vessels, mostly non FTL capable, both civvie and military (the
spacial versions of civvie harbor  and military yardcraft. 

but, there would be at least three types of FTL tugs in service if tech
permitted; 

a.  the FTL cargo tug, like the NOSTROMO in ALIEN, that physically
docked with non FTL barges (refineries, food processors, similiar) and
used  very powerful FTL and   normal space drives to move same	from
point A to point B, etc. the tug would be streamlined and capable for
atmospheric ops, but the barge would be restricted to zero or very thin
atmosphere take-off/ landing ops.

b.  the deep space, FTL capable, salvage tug. this vessel would have an
FTL drive and normal space thrusters rated to move a disabled vessel, or
non self propelled  barge of equal or less mass, than itself by clamping
onto same and "going". more than likely this class of tug  would not be
streamlined for atmospheric ops, so would be restricted to zero or very
thin atmosphere landing ops.

c.  the  FTL rescue/salvage tug, a smaller  vessel, streamlined,
primarily a rescue vessel, but capable of limited salvage ops in space
or on worlds with atmospheres.
some of  this type of tug may be attached to a seperate, detachable,
crewed vessel that is FTL capable.  this would allow the tug to have
more space devoted to fuel tankage, powerful thrusters, repair shops,
medical facilities, etc.



another idea, i use in my gaming, is the  space going  version of rapid
transit container ships.  non streamlined, powerful FTL  drive,  2g/3g
thrusters, that have docking facilities for detachable	non streamlined
cargo containers. this type of vessel might even carry some smaller
workpods or tugs to expedite the  docking/undocking with the cargo
containers when  needed.

MACDAWGIE