Landing ships in FT

If you think that you can screen your troop transport ships and keep the enemy
away from them I think you should look at history. The french had such
thoughts and the British destroyed them for it. If you wish to build your
merchant hulls to carry troops, then please do.
 You would also have to build your landing ships (non-ftl ships with
atmospheric capability and a tender to carry them) and place them on the
board. The MT rules make the landing craft for normally carried troops as part
of the ship design and not require the additional expense of the landing boat
themselves. In a campeign this strategy can be very expensive... If the enemy
makes it through your ship's of the line you cargo ships will be meat. You
could of course keep them out of the action, this means that you have to clear
the space lanes in battle and wait a strategic turn to bring in your troop
transports. There are serious advantages of being able to have Warships
carrying troops handy, particulary if you have a well designed scenario...
   Phil