transport designations? [CLEAN STAMP]

Hi Tom,

I thought "BC" was used for "BattleCruiser"?

-- Rick

[quoted original message omitted]

> Rick Rutherford wrote:

It is, I just missed it the first time around... (starting at a screen full of
three letter acronyms had shorted out my brain)

I think I'll just use AKH instead, lumping it together with the heavy
freighter.

Tom

L is for a ship or craft involving Landing troops. S is for a ship. C is for a
landing Craft. D is for a Docking facility. P is for a landing platform
usually for Helos. H is for a Helicopter platform. T is for a Tank landing
platform. A is for an assault platform. U is for utility. K is for cargo

Real world examples: LPH used helos to send marines to the beach LST beached
itself and sent in the tanks. LSD uses Hovercraft and heavy landing craft (LCU
or LCC) to bring troops and tanks in. LHD has both a helo deck and Hovercraft
to fly in the Marines. LPD uses heavy landing craft in a well deck to bring
the Marines in. LKA was a big cargo ship that brought supplies to the beach.

I propose that you use A for a ship/craft that actually lands on the
planetary surface (Areodynamic Shaping). S for a ship, C for a craft (usually
a lander of some sort). P should be used for an assault craft Tender with
repair facilities.

So: LSA a landing ship that lands on the surface to disembark troops. LCA a
landing craft that lands on the surface to disembark troops. LSD a troop
transport with a docking bay for assault craft. LPD is an assault craft tender
with a docking facility and repair site and probably carries troops as well.
LHD is an auxillery carrier with aerospace fighters devoted to planetary
assault.

> On Sat, 15 Jan 2000, Phillip Pournelle wrote:

> L is for a ship or craft involving Landing troops.

aha! a systematic explanation - good stuff! however, note that these are
designations for military, not civilian, ships. the search for civilian codes
for civilian ships is still no closer to its goal.

tom