The Porcupine class SDB exhibits many of the typical problems found in lower tech military craft. An armored hull provides some resistance to higher tech secondary weapons, but at a cost in maneuveribility. In an effort to attain reasonable performance beyond planetary gravity wells, an enormous maneuver drive unit (occupying almost 30% of the total hull volume) is carried, with a correspondingly large power plant. In normal operation, 21% of power capacity is sufficient to provide 1-G thrust and full life support and sensor functions, which would allow for up to 73 days of noncombat operations. Despite the flaws, the Porcupines are built in large numbers by planets unwilling to rely solely on the Imperial navy for defense. Similar vessels can be found in the Sword Worlds planetary fleets and in the Vargr Extents.

CraftID:	Porcupine class SDB, TL10, MCr809.4 (Mass Cost MCr648)
Hull:	540/1350, Disp=600t, Config=1AF, Armor=55E, Loaded=21627t, Unloaded=21420t
Power:	150/300, Fusion=13440MW, Duration=15.7 days at full power
Loco:	157/314, Maneuver=10 (StdGrav=113.1kt), MaxSpeed=3500kph, Cruise=2625kph, TrueAcc=5.23G (2.6G deepspace), Agility=2 (deepspace)
Comm:	Radio=System*2, Laser=System*2, Maser=System*2
Sensors:	EMS Active(FarOrbit)*2, EMS Passive(Interplanetary)*2, ActObjScan=Rout, ActObjPin=Rout, PassEnScan=Rout
Off:	Hardpoints=6 Missile=x02 BeamLaser=xx3 Batteries 2 2 Bearing 2 2
Def:	DefDM+7 SandCaster=x04 Batteries 2 Bearing 2
Control:	Computer Mod4fib*3, 15*HeadsUpDisplay, 1840*DynLink
Accom:	Crew=17 (4 bridge, 5 engineer, 1 maintenance, 4 gunners, 2 command, 1 medical), Staterooms=9, Env=basic env, basic ls, extended ls, inertial comp
Other:	Fuel=2536kl, Cargo=0, Missile Magazine=60kl (100b-r), Fuel Scoops, ObjSize=Large, EmLevel=Moderate

Author: R.S.Dean