120-150 days is usually when the crew's diet of pemmican and hardtack leads to series of unfortunate accidents for the senior officers.

Relevant info food storage: Submarine Cuisine

By Marc Michalik (Kavik_Kang) on Sunday, February 03, 2019 - 06:46 pm: Edit

"How many meals can the cutter's food pantry hold?"

Now THAT is SFU level of detail! Haha!!!

By Jeff Wile (Jswile) on Sunday, February 03, 2019 - 07:12 pm: Edit

Soooo just thinking out loud for a moment...
several episodes of JAG and NCIS showed that in the event of death on a U.S. Navy submarine required the body to be stored in cold storage (food service freezers...) after moving/disposing the food originally stored in those lockers.

The sick bays of the Masterson and Callahan classes have several body storage lockers in the Surgery...

Since nothing(even storage capacity) should be wasted needlessly, does that mean at the beginning of a POL cruise the empty body bins in sick bay are loaded with perishable supplies?

T-bones and Porterhouse steaks for the officers, rib eyes and sirloins for the NCO and warrant officers, and ground beef for the lower ranked enlisted?

(Mischeivious grin.)

By Garth L. Getgen (Sgt_G) on Sunday, February 03, 2019 - 07:29 pm: Edit

Marc, you can see how detailed my drawing are if you click on the links in my post 2 Feb 2019 / 0621-PM.

Steve Z. Thanks, but I had no desire to read a 183-page book. My wife, however, downloaded it for all the recipes included. She said to say: Thank You.

Jeff, shhhh. We keep that quiet.

Besides, in today's Navy, officers have to buy their own food, whereas the Navy provides for the enlisted. Ergo, the enlisted typically eat better than the officers.

Note: SVC wouldn't let me use Warrant Officers in the traditional method of today's Navy / Army. I wanted to make the shuttle pilots, and he said "NO!!!" Just as well because after giving the entire promotion pyramid some thought. it's far better if the pilots are Ensigns / LT-jg.


Garth L. Getgen

By Steve Zamboni (Szamboni) on Sunday, February 03, 2019 - 09:11 pm: Edit

Garth: page 61 and page 179 are probably the most useful. Years ago I tried calculating how much food a submarine could hold for a story where they were used as emergency spacecraft.

By Marc Michalik (Kavik_Kang) on Sunday, February 03, 2019 - 09:29 pm: Edit

Garth, I have been marveling at the detail of your deck plans for the last year. If I get my own universe going I had actually been planning on asking you if you wanted to do deck plans for Neil Peart and my GSC Rocinante from Rush's Cygnus X1 & Hemispheres.

My Rocinante is a GSC class ship about the size of an SFU BCH. It carries two flights of four "MPC" which are my equivalent of highly modular multi-role PFs that can change modules/roles as they cycle through the flight deck.

This would be quite a way off even if I find a way to make my games, but just thought I'd mention it. Your deck plans are the best I've ever seen anywhere... even better than Franz Joseph himself!

By Garth L. Getgen (Sgt_G) on Monday, February 04, 2019 - 10:58 pm: Edit

Marc,

Thank you. That's an unbelievably huge compliment.

The thing is, I'm not at all sure I have another set of deck plans in my head. If I do, it has to be the APT.

The Rocinante, is that from The Expanse?? That would be a cool one to do. The two non-SFB ships I've thought about doing are the Imperial Raider and the VT-49 Decimator from X-Wing Miniatures.


Garth L. Getgen

By Garth L. Getgen (Sgt_G) on Wednesday, February 06, 2019 - 12:02 am: Edit

I think I need to make one last minor tweak, and then I can call this thing DONE! Well, done until SVC "suggests" changes.

I think I may way to a minor change to the Photon Torpedo tube. I got to looking at it the other night and felt it looks too much like a Plasma chamber. I'm thinking of putting a cap on the loading end so it looks more like a WW-2 submarine torpedo tube.

Opinions??


Garth L. Getgen

By Garth L. Getgen (Sgt_G) on Wednesday, February 06, 2019 - 10:20 am: Edit

I just revised the Photon Torpedo. What do you think??

In case you're wondering, the six round things next to the tube are "power modulators". It was an icon I created early on and thought looked pretty cool, so I used it with every system that can use warp-plasma power. Big ones for the Photon and Tractor, small ones for sensors and such.


Garth L. Getgen

By A. David Merritt (Adm) on Wednesday, February 06, 2019 - 10:48 am: Edit

That is an improvement. The "power modulators" look good as well.

By Marc Michalik (Kavik_Kang) on Wednesday, February 06, 2019 - 03:57 pm: Edit

They used the name on The Expanse, they got it from Rush's Cygnus X1/Hemispheres. It is actually the name of Don Quixote's horse. I have spent my life writing my own ST or SW or B5 like story around Cygnus X1/Hemispheres as the centerpiece of the story... so my Rocinante would be the real Rocinante.

It is more like a GSC that carries two flights of 4 "Military Patrol Craft" that are like one-man-PF flotillas of 4 ships each with leader, 2 modular wing ships, EW support in tail of diamond formation. Rocinante's "Quantum Torpedoes" are pretty much Hellbore Cannons and it has "multi-mode" beam weapons that can fire as rapid fire cannons, powerful bolts, or sustained beams.

It has a unique drive system and my humans have a thing called the Ghost Beacon Network that is based on SOSUS/IUSS and also acts like a gate network for them. It would be at least a year or so away if I found a way to do my own universe, I was just mentioning it because it came up.

You really do do the best deck plans I've ever seen.

By Marc Michalik (Kavik_Kang) on Wednesday, February 06, 2019 - 04:01 pm: Edit

Too the rest of you, my dream had always been to invite as many of you as wanted to be involved as my own version of SVC's "Staff" if I found a way to make my games and tell my story. I won't own the company, I wouldn't have the final say in all things like SVC's does... in fact it would be more like I was Petrick than I was SVC... but that has always been the plan.

How amazing, and unlikely, would it be to forever link the names Stephen V Cole & Neil Peart... Right, other Rush fans? Who would have ever thunk that to be a possibility, haha...

By Marc Michalik (Kavik_Kang) on Wednesday, February 06, 2019 - 04:09 pm: Edit

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWRMOJQDiLU

By Jeff Wile (Jswile) on Thursday, February 07, 2019 - 10:20 am: Edit

Garth,

Quick question, I am working on a fiction story set on a Federation POL+. In this situation, the Ships Captain has ordered that both shuttle crews (pilot and gunner assigned to each of the two admin shuttles on board the ship), shall be armed. (Hand phasers only).

Where would they go to take custody of the weapons? Do they need to lay aft to the brig? Would they have to report to the ships master of arms at the start and end of each duty shift to draw weapons, and return them at the end of the duty shift?

To be honest, I just can't see either junior officers or enlisted personnel being allowed to keep such weapons in their quarters when off duty.

Thanks in advance.

By Garth L. Getgen (Sgt_G) on Thursday, February 07, 2019 - 03:22 pm: Edit

Jeff,

The armory is located on Deck Three, just forward of the "neck". Go back to my post on 2 FEB 2019 / 06:21-PM and click on the Callahan link. You can see part of the armory with the service windows on either side.

That's where they would issue weapons and other small equipment (e.g., tricorders and communicators). On the crew manifest, there are two people, the Armorer and the Personal Equipment Tech, assigned to the Boarding Parties. They are the ones who are in charge of the armory. If they are for some reason unavailable, the Tac-Team officer and the Masters-at-Arms are authorized access to the armory. Of course the ship's captain and exec are, too.

Note: Master-at-Arm == Navy term for Military Police. The cutter will have three or four such, one a Chief Petty Officer.

When you say "hand phaser", in my mind that is the Type-I phaser, whereas the "phaser pistol" is the Type-II phaser, and of course there is a "phaser rifle".

I could see perhaps that officers and senior enlisted may be allowed to keep a stun-only hand phaser in their quarters. But, yes, all equipment should be checked back into the armory after every mission, or at the end of each shift. Boarding Parties might want to keep ready-gear locked in the Security office.

RE: Shuttle pilots ... I didn't have enough bodies to allow for two officers, pilot & co-pilot, per shuttle. What I did instead was turn the two Shuttle Engine Tech into Flight Engineers. They are enlisted personnel who have some pilot training, so they can fly should the pilot be incapacitated. They count as part of the deck crew.

As a side note ... What's with the triangle-shaped desks?? Well, originally, the triangle rooms near the front of the ship were going to be the Captain's / Exec's offices. I created the desk to fit. When I changed my mind about where the offices would be, I kept the desk icon. It just looks futuristic to me. :-)


Garth L. Getgen

By Jeff Wile (Jswile) on Thursday, February 07, 2019 - 05:39 pm: Edit

Perfect answer!

Type II phaser is what I had in mind.

By Steve Petrick (Petrick) on Thursday, February 07, 2019 - 07:20 pm: Edit

As a former arms room officer and a graduate of the armorer's short course (so I can inspect and supervise arms rooms), and having for reasons I cannot fathom from day #1 reporting to my very first duty assignment always have been assigned the additional duty of arms room officer in every unit I was ever in that had an arms room (I did not attend the armorer's course until late in 1983 and was by then a Captain supervising the battalion's arms rooms) I can say that you make sure the individuals have performed "operators maintenance" on the equipment before they turn it in, and that the weapons are properly turned in, i.e., unloaded, power packs removed, etc.

Usually in an infantry unit the "communications gear" is not stored in the same place as the "weapons." But other electronics (such as night vision gear) is stored with the weapons.

By Jeff Wile (Jswile) on Thursday, February 07, 2019 - 10:17 pm: Edit

I was not going to explain why I asked the question, but since both SPP and Garth commented on procedure, let's finish the illustration.

The premise is a POL+ captain has issued standing orders that both Admin Shuttle pilots (in this case both are ensigns) AND the assigned flight engineers/shuttle engine techs shall be armed with type II Hand phasers. (Ship Captains do not need to explain their standing orders, but several justifications could include that admin shuttles might be detached to deliver cargo or passengers, pick up same from a nearby base, planet, ship or non ship unit (such as seeker skiff, cargo shuttle etc...), act as a life boat in the event the captain orders abandon ship (he better have a good reason)(weapons might be required in the event of panic by crew or passengers.)

In practice, when the police ship changes to Weapon Status 3, the pilots and enlisted shuttle crew men make their way to the armory to draw their weapons (and any special equipment the mission might require).

The shuttle crews then report to the shuttle bay and ready craft for mission. After mission is completed, the shuttle crews need to clean weapons if used, or report damage or charges used.

Then after seeing to their craft, weapons and equipment are stored properly, or in the case of the weapons and special equipment, return to the armory.

Then the get to submit the paperwork detailing the after action reports.

Does that about cover it?

By Garth L. Getgen (Sgt_G) on Thursday, February 07, 2019 - 11:59 pm: Edit

Petrick, yes, all true. But back in our day, communication gear was something you carried in a backpack. Even today, it's the size of the old brick cellphones, and by Trek-era will be small flip-phone size. And eventually, worn on your uniform shirt.

Yes, in hindsight, I wish I had made separate storage facilities for all that type of gear. I also wish I set aside a work space to repair said gear (and small computer repair, too).

Jeff, to me, sounds about right. Again, there could be a small locker in the shuttle control room to secure weapons / gear to have them ready on short notice, signed out/in the armory at the start/end of the shift.


Garth L. Getgen

By Steve Petrick (Petrick) on Friday, February 08, 2019 - 02:31 am: Edit

In the original series I can recall at least one episode, and I think there was more than one, where the equipment for the landing party was handed to them in the transporter room. I was too young to question that. Weapons should airways be signed out and accounted for except in an emergency, i.e., arming the militia in response to an enemy boarding the ship.

By Jeff Wile (Jswile) on Friday, February 08, 2019 - 06:36 am: Edit

Just to be complete, would I be correct in thinking that medical supplies(specialized "medical tricorders" for example)
would be stored in sickbay?

I assume if, (and this is not a part of the story I am writing) a Federation ship were to assist a damaged vessel with an engineering casualty (engine damage for example) spare parts, special equipment, would be issued by the rescuing ships engineering department? Or would the damage control personnel have their own supplies? Or would it fall to the quarter masters or ship stores?

By Garth L. Getgen (Sgt_G) on Friday, February 08, 2019 - 08:41 am: Edit

Jeff, yes, the medical supplies would be in Sickbay. Also, my crew roster has two Corpsmen who are assigned to Boarding Parties, as combat medics.

Quartermaster == Navy term for those who work helm, navigation, and cartography. You get supplies from the Storekeeper or Logistics Specialist.

As to parts for rescuing other ships, it depends on the part needed. I have Damage Control rooms located well away from Engineering. That's storage for tools and spare parts. Most likely, that's where the part will be found. Of course, there's storage in Engineering, and fabrication shops to build things they don't have on-hand.


Garth L. Getgen

By Jeff Wile (Jswile) on Friday, February 08, 2019 - 11:00 am: Edit

Good job.

Looks like you have covered the bases. Or at least every thing I can think of! Grin.

By Garth L. Getgen (Sgt_G) on Friday, February 08, 2019 - 05:38 pm: Edit

Regarding the gymnasium, I marked out a court that looks a lot like a basketball court. However, it's far too small to BE a basketball court, at 15 x 7.5 meters (49 x 24-1/2 feet), with ceiling height of only 4 meters (13 feet).

Does anyone know of a team sport that could be played in that small of an area?? Or should I just invent a "new" sport?? Thanks!!!!!


Garth L. Getgen

By Steve Petrick (Petrick) on Friday, February 08, 2019 - 05:51 pm: Edit

It should be noted that almost all "entertainment" about the military will generally "cut corners" such that those who have served (at least in my experience) will often groan at the nonchalance the characters use in acquiring and using things.

Yes, there was a time when the soldiers weapons were in the barracks with them, but in such cases there was rarely a lot (if any) ammunition present. In most modern militaries the weapons are still in the barracks (sort of), but rather than in racks where an individual soldier can just grab his rifle because he thinks he can kill time by cleaning it, they are stored under multiple locks and keys, and very, very little ammunition is kept in the arms room with the weapons (and absolutely nothing explosive). To access a weapon a soldier must have a reason, and to get any ammunition from the arms room (again there is very little of this) he really, really needs a reason (such as "payroll guard" or "prisoner escort").

If the installation requires a QRF, and there is a reason the QRF needs to be "armed" (back in the early 80's most installation QRFs I was aware of pretty much had clubs, later ones had extra racks for their rifles that were basically "in the barracks" where the QRF was quartered waiting to be called out but kept locked up. And any ammunition was under constant guard until orders came to issue it. I have no idea what it is like these days, but even before I read my first fiction story about terrorists acquiring arms by entering an installation, finding an infantry unit conducting training, and killing them and taking their weapons, the concept of that happening was already very vivid in my own mind).

But the military is generally pretty uptight about making sure someone is "accountable." Someone "signs their life away" to pick up a piece of equipment and carry it off, so that if that piece of equipment is lost, or damaged, the officer assigned to investigate what happens knows who was the last person who accepted (officially) responsibility for that weapon or piece of equipment.

And, Lord Knows, I did enough investigations about lost or destroyed equipment when I was a young lad in the Army.