Carrack-class Transport

The Carrack-class Transport is an FTL-capable freighter employed by the Merchant Fleets, Free Traders and Rogue Traders of the Imperium of Man to carry valuable cargo between the Human-settled star systems of the galaxy.

The Imperium swarms with transport vessels. Millions of these civilian voidcraft plough the space lanes, ferrying pilgrims, ore, fuel, foodstuffs, weapons, materiel, machine parts and luxury goods to untold billions of eager consumers across the galaxy.

There are countless classes of transport vessel, and even the mightiest Rogue Trader dynasty, replete with fleets of ancient warships, requires humble transport craft to carry the spoils of their conquests back to Imperial space.

The Carrack is capable of having several small weapon systems attached to two hardpoints present on its dorsal side. These usually take the form of weapons batteries or small lances. But the vessel is ultimately not a warship, and no amount of modifications can really make it a very effective combatant.

History[]

The Carrack-class is a recent attempt to recreate the ancient star galleon concept. The increasing impression amongst commercial shipbuilders -- in common with many citizens of the Imperium -- is that the galaxy is becoming a more dangerous place, and that the end times are fast approaching. Certain Chartist Captains place their faith in solidly built, well-armed freighters, designed from the ground up to be capable of carrying heavy loads while also tackling light raiders or other miscreants.

The Carrack-class is a product of the orbital shipyards that sit on the adjoining edges of the Calixis and Ixaniad Sectors in the Segmentum Obscurus, where travellers must often stand alone against the foulest of terrors that boil up from the depths of interstellar space. Robust and vigourous, these stout voidcraft give the lie to the trite accusation that Imperial shipbuilding is a dying art.

Though the design is less than 1,000 standard years old, dating to the early years of the 41st Millennium, these ships are as bold and strong as any transport of their size in the history of the Imperium, and have driven off many ill-advised pirate raids.

Dimensions[]

Hull: Transport

Class: Carrack-class Transport

Dimensions: 2.1 kilometres long, approximately 0.4 kilometres abeam at fins

Mass: 8.5 megatonnes approximately

Crew: Approximately 19,500 crew

Acceleration: 2.3 gravities maximum sustainable acceleration

Sources[]

Rogue Trader: Battlefleet Koronus (RPG), pg. 29