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The Askad-Amarine is a midspace mapping and exploration vessel in use with the Coalition. The vessel's role is to chart midspace regions
and conduct scientific probes of the phenomena there, most especially the filament storms to be found - a role which gives rise to the
ubiquitous nickname of "storm-rider" for these types of ship.

The design of the Askad-Amarine itself is relatively conventional; a central slab hull with a power system beneath, fuel tanks ahead of
the power system, propulsors aft, and midspace shunts above. One unique feature is the placement of the propulsor engine radiatiors;
these point straight downwards rather than aft, allowing the radiation from them to escape the ship. However, the most unusual feature
of these ships is the heavy-duty hull modules which are
added to them. These match the contour of the ship's drivefield almost perfectly. They are heavily armoured and reinforced, to
withstand the enormous stresses of a midspace filament storm. Despite their strength the hulls are gradually battered and abraded
by storms, and are usually replaced every few years.

The ship carries four high resolution sensor arrays which it uses to chart midspace conditions out to several light years radius. The ships
are unarmed and unshielded. Although not armoured as such, the add on hulls would give considerable protection to weapons fire.

This one rocks. I rather like the design, and thanks for showing it sans armor modules.

Nice. I particularly like the icebreaker inspiration for the design, and its modular construction. If the armour modules are too badly damaged you can pull them off, slap a new set on and you're ready to go. You don't have to send the entire ship off for repairs.

That's what I wanted with this one. I looked through some different types of support ships in wet navies, looking for units to round out
the fleet, and came across an icebreaker. I just thought "wow, nobody ever made a space icebreaker before that I know of."

It's not an icebreaker as such - doesn't batter a path for others to follow or anything. More a sort of ocean research vessel.

And yeah, I like the modular head and tail too

Wow, I'm amazed! It's very refreshing to find something so original when 90% of all designs on the Internet are ugly kitbashes.

Wasn't the Askad in the Area 51 books?

Askad is Turgran, it means "lucky in battle". It's a prefix used on all Turgran-named military vessels.

Porad means "lucky in business", and is used on commercial ships.

Vasad means "lucky in relationships", and is used on non-commercial civilian ships.

Hmmm... maybe they should have an eye on the prow, like Greek ships?

Just kidding. As I mentioned with the Elephant, and to use a modern-day analogyit's refreshing to see a writer who actually understands that a force needs its C-130's as much as it needs its F-22's and Nimitz-classes.

And I for one appreciate a design that makes sense for its purpose much more than one that just looks like a space hot rod.

Been playing with this design a bit. Decided it looked too bland as it was, so I've added some sensors and probe launchers to the storm hull, and put some weathering damage in to give it a hard-used, beat up feel. I really like how that's turned out, though it was a LOT of work hand drawing it all... and the stuff on the aft view is still a temp job that needs fixing.

Very nice. It's surprising how much of a change those few details have made - they've changed it from something that looks like a design drawing to something much more like a working ship.