Small Bird Screw Galley

Various small dispatch vessels and gunboats are used by Martian principalities; the Small Bird is typical. The Small Bird is built on a 140-ton wooden hull. The ship is powered by six turncranks, but because the ship is so small, these are located on the upper deck instead of below (as they would be on a larger screw gallery). The turncranks give the vessel a top speed of 15 knots.

The desgn is built around a single large rogue gun, mounted in the bow of the ship. In addition to the main weapon, two sweepers are mounted, one on either side of the ship, to take care of antipersonnel needs. The crew totals 17.

Illustration and text from the Space: 1889 rule book and Sky Galleons of Mars.

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Space:1889 is Frank Chadwick's registered trademark for his game of Victorian Era space-faring. He has granted permission for the use of the background of Space:1889 for the stories presented here. All text, illustrations, photographs and design are © 2000-2007 Dan Thompson, except where otherwise noted.