The Anvil Carrack is a multi-crew explorer that has more than earned its long-standing status as the go-to pathfinder for both military and civilian services. The Carrack comes with two additional craft - Anvil's own specially designed Pisces snub, and an RSI Ursa Rover.[1] It is built as a single, self-sustaining ship that can make long-duration voyages through the roughest areas of space. It's designed specifically for transiting jump points, dealing with extreme conditions in space and getting back home.[2]
Since its time in the UEE Navy, it has been the vanguard of every UEE exploration effort in recent years. Combined with the high-tensile hull armor, the Carrack is one of the safest exploration ships in the galaxy.[3] The Carrack is now declassified and it is available for civilian use.[4]
Carrack Expedition
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Become a trailblazing beacon in the darkest reaches of space with this limited-edition livery that celebrates the fearless crews piloting Carracks bravely into the unknown.[6] |
| "Auspicious Red" | "Best in Show 2950" | "Polar" | "Purple Haze" | "Red Alert" | "Stormbringer" |
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In 2815, the UEEN cruiser Carraway, dispatched to investigate peculiar transmissions within the Tohil System's dense asteroid field, tragically vanished with its entire crew. This incident caused embarrassment for the Admiralty, as they had previously debated the value of utilizing warships for exploratory missions. To mitigate the loss and improve upon the missions previously undertaken by larger warships, a secret no-bid contract was awarded to Anvil Aerospace. The year 2822 marked a significant turning point when the Anvil Carrack made an unexpected appearance at the MacArthur Naval Base in Kilian. Aerospace enthusiasts were astounded by the ship's impressive design and mystified about its origin. Developing a spacecraft in secrecy is a complex and costly endeavor, typically pursued when it can impact the balance of power. However, the Carrack, as the first corvette-sized, dedicated exploration ship in the Navy's inventory, seemed to have emerged fully formed and ready for service, leaving many perplexed. The unexpected arrival of the Carrack sparked widespread speculation about its true purpose. Sinister theories circulated, suggesting it might be a disguised electronic warfare vessel or harbored a powerful new type of weapon. However, these conjectures proved to be unfounded. The ship's classification, which was subsequently revoked, was intended to conceal the actual reason behind its development—a need for a dedicated explorer to replace and enhance the missions carried out by larger warships. Despite the controversies surrounding its creation, the UEEN Carracks embarked on a remarkable journey of expert survey work that spanned more than a century. These military Carracks logged numerous discoveries, meticulously surveying moons, comets, jump points, and asteroid fields. Even to this day, they continue to be actively produced and utilized.[5]
In the early days following the Carrack's launch in UEEN service, its exceptional blend of military durability and appealing design captured the attention of the galaxy. Anvil Aerospace, the ship's manufacturer, received an overwhelming response, with over four thousand requests from organizations and individuals eager to acquire their own Carrack. Anvil sought permission from the military to sell the ship to civilians once the initial 18-month construction contract ended in 2825. However, the military initially declined due to the classified nature of the Carrack's original design process. Despite believing the decision to be wrong, Anvil chose not to contest it, as they didn't want to jeopardize their standing as a prime contractor for other projects like the Hornet. It would take the replacement of the staff officers who classified the destruction of the Carraway and several decades of waiting before the government finally relented.
In 2933, Anvil finally obtained authorization to develop a civilian version of the Carrack. However, the UEEN imposed certain requirements, including a complete overhaul of the sensor software and the prohibition of producing civilian Carracks in the same facilities as the military hulls. Development work commenced promptly but encountered delays. Rewriting the software proved challenging, and teams faced difficulties adapting the ship's standard metrics to civilian equipment, even in seemingly simple aspects like the dimensions of the loading ramp. To secure a slot in the initial production run, prospective captains were encouraged to place a deposit, leading to a "Carrack craze" as people bought and traded planned future hulls. Owners closely followed the progress of the civilian version through the various development delays.
Finally, on February 21, 2938, the first civilianized Carrack, affectionately named Sonny Boy by its crew, was delivered. This momentous occasion is annually celebrated as an unofficial "Carrack Day" by Carrack user groups. Civilian Carracks and their crews swiftly became a symbol of humanity's finest spacefarers, dedicated to the noble pursuit of exploration rather than commerce or defense. They represented the epitome of human curiosity and the aspiration to venture into the unknown for both knowledge and profit.[5]
