List of Spacecraft in The Culture Series - Common Ship Types

Common Ship Types

Class Acronym Description
General Systems Vehicles GSV Mobile habitats and / or factory ships, largest Culture ship type. May be home to billions of people.
Medium Systems Vehicle MSV Smaller versions of the above. Sometimes former GSVs downgraded as larger GSV classes were developed.
Limited Systems Vehicle LSV Smaller versions of the above. Sometimes former GSVs or MSVs downgraded as larger GSV classes were developed.
General Contact Vehicle GCV Larger, more capable Contact craft between the size of a GCU and Systems Vehicle; plays similar role to GCUs (see below)
General Contact Unit GCU Ambassadors, scouts and light transports; also main warship in peacetime
Limited Contact Unit LCU Smaller versions of the above.
General Offensive Unit GOU Dedicated main warships
Rapid Offensive Unit ROU Dedicated fast warships
Limited Offensive Unit LOU Dedicated warships, smaller than GOUs
Demilitarized ROU (d)ROU Civilianised ROUs used as courier ships, all or most weaponry removed
Very Fast Picket VFP A euphemism for (d)ROU, used in the same role.
Heavy Lifter HL Dedicated materials mover, smaller than GCUs.

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