Fit of the Week

Deep Space Transports

With the Kronos release of EVE on June 3, 2014 there were two changes in the game which made it possible, and really preferable to use Deep Space Transports for hauling medium sized cargo, especially in low sec, null sec and wormhole space.

The two changes were buffs to the hulls with some changes to base defense, but the biggest changes were +100% bonus to overheating Afterburners, Microwarpdrives, Local Repair Modules and Resistance Modules.  The other large change was the introduction of a Fleet Hangar for the ships which now allows you to carry cargo of larger than 50k m3 size of cargo within the Fleet Hangar.  Each level of Tranport Ship skill will increase this size by 5%.

There are fits out there which will provide a significant tank, some of them greater than 140k EHP.  These are not those fits.  These fits will provide a decent tank 30-40k EHP prior to overheating.  The biggest inclusion in each of these fits is the Medium Micro Jump Drive.  This module provides a few benefits to the hauler pilot.

First, when jumping into a gate camp, there is a strong possibility of escaping the camp by using the MMJD.  The process is to decloak, activate hardeners, align to out gate, activate MMJD.   As long as you are not warp scrambeled, once the module has finished it's spool cycle, you are 100km away from the hostile gang.

This was recently proven during a trip from Amarr back to our low sec static entrance:

[ 2015.01.12 01:40:02 ] EVE System > Channel changed to Local : Ami

[ 2015.01.12 01:40:49 ] Aurra Jol > \o

[ 2015.01.12 01:40:57 ] SpankerOfAnkle > nice tank on there :)

[ 2015.01.12 01:41:04 ] Aurra Jol > thx

[ 2015.01.12 01:41:13 ] Aurra Jol > o7

Ami usually has a camp present on the Amdonen gate HS > LS.  This camp is usually very active and will kill nearly everything coming through that gate, including this Prowler later in the day.

Enough about the details, let me see the fits....

[Bustard, DST]

Expanded Cargohold II

Expanded Cargohold II

'Halcyon' Core Equalizer I

Medium Micro Jump Drive

Experimental 10MN Microwarpdrive I /OFFLINE

Adaptive Invulnerability Field II

Adaptive Invulnerability Field II

EM Ward Field II

EM Ward Field II

Improved Cloaking Device II

[empty high slot]

Medium Cargohold Optimization I

Medium Cargohold Optimization I

Tank of 47k EHP without heat.  With heat, EHP rises to 72k.  MWD is offline and is only necessary for null sec when you need to motor to a gate when there is a gate covering it.

[Impel, DST]

Armor Kinetic Hardener II

Armor Explosive Hardener II

Armor Thermic Hardener II

'Halcyon' Core Equalizer I

Armor EM Hardener II

Expanded Cargohold II

Expanded Cargohold II

Medium Micro Jump Drive

Experimental 10MN Microwarpdrive I /OFFLINE

Improved Cloaking Device II

[empty high slot]

Medium Cargohold Optimization I

Medium Cargohold Optimization I

Unfortunately, with the Impel you need to use your low slots for tank, so there is very little opportunity to increase your cargo capacity with expanders.  Without heat, tank is 39k EHP.  With heat, this jumps to 69k EHP.

[Mastodon, DST]

'Halcyon' Core Equalizer I

'Halcyon' Core Equalizer I

Expanded Cargohold II

Expanded Cargohold II

Medium Micro Jump Drive

Experimental 10MN Microwarpdrive I /OFFLINE

Kinetic Deflection Field II

Adaptive Invulnerability Field II

Adaptive Invulnerability Field II

Improved Cloaking Device II

[empty high slot]

Medium Cargohold Optimization I

Medium Cargohold Optimization I

The tank without heat is 41k EHP, and with heat rises to 59k EHP.

[Occator, DST]

Armor EM Hardener II

Armor Explosive Hardener II

'Halcyon' Core Equalizer I

Armor Explosive Hardener II

Armor Thermic Hardener II

Expanded Cargohold II

Medium Micro Jump Drive

Experimental 10MN Microwarpdrive I /OFFLINE

ECM Burst II

Improved Cloaking Device II

[empty high slot]

Medium Cargohold Optimization I

Medium Cargohold Optimization I

The Occator is a unique ship.  It has the extra 3rd mid slot that the Impel did not, and as it is armor tanked, there is no shield module you would want to use.  I elected to go with an ECM Burst to clear off any ships who happen to be scrambling you (may not work if they are using a faction scram, due to the distance they gain in being able to apply the scram).

Tank without heat is 41k EHP and with heat rises to 64k EHP.

Overall, I usually fly either the Mastodon or the Bustard.  However, after reviewing the fits above and the tanks possible I will be looking to train any future pilots into the Bustard.  The unheated EHP is the largest out of all 4 and the heated EHP also the largest.  Outside of the Bustard, if you are looking at armor tanking, I would suggest the Occator.  The EHP is in the same ballpark as the Impel, and I am giving the Occator the advantage as that 3rd mid slot is nice especially to attempt to break locks.

Based on personal preference, please feel free to go with other rigs to suit your needs.  Possibly rigs for warp speed increase, better EHP.  These ships do not truly benefit from cargo expanders or cargo rigs as traditional industrial ships or even the Blockade Runners do.

Disclaimer: All fits are using an All V character via EFT.  No implants were in use to conjure up these fits.