Well the Maruader isnt UIT only (not that it really should be since UIT is a group of companies really) also the Maud isn't very useful now that we have the Behemoth it just allows for quick shipping of small amounts.

So I figured a new ship would be nice. Rather than designing an entirely new line of ships I figured a variant would do quite well.

Now the UIT is always plagued by pirates so a new ship built to combat pirates and such would be rather nice.

Warthog Convoy Defender
Faction UIT
Variant Elite
Armor 13000
Cargo 4
Weapons 2 large
Mass 7000 kg
Length 10 m
Thrust 250 N
Max Speed 65 m/s
Spin Torque 8.0 Nm
Turbo Speed 220 m/s
Turbo Energy 60/s

(or maybe call it the Bounty Hunter)

Now I am not quite certain of the balance of the ship but the purpose would be to protect trade ships and work in an Anti-Pirate fashion.

A few weapon layouts for this ship design would be...

Repair: Dual repair ability would definately keep the trade ships going.

Mine Layer: The ship has enough mobility to make good use of mines. So with 2 large ports it can still dodge and strategically place mines.

Of course these arent the only layouts but ould be highly effective when it comes to comvoy protection.

About the content idea (I came up with it while coming up with a ship idea). Well we all know that the UIT gets shafted on the CtC (it makes sense since CtC is part of the war) and the UIT doesnt benefit in from it.
So the idea is to have UIT supply ships leave to Itani/Serco space (capitol areas) to trade resources for other resources, supplies, and equipment. These supplies will need to be delivered back to Dau space. The trade ships will likely be marauders and atlas ships guarded by the new Convoy Defender. So the purpose though to this event is that if the UIT meets its quota it will be able to produce the new Convoy Defenders on a marketable level rather than for the escort only. Also a surplus will provide the ships at a slightly lower cost and will provide The Convoy Guardians as patrol ships to guard any trade ship under attack.
But if pirates successfully prevent the UIT from meeting its quota then it can only produce enough defenders to protect the convoys. Also the supplies will be worth money and if Delivered to Corvus the standing with Corvus will increase and weaponry and ships may become cheaper depending on the amount supplied.

So there would be benefit for the UIT and Pirate groups willing to participate in this action. There should be a UIT faction decrease for attacking the convoys. This also promotes pirating outside of gray space to help spice things up and allow for more bounty hunting.

So what does everyone think?

Should UIT really have 2 special warthogs? I think they should get a special hornet, myself.

Well orion does the special hornet. Do they count as UIT? they're in UIT space (at least partially) i think

Wel the thing is the Hornet isn't of much use and would eed a quite a bit to be made useful. The warthog is a well rounded ship and since the UIT seem to support thsi ship design I figured that another UIT variant would likely be a warthog.

I would mostly prefer an entirely new ship but I figured that the UIT wouldnt really need to build new ships since the available design patterns can easily be modified for specific needs.

I only chose the warthog sicne UIT seemed fond of it and I happen to like the Warthog. But if anyone has any ideas for a new ship (or variant) for the UIT then feel free. I was also figuring that with the behemoth and the Maud a cargo transport wouldnt be of much use and the UIT could use a "police" of sorts to partol and deal with criminals. So that would mean that the ship will need to be able to take some hits and still be relatively fast to catch pirates.

Since everyone seems to be in a ship suggestions kinda mood recently.

[Serco special light fighter] (Itani get a light bomber)
Basic ship: Mark I
Armor: 7,700
Cargo capacity: 6
Weapons: 1 L weapon port
Mass: 3700kg
Length: 11m
Thrust: 210
Max Speed: 60
Spin Torque: 6
Turbo Max Speed: 215
Turbo Energy: 55

Put the L weapon smack dab in the middle of a ship with a rifle shaft looking gun there. BIG'N shiny. make the wings look like a backwards eagle. \|/ not /|\.

----------/ \----------
----------\|/---------- Itani Valk
---------- * ----------
---------- . ----------
---------- . ----------
---------- . ----------
----------\|/---------- Serco Nightwing (special light fighter variant)

[Elite 500 Kill Scout ship]

Basic ship: Mark I
Armor: 3,700
Cargo capacity: 1
Weapons: 0
Electronics port: 2 (when implemented)
Mass: 2000kg
Length: 9m
Thrust: 240
Max Speed: 90
Spin Torque: 7.5
Turbo Max Speed: 275
Turbo Energy: 60

That's my version tell me if it's too good or not good enough :)

http://rfblues.aaanime.net/Characters/Swordfish2.gif
http://www.animeinfo.org/featured/bebop/pics/ship-swordfishii.jpg
http://www.inetres.com/gp/anime/bebop/09/bebop_09_32.jpg
http://www.inetres.com/gp/anime/bebop/09/bebop_09_08.jpg
http://www.inetres.com/gp/anime/bebop/09/bebop_09_35.jpg

Those links show a ship called the "Swordfish II", if your into anime you may know of it from Cowboy Bebop. When I read your description of the ship you wanted I immediately though of this ship.

hehe yes exactly!!!!!!!!!
:P

<Wel the thing is the Hornet isn't of much use and would eed a quite a bit to be made useful.>

-If you give it a healthy dose of agility it'll be the deadliest ship in the game. The only problem is that filling up 4 weapons slots really packs on the mass.