Infantry Bay vs Infantry Compartment

[KaiserDunk]

I'm finally getting up to speed with a new design program, and my rule books end with the early 2000s BattleTech Master Rules.   I was designing a vehicle that carried a squad of infantry, and noticed Infantry Bays and Infantry Compartments.   What is the difference between the two and how does it impact the game in terms of how they work?

[Tai Dai Cultist]

A Transport Compartment is for very short term use, like a few hours at most.  A Transport Bay is for intermediate duration use such as a few days to weeks.

Think of the difference between the amenities inside of a bus or APC (compartment) with the amenities available in a barracks or field tent (bay).

"Proper" living quarters for long term use would be best represented by passenger/crew tonnage for spacecraft.

[KaiserDunk]

Thank you.

[Colt Ward]

One is for a dropship and one is for a APC

[Daryk]

To break down TDC's description a little more, I'd compare "Bay" quality to Airwing, Marine, or junior enlisted berthing on a modern (surface) US warship.  "Steerage" (5 ton) would probably be senior enlisted or junior officer berthing, "Standard" (7 ton) would probably be 2-3 person staterooms with heads shared by multiple staterooms, while "Officer" (10 ton) berthing would be the minimum for individual staterooms, with or without private heads.  It does vary a bit with the size of a ship. On a 688-class submarine, even the CO shares a head with the XO, while on an aircraft carrier, senior O-5s (specifically, squadron COs) share a head with one other senior O-5.  Some O-6s on carriers are similarly privileged, but some also have their own (e.g., the CO, XO, Destroyer Squadron Commodore, Airwing Commander, Chief of Staff of the Strike Group, et al.).