Small Craft as mobile BA base

[Maingunnery]

A basis concept has been in my head for quite some time, which is using a Small Craft as a mobile base for BA.
This could be far cheaper and less visible then a DropShip. If properly disguised they might even be able to hitchhike with civilian traffic.
I envision them operate independently for months (6?), doing covert missions such as surveillance, assassinations, terrain scouting, etc.

Now there is a dilemma, how much tonnage do I dedicate to each BA suit?
The tonnage on a SC is highly limited, but I think that the most efficient proposal is:
 
5 Ton Steerage Quarter
1 Ton BA Compartment (single suit storage & deployment)
1 Ton of Consumables (200 days, see SO p155)
1 Ton of Cargo (fuel, spares, munitions)

On the basis of this I think that a bare-bones SC could house a strike force of 12 Battle Armor suits. Any problems with this proposal or possible improvements?

Code: [Select]

Class/Model/Name:  BaseShuttle BA-12
Mass:              200 tons

Equipment:                                                              Mass
Power Plant, Drive & Control:                                           39,00
Thrust:  Safe Thrust: 3
      Maximum Thrust: 5
Structural Integrity: 5                                                  2,00
Total Heat Sinks:    7 Single                                             ,00
Fuel & Fuel Pumps:                                                      20,50
Bridge, Controls, Radar, Computer & Attitude Thrusters:                  1,50
Fire Control Computers:                                                   ,00
Armor Type:  Ferro-aluminum  (342 total armor pts)                      18,00
                           Standard Scale Armor Pts
   Location:                            L / R
   Fore:                                103
   Left/Right Sides:                  83/83
   Aft:                                  73

Cargo:
   Bay 1:  BA Compartment (12) with 6 doors                         12,00
           Cargo (1) with 2 doors                                       32,00


Crew and Passengers:
      3 Crew (3 minimum)                                                15,00
     12 Steerage Passengers                                             60,00
Weapons and Equipment      Loc        SRV    MRV    LRV    ERV  Heat    Mass
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTALS:                                                     Heat: 0    200,00
Tons Left:                                                                ,00


[Siden Pryde]

Interesting concept.  Though, as you said, really only useful for covert or civilian work.  Once the shooting starts, this thing needs to run and hide.  It does not have the speed or firepower to tangle with even the lightest fighter or combat small craft.

[Maingunnery]

With so much invested in housing BA it puts weight at a premium, but I can likely add some AMS/ECM/BAP, as those don't require additional crew/gunners.