| abstract | - The Type 18 is now replacing the Type 15 as the standard Starfleet shuttlepod. The Type 18 is a larger design than the Type 15, so much so that it can almost be classed as a light shuttle. Significantly, the impulse engines are mounted in pods on the exterior rather than being contained within the hull; this gives considerably more free internal space to the crew, and where the Type 15 can only take 2 crew the Type 18 can take up to 6. The extra space enables the Type 18 to undertake missions of somewhat greater length, with a normal maximum mission duration of 20 hours. The Type 18 is also considerably more heavily armed than its predecessor; there are two type IV phaser weapons mounted in a small turret on the dorsal hull plate, giving a total of twice the firepower of the Type 15's single emitter. However, neither craft is a serious combat platform since they both lack shielding. The Type 18 is expected to remain in production for the duration of the Dominion war at least, and possibly for some considerable time afterwards.
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