Imperial Army

[WHULorigan]

Assault riders that take the place of Battle Riders on fleet tenders. Assault battleships that forgo spinal weapons in favour of troop accommodation, equipment, and orbital support artillery (meson bays)

I like this idea. Makes Fleet Tenders a lot more useful and flexible. Put a couple of Riders and and a mix or troop transports and orbital support stations (logistics and COACC combos?). Nix and match as needed.
They'd probably all need the same basic hull to fit onto the tenders but that's not a bad thing either

These are actually briefly alluded to in the Appendices of Agent of the Imperium under the section on "Hull Codes" for Capital Vessels (BCS/Battle Class Ships):

The Ship Identifier​

The first letter of the Mission Code is the Ship Identifier, conveying a basic understanding of the ship and its intended activities. . . . .​

• V. Carrier. A naval vessel intended to transport, launch, and support other vessels
  which participate in a conflict. Carriers typically operate at a distance from the main
  battle.
  

The Mission Modifer​

The second (and sometimes third) letter of the Ship Code is the Mission Modifier, conveying specific tactics, strategies, or abilities included in the ship’s design. Some of the more important codes are: . . . .​

• L. Lander. The craft carries troops, vehicles, and equipment to a world surface for
  battle. An Assault Lander delivers directly to the battlefield.

For example, some idea of a ship’s intended capabilities can be gleaned from its identifying codes. . . . .​

• V is a Carrier.
• VR is a Rider Carrier.
• VF is a Fighter Carrier.
• VL supports Landers for a planetary invasion.

 

[Sigtrygg]

Imagine a 20kt assault rider landing on a planet. It's nuclear dampers and meson screens protecting troops from battlefield meson guns and nukes, its turrets providing point defence and its meson and missile bays ready to support the disembarking troops.

 

[Condottiere]

The funny part is, that's how the post bellum Confederation Army is set up.

 

[ottarrus]

Just as an aside to our discussion and illustrative purposes, the Captain General and Sergeant Major of the British Royal Marines released an interesting recruiting and morale building video just yesterday.
You can almost imagine this modified for the Imperial Marines....
Have a look:

 

[ottarrus]

Also, I've posted this before but it also seems germane
[note: this Osprey title does not exist. If it did, I'd own it already]

 

[Condottiere]

It's closer to Star Wars.

You have a self contained Stormtrooper Corps, and an Imperial Army.

It's just that most players are likely to encounter Stormtroopers.

 

[WHULorigan]

Also, I've posted this before but it also seems germane
[note: this Osprey title does not exist. If it did, I'd own it already]

View attachment 1789

So in other words, you need to talk to Marc and Osprey and get on it . . .
(Just make sure those Sunbursts are Maroon).

 

[ottarrus]

So in other words, you need to talk to Marc and Osprey and get on it . . .
(Just make sure those Sunbursts are Maroon).

Sadly, this is not my work or I may very well have done so.
When it first came across my desk a couple-three years ago, I lost my mind in the skwee and looked for it for two weeks, so....
Then, of course, there was the fake Chilton's Repair Manual for the Type A Beowulf... again, just a cover but... No worries, the Starship Operator's Guide comes out next week.

 

[collins355]

There definitely are large assault carriers in canon. In both FFW and Invasion Earth board games you see AssaultRons that can carry 600 battalions. That’s 30 divisions!

 

[WHULorigan]

There definitely are large assault carriers in canon. In both FFW and Invasion Earth board games you see AssaultRons that can carry 600 battalions. That’s 30 divisions!

So on average that would be approximately (give or take) 6 Corps, or a full Field Army Proper with a 4-Star Commander.

 

[Condottiere]

There's this thing called span of control.

 

[Sigtrygg]

There definitely are large assault carriers in canon. In both FFW and Invasion Earth board games you see AssaultRons that can carry 600 battalions. That’s 30 divisions!

Yes but where are the HG designs

Some assumptions - a batallion is 1000 men and each man requires 2 tons, that's 1,200,000 tons of space required.
WAG 2/3 the ship is the usual stuff so we have 1/3 for troop transport.
3.600,000 tons of ship needed. We know the Imperium has 1,000,000t tenders so we need four of them in an AsRon.

 

[tytalan]

Here’s my thoughts first how the wiki describes the Imperial Army “The Unified Armies of the Imperium is built upon the regimental system, in which each sufficiently populous Imperial world within a subsector raises a regiment (typically of three to five battalions) from its own planetary defense force to be equipped and trained to Imperial standards. The battalions of these regiments are then deployed to the various brigades of the Imperial Army as needed, which are in turn organized into Imperial Army divisions. Imperial Army organization typically extends to the subsector level, and is under the ultimate authority of the local Subsector Duke, who generally appoints a Subsector Marshal to oversee its operations within his demesne. Large scale operations (as are typical during wartime) are overseen by the Sector Grand Marshal who is generally appointed by the presiding Sector Duke.”. Now there a various sources supporting this The Spinward Marches Adventure, Signal GK, and the Rebellion Handbook are notable ones.

So here’s my thoughts the Army is primarily defensive in nature tho sometimes its is used offensively during war but because of it’s strong ties to individual planets and or regions it’s seen as the lesser service. Even tho these units are supposed to be trained and equipped to imperial standards I don’t see them as being as well trained or equipped as the marines. Where the marines are famous for their FGMP-15s and Battledress with complete TL 15 kit I figure that the Army is probably only Kited out at TL12 possibly 13. I see this for a few reasons 1) TL12 is just more available and the army is huge far larger than the marines. 2) if the imperium has the intervene on a world the troops the marines would be fighting the local Army unit. 3) Cost from the description the world itself not the imperium has to pay the bills.

To me this says while the Army is vastly outnumber the Marines they are usually considered local troops while the marines are considered the strong right arm of the imperium

 

[Sigtrygg]

Canon has the Imperial Army units at TL15.

Lat time I looked the USA doesn't equip soldiers with pike and musket

As an aside they are actually looking seriously at giving every infantry soldier one of these?

 

[AnotherDilbert]

Canon has the Imperial Army units at TL15.

Agreed, mostly.
FFW counters (the second number is TL):

Lat time I looked the USA doesn't equip soldiers with pike and musket

Colonial units are not so lucky:

 

[AnotherDilbert]

Some assumptions - a batallion is 1000 men and each man requires 2 tons, that's 1,200,000 tons of space required.

Yes, for foot infantry...

Double that for lift infantry, and triple it for some basic supplies...

3.600,000 tons of ship needed. We know the Imperium has 1,000,000t tenders so we need four of them in an AsRon.

Or perhaps 10 Mt. For the transports.

Then you need the assault landers...

Yes but where are the HG designs

They are trivial?

A few minutes gives:
1 MDt, J-4, some basic defences, streamlined so it can refuel itself.
380 kDt payload: enough for 60 k troops with some vehicles and supplies.

QT-Y6424J4-099909-00000-1    MCr 444 233   1 000 000 Dton
bearing     Z   5                              Crew=5 057
batteries   Z   A                                   TL=15
      Low=500 Cargo=380090 Fuel=440000 EP=40000 Agility=2

Dual Occupancy                                  380 090   444 233
                                     USP    #      Dton      Cost
Hull, Streamlined   Custom             Y      1 000 000        
Configuration       Flattened Sphe     6                   80 000
Scoops              Streamlined                             1 000
                                                               
Jump Drive                             4    1    50 000   200 000
Manoeuvre D                            2    1    50 000    35 000
Power Plant                            4    1    40 000   120 000
Fuel, #J, #weeks    J-4, 4 weeks            4    40 000        
Purifier                                    1     6 600        66
                                                               
Bridge                                      1    20 000     5 000
Computer            m/9fib             J    1        26       200
                                                               
Staterooms                                 55       220        28
Staterooms, Half                         5052    10 104     1 263
Low Berths                                500       250        25
                                                               
Cargo                                           380 090        
Demountable Tanks   J-4                     1   400 000       400
                                                               
Bay                 Repulsor, 100 t    9   10     1 000       110
Triple Turret 10/ba Sand               9  100     1 000       750    1000 mounts organised into 100 batteries.
                                                               
Nuclear Damper                         9    1        20        50
Meson Screen                           9    1        40        60
                                                               
Cutter              50 Dton                10       650       281
                                                               
Nominal Cost        MCr 444 232,80       Sum:   380 090   444 233
Class Cost          MCr  93 230,09      Valid        ≥0        ≥0
Ship Cost           MCr 355 442,24                              
                                                               
                                                               
Crew &               High     0        Crew          Bridge   500
Passengers            Mid     0        5057       Engineers  1400
                      Low   500                     Gunners   131
                 Extra SR    50      Frozen         Service  3005
               # Frozen W     0           0          Flight    21
                  Marines     0                     Marines     0

 

[AnotherDilbert]

If we want to get fancy:

1 MDt + a 600 kDt drop tank.
J-4, or J-6 if we drop the tank.
GCr 500 (more than a Tigress...)
620 kDt payload, enough for 100 k troops.

QT-Y6636J4-099909-00000-1    MCr 526 234   1 000 000 Dton    Ag=3
QT-Y6424J4-099909-00000-1    MCr 526 234   1 600 000 Dton
bearing     Z   5                              Crew=5 897
batteries   Z   A                                   TL=15
 Cargo=626450 Fuel=104000 EP=64000 Agility=2 DropT=600000

Dual Occupancy                                  626 450   657 722
                                     USP    #      Dton      Cost
Hull, Streamlined   Custom             Y      1 000 000        
Configuration       Flattened Sphe     6                   80 000
Scoops              Streamlined                             1 000
                                                               
Drop Tanks          600 000 Dton                              600
Total tonnage       1 600 000 Dton                              
                                                               
Jump Drive                             4    1    80 000   320 000
Manoeuvre D                            2    1    80 000    56 000
Power Plant                            4    1    64 000   192 000
Fuel, #J, #weeks    J-4, 4 weeks            4    64 000        
Purifier                                    1    10 560       106
                                                               
Bridge                                      1    20 000     5 000
Computer            m/9fib             J    1        26       200
                                                               
Staterooms                                 55       220        28
Staterooms, Half                         5892    11 784     1 473
Low Berths                                500       250        25
                                                               
Cargo                                           626 450        
Demountable Tanks   J-4                     1    40 000        40
                                                               
Bay                 Repulsor, 100 t    9   10     1 000       110
Triple Turret 10/ba Sand               9  100     1 000       750    1000 mounts organised into 100 batteries.
                                                               
Nuclear Damper                         9    1        20        50
Meson Screen                           9    1        40        60
                                                               
Cutter              50 Dton                10       650       281
                                                               
Nominal Cost        MCr 657 722,41       Sum:   626 450   657 722
Class Cost          MCr 138 062,91      Valid        ≥0        ≥0
Ship Cost           MCr 526 233,93                              
                                                               
                                                               
Crew &               High     0        Crew          Bridge   500
Passengers            Mid     0        5897       Engineers  2240
                      Low   500                     Gunners   131
                 Extra SR    50      Frozen         Service  3005
               # Frozen W     0           0          Flight    21
                  Marines     0                     Marines     0

 

[AnotherDilbert]

Assault Carrier:
J-4, some defences, a few meson bays.
550 000 Dt payload (perhaps 100 000 troopers)
_40 1.5 kDt Assault Landers
100 50 Dt Heavy Fighters
_10 50 Dt Cutters
__2 50 Dt Launch Tubes launches 80 small craft per round.

AC-Y6636J4-099909-99090-15    MCr 537 589   1 000 000 Dton    Ag=3
AC-Y6424J4-099909-99090-15    MCr 537 589   1 600 000 Dton
bearing     Z   5 33 4                         Crew=6 219
batteries   Z   A 55 7                              TL=15
 Cargo=550406 Fuel=104000 EP=64000 Agility=2 DropT=600000

Dual Occupancy                                  550 406   669 283
                                     USP    #      Dton      Cost
Hull, Streamlined   Custom             Y      1 000 000        
Configuration       Flattened Sphe     6                   80 000
Scoops              Streamlined                             1 000
                                                               
Drop Tanks          600 000 Dton                              600
Total tonnage       1 600 000 Dton                              
                                                               
Jump Drive                             4    1    80 000   320 000
Manoeuvre D                            2    1    80 000    56 000
Power Plant                            4    1    64 000   192 000
Fuel, #J, #weeks    J-4, 4 weeks            4    64 000        
Purifier                                    1    10 560       106
                                                               
Bridge                                      1    20 000     5 000
Computer            m/9fib             J    1        26       200
                                                               
Staterooms                                  5        20         3
Staterooms, Half                         6214    12 428     1 554
                                                               
Cargo                                           550 406        
Demountable Tanks   J-4                     1    40 000        40
                                                               
Bay                 Meson, 100 t       9    7       700       497
Bay                 Repulsor, 100 t    9   10     1 000       110
Triple Turret 10/ba Beam               9    5        50       150    50 turrets organised into 5 batteries.
Double Turret 10/ba Fusion             9    5       100       200    50 turrets organised into 5 batteries.
Triple Turret 10/ba Sand               9  100     1 000       750    1000 mounts organised into 100 batteries.
                                                               
Nuclear Damper                         9    1        20        50
Meson Screen                           9    1        40        60
                                                               
Ship                1500 Dton              40    66 000       132
Heavy Fighter       50 Dton               100     6 500    10 546
Cutter              50 Dton                10       650       281
Launch Tube         50 Dton                 2     2 500         5
                                                               
Nominal Cost        MCr 669 282,91       Sum:   550 406   669 283
Class Cost          MCr 138 278,68      Valid        ≥0        ≥0
Ship Cost           MCr 537 588,93                              
                                                               
                                                               
Crew &               High     0        Crew          Bridge   500
Passengers            Mid     0        6219       Engineers  2240
                      Low     0                     Gunners   158
                 Extra SR     0      Frozen         Service  3000
               # Frozen W     0           0          Flight   321
                  Marines     0                     Marines     0

Assault Lander:
1500 Dt, fast, well armoured, screened, some weapons.
500 Dt payload, so up to 1000 troopers or 50 AFVs.

AL-A106EJ2-F49900-45009-0      MCr 1 382       1 500 Dton
bearing     1     11  1                           Crew=36
batteries   1     11  1                             TL=15
                      Cargo=515 Fuel=224 EP=224 Agility=6

Dual Occupancy                                      515     1 727
                                     USP    #      Dton      Cost
Hull, Streamlined   Custom             A          1 500        
Configuration       Needle/Wedge       1                      180
Scoops              Streamlined                                 2
Armour              15                 F            240       432
                                                               
Manoeuvre D         Z                  6    1        47        96
Power Plant                           14    1       224       672
Fuel, #J, #weeks    J-0, 4 weeks                    224        
                                                               
Bridge                                      1        30         8
Computer            m/9fib             J    1        26       200
                                                               
Staterooms                                  4        16         2
Staterooms, Half                           32        64         8
                                                               
Cargo                                               515        
                                                               
Bay                 Missile, 50 t      9    1        50        13
Triple Turret       Beam               4    1         1         3
Single Turret       Fusion             5    1         2         2
Triple Turret       Sand               4    1         1         1
                                                               
Nuclear Damper                         9    1        20        50
Meson Screen                           9    1        40        60
                                                               
Nominal Cost        MCr 1 727,25         Sum:       515     1 727
Class Cost          MCr   362,72        Valid        ≥0        ≥0
Ship Cost           MCr 1 381,80                                
                                                               
                                                               
Crew &               High     0        Crew          Bridge    10
Passengers            Mid     0          36       Engineers     3
                      Low     0                     Gunners    18
                 Extra SR     0      Frozen         Service     5
               # Frozen W     0           0          Flight     0
                  Marines     0                     Marines     0

Assault Lander, Drop:
1500 Dt, fast, well armoured, screened, some weapons.
200 Drop Launchers with 4 Capsules ready each, so can drop 800 drop troops.

AL-A106EJ2-F49900-45009-0      MCr 1 383       1 500 Dton
bearing     1     11  1                           Crew=36
batteries   1     11  1                             TL=15
                       Cargo=15 Fuel=224 EP=224 Agility=6

Dual Occupancy                                       15     1 729
                                     USP    #      Dton      Cost
Hull, Streamlined   Custom             A          1 500         
Configuration       Needle/Wedge       1                      180
Scoops              Streamlined                                 2
Armour              15                 F            240       432
                                                                
Manoeuvre D         Z                  6    1        47        96
Power Plant                           14    1       224       672
Fuel, #J, #weeks    J-0, 4 weeks                    224         
                                                                
Bridge                                      1        30         8
Computer            m/9fib             J    1        26       200
                                                                
Staterooms                                  4        16         2
Staterooms, Half                           32        64         8
                                                                
Cargo                                                15         
                                                                
Bay                 Missile, 50 t      9    1        50        13
Triple Turret       Beam               4    1         1         3
Single Turret       Fusion             5    1         2         2
Triple Turret       Sand               4    1         1         1
                                                                
Nuclear Damper                         9    1        20        50
Meson Screen                           9    1        40        60
                                                                
                                                                
Jump Capsule        4 ready               200       500         2
                                                                
Nominal Cost        MCr 1 729,25         Sum:        15     1 729
Class Cost          MCr   363,14        Valid        ≥0        ≥0
Ship Cost           MCr 1 383,40                                 
                                                                
                                                                
Crew &               High     0        Crew          Bridge    10
Passengers            Mid     0          36       Engineers     3
                      Low     0                     Gunners    18
                 Extra SR     0      Frozen         Service     5
               # Frozen W     0           0          Flight     0
                  Marines     0                     Marines     0

 

[AnotherDilbert]

Division-sized Assault Carrier:
Roughly the size and cost of a 200 kDt battleship.

AC-S6636J4-099909-99090-5    MCr 136 066     250 000 Dton    Ag=3
AC-U6424J4-099909-99090-5    MCr 136 066     400 000 Dton
bearing     Z   7 44 4                         Crew=1 654
batteries   Z   A 66 6                              TL=15
  Cargo=134326 Fuel=26000 EP=16000 Agility=2 DropT=150000

Dual Occupancy                                  134 326   169 223
                                     USP    #      Dton      Cost
Hull, Streamlined   Custom             S        250 000         
Configuration       Flattened Sphe     6                   20 000
Scoops              Streamlined                               250
                                                                
Drop Tanks          150 000 Dton                              150
Total tonnage       400 000 Dton                                 
                                                                
Jump Drive                             4    1    20 000    80 000
Manoeuvre D                            2    1    20 000    14 000
Power Plant                            4    1    16 000    48 000
Fuel, #J, #weeks    J-4, 4 weeks            4    16 000         
Purifier                                    1     2 640        26
                                                                
Bridge                                      1     5 000     1 250
Computer            m/9fib             J    1        26       200
                                                                
Staterooms                                  5        20         3
Staterooms, Half                         1649     3 298       412
                                                                
Cargo                                           134 326         
Demountable Tanks   J-4                     1    10 000        10
                                                                
Bay                 Meson, 100 t       9    6       600       426
Bay                 Repulsor, 100 t    9   10     1 000       110
Triple Turret 10/ba Beam               9    6        60       180    60 turrets organised into 6 batteries.
Double Turret 10/ba Fusion             9    6       120       240    60 turrets organised into 6 batteries.
Triple Turret 10/ba Sand               9   50       500       375    500 mounts organised into 50 batteries.
                                                                
Nuclear Damper                         9    1        20        50
Meson Screen                           9    1        40        60
                                                                
Ship                1500 Dton              10    16 500        33
Heavy Fighter       50 Dton                30     1 950     3 164
Cutter              50 Dton                10       650       281
Launch Tube         50 Dton                 1     1 250         3
                                                                
Nominal Cost        MCr 169 222,76       Sum:   134 326   169 223
Class Cost          MCr  34 814,40      Valid        ≥0        ≥0
Ship Cost           MCr 136 066,19                               
                                                                
                                                                
Crew &               High     0        Crew          Bridge   125
Passengers            Mid     0        1654       Engineers   560
                      Low     0                     Gunners   108
                 Extra SR     0      Frozen         Service   750
               # Frozen W     0           0          Flight   111
                  Marines     0                     Marines     0

 

[AnotherDilbert]

Brigade Assault Carrier:
Size and cost of a Cruiser.

AC-P6636J3-099909-99090-2     MCr 33 542      60 000 Dton    Ag=3
AC-Q6424J3-099909-99090-2     MCr 33 542      96 000 Dton
bearing     Q   2 22 1                           Crew=458
batteries   W   3 33 1                              TL=15
      Cargo=30834 Fuel=6240 EP=3840 Agility=2 DropT=36000

Dual Occupancy                                   30 834    41 595
                                     USP    #      Dton      Cost
Hull, Streamlined   Custom             P         60 000         
Configuration       Flattened Sphe     6                    4 800
Scoops              Streamlined                                60
                                                                
Drop Tanks          36 000 Dton                                36
Total tonnage       96 000 Dton                                 
                                                                
Jump Drive                             4    1     4 800    19 200
Manoeuvre D                            2    1     4 800     3 360
Power Plant                            4    1     3 840    11 520
Fuel, #J, #weeks    J-4, 4 weeks            4     3 840         
Purifier                                    1       634         6
                                                                
Bridge                                      1     1 200       300
Computer            m/9fib             J    1        26       200
                                                                
Staterooms                                  5        20         3
Staterooms, Half                          453       906       113
                                                                
Cargo                                            30 834         
Demountable Tanks   J-4                     1     2 400         2
                                                                
Bay                 Meson, 100 t       9    1       100        71
Bay                 Repulsor, 100 t    9    3       300        33
Triple Turret 10/ba Beam               9    3        30        90    30 turrets organised into 3 batteries.
Double Turret 10/ba Fusion             9    3        60       120    30 turrets organised into 3 batteries.
Triple Turret 10/ba Sand               9   30       300       225    300 mounts organised into 30 batteries.
                                                                
Nuclear Damper                         9    1        20        50
Meson Screen                           9    1        40        60
                                                                
Ship                1500 Dton               2     3 300         7
Heavy Fighter       50 Dton                10       650     1 055
Cutter              50 Dton                10       650       281
Launch Tube         50 Dton                 1     1 250         3
                                                                
Nominal Cost        MCr 41 594,50        Sum:    30 834    41 595
Class Cost          MCr  8 454,85       Valid        ≥0        ≥0
Ship Cost           MCr 33 542,26                               
                                                                
                                                                
Crew &               High     0        Crew          Bridge    30
Passengers            Mid     0         458       Engineers   135
                      Low     0                     Gunners    58
                 Extra SR     0      Frozen         Service   180
               # Frozen W     0           0          Flight    55
                  Marines     0                     Marines     0