Solomani Confederation (Military)

[Condottiere]

Confederation Navy: Organization

Strike Force

G. Distributed evenly across the flight pods, that would twenty fighters, twenty four torpedo bombers, and twenty two/threeish dive bombers, per flight pod.

H. While the Zeroes would be mostly unarmoured, with a single firmpoint, the Confederation Navy would have medium fighters at thirty five tonnes with two firmpoints.

I. Design logic would indicate a seventy tonne torpedo bomber, with a torpedo barbette.

J. We could presume that the dive bomber is also seventy tonnes, specialized in missiles, with a missile barbette.

K. The float planes could be hundred tonne, short range scoutships.

 

[Condottiere]

Confederation Navy: Organization

Strike Force

L. The way I would do it, is to organize the fighters into six craft flights of three divisions each, three flights plus a command flight for the fighter squadron leader, the executive officer, any spare wingmen, and spare fighters.

M. The attack craft would remain in three craft cells, two flights of three cells, and a command flight of five or six craft for command and control, as well as picking off surviving enemy vessels.

N. Standardization would be seventy tonne launch tubes, which you'd want three in each pod, to mostly launch within twelve minutes.

O. Assuming a wave of three hundred sixty craft within those twelve minutes.

P. Or less, if you're arranging for second and third strikes.

 

[Condottiere]

Confederation Navy: Organization

Strike Fleet

1. This I'd rather doubt anyone would organize.

2. By the implied size, at some point you'd involve at least one Fleet Squadron.

3. Those would be the core of a Task Force.

4. And diplomatically, labelling something a fleet that's unlikely able, or willing, to hold ground, would tend to imply weakness, and unlikely to attain any strategic goals, if any.

5. Since you'd likely be drawing from the naval assets of a quadrant, what you'd end up with should look like a Combined Fleet.

6. A fleet sized unit would be a major incursion into hostile space.

7. Which would rapidly escalate to a war.

8. So the Confederation would not authorize such an expeditionary formation.

9. Though you could heavily reinforce, and augment, a Strike Force.

 

[Condottiere]

Confederation Navy: Bombers

1. Or bombardment.

2. Generally, physical ordnance.

3. If we set aside sand, that would be mass drivers, railguns, missiles, and torpedoes.

4. Smarts bombs, glided or not, and dumb rockets.

5. For the Confederation Army, that would be space based siege cannons, and aerospace support (craft).

6. For the Confederation Navy, outside of supporting the Army, that would be strikes and bombardment, planetary, orbital, or otherwise.

7. While they could tweak the armament of a major combatant to tilt towards weapon systems more commonly utilized in bombardments, the Confederation Navy has no dedicated bombardment cruisers.

8. By definition, monitors should fill that role.

9. And gunboats.

 

[Condottiere]

Confederation Navy: Bombers

A. Bombing feels like the ordnance was released and freely descends to the target.

B. Bombardment seems to be ordnance flung with intent.

C. Strike seems to be a more precise application of force.

D. Ortillery combines artillery with delivery through orbit.

E. Artillery does feel like groundscale weapon systems, which could be upto turret and barbette.

F. Barrage might be inbetween bombing and bombardment.

 

[Condottiere]

Confederation Navy: Bombers

G. I would define bombardment as getting pelted by spinal mounts.

H. Barrage would be a step down, by bay weapon systems, and torpedo salvoes.

I. Bombing would be missiles, and freefalling ordnance.

J. Carpetting, rather indiscriminate and widescale.

K. Surgical, very precise.

 

[Condottiere]

Confederation Navy: Bombers

L. How does the Confederation Navy see themselves carrying out bombardment?

M. Mostly, if it's a Fleet Squadron assigned to it, something very intensive, and relatively, in a short period, as the Admiralty isn't fond of tying down major assets to a specific floating rock.

N. They prefer a member navy deal with it, if it requires sustained bombardment.

O. Or, they assign a battle barge, manned by CAVALRY Horse Artillery Squadron(s).

P. Who'll keep firing at the target, until either they get relieved, run out of ammunition, or told to stop.

 

[Condottiere]

Confederation Navy: Bombers

Q. Bombing implies hit and run.

R. Usually, as a surprise attack, or one with very little warning.

S. I tend to think there is some jumping involved.

T. Either by independent starships, or some form of a carrier.

U. Since the point would be to avoid return fire, could also have converted civilian designs.