Solomani Confederation (Military)

[tanksoldier]

Confederation Marines

IMTU the Confederation is modeled very much like the fUSSR.

The fUSSR, and the Russian Federation now, have no actual "marines" as a separate service. They have naval infantry, which can mean either naval personnel trained to fight in ground combat (like SEABEES in US service) or naval personnel pressed into ground combat duty without specialized ground combat training.

IMTU the Confederation Navy has a ground combat echelon, made up of naval ratings for security, ground combat specializations and support, rather than a separate "Marine Corps", much like the USAF's Security Forces and Special Operations Forces are part of the AF rather than a semi-separate, or completely separate, service.

 

[Condottiere]

My alternate choice would be more Royal Marines.

 

[dragoner]

The San Marco Regiment http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Marco_Regiment could be a model for the Solomani marines.

 

[Condottiere]

Confederation Marines

1. After some reflection and I suppose a rather skeptical perspective of how the current USMC is being suspected of trying to usurp the Airborne role, I think it's possible to slot where the Confederation Marines should be viewed as.

2. The Confederation Marines aren't just Marines, they are Space Marines.

3. They are the Special Forces of the Confederation, though i suppose SolSec would have both snatch squads and paramilitary peacekeepers.

4. That means that for more conventional ground forces, the Confederation requisitions appropriate units from member worlds, policed by SolSec Commissars. Which means you could a disparate group of regiments formed into ad hoc army groups, with widely differing equipment of various tech levels.

5. Termed loosely as the Confederation Guard.

6. SolSec Peacekeepers might be solely composed of very dedicated female acolytes, constantly on the search for heretics, I mean dissidents.

 

[Condottiere]

Modern Solomani Ships

1. It's been indicated that the Solomani Navy prefers to construct warships at the high and low end of the weight spectrum.

2. It's a not a question of whether this is a smart strategy, more of the aesthetic of the Solomani Navy make up.

3. At TL14, the interesting spinal mounts are Meson A, B and D, and Particle C.

4. Meson A could be the equivalent of light cruiser armament; Meson B, heavy Cruiser, and Meson D, dreadnought.

5. Particle C could be battlecruiser armament, in the roles that it was originally intended to be used for, rather than the battle line.

6. Solomani Naval staff might have decided to concentrate on heavy cruisers, battlecruisers and dreadnoughts, minimizing light cruisers activity to perhaps acting as flagships for distant stations and escort flotillas.

7. Heavy cruisers would be intended to be large all purpose ships with enlarged hangars, marine complement and commanders trusted to be able to solve problems on the spot, rather than requiring instructions for unforeseen events.

8. Battlecruisers fulfill their traditional functions as rapid response forces, armed reconnaissance and deep strike.

9. Dreadnoughts are built around the Meson D to form the battle line.

 

[Condottiere]

Modern Solomani Ships

10. This might seem counter-intuitive, removing flexibility in the make-up of a task group in favour of a larger combatant.

11. It could be argued that the removal of flexibility is balanced by the capability to respond immediately to a changing environment, which seems counter to the political control over the officer corps by the Party.

12. Which is where the other end of doctrine kicks in, the large numbers of smaller combatants.

13. Commanders of smaller combatants are also allowed a great deal of latitude under certain conditions, which allows their superiors to assess their capabilities and temperaments; if anything does go awry, the only thing really risked would be the small combatant.

14. Ships in a certain range, say between 8KT and 60KT are a combination of one-off or small production runs, acquired as experimental models or test beds, and meant as quasi training ships for officers transitioning to larger combatants and/or fleet command.

15. Another reason would be that capital ships take longer to construct, and resources can be focussed on big units so that they would already be in the order of battle at the start of a conflict, while a variety of means could be used to create warships in the mid tonnage range.

16. That would mean that light cruisers and light carriers are a rare sight, while assaults carriers are either meant for small actions or large-scale planetary assaults, anything in between might be handled by a heavy cruiser.

17. Choosing 7'500 tons as the upper end of Solomani Navy escorts isn't entirely arbitrary, as it allows only two command modules.

18. However, I don't really see the Solomani Navy favouring small single scout commands, so those will likely range between 200 to 400 ton hulls.

 

[Condottiere]

Solomani Flight Branch

1. If the IJN taught us anything, is that you never can have enough pilots.

2. The Solomani Navy should subsidize planetary flight schools.

3. The most promising ones should be offered a scholarship at the subsector Pilot Academy.

4. Those that graduate should be offered a Solomani Naval Reserve commission.

5. Those that ace the exams, should be offered a Solomani Naval commission.

6. The graduates will slowly filter back to their home planets, some of which will be recruited by their planetary navies, some will become commercial pilots.

7. The Solomani Navy now has another lever on interstellar travel, as the commercial pilots would be obliged to report anything untoward, and their reserve commissions can be covertly activated.

8. They, together with the other graduates, form a pool of experienced to semi-experienced pilots that could be called upon to make up losses, or surge the Navy.

 

[Condottiere]

Peace Cruiser Constitution Class

If the Solomani Navy have a preponderance of Adventure Class ships, they'll need a general purpose ship for most security and scientific roles that they are tasked with.

While there would be variations due to the differing shipyards that would be contracted to build these vessels, the Enterprise sub-class would be typical.

At about two kilotons, the ships would be large enough to present a clear challenge to most non-state armed ships.

Armament would be balanced, mostly defensive in nature.

Crews would include a Commissar and a reinforced Army platoon with Protected Forces training; traditionally, they would be uniformed in red jackets.

Since cruises could be extended, some rumoured to be upto five years long, substantial attention is paid self-sustainment and larger than normal accommodations and living areas.

 

[Infojunky]

Crews would include a Commissar and a reinforced Army platoon with Protected Forces training; traditionally, they would be uniformed in red jackets.

Said red Jackets would be referred to as Hessians?

 

[Condottiere]

For some reason, the Solomani Navy regard this as hazardous duty, and have other uses for their Marines. Why Army recruitment in the Hess system remains above norm has been ascribed to a greater enthusiasm for the Solomani Cause.


A closer examination of the Enterprise subclass reveals a flattened sphere attached to a cylinder used as the primary fuel tank with two flanking jump modules.

 

[ScottyG]

In the OTU the IISS has its roots in the Sylean Scout Service. A peculiar organisation which developed within the particular time and environment of Sylea's rise and the birth of the third imperium.
The civilian/paramilitary nature of the IISS developed uniquely from this. Having a special and illustrious- but specific- culturally linked existence.
Terran exploratory culture has, as many other posts identify, always had strong military links and direction. If only because States hold greater resources than private organisations and are better placed to logistically support such activity.
I see no conflict with the idea that Solomani exploration is the province of the armed forces. No doubt with private enterprise also taking an active role.

 

[Thile]

3. You could argue that like after the discovery of the New World, all the most ambitious, the most desperate and innovative of the Terrans migrated to the space now occupied by the Imperium, leaving behind the dregs of humanity, but the Europeans may be less inclined to share that view.

Where did you go to school and did you read history as a subject?

But at least thank you for the laughter

 

[Condottiere]

Experience indicates that the military should have their roles restricted to core competencies, with a few exceptions such as civil emergencies and disaster relief.

Though it's obvious the benefits of directly surveying space that you might be fighting in, and trying to maintain a monopoly on paramilitary starships.

 

[ScottyG]

Wow- I'm a bit taken aback by the obnoxious response there by Thile. I'm not exactly sure where you went to school either. Possibly a special unit for those lacking fundamental social skills. Sadly it's that aspergic and belligerent attitude that results in forums like this turning into unpleasant little cliches.

 

[Rick]

No. Thile was, perhaps, a touch sarcastic in his reply, but I believe the context is everything - the original comment was either meant to be a joke or was made in complete ignorance of the truth.

As to the 'other thing' - it may be a bit of a cliche to correct others spelling, so I'll just mention that clique isn't spelt like that.

 

[Condottiere]

In theory, posts should be considered as a whole. However, even the paragraph quoted would seem to speak for itself.

As for my schooling, I count four different countries, including the States.

 

[Rick]

“Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me:
I lift my lamp beside the golden door.”

And that is pretty much what happened. Runs completely contrary to your statement that the "dregs of humanity" were left behind.

Got to admit, I thought you were making a joke when I first read it. I thought your original comment was very sarcastic and quite amusing.

 

[Nathan Brazil]

I think that the "dregs of humanity" being left behind may be appropriate concerning stellar colonization. It will cost money or resources to colonize other worlds. If a colony becomes self sufficient, then the sponsoring government or corporation can claim the territory and profits, after all it is a "colony". Before that, if it is a sponsored colony, who will the government or corp be more willing to pay for to have living in a colony? Troublemakers or those with few skills?

Privately funded (non-gov, non-corp) colonization is a different matter.

Penal colonies may not need maintenance or help.
"Khan, we will be dropping you and your people on Ceti Alpha V. A new world"
Or maybe some help...

 

[dragoner]

Most people moved to America to make money; the whole "poor huddled masses" is 19th century romanticism. My family are immigrants, my father worked for the US military for 28 years, so not all are about money.

 

[Rick]

Again, depends a great deal on the governments. Jerry Pournelle's Falkenberg series has the colonies set up and initial growth by enthusiastic and skilled colonists, who then have successive waves of involuntary 'dregs of humanity' dumped on them, subsequently, the Navy (and later, Falkenberg's mercenaries) are used to sort the conflicts out. A similar situation occurs in Peter Hamilton's Night's Dawn series - what is seen as a brave new frontier quickly degenerates into a convenient dumping ground for Earth's unwanted masses.