Solomani Confederation (Military)

[Condottiere]

Solomani Navy: Balance of Forces

Again, going by Sector Fleet, Imperium forces around Terra would include the following minor combatant and logistics vessels:

Sixty four fleet escorts, three hundred forty four close escorts, two hundred six fleet destroyers, and one hundred sixty escort destroyers.

Fifty four tankers, thirty six resupply vessels, two fast resupply ships, twenty dromedaries, eighty medium dromedaries, and sixteen large auxiliaries. Plus a bunch of smaller logistic ships.

I probably miscalculated the cruiser numbers, they are probably closer to one hundred and twelve, so the cruiser gap is just under a hundred, partially covered by three additional FleetRons and around three deep strike cruisers, plus another forty legacy cruisers. Let's assume the rest of the tonnage are basically large SolSec infiltration vessels of the Dark Matter class.

No mention is made of couriers or communications vessels, though as the Solomani Navy also handles the Solomani equivalent of the X-Boat networks, probably several times more than their Imperium Navy counterparts.

Since the Solomani naval staff tries to keep their fleet compositions balanced, the basis is the FleetRon, divided into three divisions, each with two capital ships, four escorts, two couriers, a tender and a tanker.

There's usually one deep strike cruiser per FleetRon, and one PatRon, with a mixture of twenty minor combatants.

Deep strike cruisers, like most other Solomani cruisers, tend to operate individually, though they attach themselves to a FleetRon, CarrierRon or a Task Force.Sometimes accompanied themselves by deep strike destroyers, certainly trailed by two fleet couriers.

The Midways are pampered with four escort ships, two fleet couriers, a tanker and a tender each. Not including the the Zeus battlecruiser division each one rates.

Planetary assaults are usually organized around the subsector fleet command ship, which invariably is an assault cruiser, an easy solution to internal security issues and peace enforcement roles. There are no assault squadrons, as that appears to be a politically controversial term, but usually organized into Military Expeditionary Task Forces. Due to the importance of the roles each assault carrier plays within it's assigned subsector, and the comparative vulnerability it would have in close combat, when compared to the battlewagons of the FleetRons, each assault carrier is assigned twelve escorts, four fleet couriers, four commando transports, a tanker and a tender.

So specifically assigned in the area of operation, you'd have seven hundred eighty six escorts,
two hundred twelve fleet couriers, fifty four tankers, fifty four tender, and sixty four commando transports. Doesn't take into account subsector support ships.

This compares against the Imperium total of seven hundred seventy four minor combatants. The Solomani and Imperium escorts seem to be equivalent numbers, without taking into account the tech level difference, nor local navies or mothballed reserves.

 

[Condottiere]

Solomani Confederation: Subsidization of Jump Drives for Commercial Purposes

Having long recognized that the jump drive is of the primary costs in starship construction, the Confederation is willing to subsidize part of that cost for qualified persons and corporations, engaged in commercial activities that contribute to the Solomani Confederacy economy.

The standardization across tech levels allows the manufacture of a single jump module that can be easily replaced within in hours, instead of days and weeks, in the field with suitable repair ship, instead of requiring their ships to be transported to a starport.

However, the Confederacy has standardized the size of most jump drives manufactured within it's borders, the specifications conform that to those demanded (and apparently widely used by) the Solomani Navy:

1. Vanguard model
- 15'000-tonnes
- tech level 14
- maximum jump factor 5

2. Prometheus model
- 12'500-tonnes
- tech level 13
- maximum jump factor 4
- remarks: rarely available

3. Zeus model
- 6'000-tonnes
- tech level 13
- maximum jump factor 3 (tech level 13 variant)
- remarks: none available, spares reserved for Midway carrier class

4. Victory models
- 4'000-tonnes
- tech levels 12-14
- maximum jump factor 3 (tech level 12 variant), 4 (tech level 13 variant) and 5 (tech level 14 variant)
- remarks: widely available, a cheap jump factor 2 variant is also available

5. Defence models
- 1'500-tonnes
- tech level 11
- maximum jump factor 2 (tech level 11 variant)
- remarks: uncommon

6. Eclipse models
- 600-tonnes
- tech levels 11-14
- maximum jump factor 2 (tech level 11 variant), maximum jump factor 3 (tech level 12 variant), maximum jump factor 4 (tech level 13 variant), and maximum jump factor 5 (tech level 14 variant)
- remarks: tech level 11 and 12 variants are most popular with commercial shippers

7. Texas models
- 300-tonnes
- tech levels 11-14
- maximum jump factor 2 (tech level 11 variant), maximum jump factor 3 (tech level 12 variant), maximum jump factor 4 (tech level 13 variant), and maximum jump factor 5 (tech level 14 variant)

8. Warrior models
- 100-tonnes
- tech levels 9-14
- maximum jump factor 1 (tech level 9 variant), maximum jump factor 2 (tech level 11 variant), maximum jump factor 3 (tech level 12 variant), maximum jump factor 4 (tech level 13 variant), and maximum jump factor 5 (tech level 14 variant)
- remarks: while not the oldest Terran jump drive design, the original design dates back to the very start of the interstellar era, and propelled the largest hulls then capable of transitioning hyperspace, allegedly, it's near impossible to misjump with Warrior jump drives

I'm going to revise the above to a more interesting menu:

1. Vanguard model
- 15'000-tonnes
- tech level 14
- maximum jump factor 5

2. Zeus model
- 6'000-tonnes
- tech level 13
- maximum jump factor 4, dual variant for Prometheus class with 600-tonne coupling
- remarks: seldomly available

3. Victory models
- 4'000-tonnes
- tech levels 12-14
- maximum jump factor 3 (tech level 12 variant), 4 (tech level 13 variant) and 5 (tech level 14 variant)
- remarks: widely available, a cheap jump factor 2 variant is also available

4. Eclipse models
- 600-tonnes
- tech levels 11-14
- maximum jump factor 2 (tech level 11 variant), maximum jump factor 3 (tech level 12 variant), maximum jump factor 4 (tech level 13 variant), and maximum jump factor 5 (tech level 14 variant); quadruple maximum jump factor 3 (tech level 12) variant for Minsk class with three 150-tonne tl12 couplings, dual maximum jump factor 2 (tech level 11) variant for Defence class with one 100-tonne tl11 coupling
- remarks: tech level 11 and 12 variants are most popular with commercial shippers

5. Warrior models
- 100-tonnes
- tech levels 9-14
- maximum jump factor 1 (tech level 9 variant), maximum jump factor 2 (tech level 11 variant), maximum jump factor 3 (tech level 12 variant), maximum jump factor 4 (tech level 13 variant), and maximum jump factor 5 (tech level 14 variant); triple maximum jump factor 3 (tech level 12 variant) for Texas class with two 18.75-tonne tl12 couplings
- remarks: while not the oldest Terran jump drive design, the original design dates back to the very start of the interstellar era, and propelled the largest hulls then capable of transitioning hyperspace, allegedly, it's near impossible to misjump with Warrior jump drives

6. Capital models
- 40.02-tonnes
- tech levels 9-14
- maximum jump factor 1 (tech level 9 variant), maximum jump factor 2 (tech level 11 variant), maximum jump factor 3 (tech level 12 variant), maximum jump factor 4 (tech level 13 variant), and maximum jump factor 5 (tech level 14 variant)
- remarks: smallest possible capital class jump drive

 

[Condottiere]

Solomani Navy: Cruiser Classes

After a little juggling around, I think I've arrived at the final tonnages and classifications:

1. Normandy class
- Strike cruiser
- Tech level 14
- 80'000-tonnes
- Jump factor 4
- Remarks: successor to the Yamamoto class, with upgraded systems, and bonded superdense hull and armour

2. Yamamoto class
- Strike cruiser
- Tech level 13
- 80'000-tonnes
- Jump factor 4
- Remarks: favoured as a command ship due to extensive C3 facilities and flagship accommodations

3. Beijing class
- Deep strike cruiser
- Tech level 14
- 66'000-tonnes
- Jump factor 5
- Remarks: the class had a reputation of being able to outgun any cruiser it had to face, and outrun anything larger than itself

4. Minsk class
- Heavy cruiser
- Tech level 12
- 60'000-tonnes
- Jump factor 3
- Remarks: heavily redundant features made this a tough nut for the Imperium to crack

5. Defence class
- Armoured cruiser
- Tech level 11
- 40'000-tonnes
- Jump factor 2
- Remarks: modernized versions still pack a surprising punch, when deployed on convoy duty

6. Eclipse class
- Protected cruiser
- Tech level 11
- 20'000-tonnes
- Jump factor 2
- Remarks: large enough to scare off most predators, the Eclipse model jump engines are widely used in a number of variants to propel Solomani light combatant vessels, as well in combination for the Minsk and defence classes

7. Yarmouth class
- Light cruiser
- Tech level 12
- 15'000-tonnes
- Jump factor 3
- Remarks: considered one of the most graceful ships ever constructed

8. Madrid class
- Light cruiser
- Tech level 13
- 12'000-tonnes
- Jump factor 4
- Remarks: originally designed to accompany strike cruisers and the then on the boards Prometheus class fast dreadnoughts

9. Dingir class
- Deep strike light cruiser
- Tech level 14
- 10'000-tonnes
- Jump factor 5
- Remarks: originally meant to accompany the Beijing class on their infiltration missions, overcute engineering that emphasized stealth caused initial teething problems

10. Texas class
- Light cruiser
- Tech level 12
- 7'500-tonnes
- Jump factor 3
- Remarks: smallest constructed Solomani cruiser, considered a successful commerce raider; has triple maximum jump factor 3 (tech level 12 variant) with two 18.75-tonne tl12 couplings

11. Minotaur class
- Armoured frigate
- Tech level 10
- 10'000-tonnes
- Jump factor 1
- Remarks: enlarged version of the Warrior class, but with crystaliron hull and armour; no example is believed to currently exist; used a double maximum jump factor 1 (tech level 9 variant) with one 25-tonne tl9 coupling

12. Warrior class
- Armoured frigate
- Tech level 9
- 5'000-tonnes
- Jump factor 1
- Remarks: currently, the restored hull is gracing the military museum on Home; the most powerful of Terran warships during the dawn of the interstellar age

 

[Condottiere]

Solomani Navy: Escort Classes

13. Ajax class
- Armoured frigate
- Tech level 11
- 3'300-tonnes
- Jump factor 2
- Remarks: ancient design resurrected by the Solomani Navy during it's genesis, allowing a quick solution to commerce protection

14. Striker class
- Frigate
- Tech level 12
- 2'500-tonnes
- Jump factor 3
- Remarks: standard frigate class to the period leading up to the War of Imperium Aggression

15. Tau Ceti class
- Frigate
- Tech level 13
- 2'000-tonnes
- Jump factor 4
- Remarks: successor to the Striker class, likely to be deployed mostly with the fast dreadnought and strike cruiser task groups

16. Capital class
- Barge
- Tech level 9
- 2'000-tonnes
- Jump factor 1
- Remarks: logistics ship

17. Kormoran class
- Reconnaisance frigate
- Tech level 14
- 1'660-tonnes
- Jump factor 5
- Remarks: successful commerce raider

18. Tiger class
- Corvette
- Tech level 12
- 1'000-tonnes
- Jump factor 3
- Remarks: cheap escort vessel; reputedly cramped

19. Vezina class
- Missile corvette
- Tech level 12
- 1'000-tonnes
- Jump factor 3
- Remarks: found it's niche in the planetray bombardment role

20. Samurai class
- Corvette
- Tech level 13
- 800-tonnes
- Jump factor 4
- Remarks: standard patrol ship

21. Sonic class
- Corvette
- Tech level 14
- 600-tonnes
- Jump factor 5
- Remarks: has external facilities for a sixty tonne module or shuttle; fleet courier

 

[Condottiere]

Solomani Navy: Scoutships

1. Venture class
- Scoutship
- Tech level 9
- 100-tonnes
- Jump factor 1
- Remarks: Not the oldest exploration ship type that the Terrans used to breach the final frontier, but certainly the most numerous one; while the Solomani Navy has never used this class, enthusiasts have built replicas despite general discouragement to build any starship below two hundred tonnes

2. Suleiman class
- Scoutship
- Tech level 11
- 100-tonnes
- Jump factor 2
- Remarks: legacy from the Imperium Navy; any remaining examples have been disposed off or transferred to SolSec

3. Kangaroo class
- Scoutship
- Tech level 12
- 200-tonnes
- Jump factor 3
- Remarks: immediately ordered to replace the Suleiman class, besides policy, the two hundred tonne made exploration and courier duties easier on both crew and passengers

4. Marathon class
- Scoutship
- Tech level 13
- 200-tonnes
- Jump factor 4
- Remarks: until recently the primary fleet courier, this role has been taken over by the Sonic class corvettes; still used for local or regional communications; also used as the primary rapid communications ship, Solomani equivalent of the X-boat

5. Zelda class
- Rapid communications ship
- Tech level 14
- 200-tonnes
- Jump factor 5
- Remarks: current primary relay ship for the Solomani Naval communications network, the two hundred tonne size, like the Marathon class before it, allowed greater comfort to the crew and the fast transfer of key personnel around the Confederacy

 

[Condottiere]

Solomani Navy: Auxiliaries

Auxiliaries also include scout and communications ships, though with the six hundred tonne Capital model engine powered corvette, it grazes the boundaries between communications, scouting, courier, reconnaissance and patrol roles.

The Solomani Navy tends to only use two hundred tonne and eight hundred tonne plus hulls as auxiliaries, since they try to keep engineering standardized.

This category includes troop transports, as the Navy is responsible for transferring Army units safely to their area of operations, and if necessary, under and through enemy fire.

Their primary and largest troop transport is the assault carrier, which is categorized as a capital ship, and not really as an auxiliary. Both the Secretariat for political, SolSec for strategic, the Navy for operational, and the Army for tactical reasons prefer not to place large eggs into one vulnerable basket, so that never more than one brigade (reinforced) would be in one transport, which also takes into account the modular nature divisional table of organization and equipment.

The limit they've placed is fifteen thousand tonnes for brigade transports with a three parsec range, since I believe it's mentioned they've moved three hundred thousand troops as peace keepers, which is basically an army group, there are a lot more more transport ships than the impression you'd get from the ship figures. This is about sixty brigade equivalent shiploads, not counting supplies, and you'd probably have to assign at least one or two complete FleetRons and four or five PatRons to provide escorts.

The hundred thousand tonne Zhukovs aren't really assault carriers, but are sill an impressive legacy from the War of Imperium Aggression, though few survive, mostly due to the continued manufacture of Victory class ship systems; these are capable of transporting entire divisions, and considered a high priority for assigning protective screens.

Brigade troop transport ships might have extensive defensive systems, but they're not optimized for planetary bombardment nor a combat drop.

When the Solomani take back their lost territories, they're going to need a lot of transports, and even peackeeping has got to keep them occupied, so on a subsector basis, you have to be looking at around fifty brigade sized transports.

Outside of the fact I don't really see any standard Solomani hull capable of transporting a reinforced battalion, you could assume that that job would be take over by an available brigade transporter, which might actually be popular amongst the troops, since it would be a great deal less cramped, since they wouldn't be hot bunking.

The Hussar class troop transport is rated at about half a battalion at two and a half thousand tonnes, and has some planetary bombardment capabilities, though it too is a legacy from a century back. Apparently, they've proved suitable for low intensity operations and tactical raiding, both a conservative tendency and probably a lack of interest from the Naval staff has permitted this class continued general use.

Commando transports, is a more recent development, and pretty much an Army requirement.

If the Navy intends to send their Marines on raiding missions, they prefer to give their targets as little time to prepare as possible, and send them onboard their jump factor five ships, the Sonics, the the Kormorans, the Dingirs or the Beijings.

Commando transports are described as the equivalent of the mercenary cruiser. The Navy has obliged by using a thousand tonne hull with a three parsec range. It's rumoured the first ship is called the Sulasco.

There is also speculation that the Navy has developed a stealthed system two hundred tonne commando assault ship.

As required, the Navy will take up ships from trade to cover any short term shortfalls in transport capacity during large scale Army movements.

 

[Condottiere]

Solomani Navy: Legacy and Auxiliary Cruisers

Since the Solomani Navy have stopped manufacturing cruiser class vessels except for deep strike cruisers, and even increased numbers of capital ships tends to fall short of requirements, they fill the gap with left over cruisers launched before or during the War of Imperium Aggression.

In theory, FleetRons are structured not to require to be supplemented with cruisers, either supporting or screening the battle line, nor reconnaisance in force scouting missions.

To be fair, the Solomani Navy has all of it's cruisers widely scattered on independent missions, that actually concentrating them in any number is a rare event, which is why Strike Squadrons are no longer fielded, though they may exist on paper and as administrative units.

In the event of war, about half of them can be redeployed to the borders.

Current composition of the cruiser units per military district is:

Thirty six Beijing class, and around six each of the Normandys, Yamamotos, Minsks, Yarmouths, Madrids and Atlantises.

The Dingirs are in a grey area, and generally counted with the escorts.

There is currently a form of equilibrium between relatively modern cruisers and the legacy types, though they are slowly getting replaced by the Beijings, much as the FleetRons are being upgraded to the Vanguards.

 

[Condottiere]

Solomani Navy: Imperial Code Names

For some unknown reason, Imperium Naval Intelligence insists on referring to the Solomani major combatant and line of battle ships as Star Destroyers, though they are clearly cruisers, battle cruisers and dreadnoughts.

The Victories are codenamed Victory, but the Yamamotos are codenamed Venator, and the Beijings as Harrower.

The Prometheus class is codenamed ironically the Imperial class, while the Normandys are referred to as Gladiators, and the Vanguards as Executors.

The Minsk are codenamed Vindicators, the Defence class armoured cruisers are codenamed the Enforcers.

 

[Condottiere]

Solomani Navy: Organization

[So, the internet ate my post, I'm going spread this out more]

FleetRons have three divisions of two capital ships each, possibly with a separate headquarters element where additionally assigned support and logistics ships, minor combatants, one or two major combatants, and possibly even a separate flagship, though that would violate the buddy system doctrine if it was a capital ship, though the exception would be an assault carrier.

Most FleetRons are broken up into their three self-supporting divisions. The two Vanguards could deploy nearly the equivalent of a fleet carrier's smallcraft complement, the four escorts were Tau Ceti frigates, whose primary role was to protect the eighty thousand tonne fleet tanker and the twelve thousand tonne fleet tender.

Two Sonic class corvettes were assigned as fleet couriers.

The Prometheus divisions are similarly configured, though only have half the complement of smallcraft.

The Zeus FleetRons, of which there would be at best only three available in a military district unassigned to to a Midway CarrierRon, would be forward deployed. Nominally assigned four Striker frigates, actually escorts pretty much depend on availability, and whose primary missions are reconnaissance and protecting the fleet tender and fleet tanker. Reconnaissance is considered more important, due to their closeness to the borders of the Confederacy, and the more fragile nature of the Zeuses. As usual, two Sonic class fleet couriers are assigned. Zeuses only have three squadrons of fighters each.

From the tech level fourteen viewpoint, even a modernized tech level twelve battlecruiser is at best a first rate (heavy) cruiser. Their primary purpose is to bulk up FleetRon numbers, and keep up the Solomani presence, with some semblance of power projection. Victories have two squadrons of fighters each, but tend to accumulate a flotilla of small combatants. Since the Solomani High Command pretty much likes to know what's going on, two Sonic class fleet couriers are assigned as usual.

 

[Condottiere]

Solomani Navy: Auxiliaries

Fleet tankers are an important component of the Solomani Navy, which not only accompany most task groups, they also can be preplaced in order to speed up strategic movement that would allow the Solomani Navy to strike faster or from a different direction that their opposing counterparts may anticipate, achieving operational if not strategic surprise.

Deciding not to fool around with the concept, the Solomani Naval staff used Victory class jump drives to power their newly designed hundred thousand tonne fleet tanker. Tech level twelve, this is pretty much the equivalent of a super tanker, but as mentioned above, allowed the fast redeployment of a great part of the Solomani Navy, and could accompany the then FleetRons and carrier based task groups.

The next step was the introduction of the smaller jump factor four fleet tanker at eighty thousand tonnes, whose primary feature was that it could keep up with the primary FleetRons.

There is a tech level fourteen variant as well, that can push it's sixty six thousand tonne hull five parsecs per jump, allowing it to keep up with deep strike forces.

There are also tankers built to commercial specifications, though these seem to be more modular.

There are also two smaller tankers, a fifteen thousand tonne jump factor three one that is meant to service light cruisers and the smaller escort ships and auxiliaries, as well as it's twelve thousand tonne counterpart, that can keep up with the longer ranged task groups.

While dromedaries are useful, the Solomani prefer to keep fuel and supplies on separate ships, since tankers are usually assigned to accompany task groups, while logistics ships are usually sent back to the nearest suitable base to replenish it's supplies as they run out, as it's usually easier to relieve the logistics ship when a new one catches up with the task group, then continuously transferring it's cargo, which is one reason that most of them are twelve thousand tonnes and equipped with Eclipse engines, as compared to the more gigantic tankers.

One thousand and two thousand five hundred jump factor three freighters are common in the commercial sphere, as well as fast jump factor four two thousand tonne merchantmen, which the Solomani Navy uses to supplement their larger logistics ships. There's also the two thousand tonne jump factor one barge, as well as on the other end of the range, the five hundred thousand tonne jump factor two semi-megaton freighters.

 

[Condottiere]

Solomani Navy: Organization

StrikeRons are essentially administrative units, though in theory they are set up similarly as FleetRons. There is no longer a differentiation between Heavy Strike or Deep Strike, or possibly Light Strike.

Since they are administrative, it makes it easier to assign cruisers of the same class, or type, or performance to the same squadron. The squadron is divided into three divisions of two ships each. In theory, each division should have a light cruiser and a pocket carrier attached, plus seven frigates and support ships; the Deep Strike divisions would have a Beijing plus three Dingirs, and any available support ship that can, or could, keep up.

While originally it was envisioned that a heavy or strike cruiser, as appropriate, would have been assigned to each FleetRon division, together with a light cruiser, a pocket carrier and seven frigates, just like the StrikeRons, the new doctrine of emphasizing capital ship construction at the expense of cruisers has limited the numbers of cruisers that are available for deployment, and those are usually assigned to independent cruises, to cover the gaps that the FleetRons can't cover.

This doesn't count the heavy cruiser, light cruiser and pocket carrier combination that needed to be assigned to each major troop carrier and fleet carrier (minus the pocket carrier, since it would probably be superfluous).

There are currently one Beijing per FleetRon, but because of their jump factor five capability, are usually assigned as rapid deployment forces. Supposedly, there are matching numbers of legacy cruisers, who'd under normal circumstances would be candidates for the mothball fleet.

Only strike cruisers and the Madrids have the capability to keep up with the mostly modern fast dreadnoughts, but the general consensus is that they would only get in the way, and may have been overkill to protect the support ships that tag along with each FleetRon division. Most such attachments are temporary, and usually the cruiser commanders are waiting for orders for another assignment.

The implied threat of having jump factor four cruisers wrecking havoc just behind enemy lines, as compared to the Beijing doing the same in the hinterland. In that event, their initial thrusts are likely in tandem with a similarly performing cruiser, before they split up and made their own way back for repairs and replenishment, and taking out anything they missed on the way in.

The factor three cruisers would be assigned for commerce protection, as well as be assigned to a task force built around an assault carrier, or a large troop convoy.

In general, all cruisers can act as flagships, to a lesser or greater degree, local naval Home Guard units can rally around them.

All of the forementioned doesn't really motivate Naval Staff to group cruisers together in most circumstances, as they perform far more valuable services separately. Besides the lack of numbers.

 

[Condottiere]

Solomani Navy: Naval Bases

http://img1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20130520090402/jedipedia/de/images/f/fe/Naval_Station_Validusia.jpg

Wolfe's Lair, Home system.


Twylo/Capella subsector

Major naval base; home port for a Prometheus FleetRon, a Zeus FleetRon, a CarrierRon and a PatRon, as well as the subsector assault carrier based flag squadron, together with all their attached escorts and support ships.

Oh yeah, and I forgot it hosts a StrikeRon, though everyone forgets about them.

Communications hub for Yenisei, Wallach, Thalassa, Odysseus, Chrysolite, Mirabilis, Luuru, Poictesme, Tarsus, Haddad, Aeneas, Cicero and Sequoyah.

Twylo is on a communications main directly from Home, three parsec five hops, which is about twenty one and a half days one way, with two deep space communications waystations.

Twylo is regarded as a major marshaling yard for logistics and the fleet, prior to moving onto any staging areas for any move into recovering Terra. While the local populace is somewhat restive, it's considered a primary recruiting pool for military and settlers to displace collaborators when the lost territories are recovered.

 

[Condottiere]

Solomani Navy: Ship Configurations

All combat ships are configured as streamlined wedges, to maximize forward firepower, even the Striker class; the Yarmouths were even given an airframe for better planetary atmospheric performance. That includes so far all between the Kormorans to the Vanguards.

Smaller corvettes are quasi combat ships, but some variants, specifically the Samurai class, are wedge shaped; the thousand tonners tend to be built for economy, and the Sonics, whose hull was optimized for atmospheric operations. This is the norm for all Solomani courier ships.

Carriers, whether battleriders, smallcraft or troop, used a dispersed configuration, though the smaller Hussar class whose mission would include providing close support to it's troops, has a close structure configuration. Assault carriers copied the Victory class hulls, so are wedge shaped as well. Modern troop carriers are flattened spheres, to allow landing on planetary surfaces and the direct disbursement of troops, equipment and supplies.

Most logistic ships, and the Atlantis auxiliary cruiser class, are flattened spheres, for similar reasons.

Home Guard home brewed designs can take a variety of forms, though many rely on hand me downs from the Solomani Navy.

 

[cavebear]

Solomani Navy: Naval Bases

http://img1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20130520090402/jedipedia/de/images/f/fe/Naval_Station_Validusia.jpg

Wolfe's Lair, Home system.


Twylo/Capella subsector

Major naval base; home port for a Prometheus FleetRon, a Zeus FleetRon, a CarrierRon and a PatRon, as well as the subsector assault carrier based flag squadron, together with all their attached escorts and support ships.

Communications hub for Yenisei, Wallach, Thalassa, Odysseus, Chrysolite, Mirabilis, Luuru, Poictesme, Tarsus, Haddad, Aeneas, Cicero and Sequoyah.

Just for those who might like to see a larger picture than the one you posted (BTW, great pic for the context of what you are writing! )

http://fractalsponge.net/wp/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/scene9.jpg

 

[Meeko100]

Solomani Navy: Imperial Code Names

For some unknown reason, Imperium Naval Intelligence insists on referring to the Solomani major combatant and line of battle ships as Star Destroyers, though they are clearly cruisers, battle cruisers and dreadnoughts.

The Victories are codenamed Victory, but the Yamamotos are codenamed Venator, and the Beijings as Harrower.

The Prometheus class is codenamed ironically the Imperial class, while the Normandys are referred to as Gladiators, and the Vanguards as Executors.

The Minsk are codenamed Vindicators, the Defence class armoured cruisers are codenamed the Enforcers.

Oh wow. This...this pleases me.

 

[Condottiere]

There are some similarities in organization and apparently aesthetics, so I took that ball and ran with it.

I'm not going to try and dig out my Star Wars related RPG or fact books, which according to a Wookie run website tend to contradict each other.

One problem the Solomani Navy seems to face, at least for cruisers and above, is a slow production rate, though this may be deliberate, and because of the tech difference, the Naval Staff may insist on having these built more larger and expensively per unit, which includes a configuration that allows them to concentrate their fire forward.

The Empire's Star Destroyers dwarfed most other naval units, and seemed to like going around in groups of three, each having a huge entourage of minor combatants swarming around them.

Because of their presence and power projection status, major combatants and the capital ships would have a similar configuration, based on some dim folk memory that force multiplied within the Solomani mind fear and awe.

Under fifteen thousand tonnes, economic factors may make it more convenient and cheaper to adopt another one, and I think the flattened sphere fits that.

As to how far an Aslan slant in naval architecture aesthetics is adopted, I think it would depend mostly how more better it would permit a vessel to function, though more likely to be seen in hulls a thousand tonnes and below.

 

[Condottiere]

Solomani Navy: Organization

Carrier Squadrons, specifically the ones centred around the Midway class fleet carrier, are for some odd reason considered the premier units of the Solomani Navy by most of humaniti. Not by the Aslan, who've more than on one occasion been facing the wrong end of a Vanguard, with it's fighter screens swarming all over them.

Most of the Solomani naval personnel find this belief amusing, and obfuscates the actual threat of their war machine.

However, this doesn't distract from the sterling service the Midways performed during the War of Imperium Aggression, as a large platform from which dedicated Solomani fighter and strikecraft were all that stood between the remaining Solomani fleets and utter destruction by the hordes of Imperium Navy warships.

Also, that only ten fleet carriers still exist throughout the Confederacy, though their primary role seems to be to act as pilot schools, as much as showing the flag, since they aren't deployed near the borders.

Normal Solomani practice is to pair similarly performing ships together when possible, but the Midways are the exception. They have a dedicated escort flotilla of twelve ships, as well as a fleet tanker and a fleet tender, plus two Sonic class fleet couriers.

They are accompanied by a FleetRon division, usually two Zeus class battlecruisers and their supporting ships. This is believed to serve a practical purpose in that if the Midway jump engines were ever incapacitated, the Zeus would act as a jump shuttle, and piggyback the Midway back to a suitable repair facility, or they'd cannibalize a Zeus model jump drive, and install it in the Midway.

The Solomani Naval Staff believe that fleet carriers are too vulnerable, and prefer to have multiple platforms for strikecraft and fighter screens that can defend themselves, basically dreadnoughts and cruisers; in fact, assault carriers are earmarked to act in this role, if necessary, though it would be hard to shake them loose from their internal security duties and critical roles in planetary assaults.

Furthermore, the jump three range would make them unable to keep up with the more modern FleetRons, either the assault carriers or the Midways. An eighty thousand tonne carrier that would fulfill that requirement, is reputedly on the drawing boards.

Surviving pocket carriers were disbursed early to various naval Home Guards, in order to encourage and maintain the fighter pilot traditions, and retain an experienced pool of pilots that the Confederacy can draw upon, for both military and commercial purposes, as well skim off the cream of the crop for service in the Solomani Navy.

The escort cruiser concept is being examined by the Solomani Navy; unlike most other types and classes of warships, they would be built on commercial specifications, as cheaply as possible without compromising their capability to fulfill their role, a barebones strikecraft platform, that the Navy could afford to lose. The Aslan and the Imperials tend to find oddly configured hulls, that they tend to identify as (very) light carriers accompanying various Solomani task groups along their borders.

 

[Condottiere]

Solomani Navy: Organization

CommRons, or Communications Squadrons, are regional commands based around a Naval Primary Communications Waystation.

CommRons responsible for tracking, maintaining and fueling the Waystation and their assigned, attached and passing through communications ships within their assigned area of operations, though that may just be a pure bureaucratic action that reimburses other Naval or Home Guard units, for carrying out these duties on their behalf.

They are also responsible for Naval Secondary Communications Waystations that are placed within range of the Primary, which would act as a communications hub, at least for that communications main line and in as far as communications activity is passed along to that waystation, as systems may tap other adjacent communication main lines.

Along the communications main line, the Navy tries to maintain a regular six hour schedule, making any delay or disruption noticeable and subject to an investigation by the nearest naval vessel. Secondary lines run on a daily schedule.

At any one time, there could be a hundred and twelve communication ships in transition, plus another sixty in preparation or reserve, and another fourteen per secondary line. Then you include two fleet tankers, five communication ship tenders, a dozen system defence boats and supply ships.

 

[Condottiere]

Solomani Navy: Organization

Officially, AssaultRons don't exist. And certainly aren't capped at one or two per sector.

Assault carriers are assigned one per sector, to act as the flagship of naval subsector forces assigned to the subsector fleet, which generally consists of the flag squadron, the subsector Patrol Squadron, and the subsector Logistics squadron.

The assault carrier is host to four organizations, the Navy that runs it, and operates the smallcraft that transport and support ground forces, a Solomani Army division, a Confederation Marine battalion, and SolSec.

Since assault carriers have factor three range, escorts can be legacy classes with similarrange, but a dozen are attached to the flag squadron, as well as a fleet tanker and a fleet tender, plus four fleet couriers. Troop transports supplied by the subsector LogRon can gather nearby ground units and bolster the force the subsector Army commander wants to deploy, usually for peace enforcement missions. Four commando transports are assigned to the flag squadron,that the Army commander can utilize for raids by his special forces.

Assault carriers would be the centre piece of an ad hoc Assault Task Group, which tends to be most of the subsector flag squadron, with the Assault Task Group being the primary unit of an Assault Strike Force, consisting of additional troop transports, tankers, supply ships and escorts. If available, any cruisers, CarrierRons, and/or FleetRon divisions might be temporarily assigned to boost the Strike Force's fire power.

Assault carriers that aren't assigned as subsector flagships, are maintained in reserve at the military district depots, though in most cases, they are undergoing maintenance, being prepared for deployment, or conducting training.

Assault task forces can also be made up of smaller but complementary ships for missions that have lower priority or are along the Confederation border, where the appearance of an assault carrier may actually trigger the wrong impression by either the Imperials or the Aslan.

 

[Condottiere]

Solomani Navy: Organization

Logistics Squadrons are subsector based, and their responsibility is to maintain and operate the logistic vessels within their area of operations, much like the Communications Squadron.

While logistics sounds sleep inducing, it's actually a vital part of warfare, and Solomani commanders in charge of Logistics Squadrons can find it a fulfilling experience, as besides arranging the resupply of Solomani naval units, the Solomani Naval Staff tend to arrange the transport of stuff that they don't want either Imperium Intelligence nor SolSec to know about through their logistics network.

Less cloak and dagger stuff, like Blackbird missions, the reconnaissance units are transported to the closest staging areas near the border under the cover of the large logistics freighters.

Fleet trains are mobile Logistics Squadron commands, and tend to tag behind Task Forces.

Subsector LogRons maintain smaller tankers and tenders to cater to the ships of the Patrol Squadron. Fleet tankers and fleet tenders are more in reserve, to sustain the CarrierRons, the FleetRons and the subsector flag squadron when it cruises around the subsector, or more importantly, for the activated troop carriers and supply ships, when a planetary assault has been authorized. The fleet tankers can also be pre-placed, to facilitate strategic movement of either a single ship or a task group. A task force would require a major mobilization of logistical resources.

LogRons are also responsible for hiring or contracting suitable merchant vessels, if there are shortfalls in capability.