Freelance Traveller

original author unknown; contributed by Kevin Walsh

This article originally appeared in Issue #010 of the downloadable PDF magazine.

The Solomani Navy is a well-trained force, equipped to TL14 and TL15 standards. The Solomani emphasize Blitzkreig tactics in their naval doctrine. Assault units and heavy battleships will break the main line of resistance, pinning down heavy enemy forces. While the enemy heavy forces are neutralized, the raiders will move into the enemy rear areas. This is an embodiment of the Solomani “Total War” concept; the raiders will move against headquarters areas, supply depots, starports, shipyards and merchant ships, with the intent of paralyzing the enemy’s military and economy. These raiders will be accompanied by Confederation Marines, who will land on planets to destroy important military and economic facilities and to carry off loot and prisoners. Prisoners are questioned for data on other raid targets, and are then generally released unharmed, unless the prisoner is an important person politically, socially, militarily or scientifically.

A Solomani naval attack will either be a raid, or will have raiding elements attached to it. In a full multi-fleet attack, half of the committed fleets will remain in the reserve. In each attacking fleet, the two assault groups of the fleet will engage the enemy’s main line. An overstrength raiding group, with twice the number of squadrons as an Assault Group, will generally split into four to six task forces, each with 1 to 3 squadrons. These will zip into the enemy’s territory, with the intent of raiding for four to eight weeks before returning. At that time, the entire fleet will go into the reserve, returning to base for repair and replenishment. It will be immediately replaced on the front line with another fleet from the reserve, which will do the same. This doctrine is very rough on the fleets; the first set of attacking fleets will generally suffer 50% casualties and be forced to combine with other damaged fleets to build a full-strength unit. However, the effects on the enemy are immediate and devastating; the enemy’s main line will suffer some casualties, but the main damage will be apparent when supplies stop reaching the beleaguered defenders. As the bases, depots and starports are hit, supplies will dwindle. The losses to civilian shipping will prevent supplies from reaching the defenders, and needed reinforcements will be pulled away to chase down the raiders. And, as the economies of the worlds near the battle line begin to falter, the defenders may be faced with insurrection or desertion.

The Solomani also have some other unique unit types in the navy. One is the Interdiction Task Force. This is a unit made up of typical escort-type ships, with one or more Interdiction Squadrons as its main force. These squadrons are made up of Interdiction Cruisers, which have a low Jump rating but are configured for long stays in orbit interdicting ship traffic and acting as a bombardment platform. This sort of unit is used on worlds suffering from an Interdiction Edict from the Confederation Assembly or Security Council. This may happen due to disease, rebellion or disobedience of Security Council regulations concerning war with another Confederation world.

Another unique unit is the Customs Squadron. Employed in especially-busy systems, this consists of an Escort Carrier and a number of Customs Cruisers. These ships are small and fast, with moderate armor and armament. They are used to carry a squad of troops to perform inspections on ships entering or leaving the system. These units are used in systems with piracy problems, or in systems that have been given some form of economic sanctions from the General Assembly or Security Council.

As with ground forces, the Confederation Navy may call upon the naval forces of member worlds when necessary. The procedures are similar to that described for the ground forces, but it is rare for a world to field large naval forces, so such units are generally consolidated into Subsector or even Sector Squadrons, and are generally used for patrol and escort duties.

Solomani Ships

“dtons” is the standard abbreviation for “standard displacement tons”

Dreadnaught: Generally 750,000 to 1,000,000 dtons. These ships are Jump 3, and are generally rated for 3G thrust or less. They are heavily armored, and usually carry multiple fighter wings and up to a full Regimental Combat Team of Marines. These ships are named after Secretaries-General of the Confederation or its predecessor, the United Nations of Terra. There are three classes currently in Solomani fleets:

• U Thant class, 1,000,000 dtons, TL 14
• Regalbuto class, 800,000 dtons, TL15
• Li Kwan class, 750,000 dtons, TL 14

Battleship: Generally 500,000 to 750,000 dtons. These ships are Jump 3, and are generally rated for 3G or less. They are heavily armored, and usually carry about a wing of fighters and a Marine Assault Unit. These ships are named after stars and stellar anomalies. The Antares class are former Imperial Navy ships of the Excelsior class. There are four classes currently in Solomani fleets:

• Nova class, 500,000 dtons, TL15
• Antares class, 500,000 dtons, TL14
• Pleiades class, 600,000 dtons, TL14
• Cygnus class, 550,000 dtons, TL14

Battle Cruiser: Generally 100,000 to 400,000 dtons. These ships are Jump 3, and are generally rated for 3G thrust. They are heavily armored, and generally carry several fighter squadrons, as well as a company of Marines. These ships are named for planets in the Solomani Confederation or old Solomani Autonomous Region. The Terra class are former Imperial Navy ships of the Vland class. There are three classes currently in Solomani fleets:

• Dingir class, 200,000 dtons, TL15
• Home class, 200,000 dtons, TL14
• Terra class, 250,000 dtons, TL14

Interdiction Cruiser: Range from 100,000 to 250,000 dtons. These ships are Jump 2, and are generally rated for 2G thrust. They are heavily armored, and carry a full wing of interceptors, as well as a company of Marines. These ships are named for famous members of the Security Council. There are two classes currently in Solomani fleets:

• Gormancy class, 100,000 dtons, TL15
• Urquides class, 150,000 dtons, TL14

Missile Cruiser: Range from 50,000 to 100,000 dtons. These ships are Jump 3, and have 3G thrust. They are moderately armored. They carry several auxiliary spacecraft, and usually have a platoon of Marines for security. These ships are named for famous ground sieges from Solomani history. There are three classes currently in Solomani fleets:

• Sevastopol class, 80,000 dtons, TL15
• Melbourne class, 100,000 dtons, TL14
• Vicksburg class, 50,000 dtons, TL14

Cruiser: Range from 50,000 to 100,000 dtons. These ships are Jump 4, and have 3G thrust. They are moderately armored. They carry several auxiliary spacecraft, and usually have a platoon of Marines for security. These ships are named for heroic naval officers from Solomani history. The Nelson class are former Imperial Navy ships of the Raciborz class. There are six classes currently in Solomani fleets:

• John Paul Jones class, 60,000 dtons, TL15
• Kutusov class, 75,000 dtons, TL14
• Nelson class, 50,000 dtons, TL14
• Jaracara class, 100,000 dtons, TL15
• Mendoza class, 100,000 dtons, TL14
• Matsuhira class, 50,000 dtons, TL14

Heavy Raid Cruiser: Range from 100,000 to 250,000 dtons. These ships are Jump 5, and are generally rated at 3G thrust. They are well armored, and carry several fighter squadrons and several platoons of Marines for defense and boarding actions. These ships are named after Solomani commanders famous for raiding tactics. There are two classes currently in Solomani fleets:

• Guderian class, 200,000 dtons, TL14
• Al-Kebir class, 200,000 dtons, TL15

Light Raid Cruiser: Range from 50,000 to 100,000 dtons. These ships are Jump 5, and are generally rated at 4G thrust. They are moderately armored, and generally carry only a few utility spacecraft and a squad or two of Marines for defense. These ships are named for historical Solomani weapons. There is only one class currently in Solomani fleets:

• Broadsword class, 50,000 dtons, TL15

Heavy Carrier: Range from 500,000 to 750,000 dtons. These ships are Jump 3, and are generally rated at 2G thrust. They are lightly armored, and carry up to 10 wings of fighters and other spacecraft, as well as a platoon or more of Marines for security. These ships are named for historical Solomani sea and space carriers. There are two classes currently in Solomani fleets:

• Enterprise class, 700,000 dtons, TL14
• Ark Royal class, 700,000 dtons, TL15

Assault Carrier: Range from 200,000 to 500,000 dtons. These ships are Jump 3, and are rated at 3G thrust. They are moderately armored, and carry three to five wings of fighters; half of the fighter complement is configured for ground-attack. There is usually a platoon of Marines for security. These ships are named for historical Solomani fighter craft. There are currently two classes in Solomani fleets:

• Mustang class, 300,000 dtons, TL14
• Sukhoi class, 250,000 dtons, TL15

Raid Carrier: Range from 100,000 to 250,000 dtons. These ships are Jump 5, and are rated at 3G thrust. They are lightly armored, and carry two or three wings of fighters and a platoon of Marines for security. The ships are named for historical Solomani cavalry soldiers and mounts. There is only one class in Solomani fleets:

• Stuart class, 200,000 dtons, TL15

Escort Carrier: Range from 50,000 to 100,000 dtons. These ships are Jump 4, and are rated at 2G thrust. They are lightly armored, and carry one wing of fighters and a platoon of Marines for security. The ships are named for moons in Solomani space. There are four classes in Solomani fleets:

• Luna class, 50,000 dtons, TL15
• Phobos class, 75,000 dtons, TL14
• Astarte class, 60,000 dtons, TL14
• Fury class, 80,000 dtons, TL14

Frigate: Range from 10,000 to 25,000 dtons. These ships are Jump 4, and generally are rated at 4G thrust. They are lightly or moderately armored, and carry several auxiliary spacecraft and up to a company of Marines for security and minor ground or boarding actions. The ships are named for historic Solomani naval personnel (non-officers). The Ivanova class are former Imperial Navy ships of the Guuliira class. There are seven classes in Solomani fleets:

• Burell class, 25,000 dtons, TL14
• Reiter class, 20,000 dtons, TL15
• Dimock class, 20,000 dtons, TL14
• Magnuson class, 15,000 dtons, TL14
• Iwada class, 10,000 dtons, TL15
• Ivanova class, 10,000 dtons, TL14
• De Granaldo class, 10,000 dtons, TL14

Missile Frigate: Range from 10,000 to 25,000 dtons. These ships are Jump 4, and generally are rated at 4G thrust. They are lightly or moderately armored, and carry several auxiliary spacecraft and up to a company of Marines for security and minor ground or boarding actions. The ships are named for historic Solomani naval personnel (non-officers). The Bronson class are modifications of former Imperial Navy ships of the Guuliira class. There are two classes in Solomani fleets:

• Gunnar class, 20,000 dtons, TL15
• Bronson class, 10,000 dtons, TL14

Raider Escort: Range from 10,000 to 25,000 dtons. These ships are Jump 5, and are rated at 5G thrust. They are lightly armored, and carry a few auxiliary spacecraft and two Marine squads for security. The ships are named for fast-moving animals found in Solomani space. There is one class in Solomani fleets:

• Jaguar class, 10,000 dtons, TL15

Destroyer: Range from 2,000 to 10,000 dtons. These ships are Jump 4, and are rated at 4G+ thrust. They are lightly or moderately armored, and carry one or two auxiliary spacecraft. They usually carry a squad of Marines for security. The ships are named for winners of the Solomani Honor of Man medal winners. The Tomizuka class are former Imperial Navy ships of the Yser class, and the Sanchez class are former Imperial Navy ships of the Iberia class. There are eight classes in Solomani fleets:

• Lucien class, 5,000 dtons, TL15
• Keye class, 3,000 dtons, TL15
• Sanchez class, 7,500 dtons, TL14
• Gulbertson class, 5,000 dtons, TL14
• Gionetti class, 4,000 dtons, TL14
• Tomizuka class, 3,000 dtons, TL14
• Mbele class, 3,000 dtons, TL14
• Narayana class, 2,500 dtons, TL14

Destroyer Escort: Range from 1,000 to 2,000 dtons. These ships are Jump 4, and rated for 4G+ thrust. They are lightly armored, and usually carry one or two auxiliary spacecraft. The ships are named for decorated Solomani naval personnel who did not rate the Honor of Man medal. There are four classes:

• Inman class, 1,000 dtons, TL15
• Walbrecht class, 1,000 dtons, TL14
• Ziao class, 1,000 dtons, TL14
• Kwamele class, 1,500 dtons, TL14

Customs Cruiser: Range from 200 to 800 dtons. These ships are generally Jump 2, and generally rated at 4G+ thrust. They are lightly to moderately armored, and often carry an auxiliary craft and a squad of Marines for boarding actions. The ships are named for famous Solomani law enforcers. There are four classes in Solomani fleets:

• Robertson class, 500 dtons, TL14
• J. Edgar Hoover class, 600 dtons, TL15
• Ravi class, 800 dtons, TL14
• Earp class, 500 dtons, TL15

Close Escort: Range from 200 to 500 dtons. These ships are generally Jump 4, and generally rated at 3G+ thrust. They are lightly to moderately armored, and often carry an auxiliary craft. The ships classes have no overall naming conventions. The Fiery and Gazelle classes are former Imperial Navy ships of the same respective classes. There are three classes in Solomani fleets:

• Fiery class, 300 dtons, TL15
• Gazelle class, 300 dtons, TL15
• Swath class, 400 dtons, TL14

MAU Assault Transport: Range from 10,000 to 25,000 dtons. These ships are generally Jump 3, and generally rated at 3G. They are lightly armored, and carry numerous auxiliary craft, drop capsule facilities, and carry a Marine Assault Unit (a reinforced battalion configured for independent operations). These ships are named after famous Solomani Marines. There are two classes in Solomani fleets:

• Henderson class, 20,000 dtons, TL15
• Juliard class, 25,000 dtons, TL14

MRCT Assault Transport: Range from 50,000 to 100,000 dtons. These ships are generally Jump 3, and generally rated at 3G thrust. They are lightly armored, and carry numerous auxiliary craft, drop capsule facilities and a Marine Regimental Combat Team (a reinforced Marine Regiment configured for independent operations). These ships are named for famous Solomani battles involving Marines. There are three classes in Solomani fleets:

• Bellau Wood class, 60,000 dtons, TL15
• Betelgeuse Alpha class, 75,000 dtons, TL14
• Iwo Jima class, 100,000 dtons, TL14

Division Transport: Range from 75,000 to 150,000 tons displacement. These ships are generally Jump 3, and are rated at 2G thrust. They are lightly armored, and carry numerous auxiliary craft (largely shuttles). They generally have a platoon of Marines assigned for security, but are designed to carry about 5,000 troops and their equipment. These ships are named after famous Solomani land battles. There are four classes in Solomani fleets:

• Rhineland class, 80,000 dtons, TL15
• Kursk class, 75,000 dtons, TL14
• Gorinta class, 100,000 dtons, TL14
• Gettysburg class, 125,000 dtons, TL14

Corps Transport: Range from 75,000 to 150,000 dtons. These ships are generally Jump 3, and are rated at 2G thrust. They are lightly armored, and carry numerous auxiliary craft. They generally carry a company of Marines assigned for security, but are designed to carry about 3,000 troops and their equipment. They also carry enhanced command and control facilities to allow management of a ground battle from orbit, as well as expanded medical and missile weapons facilities. These ships are named after famous Solomani non-Marine commanders. There are two classes in Solomani fleets:

• Rommel class, 80,000 dtons, TL15
• Muramoto class, 100,000 dtons, TL14

Hospital Ship: Range from 50,000 to 100,000 dtons. These ships are generally Jump 3, and are rated at 1G thrust. They are lightly armored, and carry numerous auxiliary craft. They carry a platoon of Marines for security, and a 1,000 to 2,500 bed hospital with all supporting facilities. These ships are named for famous Solomani doctors. There is one class in Solomani fleets:

• Dr. Crenshaw class, 80,000 tons, TL15

Squadron Tender: Range from 10,000 to 25,000 tons displacement. These ships are generally Jump 3, and are rated at 2G thrust. They are lightly armored, and carry several auxiliary spacecraft as well as a Marine squad for security. These ships have expanded machine shop and fabrications facilities, as well as a very large cargo area that can carry cargo modules or fuel bladders. These ships have no overall naming conventions. There are three classes in Solomani fleets:

• Connestoga class, 10,000 dtons, TL15
• Provender class, 15,000 dtons, TL14
• Milch Kow class, 20,000 dtons, TL14

Fleet Tender: Range from 100,000 to 250,000 dtons. These ships are generally Jump 3, and are rated at 1G thrust. They are lightly armored, and carry several auxiliary craft and a Marine platoon for security. These ships have expanded machine shop and fabrications facilities, as well as a very large cargo area that can carry cargo modules or fuel bladders. These ships have no overall naming conventions. There are three classes in Solomani fleets:

• Cornucopia class, 150,000 dtons, TL15
• Breadbasket class, 250,000 dtons. TL14
• Ipswich class, 200,000 dtons, TL14

Fleet Courier: Range from 200 to 800 dtons. These ships are Jump 6, and are rated at 2G thrust. They are lightly armored, and carry enhanced communications and sensor gear. These ships have no overall naming convention. There are two classes in Solomani fleets:

• Mercury class, 500 dtons, TL15
• Delivery class, 600 dtons, TL15

Combat Scout: Range from 100 to 400 tons displacement. These ships are Jump 4. and are rated at 4G+ thrust. They are lightly to moderately armored, and carry enhanced communications and sensor gear. These ships are named after famous Solomani military scouts. There is one class in Solomani fleets:

• Kit Carson class, 250 dtons, TL15