OBT Forum

Hi I might have some ideas on that front. Do you mind if I make some vessels and other items for the naval aspect of the Terran Republic?

Sure Gabe lets jump in the water. Knock yourself out with some proposals for the Terran Republic Armed Services (TRAS). We already have two designs appearing in Fanbook 2 - Project Phoenix [Sea Wolf Fast Attack Submarine and Nautilus Ballistic Missile Submarine]. I'm really still looking for Nautical Support Vessels of this time. I'd also like to gather up all designs for Nautical (Wet Navy) Warfare that are in use at this time. Be they Terran or any other Human Sphere power.

I'd love to hear about the Wet Navies of all the Houses and the Periphery while we are at it. For the Terran Republic there are three separate nautical forces. The elite mobile nautical force of the TRAS would be part of the Royal Marines who are trained and equipped to fight in exotic settings. Quote from FM Terran Republic;

The Royal Marines uses any and all equipment that will operate in space (primarily). Obviously this alters somewhat the Royal Marines strategic organization from the Terran Army standard. Replacing the ground vehicle (tank) regiment in Marine units is a nautical or wet navy (i.e. Boats and Subs) regiment deployed to secure enemy held sea territory. These vessels help the Royal Marines fight in their second favorite combat arena, the sea.

These units would be deployed via Anchorage class Dropship (seen also in FM TR 2785) which is a Nautical (Wet Naval) Carrier capable of deploying a full battalion of nautical forces (36 Heavy Vehicles).

The bulk of the Republic nautical assets fall under the control of the Nautical Subcommand. Nautical units are the rarest armor forces working to secure large bodies of water on planet. Split into surface craft and submarines these units are usually static and are deployed on Terran worlds only with significant seas or oceans. As these units are planet bound they fall under Army Command which has authority over all atmospheric combat types. This has added to the service rivalry in the TRAS which is intense but friendly. Headquarters for the Nautical Subcommand is located in Portsmouth Nautical Base, Great Britain and as of 2785 its Commanding Officer is Lt. General Danielle R. Mandel.

Finally there is the Reserve Command which has any mothballed or surplus nautical units at their disposal. This could be significant as the SLDF was likely the largest user of such equipment and likely had the largest force. The Houses were likely too concerned with Arms Restrictions and rapid build ups to worry about such forces. Both Nautical Forces (Army/Line forces and Reserve) would be part of System Defense Forces (SDFs) of appropriate planets. Worlds with large bodies of water like Earth, New Earth, Keid, Carver, Fomalhaut, etc in the Republic. Given the difficulty in rapidly deploying such units they are more defensive in nature then offensive.

I also cleaned up the Nautical SDS Thread link below. What do you guys think of just using the Wyrm as a Republic design? Our research pre-dated JHS Terra. In universe it is likely that the Blakist found such a Star League concept and built upon it whose to say it wasn't ours?

http://ourbattletech.com/forum/mechfactory/design-challenge-nautical-sds/

Also of note from Project Phoenix;

Omega Castles are more intelligence facilities rather than dedicated military bases. They are the smallest Castles built by Terran military engineers and are typically the cheapest. Eventually these facilities will be built on every Terran world but current efforts are focused on constructing bases along the Draconis Combine and Free Worlds League border areas. Intended to be the last Castle so to speak they engage in passive intelligence gathering using advanced monitoring equipment to observe enemy forces operating in the system. In the event that this world is conquered by an enemy these listening posts would continue to function, tracking troop movements and resistance efforts to aid in liberation efforts. Staffed by observers from Military Intelligence they are trained to not make contact with the outside world until a relief or liberation force broadcasts a specific request for information. Typically they are located in the most remote place in a system (i.e. underwater or on a desolate moon) with many different broadcast sites to throw off enemy detection.

I think this is an area where we can create something new.

If you want, I can help you with that.


The most important part for now is to define the different theories of use behind the wet blue navies.
I won't be at home until the 7th late at night but once there I can look at my different books and see if I can do something out of it.

And you forgot the smallest ships, the Silverback, Monitor...

Thanks Gabriel. Ice what do you think about the Wyrm?

I didn't forget the Monitor but since it wasn't available to the BTSD era I didn't list it. Irose and I went over the text when we were doing availability lists. It never gives an introduction date but implies a newer late 2900s to early 3000s design. However for sake of completeness you are correct. We should also include the Neptune as well for idea sake even though that clearly ain't around. Yup did miss the Silverfin / Silverback Coastal Cutters.

* Also forgot to mention the special quote from the Meabh class Heavy Cruiser (TRO Vehicle Annex pg 164). Seems to indicate that the Star League was home to some pretty impressive blue water fleets and designs.

Remnants of the Star League’s Golden Age when peace, technology and funds in abundance allowed for excessive military installations, underwater command posts are rare at best in the present. As a mix of technological marvel, perfect protection and constructed madness these bunkers were very safe and extremely vulnerable at the same time, demanding several interlacing layers of different protection methods, one of them being naval escorts for supply convoys.
While the standard SLDF cruisers performed admirably in that role, they quickly fell into disrepair after the fall of the Star League. Even more so than other top-notch equipment of that era, those ships needed extensive and costly maintenance due to their constant use in the aggressive saltwater environment. Such was that by the end of the First Succession War, the LCAF saw itself forced to organize replacements if they wanted to retain some kind of bluewater fleet—which at least most of the social generals who didn’t want to lose their “personal pleasure yachts” did.

Also some unit notes. I'd like to see some brown water coastal guards as well as blue water ocean fleets. Seems like Liao deploys their nautical formations in Home Guard units and the Lyrans changed them from national control to planetary control during the Succession Wars.

If it is okay with you, I will work on this aspect as soon as I get home.

Do you prefer new designs or doctrines?

Do not forget the Troops.