The 5th Outrim War: 297th Imperial Fleet - Gamelea Redux

Once I realized I had messed up the set-up budget for my campaign, I had to sit down and recrunch the numbers. While I was about it, I expanded the Fleet Support Squadron to include Medical Transports, Troop Carriers capable of moving a brigade-sized ground force per ship, and a number of fast, heavy Planetoid Monitors for system defense. The Support Squadron also includes a small flotilla of Heavy Carriers - each capable of lifting a Planetoid Monitor. As the Fleet Battleships are also 200,000 dtons in size, these Heavy carriers can retrieve up to Battleship sized ships that have suffered Jump Drive failure.

The Duchy of Gamelea has a population of 142.687 billion sophonts. Out of a Navy Budget of approximately TCr28.85, Gamelea Subsector contributes TCr10.119 to support and sustain 297th Imperial Fleet. For the set-up for this campaign, 297th Imperial Fleet was given the equivalent of thee years' budget - TCr30.358 - for initial assigned ships.

Lymethius (L) and Gamelea (R) Subsectors

There are five Naval Bases in Gamelea Subsector: - Gamelea (0508), Feor (0407), Varch (0108), Canblyne (0705), and Ventura (0607). There is also a Naval Base at Anar (Lymethius 0805) and a patrol station at Findual (Lymethius 0802).

The senior Navy Command Officers are as follows:
Gamelea/Gamelea
Fleet Admiral Dame Silvera Gaarthorn hault-Opernarcy, Baron Ythelorn
Vice-Admiral Sir Ankorl hault-Criolarsos
Rear-Admiral Dame Anastasia Eppo, Count Cappatachi
Rear-Admiral Sir Jerhon hault-Anseen
Varch/Gamelea
Rear-Admiral Sir Adryos Juharl
Feor/Gamelea
Vice-Admiral Sir Lexon Zarquestuiir
Rear-Admiral Sir Clyn hault-Asheranon of Exxilon
Ventura/Gamelea
Vice-Admiral Sir Constantine Fairweather von Lukaskow of Kartivia/Gazul
Canblyne/Gamelea
Commodore Dame Gessemina Mahoult
Anar/Lymethius
Commodore Dame Erika Santo Killmany-Ustmar
Finduil/Lymethius
Commodore Sherri Li Kem

Squadron Deployment

Gamelea		Varch		Feor		Canblyne		Ventura
BatRon 215		BatRon 220		BatRon 219		BatRon 231		BatRon 224
BatRon 216		BatRon 229		BatRon 221				BatRon 227
BatRon 226
CruRon 634		CruRon 665		CruRon 663		CruRon 640		CruRon 666
CruRon 667		CruRon 638		CruRon 639		CruRon 655
CruRon 650		CruRon 648		CruRon 661
CruRon 670				CruRon 668
DesRon 821		DesRon 822		DesRon 823		DesRon 824		DesRon 825
DesRon 847		DesRon 853		DesRon 848		DesRon 854		DesRon 849
DesRon 860		DesRon 856		DesRon 855		DesRon 865		DesRon 851
DesRon 862		DesRon 861		DesRon 857				DesRon 890
DesRon 892		DesRon 868		DesRon 864				DesRon 893
DesRon 867				DesRon 869
SupRon 1183

Anar		Finduil
CruRon 664
DesRon 850		DesRon 858
DesRon 852		DesRon 859
DesRon 891

297th Fleet has 998 ships assigned to it, crewed by 598,515 personnel, with a total tonnage of 48, 075,000 tons. 3180 Marines are deployed as Ship's Troops, drawn from 351st Marine Division, as well as 37,845 Navy Security personnel.

BatRons 215, 216, 219, 220, 221, 224, 226, 227, 229, 231 consist of:
4 x 200,000 dton Kalsorlicalii Class Battleships
6 x 60,000 dton Kiirvular Class Strike Cruisers
4 x 10,000 dton Reshanan Class Heavy Destroyers
8 x 5,000 dton Alicapanii Class Destroyer Escorts

CruRons 648, 650, 655, 661, 664, 665, 666 consist of:
8 x 60,000 dton Kiirvular Class Strike Cruisers
1 x 60,000 dton Kiirvular Class Strike Cruiser Leader
8 x 5,000 dton Alicapanii Class Destroyer Escorts

Heavy CruRons 663, 667, 668, 670 consist of:
8 x 60,000 dton Kiirvular Class Strike Cruisers
1 x 60,000 dton Kiirvular Class Strike Cruiser Leader
8 x 10,000 dton Reshanan Class Heavy Destroyer

CruRon 634, 638, 639
8 x 60,000 dton Kiirvular Class Strike Cruisers
1 x 60,000 dton Kiirvular Class Strike Cruiser Leader
Carrier Group 232, 238, 239
1 x 35,000 dton Niiarsanor Class Escort Carrier
7 x 5,000 dton Alicapanii Class Destroyer Escorts
1 x 5,000 dton Alicapanii Class Destroyer Leader
DesRon 855, 865, 866
8 x 5,000 dton Gilsurmii Class Destroyers

CruRon 640
8 x 60,000 dton Kiirvular Class Strike Cruisers
1 x 60,000 dton Kiirvular Class Strike Cruiser Leader
Carrier Group 241
1 x 35,000 dton Niiarsanor Class Escort Carrier
6 x 5,000 dton Alicapanii Class Destroyer Escorts
1 x 5,000 dton Alicapanii Class Destroyer Leader
DesRon 867
6 x 5,000 dton Gilsurmii Class Destroyers

DesRons 821, 822, 823, 824, 825
8 x 7,000 dton Matador Class Destroyer Escorts

DesRons 847, 848, 849, 850, 853, 854, 855, 859, 864, 865, 867, 868, 869, 893
8 x 5,000 dton Alicapanii Class Destroyer Escorts

DesRons 851, 852, 856, 857, 858
7 x 5,000 dton Alicapanii Class Destroyer Escorts
1 x 5,000 dton Alicapanii Class Destroyer Leader

DesRons 860, 861, 862, 890, 891, 892
8 x 5,000 dton Gilsurmii Class Destroyers

SupRons 1183
100 x 2,000 dton Oudiir Class Medical Transport Frigates
5 x 50,000 dton Da'sanai Class Marine Troop Carriers
60 x 104,000 dton Corosanear Class Troop Carriers
80 x 200,000 dton Goiir Class Planetoid Monitors
7 x 370,000 dton Albachoor Class Heavy Carriers

---

The 5th Outrim War: Eanzhshent Geithurebr Epliavlefr - The Republic of Geithur Naval Force

The Geithurian Republic is an alliance of ten non-Imperial systems in the Lymethius subsector, and a member polity of the Outrim Alliance. With a total population of 101.121 billion sophonts, the Republic is dominated by humans of mixed Zhodani, Solomani and Vilani origin (99.2% of the population). Non-human Minor Races (Aaronites of Lysarnor and Tharoysa of Dysa Metharoth, plus smaller sophont groups) make up about 0.7% of the total population.

While supposedly a democratic alliance, in reality the Council of the Geithurian Republic has been dominated by the Edlchtel Clan, hereditary Konzevrs of Appaer and Presidents of the Republic, for the last two centuries. Of Zhodani origin, the Edlchtels have driven both the Geithurian Republic's, and the Outrim Alliance's, opposition to Imperial expansion into Lymethius Subsector.

- Library Data: Geithurian Republic

The Geithurian Republic has a Navy budget of TCr14.222 The bulk of the shipbuilding for the Navy passes through the Tech Level 12 yards of Appaer. TCr0.142 is deducted from the Navy Budget to maintain bases and support personnel. While the Trillion Credit Squadron rules suggest an initial start-up campaign budget of ten times the annual Navy budget, I decided to limit this initial budget to four times the annual budget, or TCr56.866.

The Geithurian Republican Navy - the Eanzhshent Geithurebr Epliavlefr, or EGE -  currently favors a tactical doctrine of Battleriders over Battleships in potential conflicts with the Imperium. With a maximum native technology level of 12, Republican planners believe that inefficiencies in Drive technology can be addressed by building Navy Combat Groups around several massive Carriers and their attendant Riders. Recently, the EGE has acquired a squadron of TL14 Carriers and Battleriders from the Hand of Ssra'Ka Aissr - a Tsalur-dominated polity in the Entorth Subsector, spinward of the Geithurian Republic.

The EGE has four main bases: Geithur (0202), Lysarnor (0302), Vermorzol (0304) and Dysa Metharoth (0601). Patrol Stations are maintained at Hiona (0206), Fiona (0602) and Jul'ni (0505). An unofficial Fleet Station is maintained in the Appaer system.

The senior Navy Command Officers are as follows:
Geithur/Lymethius
Fleet Admiral Stietlchiapr Jinchniz Jdiezhdodrzdikr
Vice Admiral Zashi Iiarki
Rear-Admiral Ergur Prebrtsafl
Vermorzol/Lymethius
Vice Admiral Sara Kashgiish
Rear-Admiral Frensi Kuusnashkhaa
Lysarnor/Lymethius
Vice Admiral Zhdil Shiirgishe
Rear-Admiral Ikiaan Qletl
Dysa Metharoth/Lymethius
Vice Admiral Sluritmav Spiap
Rear-Admiral Ibrde Ietsiivr
Appaer/Lymethius
Vice Admiral Octavian Eprkaiad
Rear Admiral Kupuud Gadu
Hiona/Lymethius
Commodore Dana Evriaprzheqr
Fiona/Lymethius
Commodore Herrod Jabline Eudiish
Jul'ni/Lymethius
Commodore Gusam Gelish Afrzho'

Squadron Deployment

Geithur		Lysarnor		Appaer		Vermorzol
1 Epl Staql		3 Epl Staql		2 Epl Staql		4 Epl Staql
10 Epl Staql		8 Epl Staql		7 Epl Staql		6 Epl Staql
11 Epl Staql
202 Epl Stiabsedr		204 Epl Stiabsedr		203 Epl Stiabsedr		205 Epl Stiabsedr
209 Epl Stiabsedr		211 Epl Stiabsedr		207 Epl Stiabsedr		212 Epl Stiabsedr
215 Epl Stiabsedr		216 Epl Stiabsedr		213 Epl Stiabsedr		214 Epl Stiabsedr
				217 Epl Stiabsedr		218 Epl Stiabsedr
104 Epl Ienshbresh		101 Epl Ienshbresh		110 Epl Ienshbresh		102 Epl Ienshbresh
107 Epl Ienshbresh		108 Epl Ienshbresh		115 Epl Ienshbresh		111 Epl Ienshbresh
112 Epl Ienshbresh		113 Epl Ienshbresh		121 Epl Ienshbresh		116 Epl Ienshbresh
120 Epl Ienshbresh				Ivl Epl Pianta

	Dysa Metharoth	Hiona	Fiona	Jul'ni
	5 Epl Staql
	9 Epl Staql
	206 Epl Stiabsedr		200 Epl Stiabedr	201 Epl Stiabedr
	208 Epl Stiabsedr
	210 Epl Stiabsedr
	219 Epl Stiabsedr
	105 Epl Ienshbresh	100 Epl Ieshbresh	106 Epl Ieshbresh	103 Epl Ieshbresh
	109 Epl Ienshbresh	117 Epl Ieshbresh	118 Epl Ieshbresh	119 Epl Ieshbresh
	114 Epl Ienshbresh

The Geithurian Republican Navy - the Eanzhshent Geithurebr Epliavlefr, or EGE - consists of 1414 ships, crewed by 503,105 personnel, with a total tonnage of 63,240,000 dtons. 19,004 Marines are deployed as Ship's Troops, drawn from 9th (Marine) Division, as well as 34,630 Navy Security personnel.

Epl Staql - Combat Group. The EGE is built around 11 Combat Groups.
1, 3 - 4, 6 - 7 and 11 Epl Staql consist of:
1 x 300,000 dton Khalermu-L Class Battleship
12 x 70,000 dton Tedr Edrial Class Battle Riders
3 x 700,000 dton Edfrevl Class Fleet Carriers
8 x 70,000 dton Plaljansh Class Heavy Cruisers
8 x 20,000 dton Datsshianzh Class Heavy Destroyers
12 x 10,000 dton Dlazhchteb Class Destroyers
16 x 5,000 dton Stojiebl Class Destroyer Escorts

2 and 5 Epl Staql consist of:
1 x 300,000 dton Khalermu-L Class Battleship
18 x 40,000 dton TL14 Nophla Class Battle Riders
3 x 500,000 dton TL14 Hituphl Class Fleet Carriers
8 x 70,000 dton Plaljansh Class Heavy Cruisers
8 x 20,000 dton Datsshianzh Class Heavy Destroyers
12 x 10,000 dton Dlazhchteb Class Destroyers
16 x 5,000 dton Stojiebl Class Destroyer Escorts

8, 9 and 10 Epl Staql consist of:
1 x 300,000 dton Khalermu-L Class Battleship
5 x 300,000 dton Khalermu Class Battleships
8 x 70,000 dton Plaljansh Class Heavy Cruisers
8 x 20,000 dton Datsshianzh Class Heavy Destroyers
12 x 10,000 dtons Dlazhchteb Class Destroyers
16 x 5,000 dtons Stojiebl Class Destroyer Escorts

Epl Stiabsedr - Strike Group.
200 Epl Stiabsedr consists of:
6 x 70,000 dton Plaljansh Class Heavy Cruisers
2 x 90,000 dton Diefshto' Class Strike Carriers
8 x 10,000 dton Dlazhchteb Class Destroyers
10 x 5,000 dton Stojiebl Class Destroyer Escorts

201 - 214 Epl Stiabsedr consist of:
6 x 70,000 dton Plaljansh Class Heavy Cruisers
2 x 90,000 dton Diefshto' Class Strike Carriers
8 x 10,000 dton Dlazhchteb Class Destroyers
8 x 5,000 dton Stojiebl Class Destroyer Escorts

215 - 219 Epl Stiabsedr consist of:
6 x 70,000 dton Plaljansh Class Heavy Cruisers
8 x 10,000 dton Dlazhchteb Class Destroyers
8 x 5,000 dton Stojiebl Class Destroyer Escorts

Epl Ienshbresh - Escort Group.
100 - 121 Epl Ienshbresh consist of:
8 x 15,000 dton Si'zenz Class Destroyers

Ivl Epl Pianta - Support Group.
72 x 75,000 dton Ebr Shtodiz Class Troop Carriers, also known as "Brigade Carriers".
50 x 10,000 dton Itlprie Class Medical Transports
36 x 99,900 dton Shukshaiin Class TL11 Gunned Planetoids
36 x 40,000 dton Ishkhashre Class Light Carriers - each carries 4 x 1100 dton System Defense Boats

Note: Now that I have worked out the Geithurian Republican Navy with my revised and self-imposed campaign budget rules, I will have to give the 297th Imperial Fleet another pass to ensure that it complies.

The 5th Outrim War: 297th Imperial Fleet - Gamelea

Working out the details of Imperial Task Force hault-Criolarsos, a division of 297th Imperial Fleet, required me to also work out 297th Imperial Fleet in detail.

Each Imperial Subsector has an Imperial Fleet assigned to it. All Subsector Imperial Fleets fall under Imperial Navy Sector Command based at the Sector capital, Thiroor/Gazolan. Each Subsector contributes to the maintenance and upkeep of the Imperial Fleet units stationed within its volume.

The Imperial Duchy of Gamelea covers most of Gamelea Subsector and consists of 17 systems, plus the Protectorate of Por'via (consisting of Por'via, Finduil and Ouron), administered from Julnar/Gamelea; and the Barony of Anar (currently consisting of the Anar System, but with claims to Auru and Nearo). Por'via, Finduil, Ouron and Anar all lie within Lymethius Subsector but are considered administratively to be part of the Duchy of Gamelea. The Kalar-Wi system is the capital and homeworld of the Kalar-Wi Minor Race, and is not part of the Imperium.

The Duchy of Gamelea has a population of 142.687 billion sophonts. Out of a Navy Budget of approximately TCr28.85, Gamelea Subsector contributes TCr10.119 to support and sustain 297th Imperial Fleet.

Lymethius (L) and Gamelea (R) Subsectors

There are five Naval Bases in Gamelea Subsector: - Gamelea (0508), Feor (0407), Varch (0108), Canblyne (0705), and Ventura (0607). There is also a Naval Base at Anar (Lymethius 0805) and a patrol station at Findual (Lymethius 0802).

The senior Navy Command Officers are as follows:
Gamelea/Gamelea
Fleet Admiral Dame Silvera Gaarthorn hault-Opernarcy, Baron Ythelorn
Vice-Admiral Sir Ankorl hault-Criolarsos
Rear-Admiral Dame Anastasia Eppo, Count Cappatachi
Rear-Admiral Sir Jerhon hault-Anseen
Varch/Gamelea
Rear-Admiral Sir Adryos Juharl
Feor/Gamelea
Vice-Admiral Sir Lexon Zarquestuiir
Rear-Admiral Sir Clyn hault-Asheranon of Exxilon
Ventura/Gamelea
Vice-Admiral Sir Constantine Fairweather von Lukaskow of Kartivia/Gazul
Canblyne/Gamelea
Commodore Dame Gessemina Mahoult
Anar/Lymethius
Commodore Dame Erika Santo Killmany-Ustmar
Finduil/Lymethius
Commodore Sherri Li Kem

Squadron Deployment

Gamelea		Varch		Feor		Canblyne		Ventura
BatRon 215		BatRon 220		BatRon 219				BatRon 224
BatRon 216				BatRon 221
CruRon 634		CruRon 665		CruRon 663		CruRon 640		CruRon 666
CruRon 667		CruRon 638		CruRon 639		CruRon 655
CruRon 650
DesRon 821		DesRon 822		DesRon 823		DesRon 824		DesRon 825
DesRon 847		DesRon 853		DesRon 848		DesRon 854		DesRon 849
DesRon 860		DesRon 856		DesRon 857				DesRon 851
DesRon 862		DesRon 861		DesRon 855				DesRon 890
DesRon 892								DesRon 893

Anar		Finduil
CruRon 664
DesRon 850		DesRon 858
DesRon 852		DesRon 859
DesRon 891

297th Fleet has 518 ships assigned to it, crewed by 118,374 personnel, with a total tonnage of 14, 282,000 tons. 2240 Marines are deployed as Ship's Troops, drawn from 351st Marine Division, as well as 7852 Navy Security personnel.

BatRons usually consist of:
4 x 200,000 dton Kalsorlicalii Class Battleships
6 x 60,000 dton Kiirvular Class Strike Cruisers
4 x 10,000 dton Reshanan Class Heavy Destroyers
8 x 5,000 dton Alicapanii Class Destroyer Escorts

CruRons 650, 655 consist of:
6 x 60,000 dton Kiirvular Class Strike Cruisers
1 x 60,000 dton Kiirvular Class Strike Cruiser Leader
6 x 5,000 dton Alicapanii Class Destroyer Escorts

CruRons 664, 665, 666 consist of:
7 x 60,000 dton Kiirvular Class Strike Cruisers
1 x 60,000 dton Kiirvular Class Strike Cruiser Leader
8 x 5,000 dton Alicapanii Class Destroyer Escorts

Heavy CruRons 663 consists of:
6 x 60,000 dton Kiirvular Class Strike Cruisers
1 x 60,000 dton Kiirvular Class Strike Cruiser Leader
8 x 10,000 dton Reshanan Class Heavy Destroyer

Heavy CruRons 667 consists of:
7 x 60,000 dton Kiirvular Class Strike Cruisers
1 x 60,000 dton Kiirvular Class Strike Cruiser Leader
8 x 10,000 dton Reshanan Class Heavy Destroyer

CruRon 634
6 x 60,000 dton Kiirvular Class Strike Cruisers
1 x 60,000 dton Kiirvular Class Strike Cruiser Leader
Carrier Group 232
1 x 35,000 dton Niiarsanor Class Escort Carrier
7 x 5,000 dton Alicapanii Class Destroyer Escorts
1 x 5,000 dton Alicapanii Class Destroyer Leader
DesRon 855
8 x 5,000 dton Gilsurmii Class Destroyers

CruRon 638
6 x 60,000 dton Kiirvular Class Strike Cruisers
1 x 60,000 dton Kiirvular Class Strike Cruiser Leader
Carrier Group 238
1 x 35,000 dton Niiarsanor Class Escort Carrier
7 x 5,000 dton Alicapanii Class Destroyer Escorts
1 x 5,000 dton Alicapanii Class Destroyer Leader
DesRon 865
8 x 5,000 dton Gilsurmii Class Destroyers

CruRon 639
6 x 60,000 dton Kiirvular Class Strike Cruisers
1 x 60,000 dton Kiirvular Class Strike Cruiser Leader
Carrier Group 239
1 x 35,000 dton Niiarsanor Class Escort Carrier
7 x 5,000 dton Alicapanii Class Destroyer Escorts
1 x 5,000 dton Alicapanii Class Destroyer Leader
DesRon 866
8 x 5,000 dton Gilsurmii Class Destroyers

CruRon 640
6 x 60,000 dton Kiirvular Class Strike Cruisers
1 x 60,000 dton Kiirvular Class Strike Cruiser Leader
Carrier Group 241
1 x 35,000 dton Niiarsanor Class Escort Carrier
6 x 5,000 dton Alicapanii Class Destroyer Escorts
1 x 5,000 dton Alicapanii Class Destroyer Leader
DesRon 867
6 x 5,000 dton Gilsurmii Class Destroyers

DesRons 821, 822, 823, 824, 825
8 x 7,000 dton Matador Class Destroyer Escorts

DesRons 847, 848, 849, 850, 853, 854, 855, 859, 893
8 x 5,000 dton Alicapanii Class Destroyer Escorts

DesRons 851, 852, 856, 857, 858
4 x 5,000 dton Alicapanii Class Destroyer Escorts
1 x 5,000 dton Alicapanii Class Destroyer Leader

DesRons 860, 861, 862, 890, 891, 892
8 x 5,000 dton Gilsurmii Class Destroyers

SupRons 1183
8 x 2,000 dton Oudiir Class Medical Transport Frigates
5 x 50,000 dton Da'sanai Class Marine Troop Carriers

---

Notes: I've always had a bit of difficulty with the OTU's Naval vessel numbers.The "1000" ship Sector Fleet of various Traveller editions just does not seem to stack up against the, admittedly rudimentary, economic data.

If the Gross Planetary Product is figured from Population x Trade Code Modifiers x Base GPP, and the Base Military expenditure is factored as 3% of GPP, and the Imperial Military tax is factored as 30% of the Base Military expenditure, and the population of Gamelea Subsector is 142 billion, then we have a Military budget of TCr71, before allowing for planetary Government modifiers, and the conversion rate between local credits and Imperial Credits. In the case of Gamelea Subsector, the Imperial Navy budget component is TCr10, while the Subsector Navy budget is TCr28. Even deducting TCr0.1 from the Imperial Navy budget (1% of the budget) and committing this to maintain Imperial Navy Bases within Gamelea Subsector, pay for support personnel, etc, there is still easily sufficient funds to support 518 Imperial ships of various tonnages within Gamelea Subsector.

Local conditions vary from subsector to subsector - both Nolgor and Miazan Subsectors, for example, have large proportions of the resident local population on non-Imperial worlds, and so of the four 'original' subsectors I developed (Gamelea, Nolgor, Miazan and Gazul), Gamelea Subsector is possibly the best resourced. It may be that as I work out the budgets of the other Subsectors I will have to reassign units from 297th Fleet to support other Fleet deployments, but at the moment Imperial Sector Fleet - RimWorlds is looking like a fairly powerful force.

Having already determined the number of marines available for deployment from 351st Marine Division, I suddenly realized that I had to be careful when assigning security details to the ships I was designing for the fleet. An initial design pass resulted in over 9000 Marines assigned as Ships' Troops - approximately a division's worth. After a second pass, I reduced the number of Marines to 2240, about a regiment, by increasing the number of Security personnel. This tallied better with my notes on 351st Marine Division and the proportion of personnel assigned as Ship Troops. I have been considering doubling the Marine deployment to two divisions per subsector - this would allow more Marines as Ship's Troops, as well as allowing larger groundside deployments - but I am trying to work within the concept that Imperial Marines do not do protracted ground deployments (that is the job of the Unified Imperial Army), and are deployed purely as shock troops.

Each of the  Kalsorlicalii Class Battleships carries 20 Fighters, and there are 4 Escort Carriers assigned to 297th Fleet, each carrying 80 Fighters. These fighter wings both protect the larger ships from smaller warships, as well as extend the Fleet's sensor sphere well out beyond the range of the main fleet. I imagine that Fighters would have little impact in an actual fleet battle, instead being used for scouting other bodies in a system, driving off hostile scouts, and interdicting trade.

Edit: Discovered that I had neglected to deduct the 1% of budget for maintaining the Naval Bases. And once I had sorted out the spread sheet, I found a number of other errors. When this was all tidied up, and a few ships shaved off the budget to bring expenditure under budget, I found myself feeling a little less smug about how powerful the 297th Fleet was.

The 5th Outrim War: Initial Imperial Forces

On 236-1109, Imperial Task Force hault-Criolarsos jumped from Anar/Lymethius. A division of 297th Imperial Fleet - Gamelea, the Task Force under Vice-Admiral Sir Ankorl hault-Criolarsos was tasked with delivering Lieutenant-General Dame Risha von Kervhan-Malushii's Expeditionary Corps to Auru/Lymethius in the Tallu Cluster of the Border Worlds.

Von Kervhan-Malushii's Expeditionary Corps consists of 117th Bryaki Infantry Division, 123rd Feorean Infantry Division, and 106th Armoured Division of the Imperial Unified Army, Three Marine Expeditionary Units - 22nd MEU, 23rd MEU, and 24th MEU - have been attached to Von Kervhan-Malushii's Corps and tasked with spearheading the Unified Army deployment on Auru.

351st Imperial Marine Division

Imperial Ground Forces:
22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit

• 2nd Battalion 1200th Marine Regiment
• A Coy 295th LAR Battalion
• C Coy 540th Marine Tank Battalion
• B Coy 2/1550th Marine Engineer Regiment
• Battery B 891st Marine Meson Artillery Regiment
• C Coy from 3/10201st Marine Logistics Regiment
• 9854 Squadron COACC Close Support
• 9857 Squadron COACC Close Support
• 9751 Squadron COACC Battalion Landing Craft
• 9754 Squadron COACC Battalion Landing Craft

23rd Marine Expeditionary Unit

• 1st Battalion 1033rd Marine Regiment
• B Coy 540th Marine Tank Battalion
• B Coy 295th LAR Battalion
• A Coy 3/1550th Marine Engineer Regiment
• Battery C 891st Marine Meson Artillery Regiment
• B Coy from 1/10201st Marine Logistics Regiment
• 9856 Squadron COACC Close Support
• 9859 Squadron COACC Close Support
• 9752 Squadron COACC Battalion Landing Craft
• 9756 Squadron COACC Battalion Landing Craft

24th Marine Expeditionary Unit

• 3rd Battalion 1204th Marine Regiment
• A Coy 540th Marine Tank Battalion
• C Coy 295th LAR Battalion
• C Coy 2/1550th Marine Engineer Regiment
• Battery D 891st Marine Meson Artillery Regiment
• A Coy 1/10201st Marine Logistics Regiment
• 9855 Squadron COACC Close Support
• 9858 Squadron COACC Close Support
• 9753 Squadron COACC Battalion Landing Craft
• 9757 Squadron COACC Battalion Landing Craft

Imperial Unified Army's Von Kervhan-Malushii's Corps
117th Bryaki Infantry Division

• 1st Brigade
• 2nd Battalion 641st Reconnaissance Regiment
• 3rd Battalion 663rd Infantry Regiment
• 1st Battalion 664th Infantry Regiment
• 2nd Battalion 796th Armoured Regiment
• 2nd Battalion 700th Artillery Regiment
• 2nd Brigade
• 1st Battalion 642nd Reconnaissance Regiment
• 2nd Battalion 664th Infantry Regiment
• 1st Battalion 665th Infantry Regiment
• 1st Battalion 797th Armoured Regiment
• 3rd Battalion 700th Artillery Regiment
• 3rd Brigade
• 2nd Battalion 642nd Reconnaissance Regiment
• 2nd Battalion 665th Infantry Regiment
• 1st Battalion 666th Infantry Regiment
• 3rd Battalion 796th Armoured Regiment
• 1st Battalion 702nd Artillery Regiment
• Field Artillery Brigade
• 1st Battalion 703rd Artillery Regiment
• 2nd Battalion 703rd Artillery Regiment
• 3rd Battalion 703rd Artillery Regiment
• 701st COACC Brigade
• 1st Battalion 701st COACC Regiment
• 2nd Battalion 701st COACC Regiment
• 3rd Battalion 701st COACC Regiment

123rd Feorean Infantry Division

• 1st Brigade
• 1st Battalion 649th Reconnaissance Regiment
• 2nd Battalion 675th Infantry Regiment
• 1st Battalion 676th Infantry Regiment
• 2nd Battalion 802nd Armoured Regiment
• 2nd Battalion 712th Artillery Regiment

• 2nd Brigade
• 2nd Battalion 649th Reconnaissance Regiment
• 3rd Battalion 675th Infantry Regiment
• 2nd Battalion 676th Infantry Regiment
• 1st Battalion 803rd Armoured Regiment
• 3rd Battalion 712th Artillery Regiment

• 3rd Brigade
• 1st Battalion 650th Reconnaissance Regiment
• 3rd Battalion 676th Infantry Regiment
• 1st Battalion 677th Infantry Regiment
• 3rd Battalion 802nd Armoured Regiment
• 1st Battalion 714th Artillery Regiment

• Field Artillery Brigade
• 1st Battalion 715th Artillery Regiment
• 2nd Battalion 715th Artillery Regiment
• 3rd Battalion 715th Artillery Regiment

• 707th COACC Brigade
• 1st Battalion 707th COACC Regiment
• 2nd Battalion 707th COACC Regiment
• 3rd Battalion 707th COACC Regiment

106th Armoured Division

• 1st Brigade
• 1st Battalion 625th Reconnaissance Regiment
• 3rd Battalion 778th Armoured Regiment
• 1st Battalion 780th Armoured Regiment
• 2nd Battalion 644th Infantry Regiment
• 2nd Battalion 678th Artillery Regiment

• 2nd Brigade
• 1st Battalion 626th Reconnaissance Regiment
• 3rd Battalion 779th Armoured Regiment
• 1st Battalion 781st Armoured Regiment
• 3rd Battalion 643rd Infantry Regiment
• 3rd Battalion 678th Artillery Regiment

• 3rd Brigade
• 2nd Battalion 625th Reconnaissance Regiment
• 2nd Battalion 780th Armoured Regiment
• 1st Battalion 782nd Armoured Regiment
• 3rd Battalion 644th Infantry Regiment
• 1st Battalion 680th Artillery Regiment

• Field Artillery Brigade
• 1st Battalion 681st Artillery Regiment
• 2nd Battalion 681st Artillery Regiment
• 3rd Battalion 681st Artillery Regiment

• 690th COACC Brigade
• 1st Battalion 690th COACC Regiment
• 2nd Battalion 690th COACC Regiment
• 3rd Battalion 690th COACC Regiment

The Marine Expeditionary Units, as described here, consist of a Marine Battalion Combat Team with supporting companies. Each Unified Army Division consists of 21 battalions, or battalion equivalents,plus support companies such as Engineers and Logistics.

B Company 9092nd Imperial Marine Commando Battalion was deployed to surface, Auru, in a pathfinder role on 236-1109, approximately one week before Imperial Task Force hault-Criolarsos arrived insystem. While the transports for Von Kervhan-Malushii's Corps, with their accompanying escorts, remained deep in the outsystem, Task Force hault-Criolarsos, accompanied by the three Marine MEU carriers, proceeded cautiously towards Auru, alert for any hostile ships in orbit or onplanet.

Task Force hault-Criolarsos

BatRon 215

• 4 Kalsorlicalii Class Battleships @200,000 Tons = 800,000 Tons
• 7 Kiirvular Class Strike Cruisers @60,000 Tons = 420,000 Tons
• 4 Reshanan Class Heavy Destroyers @10,000 Tons = 40,000 Tons
• 8 Alicapanii Class Destroyer Escorts @5,000 Tons = 40,000 Tons

CruRon 663

• 7 Kiirvular Class Strike Cruisers @60,000 Tons = 420,000 Tons
• 1 Kiirvular Class Strike Cruiser Leader @60,000 Tons = 60,000 Tons
• 8 Reshanan Class Heavy Destroyers @10,000 Tons = 40,000 Tons

CruRon 655

• 7 Kiirvular Class Strike Cruisers @60,000 Tons = 420,000 Tons
• 1 Kiirvular Class Strike Cruiser Leader @60,000 Tons = 60,000 Tons
• 8 Alicapanii Class Destroyer Escorts @5,000 Tons = 40,000 Tons

CruRon 855

• 7 Kiirvular Class Strike Cruisers @60,000 Tons = 420,000 Tons
• 1 Kiirvular Class Strike Cruiser Leader @60,000 Tons = 60,000 Tons

DesRon 855

• 8 Gilsurmii Class Destroyers @5,000 Tons = 40,000 Tons

Carrier Group 232

• 1 Niiarsanor Class Escort Carrier @35,000 = 35,000
• 7 Alicapanii Class Destroyer Escorts @5,000 Tons = 35,000 Tons
• 1 Alicapanii Class Destroyer Leader @5,000 Tons = 5,000 Tons

Von Kervhan-Malushii's Corps

DesRon 851

• 4 Alicapanii Class Destroyer Escorts @5,000 Tons = 20,000 Tons
• 1 Alicapanii Class Destroyer Leader @5,000 Tons = 5,000 Tons

117th Bryaki Infantry Division

• 3 Corosanear Class Troop Carriers @104,000 Tons = 312,000 Tons
• 1 Gashoorn Class Medical Transport Cruiser @50,000 Tons = 50,000 Tons

DesRon 847

• 8 Alicapanii Class Destroyer Escorts @5,000 Tons = 40,000 Tons

123rd Feorian Infantry Division

• 3 Corosanear Class Troop Carriers @104,000 Tons = 312,000 Tons
• 1 Gashoorn Class Medical Transport Cruiser @50,000 Tons = 50,000 Tons

DesRon 848

• 8 Alicapanii Class Destroyer Escorts @5,000 Tons = 40,000 Tons

106th Feorian Infantry Division

• 3 Corosanear Class Troop Carriers @104,000 Tons = 312,000 Tons
• 1 Gashoorn Class Medical Transport Cruiser @50,000 Tons = 50,000 Tons

DesRon 849

• 8 Alicapanii Class Destroyer Escorts @5,000 Tons = 40,000 Tons

22nd, 23rd and 24th Marine Expeditionary Units

• 3 Da'sanai Class Marine Troop Carrier @50,000 tons = 150,000 Tons

DesRon 821

• 8 Matador Class Destroyer Escorts @7,000 Tons = 56,000 Tons
• 3 Oudiir Class Medical Transport Frigates @2,000 Tons = 6,000 Tons

The 5th Outrim War: Auru

A quick look at Auru/Lymethius, the site of the opening moves of the 5th Outrim War.

Auru/Lymethius

C-477342-B S 725 Ni/Lo NA F9V

System Primary: Binde F9V

Binde V - local name Auru

Three small moons, Disar - 768 miles in diameter; Amoloth - 528 miles in diameter; Kheal - 72 miles in diameter

C Class Port - Routine Quality Installation

Diameter: 4000 miles (6437.4 kilometers)

Atmosphere: Standard (Tainted - respirators required in coastal areas during spring when kelpweed blooms, and in late autumn when previous season's growth dies off)

Hydrographics: 70%

Population: 3 (7300)

Government: 4 (Representative Democracy)

Law Level: 2 (Portable Energy Weapons Prohibited)

Technology Level: B (Average Imperial)

Scout Base present (at Auru Downport)

Population Modifier: 7; Planetoid Belts in System: 2; Gas Giants in System: 5

Nearest Gas Giant to Auru - Binde VII

Trade Classification: Non-Industrial/Low Population

Allegiance: Non-Aligned

Auru/Lymethius - planetary map made in Donjon SciFi World Generator http://donjon.bin.sh/scifi/world/

As can been seen from the map, there are three main settlements south of the Joolian Mountains - Auru Down (site of the C Class Downport and a small Scout Base), Karas and Balshibar - that date back to the colonization of Auru in 1007. During the subsequent century, a number of smaller settlements and hamlets have been established along the southern coast and across the plain north of Auru Down. Settlements further inland, and at higher altitudes, suffer less from the annual bloom and die-off cycles of kelpweed - a large and prolific aquatic filter-feeder plant species.

In the last five years, the Geithurian Republic has established three small enclaves in the northern hemisphere - Shtad at Leena Bay, Iavlej, and the mining settlement of Chiebr.

The Auruis - as the local inhabitants now call themselves - remain Imperial in outlook, even though they feel that they have been abandoned by the Imperium. For the last 70 years, they have felt under pressure of annexation from both the Geithurian Republic and the Huiha Esoyatre. Occupied by the Outrim Alliance during the 4th Outrim War of 1080 - 85, many older Auruis have bitter memories of that time.

The 5th Outrim War: Eve of Conflict

Having prepped sufficient figures for the ground side of my proposed Outrim War campaign, I started work on what forces would be committed by both sides to the conflict.

The Outrim War campaign represents the confluence of a series of political streams that have been in play for the twenty-four years since the end of the 4th Outrim War in 1085.

The Geithurian Republic Secessionist Movement, engineered by the Imperial Intelligence Agency in the decade prior to the 4th Outrim War, successfully weakened the Republic to the point where it was forced to launch a premature war against an external foe - in this case the Imperium - to shore up internal support. Falling into the trap set by IIA, the Republic and the broader Outrim Alliance were soundly defeated and the Edlchtel Clan - Konzevrs of Appaer/Lymethius and Presidents of the Geithurian Republic, lost power and prestige.

It took nearly a decade for the Edlchtels to regain their dominance of Appaeran politics, and then a second decade to reassert Appaer's dominance over the rest of the Geithurian Republic. During this period, the wider Outrim Alliance became increasingly moribund under the leadership of the elderly Hleahayaouko, Tlehiui V, of Huiha Esoyatre.

The Kalar-Wi War ended in defeat for the Kalar-Wi in 1105. Within months of the surrender, Duke Adryos Urzov IV of Gamelea, whose incompetence and corruption had very nearly cost the Imperium its victory, was dead. On Appaer/Lymethius, Ashtebr Edlchtel became Konzevr and, within six months, President of the Geithurian Republic.

The colonization of Auru/Lymethius in the Tallu Cluster by the Imperium in 1007 was widely seen as the spark that eventually ignited the 3rd Outrim War in 1025. While Auru was essentially abandoned by the Imperium after the war, a residual colony remained in the southern hemisphere, south of the Joolian Mountains, along with a residual Imperial claim to the system.

Konzevr Ashtebr Edlchtel's first move was to establish a small Republican colony on Auru's sole landmass in the northern hemisphere, while simultaneously using diplomatic channels to revive the Outrim Alliance. Agents of Iqro'Zhdable - IZd, the Republic's main intelligence service - also actively courted and supported the notorious Stranman Society as it moved to ferment revolt against the Subsector Dukes of Gamelea and Miazan Subsectors. Finally, a division sized detachment of the Murkhida Kargesu - the Geithurian "Stranger Force", or "Alien Legion" - was landed on Auru, disguised as a mercenary force, to "protect" the new colony. At least two divisions of Ingeki Kargesu - Geithurian Republican Regulars - as well as a brigade of Republican Marines, were put on standby at Coroson/Lymethius in case the Imperium attempted to resist on Auru.

In mid 1109, an Imperial Scout Ship visiting the southern colony detected unusual activity in near orbit around Auru, and then spotted the Gethurian settlement at Leena Bay. In the subsequent weeks, the Murkhida Kargesu moved quickly to seize the sub-Joolian settlements. What the Geithurians had not considered was the speed of the Imperial response.

---

Solo Games and Tokens

After a bit of a hiatus, during which I continued to plug away at my 6mm Traveller project (as recorded on my modelling log and here), I got inspired to collect all the write-ups I had done for my solo Traveller game into one place. Aloin's Saga - the Collected Sessions, is now a Library Data page on this blog. Another inspiration is the Alea Iactanda est blog where Alea Iactanda est has been running a solo Traveller game called "Star Trader". Once I started looking around a bit, I found another solo game, Voyages of the Blue Pelican, which appears to be in development, but in an interesting part of space.

Just recently we've started back in with the latest couple of sessions of my Tunnels of Tonivar game, set in the RimWorlds. During the second session a situation arose where it was easier to map out the encounter than try to describe it and keep it all straight in everyone's heads.

As we were playing at Chris' house, he broke out some figures to stand in for the various characters. This all worked well and the encounter was resolved successfully, but I was slightly disappointed that we didn't have some science fiction figures to use. It does cause a little break in the the suspension of disbelief if the Aslan in the party is represented by a Frost Giant.

Traveller Adventurers, ready for anything

While I love my 15mm Science Fiction figures, and have painted a couple of hundred over the last few years, we're all getting a little older and picking out individual characters at standard wargames distance has got that much more difficult. I do happen to have a bunch of 25mm - 28mm scale science fiction figures I had picked up over the years in a box - one of a number of projects started and put aside over the years - so I hunted them out and had a look at them.

In this first batch we see (Left to Right): A Kalar-Wi in Combat Armour (Denizen Miniatures Ventauran); Female Adventurer (Pilot, Agent, Merchant - I don't recall the manufacturer Edit: turns out she's from Denizen Miniatures as well); Female ex-Marine in Combat Armour (don't recall the manufacturer Edit: Spacelords figure, now produced by eM4); Male Adventurer in Combat Armour (possibly Denizen Miniatures Federation Edit: can confirm that this figure is from Denizen's Federation range); Male Adventurer (Pilot, Agent, Merchant, Enforcer - Grenadier Cyberpunk miniature).

There are some very nice figures in that collection - from various companies active in the 1980's and 1990's - and so I pulled out a dozen to paint up, while ordering some extras in from overseas. As I was doing this, the New Zealand economy took a major hit and the dollar dropped in the toilet against such currencies as the US dollar, the UK pound and the Zanzibar shekel - so no more new toys for me for a while.

Huiha Esoyatre - an Aslan Minor State Part 3

I needed to create new Aslan terms to describe some of the larger formations deployed by the Trekhyair of Huiha Esoyatre. Using Space Corsair's Word Generator, I added to the word list I had already found:

Trokh Word List
aikoho	"many ships", fleet
afeahyalhtow	popular Aslan pet; flying carnivore/killer
ayakyuir	carnivore native to Kusyu, noted for speed and ferocity
Akoaft	"Far Throwing" - artillery
Khoiaya	armor
Soarl	"elite"
Trekhyair	"land protector" clan military force
Areiale	"they who sprint" – marines
Hraye	"wanderer" – scout
Ekho’ear	"armed family" – squad
Ahr’eah	"armed pride" - platoon or company
Hryo	"half dozen" - a squadron
Huih’eal	"armed clan" – battalion or regiment
Ahr'ekhaoa	"pride brotherhood" – brigade
Huih'aisai	"dewclaw of the clan" – division
Kheheasoikhir	"gathering of warriors" – corp or army

With terminology established for the higher echelons of the Trekhyair, and a basic plan of unit assignments worked out, I began thinking how large Aslan forces might be mustered.

While I otherwise enjoy and use the material in GURPs: Traveller Alien Races 2, I am reluctant to accept that the Aslan military is essentially based around Light Infantry formations. Perhaps this is how clan military units operate in the Aslan Hierate, but in the RimWorlds, Aslan ground forces face opponents who do not follow the Rules of War and Honour. Consequently, the Aslan of the Huiha Esoyatre have evolved formations that match those that they come into conflict with.

Given that Aslan forces are clan based, and that Aslan culture shares parallels with Medieval and Early Renaissance Japanese culture, I had a brief look at some famous Japanese battles of the Edo Period, such as Sekigahara. I also looked at another clan-based military culture, that of the Scots and their order of battle at Culloden. It occurred to me that the name of the officer who leads a formation might be significant in Aslan culture, as names accrue power in a culture that values individual prowess.

This made me consider a culture in transition between the individual prowess of heroic feudal leaders
and the mass produced, die stamped military of the machine age of total warfare. If the Huiha Esoyatre is currently working its way through this process, we might see the numerically inferior, but dominate, Esoyatre Clan producing the numbered regiments of a modern society, while the numerically superior clans that owe fealty to the Esoyatre muster battalions or regiments of various sizes under the personal names and banners of their Colonels. And even the Esoyatre, in their elite formations, may still know their brigades by the Brigadier-Generals who take control of the groupings of battalions, much as Americans recall the brigades of their Civil War.

So, a first pass at part of the Huiha Esoyatre's elite formations:

1st TL14 Elite Amoured Corp			Kheheassoikhir Soarl fyo Esoyatre Khoiaya
1st Armoured Division			Alr Huih’aisai Soarl Khoiaya fyo Yuwe
	Ahr’ekhaoa fyo Ye'oa'ai (Ye’oa’ai’s Brigade)
		1st Elite Regiment Scouts of Yuwe				Alr Huih’eal Soarl Hraye fyo Yuwe
		Taulauh’s Elite Armoured Regiment				Huih’eal fyo Taulauh Soarl Khoiaya fyo Yuwe
		Waoeha’s Elite Armoured Regiment				Huih’eal fyo Waoeha Soarl Khoiaya fyo Yuwe
		1st Elite Infantry Regiment of Yuwe				Alr Huih’eal Soarl Khir fyo Yuwe
		1st Elite Artillery Regiment of Yuwe				Alr Huih’eal Soarl Akoaft fyo Yuwe
		Ahr’ekhaoa fyo Khteaes (Khteaes' Brigade)
		2nd Elite Regiment Scouts of Yuwe				Hlai Huih’eal Soarl Hraye fyo Yuwe
		Koaaiea’s Elite Armoured Regiment of Yuwe				Huih’eal fyo Koaaiea Soarl Khoiaya fyo Yuwe
		Hkehealr’s Elite Armoured Regiment				Huih’eal fyo Hkehealr Soarl Khoiaya fyo Yuwe
		2nd Elite Infantry Regiment of Yuwe				Hlai Huih’eal Soarl Khir fyo Yuwe
		2nd Elite Artillery Regiment of Yuwe				Hlai Huih’eal Soarl Akoaft fyo Yuwe
		Ahr’ekhaoa fyo Ealeiktyes (Ealeiktyes’ Brigade)
		3rd Elite Regiment Scouts of Yuwe				Kheh Huih’eal Soarl Hraye fyo Yuwe
		Uikhaiw’s Elite Armoured Regiment of Yuwe				Huih’eal fyo Uikhaiw Soarl Khoiaya fyo Yuwe
		Eariylu’s Elite Armoured Regiment of Yuwe				Huih’eal fyo Eariylu Soarl Khoiaya fyo Yuwe
		3rd Elite Infantry Regiment of Yuwe				Kheh Huih’eal Soarl Khir fyo Yuwe
		3rd Elite Artillery Regiment of Yuwe				Kheh Huih’eal Soarl Akoaft fyo Yuwe
		Syehoiye's Brigade Artillery				Ahr’ekhaoa fyo Syehoiye Akoaft
		4th Elite Artillery Regiment of Yuwe				Hryeh Huih’eal Soarl Akoaft fyo Yuwe
		1st Elite Esoyatre COACC Regiment of Yuwe				Alr Huih’eal fyo Esoyatre Soarl Afeahyalhtow fyo Yuwe

The First Armoured Division, Alr Huih’aisai Soarl Khoiaya fyo Yuwe, is an Elite formation raised from E'kho Hleahayaou on Yuwe. As E'kho Hleahayaou is a progressive family, and is the dominant family within Huiha Esoyatre, the Huih'aisai has adopted the progressive fashion of numbering individual battalion-regiments, at least within their elite formations. Brigades are still known by the name of their commanding Brigadier.