traveller military orginization

[aramis]

Originally posted by RobertFisher:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Aramis:
Historically, specialization of units and equipment has proven superior to non-specialization. There is NO evidence to the contrary from the real world.

I'd have to agree with this. I suppose it goes without saying, but: Provided that the specialized unit can exploit its specialization. If a generalized unit can get the specialized unit out of its specialized role...
</font>[/QUOTE]Which behaviour, by some definitions, is what we call "Tactics"... hehe. The trick has always been balancing the specialization level to the generalizations such that it's not completely helpless if outside it's role. Little things, like APDU MG's on tanks, and like adding a gun-pod to the F4 Phantom, so it wasn't able to be "Numerically attritted into uselessness".

</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Sadly, most games wind up with 1 to a small handful of "Optimal Solutions" which are based upon the rules of the game and the base technology assumptions rather than simulating reality. (Which, in it self, is far more work than where a game is worth playing...)

Which is the key (IMHO) feature of roleplaying games. The ref can fudge to make up for such deficiencies in the rules rather than expanding the rules to an unweildy level. </font>[/QUOTE]Well, to a point, that's a good thing. But by the same token, there needs to be enough realism there that nonsensical results (Like putting SS-HP lasers on tanks) are not the "Be-all-end-all weapon system". THose tables on MT page 80 are just such a sanity breaker. (If we assume that they lose some off the attn stat in atmosphere, and cut the damages to something reasonable, they don't become so devastating; the rules for vaccum effects on weapons stats are noticably short in MT).

 

[BetterThanLife]

On the other hand, while specialized pieces of equipment may perform their specific role better than general equipment, at least initially, there is limited space aboard starships for Marine Equipment. Therefore it makes more sense to me for the Marines, as opposed to the Army, to have general equipment. Especially when this piece of general equipment is as good in armor protection as a tank, is as fast as an interceptor, as agile as an attack helo, and can leave the atmosphere. And has as much punch as a tank or a good artillery piece. You sacrifice a little damage, under T20, for vastly superior range, under MT you actually score more damage with vastly superior range. So for deployment purposes the Imperial Marines would be better suited, in general, with such a multi-purpose craft.

 

[aramis]

But the trepida is NOT as fast as a fast interceptor. It is as fast as most attack aircraft of the TL. It's as agile as an attack helo, yes. But a fast mixed propulsion interceptor will be just as good as the tank in orbit, and far outfly it in atmosphere, since aircraft designs are not limited to agility 6.

Oh, and the trepida is MT/Striker AV40... or the same as civilian spacecraft. (MT Reb SB)

The marines need at least three items:
- APC's for the non-jump troops (Canonically the astrin)
- some form of air cover (Trepidas can fill the role... )
- some auxiliary role platform

Some of the auxiliary roles:
- an EW Platform (Astrin E, which is canonical. See Striker II)
- Some form of supply transport (possibly the astrin, but no canonical one is clearly established; also likely to be the Naval shuttles)
- some form of ambulance (Canonically the astrin)
- and some form of tow-truck aka combat vehicle recovery vehicle for the above grav vehicles (There is one in Striker II, IIRC)


The interesting bit of canon is that the marines use a stadard SIZE berth for all their combat vehicles (according to MT in several places): THat berth holds trepidas and/or astrins. (There are other 10 ton plus ?30% cuppola/turret designs, too.)

 

[Anthony]

Wow. The armor on the Trepida rather seriously sucks. I guess that's why it's the Trepida ('alarmed' or 'fearful') instead of the Intrepid ('fearless').

 

[BetterThanLife]

Originally posted by Anthony:
Wow. The armor on the Trepida rather seriously sucks. I guess that's why it's the Trepida ('alarmed' or 'fearful') instead of the Intrepid ('fearless').

Actually the T20 version of the tank has quite a bit of armor. And it has one of the few vehicle weapons that will cause damage to a maximum armored vehicle.

 

[BetterThanLife]

I never said the Trepedia as a GP vehicle. I was thinking more along the lines of a Rampart Variant. Which makes a good Inteceptor, a Good Tank, and a decent Light Fighter. At 15T it is equivalent in size to the Intrepid or Trepidia and is generally less expensive. Now CT does not really have rules for vehicle combat unless you are looking at Striker. MT the difference is which tables you read. And T20 it works fine, though I would build a different vehicle for my Marine Multi Mission Armored Fighting Vehicle.

But along the lines of the classic 15T Rampart with some armor plating and a VFR Gauss Gun mounted. A Single Pulse Laser and a Starship Missile rack, means it is a nice artillery piece, a tank buster, a fighter, and with the VFR Gauss, a good tank. (Because it can supress Infantry as well as kill tanks.)

Originally posted by Aramis:
But the trepida is NOT as fast as a fast interceptor. It is as fast as most attack aircraft of the TL. It's as agile as an attack helo, yes. But a fast mixed propulsion interceptor will be just as good as the tank in orbit, and far outfly it in atmosphere, since aircraft designs are not limited to agility 6.

Oh, and the trepida is MT/Striker AV40... or the same as civilian spacecraft. (MT Reb SB)

The marines need at least three items:
- APC's for the non-jump troops (Canonically the astrin)
- some form of air cover (Trepidas can fill the role... )
- some auxiliary role platform

Some of the auxiliary roles:
- an EW Platform (Astrin E, which is canonical. See Striker II)
- Some form of supply transport (possibly the astrin, but no canonical one is clearly established; also likely to be the Naval shuttles)
- some form of ambulance (Canonically the astrin)
- and some form of tow-truck aka combat vehicle recovery vehicle for the above grav vehicles (There is one in Striker II, IIRC)


The interesting bit of canon is that the marines use a stadard SIZE berth for all their combat vehicles (according to MT in several places): THat berth holds trepidas and/or astrins. (There are other 10 ton plus ?30% cuppola/turret designs, too.)

 

[Blue Ghost]

Improper use of recon assets has lost many a battle, ask Gen. George Armstrong Custer.

It's only a few Indians.