What is a Naval Base?

[robject]

So, hand in hand with the "what's a fleet?" question is: what is a naval base?

A. Purpose
1. It is a port facility for the support, maintenance, repair and refit of naval vessels
2. It is responsible for supporting the fleet and keeping it in optimum condition for its combat missions.
3. It has areas where people (veterans, patrons) may interact.

B. Administrative Headquarters
1. The administrative headquarters handles the day-to-day operations of the base, as well as its paperwork (including the allocation of funds, distribution of personnel, and disbursement of maintenance and repair contracts).

C. Ship Berthing Areas
1. It has a planetary surface berthing area (for Adventure-Class Ships) and an orbital berthing area (for Battle-Class Ships).
2. The berthing areas provide locations for ships to lay over, for a day or for months.
3. All berthing areas include provisions for refueling from storage tanks or fuel lighters.

D. Maintenance Section
1. Maintenance is performed on the ships on the world surface or in orbit as necessary.
2. Maintenance sections at naval bases vary from base to base. Where such a section would be redundant to the local starport shipyard, it is small, and repairs or alterations are carried out under contract by the local facility. Where adequate facilities do not exist, the naval base itself may have a large maintenance section capable of extensive repairs and refits.
3. Maintenance sections can be great for scrounging.

E. Relationship to the System
1. Not typically a ship builder.
2. Not necessarily co-located at or near the starport.
3. Not a tactical unit. It has no battle forces of its own, and it does not exert control even over local system defense boats (which are under a separate command).
4. Not necessarily dependent on the world's population.
5. It is probably secure.

 

[Dragoner]

I view them as administrative, supply, repair and other services bases.

 

[aramis]

I view them as administrative, supply, repair and other services bases.

Same here. Not a fortress, but a repair center.

 

[Dragoner]

Same here. Not a fortress, but a repair center.

Agreed, not a fortress, but maybe more than just a repair center, the dependents have to live somewhere (though maybe this is more of a view from living on army bases as a kid).

 

[robject]

Note I didn't say how they are fortified. But they've got to have something beyond the minimum; i.e. you can't put down some plain-jane outbuildings and expect that they aren't accessible by hostile persons. Here's why I think so:

Aside from the IISS, they are the only presence of the Imperium. This means you might as well paint a big red 'X' on them for every person, team, mob, mercenary cadre, terrorist organization, and antagonistic government within 10 parsecs. Space is big, but relatively fast transportation (on the order of weeks) to any point on any world within, say, a subsector is quite do-able.

And note that the "antagonistic" government might be on the same world, or might be in a neighboring system, within the Imperium. What are the odds that every company, every nation on every world within a couple months of an Imperial naval base are all best pals of the Imperium?

As useful as the Imperium is, it still rules with the sword.

 

[Gray Pennell]

It depends on the location and mission a rear base will have more administrative, training and dependents function. A forward base would be a supply base. In between the two you have would have the repair bases. If the base is on foreign soil it would just be a supply base. This is not to say that there wouldnt be minor functions of all these things at each base.

As for the fortress ideas this is were get back into the Imperial Army argument. In the US the army designed, built and manned the fortress that guard access to ports. Indeed West Point though a military academy was and is an engineering school. Take for instance Corregidor that guard the Philippines bases were manned by the army. There are exceptions like Wake island which was a marine base.

 

[aramis]

I assume a strong defense is needed as a deterrent. I could be wrong.

There is no evidence of a strong defense for the Naval Base on Aramis. (TTA)

 

[Dragoner]

IMO this discussion just becomes a gateway to the old argument of the duties of the various services.

I agree there is security; fortress makes me think of a different type of installation.

Re: dependents, it really depends on how long the duty station is for personnel and the hazards of the station. Such as vs the Zhodani, both have proganda about how evil each other are, but neither attacks each other's civilians per se if they can avoid it. It could be an entirely different story vs a Vargr polity.

 

[PFVA63]

Hi

I suspect that depending in circumstances there may be additional facilities in some systems that may form part of an overall "defensive" establishment (or something like that) that may not be part of a Naval Base proper but which may help serve to protect it, among other things.

For instance if you were to look at a map of a city like Washington DC from 100-200 years ago or so, there may be a Navy Yard/Base, proper that may or may not be heavily defended but there would also be a number of Forts and fortifications along the river leading up to the Yard/Base and the nearby Marine Corps Barracks that would help protect it from any ship's or troops trying to advance on the base and/or force their way up the river to attack.

In Traveller terms, I'd guess if a Naval Base is considered in a relatively safe region there may not be a whole lot of other fixed facilities, but in other regions a Navy Base could well be part of a larger defensive establishment that may include meson batteries located in asteroids, a System Defense Boat base, and/or even a fair number of ground troops to prevent a ground attacks, perhaps.

PF

 

[Spinward Scout]

Every naval base is unique, just as every starport is unique.

True, but every base will have some of the same facilities, maybe larger or smaller than the next. And administration building, a sickbay, barracks, probably an Officer's Club, mess hall, landing field, perimeter or fence of some sort, gatehouse, etc...

The thing I've always wondered about is does a Naval Base have an extrality line like a starport does?

 

[aramis]

True, but every base will have some of the same facilities, maybe larger or smaller than the next. And administration building, a sickbay, barracks, probably an Officer's Club, mess hall, landing field, perimeter or fence of some sort, gatehouse, etc...

The thing I've always wondered about is does a Naval Base have an extrality line like a starport does?

According to TTA, yes, it's extraterritorial. So is the Scout base.

 

[mbrinkhues]

It is not a fortress but it has fortresses that defend it. Taking a look at "Schlicktown" (Wilhelmshafen) during the 1871-1918 period a naval base itself is docks, repair and construction yards, administration, housing (for destroyer/torpedo boat crews). But the approaches had a number of defence installations including heavy forts. I could see something similar with the gas giants and nearby systems having some heavy defence installations (and fast couriers) to give the base time to get the ships under way.

The base itself IMHO will have some point defence against missiles/lasers "just in case" as well as meson screens and nuclear dampers. Better safe than loosing the ships to a single enemy craft that gets through.

 

[Gray Pennell]

True, but every base will have some of the same facilities, maybe larger or smaller than the next. And administration building, a sickbay, barracks, probably an Officer's Club, mess hall, landing field, perimeter or fence of some sort, gatehouse, etc...

The thing I've always wondered about is does a Naval Base have an extrality line like a starport does?

The answer is most likely that it dies have an extrality line. IMTU Iderita is the HQ of the 208th fleet. While it has an orbital base for ships most of the Imperial operations occur on the fleet reserve a series of islands. The rest of the world is civilan.

 

[Limburger59]

My assumption is that planetside at the starport is just a shuttle station, some admin offices, and a recruiter. 99% of the naval personnel you see at a lowport are on liberty. The actual naval base is located on a moon, asteroid, or as a separate highport.

 

[Spinward Scout]

According to TTA, yes, it's extraterritorial. So is the Scout base.

So then if a Startown forms around the Starport, what forms around a Naval base or Scout base? I would think there would shops and services specific to both. And the local population would probably want to take advantage of the 'liberty' opportunities (legally and criminally) of both Naval and Scout personnel, too. Just like they do around most modern Naval bases.

Sorry if we're going slightly off topic. Though, I think it could be part of: "What is a Naval Base?"

 

[Magnus von Thornwood]

I am with Limburger.

My assumption is that planetside at the starport is just a shuttle station, some admin offices, and a recruiter. 99% of the naval personnel you see at a lowport are on liberty. The actual naval base is located on a moon, asteroid, or as a separate highport.

I never saw IN or IISS bases as being planetside. To me Imperial Navy Bases (INB) are heavily armed, armored and screened space stations. The IN is a space service so they have their bases in space, INBs are Highports only.

They have all the facilities to rearm, refuel, repair and refit IN ships and maybe the occasional Scout ships. They will have vast stores, both basic and combat and several yard slips. They will have all the standard facilities, such as hospitals, PX, housing and such. I am not sure if they allow dependents on the base or if they are housed planetside or in an clearly marked, auxiliary station.

 

[Gray Pennell]

My assumption is that planetside at the starport is just a shuttle station, some admin offices, and a recruiter. 99% of the naval personnel you see at a lowport are on liberty. The actual naval base is located on a moon, asteroid, or as a separate highport.

I think this would logistically, supply chain and cost ineffective. Not only would you have to supply all the naval ships you would have to supply the bases too. I think the Navy would rather put most of their bases on habitual worlds giving them natural supply base, and room to spread out.

 

[Magnus von Thornwood]

What is this efficiency you speak of?

I think this would logistically, supply chain and cost ineffective. Not only would you have to supply all the naval ships you would have to supply the bases too. I think the Navy would rather put most of their bases on habitual worlds giving them natural supply base, and room to spread out.

And as an Imperial government branch, exactly why am I trying to save a CrImp?

My first concern is to make sure that the enemy can't take the base, not to be concerned with scrimping on the cash outlay.

 

[pendragonman]

I think this would logistically, supply chain and cost ineffective. Not only would you have to supply all the naval ships you would have to supply the bases too. I think the Navy would rather put most of their bases on habitual worlds giving them natural supply base, and room to spread out.

Ahhh but doing this makes the population centers more of a target. Further, think of all that free training you are giving up, moving cargo back and forth...

 

[robject]

I think this would logistically, supply chain and cost ineffective. Not only would you have to supply all the naval ships you would have to supply the bases too. I think the Navy would rather put most of their bases on habitable worlds giving them natural supply base, and room to spread out.

So then if a Startown forms around the Starport, what forms around a Naval base or Scout base?

The Naval Base: The lmperium maintains a small naval base and the 219th lmperial Cruiser Squadron (CruRon 219) operates its forces from Aramis. The naval base includes [four, small] landing pads, basic repair and damage control facilities, and living and training areas.

The Imperium maintains one numbered fleet for each of its subectors; that fleet contains a variety of squadrons at naval bases in the subsector.

(page 83) These bases serve as points for scout and naval veterans to renew acquaintances with old friends, to find potential patrons, and to scrounge or buy surplus equipment of use to them [...]

(page 155) Naval Base: Port facility for the support, maintenance, repair, and refit of naval vessels. Planetary surface facilities are generally provided for ships of 1,000 tons or less; orbital facilities handle larger ships.

(page 157)In war, [Scout way stations] serve as naval bases.

1. Naval bases do have support facilities (e.g. maintenance, repair, refit) for naval vessels (and scrounging).
2. Naval bases can have support for Imperial Fleet squadrons.
3. Naval bases do have areas where people (veterans, patrons) may interact.
4. Naval bases can be supported by local means. Some might need long-term life support.
5. Naval bases are probably secure.
6. They do not have to be part of the starport, or near it.

a. Fleets are administrative units, with some combination of various squadrons.
b. Leedor naval base on Aramis is small, and supports CruRon 219. If I take FSoTSI at face value, that's four cruisers, two Scouts, an auxiliary, and four escorts.
c. Leedor naval base is small, but I think it is reasonably secure: three defensible chokepoints, and it has a mean depth of 30 meters underneath bedrock.