Navy of the Grand Marshal
From Jalassociatecomics
The Fleet of the Grand Marshal was a breakaway force around a third as large as the Imperial Navy. It served as the invasion force during the Battle of Hoth and the Battles of Yavin during the Grand Marshal's rise to power.
After his self-declaration that he was Galactic Emperor, as opposed to Ysanne Isard, he renamed his fleet the Grand Imperial Fleet of Aden'la Darasuum.
Its primary functions were first to protect his base on Iego, then to invade and overrun Rebel forces on Hoth, Yavin, Anchorhead and to destroy the captured Death Star III, renamed by the Rebels as the Hope Beacon. After that, the ships of the Fleet of Aden'la Darasuum were to orbit those planets and enforce Imperial rule there.
Contents |
Key ships of the fleet
The Fleet of the Grand Marshal's primary capital ship were the Imperial I/II-class and Venator-class Star Destroters, and the main frigate were the Victorious-class frigates and Victory-class frigates, though there were many other varied types, as can be seen below. However, many Imperial-class Star Destroyers were refitted in order to be more efficent, due to cost restraint's on the Grand Marshal.
The flagship of the Grand Marshal was a Vindicator-class Star Dreadnought, around half as long as the Executor, famed command ship of Darth Vader. It had at least five bridges, and, with some assistance from three or four Venators or Imperials, could tear through a planetary shield and from that point on single-handedly perform orbital bombardment on a Kessel-sized planet.
Organization
The Fleet of the Grand Marshal was a mixed-arms navy, showing strength in both capital ships, frigates and starfighters.
His tactic was to form a long line of broadside-firing Destroyers, and to have the frigates fill in gaps in the line (a unique use of frigates), assaulting enemy capital ships and preventing enemy starfighters from attacking the destroyers. The ratio of frigates to capital ships was unusual, usually much more than the usual. This strategy was lost forever after his forces were decimated during the Third Battle of Yavin.
To note: "Ship" does NOT refer to a single Star Destroyer or even frigate! When we claim that the Marshal's Navy was over 170,000 strong, we also refer to starfighters and shuttles and other such craft. We put this here because L actually had this misconception. XP
Naval Overcommand and Galactic Overcommand
These were ceremonial ranks granted upon the two Dark Acolytes and the Grand Marshal. As the name may suggest, the Galactic Overcommand was the highest military unit in the Navy of the Grand Marshal, and the two Naval overcommands were led by one Dark Acolyte each.
Sector battlegroup
A sector battlegroup was in charge of either assaulting or keeping control of an entire sector, consisting of 2400 ships on average, 24 to 30 of which were Imperial Star Destroyers. High Admirals would lead sector battlegroups. There were approximately half a dozen dozen sector battlegroups in the Grand Marshal's Navy, adding up to an impressive 170,000 starships, around a tenth of the size of the Imperial fleet at its peak.
Fleet
A fleet would consist of at least four hundred ships, equating to two to six systems forces. These would be led by Admirals. A fleet would usually be in charge of a large portion of a sector, keeping several systems in line all at the same time. There were hundreds of configurations of fleets, ranging from supreority fleets to assault fleets to ordinance fleets. Most of the Marshal's navy were consisted of assault and superiority fleets, as his empire was constructed on a campaign of fast strikes and later total domination.
Systems force
A systems force was made up of several squadrons and was often led by a Counteradmiral. The Grand Marshal's fleet had dozens of system forces. As the name suggested, a Systems Force was enough to keep several systems in line and under the will of the Empire. It was a systems force that attacked Tatooine and Hoth and the systems around them, and two systems forces were sent to destroy the Third Death Star around Yavin - one fore and and one aft.
Squadron
A squadron would be the sum total of one to three lines and a sub-lines, ranging from 24 to 60 ships and consisting of at least two Imperial Star Destroyers. A Commodore would be in charge of a squadron. A squadron was the smallest force capable of assaulting a system and orbitally bombarding a planet. More often than not, more than one squadron would attack a system, being commanded by the Commodore from an Imperial-class Star destroyer. It was a Squadron that attacked Anchorhead Base.
Line
A line would usually consist of 12 to 16 capital ships. The overall command of the line was given to a Line Captain. A line was the backbone of the naval force: they would fire broadsides at passing cruisers and use rotating turrets to gun down surrounding starfighters, and after wiping aside the enemy, to perform orbital bombardment. A Commodore would have complete control over who was to fire where and at who, and was the lowest-ranking officer who could order a general retreat. Imperial-class Star Destroyers were in some cases treated as lines unto themselves, following Imperial policy.
Sub-line
This was used to refer to the commander of the frigates and corvettes that surrounded the line, usually around 6 to 8, a much larger portion than usual lines in the Imperial Navy. The sub-line would fill the gaps in the line of sail, covering the unprotected flanks and bridge of the destroyers. and fly around opposing ships and fire at them. They also acted as physical barriers between the opposing starfighter force and the line. They were often commanded by aspiring Overcaptains awaiting a chance for promotion to Commodore [something like a mid-rank].
Group
A group of ships would be half the size of a line or subline. They would be commanded by a Overcaptain. This was introcued to allow more officers into command postitions, and to increase flexibility of the fleet. The order to "close in" would be given by the Captain of the Line to the groups, to make the ships go in close to increase orbital bombardment and density of the line, preventing attack from opposing starfighters.
Individual Ship
The basic unit of the Grand Marshal's Navy. There were over two dozen different varieties of ships in the Grand Marshal's Navy, but promotion to command of a any type of ship [starfighters aside] was to many a fast track to power. A Captain would command an individual ship. Most Imperial starships would also compromise of smaller ships [starfighters and shuttles], thus leading to a bit of ambigiuity, as discussed in the warning above.
Ships of the armada
Atmospherical craft
Multi-purpose fighters
Scouts
Bombers
Transport ships/shuttles
- Low Altitude Assault Transport Gunship
- Lambda-class shuttle
- Sentinel-class landing craft
- Theta-class AT-AT barge
- Y-85 Titan dropship
- Acclamator I-class assault ship
Corvettes
Frigates
- Lancer-class frigate
- EF76 Nebulon-B escort frigate
- Tartan-class patrol cruiser
- Dreadnaught-class heavy cruiser
- Acclamator II-class assault ship
- Victorious-class frigate
- Victory-class Star Destroyer
Destroyers
- Victory-class Star Destroyer
- Venator-class Star Destroyer
- Imperial I-class Star Destroyer
- Imperial II-class Star Destroyer
- Tector-class Star Destroyer
