Republic Aerospace Fleets

Overview

Tasnica’s RAF is arguably the most powerful national space force in the Web. Many regard it and the Guardian Space Fleet as roughly comparable. The Tasnicans began building their space fleet slightly later than the other powers and only began to undertake serious expansion in the post-Leviathan War period as they realized the importance of protecting their trade routes from piracy and their colonies against incursion. For a long time Tasnica’s aerospace forces were merely a branch of the RMC; one of Prime Minister Kenny Brackhaven’s first acts upon coming into office was to spin them off into an independent organization, the Republic Aerospace Fleets.

The fact the RAF was a relative latecomer to space allowed a few advantages. For one, most RAF ships tend to be newer than their counterparts in other space forces. More significantly, the Tasnicans seemed more willing to innovate and try new doctrines. The RAF largely eschews fighters and large capital ships that form the basis of many space fleets, instead focusing on corvettes and small, maneuverable capital ships. There is also the doctrine of “Space Lanes”, the notion that space traffic should be channeled into predetermined routes where it could be easily defended. The RAF also has a combat philosophy of seeking combat with the enemy in deep space, to make salvage for him more difficult.

The RAF’s symbol is an anchor, and most of its higher-ups were oceanic navy officers. They are much more influenced by sea combat than they are by air combat in their outlook. “Space is the new ocean,” as Mountbatten said. The RAF's primary mission is to preserve Tasnica's access to resources and trade from its far-flung colonies.

Ship Design Philosophy

Generally speaking, RAF ships have excellent firepower and speed, but poor protection (the exception being the Manabeast battlecruiser, but which is extremely well-protected, but is still less well-protected and faster then comparable ships such as a GSF Tyrano). Most RAF ships have long range weapons, however, and in an ideal world they can use their speed and range to pound the enemy into oblivion without ever exposing themselves to enemy fire. Since most RAF ships do not carry fighters, they carry missiles instead. Many RAF designs have been described as "missile boats" with good reason. These include heavy Nightmare torpedoes or the lighter Sun missile system. Heat-seeking technology, particularly effective in the void, is the standard tracking system on both of these missiles. The Special Combat Fleet makes use of the Jethro anti-fighter missile. Energy weapons include the omnidirectional lucent banks for a light and medium capital ship weapon, and manaforce cannon as the heavy capital ship weapon.

The main focus of the RAF is small and medium-sized ships with heavy firepower. Fighters have a secondary support role. Large capital ships are deployed defensively, or against other powerful opponents, but are regarded as too slow to be the backbone of the Fleets.

It is interesting to note that the RAF generally puts a greater premium on creature comforts than other space forces. Many spacers come back with pale skin, but most RAF craft have tanning booths. The Manabeast battlecruiser has many amenities, including a movie theater. Some have criticized the RAF for wasting space, but the RAF claims it keeps morale higher.

Organization

Organizationally, the RAF is divided by function rather than geography. The Admiral Supreme (currently, Rycar Mountbatten) is in overall command, and the five fleets report to him. Two fleets are mainly defensive, three are mainly offensive. The Home Fleet (which include Atmospheric Defense Command) is responsible for the planetary defense of Tasnican worlds and colonies. It has the most diverse array of ships under its command. The Home Fleet is commanded by Admiral Johann Themistocles, a todo. The Escort Fleet is responsible for providing guards and defenders for Tasnican convoys, as well as patrolling the space lanes. The Escort Fleet is commanded by Admiral Orko Xenophon, a Priman. The Strike Fleet is the rapid-response force of the RAF. Built around the RAF’s fast ships, it can launch lightning attacks. The Strike Fleet is headed up by Admiral Sigwulf Brasidas. The Fleet of the Line is the heavy-attack, slower force. Although unloved by Mountbatten, the Fleet of the Line is a favorite of many Tasnican politicians, who are moved by its numerous battlecruisers. The enormous power of this fleet has led it to be commanded by someone with the rank of Greater Admiral, in this case Helmut Nicias. Finally, there is the Special Combat Fleet, the RAF’s elite unit. They would say that they have the speed of the Strike Fleet with the power of the Fleet of the Line. With access to advanced technology and higher training standards, this may not be an idle boast. The Specials are under the command of Greater Admiral Angela Leonidas.

Beneath the fleet, the next organizational subdivisions are Battle Squadrons, named after their flagship, except the Home Fleet, where the Battle Squadrons are named for the planet they are stationed on. Battle Squadrons are the unit assigned a specific mission or task. Within Battle Squadrons, similar types of vessels are organized into flotillas, also named after the flagship.

Each fleet also has an associated Fleet Train, which consists of all manner of supply and support ships including tankers, tenders, and hospital ships. The Fleet Trains are meant to support the RAF for extended periods of time away from friendly colonies and bases.

Ranks

• Non-Commissioned
  • Spacer
  • Mate; by section (eg, Gunner’s Mate, Communications Mate, etc.)

Specialist, by section (Sensor Specialist)

• • Chief, by section
  • Chief Petty Officer; the senior NCO of any smaller RAF vessel
  • Master Petty Officer, the senior NCO on a large vessel

• Commissioned
  • Unterleutnant
  • Leutnant
  • Oberleutnant
  • Lunar Commander
  • Solar Commander
  • Hauptmann (commands a ship; by tradition in the RMC, RAF, and GA Hauptmann refers to the highest rank to see combat regularly.)
  • Kommodore (responsible for a smaller Battle Squadron, or planetary defense of an important colony)
  • Vice Admiral (typically responsible for a large Battle Squadron)
  • Admiral (responsible for the Home Fleet, Strike Fleet or Escort Fleet)
  • Greater Admiral (Responsible for Special Combat Fleet or Fleet of the Line)
  • Admiral Supreme (commanding all Republic Aerospace Fleets)

Ship Designs in Service

See also Tasnican Capital Ships.

• Fighters--usually relegated to defensive roles in RAF's scheme
  • Rapier Multirole Fighter
  • Scimitar Escort Fighter
• Corvettes
  • Firelance, a ship with a crew of about a dozen and one of the most common RAF vessels
  • Ballista-F Torpedo Boat, an anti-capital ship strike craft armed with Nightmare torpedoes
• Medium Capital
  • Jema Destroyer, built around speed, Manaforce Cannon, and missile bays. Often draws comparisons with the GSF's Blackbird Light Cruiser, as both ships are integral to their respective space fleets and representative of different design philosophies (the Blackbird has fighters and a tough, reinforced hull suitable for ramming, the Jema has more on-board firepower and more speed.)
  • Jema Advanced, originally given only to the Specials, most of the improvements in the Jema advanced can now be found in regular Jemas (with the exception of replacing the Manaforce Spinal Mount with a turret.)
  • Spartiate Jagdcruiser, highly maneuverable spacecraft with unique weapon system giving it extreme firepower
• Large Capital
  • Proposed 'heavy cruiser' to fill gap between Jema and Manabeast in most units, hotly debated
  • Manabeast Battlecruisers have gone through several iterations, but are the toughest ships in the fleet, and its large Manaforce cannon make it a threat to almost any ship in space
  • Iceni, known as a "tricky ship", is the flagship of the fleet.

Note that certain spacecraft, notably dropships, in Tasnican inventory are operated by the Republic Marine Corps.