FT Ship Designations - OU/NAC

> Brian Burger wrote:

> The OU as a republic would make far more sense than, as another
take your pick...) <<

Or just "OUS" -- shorter and simpler. OUSF/DF/SN would be the Fleet
name, not the ship designator.

As far as republic vs monarchy goes, I regret to say that I have to agree.
Given Jon's future history, the OU, as a separate nation from the NAC, would
be highly unlikely to be anything other than a republic. After all, the OU
looks to be something of a collection of leftovers, unwanted by any of the
major power blocs (except, maybe, the Indonesian Commonwealth), who got
together for mutual protection against marauding nations like the IC. Given
the political conditions at the time of the formation of the OU, I suspect
that the NAC could have invited the OU members to join, and they might well
have been glad to become the "fourth province" of the Confederation (after the
UK, Canada and the US). But, the NAC didn't ask, probably being too busy
keeping their "core lands" under control, and the independent OU was formed.
That being the case, I can't really see the OU states, former Commonwealth
members of not, keeping the British (or NAC) Crown as titular head of state.
There was a lot of resentment in Oz and NZ when Britain turned its back on
them (or so it was perceived) to join the EU, and this would be the same
thing, only more so.

> I guess NAC ships would be HMS, of course -- or isn't there something

CNS -- Confederation Navy(Naval?) [Space]Ship, I presume.

> (I like HMS, personally. More traditional -- and navies tend to be

Jon Banderet asked:
> What about the American Contingent of the NAC? USS or HMS? <

Definitely not USS, 'cause there ain't no US any more, just the NAC,
consisting
of the 3 core ex-nations (minus Cal-Tex) and South America on Earth, and
their colonies. One nation, one navy, one ship designation.

I suspect that Brian is right regarding HMS; that is what I would expect to
see as a designator on NAC ships, given their allegiance to the Crown, but Jon
says
CNS, so CNS it is. It _is_ his universe, after all.

Phil, an ex-pat royalist Aussie

> Phillip Atcliffe wrote:

Concur. Unless, of course, the NAC de-installed the Mountbatten-Windsors
in favour of the Spencers. In which case we might pick up some
slightly-used monarchs, one careless owner.

> Phil, an ex-pat royalist Aussie