From: Tom B <kaladorn@g...>
Date: Tue, 20 Aug 2002 13:48:09 -0400
Subject: (Fwd) Re: PAU fleet
Ryan: Being able to produce them correctly is probably the major issue. Russia, could build an aircraft carrier, they just lacked the knowledge base on how to put it together in a reliable form and operate it. A ship is a complex machine. Its not like a car. Its really lots and lots of independent systems operating together. Getting them all to work correctly is hard. Tomb: Yes and no. I think for _anyone_ to field a space navy, there will have to be a higher general level of ship design/maintenance ability. Just operating in space has minimal competency/design constraints. And if you don't have the expertise, you can probably contract it in the world of 2183. I'm not saying that the PAU would build (independently) as good of a BB as the NAC, but then again it is just possible if they contracted it out to the right people, they might get one built with lesser political influence peddling and cronyism than the NAC procurement regime I imagine to exist has. > For that matter, you'd think that capship slips would be a fair size Typically, such assets are considered strategic and there are typically strong controls on who can sell what to whom. [Tomb] 1. I think anyone can build ships in the core system in sealed slips. Why? The UNSC keeps the core quiet. So I think an independent contractor could well do this, also the slips used for large merchies may be well suited (and more economically viable). 2. For all the control established, fighters and nukes and other such stuff seems to be filtering out to the world as a whole. Selling a carrier is a big step, but it probably comes with big commitments in return (such as alliance in future Solar Wars?). This is not just an economic or engineering problem, it is diplomatic and political at the same time.Plus in the ESU, the mob may be involved and there may be huge illicit profit taking also. > I suspect the PAU fleet has some hand-me downs, some bought-news, One thing to look at as an example is the number of EX US and USN ships that were handed over following WWII. More than a few nations were given or sold Ships of up to BB and CA size. Most didn't operate terribly long or for significant amounts. Having BBs doesn't mean you can attack another nation across the ocean. [Tomb] True, but OTOH, we're already assuming nations with a significant colonial ocean going capability and star navies. Let me give you an example: Canada doesn't build anything larger than a DD now, but if you gave us a cruiser, we could man it. The skillset isn't _all_ that different, and we have some idea how the job is done. Given a bit of time, we'd have it down pat. An aircraft carrier would be more of a challenge, but given the basic education/military history and a proper investment, it would be possible. So your case study applies when giving bang-sticks to the aboriginies, but giving a starship to an already star-capable people who have some institutional experience (or know how to learn from others experiences) will eventually result in increased capabilities for them.