Landings on Planets and Ship Sizes

My comments to Oerjan, Ryan and the others who spoke well on this (and you too
Los!):

Well, I have to concur with you that there must be lots of big ships out
there. Think of it like today. The number of supertankers probably far
outstrips Aircraft Carriers in service (like at least by one order of
magnitude). I am not arguing the need for transport - merely what the
construction rules suggest. You need a lot of space to move stuff.

One concept I think is missing is the difference between a vehicle
shipped combat ready (at 8/5ths) or one shipped packed. I'd guess that
if you ship vehicles packed, they'd take up say a 1/1 relationship. A
class 5 vehicle would then take 1 Mass, rather than a class 3. That would help
your large movements.

And I too like the idea of splitting out the supply tasks and deployment
tasks. I just wanted to get some ballpark size calcs out there for people to
mull over (thanks Los for confirming roughly some of my figs). I really only
wanted to illustrate that it was costly to move large forces and it took a lot
of freighter capability.

I imagine in the GZGverse that military shipping makes up about 5% of the
total mass out there, if that. In the real world, I think we'd find the same
kind of relationship (anyone know for sure?). Military ships are big enough
for their roles, but not big in comparison to bulk freighters. I wouldn't
doubt they only run 1% or less of the total space mission hours. Trade is
huge, and it is what must have backed up human
expansion to the stars. Texicorp will tell you so..... :)   (And
MacroSponge....)

If you were to think of the types of missions you'd deploy troops on:
1) Fringe service - deployed in platoon sized increments with a little
local support. The troopship is the supply ship. Say 50 mass for a platoon and
some supplies. Add in a couple of size 2 landers. Add in one ortillery module
(operating without other support). Add in some small 1 mass attack craft (a
squadron). This would be one of the more commonly seen forces. It would
investigate things, do recons, solve small problems, engage small colonial
forces. Escorts, if present, might only be a corvette or two or a DD.

2)  Outer Rim service - deployed in company sized increments with little
local support. Probably in one ship (for space efficiency). Say 150 mass for
the platoon plus another 50 mass for supplies. Add in 5 size 2 landers. Add in
3 ortillery modules. Add in maybe a squadron of attack craft. This too would
be a relatively commonly seen force. Add in a MASH and a CIC for coordinating
ground units. Altogether, this would represent a major force deployed in Rim
areas and be capable of taking on mid sized colonial forces and handling most
issue by itself. Escorts
if present might be two DDs and/or a CL.

3) Inner Rim service - in the established colonies. Deployed in B'n
strength. May be split into company sized ships as above (4 of them). Probably
only one bigger hospital and CIC. Maybe even a dedicated Fire Support ship.
Probably a provider ship. A small carrier would be an appropriate addition to
the force, and the escort could be a CVE, a 2xDDE, CL, 2xCV. This force is
capable of handling anything the Rim can throw at it, especially if aided by
any of the locals.

4) Inner Colonies - This is where forces of a scale of Brigades might be
deployed off-Earth. You would not likely see such starmobile forces
deployed on too many worlds of less than 250,000 people. More likely 1,000,000
plus places. If it is projected further afield into the Rim areas, there must
be a good reason. It is probably several ships for troop transport including
some SpecOps capability, EW ships, a MASH ship, and some larger Fire Support
ships. One or more provider ships to provide supplies. Maybe an Orbital
Assault platform. And a fair sized carrier. Escourt group might be a CVA,
2xCE, 4xDDE, 2xBC, 4xScout, 4xFT.

Beyond this, we're talking a purpose built force for some war or something.

I've liked what I've seen about the idea of dividing out the forces (though or
administrative reasons you'd want this somewhat limited), and about specialist
ships. General purpose kit is used on the frontiers, more specialized as you
get closer to the populated areas.

Planetary Assaults (hot ones, or ones with orbital superiority) would only
happen during wars. Lesser conflicts might well see limited operations and the
UN would probably frown on large scale trade disruptions or forced migrations.
It would act to limits such events in populated space. Out on the rim, justice
will go to those with the biggest guns.

Anyway, its been a good line of inquiry. Thanks for the good thoughts!