Subgroup: Imperial Navy Forces
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| General information | |
|---|---|
| Leader(s): | Fleet Admiral Motti |
| Members: |
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| Headquarters: | Fleet HQ, Talus - Chimaera |
| Locations: | Space |
| History Information | |
| Founding: | March 9, 2007 |
| Fleet Information | |
| Fleet Role: | Military - Space w/ Gunships |
| Affiliation | Galactic Empire |
| Oversector | Joint Military Establishment |
| Units & Divisions: |
Task Groups:
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| Other information | |
| Take Overs / Merges: |
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A Show Of Military Might
The Black Sword Starfleet, better known as the Imperial Naval Forces, is the primary space division of the Black Sword Fleet in Star Wars Galaxies. The Naval Forces is the naval forces branch of the Joint Military Establishment and is under the command of Fleet Admiral Motti. The Fleet works in unison with the Imperial Starfighter Corps that provides critical fighter escorts under the command of Admiral Kaedryl.
The Imperial Naval Forces got its start shortly after Jump to Lightspeed expansion for Star Wars Galaxies. However it quickly became absorbed by the Fighter Corps as the multi-gunner large player ships were quickly shown to be ineffective in combat. Years later however, Sony Online Entertainment would add the Imperial Gunboat to the lineup, including new parts and beefed up hulls for the vessels. The mainstays of its fleets are the Imperial YE-8 Gunship and the YT-49 Decimator which are formed into Task Groups and larger assault fleets.
Roles in the Military
Escort
The Naval Forces provide escort during various events, competitions and training exercises. Gun crews get plenty of practice in actual combat through escort duties. Backed up by escorting fighter support, Imperial gun crews and skilled pilots and engineers prove that gunboat task groups are extremely deadly in space combat.
Fighter Engagements
Many times Task Groups are pitted against pure fighter-based forces whether in Deep Space or in the regular PvP field. Imperial Forces face the most difficult challenges in these engagements where skilled gun crews and pilots can decide who wins the engagement.
Ship To Ship
Task Groups engage in ship-to-ship combat with other multi-crewed vessels from the Rebellion or Independent forces. These events test the ship's ability to wage war and defend itself.
Organization of the Fleet
The Imperial Navy uses an overall strategy of focusing on capital ship firepower rather than starfighter superiority. The Navy is divided into several sections and headed by a well respected Fleet Admiral. The Admiral also sits on the Joint Military Establishment's Admiralty Board that makes policy decissions for the military divisions and overall combat strategy.
Command
Commander of the Navy: Fleet Admiral Motti
Deputy Commander of the Navy: Rear-Admiral Rathan
Chief of Navy Operations: Rear-Admiral Sarkissian
Fleets
The Imperial Navy designates a fleet as a "sector resource" and each Fleet contains dozens of Gunships and Assault ships under its command. Common fleet deployment types included superiority fleets, assault fleets, and bombard fleets. Other examples of alignments that a fleet might have taken included a deepdock fleet, support fleet, or ordinance fleet. Each Fleet is headed by an Admiral who is located on-board the lead YE-8 Gunship or on-board a Y-8 that has been graphically modded to be a Imperial Lambda-class shuttle.
Superiority Fleet: Superiority fleets maintained space superiority in sectors, routinely on patrol duties. Typically a Superiority Fleet will consist of two Task groups which is presumed to be a sufficient force for relatively calm patrol sectors. A superiority fleet may or may not request fighter escorts.
Assault Fleet: Assault fleets are trained and able to engage fighter-only hostile forces and always have fighter escorts. Typically assigned three task groups.
Bombard Fleet: Bombard fleets are highly trained in ship-to-ship engagements and are brought into hostile situations where heavy ordnance is required. Consists of four or more Task Groups.
Task Groups
A Task Group is the main unit within the Imperial Navy. Each Task Group has two Imperial YE-8 gunships with one or two YT-49 Decimators. Fighter Escorts are not counted as part of a Task Group, however if they are assigned escort duty they report and take orders directly from the Task Group's commanding officer.
Imperial Personnel
The Imperial Navy has nearly 200 personnel, approximately a quarter of whom are in ready reserve and active duty Starfighter Corps members. The majority of Navy personnel are skilled Imperial gunners, and a little over ten percent of the Navy are commissioned officers; the remaining are highly trained pilots and operations officers. All members of the Navy must pass the Imperial Academy for their desired Navy position.
Highly Trained Imperial Pilots
A gunship is nothing without a well trained Imperial Pilot. Each pilot goes above and beyond a standard Starfighter pilot's training program, testing their metal in capital ship positioning that allows their gunners clear shots at hostile targets while still avoiding hostile starfighter and ship-to-ship weapons fire.
Ordnance & Advanced Weaponry Controllers
Imperial gunners are experts at space weapon technology and handling. Their job is to man the various gun emplacements onboard their assigned vessels and do so with complete accuracy. Each gunner is trained through the Imperial Academy and undergoes a month long training program to master turret control.
Imperial Naval Troopers
Imperial Navy troopers are soldiers in the Galactic Empire who were assigned by the Imperial Navy as part of Imperial Fleet Regiments to serve as guards and soldiers onboard its many of its vessels. They serve in a role-playing and events-based capacity. Many Naval Troopers are also dual trained to handle engineering duties on their assigned starships, repairing damage that occurs during combat.
Commissioned Naval Officers
Commissioned officers can generally be divided into line officers and staff corps. Line Officers are the warfighting command element and are authorized to lead ships, aviation squadrons, and special operations units. Staff Corps officers are specialists in fields such as vessel component engineering and maintenance, operations development and tactical scenarios. They work behind the scenes to help Line Officers with their duties.
Fleet Ships & Equipment
With a full crew compliment, these vessels are the backbone of the Imperial Navy Forces. They include the powerful YE-4 Assault Gunship and the VT49 Decimator. These are the vessels and the power of the Imperial Navy.
YE-4 Assault Gunship
Used as a cruiser by the Black Sword Fleet, the Imperial gunship is brought in for situations that call for aggressive firepower. They are the principle ship or 'destroyers' among Fleet Task Groups.
Black Sword Ship Profile: YE-4 Assault Gunship
VT49 Decimator
The VT49 Decimator is heavily armed and armored, and built to carry light to medium loads into dangerous places. The Black Sword Fleet use these ships as 'frigates' within Fleet Task Groups.
Black Sword Ship Profile: VT49 Decimator
Lambda-class shuttle [Y-8 Graphical Mod]
Using a graphic mod to replace the Y-8, a multi-passenger ship with 5 turrets and a large cargo hold, the Fleet uses Lambda shuttles for various operations throughout the galaxy. Primarily used for role playing or special events involving escorts.
Black Sword Ship Profile: Lambda-class Shuttle