Independent Air Force in the SWU?

[CRMcNeill]

The modern US Air Force only came into being as a coequal branch of the military after World War II (being known as the Army Air Corps before that). The major impetus behind that transition is generally accepted to be the bomber wings that did such massive damage to Germany and Japan during the conflict, as well as the fact that they were the only service branch equipped to deploy the atomic bomb. Other countries had independent air forces during the war, specifically England's RAF and Germany's Luftwaffe.

In the various WEG sourcebooks, starfighter units are tied to either naval or army support operations. This is mostly true of the Empire, but even under the Alliance, Starfighter Command is considered part of the fleet. Although I have proposed a concept for a Star Wars starbomber capable of delivering massed ordnance bombardments, starbombers do not appear to exist in such fashion in the SWU. The closest approximation would be long range patrol vessels like the Skipray Blastboat (as bombers were used as patrol craft in the WWII Pacific Theater).

Bearing this in mind, is there any real impetus for either the Alliance or the Empire to develop an independent Air Force, or is it more likely that the current organizations will remain, with starfighters mostly tied to supporting army or navy units?
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"No set of rules can cover every situation. It's expected that you will make up new rules to suit the needs of your game." - The Star Wars Roleplaying Game, 2R&E, pg. 69, WEG, 1996.

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[Fallon Kell]

I don't really think so. After all, what's the purpose of a dedicated starfighter and bomber service if they operate in space (in which the navy already operates) or of a dedicated air force in an Empire with thousands of worlds?
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Or that excessively long "Noooooooooo" was the Whining Side of the Force leaving him. - Dustflier

Complete Starship Construction System

[Bren]

The Imperials don't really like independence. According to WEG material there is already a significant inter service rivalry between the Army and the Navy. I would think the existing services would not want to share resources with a rival 3rd service. In addition, by not mounting hyperdrive on the standard Imperial Starfighters, tthe Imperials have intentionally pursued a policy of making starfighters dependent on either a ground base or a capital ship. So I just don't seeing an independent Starfighter service making sense for the Empire.

The New Republic is a bit different philosophically. Since the two Death Stars both succumbed to starfighter attacks that branch of the service has an influence, importance, and independence in the NR above what would be found in the Empire. In addition the Rebel doctrine of hyperspace capable starfigherts makes an independent Starfighter service make some sense. We tend to treat the Starfighter branch as being independent/dependent with respect to the Navy in a manner similar to how the US Marines interact with the US Navy. They are related services (officers of both go to Annapolis, Marines are stationed on Naval bases and ships, etc.) but are more or less independent of each other (separate chains of command).

Some caveats on why I think a fully independent service like the US Air Force does not make sense for Star Wars starfighers. In the Star Wars Universe starfighter units don't parallel airplanes from a logistics standpoint.
1) They aren't faster than naval vessels in hyperspace x1 and x2 hyper is shared by both starfighters and capital ships. Sometimes starfighters aren't even faster in real space). So they can't reach the target any faster than a capital ship can.
2) Despite very fast hyperdrive travel, the Star Wars galaxy and the Empire is much larger logistically than the earth. Even a passenger plane can fly half way around the world in less than a day. (I know I've taken the 19 hr non-stop ride from NJ to Singapore.)
3) Starfighters just can't carry the crew and supplies to strike half way across the Empire the way long range bomber airplanes can on earth.
4) There is no Star Wars equivalent to the nuclear equipped bombers of the Strategic Air Command except perhaps until one gets into some of the wacky super power EU weapons.

If you create longer range, small size ships that mount wacky EU planet busting weaponry, you probably do have some rationale for the starfigher service being fully independent. If that's what you want.

[Rerun941]

The Imperial Navy's doctrine is around the Star Destroyer as the primary means of projecting power. (The same as the Pre-WWII Naval doctrine of nearly every navy in the world was centered around the battleship.)

The Rebel Alliance doctrine was centered around the (hyperdrive capable) starfighter and the New Republic is centered around the Carrier and Starfighter.

Space combat in Star Wars has always been analagous to WWII era naval aviation and surface warfare. Battleships, Carriers, Destroyers, Cruisers etc. with the Fighter, Dive Bomber and Torpedo Bomber etc.

The US Air Force was not only in recognition of the power of the bomber and its delivery of atomic weapons, but the recognition that aerial warfare was a separate form of warfare with its own strategies distinct from the Army. (aka the Air Force is not JUST there to support the Army, but it does do that, too.)
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[CRMcNeill]

[jmanski]

I think that the ordnance itself is the determining factor. As in the Alliance can't afford to buy (or find) enough of it to make it worth their while.
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[Fallon Kell]

I agree. The alliance could use light torpedo boats. Using a starship construction system I like (Krapou 2006/Grimace 2002) I drew up stats for a light freighter-sized torpedo boat, just as an example of what I was thinking:

[CRMcNeill]

That was sort of how I was thinking; that an SWU starbomber would incorporate aspects of bombers and fast attack torpedo boats ala WW2
_________________
"No set of rules can cover every situation. It's expected that you will make up new rules to suit the needs of your game." - The Star Wars Roleplaying Game, 2R&E, pg. 69, WEG, 1996.

The CRMcNeill Stat/Rule Index

[CRMcNeill]

[jmanski]

[CRMcNeill]

[jmanski]

Don't worry, I don't stay mad long...

I don't dislike the idea of a bomber, I just see it being a very unique and specialized kind of thing. Maybe a few are made (or stolen) and used by an elite squadron or something.
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Blasted rules. Why can't they just be perfect?

[Whill]

Great discussion, guys. Everyone loves starfighters.

[CRMcNeill]

Good catch. Thanks for that.

What I picture is a post-Endor Alliance military with a mission that is evolved from the original pre-Endor one. What stands out to me is the following from the Rebel Alliance Sourcebook:

"Fast Attack Vessels and Patrol Craft
Fast attack vessels and patrol craft are somewhat larger than starfighters and have between four and 20 crewmembers. The two types are quite similar in design; the major difference between them is that fast attack vessels are hyperspace-equipped while patrol vessels are not. The craft are better armed and armored than starfighters, but also usually slower and less maneuverable.
These craft are primarily employed for picket duty, or to take on armed merchanters, pirate craft, and the like. In formal engagements, they are used for defense, or to make slashing attacks against frigates and corvettes. They are too small to menace cruisers and too unwieldy to effectively fight starfighters.
Patrol craft and fast attack vessels also are designed to operate from bases or motherships; they rarely carry much fuel or supplies."

They are also mentioned in Composition of the Battle Line, where their missions is to engage opposing vessels at a distance from the battle line, forcing them to deploy into battle formation, thus decreasing their operational mobility. In the graphic The Alliance Main Fleet Battle Line, their place in the battle line is filled with "Freighters".

There really isn't much else. The description sounds like something in the same class as most space transports (small crew, more heavily armed and armored, but less maneuverable than starfighters), but there is little information to be had apart from this.

If I were to introduce an independent Alliance Air Force / Aerospace Force, I would fold the fast attack and patrol vessels in with the starfighters, along with fast transports, thus emulating most of the classic facets of the USAF, as well as incorporating most aspects of US Naval an Marine Corps Aviation.

Starfighter Command would have administrative control of all starfighters and assign them to fleet missions (Naval Aviation), ground unit support (Close Air Support) or independent operations (ala the various air force combat wings).

Starbomber Command would have administrative control of all the fast attack and patrol boat units, but with an expanded mission, so that fast attack is now equipped to engage ground targets as well as fleet, and patrol boats would be upgraded with hyperdrives so that they can perform long distance independent patrols.

Transport Command would have an array of fast space transports used for rapid deployment of light infantry units (a combination of Airborne and Air Assault, as the freighters would be able to hand around and provide fire support.

IMO, the primary driving force would be economic factors. The Alliance military would soon be responsible for an area covering most of the old Empire, but with a fraction of the Empire's military forces. Expanding the capabilities and mission of Starfighter Command into an independent unit would give the Alliance military a quick left jab to go with its strong right hook: starbombers could hit vulnerable targets and harass enemy fleet units while assault transports land light troop units in vulnerable areas, dividing enemy attention while the Alliance fleet moves in for the kill. And that's just one example. Starbombers and assault transports could be used as a military rapid reaction force, getting to where they are needed quickly and establishing a presence before the main fleet could respond. IMO, this would be much more in keeping with the Alliance mindset than a massive fleet build-up.

Thoughts?
_________________
"No set of rules can cover every situation. It's expected that you will make up new rules to suit the needs of your game." - The Star Wars Roleplaying Game, 2R&E, pg. 69, WEG, 1996.

The CRMcNeill Stat/Rule Index

[Fallon Kell]