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!