RE: 2nd/3rd rate powers

G'day,

> First Rate
> ----------

Given their reputation (or the mythos Jon has built around them) I'd
slide
the SV in here too.
 
> Second Rate
> --------------

Actually by this period I could see the IF and PAU as at least second
rate
too.

> Third Rate
> -----------
> 
> Fourth Rate
> -------------
>  IAS (just not a military power - more security 
> focused)
>
> This is only my own view of my own universe, of 
> course, and YMMV. I tend to give poorer units 
> things like: Less efficient TO&E (less command 
> and control, less articulation, fewer support 
> weapons and special weapons, fewer specialists 
> in fields like CBE, Intel, Med, EW, Comms, etc), 
> poorer ratings for leadership (2's and 3's), 
> poorer ratings for troop quality (blue -> green 
> and sometimes yellow), 

Given these later points I'd definitely bump the IAS up to third rate.
The
nation may have science at heart, but when push comes to shove who do
you
think can dream up the truly mean stuff? ;P

Just for comparison sake (and for what its worth), here's the ratings of
the
naval prowess of the various nations (which was a direct result of a
poll I
did on the list a few years back) that I did up with Piquet in mind, but
it
can be used to think about relative ratings too.

<Sorry if the table gets mangled by the mailer>

	CF	OQ	Opp	MR	Ld    Qd    Ace%  Vet%	Reg% 
Green%
ESU	7	3	6	4	+1	NC	10	10     
55
30
FCT	3	4	5	3	NC	-1	5	15     
55
25
FSE	6	3	6	3	+2	+1	15	15     
55
25
IC	5	5	4	5	-2	-2	5	5      
60
30
IF	5	4	5	4	-1	-1	5	10     
40
45
JAP	4	4	4	2	NC	+1	10	15     
70
5
LLAR	3	5	5	4	-1	-2	5	10     
60
25
KNG	4	4	5	4	-1	NC	10	20     
60
10
NAC	6	2	6	3	+1	+1	10	15     
65
10
NI	4	3	5	3	+1	NC	10	25     
55
10
NSL	6	2	7	2	+2	+1	10	15     
65
10
OU	5	4	5	4	NC	NC	15	30     
35
20
PAU	4	5	5	5	-1	NC	5	10     
50
35
RH	4	4	5	4	-1	-2	5	10     
55
30
SK	3	4	5	5	-3	NC	5	5      
40
50
SWISS	3	4	4	2	-2	-1	10	10     
60
20
UNSC	6	3	4	2	NC	NC	20	20     
50
10
Std	3	4	5	4	-1	NC	5	10     
65
20
Poor	2	6	3	5	-4	-3	0	5      
50
45
Good	5	3	6	3	+1	+1	5	15     
60
20

By the way Std/Poor/Good = for generic forces, also 
CF = command flexibility. The higher the number the more flexible the
command structure can be (doesn't always mean they will be)
OQ = overall quality (especially with regard to willingness to stand and
fight and covers confidence with regard to training as well as
equipment),
in this case the lower the number the better
Opp = Relative ability to make the most of opportunities, the higher the
number the better
MR = mechanical reliability, the lower the number the more reliable
their
equipment is
Ld = leadership, + ratings = likely to have better leaders, NC = average
leadership, - ratings = likely to have poorer leaders
Qd = determination/confidence of the troops, + ratings = likely to be
more
determined/confident, NC = average, - ratings = likely to be flighty
Ace/Vet/Reg/Green = % makeup of their forces with these grade of troops

As you can see it gets a bit messier.

Cheers