First of a series of occasional papers on interstellar defence and fleet issues, from Jim's Fighting Fleets study group, the Defence Estimation - Longterm Planning, Homeworlds & Interstellar group.

Paper 1/3202: Prospects for the The Imperial Navy 3202-3206

According to reliable senior sources within the Imperial Navy, the IEN is planning the following main force components in its 3202-3206 budget review:

> 6 Battle Fleets – each comprising 100CV

All but one of these Fleets is known to already be operational. Current plans suggest 1 at Sol, 3 deployed in the Marches (1 in Cadre form) and 2 at New Berlin. The last 5 are all under the auspices of the Supreme Human Commander. One of the Fleets at New Berlin was recently despatched to Q3 in response to the Ultron Crisis

> 1 Home Fleet, comprising 200CV

This is an entirely new Fleet, believed to comprise a double-sized Battle Fleet, dedicated to defence of the Home Systems and based at Sol.

The IEN component of Force H of 50CV – based at Haggai. Force H is a joint IEN, GFAN, UoXN Fleet dedicated to mutual defence of a number of systems agreed by the participants.

> 8 Colonial Fleets – each comprising approximately 50CV (including 2-3 Capital ships. These Fleets also provide a ready-reserve for any Battle Fleet operating in their Quadrant, with the Admiral able to provide forces to support the SHC at his discretion.

> 1 Mobility Fleet – comprising reserve logistics and transport vessels

According to the same source the IEN intends to deploy as many as 100 Capital ships by the end of 3205, divided roughly evenly between BBI, CVI and CAI. The current IEN Orbat comprises 70 Capital ships with at least 6 in various stages of construction. This suggests a programme to build 25 new capital ships in the next 2 years. In an associated move the IEN is believed to be negotiating a contract with the UoX for the construction of a number of the new class of Missile Cruisers.

Summary

By 3205 the IEN should comprise approximately 1,250CV of interstellar combat vessels of which 500CV are directly subordinated to the SHC.

400CV are dedicated to Colonial defence, and 350 to direct defence of the Home systems (supported by over 800CV of interplanetary defence vessels – including pacifiers). This latter figure suggests a significant increase, probably in numbers of Pacifiers, planned for the Home systems.

It is known that political pressures, particularly from the influential Senior Citizens, on the Admiralty have focussed on the ability to defend the Home systems from a direct ESB attack.

The IAO, despite earlier exaggerated rumours is expected to maintain a force of four squadrons, totalling approximately 120CV, for internal security purposes in Q0 - though the IAO continues to have a wider brief including political intervention in the Quadrants, as before.