Assault Carriers are considered the backbone of most ground force
support squadrons, capable of attacking a single fixed target with extensive
weapons, while supporting large numbers of attack shuttles and troop transports.
Assault Carriers act as primary base vessels for ground troops and support
troops, coordinating troop movement, landing zones, medical recovery and space
support operations with other Assault Ships and Frigates. Assault Carriers can
support entire brigades when necessary.
Most Assault Carriers have large numbers of docking facilities and
specialized hangar decks that allow for the mass transfer of troops and
equipment to waiting shuttlecraft. Assault Carriers also have extendable docking
rings used to link with other support vessels. Most Assault Carriers are larger
than standard vessels of similar mass and are extremely expensive to operate for
lengthy periods of time. Assault Carriers are known for their Port and Starboard
weapons compliment, owing to their ground support role. As with other shuttle
carrier vessels, Assault Carriers are often used during rescue missions to
provide evacuation points and transport when necessary.
Assault
Ships
are the most specific troop movement vessels assigned to most space navies.
Assault Ships are designed to quickly load men and material for
moderately extended operations, transport said troops to a planet and support
landing and operations planet side for months at a time.
Most Assault Ships are moderately armed, able to aggressively defend them
selves and support defending escorts from hostile space born combat platforms.
Most Assault Ships are able to support over 1000 troops in ground
operations. Many Assault Ships have
moderate medical facilities, cargo replication ability, some research capability
and minor command and control ability. Assault
Ships have a wide range of specialized defence system to keep troops safe during
transport and in the initial stages of an assault.
Many Assault Ships also support fighter wings to help protect the vessel
and conduct ground attacks. Assault
Ships are usually faster than Troop Transports, and are often seen in large
convoys with other Troops vessels.
Fleet Monitors were used for heavy duty missile and gunfire support. They were
used primarily for orbital bombardment.
Although the term "support vessel" engenders visions of repair
ships and re-supply vessels, technically, support vessels include transport and
cargo movement platforms. Many "support" vessels are in actuality
civilian ships designed to conduct extremely specific missions, rarely military
in nature. Support Vessels include cargo ships, passenger ships, repair vessels
and other assorted short to long range ships of all types. Most support vessels
can be bought or traded on the open market, and come in an extremely wide range
of sizes and costs.
Nomenclature of a particular support vessel rarely gives an accurate
description of the ships actual size, crew or defensive capabilities. Most
Support Vessels can (and are) modified to some degree depending on the location
of the specified cargo/operation area. Many support vessels operating in hostile
areas will ban together, often escorted by military authorities, on common cargo
or transport runs.
Some Support Vessels are assigned specific patrol areas, while other wait at
a star base or orbital platform until needed. Even robotic ships are common.
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