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Retrieved June 14, 2033

Battlestar Strike Group

A battlestar strategic group (BSG) is an operations formation of the Imperial Space Force. It is composed of roughly 40,000 personnel, a battlestar, two drone carriers, two cruisers, two or more destroyer squadrons, three or more frigate packs, three or more corvette wings, and a battlestar drone flock of 2,000 to 3,000 unmanned drones. While originally analogous to the carrier battle groups utilized by other supra-national military organizations, current military doctrine associates the battlestar strategic group with numbered fleets. The battlestar strategic group commander acts as the supreme commander of space forces within the solar system(s) the battlestar strategic group is operating in.

Battlestar strategic groups comprise a principal element of Martian power projection capability. They are often referred to by the battlestar they are associated with (e.g., Aglarond Strategic Group). There are currently only two battlestar strategic groups: one based in the Sol system (currently BSG-1, associated with the HIMV Angrenost) and one based in the Toliman system (currently BSG-2, associated with the HIMV Aglarond), though there are more expected to be associated with the three battlestars currently in production.

The battlestar strategic group is a flexible starfleet force that can operate in a single solar system or in deep space. The principal role of the battlestar within the battlestar strategic group is to provide a "safe harbor" for the repair and resupply of the various warvessels within the group, analogous to the naval base utilized for centuries on Earth or the Mothership of the Acrid Empire; as well as provide the primary offensive firepower for the group. That is not to say that the other vessels are exclusively defensive. Other warvessels in the group sometimes undertake offensive operations when detached from the mail group, and the battlestar's drone flock contributes to the group's defense (through orbital patrols and anti-stealth efforts). This, from a command and control perspective, battlestar strategic groups are combat organized by mission rather than by platform.

Missions

Battlestar strategic groups are tasked to accomplish a variety of wartime mission, as well as a wide variety of functions in situations short of war. The peacetime mission is to conduct forward presence operations, to help shape the strategic environment, deter conflict, build interoperability with allies, and respond to crises when necessary. While currently the battlestar strategic groups are assigned to their stations indefinitely, individual vessels, and even larger sub-groups like destroyer squadrons and corvette wings, are on a regular deployment rotation, typically six to nine months. The vessels in the group often "disaggregate" from the battlestar, performing missions thousands or even millions of astronomical units away. The missions of the battlestar strike groups include:

• Power projection in atmosphere against a wide range of strategic, operation, and tactics targets defended by sophisticated orbital and air defense systems.

• Gaining and maintaining orbital control including low and high orbit, lagrangian points, and open space.

• Protection of commercial shipping.

• Protection and deployment of a Mobile Infantry division prior to or during a planetary operation.

• Humanitarian Assistance/Disaster Relief (HA/DR)

• Surveillance/Intelligence to achieve and maintain a comprehensive operations picture of the orbital environment, including surface, atmosphere, and relevant nearby planetary and lunar bodies of interest.

• Command and Control of assigned Imperial and allies supra-national forces.

• Operations in support of the peacetime presence mission, including support Imperial diplomacy through cooperative engagement with disgnated allied forces, normal peacetime operations, and shows of force.

Typical BSG composition

BSGs are not restricted to a specific composition and can be modified depending on expected threats, roles, or missions expected during deployment, and one may be different from another. An Imperial battlestar strategic group typical includes:

• A battlestar, which is the centerpiece of the strategic group and also serves as the flagship of the BSG Commander and respective staff. The battlestar is commanded by a pilot community admiral.

• Two drone carriers, capable of launching, recovering, and resupplying an individual complement of five squadrons of drones as well as their AI pilots. Drone carriers are commanded by a pilot community commodore.

• A battlestar drone flock (BDF) typically consisting of up to 30 squadrons and assigned to not only the battlestar, but also the associated drone carriers. A battlestar has the facilities to repair or replace the drones assigned to it. Though the exact replacement rate is classified, it is estimated that a battlestar drone flock could be fully replaced within three months. Battlestar drone flocks are commanded by a pilot community commodore.

• Two cruisers, multi-mission orbital combatants, equipped with cruise missiles for long-range strike capability, each commanded by an orbital community captain.

• At least two destroyer squadrons (DESRON) commanded by orbital community captains who command the escort destroyers. A destroyer is commanded by an orbital community commander.

• At least three frigate packs (FRIGPAK) commanded by orbital community captains who command the frigates. A frigate is commanded by an orbital community commander.

• At least four corvette wings (VETWING) commanded by stealth community commanders who command the corvettes. A corvette is commanded by a stealth community lieutenant commander.

The battlestar strategic group can also be split into one or more carrier battle groups (CBG) based around a drone carrier, typically with a cruiser, a destroyer squadron, two frigate packs and two corvette wings, as well as the 5 squadrons of drones carried by the drone carrier and at least a Mobile Infantry battalion.