to add to the giddy confusion out there ... this from wiki...
In the United States Army, the term combat support refers to units that provide fire support and operational assistance to combat elements. Combat support units provide specialized support functions to combat units in the areas of chemical warfare, combat engineering, intelligence, security, and communications.
Combat support should not be confused with combat service support, which are units which primarily provide logistical support by providing supply, maintenance, transportation, health services, and other services required by the soldiers of combat units to continue their missions in combat.
Expressed another way, Combat Support units are focused on providing operational support to combat units, while Combat Service Support units are focused on providing logistical support to combat units. Actual combat units are collectively referred to as combat arms units; hence, all army units fall into the category of either combat arms, combat support, or combat service support.
Unsure how this would relate with naval or airforce units. Supply and refueling vessels are sorta obvious but what about the rest of the mix?
US Army classifications include:
Chemical Corps
Combat or similar engineers
Military Intell
Mil. Police
Signal Corps
Army Aviation (incl battlefield recon, signals intell, and air assault elements)
Chemical may translate to vessels dedicated to that type of warfare or the counters to it, but also lend itself to more scout type things such as checking into the biology and ecology of a planet. Should a medical-survey ship be included here or in the service support line up?
Engineers - combat types emplace obstacles and fortifications (including minefields) and also are used to clear these things. (Horizontal Engineers - build roads and bridges, possibly dams; Vertical Engineers construct buildings, etc)
Intell - not just the super stealthy ships, but would include those, also most anything of various types that aid in the gathering of various types of data and the analysis of it.
Mil Police - the Patrol (E.E. Doc Smith Lensman series) ... law enforcement with a military twist - coast guard type vessels, not line of battle.
Signal dedicated communication vessels, relay comm systems, and somewhere in the mix a capability to construct the necessary guts for remote (or not so remote) communications systems. Also spaceport/airport communication and radar/lidar systems.
just some generic thoughts...
enjoy T
--- On Fri, 11/26/10, eamonwatters <> wrote:
From: eamonwatters <>
Subject: [Traveller_TNE] Suggestion for the next Nebula Award Design Competition
To:
Date: Friday, November 26, 2010, 10:34 AM
Here's the blurb for an idea I have for the next design competition:
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Cross-factional Kerfuffle in the Hall of Worlds.
Everyone is used to hearing of the endless bickering in the Assembly - the very nature of the Coalition seems to demand it. However, most of the vitriol is directed at those holding opposing political views. Today, with a little help from the members from Spires, the axis of politics was spun on its head - and friend denounced friend, ally attacked ally. How did this happen? With a modest proposal...
During a call for any other business to be discussed before the close of the General Assembly session, the Spirian delegation rose and indicated they wanted to make a proposal to the Assembly. Most members were expecting impenetrable suggestions, and convoluted prose - but, for once, the Spirians were direct. So direct that it is possible to quote the words of the delegate who put the proposal to the Assembly, Harran Belferth, with no editing for clarity:
"Dear Consophonts, it has been brought to our attention that two large jump drives have been recovered from Thoezentt Subsector. As is required, first choice on the purchase of these drives was offered to the Coalition - and accepted. It is our understanding that these drives will be used to launch a new class of naval vessel: a Combat Support Ship. Whilst not being opposed to this, we do not see why both drives are needed to trial this new class of ship - and so suggest that one of the recovered drives be used to launch a new class of ship, one designed to directly provide aid and support to the peoples of the Wilds.
We have gotten too used to taking what we need from the Wilds, putting our needs first. This has given our enemies easy propaganda to use against us. This can change - we must change. What will this ship do? How will it be equipped? We make no suggestions! It is for the Naval Architects of our worlds to decide - and why not? Is not crafting reality from dreams the core of their work?
We ask for a vote on this matter after a thirty minute recess to allow our fellow Assembly Members to discuss the matter amongst themselves, which we hope the Speaker will grant."
The recess was granted, and discussion began - slowly at first, with plenty of derision being directed at the proposal and proposers - first from the Fijians, but then joined by the Eosians, Aubani and Balduri. Just when the Nimbans usually join in to try and pour oil on troubled waters the unexpected happened: Oriflamme indicated general agreement with the Spirians (truly a first!), followed by the Aurorans, Tribeci, and finally the Schalli. It seemed that most of the shipbuilding worlds could not pass up the opportunity to bid on two new ship designs - not matter how low the chances of the new Spirian vessel seeing mass production seem to those with a knowledge of naval acquisition policy. With the most populous world in the Coalition in support, and the Human Aubani representatives unsure of whether to vote against the proposal - seeing that their Schalli compatriots seemed eager to pass - it the motion was passed. What legal force it has on the RCES
and RCN is unsure, but whether they can withstand the pressure of so many delegates is perhaps the more pertinent question.
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So, depending on what people want - we can have a competition for a Combat Support Ship* or a ship designed to directly help the people of the Wilds, or both (consecutively, I guess).
* The CSS is a ship whose major role is to enable existing Coalition naval assets to perform their missions more effectively and efficiently - as defined by the designers, of course.
Let me know what you think,
Eamon