Generic Unit Types
All units within the Empire have a specific unit type (such as
"squadron" or "ship"), which defines the exact composition of the unit in terms of positions within it... However, units also have generic types, which
indicate their general size or scale.
In most cases, units are referred to by their specific type, but commanding
officers should be familiar with these generic terms when they arise:
Task Element
A Task Element is not considered a full, proper unit. If a
Task Unit should temporarily divide into smaller components (amidst a combat
situation or otherwise), each of these components may be referred to as a
Task Element.
Task Unit
Task Units are the basic units of the Empire, and will be present in
all sections of the Empire that contain units. A Task Unit is any
"simple unit" that does not command or contain subordinate units. (The standard
Imperial Navy squadron, for example.)
Task Group
Task Groups will be present in medium–sized Divisions of the Empire.
A Task Group is a unit that contains or commands subordinate Task Units
(such as an Imperial Navy ship, whose commanders oversee all onboard
squadrons).
Task Force
Permanent Task Forces will only be present in large–sized Divisions
of the Empire. A Task Force is formed when multiple Task Groups (and/or
other Task Forces!) are being consolidated under the command of a single Unit
Commander. (The Systems Forces and Sector Groups of the Imperial
Navy are prime examples.)
Primary Platform Assignments
When configuring Task Units of different primary platforms into Task Groups,
several important considerations need be taken into account.
Grand Admiral Daemon herein relays the following general advice
to Division Commanders...
Primary platforms for units (where applicable) are defined at the Task
Unit level. From a purely technical standpoint, there are no
restrictions upon several Task Units that support different primary platforms
being consolidated into a single Task Group.
However, practical experience has shown that it is best to aim for a
single primary platform throughout each Task Group in the majority of
cases... This allows the Task Group to specialise in competitions and events
based on a particular platform. The result is less administrative overhead for
the local commanders, while at the same time elevating quality, participation,
and interaction between the subordinate Task Units.
When Task Units of varied platforms were inter–mixed in the past, it was
typically because the numbers of available personnel for each individual
platform did not seem sufficient to form their own Task Groups... However,
separate Task Groups may still be created (even if they are significantly
below their standard battle strength), and this is now the officially
recommended option – even if it means that a new Task Group begins as a
single Task Unit. This shall simply give ample room for future expansion.
To prevent ranks from being "top–heavy" in the interim, the standard number
of commanders for a Task Group is temporarily scaled back to a more reasonable
number. A simple formula could be as follows:
- Where a Task Group contains only a single, subordinate Task Unit, its
commander shall be considered the acting commander of the Task Group.
- Where a Task Group contains at least two subordinate Task Units – but still
significantly less than the standard number – a single officer will be
appointed to the rank and station of the Task Group's official CO or XO, and act
as its overall commander.
- When a task group contains more than 50% of its standard number of Task
Units, both the positions of the Task Group CO and Task Group XO will be
appointed, as per standard battle strength.
Although final decision over unit configuration primarily rests with
individual Division Commanders, the Imperial Navy has come to favour this
"natural growth process"... Forming a multi–platform Task Group with the
intention of "splitting" it into single–platform Task Groups when membership
increases, often requires excessive administrative effort and may adversely
impact morale.