Index Navis: Battlefleet Ishtar

[TechCaptain]

Fleet Command ....... Tarakon Station (Fleet Command)
Number of Line Ships ...... 1 Battleship, 20 Cruisers
Number of Escort Squads ...... 6 Wolfpacks
Segmentum ...... Segmentum Ultima

Battlefleet Ishtar can date back its roots to at least to M34 and the formation of it's doctrines that persist to present. Over millennias saw mainly small battles and skirmishes but brought a variety of enemies with different tactics. Major fleet operations were done in the support of the neighbouring Sectors. The creation of the Great Rift saw the Battlefleet able to counter a myriad of Chaos and pirate raids in its aftermath.

Battlefleet Ishtar has a great many tasks including defending the Ishtar SubSector against invasions. Vessels from the Battlefeet are broken into Battlegroups to patrol the SubSector and Wild Spaces to find pirates and enemy scouts or to escort troop transports and give orbital support for ground troops. Executing Terminatus orders fall into their responsibility as to help evacuating worlds, perform search and rescue actions when vessels or even space stations are destroyed or even to transport colonists to new planets.

The Combat Doctrine of Ishtarian Battlegroups are for the Lance equipped Light Cruisers to strike at the heart of an enemy formation with a Screen of Frigates and Destroyers as Light Cruisers with lighter craft release their payloads of Fighters, Bombers, and Interceptors. Following up the Warden moves forward to provide mid range support to the battle while the Corvettes screen the lightly defended carrier Light Cruisers. The Lance Heavy Classes provide heavy punched from middle ranges as the Destroyers perform hit and run attacks weaving through the battlefield trying to gain a flanking attack on enemy capital vessels or engaging with other escorts.

Combat Division

Battlegroup Tarakon Station
Battlegroup Ishtarian Wilds Patrol
Battlegroup Ishtar Subsector Patrol

Logistic Division

Logistics is handled by not the Imperial Navy in the subsector due to the lack of support and ships available. Instead Logistics is handled by the home fleet of Forge World Mjorn located in the Ishtar Subsector.

Reserve Division

There is no strategic reserve Division in Ishtar Subsector, instead the reserves of the Battlefleet is the main fleet tasked with guarding Fleet command of Tarakon Station. Otherwise there is some reliance on the Bloodmoon Hunters Fleet located in the Damuterr System. However there is a small detachment of cruisers who are tasked with guarding an important research site and a gateway to Tarakon Station. Edited May 4, 2022 by TechCaptain

[Bjorn Firewalker]

How is a "wolfpack" defined? As a flotilla of three frigates? A flotilla of four destroyers?

[TechCaptain]

How is a "wolfpack" defined? As a flotilla of three frigates? A flotilla of four destroyers?

As defined by the Wiki:

 

They are usually organised in squadrons of 2 to 6 vessels and will always operate as a group or "wolf pack." The main task of Escorts is to serve as a screen for capital starships against enemy torpedoes and Attack Craft so that they can get into position more quickly and safely.

 

As I use Wolf pack:

 

Each Battlegroup has is split into two main operating groups with a Wolfpack of 2 Frigates, 2 Destroyers, and 2 Corvettes to act as fleet screens.

 

And I should post here as well unique (ish) Patterns used by Ishtarian Navy.

[TechCaptain]

Excubition-Class Cruiser

Excubition-class Cruiser fits into the Cruiser class for it is a small ship, but the design is built around designs that don't exist in the greater Imperium as it is based off of several Mjorn centric STCs. The Excubition-Class main role is that of Long Range Patrol and Convoy Flagship for battle groups that exist below ships of the wall. With a general purpose of facilizing communication between ships in a patrol or convoy, the design uses extensive communication suites and it's flight hangers for primary defense while the Mjorn Rotart Macrocannon's and the Spinal Mounts act as primary offensive weaponry.

Excubition-class Cruiser uses Mjorn Macrocannon Broadside Pattern. This leads to a devastating broadside for Macrocannon heavy cruisers. The lasers, while not powerful individually, act in concert to shoot down incoming ordinance and small craft. Armories were located throughout the ship, holding a selection of weapons and their requisite ammunition. Eight docking bays allowed a number of dropships, Interceptors, combat vehicles and Tanks to be carried. Honeycomb launch structures cluster along the vessel’s keel, ready to spit drop pods full of assault forces on helpless planets below. Jovian-pattern Landing Bays are equipped with dedicated launch ports for launching attack craft and magnetic guidance coils for steering them safely back on board after a mission. The absence of an outer exposed landing bay is believed to make the Jovian pattern less prone to damage or catastrophic depressurization.
Twin, multiple-layered void shields that have had their frequencies adjusted to better brush aside stellar debris and detritus and are equipped with an extensive network of rapidly charging capacitors and a redundant set of shield projectors. This combination enables the void shields to rapidly cycle, even after an overload.
A Mezoa Pattern Theta-7 Drive is a massively powerful and hugely space-intensive plasma drive designed purely for speed is among the fastest for it's size. Excubition-class Cruiser is equipped with Secondary Reactors and uses the additional power from augmented plasma reactors to rapidly increase its speed for a limited amount of time. Multiple manoeuvring thrusters draw immense power, but offer impressive performance nonetheless.
Crews of Excubition-Class Cruisers are mostly dictated by the organization who is filling the crew, however some things are true for all ships of this class. Due to the nature of the Cruiser Class to have both Hanger bays and Offensive Weaponry, it creates a competitive environment between pilots and gunners for kills counted. Further this class is maintenance and electronics heavy so require larger than traditional Mechanicus cohorts to keep such ships in fighting trim.

Crew ...... Approximately 110,00 crew, including 2,100 pilots and support staff.
Weight ...... 26 megatonnes
Height ...... 1-2km at the superstructure; 1km at the hull.
Length ...... 5 km
Width ...... .8 km abeam at fins
Maximum speed ...... 3.5 gravities(Sustainable)
Operational purpose ...... Patrol Group Flagship
Armor ...... Twin, Multiple-Layered Void Shields with Overload Capacitors and Frequency Modulation
Engine power ...... Markov 2 Warp Engine
Standard armament ...... Spinal Mounted - Mezoa Pattern Hybrid Lance Weapon; Six Torpedo Tubes; Two Mjorn Rotary Macrocannon Batteries per side; Four Hanger Bays per side (Starboard and Port); Mirco Laser Grid Defense Turret System
Optional armament ...... Valkyrie Gunships; Vendetta Gunships; Faustus Interceptors; Devourer Dropships; Aquila Landers; Several Drop-pods; Scapula-class Deep Space Fighte

Pavise-Class Corvettes

Approximately 1.4 km long, .3 km abeam at fins and Approximately 6.1 megatonnes. Corvettes are specialist Escort craft, usually slightly smaller and less powerful than true Frigates, but slower and more heavily armoured than Raiders. Typically constructed rapidly in times of war, Corvettes utilize simple components and rugged designs. Pavise-Class Corvette features Mjorn Pattern Electromagnetic Armor, in addition the ship’s hull and structural supports are ribbed with powerfield generators, which can greatly reinforce the vessel’s structural integrity as long as they are powered. To further increase the rugged survivablity of the small vessel Adamantium Armor was increased greatly. A interlinked network of hundreds of miniature laser turrets scattered across a vessel’s hull. The lasers, while not powerful individually, act in concert to shoot down incoming ordinance and small craft. With Four Corvette Grade Laser Broadside in addition to its Spinal Mounted Twin Mass Driver Cannons, the vessel excels at Fleet Defense. Edited April 26, 2022 by TechCaptain

[TechCaptain]

This may be helpful as this is my current planned breakdown.

Battlegroup Tarakon Station

Imperial Navy Subsector Battlefleet Redoubt, Tarakon Station - Planetary Defense Array Nexus/Dry Docks/Explorator Waystation

101st Ishtarian Battlegroup Tarakon Guard

Oberon-class Battleship
1011th Ishtarian Faustus Interceptor Wing
1012th Ishtarian Marauder Bomber Wing
1013th Ishtarian Shark Assault Wing
1014th Ishtarian Fury Fighter Wing
Mars-Class Battlecruiser
1015th Ishtarian Fury Interceptor Wing
1016th Ishtarian Starhawk Bomber Wing
1017th Ishtarian Starhawk Bomber Wing
1018th Ishtarian Fury Fighter Wing
Dictator-class Cruiser
1019th Ishtarian Faustus Interceptor Wing
10110th Ishtarian Starhawk Bomber Wing
10111th Ishtarian Fury Fighter Wing
10112th Ishtarian Thunderbolt Fighter Wing
10113th Ishtarian Lightning Fighter Wing
Claymore-class Corvette Asi
Claymore-class Corvette Caladbolg
Falchion-class Frigate
Falchion-class Frigate
Viper-class Destroyer
Viper-class Destroyer

116th Ishtarian Battlegroup

Excubition-Class Cruiser
1165th Ishtarian Faustus Interceptor Wing
1166th Ishtarian Shark Assault Wing
Endeavour-class Light Cruiser
Defiant-class Light Cruiser
1167th Ishtarian Fury Fighter Wing
1168th Ishtarian StarHawk Bomber Wing
1169th Ishtarian Marauder Bomber Wing
Pavise-Class Corvette
Pavise-Class Corvette
Firestorm-class Frigate
Firestorm-class Frigate
Cobra-class Destroyer
Cobra-class Destroyer

Battlegroup Wilds Patrol

221st Ishtarian Battlegroup

Exorcist-class Grand Cruiser
2215th Ishtarian Faustus Interceptor Wing
2216th Ishtarian Marauder Bomber Wing
2217th Ishtarian Shark Assault Wing
2218th Ishtarian Fury Fighter Wing
Mars-class Battlecruiser
2219th Ishtarian Fury Fighter Wing
22110th Ishtarian StarHawk Bomber Wing
22111th Ishtarian Starhawk Bomber Wing
22112th Ishtarian Fury Fighter Wing
Gothic-class Cruiser
Pavise-Class Corvette
Pavise-Class Corvette
Sword-class Heavy Frigate
Sword-class Heavy Frigate
Viper-class Destroyer
Viper-class Destroyer

288th Ishtarian Battlegroup

Excubition-Class Cruiser
2883rd Ishtarian Fury Interceptor Wing
2886th Ishtarian Shark Assault Wing
Endeavour-class Light Cruiser
Defiant-class Light Cruiser
2887th Ishtarian Fury Fighter Wing
2888th Ishtarian StarHawk Bomber Wing
2889th Ishtarian Marauder Bomber Wing
Pavise-Class Corvette
Pavise-Class Corvette
Firestorm-class Frigate
Firestorm-class Frigate
Cobra-class Destroyer
Cobra-class Destroyer

Battlegroup Subsector Patrol

341st Ishtarian Battlegroup

Mars-class Battlecruiser
3416th Ishtarian Fury Fighter Wing
3417th Ishtarian StarHawk Bomber Wing
3418th Ishtarian Marauder Bomber Wing
3419th Ishtarian Fury Fighter Wing
Cardinal-class Heavy Cruiser
Lunar-class Cruiser Rahu
Claymore-class Corvette Joyeuse
Claymore-class Corvette Durandal
Falchion-class Frigate
Falchion-class Frigate
Viper-class Destroyer Jormungand
Viper-class Destroyer Naga

367th Ishtarian Battlegroup

Excubition-Class Cruiser Veroir
3675th Ishtarian Faustus Interceptor Wing
3676th Ishtarian Shark Assault Wing
Endeavour-class Light Cruiser Carronade
Defiant-class Light Cruiser Chimera
3677th Ishtarian Fury Fighter Wing
3678th Ishtarian StarHawk Bomber Wing
3679th Ishtarian Marauder Bomber Wing
Pavise-Class Corvette Aspis
Pavise-Class Corvette Clipeus
Firestorm-class Frigate Hotspur
Firestorm-class Frigate Harrow
Cobra-class Destroyer Gorgon
Cobra-class Destroyer Salamander

[TechCaptain]

Would anyone like some more specific info dealing with 367th Battlegroup of the Ishtarian Battlefleet?

[Bjorn Firewalker]

Would anyone like some more specific info dealing with 367th Battlegroup of the Ishtarian Battlefleet?

What kind of info? Combat doctrine, e.g., whether the fleet commanders prefer to use destroyers for scouting, or shuttles or other aerospace craft designed or modified for that mission?

Combat history, e.g., "Seamus Kirk, Captain of the Consecration class battlecruiser 'Enterprise', was awarded the Star of Terra and the cognomen 'Orkslayer' after he lured a 100-strong xeno fleet into a nebula, which he then ignited with a photon torpedo, destroying the Orks in the resulting supernova"? Maybe stats and Special Rules useful in-game, e.g., wargear granting a ship's weapons additional range, +1 to her To Hit rolls, and other bonuses?

[Brother Lunkhead]

Nice work with this TechCaptain Being a logistics guy, I really appreciate the detail you've put into this.

 

The only thing here I have a problem with is your wolf pack concept. The concept as you use it is sound enough. Being a classic defensive screen for capital ships, the make-up of 2 frigates, 2 destroyers and 2 corvettes is fine for a minimal screening force (as fleet demands are high and availability of proper ships for screening duty will be hard pressed is understandable). I suppose it's the term "wolf pack" itself that befuddles me. In my mind, such a force (not necessarily the exact force structure you describe) would be an aggressive offensive squadron. The term evokes the German U-boat wolf packs fighting in the Atlantic, or the U.S.Navy submarine force coordinated attack groups (CAG) in the Pacific theatre from 1943 on during WW2.

 

Overall though, I very much like what you are doing here and look forward to seeing more

Edited April 27, 2022 by Brother Lunkhead

[TechCaptain]

So for the wolf pack specifically and I use the term lightly since that was the wiki definition of force structure. I use it as the two corvettes protect up close while frigates take mid range and support fighter squadrons who do most of that kind of range work while destroyers Hunter tactics to kill their counterparts. At least that was my idea and since it’s very light on capital ships the Crusiers somewhat make up for this lightness in actual ships. It’s a cruiser heavy subsector lacking in heavyweights and super light combatants other than fighter/bomber/ shuttle squadrons. The force is meant to be primarily defensive in nature but able to operate in smaller and smaller groups as need and most offensives would be via Explorator Fleets, Rogue Traders, or when the Imperium brings in fresh offensives from outside the subsector.

 

As far as info just some commanders of ships names specifics of motto and some quirks and history building of that specific group.

[Brother Lunkhead]

So for the wolf pack specifically and I use the term lightly since that was the wiki definition of force structure. I use it as the two corvettes protect up close while frigates take mid range and support fighter squadrons who do most of that kind of range work while destroyers Hunter tactics to kill their counterparts. At least that was my idea and since it’s very light on capital ships the Crusiers somewhat make up for this lightness in actual ships. It’s a cruiser heavy subsector lacking in heavyweights and super light combatants other than fighter/bomber/ shuttle squadrons. 

Well... unfortunately I'm just a little more confused Did the wiki concerning force structure call this formation a wolf pack? I'd like to read that if you could link the article

 

Cruisers are still good size capital ships, so your screening force should work fine. However, all that you describe is still an entirely defensive force shielding your offensive asset, which is your cruiser.... still not a wolf pack in the naval understanding of the term. I've a good article here that explains the concept and history quite well that might give you some grist for the idea/narrative mill.

 

On the whole, as I said before, the structure of your cruiser force and how you use your wolf pack is sound. If the term "wolf pack" is being used here primarily because it sounds cool, that's fine, and if's that's the main reason here, I'll drop this whole line of thought on the issue.

 

 The force is meant to be primarily defensive in nature but able to operate in smaller and smaller groups as need and most offensives would be via Explorator Fleets, Rogue Traders, or...

Typically, explorator and rogue trader fleets are equipped for what the names suggest, exploration and trade, not aggressive military actions. Offensive operations in such unexplored or underexplored territory would be the job of a crusader fleet. A modest size crusader fleet could be put together utilizing the forces you describe without seriously compromising the main fleet's primary mission as you define it.

 

 ...when the Imperium brings in fresh offensives from outside the subsector.

You mean fresh/additional ships right?

Edited April 27, 2022 by Brother Lunkhead

[TechCaptain]

https://warhammer40k.fandom.com/wiki/Imperial_Navy

Escort Ship section. And I am competent enjoying the engaging conversation on the historical meaning versus 40K usage.

 

And fair enough on explorator and rogue traders, it’s mostly they have a bit more offensive mix in their arsenal due to Imperial tactics and the fact Ishtar Subsector is mostly wild space and largely unexplored or conquered. Both have interests in the reaction due to the concentration of assets unclaimed otherwise. But your right full on invasions would be crusader fleets which are rarer in the subsector. Most invasions are part of Admech wanting something or rogue traders being shady, also the Imperial Knight world of Tarakon do send expeditions but those are less fleet based.

 

And I did indeed meant fresh new ships who are not tied to the current command structure and mission of defense.

[TechCaptain]

The 376th Ishtarian Battlegroup represents the basic Imperial presence in most of the unknown space around the Ishtar Subsector. Commadore Linden commands his Squadron of ships kindly called a Battlegroup on long range patrols through the frontier and unknown areas abounds. The Imperial Naval forces of Ishtar are smaller than many other Imperial Navy Battlefleet formations in more populated or defensively-critical sectors.

 

Its motto was "Let's Be About It", as spoken by Commodore Linden. He is a very punctual and precise individual who treated people with respect, and he never forgot the officers who impressed him. He also detested favoritism, and attempted to be fair to all of his officers under his command. Linden likes to work out in the ship's gym late at night because he preferred to turn up the gravity to a level he was familiar with. He preferred to have a sparring partner available, as long as they could challenge him.

 

The Combat Doctrine of 367th Ishtarian Battlegroup and similar groups is for the Endeavor-Class Light Cruiser to strike at the heart of an enemy formation with a Screen of Firestorm-Class Frigates and Cobra-Class Destroyers as the Defiant Class Light Cruiser and Excubition-Class Cruiser release their payloads of Fighters, Bombers, and Interceptors. Following up the Warden Class moves forward to provide mid range support to the battle while the Pavise-Class Corvettes screen the lightly defended Defiant-Class. The Lance Heavy Endeavor Classes built at Mjorn and the Lance Heavy Firestorm Classes provide heavy punched from middle ranges as the Cobra-Class Destroyers perform hit and run attacks weaving through the battlefield trying to gain a flanking attack on enemy capital vessels or engaging with other escorts.

 

The pilots of the fleet are trained almost entirely on how to make devastating bombing runs on enemy ships - training particularly to fight the craft of forces of Chaos, Eldar Corsairs, Dark Eldar Raiders, Ork Freebootaz, and occasionally Necron warships (though these are rarely found in the area of operations in Ishtar). Trained at the Scola Facilities in the Tarakon System these Fringe World Pilots see lots of action against Raiders.

 

Cruiser Veroir

Flagship of the 367th Ishtarian Battlegroup the Cruiser Veroir fills the role of command ship as well as mobile base for the battlegroup. At the time of her commission, the ship is the newest, most powerful cruiser in the entire Ishtar fleet. Her position of admiral’s ship has made her a symbol in her own right.

 

Cruiser Division 367.1

Cruiser Division 367.1 is the primary weight of 367th Ishtarian Battlegroup. Consisting of two light cruisers, the pair are offset by differing roles. One Captain is in charge of the rear defense and is the primary commander of Fighter and Bomber Groups assigned to the Battlegroup. Unlike the Escort Class divisions, each Cruiser Captain is expected to act independently from the other cruiser. They are instead to work with either the forward or rear escort division commanders.

 

Corvette Division 367.2

The Corvette Division's primary duty is to defend the more offensive minded ships from other Escort class ships as to allow them to focus on taking out cruisers and other high priority targets.

 

Frigate Division 367.3

Armed with Lance weapons the Frigate Divisions of Ishtar act in a Hunter Killer role for a Battlegroup. These Escorts provide Fire Support to the forward Cruisers to help cripple and destroy enemy high priority targets.

 

Destroyer Division 367.4

Being the fastest division in a Battlegroup, Destroyer Divisions act as knife range killers and intermediate ships to hold off advancing escorts. Somewhere between being part of the defensive force and offensive for of any Battlegroup their roles interchange depending on the enemy fleet makeup.