First Order Naval Doctrines

[Evangeline Ovmar]

Preface​

With Naval designs comes the responsibility of a Naval Doctrine. Each galactic nation that desires to expand its influence or protect its interests requires a functional doctrine in order to see success and victory on the battlefield.

The First Order is no different. However, despite our roots and dogma, our adversaries are both formidable and seasoned while our forces remain untried as of yet. As such, where we lack in experience we must excel in training, tactics, and planning. Such an outlook shall place First Order fleets on par with the most veteran crews and sailors of any other galactic nation and pave the way for an elite, experienced Navy as our fleets, crews, and commanders gain the necessary experience.

As such, proper doctrines must be in place and must contain proper fleet design and composition as well as crew and officer training and expectations. Should First Order fleets be found lacking in this, success and victory shall become illusive, potentially impossible, in the face of experienced opposition.

As such, the following doctrines must be treated as the standard in all areas in order to succeed.

 

[Evangeline Ovmar]

Training​

First Order Naval personnel are to maintain peak levels of alertness and fitness at all times. A sailor or marine who cannot man battle stations in less than five standard minutes cannot adequately contribute to the ship's effectiveness in combat. Personnel who cannot maintain these expectations on average should be reconditioned and retrained when and where needed.

Naval personnel are to maintain a battlefield awareness equivalent to two ranks above their own. Officers and NCOs are required and encouraged to explain the roles expected of their crews in upcoming conflict when able to facilitate this mindset. In the event squad, platoon, section, etc. leadership is rendered incapable of commanding for any reason, it falls to the next highest rank to take charge and lead until relieved of command. Officers and NCOs are to encourage a level of battlefield initiative to their subordinates to render this doctrine more effective and efficient as this allows a more flexible chain of command and execution of orders.

All naval personnel will become proficient in the use of small arms with which to defend their positions and vessel from hostile attack. Duty sections are to assume the standing order to hold their positions until relieved. Officers and NCOs are to understand and recognize which sections of their ship or station are considered essential to combat effectiveness and to prioritize defense of those areas in the event of enemy boarding actions so as not to needlessly waste lives holding non-essential areas of the vessel or installation.

The chain of command during combat is to remain clear and central to any battle plan. During combat, orders flow from the highest office downwards. Dissention in the ranks during combat is punishable by immediate arrest followed by court martial. Refusal of orders in combat is to be considered dissention. Inability to perform ordered actions during combat situations is to be conveyed to upper levels of command. After action, an investigation is to be launched. If the ordered actions are deemed to have been possible at the time the order was given, the personnel in question are to be considered having refused an order.

To boost morale, officers and NCOs are encouraged to issue a weekly ‘sweet ration’, the form of which is to be determined by the commanding officer of the ship. The issuing of extra ‘sweet ration’ is to be encouraged for sections or squads that have shown exemplary service for the previous quarter or for exceptional service under combat conditions.

 

[Evangeline Ovmar]

Fleet Doctrine​

In the galaxy, various fleet doctrines and ship designs are currently in use. The Republic favors a mixed fleet designed to accommodate a range of situations. The Mandalorians prefer maneuver tactics based around electronic warfare while maintaining the ability to ‘brawl’ at close ranges. The fleet designed by the late Omega Protectorate prefers a more ranged battleplan, hiding behind area-of-effect shield ships and loosing hard hitting volleys at distant targets.

The First Order must rise up to the challenge of this variety of doctrines and face the threats head on. As such, while our crews and personnel must rely on training and command doctrine to function appropriately, our ships must follow their own doctrines.

First Order fleets must be capable of devastating offensive power coupled with incredible staying power. The core of any fleet, therefore, must lay with heavily armed and armored capital ships. These ships must utilize heavy weaponry, thick armor, and powerful shields with which to engage and destroy a wide range of opposing ships. While slow, the armored center of the formation is necessary in order to drive an enemy fleet from the field in dissaray or to wipe out every ship in their path.

Though formidable, the core of the fleet will be sluggish and slow. A faster, more agile component must be used to augment this force. Therefore, a number of lighter, faster ships must be used in conjunction, held in reserve until the enemy has committed fully to the engagement. Once this point is reached, this detachment of faster vessels is to be loosed upon the enemy formation.

These ships are to be light and quick, their goals to corral and control the enemy positions and pin them down that the core of the fleet can adequately engage and destroy all opposition. Variants of electronic warfare, sensor jamming, interdiction, and other such novelties are to be used for such forces.

Starfighters and other small craft are tasked with combating similar enemy craft. Bomber class starfighters are to be used in tandem with screening flights of standard or interceptor starfighters alongside the faster flanking forces of the armada. Core fleet ships will rely on point defense to dissuade enemy starfighter assaults, but if necessary may requisition starfighter wings from planetary installations or from the fast attack portion of the fleet.

Ship captains are to follow orders handed down from the fleet commander, but must remain aware of the situation and react as needed. There is a time for remaining in formation to press the attack, but there is also the risk of unforeseen circumstances requiring immediate attention and adjustment of the wall of battle.

Boarding actions are a necessary part of naval combat and should be executed with care to prevent unnecessary loss of life. Actions should be executed in a manner that grants the assaulting troops the maximum advantages possible. Disabling the ship being key among these. Boarding troops are to immediately seize key locations of the ship such as engineering, bridge, armory, reactor, and any ordnance on board.

In repelling enemy boarding actions, all measures and precautions are to be taken immediately. Locations such as the bridge, armory, reactor, and engineering are to be prioritized. Ordnance bays are considered secondary and in the event of capture should be jettisoned into space to prevent enemy sabotage and ship destruction.

In the event of bridge capture, the Captain is to wipe any and all logs, data, and ship telemetry to prevent information loss to the enemy. The Captain and the crew are to do their utmost to prevent the loss of the ship to enemy boarding parties up to and including scuttling the ship if necessary.