Close Orbit and Airspace Control Command

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The Close Orbit and Airspace Control Command (COACC) is the branch of the Imperial Army responsible for planetary aerospace operations. COACC personnel are colloquially known as "Flyers".


Please see the following AAB Library Data articles for related information:


Description (Specifications)

No information yet available.

Mission[1] (Goals)

The COACC has the basic mission of atmosphere combat. This mission is further defined as: -

  • The achievement of air combat superiority over rival air commands
  • The attack of enemy forces and resources by air
  • Provision of air combat support to friendly ground and nautical commands
  • The operation of air transportation support to friendly ground and nautical commands

Doctrine & Strategy (Operations)

No information yet available.

Rank & Grade (Hierarchy)

Imperial Army Close Orbit and Airspace Control Command ranks
Imperial Army Logo.jpeg
Commissioned Officers
O8 » Air Marshal (various grades)
O7 » Air Commodore
O6 » Group Leader (Staff Colonel)
O5 » Wing Leader (Staff Major)
O4 » Squadron Leader (Staff Captain)
O3 » Flight Leader (Staff Lieutenant)
O2 » Flying Officer
O1 » Pilot Officer
O0 » Officer Cadet (Flight Cadet)
Enlisted Ranks
E9 » Chief Master Flight Sgt (Flight Sgt Major)
E8 » Master Flight Sergeant
E7 » Senior Flight Sergeant
E6 » Leading Flight Sergeant
E5 » Flight Sergeant
E4 » Crew Chief
E3 » Senior Airhand
E2 » Leading Airhand
E1 » Airhand
E0 » Airhand Recruit

Some of the organizational ranks and grades used by this force are included in the table to the right. The officer ranks displayed are for pilots and commanding officers in the COACC. Staff and liaison officers use the Imperial Army rank system.

History & Background (Dossier)

No information yet available.

TO&E (Organization)

There are different types of force hierarchies. They are used as a prefix to the unit level to indicate which hierarchy it belongs in.

Imperial (IMP) forces (IMPAIRRON) are formally part of the Imperial Army. Its force hierarchy prefix is only used if other hierarchies are present onworld. Sometimes mercenary or colonial pilots fly with Imperial units if there is a shortage of pilots and they have enough flight time on Imperial standard aircraft.
Colonial (COL) forces (COLAIRRON) are raised and funded by the world's population but trained and vetted by the COACC. They are subordinate to Imperial authority, but can command and control any assigned subordinate Imperial assets. Their unit title may differ depending on which hierarchy is commanding it (i.e., the 22nd Colonial Interceptor Squadron Terra might also be called the 3rd Australian (Canberra Station) Fighter Squadron). They usually are equipped with either surplus second-rate Imperial COACC aircraft or whatever the local tech level can produce and support.
Auxiliary (AUX) forces (AUXAIRRON) are mercenaries that are hired to replace or augment local forces or provide air support for mercenary ground or sea forces. Their commanders and staff are usually Imperial or Colonial officers unless the mercenary unit has former Imperial Army COACC officers with good service records and enough staff experience. Their unit title may vary widely by employer, but the unit's nickname (e.g., "Wooley's Black Sheep Squadron") will be retained for name brand purposes. They are usually equipped with obsolete Imperial or paramilitary-market aircraft that is usually a few tech levels better than the local industry can produce.

Air Crew

The subordinate crew of an aircraft. It can range from 1 to 2 crewmembers for a single-engined fighter or fighter-bomber to 8 to 12 crewmembers for larger craft like a multi-engined heavy bomber. In the case of large crews, they are broken up into specialized 2 to 5 crewmember teams to maintain a chain of command. It is commanded by the aircraft's pilot; other officers like the co-pilot, navigator, sensors operator, bombardier, etc. are subordinate to the pilot no matter what their rank is.

Ground Crew

A unit composed of the staff detailed to servicing and repairing an aircraft. Larger crews are often specialized to deal with subsystems (engine, weapons and ordnance, communications, sensors, etc.). It is commanded by an NCO.

Weapon Crew

A unit composed of the staff required to run a single Air Defense weapon system. It can vary from a machinegun crewed by a fire-team of 3 to 5 crewmen to a dozen crewmembers manning a missile silo or mobile rocket launcher. They are usually grouped in Batteries, company-sized units commanded by a Captain or Major. They are organic units under the command of the COACC but are manned by Ground Forces Artillery personnel.

Flight

A unit usually made up of 2 to 5 aircraft and their service and support ground units. It is equivalent to a Company and its commander (the Flight Leader) is equivalent to an Army (GFC) Captain or Major.

Air Squadron (AIRRON)

The Squadron is the basic building block of COACC units. It is a unit made up of 3 to 4 Flights of the same aircraft type, plus specialist support and transport aircraft and service and support ground units. It is equivalent to a Battalion and its commander (the Squadron Leader) is equivalent to an Army (GFC) Lieutenant-Colonel or Major.

Air Group

A unit made up of 2 or more Squadrons. It is equivalent to a Regiment and its commander (the Group Leader or "Group Captain") is equivalent to an Army (GFC) Colonel.

Air Wing

A unit made up of 2 or more Groups brigaded together, or several Squadrons. The largest combat command, it is equivalent to a Brigade and its commander is equivalent to either an Army (GFC) Colonel (a Wing Leader or "Wing Commander" - in the case of smaller Wings composed of independent squadrons) or Brigadier (an "Air Commodore" - for larger Wings composed of multiple Groups).

Air Division

A force made up of 2 or more Wings. The smallest staff command, it is equivalent to a Division and its commander (an Air Vice-Marshal) is equivalent to an Army Major-General.

Numbered Air Force

A force made up of 2 or more Air Divisions. It is equivalent to a Corps, subordinate to a Named Air Force, and its commander (an Air Marshal) is equivalent to an Army Lieutenant-General. It is designated using Roman numerals to keep it from being confused with an Air Division, which uses Arabic numerals.

Named Air Force

A force made up of all COACC forces in a planetary system. It is named after the system it is assigned to and all subordinate formations use the system name as a suffix (e.g., 2nd Colonial Squadron Terra). The largest staff command, it is equivalent to an Army or Army Group and its commander (an Air Chief Marshal) is equivalent to an Army General or Field Marshal.

For commands that are below the formation of an Army or Army Group in size, the commander's rank is always one step higher than the command rank of the highest COACC formation. It also must be at least one step below that of the highest-ranking Ground Forces commander on the planet.

Force Composition

No information yet available.

Selected Vehicle & Ship Classes

Some vehicle & ship classes widely used within the systems and worlds of the Solomani Sphere include:

Worlds & Sectors (Astrography)

This force primarily operates in the following areas: Charted Space:

World Listing: 1105

This force is known to regularly operate within the following systems and worlds:

No world articles for Close Orbit and Airspace Control Command


References & Contributors (Sources)

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