Colonial Navy
"An interstellar community operates under many unique restrictions, most notably the fact that it consist of many island-planets set in an ocean of vacuum. Such a society must take control of that ocean. Its instrument is the Navy.
The Imperium is a remote, centralized government possessed of great industrial and technological might; but due to the sheer distances and travel times involved within its star-spanning realm, the Imperium is unable to be everywhere at once. As a result, the Imperium allows a large degree of autonomy to its subject worlds, calling only for some respect for its overall policies, and for a united front against outside pressures.
To monitor the space lanes, the Imperium maintains a Navy. Because these forces can never be everywhere at once, local provinces (subsectors) also maintain navies, as do individual worlds. This three tiered structure of Imperial, subsector, and planetary navies produces a flexible system for patrolling space, while putting the limited resources of the Imperium to best use."
- Grand Admiral Marc William Miller from the Master Naval Manual, in the introduction to Book 5 High Guard (pg. 1), written in 1110 (paraphrased).
Description (Specifications)
The Colonial Navies of the Imperium are comprised of the local Subsector Navies that are under the immediate authority of their local Subsector Dukes, and the various Planetary Navies of those worlds within the subsector which choose to maintain a starfaring navy. Together they act as a strategic reserve for the Imperial Navy and allow it to be deployed for war-fighting duties while the Colonial Fleets defend the home subsectors from invasion and piracy.
Mission (Goals)
Peacetime Mission: During peacetime, the Colonial Navy as a whole comes under the ultimate authority of the Imperial Colonial Office, but during wartime the Colonial Fleets become "Imperialized" and are transferred to the authority of the Imperial Navy, at which time mothballed capital vessels and other heavy elements belonging to the Imperial Naval Reserve are reactivated and allocated to the Colonial Fleets to bolster them in their defensive duties.
- See also: Naval Depot.
Doctrine & Strategy (Operations)
No information yet available.
Rank & Grade (Hierarchy)
The organizational ranks and grades used by the various forces comprising the Colonial Navy are detailed under the individual entries relating to its components:
History & Background (Dossier)
The Third Imperium has always classified itself as a feudal confederation. And under feudal systems, lesser nobles are permitted to maintain private military assets. These assets sometimes grow from glorified body guards into well organized military units. The most capable of these units are then formed into colonial armies and navies, which may be levied into the service of the Emperor.
Archdukes must be careful of how many levies they draw as some nobility rely on premiums of force to maintain their power bases.
Julian War Origins
In the days of the Julian War during the reign of the Emperor Martin I, the spectacular successes of the Julian Star Legion required many of the first-line Imperial Fleet units to be withdrawn from the battlefront in order to defend the Imperial interior. After the peace treaty with the Julian Protectorate had been signed in 191, a reassessment of Imperial Fleet doctrine eventually led to the establishment of a new fleet structure by the Emperor Martin II. A new fleet was created that was independent of the Imperial Regular Navy, allowing the Regular Navy to continue pursuing its historical role. The new fleet, known as the Colonial Fleet, would be tasked with local provincial defense and act as an additional reserve for the main Imperial Fleet during wartime.
TO&E (Organization)
No information yet available.
Force Composition
No information yet available.
Selected Vehicle Classes
Some vehicle classes widely used within the systems and worlds of this force include:
Worlds & Sectors (Astrography)
This force primarily operates in the following areas:
World Listing: 1105
This force is known to regularly operate within the following systems and worlds:
See also
Third Imperium
- Government
- Imperial Leadership
- Imperial Law
- Imperial Symbols
- Demographics
- Imperial Navy (IN)
- Imperial Army (IA)
- Imperial Interstellar Scout Service (IISS)
- Mercenaries