Oojok loses patience and orders massive CDF reorganisation to finally begin

Several years ago the HCS (as it was then still called) came up with a plan for a massive reorganisation to finally form an armed forces suited to defending the empire. The plan involved the majority of the army and air force being devolved into separate National Armies and Air Forces of the planets in the Clone Star Empire. A central core of forces (somewhere between a quarter to a third of the original) would be retained for strategic operations.

Taragargi ran a trial with army troops on the planet joining the "Taragargi Army". However despite the lack of major problems and a huge amount of preparatory work the project has been frozen by the Clone Defence Forces until now. Oojok is said to have lost patience and ordered the project commence at once. Earlier today the head of the CDF Admiral Anderson outlined a 10 year plan to achieve the reorganisation known as Clone Armed Forces Devolution.

Phase 1 will cover the next 4-5 years and involve reorganisation of forces on the planets in the empire into the new National Armies. Oojok has promised that no soldier will be forced to serve in a National Army on a planet that is not his or her homeworld unless they wish to migrate permanently though they may have to leave the armed forces if they cannot find a suitable posting - however natural wastage may mean this is not too much of a problem. It is envisaged that up to three quarters of the troops in the National Armies will be part-time and organised in territorial and reserve units. These will perform the day to day garrison and patrolling of the empire with smaller numbers of fully professional troops at strategic locations. They will be backed up by central force troops (Clone Army and Clone Air Force) who will retain a small presence on each planet, perhaps regiment sized though maybe more on more strategically important worlds.

Phase 2 will involve the improvement of the remaining core to become more mobile and rapid reaction. A new generation of much faster troop and equipment transports will be developed in the 2120s as well as improved communications. This will be paid for by the expected dividend from Phase 1. A military analyst said that the savings in the wage bill alone from up to 4 million soldiers going part-time will run into the billions of zarks.

Oojok said that by the late 2120s the empire will have a much more suitable armed forces to protect and maintain it. The core would have an increased budget for improved equipment and training and the territorial armies would become much more suited to their local terrains and retain local knowledge.

DTA buys 2000 T-55ZDM3s

The DTA has ordered 2000 T-55ZDM3s, a Dino funded next development of the Clone tank, as its standard tank. The purchase, largely funded by the Dinos but also with Sirikwanese and Yengite contributions, will replace the large mix of legacy tanks in the non-Dino DTA armies. The Dinos are also to buy the ZDM3 which will begin production next year.

The ZDM3 will have a new hybrid engine, improved armour with advanced alloys, a new EO system with integrated NS anti-dazzle technology and compatibility with 2 new short-range missiles currently being developed by the Dinos.

The Clones have not yet committed to building their own ZDM3s, which would likely be known as the J55Z8 in Clone Army service. They will be building half of the tanks for the DTA, the rest - and Dino Army order - will be built by the Dinos at a dedicated new tank factory, so may simply switch production anyway though they would be unable to include the NS systems.

Story #2286

Cutting Board
Can Firefly deliver victory to the Vel-Pur Assesmbly... or something else?

Story #2285

Too Much Cheese
Flying Boxcar goes into action!

Fulcrum retired

The final 2 Fulcrum 085A special forces transports, modified versions of Utrek High Speed Transports have been retired. The ships were already stood down on the lowest availability status so were virtually retired already however now they have been officially removed from the register.

Six "Special Forces" Coril 086Ms will be built to replace them (one more than previously reported). These worm drive equipped ships will be built from next year, probably next Summer.

Fleet News 01/09/16

M211 Crossbow is the latest Corkscrew 051A to enter service.

The third and final Triumph 066B strike carrier L183 Tempest has entered service.

A122 Cangrestor is the latest Provider 071A transport to enter service.

S103 Deuteron is the latest Quasar 015A to receive worm drive, the Rome 046A LCS K105 Claudius has also received worm drive.