Task Force Staff and Table of Organization + Doctrine Tips Tutorial

[Thanatos (OP)]

REMOVE THIS LINE IF POST GETS STICKY'd: I felt we severely lacked in a concise tutorial on the two elements of Task Force Organization, that did not include auto-assignments, and was all in one topic/post. I may add pictures later.

Do you know how to leverage every last bit of power and efficiency from your task groups? Do you know how to easily navigate the many UI elements to get to the TG you want, and have it do what you want it to do, in respect to your other TGs? Do you get frustrated by the fact your ships won't respond to your orders quickly enough if you have Inexperienced Fleet Penalties turned on? If you answered negatively to any of those, then this topic is for you.

What is a Task Force?

Many times I see newbies and veterans alike make the mistake of not understanding what a Task Force is. Sometimes they simply don't know how to operate the UI, find the right staff officers, or have the great misconception that a Task Force is a 'Fleet HQ'.

Often I will see a Table of Organization like so:

Fleet HQ
- Fleet Division
-- Fleet Regiment
--- etc...

Logistics HQ
- Cargo
- etc...

While you may do whatever you wish with how you organize your Navy from a roleplay standpoing, from an effective mechanical standpoint, and a realistic one as well, this is plain wrong.

Task Forces are not Fleets.

Task Forces can be part of a Fleet. Task Forces can be made of Fleets. But they are not a Fleet.

And here comes the part where I will confuse you: Task Forces are also Fleets.

Difference between Fleets and Task Forces

Task Force: A unit or formation created for a specific purpose.

Fleet: A unit or formation created to operate in a specific theater.

Thus, a Task Force created for the purpose of operating in a specific theater, is technically a Fleet. But since on Earth there's so few Theaters, Fleets have a purpose. In Space, when you are connected by Jump Gates, they really do not. A Task Force stationed on Defense can operate on both sides of a Jump Gate, if need arises, or defend a different solar system, and still be referred to as 'Sol Defense Task Force'.

But the mistake I refer to is that in general, people do not understand what a Fleet really is, other than a way to name your armada. This mistake transfers into the naming convention of 'Fleet HQ', and sticking to only ONE Fleet (Task Force).

I will attempt to remedy this by supplying you with Doctrine tips, examples, and a tutorial on how to navigate the UI and select the best officers for the job.

[Thanatos (OP)]

Back in the 20th Century, the powers of the world had units organized into a large formation which was called a Fleet. It's purpose was to operate in a certain area, and execute it's missions there. After world war 2 when the naval doctrine of the world advanced, most fleets became Task Forces, because these types of formations had greater operation flexibility than fleets. And well, I guess Nuclear Power helps along with that, as it improved the speed at which this formations can move, no longer restricted to certain theaters.

Not every country in the world however had the same definition of a fleet. Some could move, some couldn't. Not all fleets were equal either. But with Task Forces, there is no such confusion. A Task Force has a purpose, not necessarily a point of origin.

In Aurora 4x, the only difference between a Task Force and a Fleet, is whether the Task Force has a flag bridge, or not. A Task Force without a flag bridge on one of it's ships, is effectively a Fleet, as it cannot get it's bonuses unless it operates in the location of the Task Force HQ. A Task Force with a flag bridge can move around and give bonuses as long as it's sub-formations are in the same system as the flag ship.

Types of Task Forces

Carrier Task Forces- Task Forces created around the operations and protection/escort of Carrier Ships.
Destroyer Task Forces- Task Forces created around penetrating enemy lines and delivering accurate and deadly fire.
Patrol Task Forces- self explanatory
Expedition Task Forces- Self-defense and attack capable formations that can and will go into unknown territory.
Invasion Task Forces- self explanatory

and many, many others.

Task Force Table of Organization

A Task Force should have two elements, at least. Warships, and Support.

However, possible elements for task groups are as follows: Administration, Logistics, Intelligence, Fire Support, Engineers, and others.

Here is an example of an Aurora Task Force:

Off-Topic: show

Sol Sector Defense Task Force

- Patrol Elements
-- TG Iowa (Direct Action)
-- TG 39 (Patrol)
-- TG Sol (Patrol)

- Quick Response Force
-- QRF 1
-- QRF 2

- Logistics
-- Tanker #1
-- Tanker #2
-- Collier Alpha

- Intelligence
-- Scout #1
-- Scout #2
-- Gate Monitor

- Fire Support
-- TG Reckoning (Size 4 missiles)
-- TG Longshot (Size 8 Long Range Missiles)

As long as this Task Force operates in the same system as all it's elements, it will receive bonuses.

It is important to note that in the real world, Task Forces may be temporary or permanent, but the ships that constitute it are almost always rotated out. Task Forces are created from Fleets or Squadrons, and their 'membership' is not always permanent.

[Thanatos (OP)]

Staff Officers and their skills

Off-Topic: show

Format

Staff Position: Explanation of purpose
-- Skills required for position

Staff Position

Commander: Assists with Crew Training.
-- Crew Training Rating

Operations: Assists with Crew Training and improves Fleet Coordination*.
-- Crew Training Rating and Operations Bonus

Communications: Improves Fleet Coordination*
-- Communications Bonus

Intelligence: Interprets sensor data for class and capability deduction and improves interrogation of POWs
-- Intelligence Bonus

Logistics: Improves load and unload order time.
-- Logistics Bonus

Fighter Operations: Reduces the time required to Rearm and Refuel fighters (May be broken and do the opposite)
-- Fighter Operations Bonus

Public Affairs: Increases perceived Protection Value of ships.
-- Diplomacy Bonus

Ship Captain important skills and what they do

Crew Training Rating: This basically translates Task Force training into Crew Grade Bonus. Task Groups with high CTR will appear to train their Task Force training a lot slower than TGs without a good commander, but will have double or triple the Grade Bonus of the one without the commander.

Grade Bonus: Improves missile reload rate, beam fire accuracy, maintenance checks and possibly other things.

Fleet Initiative Movement Rating: How fast the TG can respond to movements, or in other words, which TG goes *last* in an increment. Set to high if you want the TG to follow someone, or low if you want it to be followed. (Only Senior Officer's bonus applies)

* Whenever I refer to Fleet Coordination, I mean the delay between giving the order and it being executed. This is visible when the (Awaiting Acknowledgement) tag is visible if you have 'Show Orders' checked in map display options.

Seniority

In Aurora, every Task Group has a Senior Officer, which provides the task group with it's Fleet Initiative Movement Rating and POSSIBLY An addition bonus to Crew Training Rating (Need Confirmation).

The Senior officer is decided by two criteria: The Highest Ranking Officer, and alphabet priority.

In other words, if you have two admirals, Adam and Bob, and Bob is the one with the super high FIMR, Adam will be the Senior Officer, because his name starts with A. Always properly give ranks to your officers.

Ranks and Station

Off-Topic: show

Format
Rank: Real Life responsibilities
-- Aurora potential responsibilities

Admiral: Commands the flagship of the Central Squadron and coordinates the rest of the Fleet
-- Task Force Commander

Vice Admiral: Commands the flagship of the lead Squadron that fights the enemy
-- Operations, Fighter Operations, Communications

Rear Admiral: Commands the flagship of the rear squadron which is in the least danger -- junior admiral rank
-- All other staff positions

Captain: Commands the heaviest naval assets.
-- Cruisers, Carriers, Battleships, etc

Commander: Commands heavy naval assets.
-- Guided Missile Destroyers, Beam Destroyers, Light Cruisers, Heavy Frigates

Lieutenant Commander: Commands light naval assets.
-- Frigates, Scouts, Fast Destroyers, Corvettes

Lieutenant: Most Senior junior naval rank
-- Fighter Squadron leader

Ensign: Junior naval rank
-- Fighter or FAC pilot

[Thanatos (OP)]

Doctrine and Table of Organization examples

Off-Topic: show

Format

Task Force HQ name (Senior officer Rank)
- TF Branch name
-- TG Name
--- Ship Class*** (Rank of CO)
--- Ship Class (Rank of CO)

*** after Ship Name denotes Flag Bridge

TF always moves as one Group in friendly zero-risk territory
Branches in itallics means the task force splits into these branches when in enemy territory
Branches in bold signify branches with a single purpose, and can be detached from the main group if necessary or required

Simple Setup:

Off-Topic: show

Sol Defense Force (Admiral)
- DF Alpha
-- DF Alpha-1
--- Carrier*** (Captain)
--- Guided-Missile Destroyer-Escort (Commander)
--- Guided-Missile Destroyer-Escort (Commander)
--- AMM Destroyer-Escort (Lieutenant Commander)
--- AMM Destroyer-Escort (Lieutenant Commander)

-- Alpha Flight Group
--- Fighter (Lieutenant)
--- Fighter (Ensign)
--- Fighter (Ensign)
--- Fighter (Ensign)
--- Fighter (Ensign)
--- Fighter (Ensign)

- Logistic Support
-- Logistic Support
--- Collier (Lieutenant)
--- Tanker (Lieutenant)

Something A Lot More Complicated:

Off-Topic: show

Task Force 66 (Admiral)
- Administration
-- Administration TG
--- Heavy Cruiser*** (Captain)
--- Beam-Defense Frigate (Lieutenant Commander)
--- Beam-Defense Frigate (Lieutenant Commander)
--- Beam-Defense Frigate (Lieutenant Commander)
--- Beam-Defense Frigate (Lieutenant Commander)

- Attack Group Alpha
-- Alpha 1
--- Guided Missile Destroyer (Vice Admiral)
--- Guided Missile Destroyer (Captain)
--- Guided Missile Destroyer (Captain)
--- Guided Missile Destroyer (Captain)
--  Alpha Point Defense
--- AMM Missile Destroyer (Captain)
--- AMM Missile Destroyer (Commander)
--- AMM Missile Destroyer (Commander)
--- AMM Missile Destroyer (Commander)

- Fire Support
-- Fire Support Alpha
--- Long Range Guided Missile Destroyer (Rear Admiral)
--- Long Range Guided Missile Destroyer (Lieutenant Commander)
--- Long Range Guided Missile Destroyer (Lieutenant Commander)
--- Long Range Guided Missile Destroyer (Lieutenant Commander)
-- Fire Support Bravo
--- Long Range Guided Missile Destroyer (Captain)
--- Long Range Guided Missile Destroyer (Lieutenant Commander)
--- Long Range Guided Missile Destroyer (Lieutenant Commander)
--- Long Range Guided Missile Destroyer (Lieutenant Commander)

- Long Range Reconnaissance
-- LRR Alpha
--- Long Range Scout (Lieutenant)
-- LRR Bravo
--- Long Range Scout (Ensign)

- Logistics
-- Attack Group Logistics
--- Collier (Ensign)
--- Tanker (Ensign)
-- Fire Support Logistics
--- Collier (Ensign)
--- Collier (Ensign)
--- Tanker (Ensign)

- Engineering
-- Jump Gate Engineering
--- Jump Gate Construction Vessel (Ensign)


Note how all the branches never have rank collisions, except for the Logistics one. All of them can travel as one group and always have a senior officer, or by their lowest sub-formation and also have a designated senior officer. Even the fighters in the first example have seniority.

Final point to consider: Task Forces are by definition created for a purpose. But in Aurora, this is not a hard rule. You can create a migrating Fleet that never rotates it's ships. What this tutorial intends to teach you is the basic mechanics of operating the Task Force window.

Feel free to leave feedback or suggestions for editing.

Good luck and obliterate the xeno-scum have fun, Admiral.

[serger]

Operations: Assists with Crew Training and improves Fleet Coordination*.
-- Crew Training Rating and Operations Bonus

Is that confirmed? Judging by Fleet Window, Crew Training Rating of Operations Officer have no impact on Training Rating of his Fleet, and Operations Officer's Operations Bonus have an impact on Training Rating of his Fleet via Fleet Commander's Crew Training Rating.

And Logistics Bonus is broken too, AFAIK.

[Thanatos (OP)]

I am fairly certain it does, but Steve would have to confirm it.

[davidb86]

The Senior officer is decided by two criteria: The Highest Ranking Officer, and alphabet priority.

[/size][size=0px]I thought seniority within a rank was determined by time in rank as shown in the officer tab[/size]

[hyramgraff]

Staff Officers and their skills

Commander: Assists with Crew Training.
-- Crew Training Rating

The commander also provides a fraction (IIRC it's 25%) of their other bonuses to the task force.  So if you assign a commander with a 10% survey bonus, the entire task group will recieve an additional 2.5% bonus to surveying above and beyond any bonus from the survey officer.