Size of Imperial Navy

[jason taylor]

Someone must have asked this, but what is it?

[thrash]

Here are my thoughts:

Military Forces and Spending in Classic Traveller for a subsector-level look.

Traveller population for an Imperial-level summation.

Note that the answer you get is very different if you're asking about Classic Traveller or Megatraveller, and even in the former case you have to give some thought to how to account for population modifiers (which were introduced mid-way through the available evidence, and only inconsistently applied).

Note, too, that there are sourcebooks (e.g., Grand Fleet for t20, which became Sector Fleet for Mongoose Traveller 1st edition) that claim much lower figures. These contradict the CT sources I quote, apparently without independent support.

[jason taylor]

Thank you. That sounds like about fifty thousand capital ships.

[ak_aramis]

Originally Posted by jason taylor

Someone must have asked this, but what is it?

MT Canon has 1-2 numbered fleets per subsector, and 1 or 2 reserve fleets, as well. Makeup is TL15 J4 for numbered fleets, and TL 13-14 J3 to J4 for reserve fleets.
Numbered fleets are 2-10 squadrons.
squadrons are 8-10 BBs, CVs, BCs, CAs, or CLs.
For each of those squadrons, an Esron or DesRon, and a ScoutRon, are presumed for each line squadron.

DesRon and EsRon tend to be 1-2 × the size of the escorted BatRon, CarRon, or CruRon, but about 1/4 to 1/10 the total tonnage.
EsRons tend to be 8-12 fleet scouts.
A TankRon seems to be assumed and not included in the Squadron count, either, consisting of 4-10 fuel tenders.

Further, each world of TL 9+ is expected to have some systems customs ships and potentially even a local fleet; most TL9+ Pop 8+ can field at least a single Light CruRon with it's EsRon.