Generals commanding fleets

[Admiral Bravo]

Why is it that we see so many generals in SW commanding fleets? For example both Han and Wedge have commanded a fleet at least once with the latter doing it multiple times, and there's also Anakin and Obi-Wan leading the Open Circle fleet. Also why is it that only the NR and the Old Republic have done this and not the Empire? (To my knowledge the Empire has never done this.)

[SVPD]

Perhaps the Navy is subject to the Army, as a check on the power of the Navy?

The Chinese Navy (while not terribly powerful) is an example of this subjugation; it's the People's Republic Army Navy

[PeZook]

It's a matter of organization. It's not like there's only a single usable standard for military command structures, as the example of the PLA(N) shows quite clearly.

[jegs2]

It's a matter of organization. It's not like there's only a single usable standard for military command structures, as the example of the PLA(N) shows quite clearly.

Also interesting that "General" Solo commanded nothing more than a platoon-sized strike force that would at most be commanded by a captain (and more likely a lieutenant) in the US Army.

[Gorefiend]

*shrugs* Just another hint at that the Star Wars Galaxy does not seem to use earth based ranking systems, they may give them the same sounding “titles”, but are far from assign them the same posts as people with the same ranks hold in “earth forces”. There is also no reason why they should, its after all a galaxy far, far away with a different military tradition.

[PeZook]

It's a matter of organization. It's not like there's only a single usable standard for military command structures, as the example of the PLA(N) shows quite clearly.

Also interesting that "General" Solo commanded nothing more than a platoon-sized strike force that would at most be commanded by a captain (and more likely a lieutenant) in the US Army.

Yeah, I found that a little funny as well. "General" doesn't seem to be a military rank in case of Solo and Calrissian, or perhaps they went into the fray because they were so damned good at what they did, and it was a "do or die" mission for the Rebellion.

[SVPD]

"General" seems apt for Calrissian since he commanded all the Starfighters. For Solo I think it's more an honorific.

[Jay]

I think he was General Solo before the Endor Mission. The rebellion needed someone to lead such a daring rescue and Solo was just the man for the job. Thus his rank has nothing to do with the Endor mission.

[AniThyng]

Would the case of Obi-Wan and Anakin at least be analogous to a Marine Corps General having command over a landing fleet and supporting warships?

[Fire Fly]

You should remember that really, only the Rebellion seems to allow generals to command fleets. It may be that since the Rebellion is short on leadership, they may be more flexible, in terms of command and leadership, to allow who commands what. And even then, many of these "generals" have had extensive experience in star fighter combat.

When one takes a look at the Imperial Navy, we see exclusively only proper navy flag officers who command ships and fleets. This trend seemed to continue until the Empire fragmented into warlordism, when whoever had power and resources rose to command large naval forces (Superior General Delvarious, for example).

[Spice Runner]

I can recall from the EU, in the Black Fleet trilogy, the New Republic Fifth Fleet. well over 200 frontline warships was commanded by a General Abaht (sp).

[AniThyng]

I can recall from the EU, in the Black Fleet trilogy, the New Republic Fifth Fleet. well over 200 frontline warships was commanded by a General Abaht (sp).

In fact general Abaht had a conversation with another character, i forget who, about how admirals and generals are all O-10 anyway so it's all just semantics and cultural differences.

[PeZook]

In fact general Abaht had a conversation with another character, i forget who, about how admirals and generals are all O-10 anyway so it's all just semantics and cultural differences.

In the context of Earth, such a statement would be pretty stupid. However, one must consider whether space "navies" can really be called that, since they are more an extension of the air force, occupying the highest possible ground. In this situation, an air general commanding a planetary siege would be a sensible solution, seeing as in SW air forces and orbital forces are practically the same craft in some instances.

Of course, such a system would have to be self-consistent throughout the command chain, there should never be any ambiguity as to who has the authority over a fleet - and so, it would be nice to find examples for analysis. So far one thesis was made - that the Republic and the Rebellion both had generals in command of fleets. However, they also had admirals (Ackbar, for example). I could cite another general who was experienced in fleet actions (Bel Iblis), commanding both planetside commando raids with space support, a planetary siege from the defender's side, as well as a deep space engagement (the Katana Fleet), but all of those were extraordinary circumstances.

More examples of Rebel and New Republic command structure would be needed if we are to form a coherent theory, however.

[AniThyng]

In fact general Abaht had a conversation with another character, i forget who, about how admirals and generals are all O-10 anyway so it's all just semantics and cultural differences.

In the context of Earth, such a statement would be pretty stupid. However, one must consider whether space "navies" can really be called that, since they are more an extension of the air force, occupying the highest possible ground. In this situation, an air general commanding a planetary siege would be a sensible solution, seeing as in SW air forces and orbital forces are practically the same craft in some instances.

Of course, such a system would have to be self-consistent throughout the command chain, there should never be any ambiguity as to who has the authority over a fleet - and so, it would be nice to find examples for analysis. So far one thesis was made - that the Republic and the Rebellion both had generals in command of fleets. However, they also had admirals (Ackbar, for example). I could cite another general who was experienced in fleet actions (Bel Iblis), commanding both planetside commando raids with space support, a planetary siege from the defender's side, as well as a deep space engagement (the Katana Fleet), but all of those were extraordinary circumstances.

More examples of Rebel and New Republic command structure would be needed if we are to form a coherent theory, however.

Perhaps it depends on how a partincular planetary fleet came into being - i.e. was it a extension of their terrestrial air force or the navy? The NRDF seems to get most of its officers by means of being seconded from the sectorial/planetary forces after all.

In the case of a water planet such as mon-calamari it's possible the naval service was the most senior and thus took the primary role in the space forces, while in the case of planet where the "air force" such as it were was dominant "generals" would command fleets.

It's bad enough trying to decide if starfighter forces are thier own independant branch seconded to "naval" carriers or an integral naval arm like US Naval Aviation, IMO...

[The Duchess of Zeon]

Right up into the 17th century even the English were calling their high ranking fleet commanders "Generals at Sea", not Admirals. Furthermore, there's an even simpler explanation for it than that anachronism--I would point out that all forces in the southwestern Pacific during WWII were under the command of General MacArthur. All forces includes the naval forces. There was also a naval commander, of course, but he reported to MacArthur, who issued directives to the naval forces on how they should operate to aide his land/air campaigns.

Thus we can see the position of Generals commanding fleets as properly one in which the General in command is the ranking officer on the area and has the role of issuing orders to a subordinate in command of the naval forces. Since many of the Generals in question are actually Starfighter Corps Generals (and the Starfighter Corps is probably an entirely seperate service like the RAF or USAF) the more direct nature of their command makes even more sense, since Starfighter officers would be trained to direct the operations of large numbers of spacecraft, even if they are single-person vehicles, and would have a reasonable knowledge of fleet tactics due to the need to operate in close coordination with starships.

[Ender]

*shrugs* Just another hint at that the Star Wars Galaxy does not seem to use earth based ranking systems, they may give them the same sounding “titles”, but are far from assign them the same posts as people with the same ranks hold in “earth forces”. There is also no reason why they should, its after all a galaxy far, far away with a different military tradition.

Or you know, instead of contining in a bizarre campaign against reality like you enjoy doing, we could go by what is said in the novels.

In the BFC, they explain this: The leaders come from local sector forces. They keep their old rank titles out of respect, but go by an adjusted grade for rank in a galactic scale.

This is why Grievous and A'bat are generals, but serve as admirals.


In closing, maybe you should try reading instead of crying so much you stupid horsefucker.

[Admiral Bravo]

This explains a lot. Thank you Zeon and everyone else.

[Wicked Pilot]

These higher ranking general and flag officers are known as unified commanders. Simply speaking, they are given charge of a certain theatre, and all the forces used within that threatre belong to them. Because of this you will see generals commanding naval units, and admirals command army units. This is not the exception, but the general rule. Even though they are from different services, these unified commanders are qualified to command these different assets. They attend professional military training courses that give them the breadth of knowledge necessary to execute campaigns using all available resources. An Army general isn't going to know what buttons you have to push to fire a Tomahawk for example, but he will know how to use it in his battle plan.

[Drooling Iguana]

I think he was General Solo before the Endor Mission. The rebellion needed someone to lead such a daring rescue and Solo was just the man for the job. Thus his rank has nothing to do with the Endor mission.

IIRC, the RotJ novelization stated that Han was not an official member of the Rebel Alliance before agreeing to undertake the Endor mission, so the General title couldn't have been given to him earlier. At any rate, no one called him "General" on Hoth, which was the last time he'd spent any time with the Rebels before Endor (having spent much of the intervening time frozen in carbonite.)

[Gorefiend]

Or you know, instead of contining in a bizarre campaign against reality like you enjoy doing, we could go by what is said in the novels.

In the BFC, they explain this: The leaders come from local sector forces. They keep their old rank titles out of respect, but go by an adjusted grade for rank in a galactic scale.

This is why Grievous and A'bat are generals, but serve as admirals.


In closing, maybe you should try reading instead of crying so much you stupid horsefucker.

Grievous does not serve in the New Republic Defence Forces, in case you haven’t spotted it, bloody troll. The Separatists could have any kind of rank system, for all we know.

General A'baht used to serve as a fleet commander with the Dornean Navy and his Rank was General there as well, not Admiral.

Now get back to horse fucking and just stop trolling for fuck sake.

[Isolder74]

Of course Grevious is shown to be in charge of the Sepratist ground army and Dooku, until his death is in command of the fleet. With Dooku gone Grevious takes over control of the Sepratist Military.

[HemlockGrey]

Wow, Ender, you're an asshole.

Oh, and this is slightly off-topic, but was it ever explained why Calrissian was in command of the starfighters? Did he have any military experience?

[Kazuaki Shimazaki]

Wow, Ender, you're an asshole.

Oh, and this is slightly off-topic, but was it ever explained why Calrissian was in command of the starfighters? Did he have any military experience?

In the ROTJ novelization, supposedly he did something cool at Tanaab.

[Ace Pace]

Wow, Ender, you're an asshole.

Oh, and this is slightly off-topic, but was it ever explained why Calrissian was in command of the starfighters? Did he have any military experience?

In the ROTJ novelization, supposedly he did something cool at Tanaab.

ROTJ movie mentioned something similer, though i think it was Deneb.

[Stofsk]

No, it was Tanaab. And his little maneuver IIRC wasn't even a military thing, but something to do with pirates.