| rdfs:comment | - Space Forces Command (SPAFORCOM), also known informally as the Imperial Navy, is the spaceborne force of the Barrayaran Imperial Service. While equal in rank and position, the Chief of the Space Staff takes precedence over other Chiefs of Staff following the tradition of the Imperial Navy. The space naval fleet command is mostly de-facto dominated by Vor officers, while ground and other space high ranking posts are more commonly assigned to non-Vor capable officers, such as the Barrayaran jump point defences, although within the highest ranks Vors are spread through the Staff positions. SPAFORCOM is the descendant of the Imperial Navy. In 2901, immediately after the Vordarian Pretendership, the Imperial Navy was merged with the Army to form the new Imperial Military Service, although the r
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| abstract | - Space Forces Command (SPAFORCOM), also known informally as the Imperial Navy, is the spaceborne force of the Barrayaran Imperial Service. While equal in rank and position, the Chief of the Space Staff takes precedence over other Chiefs of Staff following the tradition of the Imperial Navy. The space naval fleet command is mostly de-facto dominated by Vor officers, while ground and other space high ranking posts are more commonly assigned to non-Vor capable officers, such as the Barrayaran jump point defences, although within the highest ranks Vors are spread through the Staff positions. SPAFORCOM is the descendant of the Imperial Navy. In 2901, immediately after the Vordarian Pretendership, the Imperial Navy was merged with the Army to form the new Imperial Military Service, although the reform became effective only three years later. Since 2993 SPAFORCOM's ships are commissioned as His Majesty's Ships, and the initialism HMS designates them. With its headquarters in Vorbarr Sultana, SPAFORCOM has both the largest share of resources assignment and the command and control of the four space formations framed into the Service Strategic Commands, while other space units are framed under command of other major commands, such as Imperial Security, which maintains a completely separate chain of command, Landing Forces or Transportation Command:
* Space Forces Barrayar (SPABAR): comprises First and Ninth Fleets, and has responsibility for Barrayar's immediate star system including the jump points in the wormholes. SPABAR is based at ISB Tanery Base. SPABAR Command is the sole command to operate system defence crafts, which are not provided with Necklin jumpers, but equipped with extra armour and weapons: these vessels are therefore unable to jump and to use wormholes, but they are more manoeuvrable, fast, and armed than same category ships.
* Space Forces Komarr (SPAKOM): has responsibility for protection, defence and surveillance of Komarran space. It is by far the largest fraction of the Space Forces. SPAKOM is based at ISB Archangels, Vormoncrief District. SPAKOM comprises Second, Fourth and Fifth Fleets. Because of the need to protect each wormhole, at jump-points along the Barrayar-Komarr route is permanently stationed a Fleet.
* Space Forces Sergyar (SPASER): comprises the Third Fleet and has responsibility for protection, defence and surveillance of Sergyaran space. It is the smallest space force. SPASER is based at Vorbarr Sultana and has a detached command, at Sergyaran Capital City, Sergyar.
* The fourth formation is the Expeditionary and Reserve Headquarters (EXPRES), located the Imperial Military Complex, in Solstice, Komarr, responsible for the Space Reserve Forces and for space forces sent across the wormhole nexus. Under EXPRES Headquarters there are Sixth, Seventh and Eighth Fleets. It is keen to note that at least one fleet of EXPRES HQ is always deployed into the Komarran star system, as a reserve and rapid reaction force. The SPAFORCOM has nine active numbered fleets — First, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Eight Fleet and Ninth Fleets are each led by a Vice Admiral. These nine fleets are further grouped under the Commands Barrayar, Komarr, Sergyar, Expeditionary and Reserves: the Commanders of SPABAR, SPAKOM, SPASER and EXPRES are full Admirals, under the command of competent Field Commanders. Commanders of the jump point military bases rank from Captain, for jump points less relevant, such as wormholes opening on empty space, to Rear Admiral, for most important bases. In addition to the combatant forces, there are also the Space Surveillance Command, which patrols inner space zones outside orbital ranges, and the Explorations Command, which deals with deep space explorations.
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