Deep Periphery Survey Detachment

From Drew's Battletech Wiki


  • Formed just after Kerensky's exodus to explore the Deep Periphery rimward of the Inner Sphere
  • A cone with an opening angle of approximately 45 degrees originating at the 2nd RSAB homeworlds extending rimward
  • Purpose is multifold:
    • Precisely catalog all star systems for navigation purposes
    • Survey and assay systems, worlds, moons, and asteroids for potential resource exploitation
    • Establish potential locations for Omega and Beta sites for the relocation plan
    • Gather general scientific data and knowledge
    • Catalog and document any Deep Periphery settlements and peoples for threat assessment purposes
    • Deploy and maintain HGP relay stations to enable long range communication
  • Originally used several hastily converted civilian DropShips and JumpShips
  • Then adapted to use second-hand or retired military JumpShips, WarShips, and DropShips
  • Ultra long range missions use one of three custom-designed JumpShips
  • Also uses DropShips designed for the Deep Range Reconnaissance Patrol for initial navigational assays of systems due to reliability and long range
  • While ostensibly a civilian/scientific operation, all JumpShips and DropShips are commanded and manned by active military personnel, many drawn from the Deep Range Reconnaissance Patrol ranks
  • Original mission lengths were 12-16 months due mainly to the limits of consumables
  • Current mission lengths are roughly 5 years
  • Ultra long range missions can last up to 10 years but may involve rendezvous with one or more resupply convoys
    • Primary purpose of ultra long range missions is to establish basic navigational data for future missions
  • All JumpShips used are modified to have at least two large Grav Decks
  • Unit reports to both the Reserves Naval Reconnaissance and to Quartermaster Command, with Naval Reconnaissance dictating operational priorities
  • The unit as a whole, civilian and military members combined, is trained in Naval Reconnaissance and all civilian members must be certified as "Combat Ready" prior to assignment
    • Most civilian members are registered both as their science/engineering specialty as well as infantry/marines.
  • As of 3050, the unit is in the middle of the planning stages for the establishment of a supply and staging base in the Deep Periphery in order to augment their ability to perform their mission
  • The unit makes use of very few BattleMechs but extensive use of IndustrialMechs
  • As of 3050, the unit consists of:
    • 3 Ultra-long range JumpShips
    • 28 Survey JumpShips
    • 120 DropShips
    • 200 Aerospace Fighters
    • 400 Aerospace Fighter Pilots
    • 200 Small Aerospace Craft
    • 600 Small Aerospace Craft Pilots/Personnel
    • 36 BattleMechs
    • 72 BattleMech Pilots
    • 12 Land Air Mechs
    • 36 LAM Pilots
    • 200 IndustrialMechs
    • 400 IndustrialMech Pilots
    • 200 VTOL's
    • 400 VTOL Pilots
    • 15,000 Scientific Personnel
    • 1,800 Combat and Civil Engineering Personnel with attendant equipment
    • 500 JumpShip Personnel
    • 280 Medical Personnel
    • 2,500 DropShip Personnel
    • 8,000 Technical and Support Personnel
    • 2,200 Marines
    • 300 Communications Personnel/HPG Specialists