Planetary assault groups use large, lightly protected ships that need substantial defence in space. The Commonwealth solves that problem by assigning a heavy-cruiser battle group, but this ties down a formation built to appear, launch standoff attacks, and move before the enemy can respond. Giving the assault group its own heavy cruiser as a command ship offers an alternative. The remaining standoff attackers and escorts could then continue mobile operations under another commander while the cruiser and part of the screen protect the landing force.
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Protecting assault groups without immobilizing strike forces
Giving a planetary assault group its own heavy cruiser would protect vulnerable transports without tying a fast standoff battle group to a slow escort mission.