Fleet Sizes

[JmoWolf]

They tell us how many dreadnoughts each race has so does anyone have any estimates how many cruisers and frigates each race has. Also do we know what the size of a standard fleet is.

[SwobyJ]

I recently left a giant post on this, but the topic was deleted for an unknown reason, so I won't bother again. wtf steam

[JmoWolf]

that sucks

[SwobyJ]

Wait, I found it!:

I'll assume you beat ME1 but not ME2-ME3.

Humans - Alliance had several fleets, but various things happen that draw it more down to 3-4ish by the end of the trilogy.
I think it goes that the First Fleet protects Earth but is stationed at Arcturus Station, and then the fleets increasingly stretch out over Alliance territory, by named number.
The Second Fleet seems to be meant to protect colonies.
The Third Fleet is stationed at Arcturus Station (capital of the Alliance itself).
The Fourth Fleet is seems also to be a colony defense fleet, but is used for something else in ME3.
The Fifth Fleet is central to the story, because Admiral Hackett leads it and it saves the Citadel; it is stationed at Arcturus as well, but becomes the leading fleet over the course of the trilogy.
The Sixth Fleet protects Terra Nova, I think the 2nd largest human territory?
The Seventh Fleet protects Eden Prime, a small but highly regarded colony.
The Eighth Fleet protects colonies too.

The Alliance is supposed to have several dreadnaughts, which is a huge number for how quick it's been since humans were discovered, but it's still a pittance compared to the Turian military.
Of course the fleets likely have varied sizes, so it's better to say 'several' fleets, instead of eight, especially after the disasters of ME3 battles.

Humans in Mass Effect are highly expansionist without being brutal about it like Rachnis/Krogans/Batarians. However, they are deemed a long-term threat in this by other Council races.


Turians - The largest of the galaxy, so imagine significantly more fleets than 8 :P. More like 30+. It also includes Volus and I think Elcor? assets. The Alliance would be crushed against the Turians, 'one on one', whereas the Alliance could possibly beat the Asari or Salarians (again alone 'one on one') IF they lucked out a lot. The Turians are the only meanstream navy that can outright engage Reapers and win at all, in any sort of expected scenario.

Asari - Regardless of what I just said, the Asari navy is very powerful and the Destiny Ascension is considered one of the strongest, if not the strongest ship in the galaxy. They have comparable dreadnaughts to the Turians, but they focus on many smaller ships otherwise. As such, they can face any galactic force with success, except the Reapers that would just blow through them all; they're particularly vulnerable against those.

Salarians - They have significantly fewer fleets and dreadnaughts than the other major species, but it is said that this is only because they focus so much on the tech of the ships they DO have. They're the only species which has dreadnaughts with STEALTH technology (whereas the Alliance only really has the Normandy lol). Their ships also have newer tech that would actually be able to pierce through Reaper shields with enough focus fire.
Basically they stole everything from the Reaper-Killer Normandy (SR1 and SR2) and made it their own. Good on them.

Out of the three, the Asari are the ones that used to lead the galaxy in terms of overall power (once you account for things like their economies and biotic powers), but is now the weakest in terms of military. The Turians take up the unbreakable line, while the Salarians hit super hard and retreat.


Elcor, Volus, Hanar/Drell militaries are barely enough to mention. They're either too small to REALLY count, or are outright protected by the Council. Vorcha have nothing and work for mercs or whatever.


Krogan - Neutered. While previously it would have rivaled the Turian fleet, they effectively have no navy anymore and would have to piggyback on another in order to get anything done. However, their ground power is still nearly unmatched.

Batarian - It was significant enough to be a threat (if combined with all of the other Terminus powers and mercs) to the Council's stability, but not enough to be a Krogan/Rachni sized threat. A few dreadnaughts at the very most. I'll give spoilers for this one - the Reapers wipe it out off screen, so it's not like it really mattered.
The only thing important to the story is that if they faced ME1's Alliance, no one would have come out of that a winner. The Alliance would not have been helped by the Council in most possibilities, and would have lost at least a fleet or two.

Quarian - The Floatilla is like... how we call it in RPGs... a Glass Cannon. It's the LARGEST SINGLE fleet of the galaxy, but it is also highly vulnerable. It's sheer size, however, would make it a powerhouse in a space fight unless facing multiple fleets. Their defenses and number of warships are low, but they have very powerful weaponry in order to hopefully hit an enemy fast before it retaliates - the Floatilla would be very poor for long engagements, a similarity it possibly has with Salarian fleets. Because it is technically just one fleet (though it actually contains about 3 mini-fleets in it), it wouldn't survive against any other major civilization, but it would still hold its own in a given fight. I don't think it has dreadnaughts.

Geth - Possibly the largest 'navy' quantity wise, as there is much less to maintain (no organic crew and supplies, limited only by construction resources). It isn't limited by
The issue with the Geth is that they operate mostly in quick-attacks, probably akin to Salarians. As such, it's probable that a concentrated attack would almost always defeat them. Given ENOUGH time, however, they could become the most powerful navy in the galaxy, if they put the resources towards it. It's a good thing they had other projects, is all I'm saying ;)
I'll put them below any single Council species strength, but it would be a very pitched war one-on-one, and like I said, in the long-run, the geth have the highest chance of survival in any war. Synthetics be dangerous, just not SO dangerous at the point of ME1-ME3 that they couldn't be stopped by a united Council. They had to sneak attack Citadel Security to break through in ME1, after all. (though granted, hose were not the main Geth forces)


Sooo, in order of naval strength in the pre-Reaper invasion period (my opinion, and including things like crew and special tech):

1) Turian(+Volus)
2) Asari (but declining by ME3)
3) Alliance (only due to how fast it was growing)
4) Salarian (as I think they put focus on other things)
5) Geth (with strong potential to defeat any of the above)
6) Batarian (had bite but restricted)
7) Quarian (strong but small overall)
8) Elcor (limited)
9) Hanar(+Drell) (limited)
10) Krogan (no navy)

In a war against the Reapers and their Husks though, this isn't the importance. In ME3, for example, the importance of overall species goes (SPOILERS SPOILERS):

1) Alliance (organizers of true resistance)
2) Turians (hold Reapers off)
3) Krogan (to bolster the Turians so they don't collapse)
4) Salarian (as most intact forces by the end)
5) Asari (as still one of the most powerful militaries)
6) Geth (because geth are boss and improve everything they're networked to)
7) Quarians (always have usefulness but not essential)
8) Hanar(+Drell) (homeworld possibly safe so they can help you)
9) Elcor (fallen homeworld)
10) Batarians (haha... u ded)

[SwobyJ]

Any more precise figures may be found on the Mass Effect Wiki.