Imperial Forces

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The Imperial Forces
New flag Shireroth.png

Imperial Forces.png

Active: 1598.4961 AN.ASC (Passage of the Martial Code)
Motto: en toútōi níka ("in this, conquer")
In use by: Ministry of Military Affairs
Allegiance: Shireroth

Type: Combined Arms
Service Branches
Size: 3,019,902 personnel
Nickname: The Grinding Machine
Current Commander: Minister HH the Prince of Modan

Allies
Opponents
Conflicts & Deployments

The Imperial Forces comprise of three combat arms; the Imperial Army, the Imperial Navy of Shireroth (INS) and the Imperial Shirerithian Air Forces (ISAF), which are both organised in accordance with the Martial Code of Shireroth as well as the Shirerithian Supplies Service which provide combat support services including logistical support, whilst, in many instances, serving as a reserve of paramilitary militia.

It does not encompass the armed forces of the Imperial States, only those under command of the MoMA.


Overview

The Imperial Forces are established as the sole body of forces that may use force in the name of the Imperial Government for the defence of the Imperial Dominions and of the wider Imperial Republic in times of war. Only the Imperial Government may authorise the use of military force in support of its international treaty obligations, subject to the oversight of the Landsraad and the rule of law. The Imperial States have responsibility for their own territorial defence during peacetime and the Imperial Forces may only establish garrisons or deploy forces within the territory of the Imperial States through the prior approval of the governments of the Imperial States affected.

As a totality the Imperial Forces have been described as "most razor-clawed and carnivorously-inclined military machine that Micras will ever see"[1] and it remains the case that the Shirerithian military is considered amongst the largest on the planet, nearly the equal to the entire coalition ranged against it during the recent War of Lost Brothers.

Largely as a consequence of the perennial Sxiro-Jingdaoese Confrontation, the militarisation of the Great Western Sea, and the dramatic internal conflicts by which the Imperialists eventually overcame the Federalists to reassert Shirekeep's rule over the greater part of the Benacian continent, militarism has become deeply ingrained in Shirerithian political culture and civil society, reflected in the yearly budget allocation of 40% of all government expenditure towards the Imperial Forces. There are those who maintain that this level of commitment, having built up progressively since the mid 1630s will ultimately prove unsustainable, however the military-industrial complex has matured into an integral component of Shireroth's national economy - forming connections with corporations, political parties, and noble houses - and may prove a difficult to "trim" should any future government wish to do so.

Organisation

The Kaiser is Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Forces and delegates operational and administrative control of the Imperial Forces to the Minister of Military Affairs who is the primary advisor to the Kaiser on all military matters and is supreme operational commander of the Imperial Forces.

The Minister of Military Affairs exercises the Kaiser's rights of patronage in regards to the commissioning of officers into the Imperial Forces.

The Ministry of Military Affairs, subordinate to the Minister of Military Affairs and the Kaiser, regulates the Imperial Forces.

For the coordination of the defence of the Dominions and States of the Imperial Republic there is established the Imperial Shirerithian Defence Council, comprising of the Kaiser, the Minister of Military Affairs and the heads of the Imperial States.

The ISDC is a moribund institution and its functions are performed either within the Imperial Advisory Council or bilaterally between the Minister of Military Affairs and the heads of the Imperial States.

In accordance with the Martial Code of Shireroth, the Imperial Forces, charged with the defence of the Imperial Republic from enemies both foreign and domestic, comprises of five service branches. These being:

  1. The Palatini Corps
  2. The Imperial Army
  3. The Imperial Navy of Shireroth
  4. The Imperial Shirerithian Air Forces
  5. The Shirerithian Supplies Service

The Palatini Corps comprises of eight Scholae Legions, charged with the defence of the Kaiser, Raynor's Keep and the City. These are the:

1) Scholae Excubitores (Order of Sentinels), for the defence of the Kaiser;
2) Scholae Crypteia, for the defence of the Imperial Household;
3) Scholae Palatinae, for the defence of the Steward;
4) Scholae Kampioenae, for the defence of the Imperial County.
5) Scholae Apollonae, for the defence of the city.
6) Scholae Evocati, for the defence of MoMA facilities in the Imperial County.
7) Scholae Kalirion, for the defence and close-protection of the wider Imperial Family.
8) Scholae Sathrati, for the defence of the possessions of the Emir of Sathrati.

The Palatini Corps itself has a nominal strength of 176,156 men, including affiliates and special auxiliaries. A number of specialist agencies, pertaining to military intelligence, force reconnaissance, and strategic weapons, have been transferred to the Corps in addition to the household agencies such as the Sentinels and the Crypteia, responsible for the security of the Kaiser and the Imperial Government which enjoy close affiliations with the Corps.

The purpose of the Imperial Army is to conduct both defensive and offensive operations in pursuit of the territorial defence of the Imperial Republic and the enforcement of the policy objectives of the Kaiser and the Imperial Government.

The Imperial Army is under the command of the Magister Primum who is supported by a general staff comprised of the commanding magisters of the armies and their retinues, known as the Collegium Magistri Militum, which also serves as the single-service management committee for the Imperial Army.

The Imperial Army has a nominal establishment of 735,399 personnel under arms. Recruitment into the Imperial Army is open to biological humans of any nationality. Only Shirerithian citizens may be commissioned as officers in the Imperial Army.

The Imperial Army is organised into four armies, of three corps apiece, organised into a single Land Command, integrated into the operational theatre commands of the Raspur Pact. The total manpower establishment amounts to five hundred regiments grouped into one hundred legions. Legions are combined arms formations of an equivalent to a brigade. There is considerable flexibility in the organisational structure with regiments being detached from their parent legions to either reinforce another legion or to conduct independent operations. A legion of five regiments will have at least two core regiments that pertain to its mission function as well as any additional squadrons or troops required to perform operationally. A legion on operations will typically be reinforced by additional auxiliaries subject to its particular circumstances and objectives, in which case it therefore becomes the beating heart of a battle group, known as a 'vexillatio'.


Under the Land Command, the four armies are:

1) The Field Army (Exercitus Comitatenses)
2) The Frontier Army (Exercitus Limitanei)
3) The Riverine Army (Exercitus Ripenses)
4) The Army of Arboria

An Army contains 172,800 personnel grouped into three corps and is commanded by a Frumst Frainan (Magister Militum). Certain formations are notably under-strength as a consequence of the War of Lost Brothers (1653–1656).

The Field Army, known as the comitatenses, is an air-mobile armoured striking force, intended for long-range and expeditionary warfare. During the War of Lost Brothers the Field Army was deployed to Arboria, where it presently remains.

The Field Army's three corps (I, II, IX) have been assigned to the Northern Banner Group in the aftermath of the Elwynnese Civil War (1660-1662).

The Frontier Army is primarily intended to provide garrisons either for the defence of vulnerable sectors against incursions by hostile forces or for counter-insurgency operations in the Imperial Dominions, or in Imperial States when and if invited by the heads of the Imperial States. Whilst less mobile than the Field Army, the Frontier Army is still strongly armoured and well equipped with artillery.

The three corps of the Frontier Army are: 1) III Corps, garrisoned in Mishalan
2) IV Corps, garrisoned in Batavia, Dietsland, Puritania and Voltrue
3) VI Corps, garrisoned on the islands of Amity and Yardistan

The Riverine Army, garrisoned in Brookshire is responsible for the defence of the River Elwynn and the approaches to Shirekeep.

The three corps of the Riverine Army are:

1) V Corps (Classis Rubrum), garrisoned in Monty Crisco
2) VII Corps (Classis Albrum), garrisoned in Kralizec
3) VIII Corps (Classis Puteulanum), garrisoned in Musica

The Army of Arboria was raised as a Reserve Army in the wake of the Civil War in Goldshire. After the War of Jingdaoese Immolation it was deployed to Natopian Arboria and formed the core of the allied Apollonian Command:

1) X Corps, garrisoned around New Aquitaine
2) XI Corps, garrisoned in Arboria along the frontier with Jingdao.
3) XII Corps, garrisoned around western Arboria

The Corps, each comprise of eight legions, contain a total of 57,600 personnel and are commanded by a Frainan Hohmin (Magister).

The Salb (Legions), comprise of ten infantry cohorts, each contain 3,600 personnel and are commanded by a Legate, who may enjoy a brevet promotion of the rank of Frainan Uihmanzis (Dux) if his legion is reinforced by the addition of regimental detachments. Typically a legion will be reinforced with six Vexillations of specialist armour, combat engineers, air support, and four area defence (AD) Divisions of artillery and anti-aircraft systems.

Excepting spear (infantry) cohorts, a lance (specialist) regiment comprises of ten squadrons, and contains 1,200 personnel under the command of a Auhmst Bræþstranin (Tribune Laticlavii). An infantry cohort, consisting of 360 men, is commanded by a Auhmst Tazstraneï (Tribune Cohortis)

A Squadron, consisting of five troops, will contain 120 personnel and comes under the command of either a Auhmst Mairstranin (Tribunus Angusticlavius) or the most senior non-commissioned Ænst Opratzan (First Ordinate) if it is the maniple of an infantry cohort. Specialist formations will have a higher proportion of officers than the infantry cohorts.

A Troop, comprised of three sections, will contain 40 personnel under the command of an Ahtaldan (Tesserarius).

A Contubernium, the smallest administrative section of the Imperial Army, comprises of two fire-teams, totalling eight men under the command of a Frum (Prime).

A four-man fire-team, crew or work detail will come under the command of a specialist nu Saltznân ("without fatigues") which, while not a non-commissioned officer rank in the Imperial Army, denotes additional authority on account of experience and exemption from manual duties.

Regimental sized and larger formations will have detachments from the Shirerithian Supplies Service, usually in the form of specialist auxiliaries such as medics, logisticians or signallers, embedded amongst them. An Imperial Army regiment would have a typically have a Supplies Service squadron, whilst a legion would have a supply column equivalent to a regiment in strength.

Personnel

Personnel in the Imperial Forces by Service
Name Personnel
Palatini Corps (PC) 176,156
Imperial Army (IA) 735,399
Imperial Navy of Shireroth (IN) 399,900
Imperial Shirerithian Air Forces (ISAF) 433,078
Shirerithian Supplies Service (SSS) 1,275,369

Ranks

Rank Grade IA/INCF/SSS Ranks IN Ranks ISAF Ranks
OF-10 Magister Primum Amiratus Amiratorum
Grand Admiral
Marshal of the Air Forces
OF-9 Magister Generalis
(General Staff)
Admiral Air Chief Marshal
OF-8 Magister Equitum
(Field Command - Army)
Vice Admiral Air Marshal
OF-7 Magister Militum
(Field Command - Corps)
Rear Admiral Air Vice-Marshal
OF-6 Dux Commodore Air Commodore
OF-5 Imperial Legate Captain Group Captain
OF-4 Tribunus Laticlavius Commander Wing Commander
OF-3 Tribunus Angusticlavius
(Major)
Lieutenant Commander Squadron Leader
OF-2 Centurion
(Captain)
Lieutenant Flight Lieutenant
OF-1 Optio
(Lieutenant)
Sub Lieutenant Pilot Officer / Flying Officer
OF(D) No Equivalent Midshipman Acting Pilot Officer
Student Officer Cornicen
(Cornet)
Cornicen Cornicen
OR-9 Evocatus / Tesserarius Evocatus Evocatus
OR-8 Imaginifer Imaginifer Imaginifer
OR-7 Aquilifer Chief Petty Officer Flight sergeant / Chief technician
OR-6 Hastiliarius / Vexillarius Petty Officer Sergeant
OR-5 Signifer Signifer Signifer
OR-4 Decanus
(Corporal)
Decanus
(Leading Rate)
Decanus
(Corporal)
OR-3 Chosen Man Chosen Man Chosen Man
OR-2 Milities Immunes
(Specialists)
Able Seaman Senior Aircraftman / Technician
OR-1 Milities Pedes
(Infantrymen)
Pressed Man Aircraftman

Garrisons and Stations

Western Benacia Garrison

Contributes to the Western Banner Group of Benacia Command.

Garrisoned in the Imperial Dominions of Batavia, Dietsland, Puritania and Voltrue.

Mishalan Garrison

Contributes to the Central Banner Group of Benacia Command.

The Imperial Dominions were the only territories open for the permanent garrisoning of the Imperial Forces, excepting temporary dispensations to pass through the territories of the Imperial States by the permission of the States in peacetime in accordance with the Martial Code of Shireroth.

Of these, the only territory with the sufficient capacity to provide host to the land and air formations of the Imperial Republic were to be afforded by the Autonomous Republic of Mishalan, which also fortuitously was the Imperial Republic's burgeoning heavy industrial complex, of which the foremost concern was the reinvigorated Red Bear LLC. Regrettably the noxious by-product of industrial effluence belched by the factories of Niu Vena attracted the unwelcome attention of certain apex predators unwisely bred in a neighbouring jurisdiction.

Thus the Imperial Forces were able to strengthen themselves through rearmament from the very factories they assisted the Soviet Forces in defending.

By 1645 the situation on the frontier was much improved and the Field Army was reassigned to garrison duties in Goldshire, while the strength of the Frontier Army was reduced to a single corps in the province.

Similarly the bulk of the Imperial Shirerithian Air Forces' active squadrons were moved eastwards to face a revitalised Jingdao and the prospect of an intercontinental war with Apollonia.

Shirekeep Garrison

Novaya Sorensk Garrison

Contributes to Southern Banner Group of Benacia Command and the Strategic Defence Initiative.

Goldshire Garrison

Contributes to the Eastern Banner Group of Benacia Command.

Arboria Garrison

Contributes to Apollonia Command.

MoMA Station Akis

Contributes to Apollonia Command.

MoMA Station Sabatini

Contributes to the Southern Banner Group of Benacia Command.

Home port of the Western Armada

MoMA Station Sagittarius

Contributes to the Western Banner Group of Benacia Command.

MoMA Station Talenore

Contributes to Keltia Command.

Politics and factionalism

The Imperial Forces are infamous for the internecine squabbles of its officer corps. For most of its existence inter-service rivalry, mitigated only by the uniting visceral aversion felt towards the militaries fielded by the Imperial States, bedevilled the ranks. However, in the aftermath of the War of Lost Brothers, the main fissure in the ranks has become increasingly doctrinal.

Faction Doctrine Leading Officers Service Affiliation External Patrons
Manoeuvreists The enemy's will and capability to resist must be destroyed by relentless and concurrent attacks along multiple axes. Momentum is life, stasis is death. Fortifications are traps to be despised. Prince of Modan,
Constantine Loup
Attritionists Disperse mass, concentrate fire power. The enemy must be engaged and ground down across the entirety of its operational and strategic depth through set piece actions. Overwhelming industrial and technological supremacy must be attained and upheld. Defence in depth must be guaranteed by mutually supporting and impenetrable strong-points. Alejian Lokke,
Ryker Everstone
Endsiegers The culminating battle for continental and global hegemony can only be delayed not averted - and delay, as has been evidenced, can only ever benefit the enemy by affording them additional time in which to prepare.
Poliorceticans Use of information, political, and economic warfare to "fence in the polis", weakening the enemy fatally before it even knows what is afoot. Shaping how the enemy subjectively "sees" the battlefield is the key to victory.

Equipment

Imperial Army

Small Arms / Personal Equipment

Name Manufacturer
Country of Origin
Type Number Image Details
M14 ROFL
(Imperial County, Shireroth)
Fragmentation Hand Grenade . .
M15 ROFL
(Imperial County, Shireroth)
White Phosphorus Anti-Lich Grenade . .
M16 ROFL
(Imperial County, Shireroth)
Mustard Gas Anti-Singer Grenade . .
M18 ROFL
(Imperial County, Shireroth)
Red Smoke Hand Grenade . .
M1610 ROFL
(Imperial County, Shireroth)
7.9mm Rifle (Semi-Automatic) . .
M1639 Stahlhelm Various Contractors
(Shirekeep, Shireroth)
Combat Helmet . .
OAH 9mm Pistol House of Osman GmbH
(Jadid Khaz Modan, Shireroth)
9mm Pistol . .
OAH Babgehwer Khaybar House of Osman GmbH
(Jadid Khaz Modan, Shireroth)
9mm Carbine . .

Support Weapons

Name Manufacturer
Country of Origin
Type Number Image Details
Wren ROFL
(Imperial County, Shireroth)
7.62mm Light Machine Gun . .
Polybolos ROFL
(Imperial County, Shireroth)
.50 Heavy Machine Gun . .
Tankgewehr ROFL
(Imperial County, Shireroth)
Anti-Materiel Rifle . .
Waspsting ROFL
(Imperial County, Shireroth)
Man-Portable Air Defence System . .
Hornet ROFL
(Imperial County, Shireroth)
Anti-Tank Launcher . .
82mm Mortar ROFL
(Imperial County, Shireroth)
Mortar . .

Armoured Fighting Vehicles

Gravimetric Vehicles

Imperial Navy of Shireroth

Surface Combatant Vessels

Name Manufacturer
Country of Origin
Type Number Image Details

Undersea Combatant Vessels

Aviation Assets

Gravrigs

Imperial Shirerithian Air Forces

Name Manufacturer
Country of Origin
Type Number Image Details

Shirerithian Supplies Service

Small Arms

Name Manufacturer
Country of Origin
Type Number Image Details

Support Vehicles

Ministries of the Imperial Republic

Ministry of the Interior SealMiniInt.png - Ministry of Military Affairs Logo military of shireroth.png- Ministry of the Exterior Seal miniex.png
Office of Information Office of Information.png - Office of Bounties and Factorage OCSLCF.png - Imperial Forces Imperial Forces.png