Steerswick Army

Steerswick Army
Stierschweigisches Heer Lu Styrswig
Active	1703 AN-
Country	Steerswick
Allegiance	Lystasia Steerswick
Branch	Steerswick Armed Forces
Type	Land force
Role	Ground warfare
Size	c. 19,000 personnel
Garrison/HQ	Steerswick
Commanders
Ceremonial chief	Lystasia Steerswick

The Steerswick Army (Cibolan Saxon: Stierschweigisches Heer; Old Steerish: Lu Styrswig) is the land warfare branch of the military of the Grand Duchy of Steerswick. As of 1723 AN, the Steerswick Army comprises some nineteen thousand active personnel.

History

The Steerswick Army can trace its origins back to IV. 1626 AN, when two lich regiments in the service of the Kingdom of Leichenberg, the Stiermark Dragoons and Stiermark Regiment, were transferred to the Kingdom of Steeria. Although the two regiments disbanded upon the collapse of the kingdom in 1660 AN, both were reconstituted within months of the establishment of the Grand Duchy of Steerswick, on 9.XIII.1702 and 9.I.1703 AN respectively. The latter date is now generally accepted as marking the beginning of the modern Steerswick Army.

Expansion

The Grand Duchy and its nascent army both expanded rapidly over the following decade. Two further regiments, the Southmoorland Dragoons and Southcape and Southmoorland Infantry, were raised on 20.X.1708 AN, while the Steerswick Infantry gained another two battalions. By 1712 AN, the Steerswick Army comprised two armoured cavalry regiments and ten infantry battalions, divided between two brigade headquarters: 12 Brigade at Steerswick and 34 Brigade at Newmoorham. The ten infantry battalions each had two rifle companies that rotated between assignments according to a two-year cycle, with one company deploying as mechanised infantry while the other remained at its garrison as a light-role home defence unit. Eight of the mechanised infantry companies were combined into four mechanised battalion groups: 23 and 45 Mechanised Battalion Groups with 12 Brigade, and 21 and 54 Mechanised Battalion Groups with 34 Brigade.

Reorganisations

The acquisition of Dunaria in 1716 AN prompted a further reorganisation of the Steerswick Army. Both infantry regiments were expanded, now comprising two permanent mechanised battalions (1st and 2nd Battalions) and six home service battalions. The latter were divided equally between two new brigade headquarters, 2nd Territorial Brigade at Regina and 4th Territorial Brigade at Newmoorham, while the existing brigades were re-designated: 12 Brigade as 1st Armoured Brigade, which remained based in the capital, and 34 Brigade as 3rd Mechanised Brigade, which transferred to a new cantonment at Deepbrook.

A further reorganisation was completed in 1723 AN. For the first time, all elements of the 1st Armoured and 3rd Mechanised Brigades were garrisoned together, in Steerswick and Newmoorham respectively. The 2nd Territorial Brigade was transferred to Steermouth and the 4th Territorial Brigade to Southcape Fortress, while two new territorial brigades were formed: the 5th at Regina, with responsibility for the 6th, 7th and 8th Battalions of the Steerswick Infantry; and the 6th at Deepbrook, with responsibility for the 6th and 7th Battalions of the Southcape and Southmoorland Infantry. The six brigades were divided between two regional commands, each led by a major-general: the Western Command, with its headquarters at Steerswick, commanding the 1st, 2nd and 5th Brigades; and the Eastern Command at Newmoorham, commanding the 3rd, 4th and 6th Brigades. As a result of these changes the overall strength of the Steerswick Army increased to some nineteen thousand personnel.

Structure

Structure of the Steerswick Army, 1717 AN

The Steerswick Army consists of two armoured cavalry regiments, the Steerswick Guard Hussars and the Southmoorland Dragoons, and two infantry regiments, the Steerswick Infantry Regiment and the Southcape and Southmoorland Infantry Regiment.

The two armoured cavalry regiments are battalion-sized formations equipped with GEV series vehicles; the Steerswick Guard Hussars also operate a selection of heavy gravimetric vehicles, including GFV4041A1 tanks, and both regiments acquired GV6-52 Modular self-propelled howitzers in 1720 AN. Unlike the cavalry regiments, the two infantry regiments are purely administrative formations, each being comprised of eight operational battalions. The first two battalions within each regiment are also equipped with GEV series vehicles and operate as mechanised infantry, while the remaining six are light-role home defence battalions.

The armoured cavalry regiments and infantry battalions are divided between six brigade headquarters:

• 1st Armoured Brigade at Steerswick, comprising the Steerswick Guard Hussars and 1st and 2nd Battalions, Steerswick Infantry;
• 2nd Territorial Brigade at Steermouth, comprising 3rd to 5th Battalions, Steerswick Infantry;
• 3rd Mechanised Brigade at Newmoorham, comprising the Southmoorland Dragoons and 1st and 2nd Battalions, SSI;
• 4th Territorial Brigade at Southcape Fortress, comprising 3rd to 5th and 8th Battalions, SSI;
• 5th Territorial Brigade at Regina, comprising 3rd to 8th Battalions, Steerswick Infantry;
• 6th Territorial Brigade at Deepbrook, comprising 6th and 7th Battalions, SSI.

The six brigades are assigned to two regional commands:

• Western Command at Steerswick, with responsibility for 1st Armoured and 2nd and 5th Territorial Brigades;
• Eastern Command at Newmoorham, with responsibility for 3rd Mechanised and 4th and 6th Territorial Brigades.

Equipment

Land Vehicles

Name	Origin	Type	№ in Service	Image	Notes
Main Battle Tanks
GFV4041A1	Leichenberg	Main Battle Tank	14	File:GFV4041A1.png	Survivors of 23 LFV4041 MBTs assigned to Stiermark Dragoons, XI.1608 AN. Refurbished as gravimetric vehicles by Steerswick Ordnance Factory, 1702 AN-. In service with Steerswick Guard Hussars.
Armoured Combat Vehicles
GFV4042A1	Leichenberg	Infantry Fighting Vehicle	7	File:GFV4042A1.png	Survivors of 18 LFV4042 IFVs assigned to Stiermark Dragoons, XI.1608 AN. Refurbished as gravimetric vehicles by Steerswick Ordnance Factory, 1702 AN-. In service with Steerswick Guard Hussars.
GFV4043A1	Leichenberg	Armoured Personnel Carrier	7	File:GFV4043A1.png	Survivors of 17 LFV4043 APCs assigned to Stiermark Dragoons, XI.1608 AN. Refurbished as gravimetric vehicles by Steerswick Ordnance Factory, 1702 AN-. In service with Steerswick Guard Hussars.
GFV4044A1	Leichenberg	Command Vehicle	8	File:GFV4043A1.png	Survivors of 14 LFV4044 command vehicles assigned to Stiermark Dragoons, XI.1608 AN. Refurbished as gravimetric vehicles by Steerswick Ordnance Factory, 1702 AN-. In service with Steerswick Guard Hussars.
GEVD	Steerswick Ordnance Factory	Infantry/Cavalry Fighting Vehicle	233	File:GEVD.png	In service with armoured cavalry regiments and mechanised infantry battalions.
GEVC	Steerswick Ordnance Factory	Command Vehicle	39	File:GEVC.png	In service with armoured cavalry regiments and mechanised infantry battalions; 2 additional vehicles acquired 1720 AN.
Support Vehicles
GFV4045A1	Leichenberg	Necromedical Vehicle	1	File:GFV4043A1.png	Sole survivor of 6 LFV4045 necromedical vehicles assigned to Stiermark Dragoons, XI.1608 AN. Refurbished as gravimetric vehicle by Steerswick Ordnance Factory, 1702 AN-. In service with Steerswick Guard Hussars.
GEVAM	Steerswick Ordnance Factory	Necromedical Vehicle	24	File:GEVD.png	In service with armoured cavalry regiments and mechanised infantry battalions.
GFV4048A1	Leichenberg	Armoured Recovery Vehicle	4	File:GFV4043A1.png	Original 3 survivors of 4 LFV4048 ARVs assigned to Stiermark Dragoons, XI.1608 AN. Refurbished as gravimetric vehicles by Steerswick Ordnance Factory, 1702 AN-. In service with Steerswick Guard Hussars. Fourth vehicle converted for service with Southmoorland Dragoons, 1720 AN.
Mule	Steerswick Ordnance Factory	Cargo/Personnel Transport	271	File:Mule GV.png	In service with armoured cavalry regiments and mechanised infantry battalions; 26 additional vehicles acquired 1720 AN.

Artillery

Name	Origin	Type	№ in Service	Image	Notes
Self-Propelled Artillery
GV6-52	Mondoworks	155mm Self-Propelled Howitzer	16		In service with Steerswick Guard Hussars and Southmoorland Dragoons from 1720 AN. Necromantic components of the original GFV4046A1 howitzers incorporated in 7 of the vehicles operated by the Steerswick Guard Hussars.
GEVM	Steerswick Ordnance Factory	120mm Self-Propelled Mortar	34	File:GEVM.png	In service with armoured cavalry regiments and mechanised infantry battalions.
Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Artillery
GFV4047A1	Leichenberg	Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Gun	8	File:GFV4047A1.png	Survivors of 16 LFV4047 SPAAGs assigned to Stiermark Dragoons, XI.1608 AN. Refurbished as gravimetric vehicles by Steerswick Ordnance Factory, 1702 AN-. In service with Steerswick Guard Hussars.
GEVAD	Steerswick Ordnance Factory	Air Defence Vehicle	54	File:GEVAD.png	In service with armoured cavalry regiments and mechanised infantry battalions.

Former equipment

Name	Origin	Type	№ in Service	Image	Notes
Self-Propelled Artillery
GFV4046A1	Leichenberg	155mm Self-Propelled Artillery	0 (7)	File:GFV4046A1.png	Survivors of 12 LFV4046 SPHs assigned to Stiermark Dragoons, XI.1608 AN. Refurbished as gravimetric vehicles by Steerswick Ordnance Factory, 1702 AN-. In service with Steerswick Guard Hussars until withdrawn from service 1720 AN; necromantic components removed and incorporated in replacement vehicles.