Imperial Forces

Propaganda by the Ministry for the Imperium in Apollonia to bolster the ranks of the Imperial Armed Forces. The focus lies on the people of Greater Kildare. A Jingdaoese in legionary outfit is shown, while the poster pleads the reader to serve the Army for both Heavenly Light, Kaiseress and the Imperial Republic.

The Imperial Forces
Active:	1598 – 1671 AN 1679 –
Motto:	Spite is our armour.
In use by:	Ministry of State
Allegiance:	Shireroth
Type:	Unified armed forces
Service Branches	Palatini Corps (PC) Imperial Navy Imperial Shirerithian Air Forces (ISAF) Ordo Imperiale Decimae Auxiliary Forces (AuxF)
Size:	292,086 nobles (officers) 1,225,720 denizens (regulars) 13,533,929 auxiliaries (reservists and militia)
Nickname:	The Forlorn Guard
Minister of Military Affairs:	The Admirable Zhao Feng, Lord of Nangang
Allies:
Opponents:	Benacian Union
Conflicts & Deployments	Many civil wars and local conflicts Sxiro-Jingdaoese Confrontation War of Jingdaoese Immolation War of Lost Brothers Hammish Civil War Kalirion Fracture Sathrati Emergency Shiro-Benacian War Elluenuueq Resurgence

The Imperial Forces is composed of several military branches, namely the Imperial Ground Forces, the Imperial Navy of Shireroth (INS), the Imperial Shirerithian Air Forces (ISAF), the Ordo Imperiale Decimae, the Shirerithian Supplies Service and Auxiliary Forces. The nation itself is divided in several military regions, called Departments. Untill the early 18th century, the Forces closely worked together with the Raspur Pact. Disagreements and potential departure from the Pact, led to hostile actions taken under the leadership of the Benacian Union against to retrieve military assets. Ever since the First Thuylemans Government, the Forces have been preparing for a potential conflict with its neighbour, which has been seen increasingly as a threat to Shirerithian sovereignty.

Recent History

Feudal Armies

The Imperial Forces of Shireroth were once a mighty military force, consisting of three main branches: the Imperial Army, the Imperial Navy of Shireroth (INS), and the Imperial Shirerithian Air Forces (ISAF). With a large population and vast territory, Shireroth was able to boast one of the largest and most powerful armies on Micras during the 16th and 17th centuries. However, the effectiveness of the Imperial Forces was hampered by their reliance on the support of local lords and their feudal armies. Despite their impressive size on paper, internal conflicts and competition for resources made them less formidable in reality. In fact, one of the grievances of the Kildari during the Revolution of 1617 was the lack of faith they had in the ability of the Kaiser and his Imperial Forces to defend the borders against invasions, such as that of the Garllicians.

In the 17th century, the Shirerithian Supplies Service became increasingly important, providing essential logistical support and acting as a reserve of paramilitary militia. However, the Kalirion Fracture devastated the Imperial Forces, reducing them to a small remnant of their former strength. The Palatini Corps emerged as a replacement for the Imperial Army, but this allowed for an opportunity to reform and modernize the remaining forces.

Raspur Pact Training Mission-Shireroth

The Raspur Pact Training Mission-Shireroth (RPTM-S) was established in 1679 at the initiative of Benacia Command. The aim of RPTM-S was to assist in the development of Imperial Forces training structures and institutions so that Shireroth could build an effective and sustainable capability that addressed the needs of the Imperial Republic, that would defend its remaining territories against secessionists and which would be able to resist any further efforts at capitulation by the regency in Shirekeep. RPTM-S was not a combat mission but was a distinct mission, under the political control of the Raspur Pact's Joint Military Council. Its operational emphasis was on training and mentoring. The activities of the mission were coordinated with the Shirerithian Ministry of State, whose minister was the de-facto commander of the Imperial Forces, and the Imperial Advisory Council.

In 1694 Benacia Command authorised the return of a significant quantity of surplus small arms, rejected by the UDF for use in the Second Elwynnese Civil War, to the arsenals of the Imperial Republic. These comprising primarily of:

• 243,838x – M1591 7.62 mm rifles
• 110,750x – M1656 9 mm sub-machine gun
• 80,000x – M1525 9 mm pistols
• 79,188x – M1508 Martini-Rossi 11.56 mm rifles

The weapons would be transferred from the depots of the Black Legions in the Unified Governorates to designated arsenals in Brookshire and the Duchy of the Guttuli via a series of road convoys that would travel across the UGB, Tellia, Sanama, and Drak-Modan in order to reach their intended destinations.

Salomeid Reforms

The early 18th century saw a shift towards a more modern approach to warfare, with new equipment, command structures, and organizational strategies being implemented. Many noble armies were disbanded and integrated into the revamped Imperial Forces, including those of Batavia and Jingdao.

Structure

The Imperial Forces have a distributed structure that relies predominantly on ground combat as a consequence of the Kalirion Fracture and the loss of advanced military hardware and the trained personnel to operate them. At its low point, the Palatini Corps was the only armed force under Imperial authority. One of the goals of the Thuylemans Cabinets has been to transform the many various semi-compatible organizations along a more streamlined, Imperium-wide plan.

Organizations

• Palatini Corps: ground, air, and riverine combat command headquartered in Shirekeep. Founded in 1637 AN, made independent in 1664 AN.
  • The Sentinel Guards: ground combat formation
  • The Secret Guards: ground combat formation
  • The Palace Guards: ground combat formation
  • The Kampioen Guards: ground combat formation
  • The Apollonian Guards: ground combat formation
  • The Veteran Guards: ground combat formation
  • The Kalirion Guards: ground combat formation
  • The Sathrati Guards: ground combat formation
  • The Flying Guards: aerial combat formation
• Evagati Corps
• Ducal Army of Brookshire: ground combat command headquartered in Maltenstein. Organized in 1683 AN as Her Imperial Highness's Brookshirian Auxiliary Service and regional militia, reorganized in 1695 AN.
  • Dolorous Association: ground combat formation
  • Isenbury Association: ground combat formation
  • Woodshire Association: ground combat formation

• Ducal Army of the Guttuli: ground and maritime combat command headquartered in Lachlan. Organized in 1694 AN from preexisting local peacekeeping forces.
  • Lockenhasp Association: ground combat formation
  • Lowbrook Association: ground combat formation

• Ducal Army of Modan: ground combat command headquartered in Drakorda. Organized in 1704 AN from the anti-SCROTUM elements of the Drak-Modani Defense Force
  • Mortis Mercatoria Association: ground combat formation

• Keizerlijke en Koninklijke Strijdkrachten van Batavië
  • Leeuwenkorps
  • Vrije Weermacht
  • Bataafse Koninklijke Luchtmacht
    • Luchtmobiele Brigade
  • Bataafse Koninklijke Zeemacht

• Feudatory Host of Kildare
  • Hondonese Banner Army
    • VII Heavenly Corps
    • VIII Heavenly Corps
  • Zhaoqin Banner Army
    • XIV Heavenly Corps
    • XV Heavenly Corps
• Feudatory Host of the Raynor Isles
  • Qianxi Banner Army
    • X Heavenly Corps
    • XI Heavenly Corps
• Neiwufu Agency
  • Apollonian Guards of the Eastern Imperium
  • Imperial Whites
  • Tegong
    • Five Banners Army

• Imperial Navy of Shireroth
  • The River Guards: riverine combat formation (administered by the Palatini Corps)
  • 1st Maritime Association: headquartered in Lichport, organized in 1690 AN as the Sea Corps (administered by the Ducal Army of the Guttuli)
  • 2nd Maritime Association: headquartered in Eriksburg (administered by the Ducal Army of Modan)
  • 3rd Maritime Association: headquartered in Fort Sephiroth (administered by the Ducal Army of Modan)
    • So-Saran Battle Command: combined-arms air-ground naval infantry formation
    • Draconian Battle Command: combined-arms air-ground naval infantry formation

At the operational level, ground combat units are organized into Reinforced Cohorts (Pr. Toißuszoþ Gauht), a concept adapted from the Guttuli Corps's Streïkrupp. As the name suggests, an infantry cohort is reinforced with attached armored reconnaissance, artillery, and engineering maniples. This allows for the application of heavy weapons systems to be more easily available at the tactical level. The commanding officer of the cohort, typically a Mid-Grade Tribune, serves as the commanding officer for the Reinforced Cohort.

Three Reinforced Cohorts, along with the parent units for their attached combat support as well as additional defensive and logistical support units, are organized into a Battle Command. The Battle Command is expected to be capable of sustained independent operations.

Departments

Map of the Military Districts, in the Year 1730 AN.

Implemented in 1724 AN, the Imperium is divided into a series of regional military districts, or Departments, to control and administer military installations and units located within their jurisdiction. Regular transfers between the various departments over the next few years allowed for units with vastly different origins and operating principles to learn and train together.

Name	Headquarters	Region
Department of the West	Macoeur	Batavia, Sagittarius, Faya Veronique Island, Dietsberg
Department of the Confluence	Lichkeep	Shirekeep, Woodshire, Maltenstein
Department of the Gaudin	Rhodondra	Highpass, Schwinn, Dolorous, Shimmerspring, Thanatos, Sehmls
Department of the Isen	Dalbruï	Fortis, Isenbury, Lakhal, Dragacht, Aquaraqua, Skyla Islands
Department of the Guttuli	Irenaea	Near Guttuli, Far Guttuli, Coastal Guttuli, Lichport
Department of MASS	Arg-e Isabella	So-Sara, Zy-Rodun, Draconia, Amity, Mirioth, Yardistan
Department of the East	Port Halluci	Kezan, Dalmacija, Qaoshan, Kildare, Jingdao, Blackrock, Gong Li, Audentior, Jinkeai, Xianbei, Talenore

Ranks

As directed by the Ministry of State's Commission for Defence, regular Imperial Forces now operate within a single system of ranks, uniforms, and equipment, in order to sustain interoperability.

On paper, each regional army maintains its own general staff under the authority of its own Master of Soldiers, who creates field formations, called Associations, over whom he designates a Standard. In actuality, the regional armies have been reduced to a merely administrative role, with each general staff tasked with maintaining supply and training. Associations are created under the direction of, under the authority of an appointee of, and receive strategic direction from the Commissioner for Defence. Associations are composed of units freely shuffled between Associations as necessary to meet Imperial strategic goals with the shortest logistical lines. This arrangement is a systematized form of the previous ad-hoc Banners placed under the appointed authority of a Nypḥyk'u (RL. "Standard Bearer"), whose subordinate units were a free mixture of militia, professional, and irregular troops as resources allowed it.

These changes are reflected in the changes to the rank structure, which no longer distinguishes between 'Spear' and 'Specialist' units, which has condensed the general officer ranks considerably, which has placed significantly larger responsibility upon the Field Officer ranks, and which has seen an expansion of Company-Grade and senior-NCO ranks. Under this new scheme, which has been influenced by its roots in the Brookshire militia and re-educated remnants of the Guttuli Corps, NCOs (or Principals) can seek entry into the Officer Candidate program, receive a commission, and gain access to the higher ranks. The children of nobles have adjusted to this more meritocratic officer recruitment process by sending their children into military academies, so that they may qualify for career acceleration upon entry into the Imperial Forces.

		Rank				Ground Force	Air Force	Maritime Force
General Officer	OF-8	Master of Soldiers / Frainan Streïakeï				Army, CO
	OF-7	Standard / Staggus				Association, CO
Field Officer	OF-5	Tribune (Broad Grade) / Ahmst (Bræþ Griþ)				Battle Command, CO		Squadron, CO
	OF-4	Tribune (Mid Grade) / Ahmst (Mi Griþ)				Cohort, CO	Wing, CO	Frigate, CO
	OF-3	Tribune (Narrow Grade) / Ahmst (Mair Griþ)				Cohort, 2i/c	Group, CO	Corvette/Submarine, CO
Company Officer	OF-2	Captain / Fiþnan	Ordinate / Opratzan	OR-9	Principal	Maniple, OC	Chain, CO
		Undercaptain / Niþnfiþnan	First Overwatchmaster / Ænst Uvnahtaldan	OR-8		Maniple, 2i/c
	OF(D)	Overwatchmaster-Squire / Uvnahtaldan-Silbir	Overwatchmaster / Uvnahtaldan	OR-7		Watch, OC
		Watchmaster-Squire / Ahtaldan-Silbir	Watchmaster / Ahtaldan	OR-6
		Underwatchmaster / Niþnahtaldan		OR-5		Watch, 2i/c
		Prime / Frum		OR-4	Soldier	File, OC
		Chosen / Usczosoþ		OR-3		File, 2i/c
		Experienced / Usfaroþ		OR-2
		New / Nuï		OR-1

Specialists

After two years of their initial contract, soldiers may apply for specialist training. If accepted, they become a Trainee Specialist under the apprenticeship of a Principal Specialist. Following apprenticeship, certification is required for being assigned a specialist billet. Principal Specialists combine skills specialization with the tasks of organic leadership, discipline, and training.

Entry into a military academy grants certified specialist status upon completion. The most common military academy is an Officer Candidate School, and is required for receiving an officer commission.

Army Specialists

	Command & Discipline	Artillery	Combat Support	Administrative	Medical	Engineering
OF-2	Camp Prefect Maniple OC	Battery OC			Physician	Engineer
	Maniple 2i/c	Battery 2i/c			Assistant Physician	Assistant Engineer
OR-9	Maniple OC	Battery OC			Medical Ordinary	Architectural Ordinary
OR-8	Maniple 2i/c	Gun Group OC Tactical Group OC
OR-7	Watch OC	Gun Captain Surveyor	Forward Observer	Interrogator Drill Instructor Weapons Instructor Arms Custodian	Medical Vulnerary	Surveyor
OR-6
OR-5	Watch 2i/c
OR-4	File OC	Artillerist	Mortarer Sniper Gunner Observing Assistant Signaler	Carcerary Clerk Recruiter Accountant	Medic	Pioneer Carpenter Mason Electrician Plumber

Term of Service

Soldiers join the Imperial Forces under an initial 6-year contract. After completing their initial contract, if they pass qualifications, they may be offered a second 4-year contract as a Junior Principal. Thereafter, if they pass qualifications, they may be offered a third long-term contract as a Senior Principal.

Soldiers may be up-contracted before their initial contract has been completed if they are highly qualified, highly specialized, or are certified to fill a role that is in particularly high demand.

Upon honorable completion of service, an individual is awarded with perpetual status under Grade A and a medallion of service completion, so that denizens without merit may know they are legally obliged to provide a demonstration of respect. Failure to maintain dignity of status may result in revocation one's Grade A status and the destruction of one's medallion.

Uniforms

Uniforms for the Imperial Forces, circa 1702 AN.

In the decades after the Kalirion Fracture, the Imperium relied upon irregular forces, local militia, and rehabilitated defeated hostile forces to augment the Palatini Corps, the only components of Benacia Command that had remained loyal to the Golden Mango Throne. Beginning in the 1690s, regularization became a priority for the Imperial Commission for Defence. Introduced in 1702 AN, a new set of standardized uniform specifications were established, replacing all previous forms.

The Palatini Corps retained a distinct color and cut for its field and service uniforms, and was given permission to continue using its distinct Full Dress uniform, first authorized in 1663 AN, when on ceremonial duty in Shirekeep.

Field Dress

Issued to all members of the Imperial Forces, derived from the all-weather utility uniform used by the Ŝḥenĉeł'yh and adopted by the Brookshire Ducal Army.

Service Dress

Distinct variants for Officers and Principals. Service Dress for Officers and Ordinates is modelled on the pre-Fracture Lancer officer tunic, now applied to all officers irrespective of unit type. Service Dress for other Principals uses the same design as the Field Dress uniform but out of the same fabric and dyes as the Service Dress for Officers. Soldiers are not issued a Service Dress uniform, but may purchase it for non-field duty use when authorized by their commanding officer (e.g. ceremonial duty, parade, court appearance, public-facing offices, etc).

Noteworthy Insignia

	Opratzan continue to be awarded a gorget upon ascending to the esteemed rank. A subdued enamel version is issued for field dress in addition to the standard silvery-grey design.
	The Crypteia, due to its longstanding and persistent connection to the Palatini Corps, continues to use PC uniforms -- membership in the Crypteia is only explicitly indicated by the identifying button on the left breast, above service ribbons if worn.

Equipment

Aircraft

• See Imperial_Shirerithian_Air_Forces#Equipment for a list of equipment.

Artillery

Name	Origin	Type	№ in Service	Image	Notes
Anti-aircraft artillery
ALB (Anti-Air Gun)	Solaris-Gibarian (IDB-9)	Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun	420		Four 30mm autocannons in pairs (2000 rounds)
Ikari 2A SPAAG	Sokoku Industries	Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun	405
SAI RAPIER	Sanama Arms Industries	Short-range air defence system	204		Procured under the Rhodondra Agreement (1724) between Sanama and Shireroth. Delivery to be completed by 1730. 8x air defence battalions to be established.
Field artillery
80 mm field gun	Sokoku Industries	Towed artillery	380		Rebuilt and returned to service.
Apollo HA-IX	Sokoku Industries	Self-propelled artillery	134
RB (Mobile Gun)	Solaris-Gibarian (IDB-9)	Self-propelled gun	497		105mm rifled tank gun (38-round autoloader), Coaxial 7.62 mm MAG MG, Polybolos 12.7mm HMG (optional). In service from 1707 AN.
SAI Bigbaddaboom 155	Sanama Arms Industries	Self-propelled 155mm howitzer	288		Assigned exclusively to "heavy" legions. 9x battalions to be formed.
SAI MGW1 155	Sanama Arms Industries	Self-propelled howitzer	1,170		Procured under the Rhodondra Agreement (1724) between Sanama and Shireroth. Delivery to be completed by 1730. 48x artillery battalions to be established.

Infantry equipment and weaponry

Equipment for the infantry, much of it obsolete and dating back to before the Kalirion Fracture, had been much plundered by the Black Legions and Benacia Command. These losses were made by acquisitions from companies in Batavia, Kildare, and Sanama.

Name	Origin	Type	№ in Service	Image	Notes
Equipment
Personal weapons
Clock 19	Clock Company	Officer sidearm crew sidearm	194,824
M1525 9 mm pistol	Allied Production Matrix	Officer sidearm crew sidearm	75,950
M1591 rifle	Allied Production Matrix	Marksman rifle	25,200
M1610 7.9 mm rifle (semi-automatic)	Allied Production Matrix	Service rifle (obsolete)	47,705
M1656 9 mm submachine-gun	Allied Production Matrix	NCO sidearm crew sidearm	158,725
OL Pattern M1718	Royal Ordnance Factory Lichkeep	Battle rifle	3,901,432		Primary service rifle for denizens attached to the Imperial Ground Forces as regulars.
Section weapons
AG-11 machine gun	Gangdiguo Small Arms Ammunition Factory	Light machine-gun	152,050
Troop weapons
G19 machine gun	Gangdiguo Small Arms Ammunition Factory	Heavy machine-gun	71,355
Squadron weapons
Protective equipment and body armour

Vehicles

Name	Origin	Type	№ in Service	Image	Notes
Armoured vehicles
Horjin Combat Vehicle 56	Allied Production Matrix	Infantry Fighting Vehicle	4,905
IMW-3 Snark	Sokoku Industries	Mobile command platform	295
J-23 Heavy Tank	Sokoku Industries	Heavy tank	2
Mango-H1 Tank	Sokoku Industries	Heavy tank	3,600
Oni 1717 AFV	Sokoku Industries	Armoured fighting vehicle	4,900		350x in service as of 1728 AN. 568x per year to be delivered 1729–1737.
SAI Urqo	Sanama Arms Industries	Main Battle Tank	1,008		Issued exclusively to "heavy" legions.
SG-1 Baker King	Solaris-Gibarian (IDB-9)	Armoured fighting vehicle	2,667		539x in service as of 1728 AN. 266x per year to be delivered 1729–1737.
Sokoku Rec-1722B	Sokoku Industries	Infantry mobility vehicle	2,188
Taiyo III	Sokoku Industries	Light tank	350	File:Taiyo III.png
Taiyo IV	Sokoku Industries	Light tank	382	File:Taiyo IV.png
Gravimetric vehicles
FC-15 Stoat	Kezan Floating Cargo Manufacturers (IDB-4)	Compact Armored Fighting Vehicle	3,432
Support vehicles
IE-1 Goat	IrenEnt (IDB-10)	Light cargo tractor	142,784
SG-3 Halyard King	Solaris-Gibarian (IDB-9)	Modular combat support vehicle	169,732
Sokoku Rec-1722A	Sokoku Industries	Scout vehicle	10,430

Vessels

• See Imperial_Navy_of_Shireroth#Equipment.

Late Salomeid Reforms (1710s & 1720s)

During the early 18th century, plans were forged to reform and modernize the weakened armed forces of the Imperial Republic.

Service branches:

• Imperial Ground Forces
  • "Gaelen IV" Regiment: opposing force unit for training purposes
  • Palatini Corps
  • Auxiliary Forces
  • Leftovers of the Jingdaoese Armed Forces
  • Leftovers from the Batavian Royal Army
  • Scholae Apollonae
    • Apollonian Guards of the Eastern Imperium
    • Apollonian Guards of the Western Imperium
• Imperial Maritime Forces
  • Imperial Navy Fleet
  • Imperial Navy Cadet Force
  • Coastal Defence Guard
• Imperial Aerial Forces
  • Air Support Command
  • Air Defence Command
  • Bomber Command
  • Fighter Command
  • Strike Command
  • Luchtmobiele Brigade
• Shirerithian Supplies Service
  • Directorate of Imperial Defence Administration
  • Directorate of Research & Engineering
• Intelligence and secret services
  • Chamber of the Crypteia
  • Tegong: religious and cultural police
    • Unit 666
  • Ordo Imperiale Decimae & Vigiles Arcani
  • S.W.O.R.D.
• Strategic Defence Initiative: defence of the air space and territory of the Imperial Republic against attack by ballistic missiles or other weapons of mass destruction by external forces