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Imperial Forces

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The Imperial Forces
Shire flag.png

Imperial Forces.png

Active:
  • 1598 – 1671 AN
  • 1679 –
Motto: TBC
In use by: Ministry of State
Allegiance: Shireroth (Imperial Regency)

Type: Unified armed forces
Service Branches
Size: 291,604
Nickname: The Forlorn Guard
Current Commander: Commissioner, the Lady Aethonius

Allies:
Opponents:
Conflicts & Deployments

Recent History

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.

Organization

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.

  • 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
  • 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
  • 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, with large attached naval infantry, coastal artillery, and air assets (administered by the Ducal Army of Modan)

Personnel

Personnel in the Imperial Forces by Service
Name Personnel
Palatini Corps (PC) 57,600
Imperial Navy (IN) 197,824
Imperial Shirerithian Air Forces (ISAF) 36,180
Auxiliary Forces (AuxF) TBC

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

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.

ImperialForces FieldRankInsignia.png

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).

ImperialForces ServiceRankInsignia.png

Noteworthy Insignia

ImperialForces Gorget.png 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.
CrypteiaButton.png 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