Isselmere-Nielander Army
Ensign | |
Command | |
---|---|
State | Isselmere-Nieland |
Headquarters - Building |
Daurmont Fairfax House |
Secretary of State |
Michael Asquith, MP |
Chief of General Staff | MGA Sir Roderick Pelham, Bt |
Establishment | 1684 |
Components | |
Isselmere-Nielander Army Territorial Militia Regiments | |
Structure | |
| |
Personnel | |
Regular Force - Per capita |
18,173,201 0.2558% |
Budget (USD, 2007) | |
Total - Per capita |
$6.207 trillion $340,855 |
Percentages - GDP - National budget |
1.5% 4.78% |
Abbreviations | |
The Isselmere-Nielander Army (INA), otherwise known as the Land Service, is the ground component of the United Kingdom of Isselmere-Nieland Defence Forces (UKINDF). It is the second in precedence, seniority, and size of the United Kingdom's armed forces, behind the Royal Isselmere-Nieland Navy (RINN). As of 25 January 2007, there are 18,173,201 active personnel or soldiers in the Regular Force.
The Secretariat of the Army, headed of the secretary of State for the Army and the Chief of (the) General Staff (CGS), manages the day-to-day operations of the Army in accordance with the directives of the Defence Council. The CGS is the ex officio if not de facto seniormost officer in the Army and is its operational commander-in-chief.
Contents
History
The establishment of a permanent standing army dates back dates back to the formation of the Temple Guards Regiment in 1684. Before then, the Army consisted of militias raised by noblemen, knights, gentry, or, from the late sixteenth-century, officers of State known as lords lieutenant, or of companies of mercenaries hired on either long- or short-term contract. Whilst the new royal regiments — in other words, those created at the behest of the monarch like the Temple Guards — formed the backbone of the Army and the free companies of mercenaries were gradually paid off, the old regional regiments, based on the ancient tradition of local or regional levies raised in response to immediate threats, overwhelmingly made the majority of personnel.
The practice of purchasing one's commissions tied the regional regiments more closely to localities and local magnates than to the monarch. Royal regiments sold commissions as well, but not always and were more likely to promote officers, even from the other ranks, on the basis of merit rather than wealth or loyalty. Even so, sons of the gentry and nobility were almost the entirety of the officer class, a process that only began to change in the last quarter of the nineteenth-century. Consequently, throughout much of its long history, the Army has been of variable if not questionable quality, with the royal regiments generally performing better than their regional counterparts.
Royal influence was particularly important in the development of specialist trades, such as the then-maligned artillery and engineers, especially during the eighteenth-century.
The practice of purchasing one's commission lasted until 1857.
From 1684 to 1789, the Army grew into the largest force within the United Kingdom, only to cede its place to the RINN in 2005 with the latter service's acquisition of two Europa-class heavy command battleships.
Honorifics
Unlike most branches of the UKINDF like the Royal Navy, the Royal Marines and the Royal Air Force, the INA does not bear the title Royal. This is due to the ancient tradition of local or regional levies raised in response to immediate threats and the practice of selling commissions that linked those bodies of men more closely to local magnates than to the monarch. Later bodies of specialist soldiers promoted and supported by the monarchy, such as the then-maligned artillery and engineers, would bear the honorific royal. From 1903 following the Boer War, combat arms units — that is, infantry and cavalry regiments — were awarded the title for meritorious conduct in combat.
Infantry, cavalry, armoured, and other combat regiments may be granted other titles and honours, such as membership in the Corps of Guards, which originated with the monarch's Life Guards. Other such units may bear the distinction of King or Queen's Own, typically signifying that the unit was levied by special command of the monarch, or that of another important personage, such as the Duke of Daurmont's Own Huguenot Fusiliers, established in 1632.
Distinctiveness is more colourfully upheld by units commemorating ethnic heritage, such as the aforementioned Huguenot Fusiliers and the King's Own Anguistian Regiment, formed in 1715, or a traditional operational characteristic, such as Rifles, Dragoons, etc. Such units, like the Guards, usually wear distinctive dress for ceremonies and, albeit in muted form, in barracks.
Organisation
Despite the massive expansion of the Army in recent years, the service has retained its regional focus.
Arms of service
Administratively, the INA is divided into Corps or arms of service, notably the:
- Adjutant-General's Corps
- Royal Isselmere-Nieland Artillery Corps (Field (towed) or Horse (self-propelled))
- Armoured Corps
- Army Air Corps
- Guards
- Corps of Infantry
- Royal Isselmere-Nieland Engineers (Field, Electrical/Mechanical, etc.)
- Logistics Corps
- Signals Corps
The Provost-Marshal Corps was discontinued with the advent of the Royal Gendarmerie.
Structure
In the following structure table, units are for infantry, artillery, armoured units, and other units, where applicable. If but one is mentioned, it refers to an infantry sub-unit.
Unit | Acronym | Officer Commanding | Senior Leader | Size |
---|---|---|---|---|
Team | (n/a) | (n/a) | Specialist or senior private | 2 soldiers |
Fireteam | (n/a) | (n/a) | Lance corporal or Corporal | 3 soldiers or 2 teams |
Section Gun, etc. Tank |
(n/a) | (n/a) | Corporal or Master Corporal Bombardier or Master Bombardier Corporal or Master Corporal |
6-11 soldiers or 2 fireteams[1] 1 piece 1 tank |
Platoon Gun Group Troop |
Pl (n/a) Tp |
Second Lieutenant or Lieutenant | Sergeant Cannoneer Sergeant |
22-44 soldiers 2-4 pieces 3-4 tanks |
Company Battery Squadron |
Coy Bty Sqn |
Major | Company Sergeant Major Battery Sergeant Major Squadron Sergeant Major |
ca. 150 soldiers 6-8 pieces 9-16 tanks |
Battalion Regiment Regiment |
Bn Rgt Rgt |
Lieutenant-Colonel | Regimental Sergeant Major | ca. 700 soldiers 18-24 pieces 27-48 tanks |
Regiment or Battle Group | Rgt or BG | Colonel | Regimental Sergeant Major | 1000-2500 soldiers |
Brigade | Bde | Brigadier | 3 infantry battalions, 1 armoured regiment 3 artillery regiments 2 armoured regiments, 1 infantry battalion | |
Division | Div | Major-General | 2+ brigades | |
Corps | (n/a) | Lieutenant-General | 2+ divisions | |
Army | (n/a/) | General | 2+ corps | |
Army Group | (n/a) | Colonel-General | (n/a) | 2+ armies |
Theatre | (na/) | Field Marshal | (n/a) | 2+ army groups |
Infantry
Team
- Leader: Specialist or senior private
- Personnel: 2 soldiers
- Weapons: Rifle, support weapon
- Leader: Lance corporal or corporal
- Personnel: 3 soldiers or 2 teams
- Weapons: Rifle, rifle-grenade launcher, light machine gun, designated marksman rifle
- Leader: Corporal or master corporal
- Personnel: 6-11 soldiers or 2 fireteams (typically between 8-9 soldiers including leader)
- Weapons: May include PGM.77 Emu anti-tank guided missile (ATGM)
Platoon (Pl)
- Officer Commanding (OC): Second lieutenant or lieutenant
- Leader: Sergeant
- Personnel: 22-44 personnel; Command element, 3 rifle sections, and weapons detachment
- Weapons: general purpose machine gun, 60mm mortar, PGM.77 Emu ATGM
Company (Coy)
- OC: Major
- Leader: Company Sergeant Major/Company Quartermaster Sergeant
- Personnel: Command element, 3 rifle platoons, weapons platoon
- Weapons (Weapons platoon): 3 × heavy machine guns, 3 × 81mm mortars, 2 × PGM.78 Roc ATGM
Battalion (Bn)
- CO: Lieutenant-Colonel
- Leader: Regimental Sergeant Major/Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant
- Personnel: Headquarters and service company (HSC), 3 rifle companies, combat support company
Regiment (Rgt) or Battle Group (BG)
- CO: Colonel
Brigade (Bde)
- CO: Brigadier
- Leader
- Personnel: 3 infantry battalions, 1 armoured regiment
Division (Div)
- CO: Major-General
- Leader
- Personnel: 2+ infantry brigades
- CO: Lieutenant-General
- Personnel: 2+ divisions
- CO: General
- Personnel: 2+ corps
- CO: General, Colonel-General or Field Marshal
- Personnel: 2+ armies
- CO: Field Marshal
- Personnel: 2+ army groups
Rank structure
The rank structure of the INA follows that of the real-life NATO, albeit modified to account for the massive expansion of the Army. As in the British Army, warrant officers officially considered part of "Other Ranks" rather than as a separate stratum.
For enlisted personnel, chevrons are typically yellow with point down, with rank on upper left arm (as well as on both epaulettes where appropriate), except for warrant officer dress uniforms on which rank insignia is on both forearms. Enlisted personnel wear insignia for their branch of service (engineering, gunnery, radar, etc.) on the upper right arm on both duty and dress uniforms, with the exception of camouflage gear whereupon branch insignia is omitted.
Sleeve insignia for commissioned officer ranks are worn on the lower sleeves in dress or garrison uniforms, on epaulettes on duty uniforms. If body armour is worn, rank is on chest.
Code | Ministers | Úeníoiche | Ráðherrar | Epaulettes[2] |
---|---|---|---|---|
(n/a) | Minister of Defence | Úeníog an tÁmdhifinn | Varnarráðherra | (n/a) |
(n/a) | Minister of State for the Defence Forces | Úeníog Úlaidh an tÁmdhifinnlú | Varnarliðsrikísráðherra | |
(n/a) | Secretary of State for the Army | Rúnaigh Úlaidh na Bhuídhin | Rikísritari Hers | |
Code | Chiefs of Staff | Bénaithe Úarne an tSáirbhis | Forstjórar | Epaulettes |
(n/a) | Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS)[3] | Bénaidh Úarénn an tÁmdhifinn (BUA) | Forstjóri Varnarstjórnar (FVS) | No special rank insignia |
(n/a) | Chief of the General Staff (CGS)[4] | Bénaidh Úarénn Bhuídhin (BUB) | Forstjóri Herstjórnar (FHS) | |
Code | Dignity of State | Urdhas Ghúlaidh | Rikísvirðuleika | Epaulettes |
OF-10c | Grand Marshal of Isselmere-Nieland (GMIN)[5][6] | Mórmharascal na hUislíamór-Nhígúlad (MMUN) | Mikilmarskalk Isslamærar-Nýlands (MMIN) | Two marshal's batons[7] crossed within laurel wreath surmounted by crown[8] over the coat of arms circled by four five-pointed stars[9] at 45° to x-y axis |
Code | General Officers | Céghléchúidhe | Herstjórar | Epaulettes |
OF-10b | Marshal-General of the Army (MGA)[4][5] | Marascalghénearál Bhuídhan (MGB) | Marskalkgeneral Hers (MGH) | Two marshal's batons crossed within laurel wreath surmounted by crown over coat of arms |
OF-10a | Field Marshal (FM)[5][10] | Marascal mághir (MMag) | Völlmarskalk (VM) | Two batons crossed within laurel wreath surmounted by crown |
OF-9b | Colonel-General (CGen) | Cérnalchéghléchúidh (CCeg) or Cérnalghénearál (CGen) |
Generálóferste (GÓf) | Crown over three stylised roses[11] surmounting sabre crossing baton |
OF-9a | General (Gen) | Céghléchúidh (Ceg) or Génerál (Gen) |
Generál (Gen) | Crown over two stylised roses surmounting sabre crossing baton |
OF-8 | Lieutenant-General (LGen) | Léghtenantchéghléchúidh (LCeg) or Léghtenantghénerál (LGen) |
Visgenerál (VGen) | Crown over stylised rose surmounting sabre crossing baton |
OF-7 | Major-General (MGen) | Maorchéghléchúidh (MCeg) or Maorghénearál (MGen) |
Generálmajór (GMaj) | Crown surmounting sabre crossing baton |
OF-6 | Brigadier (Brig) | Brigadchéghléchúidh or Brigadghénearál (Brig) |
Brigader (Brig) | Crown surmounting three pips[12] |
Code | Senior Officers | Ófigeachda shénochta | Yfirforingjar | Epaulettes |
OF-5 | Colonel (Col) | Cérnal (Cer) | Óferste (Of) | Crown surmounting two pips |
OF-4 | Lieutenant-Colonel (LCol) | Léghtenantchérnal (LCer) | Ófersteliðsforingi (OfLf) | Crown surmounting pip |
OF-3 | Major (Maj) | Maor (Maj) | Majór (Maj) | Crown |
Code | Junior Officers/Subalterns | Ófigeachda Ósiau | Yngsforingjar | Epaulettes |
OF-2 | Captain (Capt [A]) | Capten (Capt [B]) | Kapteinn (Kapt [H]) | Three pips |
OF-1b | Lieutenant (Lt) | Léghtenant (Lt) | Liðsforingi (Lf) | Two pips |
OF-1a | Second Lieutenant (2Lt) | Dárna Léghtenant (2Lt) | Undirliðsforingi (ULf) | Pip |
Code | Officer Cadets | Daltaí | Foringjabyrjendur | Epaulettes |
SO | Officer Cadet (OCdt) | Dalta (Dlt) | Foringjabyrjandi (FB) | Thin bar |
Code | Warrant Officers | Ófigeaghda barántaithe | Heimildar Undirforingjar | Sleeve Insignia or Epaulettes |
OR-10b | His Majesty's Warrant Officer of the Defence Forces (HMWODF)[5][13] | Ófigeagh barántaidh an tEidh Mórchaidigh an tÁmdhifinnlú (OBEMAL) | Hans Hátignar Varnarliðsflokksstjóri (HHVLFS) | Coat of arms within laurel wreath surmounted by crown |
OR-10a | Sergeant Major of the Army (SMA) or Conductor (Cnd)[3][5] |
Maorshérsint Bhuídhan (MSBH) | Yfirflokksstjóri Hers (YFSH) | Coat of arms within laurel wreath surmounted by stylised rose |
OR-9d | Command Sergeant Major (SMC)[5] | Maorshérsint Bhéinnasc (MSB) | Yfirflokksstjóri Armfylkingar(YFAF) | Coat of arms within laurel wreath |
OR-9c | Sergeant-Major of Higher Formation (SMHF)[5] | Maorshérsint Uích-Fórbhiad (MSUF) | Yfirflokksstjóri Efri Herfylkingar(YFEH) | Coat of arms over Army insignia |
OR-9b | Base Sergeant-Major (SMB)[5] | Maorshérsint Úarchodlú (MSU) | Yfirflokksstjóri Herstóðvar(YFHS) | Coat of arms over crossed swords[14] |
OR-9a | Chief Warrant Officer (CWO)[15] | Bénófigeach Barántaidh (BOB) | Yfirflokksstjóri (YFS) | Coat of arms |
OR-8 | Master Warrant Officer (MWO)[16] | Ófigeagh Barántaidh Shénogh (OBS) | Meistarflokksstjóri (MFS) | Crown within laurel wreath |
OR-7 | Warrant Officer (WO)[17] | Ófigeagh Barántaidh (OB) | Flokksstjóri (FSt) | Crown |
Code | Non-commissioned Officers | Bis-Ófigeaghda | Undirforingjar | Sleeve Insignia or Epaulettes |
OR-6b | Master Sergeant (MSgt)[18] | Peidrúshérsint (PSgt) | Yfirliðþjálfi (YLÞ) | Three chevrons surmounted by crown |
OR-6a | Staff Sergeant (SSgt)[19] | Sérsint Úarinn (SU) | Starfsliðþjálfi (SLÞ) | Three chevrons surmounted by stylised rose or branch symbol |
OR-5b | Sergeant (Sgt)[20] | Sérsint (Sgt) | Liðþjálfi (LÞ) | Three chevrons |
OR-5a | Master Corporal (MCpl)[5][21] | Méstrocorporól (MCpl) | Yfirkorporál (YKpl) | Three chevrons, topmost dark or red |
OR-4 | Corporal (Cpl)[22] | Corporól (Cpl) | Korporál (Kpl) | Two chevrons |
Code | Enlisted Men | Saoghdiúra | Hermenn | Sleeve Insignia or Epaulettes |
OR-3 | Lance Corporal (LCpl)[23] | Bis-Corporól (BCpl) | Undirkorporál (UKpl) | Chevron |
OR-2c | Private 1st Class or Private Specialist (Pte, Spc)[5][24] | Arbenigúr (Arb) | Gefreytúr (Gf) | Stylised rose |
OR-2b | Private 2nd Class or Private Trained (Pte)[18] | Saoghdiúr (Sgd) | Óbreytúr (Obr) | (n/a) |
OR-2a | Private 3rd Class or Private Basic (Pte) | Milúr (Mil) | Hermaður (H) | |
OR-1 | Private 4th Class or Private Recruit (Pte) | Adfilúr (Adf) | Nýlið (N) |
As indicated within the footnotes above, several enlisted ranks within the INA have different names dependent upon the Administrative Corps to which one is detailed or duties the soldier performs. The list above gives only the generic rank structure.
Qualification insignia
Pilot’s Wings
Aircrew Wings
Paratrooper’s Wings
Uniform
Army and attached personnel may wear one of five different styles of uniform whilst performing their duties.[25]
- No.1 (Ceremonial) Dress
- No.2 (Mess) Dress
- No.3 (Service) Dress
- No.4 (Base) Dress, also known as garrison dress, typically worn by personnel working in offices, worn without ribbons or awards. The No.4b Dress for artificers, mechanics, and technicians, which consists of coveralls, is commonly referred to as work dress.
- No.5 (Operational) Dress or battle dress, consists of trousers, tunic, and other environmental clothing (including cold weather and chemical-biological-radiological protection kit) in one of four digital camouflage patterns, collectively known as Pattern 2003 Disruptive Pattern Camouflage (DPC). These patterns are Temperate, Tropical, Arid, and Arctic (i.e., white). An unofficial, seldom seen pattern is colloquially known as Tundra.
Berets
Most INA personnel wear berets for garrison and general service duties, a practice deriving from the British Army that itself was based on that of French Army units that appropriated the headwear from the Basque people of Gascony. Berets come in many colours and two styles, from the infrequently worn camouflage one that compliments the standard battle dress, to the standard khaki or hunter green wool variety sported by most soldiers.
Colour | Example | Units |
---|---|---|
Khaki | Infantry and general | |
Hunter green | Infantry and general (field) | |
Rifle green | Rifle and Fusilier regiments | |
Black | Armoured and associated regiments | |
Maroon | Parachute regiments | |
Postman blue | Army Air Corps regiments | |
Red | Royal Gendarmerie detachments | |
Safety orange | Search and rescue personnel[26] | |
Saffron | Defence Forces fire brigades | |
Sand | Special Service regiments |
Current equipment
Pattern 2003
- DPC tunic and trousers, made of an infrared signature-reducing fabric.
- Body armour: Includes vest (and attachments) and helmet.
- Vest: Electrorheological fluid forms the base armour, into which ballistic ceramic plates may be inserted, covered by replaceable DPC.
- Helmet: A solid composite structure consisting of lightweight ballistic polymer fabric (Hauberk), with a thin ballistic ceramic core, providing Level III-IV protection. Heavier than the American Personnel Armor System for Ground Troops helmet it replaced. With room to fit the standard UKINDF personal role radio (PRR), as well as fittings to attach vision enhancing equipment (VEE) such as night-vision goggles, and a protective visor and neck protection for riot control duties.
- Tactical vest, in DPC, with pouches for L117 assault rifle and/or L119 machine gun magazines, grenade pouches, and a waterproof pocket for maps or other material.
- Load carrying equipment, in DPC, with a variety of changeable pouches.
Small arms
- L117 6.5×39 mm assault rifle
- L118 6.5×39 mm carbine
- L119 6.5×39 mm light machine gun
- L120 6.5×39 mm designated marksman rifle
- L7A3 7.62×51 mm general purpose machine gun
- M2QCB heavy machine gun
Land vehicles
- L10 wheeled medium logistics vehicles
- L13 wheeled heavy logistics vehicles
- L15 tracked light armoured vehicle series
- L16 wheeled light armoured vehicle series
- L18 wheeled general purpose vehicles
- L21 tracked heavy armoured vehicle series
- L36 tracked heavy armoured vehicle series
Helicopters
References
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UKIN Security Forces |
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Defence Forces Naval Service |
Paramilitary Forces Coast Guard |
Topics on Isselmere-Nieland | ||
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