McLeod03

McLeod03

Flag of McLeod03
Motto: "He who laughs last doesnt get the joke"
Region	The Coalition Forces Alliance
Capital	McLeodia
Official Language(s)	English
Leader	James McLeod IX
Population	6.265 billion
Currency	Pound
NS Sunset XML

An introduction

McLeod03 is a large, proud nation, with a highly advanced aerospace industry, and arguably one of the most powerful air forces in the NS World today. For years, the country has fought for freedom, justice, and for human rights. Honour and respect are valued amongst the upper classes, especially amongst the Royal family.

The McLeod family has ruled the country for some time now, and remains popular with a large percentage of the population. The Kings have always been fair to their people, and since the ascention of King James I, crime rates have fallen by 80%, public healthcare expenditure has increased dramatically, and the welfare system has become both generous and efficient.

Geography

McLeod03 is based on a large island roughly in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, with no bordering nations, and surrounded on all sides by steeply sloping sea beds. The central regions are dominated by hills and mountains, and numerous picturesque lakes are scattered across the countryside, giving McLeod03 a booming tourist industry, popular amongst hikers and campers. The south coast is far more tropical in its climate, attracting an altogether different clientele.

Armed Forces

The armed forces of McLeod03 contained some 25,000,000 personel at the last count, divided almost equally amongst the five services:

The Royal Army is the oldest of the services, and is structured around being able to apply large amounts of firepower and personel to an area at high speed. As such, it contains abnormaly high numbers of mechanised, armoured, airborne, airborne cavalry, and light infantry regiments, and very few heavy infantry units.

The Royal Navy is the second oldest of the services, and currently operates 15 Carrier Battle Groups, and the same number of smaller Combat Patrol Groups. Its sole aim is to provide support to ground troops once they land, as well as to provide heavy transport capability to both the Army and the Air Force. They also, as a secondary role, act as heavy support for the Border Security Force.

The Royal Air Force is undoubtedly the most powerful of all the Armed Services, and also the second largest in terms of manpower. They are the first units to go into battle, and usually cause the most damage to enemy forces, either physically, pyschologically, or through reconnaisance missions. The EB-1C Vampire bomber is the mainstay of the RAF, and one of the premier strategic bombers in the world today, capable of Mach 2 speeds whilst carrying a devastating payload of cruise missiles and, unusally for bombers, air-to-air missiles as well.

The smallest and most secretive of the services is the SOC, or Special Operations Command. Little is known of their exact manpower or organisation, other than that of the Royal Guard, devoted to protecting the King, and the Royal Protection Unit, tasked with defending the Royal Palace, the Royal Family, and the hundreds of McLeodian diplomats throughout the world.

Last, but by no means least, comes the Border Security Force. Equipped with ex-RAF and Royal Navy equipment, this is the largest service, with some 6,000,000 personel. Formed by the fusing of the RAF's Coastal Command, the Coast Guard, Search And Rescue, and many of the Royal Navy's Light Patrol Groups, the BSF is devoted to patrolling the waters around McLeod03, keeping smugglers, terrorists, illegal immigrants, and foreign agents firmly at bay.

Culture

McLeodian culture is mostly British, although with the liberal policies of late, more foreign cultures have been allowed in, and several religions now have firm bases across the country. Sport is taken very seriously, with thousands of rugby and football clubs across the country. These are now receiving government funding as well, meaning better sports facilities are now available to almost anyone in the country.