Latin Army

Latin Army Excertius Imperialis
File:Emblem of the Latin Army.png
Active	c. 6th century BC – present
Country	Latium
Allegiance	The Monarch
Branch	Army
Role	Land force
Size	249,000 active troops
Part of	Latin Armed Forces
Patron	Saint Michael
Commanders
Emperor	Constantine XX
Minister of Defense	The Lord Vipsanius of Tibur
Minister of State for the Legions	Ennodius Carisius
Chief of Staff	STRA Marcus Iccius
Chief Centurion Evocati	CCE Titus Sariannus

The Imperial Army (Latin Excertius Imperialis), more commonly known as the Latin Army (Excertius Latinum) is the land component of the Latin Armed Forces. It is the largest and oldest component of the Latin Armed Forces, as it encompasses a total of roughly 225,000 military personnel, x of which are active troops. The Latin Army is commanded by the commander-in-chief or Imperator is Emperor Constantine XX of Latium.

Doctrine, Organisation and Personnel Policies

As of the 2010's, the Latin Empire does not face a conventional land threat. As such, its missions are defined, in order of importance, as:

1. The reinforcement of fellow Belisarian Community states in the event of external aggression.

2. Limited military intervention or peacekeeping operations on a global scale beyond the Belisarian continent.

3. Providing assistance to the Civil Guards or the Praetorians in countering internal threats to the state.

The Empire's ground forces are thus configured and optimised to be capable of carrying out these duties. It is partially staffed through the conscription of a randomly-selected portion of each years' 18-year old age class of resident male citizens, who do not possess valid higher education deferments. Officers and senior NCO's are long service professionals.

Higher Organisation

The organisation chart of the 3rd Mechanised Division, Latin Army, comprised of the VII Armoured Legion, VIII Mechanised Infantry Legion and IX Mechanised Infantry Legion and support elements.

The main forces of the Imperial Army is organised as 21 Legiones of combat troops, supported by a number Alae which perform combat support functions. These forces are grouped into seven divisions.

The two Armoured Divisions (Divisio Cataphractarius) are the Imperial Army's heavy forces. They are optimised for a conventional warfare scenario on the Belisarian continent in support of Latium's BC neighbours. The Armoured Divisions consist of two Armoured Legions (Legio Cataphractius), an Armoured Infantry Legion (Legio Pedites Loricatorum), an Artillery Ala (Alae Tormentorum), a Combat Sustainment Ala (Ala Sustentationem) and other supporting elements.

The four Mechanised Divisions are a more versatile force. They each contain one Armoured Legion and one Armoured Infantry Legion optimised for conventional warfare, as well as the other auxiliary units of an Armoured Division. However, in recent years, their second Armoured Infantry Legions were replaced by a Motorised Legion (Legio Rapidus), equipped with 8-wheeled combat vehicles of a common family.

The Rapid Intervention Division (Divisio Intreventus Rapidus) is intended as a strategically mobile rapid reaction force for peacekeeping and other operations beyond Belisaria. It consists of three elite units, the Airborne Legion (Legio Pedite Aerium), the Mountain Infantry Legion (Legio Pedite Montem) and the Marine Infantry Legion (Legio Pedite Marinus). The latter is administratively part of the Imperial Navy, but grouped under the RID for operational purposes.

These six heavy divisions are grouped into two army corps, the I and II Corps. The Rapid Reaction Division is not subordinated to a Corps HQ and functions as a general staff reserve.

Legiones and Alae

A Legion is a combined arms combat group of between 4,500-4,800 personnel, the equivalent of a brigade in most armies. They are the primary operational units of the Imperial Army. A Legion possesses sufficient logistics assets to enable it sustain itself in independent operations for up to 72 hours.

An Armoured or Armoured Infantry Legion possesses a balanced mix of main battle tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, self-propelled howitzers and other assets. They are heavy combat units intended for conventional warfare. The former is suitable for open terrain. The latter, which contains a higher proportion of infantry, is more optimised for mixed terrain in which force versatility is important.

A Motorised Legion (Legio Rapidus) consists of infantry cohorts mounted in eight-wheeled VCC-3 Sagita vehicles and its variants. Compared to conventional mechanised forces, these are designed for rapid movement along motorways in regions with well-developed infrastructure and is capable of carrying out a wide-variety of military operations of different intensities, from assistance to civil power to combat against sophisticated opposition.

The Marine Infantry Legion (Legio XII Pedite Marinus) is trained in Amphibious warfare, although on land they operate as mechanised infantry, transported in the amphibious VCC-4 Neptunus wheeled APC.

The Airborne Legion (Legio X Pedite Aerium) is an elite light infantry formation which can deploy by parachute or Air assault helicopter. Most of the Imperial Army's special forces personnel originate from this unit.

The Mountain Infantry Legion (Legio XI Pedite Montem) receives training in high altitude and cold weather operations.

Aside from Legions, the Imperial Army also possesses a large number of Alae, some of which come under the command of one of the four divisions, others are independent. They are legion-sized groupings of forces not intended to enter direct combat, such as artillery, engineers, signal troops, helicopters, logistical support and so forth. The Alae have been described as the direct descendant of historical Auxilia regiments.

Cohors and Centuriae

Legions are constituted by Cohorts, the equivalent of battalions in most armies, and Centuries, the equivalent of companies. A Cohort of combat troops may consist of roughly 600-700 personnel, whereas the strength of a Century may be between 100-150.

An Armoured Cohort (Cohors Cataphractarius) consists of some 58 tanks, divided into four Centuries of 14, with two tanks allocated to the Cohort HQ. Each Armoured Century consists of two headquarters tanks and three four-tank platoons (Turma, pl Turmae).

An Armoured Infantry Cohort (Cohors Pedites Loricatorum) consists of three Armoured Infantry Centuries and one Combat Support Century. The former is divided into three platoons, each of four infantry fighting vehicles and two headquarters vehicles. The latter contains the Cohort's heavy weapons, including an anti-tank Century, a reconnaissance Century (including a sniper team), an automatic grenade launcher Century and a self-propelled mortar Century.

An Artillery Cohort (Cohors Tormentaria) usually consists of 24 artillery pieces in three batteries, a fire direction centre and a forward observer group. Usually, an observer party is allocated to each combat Cohort in the Legion.

A Legate would usually cross-attach the constituent elements of his combat Cohorts, and reinforce them with a portion of the Legion's combat support elements, such that it can operate independently as a battalion-sized 'Combat Group' (Coetus Pugnat). For instance, the headquarters of an Armoured Infantry Combat Group may have under its command an Armoured Century of 14 tanks, two Armoured Infantry Centuries, a Combat Support Century, an Engineer Century and the dedicated support of an artillery battery.

Small units organisation

The infantry Turma consists of a command team of three personnel, as well as three squads (Contubernium), which are the smallest combat units in the Imperial Army. A Contubernium is commanded by a non-commissioned officer (Decanus). An Armoured Infantry Cotubernium consists of nine men, commanded by a squad leader and divided into two fireteams of four, each of which is equipped with at least one machine-gun and one under-barrel grenade launcher. It is intended to work in close conjunction with its infantry fighting vehicle, which provides the squad's source of mobility and most of its firepower.

A rifle squad is also equipped with at least one designated marksman rifle, at least two disposable anti-tank weapons, as well as 2-4 Night vision device or clip-on infra-red weapons sights.

Special Forces

The Commando Cohortis "Arcanii" is the Imperial Army's special forces unit. Configured similar to "Rangers" units in other armies, the Arcanii is a Cohort of four Centuries a trained and equipped for parachute-insertion, unconventional warfare, direct action and special reconnaissance, including 'black operations'. It can act independently, or in close conjunction with other Imperial special forces units such as the Praetorians' Equites Singulares Augusti or the Imperial Navy's Combat Frogmen, as well as Imperial Intelligence in a given operation.

Equipment

Small arms

Name	Image	Origin	Type	Cartridge	Details
PX4		Latium	Pistol	9×19mm	Replaced the P76 in 2005
M12	File:M12S Beretta.jpg	Latium	Sub-machinegun	9×19mm
MX4		Latium	Sub-machinegun	9×19mm
PMX	File:Pmx bdt zoom002-1-850x442.png	Latium	Sub-machinegun	9×19mm
VI70		Latium	Assault rifle	5.56x45	Phased out of regular service, stored for reserves only
VI556		Latium	Assault rifle	5.56x45mm	Standard issue rifle
FR-12	File:SPAS-12 stock folded.jpg	Latium	Shotgun	12 Gauge Shotgun
BSR-120		Belfras	Marksman rifle	7.62×51mm
SRS		Latium	Sniper rile	7.62×51mm, .338 Lapua Magnum
HTI		Latium	Anti-materiel rifle	12.7x99mm
Ameli		Latium	Light machine gun	5.56×45mm	Replacing the MG3 as the standard squad machine gun
MG710		Latium	Medium Machine gun	7.62×51mm
M2 HB		Latium	Heavy machine gun	12.7×99mm

Grenade-based weapons

Name	Image	Origin	Type	Details
VI.30		Latium	Grenade
VI.89		Latium	Grenade
M203 grenade launcher		Latium	Under-barrel grenade launcher	40mm
GL09 Advanced Airburst Weapon	File:Advanced airburst weapon 2.png	Arthurista	Handheld automatic grenade launcher	25mm grenades
SB LAG 40		Latium	Automatic grenade launcher	40mm

Anti-tank weapons

Name	Image	Origin	Type	Details
C90		Latium	Shoulder-launched anti-tank weapon
C-100		Latium	Shoulder-launched anti-tank weapon
MBT LAW		Ghant	Shoulder-launched anti-tank weapon
BGM-71 TOW		Sydalon	Anti-tank guided missile	To be phased out
Vesper missile		Arthurista	Anti-tank guided missile	Currently being produced to become standard issue
Polyphem		Latium	Loitering missile
E-92		Latium	Gun-launched ATGM
Scorpion missile		Belfras	Heavy ATGM for helicopters and UAV's

Combat vehicles

Name	Image	Origin	Type	Numbers
C1 Aries		Latium	Main battle tank	900 - those in active service have largely been upgraded to the AMV standard.
VC80	<imgur w=125>ZLqnhHf.jpg</imgur>	Latium	Main battle tank	600 remaining, all mothballed in long-term storage
VI.22		Latium	Infantry fighting vehicle	1027
VCC-3 Sagitus		Latium	Wheeled modular armoured platform	Equips four Motorised Legions .
VCC-4 Neptunus		Latium	Wheeled modular armoured platform	Equips the Imperial Marines.
VI.803		Latium	Armoured Personnel Carrier	1,500+, mostly in storage and to be phased out
VI.01		Latium	Wheeled APC	Mostly employed by support units
VI.72		Latium	Wheeled APC	Mostly in storage and to be phased out
B1 Centaurus		Latium	Armoured reconnaissance vehicle/wheeled fire support vehicle	500+
Bronco All Terrain Tracked Carrier		Lion's Rock	Articulated tracked vehicle	100+, primarily used by mountain troops.
Iveco LMV		Latium	General utility vehicle
MaxxPro		Latium	MRAP

Artillery

Name	Image	Origin	Type	Numbers
L16 81mm mortar		Arthurista	Medium mortar
M1064 mortar carrier		Latium	120mm self-propelled mortar	Equips Armoured and Armoured Infantry Legions
M1064 mortar carrier		Latium	120mm self-propelled mortar	Equips Motorised Legions
Mod 56		Latium	105mm packed howitzer	24, equips the Airborne Legion
FH70		Latium	155mm towed howitzer	24, equips the Marine Infantry Brigade
Palmaria (artillery)		Latium	155mm Self-propelled howitzer	Upgraded with L/52 barrels for 40+km range with base-bleed and 50+km with rocket-assisted rounds, equips Armoured and Armoured Infantry Legions
Sagitus 155		Latium	155mm Self-propelled howitzer	Equips Motorised Legions
TDI Ares	File:MLRS 05.jpg	Belfras	Self-propelled rocket artillery	100

Air Defence Weapons

Name	Image	Origin	Type	Numbers
GDF		Latium	35mm twin AA gun
SIDAM 25		Latium	Quad 25mm self-propelled AA gun	Being phased out
Otomatic	<imgur w=125>hpwA6cR.jpg</imgur>	Latium	76mm self-propelled AA gun	One battery of six vehicles per Armoured or Armoured Infantry Legion
Sagitus 76		Latium	76mm self-propelled AA gun	One battery of six vehicles per Motorised Legion
FIM-92 Stinger		Belfras	MANPAD
Aspide		Latium	Short-range SAM system	Being replaced by AD-16
CAMM		Latium	Medium-range SAM system	Equips divisional-level AA Cohort
Archer Missile		Belfras	Long-range SAM system	Used to defend high-value static and semi-static assets

Army Aviation

Name	Image	Origin	Type	Numbers
AgustaWestland AW109		Latium	Light utility/scout helicopter
A129		Latium	Attack helicopter
Clios Peregrine		Belfras	Medium-lift helicopter
Aigios Heron		Belfras	Heavy-lift helicopter
AeroVironment RQ-11 Raven		Latium	Miniature UAV
Falco		Latium	Medium UAV
MQ-1C Warrior		Belfras	Long-endurance UCAV
Harpyia		Latium	Long-endurance loitering attack drone

Battlefield surveillance

Name	Image	Origin	Type	Numbers
Mobile Artillery Monitoring Battlefield Radar		Arthurista	Counter-battery radar
RASIT		Latium	Battlefield surveillance radar
Giraffe radar		Ghant	Battlefield air defence radar