People's Revolutionary Army Land Force (Liothidia)
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| People's Revolutionary Army Ground Force Volksrevolutionäre Armee Landstreitkräfte | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Active | 1918–present |
| Country |  Liothidia |
| Allegiance | Socialist Worker's Party |
| Type | Army |
| Size | 686,492 active 975,000 reservists |
| Part of | People's Revolutionary Army |
| March | Ruhm von Liothidia |
| Anniversaries | March on Rahden People's Army Day |
| Commanders | |
| Commander | General Karl-Horst Kläsener |
| Political Commissar | General Gerhardt Tauscher |
| Insignia | |
| Flag |  |
The People's Revolutionary Army Land Force (PRALF) (Liothidian: Volksrevolutionäre Armee Landstreitkräfte; VrALk ) is the land-based service branch of the People's Revolutionary Army and it is the largest and oldest branch of the entire Liothidian armed forces. The PRALF can trace its lineage from 1846; however, it was not officially established until 1918.
History
August Revolution
In the years proceeding the August Revolution of 1917-18, the military forces of Liothidia were referred to as the Imperial Liothidian Armed Forces, with the ground-force being officially known as the Imperial Liothidian Army. Formed in 1846, following Liothidian Unification, the ILA was the largest army in Belisaria and one of the most potent in terms of officer-corps training and armament. This status was re-affirmed in the First Lio-Vannoisian War (1870-1872) and played a significant role in growing great-power rivalries in northern and central Belisaria. However, economic stagnation and the increasingly hostile political situation within Liothidia during the turn of the 20th century effected the military as much as general society.
The socialist agitations of the pre-revolutionary period of 1910-1917 saw significant upheaval within the lower ranks as realisation of the high level of patronage and aristocratic domination of the officer-corps spread. The Socialist Workers' Party was the only far-left movement to make attempts at spreading influence to the lower-ranks throughout this period and saw some limited success, with the creation of Soldier-Councils in secret, in isolated rural garrisons and barracks. The onset of the Revolution in June 1917 greatly exacerbated tensions between the officer-class and lower-ranks. Opposition to the use of violence against protesters emerged in wake of the Massacre of the Bridges in late 1917, with non-landed officers questioning the use of the Army for control of the streets.
The Christmas period of 1917, further ruptured ties between soldiery and the landed-officer corps with violence spiraling out of control. A second major incident, the Raid on the Sportspalast, which killed 11 delegates of the broad-coalition of the left, the Workers' League, further impacted general support and authority of the Army command, with the first defections being reported in early January. The all-out anarchy of February-July 1918 sparked increased defections, with significant number of soldiers defecting to the revolutionaries in order to protect them from pro-monarchist militia and loyalist soldiers. By July, non-landed officers were defecting en-masse and SWP-aligned Socialist Revolutionary Committees were springing up across Liothidia within army facilities and barracks. On July 24, General Major Horst Obermann defected to the SWP and was granted command of the Revolutionary Red Guards, the SWP's militia.
The final break between the Imperial Army and the monarchy came with the Kaiserstraße Massacre, in which a mass column of protesters and striking workers were attacked by machineguns, grenades and rifles, leaving over 800 dead. Defections became so expansive, that entire divisions were vanishing from their barracks. Sixteen arms depots and arsenals were opened by their guards and weapons distributed to revolutionaries, while even landed officers were defecting to the SWP in exchange for safety from persecution. The collapse of the Imperial Army in August, led to the March on Rahden and the overthrow of the imperial government. Days later, the Liothidian Provisional Republic was proclaimed.
Überholung
Within days of the SWP's victory and proclamation of a Democratic People's Republic the new revolutionary government instituted a mass-purge of the military, including the Imperial Army of its landed-officers. Those who had defected were granted amnesty in exchange for a renouncing of its titles, lands and property to the state, though few offered to do so. Thousands of officers in all branches were detained and executed, greatly hollowing the officer-class of its most talented and capable. This would cause significant issue in 1918 and 1919, as the new government faced armed uprisings in Hvornum, Dannenburg, Black country and by religious minorities.
Forced with facing internal armed threats, the revolutionary government began promoting those of ranks of captain and major to senior staff positions. One such individual was Reinhardt Strecker who was the first commissioned officer to defect. He was promoted from Leutnant (Lieutenant) to the rank of Generaloberst (Colonel-General), and assumed command of the land forces. Strecker was swift to use his position to build a new Supreme Command for the land forces, selecting a large number of fellow class-students from his term at the Imperial War Academy, including Gustav Jaenecke, Eduard Hoepner and Eberhard Frießner. Strecker succeeded in securing the release of two landed generals from prison, Matthias von Falkenhorst and Max Freiherr von Kirchenbach, who were tasked by the government of restoring the Imperial War Academy as the State Academy for National and Revolutionary Defence. Frießner was tasked with commanding the effort to defeat the uprising in Hvornum and did so with great controversy. Other low-ranking commissioned officers who were rapdily promoted gained experience in confronting the other rebellions in the Black Country, Slavic majority areas and in reactionary regions of Dannenburg.
By 1921, all of the counter-revolutionary revolts had been crushed, leaving an estimated 210,000 people dead. Many rehabilitated landed-officers were retained and the new command staff was formally enshrined. The revolutionary government, keen to maintain a capable defence force, focused on training and rebuilding the officer corps, this was aided by the retention of many pre-revolution traditions, practices and cultures. The army itself was reformed and reorganised and "socialised." In 1922, all units of the maturing People's Revolutionary Army received a political commissar, while the army's subordination to the Socialist Workers' Party was achieved.
Inter-war period
Second Lio-Vannoisan War
Reconstruction
Global deployments
Ommelanden
Modern
General Military Reform
In wake of the Ommelanden intervention, a major reorganisation of the force began in 1999 organised by the Military Affairs Research Group, with the aim of converting all divisions into brigades, and cutting surplus officers, soldiers and establishments, as well as the breaking up and establishment of new independent branches. The PRALF was intended to create XX to XX brigades by 1 January 2009, including XX all-arms brigades, XX artillery and MRL brigades, X brigades of army air defence support forces, XX communication brigades, and two electronic warfare brigades. These changes saw the airborne corps moved into the independent branch of the Luftstürmkorps, the subordination of the Air Defence Forces under the People's Air Defence Command and the creation of specialised independent brigades within the Land Force.
In the course of the reorganization, the 4-chain command structure (military district - field army - division - regiment) that was used until then was replaced with a 3-chain structure: strategic command - theatre command - brigade. Brigades are supposed to be used as mobile permanent-readiness units capable of fighting independently with the support of highly mobile task forces or together with other brigades under joint command.
In a statement on 11 December 2009, PRALF Commander, General Erich Skella said that 70% of the Land Force was reformed by 1 November and that XX brigades of constant combat preparedness had already been created. Among them are the combined-arms brigade, missile brigades, assault brigades and electronic warfare brigades.
Structure
The First Secretary of Liothidia is the Secretary of the Revolutionary Defence Commission and thus commander-in-chief of the People's Revolutionary Army. The Army Command (Kommando Landstreitkräfte) of the Land Force, based in Rahden, directs activities. The Commander of the People's Revolutionary Army Land Force is appointed by the Revolutionary Defence Commission upon recommendation of the Marshal of the People's Revolutionary Army - the overall commander of the armed forces. Since 2011, the Commander of the Land Force also holds the position as Deputy Minister of Defence, alongside the Marshal of the PRA.
General Karl-Horst Kläsener has been Commander of the Land Force since 2015, who succeeded General Paul von Lübenstein, who was dismissed over corruption allegations.
The Army Command consists of the Central Command Staff of the Land Force, and departments for Peacekeeping Forces, Logistical Support Services, Rear Services of the Land Force, Cadre Services (personnel), Indoctrination Work, and Military Education. There were also a number of directorates which used to be commanded by the Ground Forces Commander-in-Chief in his capacity as a deputy defence minister. They included NBC Protection Troops of the Armed Forces, Engineer Troops of the Armed Forces and Border Support Units.
Operational structure
As a result of the 1999-2009 General military reforms, the Land Force now consist of armies subordinate to the five new theatre commands: (Western, Southern, Central, and Northern-Coastal Theatre Commands). The new districts have the role of 'operational strategic commands,' which command the Land Force as well as the Naval Forces and part of the Air and Air Defence Command (subordinate to the Land Force) within their areas of responsibility.
The GMR in 2006-09 moved to "modulise" the Theatre Commands, easing the chain of command during major re-deployments from one TC to another, with the primary focus being on the Western and Southern TCs. This was aided in part with the lengthy transistion from top-heavy divisions to smaller and tactical brigade structures. During 2009, all 23 remaining divisions were reorganised into four tank brigades, 45 Motorisierte-Schützen brigades and three airborne-assault brigades (pre-existing), though these were re-assigned to the Luftstürmkorps in 2010.
Personnel
Equipment
| Type | Active |
|---|---|
| Main battle tanks | 4,950 |
| Light tanks | 1,200 |
| Infantry fighting vehicles | 4,750 |
| Armoured personnel carriers | 2,895 |
| Towed artillery | 6,246 |
| Self-propelled artillery | 1,710 |
| Rocket artillery | 1,770 |
| SAM systems | 1,131 |
Small Arms
| Name | Image | Origin | Type | Cartridge | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pp-300 | 
|
Liothidia
|
Pistol | 9×19mm | |
| MP-56 | File:PM-06.jpg | Liothidia
|
Sub-machinegun | 9×19mm | |
| MP-04 | .jpg)
|
Liothidia
|
Sub-machinegun | 9×19mm | |
| StG-091 | 
|
Liothidia
|
Assault rifle | 5.45×39mm | Being replaced by StG-18, relegated to reserve |
| StG-18 | 
|
Liothidia
|
Assault rifle | 5.45×39mm | Introduced as main service weapon in 2016. |
| StGS-09 | 
|
Liothidia
|
Assault rifle | 5.45×39mm | In use with special forces. |
| StG-03 | 
|
Liothidia
|
Compact assault rifle | 9×39mm | In use with special forces. |
| EW-23 | 
|
Liothidia
|
Shotgun | 6.27 gauge shotgun | |
| Holzherr ScG | 
|
Liothidia
|
Semi-automatic sniper rifle/designated marksman rifle | 7.62×54mmR | |
| Holzherr ScG-18 | 
|
Liothidia
|
Semi-automatic sniper rifle/designated marksman rifle | 7.62×54mmR | Replacing the ScG. |
| Demsten SSG-01 | 
|
Liothidia
|
Bolt action sniper rifle | 7.62×54mmR | |
| Holzherr GK-9 | 
|
Liothidia
|
Anti-materiel rifle | 12.7×108mm | |
| MG-02 | 
|
Liothidia
|
General purpose machine gun | 7.62×54mmR | |
| MG-71 | .JPG)
|
Liothidia
|
Heavy machine gun | 12.7×108mm | |
| MG-98 | 
|
Liothidia
|
Heavy machine gun | 12.7×108mm | Moderate usage. |
Rocket propelled grenades
| Name | Image | Origin | Type | Caliber | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FMW-88 | 
|
Liothidia
|
Rocket-propelled grenade | 93mm | Incendiary weapon |
| PF-07 | <imgur w=125>z8RQaoz.jpg</imgur> | Liothidia
|
Rocket-propelled grenade | 40mm | Re-loadable launcher with a variety of anti-personnel and anti-tank munitions available. |
| PF-22 | <imgur w=125>mk8Gtmm.jpg</imgur> | Liothidia
|
Rocket-propelled grenade | 72.5mm | Single-shot disposable launcher. |
| PF-27 | <imgur w=125>AxSW9dA.jpg</imgur> | Liothidia
|
Rocket-propelled grenade | 105mm | Single-shot disposable launcher with tandem-charge warhead in an anti-tank role, FLR-1 thermobaric warhead for anti-infantry use and RMG variant for bunker busting use entered service in 2013. |
| PF-28 | <imgur w=125>o4MTixl.jpg</imgur> | Liothidia
|
Rocket-propelled grenade | 125mm | Single-shot disposable launcher with tandem charge warhead. Replacing all previous PF systems. |
| PF-29 | <imgur w=125>ge19bqj.jpg</imgur> | Liothidia
|
Rocket-propelled grenade | 105mm | Re-loadable launcher. Can use PF-30 tandem-charge munitions in an anti-tank role, or FR-29 thermobaric munitions in anti-infantry use. |
| PF-30 | <imgur w=125>4Fq8rGR.jpg</imgur> | Liothidia
|
Rocket-propelled grenade | 105mm | Single-shot disposable launcher for countering active protection systems. Limited use. |
Anti-tank guided missiles
| Name | Image | Origin | Type | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PAR-74 | <imgur w=125px>bERwuvz.jpg</imgur> | Liothidia
|
Anti-tank guided missile | |
| PAR-91 | <imgur w=125px>SvQDunM.jpg</imgur> | Liothidia
|
Anti-tank guided missile | |
| PAR-97 | <imgur w=125px>porOn5K.jpg</imgur> | Liothidia
|
Anti-tank guided missile | |
| PAR-12 | <imgur w=125px>9zjxer8.jpg</imgur> | Liothidia
|
Anti-tank guided missile | Fire-and-forget infrared homing |
Man-portable air-defense systems
| Name | Image | Origin | Type | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FlaRak-68 | <imgur w=125px>EnLusRr.jpg</imgur> | Liothidia
|
Man-portable air-defense system | |
| FlaRak-2 | <imgur w="125">KixtmOO.jpg</imgur> | Liothidia
|
Man-portable air-defense system | |
| FlaRak-3 | <imgur w="125">ZGtrybQ.jpg</imgur> | Liothidia
|
Man-portable air-defense system |
Artillery
| Name | Image | Origin | Type | Number in service | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 cm Granatwerfer 81 | <imgur w=125px>nGi14Ii.jpg</imgur> | Liothidia
|
120mm heavy mortar | ||
| 8.2 cm Granatwerfer 80 | <imgur w=125px>qcO0OH4.jpg</imgur> | Liothidia
|
82mm mortar | ||
| Howitzers | |||||
| sFH 12.2cm | <imgur w=125px>PNmwyKi.jpg</imgur> | Liothidia
|
122mm howitzer | Active: 1,294 Reserve: 1,200 |
|
| sFH 15.2cm | <imgur w=125px>sbI4Ryr.jpg</imgur> | Liothidia
|
152mm howitzer | Active: 954 Reserve: 1,250 |
|
| sFH 15.2Acm | <imgur w=125px>NFn1O3n.jpg</imgur> | Liothidia
|
152mm howitzer | Active: 1,104 Reserve: 1,300 |
|
| Self propelled guns | |||||
| PzH 12.2 Nelke | <imgur w=125px>qycIx1D.jpg</imgur> | Liothidia
|
122mm self-propelled howitzer | Active: 1,700 Reserve: 600 |
|
| PzH 15.2 Yak | <imgur w=125px>uUMJAo9.jpg</imgur> | Liothidia
|
152mm self-propelled howitzer | Active: 966 Reserve: 1,200 |
|
| PzH 15.2 Hyazinthe | <imgur w=125px>EzxIx2c.jpg</imgur> | Liothidia
|
152mm self-propelled howitzer | Active: 236 Reserve: 400 |
|
| PzH 15.24 Feldgeister | <imgur w=125px>RZCXgIN.jpg</imgur> | Liothidia
|
152mm self-propelled howitzer | Active: 550 Reserve: 658 |
More in production. |
| PzH 20.3 Löwe | <imgur w=125px>zxKmdco.jpg</imgur> | Liothidia
|
203mm self-propelled howitzer | Active: ~80 Reserve: 150 |
|
| PGrW 12 Erbsenbär | <imgur w=125px>QYgcofJ.jpg</imgur> | Liothidia
|
120mm self-propelled mortar | Active: 665 Reserve: 111 |
More in production. |
| Multiple rocket launchers | |||||
| RkW 12.2 Jericho | <imgur w=125px>MYk6oiG.jpg</imgur> | Liothidia
|
122mm multiple rocket launcher | Active: 1,050 Reserve: 1,195 |
More in production. |
| RkW 20.2 Sense | <imgur w=125px>ehai3MI.jpg</imgur> | Liothidia
|
220mm multiple rocket launcher | Active: 325 Reserve: 500 |
|
| RkW Universelles System | <imgur w=125px>0FMCCud.png</imgur> | Liothidia
|
122mm/302mm/400mm multiple rocket launcher | Active: 380 Reserve: ~100 |
More in production. |
| FrW-01 | <imgur w=125px>QPsJgEP.jpg</imgur> | Liothidia
|
220mm thermobaric rocket launcher | Active: 30 Reserve: 10 |
|
Cruise and ballistic missiles
| Name | Image | Origin | Type | Number in service | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RR-50 Streuschuss | <imgur w=125px>e1cCGK9.png</imgur> | Liothidia
|
NLOS land attack missile | ~200 | |
| RS-76 | <imgur w=125px>GO5mA9I.jpg</imgur> | Liothidia
|
short-range ballistic missile | ~180 | |
| RB-55 | <imgur w=125px>TWsWQEu.jpg</imgur> | Liothidia
|
Land attack cruise missile | ~276 |
Anti-aircraft artillery
| Name | Image | Origin | Type | Number in service | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flakpanzer 66 | <imgur w=125px>F3fzMaz.jpg</imgur> | Liothidia
|
Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun | ~3,280 | |
| Flakpanzer 95 | <imgur w=125px>8k9SEx7.png</imgur> | Liothidia
|
Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun | ~600 | |
| FlaRak-10 | <imgur w=125px>KfIBUK9.jpg</imgur> | Liothidia
|
Short range SAM | ~358 | |
| FlaRak-11 | <imgur w=125px>JfVKeb7.jpg</imgur> | Liothidia
|
Short range SAM | ~210 | |
| FlaRak-12 | <imgur w=125px>XU0yvRt.png</imgur> | Liothidia
|
Short range SAM | ~196 | |
| FlaRak-14 | <imgur w=125px>ldtOTGA.jpg</imgur> | Liothidia
|
Medium range SAM | ~350 | |
| FlaRak RP-20 | <imgur w=125px>NGjhgNJ.png</imgur> | Liothidia
|
Medium range SAM | ~381 | |
| RP-09 | <imgur w=125px>TXqZMZR.jpg</imgur> | Liothidia
|
Long range SAM | ~650 |
Armoured vehicles
| Name | Image | Origin | Type | Number in service | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tanks | |||||
| Pz-90 | <imgur w=125px>HaLs8qO.jpg</imgur> | Liothidia
|
Main battle tank | ~1,294 | All currently being upgraded the Pz-90F variant. |
| Pz-81 | <imgur w=125px>IDSGKZP.jpg</imgur> | Liothidia
|
Main battle tank | ~650 | All currently being upgraded the Pz-81D variant, over 1,200 put in storage or being exported. |
| Pz-72 | <imgur w=125px>7WJ6wd6.jpg</imgur> | Liothidia
|
Main battle tank | ~2,446 | All currently being upgraded the Pz-72C variant. |
| Pz-64 | <imgur w=125px>1yvJYfM.jpg</imgur> | Liothidia
|
Main battle tank | ~560 active ~1,200 in storage |
Active units modernised to Pz-64C variant. |
| Tank destroyers | |||||
| Panzerjäger-90 | <imgur w=125px>PbNthTW.jpg</imgur> | Liothidia
|
Mobile anti-tank guided missile system | Unknown | |
| Panzerjäger-94 | <imgur w=125px>sfpfL8V.jpg</imgur> | Liothidia
|
Mobile anti-tank guided missile system | Unknown | |
| Panzerjäger-14 | <imgur w=125px>u4huHBt.jpg</imgur> | Liothidia
|
Mobile anti-tank guided missile system | Unknown | |
| Infantry fighting vehicles | |||||
| SPz-17 | <imgur w=125px>DCNii1v.png</imgur> | Liothidia
|
Infantry fighting vehicle | ~450 | Currently being produced. |
| SPz-13 | <imgur w=125px>oWBIRF9.jpg</imgur> | Liothidia
|
Infantry fighting vehicle | ~900 | |
| SPz-80 | <imgur w=125px>3aY5d8N.jpg</imgur> | Liothidia
|
Infantry fighting vehicle | 2,000 | All currently being upgraded to the SPz-80M variant. |
| SPz-66 | 
|
Liothidia
|
Infantry fighting vehicle | 1,400 | Being modernised to the SPz-66M variant. |
| Armoured Personnel Carriers | |||||
| TPz-08 | <imgur w=125px>4tL5CRd.png</imgur> | Liothidia
|
Armoured personnel carrier | ~1,301 | Replacing previous APCs in service. Modular design allows for tank destroyer, self-propelled artillery and self-propelled anti-aircraft variants. |
| TPz-90 | <imgur w=125px>s7Q5rwq.jpg</imgur> | Liothidia
|
Armoured personnel carrier | ~411 | Production halted in 2007. |
| TPz-80 | <imgur w=125px>K0F5JNc.png</imgur> | Liothidia
|
Armoured personnel carrier | Active: ~1,183 Storage:~1,900 |
To be replaced by TPz-08. |
| GTf/SK | <imgur w=125px>C7cCdey.png</imgur> | Liothidia
|
Armoured personnel carrier | ~80 | Limited use with special forces. |
| GTf-04 | <imgur w=125px>zq2Jbmy.jpg</imgur> | Liothidia
|
Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle | ~490 | More in production. |
| GTf-05 | <imgur w=125px>mVSHnvl.jpg</imgur> | Liothidia
|
MRAP vehicle | ~250 | More in production. |
| Sd.Kfz-13 | <imgur w=125px>6bBIDXv.png</imgur> | Liothidia
|
Infantry mobility vehicle | Unknown | More in production. |
| Sd.Kfz-71 | <imgur w=125px>mPaQguZ.jpg</imgur> | Liothidia
|
Infantry mobility vehicle | Unknown | Currently being placed in storage or exported. |
Aricraft
| Name | Image | Origin | Type | Number in service | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unmanned aerial vehicles | |||||
| Ziedler Kolibri | <imgur w=125px>i5iSipQ.jpg</imgur> | Liothidia
|
Unmanned aerial vehicle | ~95 | |
| Ziedler Kormoran | <imgur w=125px>6uqp1ko.jpg</imgur> | Liothidia
|
Unmanned aerial vehicle | ~500 | It can be used for reconnaissance-strike and transport missions. Currently being upgraded with a new electronic warfare system. |
| Ziedler Spatz | <imgur w=125px>5To7yzt.jpg</imgur> | Liothidia
|
Unmanned aerial vehicle | Unknown | Used for reconnaissance and jamming. |
| Saxe-Döhle Kiebitz | <imgur w=125px>0v6coXG.jpg</imgur> | Liothidia
|
Unmanned aerial vehicle | ~1,100 | |
| Saxe-Döhle Hummel | <imgur w=125px>087Olu1.jpg</imgur> | Liothidia
|
Micro air vehicle | Unknown | Man-portable UAV system in use with specialist ground units. |