The Union Army

Union Army
Army Flag
Active	1919-Present
Country	Florencia
Allegiance	Union Defense Forces
Type	Army
Role	Land warfare
Motto(s)	"The Sword and Shied of the Motherland"
Mascot(s)	Lion
Anniversaries	December 1 (Army Day)
Commanders
Commander-in-chief	Lee Saemin
Secretary of Defense	Eo Jaeyeon
Commander of the Army	Jeon Bongseok
Chief of Staff	Admiral Lee Zachuan

Born from the fires of revolution, the Union Army is the oldest, largest, and most diversified branch within the Union Defense Forces. In many ways the Union Army is a microcosm of the rest of the military, with their own rocket troops, air defense troops, aircraft, and paratroopers. Originally a loose grouping of patriotic rebels resisting tyranny, the army has grown exponentially in terms of size and power since it's foundation in 1919. The mission of the Army is the defense of Florence's people and territory on the land and air. To fulfill this mission the army maintains extensive garrisons, deploys a wide range of weapons and vehicles, and makes a great use of specialized troops.

Structure

The Union Army can be broken down into four autonomous administrative components—the Army Ground Forces (AGF), Army Rear Forces (ARF), Union Army Air Forces (UAAF), and the Air-Descent Forces (ADF). The Army Ground Forces is responsible for the procurement, training, mobilization, and provision of land combat units. Provides the Union Army with "well led, disciplined, trained, and motivated" forces to the strategic directions in order to maintain for the defense of the Florencian Union at home and abroad. The rear forces of the army furnish logistical, technical, and what other special troops do not fit under the other three autonomous components. The Army Rear Forces are a vital link between the nation's economy and the army, as well as an essential service for supplying the needed material, construction, specialists, support and other duties needed for the Union Army to operate efficiently.

Soldiers during a "pass and review"

Branches of Service

Union Army Ground Forces

Ground Forces Combat Maneuver Units

1st Armored Division "Iron Lions" 2nd Dragoon Division "Jumping Mustangs" 5th Armored Division "Steel Dragons"

4th Armored Calvary RCT "Black Bears" 56th Armored Calvary RCT "Blackjack" 128th Dragoon RCT "Steel Knights"

1st Rifle Division “Vanguards” 2nd Rifle Division “Sykes Regulars” 3rd Rifle Division “Mud Crunchers” 7th Rifle Division “Bayonet” 24th Rifle Division “Victory” 89th Rifle Division “Rolling K” 93rd Rifle Division “Lethal Warriors” 104th Rifle Division "Timberwolf Division"

19th Mountain Division "Silverwolves"

129th Mountain RCT "Fighting Grays" 134th Mountain RCT "Waltzing Mackies" 202nd Rifle RCT "Tough Gents"

11th Air Calvary RCT 12th Air Calvary RCT 50th Air Calvary RCT 55th Air Calvary RCT 56th Air Calvary RCT 133rd Air Calvary RCT

Union Army Air Forces

The aerial warfare component, the Union Army Air Forces are tasked with the overall administration of the military's principle air force in support of the Army Ground Forces. The debate over the future of the air force within the Defense Forces led to the fracturing of the independent air force and the re-acquisition of frontal, long range, and material aviation responsibility by the army air forces. An extensive fleet of attack planes, multi-role fighters, swept-wind or four engine turboprop bombers, light and heavy transport movers, and rotary assets fall under the administration of the Union Army Air Forces, in addition to self propelled artillery anti-air assets. The air forces wield aerial mastery over the front line and beyond in support of the ground forces.

Air-Descent Forces

Well motivated volunteers with superior training, the Airborne Troops are some of the best troops in the army. Union paratroopers have no reason to be envious of their "straight legged" infantry counterparts when it comes to sheer firepower. Mechanized light armor enable Florencian "paras" a much greater deal of mobility over their foreign counterparts, at the same providing the airborne a lighter vessel for wrecking the same amount of destruction regular motorized infantry can wrought. Ferocious mobile assault troops or specialized rapid deployable paratroopers, the airborne is the Union Army's premier shock force.

Airborne Combat Maneuver Units

17th Airborne Division "Golden Eagles" 21st Airborne Assault Division "Pegasuses" 76th Airborne Assault Division "Panthers" 103rd Airborne Division "Peregrine Falcons"

Mobilization

Class A

Class A divisions are active duty formations at peak authorized strength and feature fully equipped volunteers with up-to-date equipment. In the event of mobilization such formations can be readily made available, deployment time reliant only on orders received and the mobility of the division.

Class B

Class B divisions are National Militia formations that feature a full compliment of officers and a cadre of enlisted to maintain equipment. In the event of war, reservists from the National Militia will be mobilized to bring the division to peak authorized strength, with additional training. Equipment and training within Class B divisions are nominally on par with their A counterparts.

Class C

Class C divisions are bare bone formations featuring active duty officers only. During times of war it will take some time for a Class C division to intake mobilized conscripts from the Scarlet Guards, yet time is cut down significantly with a divisional command structure. Of course arms and equipment need to be procured for the division before it can be deployed or conduct meaningful training exercises.

Invisible Divisions

In the spirit of the well ingrained doctrine of maskirovka, a number of "invisible divisions" exist within the Union Army. In peacetime most every divisional staff has duplicates for such position as divisional deputy commander and regimental. One of these deputies performs his responsibilities and assigned tasks on the daily accordingly. The duplicate performs his deputy commander positions to the best of his ability but rarely, because he has other responsibilities. For instance, the second divisional commander deputy has the hushed role of "Divisional Commander—Second Formation". A similar arrangement exists with the chief of staff and regimental commanders, and every battalion commander's own deputy has the additional task of performing his superior's job.

In the event of war, the division will receive its orders from Stavka, mobilize, and head towards the front. However the duplicate junior officers have remained in camp and the battalion commander deputies have been replaced by a company commander (for there are not two junior battalion commanders), and he by a platoon commander. The division heads to war, with a full complement of soldiers, officers, and equipment. Such inconsequential shuffling of officers does not reduce the combat efficiency of the division in any such way.

However, a cadre of officers have remained behind, those being the duplicate junior officers. An entire divisional command staff stands at the ready, but there is no division to command. The issue is soon rectified by the arrival of 13,000 reservists or conscripts to complement a full division. No doubt the fighting capabilities of such a hastily formed formation are inferior to that of the average fighting unit. But a conscripted mass of citizen-soldiers are built around a professional core of officers who have years of active duty experience as commanders or understudies to them. The question then arises, what is this division to be equipped with? The answer is simple, they use outdated equipment. Everything of military value that ends up being replaced or superseded by a newer model is passed down and eventually mothballed, but still kept in working condition. After a quick sprint of refreshing training, an entirely new division is ready to be sent to the front.

Of course no formal proof of such formations exist and very little knowledge of the extent and scope of these divisions, outside of the Union Army is present. OSS military intelligence has gone to great lengths to ensure the secrecy of such divisions remains very minimal to foreign governments. The purpose of these invisible divisions is two fold; the rapid procurement of a reasonable combat effective unit, and to always keep the enemy guessing. These phantom formations ensure that enemy intelligence will never be able to properly gauge the troop strength of Florencia nor even what units are being meet in combat.

General Purpose Unit Organization

Operational Group

An Operational Group is the highest tactical operating unit in the ground forces that, while not quite as standardized as a division, it still has a clearly delineated structure for a specific mission in different geographical areas and under various operational constraints. Operational groups typically feature subordinate divisions between the Union Army, National Militia, and territorial brigades of the Scarlet Guards; though the highest readiness units will be almost exclusively professional troops from the army. The command and control of an operational group is typically granted to a Lieutenant General.

All-Arms Operational Group

An all-arms operational group (though it is rarely referred to as one) is the basic field army component within the military ground forces. Such operational groups consist of two to four rifle divisions and one or two armored divisions, plus artillery, anti-air artillery, engineer, chemical defense, signal, intelligence, reconnaissance, armored, rotary, and rear echelon support units. The alteration of the number of rifle and tank divisions along with tube artillery and rocketry artillery support units determines if a group can operate in defensive or offensive roles.

Armored Group

Like the all-arms group, the armored operational group is a basic and essential component to any army group. And like the all-arms unit, the size and composition of an armored group differs depending on operational constraints and the geographical area. Typically an armored group deploys with two to four armored divisions with one or two infantry divisions, plus artillery, anti-air artillery, engineer, chemical defense, signal, intelligence, reconnaissance, rotary, and rear echelon support units. An armored army is slightly smaller than an all-arms group but features greater cross-country performance, maneuverability, and striking power in order to exploit operations deep into an enemy's rear.

Division

Divisions within the Union Army are for the most part standardized and simplified to maximize battlefield efficiency. The division is generally speaking the smallest organic arms unit and would be tactically subordinated to an army. A Major General will take charge of the formation and every division subscribes to the triangular combat maneuver regimental structure. Furthermore most every division retains a headquarters staff, artillery regiment, communications battalion, cavalry reconnaissance battalion, pioneer battalion, service battalion, aviation company, and an artillery anti-air battalion. National Militia divisions typically are organized identically to the TOE as the Union Army, but not always.

Rifle Division

The backbone of the Union ground forces is the rifle division. The Florencian rifle division is 13,000 soldiers arrayed into three maneuver regiments, one armored rifled (mechanized) and two motorized rifle. The main striking power of the armored rifle regiment lays in it's organic tank battalion, with the two mechanized battalions acting in support. Likewise the motorized regiments feature a mechanized battalion supported by two motorized battalions. The rifle division is the unsung hero, bearing the brunt of most fighting. Honorary epithets such as "Grenadier" or "Storm" may replace or supplement "rifle" as a morale-building honorific. Within militia rifle divisions the table of organization is always the same as that of the Union Army.

Eight Rifle Divisions are in service with the Union Army and the National Militia organizes four of them.

Light Division

The light divisions of the Union ground forces forgo the mechanized regiment organic to rifle divisions, instead opting for a third motor rifle maneuver regiment. Union Army light divisions also forgo the the mechanized battalion organic in a motorized regiment for another battalion transported via wheeled armored personal carriers. However some National Militia divisions retain the mechanized rifle battalion for all three maneuver regiments.

The light division is purposed to tackle vertical mountain warfare, high intensity urban missions, dense jungles, or water clogged marshes. Light infantrymen relay more so on marching through impassible ravines, skiing down alpine slopes, or fording through swamps as opposed to motorized transport. The Union's finest soldiers for any extreme or specialized environment. A battalion of light armored wheeled tank destroyers is tacked on for added firepower. National Militia light division table of organization typically forgo the tank destroyer battalion for a proper armored battalion All light divisions are given an environment specific designation, "Mountain" or "Jungle" for instance.

One light division is in service with the Union Army; the 19th Mountain Division. The Army National Militia reserve operates a further eight light divisions.

Armored Division

The armored divisions are the deep cutting sabers that emulate the cavalry of old. Meant to overwhelm the enemy with overwhelming firepower or simply race on past him, the armor is structured as two combat regiments of tanks and one of mechanized rifles. Armored regiments featuring two battalion of tanks supported by a mechanized battalion.

Armored divisions feature a leaner line up of 12,000 soldiers, which is of course offset by the greater concentration of armor, plus the addition of a motorized rocket artillery company. A commonality with the rifle division is that such honorifics as "Cavalry", "Dragoon", or "Hussar" can likewise be adopted. Militia armored division templates are typically the same, though an armored or armored rifle regiment can be forgone for just two combat maneuver regiments.

Currently the Union Army operates three of these divisions and the National Militia two.

Airborne Divisions

An airborne division is a much leaner formation as opposed to the rest of it's peers. With a strength of only 8,500 men, it has two maneuver regiments of parachutists, supplemented by an air deployable tank destroyer (or tank) battalion, and support units trimmed of excess. The Airborne Division is geared towards being a deep-penetration, almost guerrilla style fighting unit.

Whereas the airborne assault divisions of the Union Army are purposed towards being rapidly deployable and actually capturing and holding an objective. They are unique for their total mechanization utilizing light combat vehicles, leading to much greater combat mobility when compared to foreign counterparts. Given the nature of modern warfare a massed combat airdrop will not be completed, but mechanization and the extreme air mobility of the airborne assault forces ensures that they remain relevant as the Union Army's quick reaction force.

The Union Army currently has two airborne and two air assault divisions.

Regimental Combat Teams

Regimental Combat Teams are the smallest independent combat maneuver unit of the Union Army. These independent regiment are essentially reinforced combat regiments, with support, reconnaissance, and artillery elements. Regimental combat teams combine the unit cohesion of the standard regiment with accompanying reinforcements to provide greater firepower or flexibility to an army group. Independent regiments stand at an authorized strength of 4,000 soldiers and fall under the leadership of a Colonel.

Rifle Regimental Combat Team

A motorized infantry regiment reinforced by a wheeled or mechanized anti-tank battalion, along with all other typical reinforcements. Three of these regiments are organized under the Union Army and two by the National Militia. The independent rifle regiment typically act as environment specific units and are forward deployed by their respective strategic directions.

Armored Calvary Regimental Combat Team

The armored cavalry combat team is the Union Army's secondary armored force and is designed around a combined arms maneuver regiment supplemented by an additional reconnaissance cavalry group, armored rifle battalion, and artillery units. The Union army fields three of these regiments and the National Militia an additional one to augment operational group commanders with an independent reserve of heavy hitting armor.

Air Calvary Regimental Combat Team

The air assault component of the Union Army that deploy almost exclusively from aviation assets, quite smaller than most other separate regiments. The organic artillery battalion itself is omitted, so that motorized or towed howitzers can be replaced by dedicated helicopter gunships from the combat aviation group. The battlefield mobility of a reinforced regiment that is almost entirely transportable by way of rotary or VTOL assets is near endless. Air Calvary regiments are meant to act as an air mobile striking force for strategic direction commanders to seize strategic points such as bridges, airports, or industrial zones. There are currently six of these air assault regiments in the Union Army.

Ranks and Insignia

K-0 General Field Marshal of the Armies — Highest rank, mostly honorary and awarded posthumously for great national heroes K-1 General Field Marshal — Strategic Direction, Supreme Command level, and the head of the Stavka K-2 Marshal — service branch or Army Group level CO K-2 General — Army Group CO K-3 Lieutenant General — Operational Group level CO K-4 Major General — Corps level CO or Operational Group staff officer K-5 Brigadier — Division or (rarely) Corps level CO Senior Commanders K-6 Colonel — Brigade/Regiment level CO or Divisional level XO K-7 Lieutenant Colonel — Battalion level CO or Brigade/Regiment level XO K-8 Major — Specialized Company level CO or Battalion level XO Junior Commanders K-9 Captain — Company level CO K-10 Chief Lieutenant — Specialized Platoon level CO or Company level XO K-11 First Lieutenant — Platoon level CO K-12 Second Lieutenant — Most junior ranking commissioned officer Master Non-Commissioned Officers K-13 Chief Warrant Officer — Most senior contract NCO K-14 Warrant Officer — Aged volunteer NCO expected to have greater authority over younger conscripts Sergeants K-15 Master Sergeant — Most senior company NCO K-16 First Sergeant — Most senior platoon NCO K-17 Staff Sergeant — Squad NCO K-18 Sergeant — Fire team leader Soldiers K-19 Corporal — Junior NCO K-20 Private First Class/Specialist — Second enlisted rank K-21 Private — Enlisted rank