Commonwealth of Reikland Navy

The Commonwealth Navy is the naval service branch of the Commonwealth of Reikland Armed Forces and one of the uniformed services of Reikland. It is the largest and most powerful blue-water navy in the world, with a battle fleet tonnage greater than most other navies combined. It has the highest combined battlefleet tonnage, the largest carrier fleet with 13 fleet aircraft carriers and another thirteen helicopter carriers. With more than 980,000 active and reserve personnel, the CFN is the third largest branch in terms of personnel.

Mission

The Commonwealth Navy is the seaborne branch of the Commonwealth Armed Forces. The three primary areas of responsibility for the Navy are:

• The preparation of Naval Forces necessary for the successful prosecution of War;
• The maintenance of Naval Aviation, including land-based air assets, air transport essential for naval operations, and all air weapons and air techniques involved in the operation and activities of the Navy.
• The development of weapons, aircraft, techniques, tactics, organization, and equipment for naval combat and service elements.

Equipment

As of 1520, the CRN operates 439 deployable vessels and another 287 support ships. Additionally, the Navy maintains 5,520+ aircraft, some 75,640 vehicles, and more than 113,460 buildings on almost 5 million acres of land.

Ships

The names of ships of the Commonwealth Navy are prefixed with the letters "CNS", meaning "Commonwealth Navy Ship". Non-commissioned, civilian manned vessels are prefixed with the letters "CS", meaning "Commonwealth Ship". Ship names are selected by the Secretary of the Navy in accordance with established precedent or to honor important places or people. Additionally, each ship recieves an alpha-numeric hull designation, with the letters indicating ship type (I.E. CVN for nuclear carriers) and the numbers representing the numbers of vessels built for that particular type (DDGN-68 indicating the 68th nuclear powered guided missile destroyer). All ships are placed on the Naval Vessels Register after the ship is ordered and tracks the current status of the ship, its date of commissioning, and its date of decommissioning. Vessels removed from the registry prior to disposal (by scrapping or scuttling) are said to be stricken. The Navy also maintains a reserve fleet of older vessels maintained for reactivation if necessary.

The Commonwealth Navy was one of the first to install nuclear reactors aboard ships and currently operates the largest fleet of nuclear powered vessels in the world, with 119 surface vessels and 106 submarines are powered using nuclear reactors and form the core of the "Battle Fleet". Aircraft carriers are powered by two reactors while nuclear cruisers, destroyers, and submarines are powered by a single reactor.

Aircraft Carriers

The Commonwealth Navy maintains a force of 13 fleet aircraft carriers, with three deployed at all times. Three are also currently undergoing mid-life refuel and refit operations. Carriers deploy as part of a Carrier Battle Group, which includes one to three nuclear powered guided missile cruiser, four to six nuclear powered guided missile destroyers, two nuclear powered fast attack submarines, and one supply ship. Modern carriers are named for admirals and politicians.

Amphibious Warfare Vessels

Amphibious Warfare Ships are a central part of the Commonwealth Navy, relied upon to deploy CRMC units to combat zones. There are three distinct types of Amphibious Warfare Ships in CRN service: the Amphibious Assault Ship, Dock Landing Ship, and Amphibious Transport Dock.

The Amphibious Assault Ship is a small aircraft carrier that also serves as a transport for Marines and landing craft. The CRN maintains a fleet of 14 Amphibious Assault Ships, each capable of deploying around 1,700 Marines to hostile shores and supporting them with aircraft.

The Dock Landing Ship is a type of ship primarily designed to carry landing craft. The size of the well deck that allows for the launch, retrieval, and storage of large landing craft means they rarely carry more than about 500 Marines. The CRN has 18 Dock Landing Ships.

Finally, the Amphibious Transport Dock are outwardly similar to Dock Landing Ships with the primary difference currently being the type of landing craft carried. Where a Dock Landing Ship largely carries 3 or 4 LCACs, an Amphibious Transport Dock carries smaller amphibious personnel carriers and, as a consequence, generally has a larger complement of Marines. The CRN intends to replace all 18 Dock Landing Ships with Amphibious Transport Docks, which necessitated designing the ATDs to be able to carry LCACs. 17 Amphibious Transport Docks are in CRN service.

Cruisers

Cruisers are large surface combatants that conduct air defense, anti-submarine warfare, surface warfare, and shore bombardment missions either independently or as part of a squadron or task force. The CRN maintains two classes of cruisers, one nuclear powered design that primarily serves as a carrier escort and a conventional design that serves more traditional cruiser missions. 33 cruisers are in service. A new class of cruisers is on order, expected to deliver 29 new ships. The first ships entered service in 1517.

Destroyers

Destroyers are multi-mission medium surface combatants that perform anti-air, anti-submarine, anti-ship, and other missions. Like cruisers, destroyers largely focus on missiles for long range strike operations and air and missile defense missions. Destroyers are generally named for heroic sailors and Marines. Two classes of destroyers are in service, both nuclear powered. A total of 77 destroyers are in active service with 39 planned to replace the oldest destroyers.

Frigates

Frigates are primarily air defense and anti-submarine warfare vessels that are also the only non-nuclear surface combatants in the CRN. There are two classes of Frigates, designed to be flexible and intended as cheaper alternatives to cruisers and destroyers. 32 of those ships are planned. A new class of 20 ships is also planned, which will remain more traditional in terms of design.

Mine Warfare Ships

Mine Warfare Ships are vessels which combine minehunting, minesweeping, and minelaying duties into a single platform. There is only one class of mine warfare ship in service since the 1480s and are at the limit of the upgrade capacity. 8 ships are currently in service.

Patrol Boats

Patrol boats are small, fast vessels mostly used for harbor security policing. Lightly armed and short ranged, most are deployed at overseas bases and resupply points. 42 patrol boats are currently in service.

Submarines

The CRN operates two types of submarines: fast attack submarines and ballistic missile submarines. Fast attack submarines are the most numerous and are used for reconnaissance, long duration patrol, fleet screening, and, during wartime, convoy hunting. SSNs are armed with torpedoes and cruise missiles. Three classes of attack submarine are in service, for a total of 80 ships. Ballistic missile submarines serve as part of the nuclear triad. Each SSBN can carry 24 SLBMs, each with up to 12 MIRVs of a 475 kiloton yield. One class of missile submarines are in service, for a total of 36 boats.

Aircraft

The CRN maintains an enormous inventory of aircraft, including air superiority fighters, multi-mission strike fighters, fixed and rotary wing anti-submarine warfare aircraft, carrier and land based in-air refueling aircraft, carrier onboard delivery aircraft, radar aircraft, electroning warfare aircraft, and others. These aircraft are split between 13 Carrier Air Wings, 14 Amphibious Assault Wings, and various land based Naval and Marine aviation units.

Weapons

CRN weapons vary in size and capability. Shipboard systems largely focus on missiles, both as a threat and as the primary offensive and defensive weapon. However, various artillery shells, both guided and unguided, have been developed and are in service for the gun mounts on surface combatants, missiles and bombs are required for aircraft, and every ship and landbased facility maintains at least one small arms locker to enable the ship to repel boarders or arm a boarding party.