Vetokite Army
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| Vetokite Imperial Army | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Founded | 12 July 1421 |
| Country | Vetok |
| Allegiance | Emperor of the United Dominion of Vetok |
| Type | Army |
| Role | Land warfare |
| Size | 53,392 active personnel (October 2023) 14,436 Territorial Reserve personnel (October 2023) |
| Part of |  Vetokite Armed Forces |
| Equipment | List of equipment of the Vetokite Army |
| Commanders | |
| Commander-in-Chief | Emperor Súrvan Jaansma |
| Chief of the General Imperial Staff | Marshal Patrick Delana, Lord Delana |
| Deputy Chief of the General Imperial Staff | Lieutenant General Carole Bester |
| Serjeant Major of the Lancers | Warrant Officer Class 1 Himán Carnassi |
| Insignia | |
| War flag |  |
| Non-ceremonial flag |  |
| Logo | |
The Vetokite Army is the principal land warfare force of Vetok, and one of the four key warfighting parts of the Vetokite Armed Forces along with the Vetokite Dominion Navy, Vetokite Imperial Air Force and Vetokite Strategic Weapons Command.
History
Early beginnings
The Vetokite Army can trace a rudimentary history back to the 10th century CE and the roaming warband of the nation's namesake, Vetok Déithe-bane, although it more properly should trace its lineage from a mercenary unit founded by the great-great grandson of Vetok Déithe-bane, Earl Roger of Carrishem. Initially formed as a feudal levy, disagreements between the Earl and his uncle, King Vetok II (Harald Vetok, former Duke of Mvellen prior to his accession) led to the Earl convincing a majority of his force to seek employment abroad with him as soldiers of fortune, in which they spent the following three decades without returning back to the homeland. It was Roger's Band that made a name for the valour and skill-at-arms of the Vetokite peoples, and the Earl's return later in life as his cousin's Lord Martial
Adventures abroad and the Tarro Affair
19th Century to the dawn of the new millenium
The 1800's saw a retrenchment of the Army as it became relegated to the position of second string to the Vetokite Navy which had begun to assume a dominant position in controlling and protecting the nation's overseas possessions. Many regiments in this period saw service in rotation aboard navy vessels as erstwhile marines, and were often
At its height in the 1920's and throughout the Eastern Marches campaigns of the 1930's, the Army numbered fifty divisions, organised into corps ranging anywhere from one-to-five divisions in strength. Half of these were infantry divisions, with a further eight armoured divisions, nine paraborne divisions and eight lancer divisions, for a total of 620,219 active personnel. The 6th Corps was one of the most active units during this period; as a composite unit of infantry, armour and lancers, it moved frequently around the borders of the country and was the first force involved on the Vetokite side during the 2nd Arakite War, when attempts to seize the Arakite Valley were instigated by the First Minister of the time.
Modern Army
The Vetokite Army has been a volunteer force since 1997, following the abolition of national service by the hand of Emperor Vetok XII. Although there has been a standing reservists force since the late 1940's, only since the ending of conscription has it adopted a more formal and important role, with a sixth of the Army's combat brigades composed of Territorial personnel following Force Update 2020. With a stripped down composition, the Army of today has moved away from the hidebound ways of old
Organisation
The modern Army is a three-line force, composed of the regular forces (those in full-time soldiery), the Territorial Reserves (composed of volunteers who typically give two-three months of their time to the work of soldiery) and the Shire Yeomanry (Composed of former members of the regular forces and TR who can only give around one month a year to service, or are past the age of 45 - civilians can still register for the Territorial Reserves at this age and above provided they meet the fitness criteria, however they will be immediately classed as part of the Yeomanry)
Structure
Recruitment
Equipment
Infantry
The standard weapon of the Vetokite Army for full-time members since the early 2010's is the 5.56mm LR7A1 assault rifle, which also serves as the basis of a widespread weapons family. Some of these variants include the LR7C, a shortened carbine version of the standard LR7 intended for use with Paraborne troops, aircrew, and vehicle crew. Both weapons are traditionally equipped with iron sights, though they can use various forms of other sights through the Picatinny rail atop the weapon. The LR7 is also often equipped with the L22 under-barrel grenade launcher. Previous to this, the main service rifle was the indigenous LR6 battle rifle, which still serves in the hands of training commands, SOPECC detachments, ceremonial guard duties as well as foreign export.
Some soldiers are equipped with the 5.56mm LR7G light support weapon which was also adopted in the early 2010's, though plans exist for a replacement with greater magazine capacity and ability for sustained fire. Support fire is otherwise provided by the L20 autocannon within dedicated fire-support teams, and indirect fire is provided by L90 57mm and L91 90mm mortars. Sniper rifles include the L110 .338 and the L111, both manufactured by ASAEA. The Vetokite Army utilises the SP-4 as its side arm as well as the ASAEA-made SG2 semi-automatic shotgun for both field provost use and special forces. Anti tank weapons include the M15 ALAW, a medium range anti-tank unguided weapon and the M14 AMAT, a launch system for a multi-directional anti-tank missile capable of both direct and top-attack flight.
Armour
The army's main battle tank is the Mk1 Rival, with the Army nearing completion on its programme to rebuild all production to the Mk2. It is supported by the Kudu tracked armoured vehicle as the primary infantry fighting vehicle, the Puku armoured personnel carrier and the VT-14 family of armoured reconnaissance vehicles. Light armoured units such as the aerial armoured brigades often utilise the VT-17 LWHMFV for reconnaissance, fire support, and logistical purposes.
Artillery
The army has four main artillery systems: the 'Bandit' Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS), the VGC-8 'Thundersmith', the L95 mortar and the L100 light gun. The MLRS has an 85-kilometre (53 mi) range, while the Thundersmith is a 155mm self-propelled gun introduced in 2024, with both used as brigade-level support assets. The L95 is a 120 mm self-propelled armoured mortar using a specially adapted hull of a Kudu infantry fighting vehicle, with batteries often attached to individual battalions for added support. The L100 light gun is a 105 mm towed gun, which is typically towed by a VT-17 tractor in use by the Paraborne brigades, and likewise can also be found mounted on a Kudu in use with reserve battalions. To identify artillery targets, the army operates weapon locators such as the MAMBA Radar and utilises artillery sound ranging. For air defence it uses the Shiltron 'Pike' Tactical Air Defence System as well as the Punisher ADV. It also deploys the Very Short-Range Air Defence (VSHORAD) Puma HVM (high-velocity missile) launched by a single soldier or from a VT-17B HVM vehicle-mounted launcher.
Protected mobility
Where armour is not required or mobility and speed are favoured the British Army utilises protected patrol vehicles, such as the Panther variant of the Iveco LMV, the Foxhound, and variants of the Cougar family (such as the Ridgeback, Husky and Mastiff). For day-to-day utility work the army commonly uses the Land Rover Wolf, which is based on the Land Rover Defender.
Engineers, utility and signals
Specialist engineering vehicles include bomb-disposal robots such as the T7 Multi-Mission Robotic System and the modern variants of the Armoured Vehicle Royal Engineers, including the Titan bridge-layer, Trojan Armoured-engineer vehicle, Terrier Armoured Digger and Python Minefield Breaching System. Day-to-day utility work uses a series of support vehicles, including six-, nine- and fifteen-tonne MAN trucks, Oshkosh heavy-equipment transporters (HET), close-support tankers, quad bikes and ambulances. Tactical communication uses the Bowman radio system, and operational or strategic communication is controlled by the Royal Corps of Signals.
Aviation
The Army Air Corps (AAC) provides direct aviation support, with the Royal Air Force providing support helicopters. The primary attack helicopter is the Westland WAH-64 Apache, a licence-built, modified version of the US AH-64 Apache which replaced the Westland Lynx AH7 in the anti-tank role.[170] Other helicopters include the Westland Gazelle (a light surveillance aircraft), the Bell 212 (in jungle "hot and high" environments) and the AgustaWestland AW159 Wildcat, a dedicated intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance (ISTAR) helicopter. The Eurocopter AS 365N Dauphin is used for special operations aviation. The army operates two unmanned aerial vehicles ('UAV's) in a surveillance role: the small Lockheed Martin Desert Hawk III and the larger Thales Watchkeeper WK450.
Current Deployments
Vetokite forces often deploy abroad on detachment with the Kuanan Sultanate's Armed Forces as part of extensive cross-training exercises, as well as providing technical support (e.g. providing trainers for the KSAF during their adoption of the M-141C 'Super Herald' in the mid twentieth century).
Public Criticism
The Army has seen much criticism throughout its centuries of service. (Talk about the discomfort when one of the dynasty first implemented it, the involvement in the Tarro Affair of the late 1700's, the failings of the Eastern Marches war of the early 1900's)