Military of Leonstein
From Liberalia Wiki
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After the third Leonsteiner War and the following reunification, most Leonsteiners were happy with their government pursuing a pacifist course, with very low defence spending and few troops. There was never again to be a war of aggression fought in Leonstein’s region.
However, with Chancellor Hessler’s death in 2003, this policy was reviewed. The new Chancellor and his government felt that it was vital that the hard-won peace should be exported, with a policy of political, economic and even military intervention supposed to improve living conditions for people around the world. It remains a controversial policy, and as of this point, it has not been put into practice.
Nonetheless, in 2004 Chancellor von Bilgen presented a reform plan for the Leonsteiner Armed Forces, which at that time were little more than a basic force kept from the former wars, supposed to protect the borders from illegal traffic and the like.
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Organisation
Navy
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The Bundesmarine is the nation's main source of power projection. Of particular importance are the twelve carrier strike forces, each with two carriers and a number of guided missile cruisers, AEGIS AA-Ships and auxiliaries. Six of these forces are always at sea, patrolling coast lines, engaging in training exercises or protecting Leonstein's interests abroad.
The submarine force is the secondary means of projecting force across the region. Based largely on new state-of-the-art nuclear submarines of the Astute Class, the ideas is to be able to fire long-range cruise missiles to almost anywhere in the region within 24 hours.
For amphibious operations Wasp Class assault ships are kept at the ready in the ports. 25 of these ships are currently being operated.
Furthermore a large number of patrol units, hunter-killer submarines and recon boats are kept at the ready. However, the Bundesmarine particularly prides itself on its extremely efficient supply system. Developed in conjunction with the regional market leader in supply chains, Hanseatic, the Navy is able to keep many hundreds of supply ships on the move at all times and to all places.
The Naval Air Forces are primarily based on the 24 carriers operated by the Bundesmarine. Their equipment varies widely, but the mainstay at this point remains a combination of F/A-18 E, F and G versions as well as Dassault Rafales and Su-33s. Orders have been placed for trial versions of the F-35, but development is ongoing.
The Marineinfanterie are the pride of Leonstein's armed forces. 250,000 soldiers and crew are kept ready to be deployed within 48 hours on landing operations, equipped with IdZ systems and supported by state-of-the-art Leopard 2A6 EX tanks, as well as a dozen squadrons of A-10 ground attack planes and Tiger Helicopters.
Air Force
While the Naval Air Forces are expected to fight for air supremacy abroad, the Luftwaffe is primarily used for home defense. It relies on several squadrons of F-22 fighters and larger numbers of Eurofighters and Gripens for its main strength. An indigenously developed modification of the MiG-31 interceptor (the LA-3 Habicht) is used to intercept bombers and other surprises.
However, to support the Navy's actions abroad, a fleet of bombers stands ready on air fields across the nation. The two primary tools of choice here are the LB-10 Blackjack X, an upgraded version of the Tu-160, and the B-2 Spirit. These are meant to strike important targets deep within enemy territory to disrupt the flow of information and otherwise harm the opponent's war effort.
Obviously of vital importance are the auxilliary units of the Luftwaffe. An-124 and C-17 transport planes are to support operations overseas once air fields have been captured, while smaller C-130 Hercules drop paratroopers and supply forces in the early stages of an operation.
Army
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The Heer is primarily used for the defense of the homeland. Most people who choose military service for the compulsory civic duties period are trained in the army.
The four active divisions are only comprised of professional soldiers, and their training and equipment standards are generally quite high. The IdZ combat system is found regularly, and G36 rifles, Leopard 2A5 and A6 versions as well as Puma IFVs make for a very potent opponent.
The reserve divisions need to be mobilised, a process which is assumed to take around a week to complete. They are comprised of less well-trained reservists, and older equipment is found.
The Army operates its own small air supply corps, which also includes a division of paratroopers and several combat air wings flying Saab Gripens and A-10 ground attack planes.
Special Forces
Special Forces play a very important role in Leonstein's military doctrine, and the state-of-the-art Special Forces HQ in Hochheim (attached to the BND secret service HQ) signifies. All three branches of the military operate their own special forces units which specialise in different areas. Most important though are the Foreign Legions, which specialise in infiltration in particular. Since they are almost entirely comprised of foreign citizens, it has been found that Legionnaires can enter almost any nations undetected and live normal lifes until they are needed. Once they are called into action, they usually form the first mode of attack preparing all further operations.
Past Operations
So far Leonstein's successful foreign policy and diplomacy has limited the necessity to use military force to an absolute minimum.
Operation Helferling
The first operation outside the borders of Leonstein occured during the Caropsyne Civil War, when communist forces gained control of much of the country. At the request of the Caropsyne government, but mostly out of concern of the local humanitarian situation, the military was sent into the town of Tethgess. The use of special forces to capture the airport and the following rapid deployment meant that resistance was minimised, leaving the military free to pursue their main goal: the establishment of a zone of relative peace around Tethgess to which civilians could flee and feel relatively secure. This goal was largely achieved as ill-equipped and surprised communist militias were driven out of the area. The only major incident occured several weeks into the operation along the coast near Kimmlish. A Leonsteiner aircraft carrier was on the way north when it received requests for aid from Corporate Union forces that had been ambushed and beaten back by captured Caropsyne naval units under control of communists and rogue officers. The jets of the LMS Schwerin attacked two older Caropsyne battleships with long-range anti-ship missiles. Operated by too few and inexperienced sailors and without the support of Aegis auxilliaries, the battleships had little chance of resisting. One was sunk immediately as the Moskit missile hit, the second was heavily damaged and dragged itself back into port. After several months and the declaration of peace and democratic elections in Carops, Operation Helferling was concluded a success and the forces were called back home.
