NationStates Jolt Archive

Overview
The small United Kingdom of Isselmere-Nieland has modest sized armed forces, despite conscription. All citizens, with the exception of those receiving special dispensation from the Crown, must serve at least one year of National Service, with the majority (about 60%) serving their term with the security forces. Conscientious objectors and the remainder of the intake work under other ministries.

The majority of those selected for the security forces are trained as light infantry. After a term within the security forces is completed, citizens may either go career, join the ready reserve (Navy, Army, and Air Force reserves, with weekly, monthly and summer training sessions), or may become part of the supplementary reserve. Members of the supplementary reserve are reactivated once every three years for a month's retraining.

About 4% of the nation's labour force are in the security forces or in National Service, with about 2% in the volunteer Permanent Forces, and 4.36% of UKIN's GDP is devoted to the security forces.

As the armed forces grow with the population, force size is expressed most often in terms of population.

Navy
Royal Edmund-class carriers (1 per 50 million citizens, rounded down)
Province-class cruiser (1 per 50 million citizens, rounded down)
Glaines-class AD destroyers (3 per 25 million citizens, rounded down)
Daurmont-class GP destroyers (3 per 25 million citizens, rounded down)
Furtive-class frigates (8 per 25 million citizens, rounded down)
Flansburgh-class replenishment vessels (7 per 50 million citizens, rounded down)
Ungforth-class LPD (1 per 40 million citizens, rounded down)
Turquoise-class submarines (with MESMA AIP, 7 per 25 million citizens, rounded down)
Coastal patrol vessels (12 per 25 million citizens, rounded down)
Mine counter-measure vessels (6 per 25 million citizens, rounded down)
Aircraft:
P-3C Orion (maritime patrol; 20 per 25 million citizens (i.e. 2 squadrons of 9 aircraft), rounded down)
Rafale M (30 per aircraft carrier, 20 (2 squadrons) on ea. carrier)
Rafale N (30 per aircraft carrier, 20 (2 squadrons) on ea. carrier)
E-2C Hawkeye (6 per aircraft carrier, 4 on ea. carrier)
Merlin (64 per 50 million citizens, rounded down)
1 RINM battalion per 30 million citizens, rounded down

Air Force
Rafale C (84 per 50 million citizens (i.e. 6 squadrons of twelve aircraft arranged in 2 wings), rounded down)
Rafale B (36 per 50 million citizens (i.e. 2 squadrons of twelve aircraft, plus two in each Rafale C squadron), rounded down)
AWACS (3 per 50 million citizens, rounded down)
KC-10 (3 per 25 million citizens, rounded down)
C-17s (3 per 25 million citizens, rounded down)
Arrow SAM (3 per RINAF battalion)
Skyguard AAA (3 per RINAF battalion)
1 RINAF battalion (928 personnel, 45 LAV-III) per 3 squadrons

Army
Approximately one infantry brigade (3 infantry battalions, 1 armoured regiment (i.e. battalion), and 1 artillery regiment (i.e. battalion) plus support troops per 20 million citizens, rounded down), with one armoured brigade (3 armoured regiments, 1 infantry battalion, and 1 artillery regiment plus support troops) for every 3 infantry brigades, and one airmobile brigade (3 infantry battalions, 1 artillery regiment, plus support troops) for every 12 infantry brigades (always have at least one parachute battalion). Also, one special operations company per 20 million citizens.
Weapons
M16A2 assault rifle; M203 grenade launcher attachment; Colt Commando submachine gun (SMG); Browning 9mm pistol; P90 (SMG); MP5 (SMG); FN MAG (GPMG); FN Minimi (LMG); Eryx anti-tank missile; TOW
Infantry
--Armoured Infantry Battalions (928 personnel, 45 CV90 IFVs)
--Motorised Infantry Battalions (928 personnel, 45 LAV-III APCs)
--Infantry Battalions (865 personnel, 45 Bison APCs)
--Reserve and Light Infantry Battalions (full-strength, 744 personnel)
Armoured
Armoured Regiments (825 personnel, 44 tanks)
--Challenger 2 tanks
Artillery
Artillery Regiments (948 personnel, 18 platforms (i.e. SPGs or MRLSs))
--AS90 self-propelled guns
--MRLS
--ADATS (CV90 chassis)
--CV90AA (40mm cannon)
--Arrow SAM
Air Corps
--UH-60 Blackhawk
--AH-64D Longbow
--Merlin
--Chinook

I have never seen force sized expressed in terms of population before.

OOC: It was simpler to discuss the size of the armed forces in terms of population rather than continually modifying existing information to count for expansion as a result of population. (More people equals (not directly) more funding and more (potential) recruits.)

OOC: I see, though my navy itself has not expanded much for a while despite recent population booms. Although my navy was quite large to begin with.

In response to growing international crises, an improved economy, and the need to protect Isselmere-Nielander interests in the region, the Isselmerian and Nielander Army will double in size over the next few years. It is expected this growth will further spur the economy and reduce the large dole queues dominated by 18-28 year olds.

After the doubling, here will be the Isselmere-Nielander Armed Forces:

Navy
Carriers – 9
Guided missile cruisers – 9
Air defence destroyers – 55
General purpose destroyers – 55
Frigates – 152
Replenishment vessels – 64
Landing platform, docks – 11
Submarines, AIP – 129
Coastal patrol vessels – 220
Mine-laying vessels – 110
P-3C Orions – 368
Rafale-M – 270
Rafale-N – 270
E-2C Hawkeye – 36
HM.1 Merlin – 588
Royal Marine battalions – 15

Air Force
Rafale-C - 772
Rafale-B – 331
AWACS – 27
KC-10 – 54
C-17 – 54

Army
Infantry brigades – 48
Armoured brigades – 12
Airmobile brigades – 3
Special operations battalions - 3

The RINN (Royal Isselmere-Nielander Navy) will receive a further three aircraft carriers and cruisers, as well as five newly-built LHDs. Further escorts will also be built.

"The Navy has to maintain force levels in accordance with those of surrounding nations," announced Admiral Piers Whiting. We can't assume the rest of the world is as pacifist as we are."

[OOC: This means 1 CV and 1 CG per 37.5 million citizens]

erroneous posting

The three planned aircraft carriers have been scrapped from the order sheet by Parliament, with emphasis now placed on building a larger amphibious force.

Active RINN force
6 Carrier Battle Groups
1 Royal Edmund-class CV
--20 Rafale-M
--20 Rafale-N
--4 Hawkeye 2000
--6 HM.1 Merlin
2 Glaines-class DDG
2 Daurmont-class DDG
4 Furtive-class FFG
2 Flansburgh-class AOR
2 Turquoise-class SSK (w/ MESMA AIP)

6 Amphibious Battle Groups
1 Ungforth-class LPD
1 Nieland-class CG
2 Glaines-class DDG
2 Daurmont-class DDG
4 Furtive-class FFG
2 Flansburgh-class AOR
2 Turquoise-class SSK (w/ MESMA AIP)

Littoral Warfare Command
13 Coastal patrol vessels
81 MCM vessels
108 P-3C Orions