NationStates Jolt Archive

Factbook: The Rogue Nation of Cadillac Gage

Government Type: Republic (Representative Democracy)/Oligarchy

The Cadillac Gage government, on the national level, is headed by the 'President of the Assembly', a position roughly analogous to a Prime minister. The POA is selected from the legislatie body- the Assembly of the People.

Assembly description: Membership in the Assembly is based on election, members serve a term of five years, and may be elected as many times as the people in their district feel they should. Few make a career out of membership in the Assembly, as there is no government pension for Elected Officials (Per the National Constitution), and officials are paid only the calculated average middle-income of their respective district. (Minus taxes).

REAL Power is not to be found here, though... it is found in what is often termed "The Goodwives' Council", this group (almost exclusively made up of mothers and wives over a certain age) has no constitutional authority-yet inititiatives that aren't supported by The Goodwives rarely survive long.

(Government in Cadillac Gage is complicated, to say the least....)

So far, no outsider, and few men, has been able to discern how the Goodwives come to their decisions, or even what the structure of it is-only that this 'shadow government' pervades everything from village and canton all the way up to the National Level, and wields enormous power in Labour, Industry, Business, and, of course, Government without being held to constitutional standards.

Foreign Policy[/i]

For the majority of their History, the people of Cadillac Gage have been varying shades of Isolationist in their politics. Indeed, the Isolationist Party holds a significant minority in the Assembly, and enjoys popularity in most of the country. Due to this state of affairs, it is only in very recent years that CG has had much of any formal contact with the outside world. The number of Foreign nations that have Embassies in Cadillac Gage can be counted on one hand, and the nation has only a single Military Alliance-the Democratic Alliance of Free Peoples.

Nations with Embassies:

Malkyer(Ally, member of DAFP)
Nellisland(Alaidos)(Ally, DAFP)
Silver Sky (DAFP)
Lycan Confederacy
Esscose(DAFP)-Five acre parcel in Detrojtja (the Capital)


Nations that are invited to establish Embassies, but have not answered the invitation yet...

Turetel(DAFP)
Muktar(Ally, DAFP)
The Massive Ethiopians/Third Jerusalem(Alaidos)(DAFP)**
Lucky Seaville(DAFP)
Novikov(DAFP)
Vastiva-Other

**Current relations with Alaidos have been strained, all contacts with the Alaidos government are through the Embassy in the formerly independent nation (now Province)of Nellisland.

[b]Military Policy
One of the outcomes of the recent opening of relations, and the formation of the DAFP, has been the development of the Allied Joint Training Command, and the upcoming DAFP Rapid Reaction Force.
Cadillac Gage maintains the 'Site Prime' for the Joint Readiness Training Command, at the Joint Readiness Training Centre, a large-scale live-fire training base staffed by a multinational force drawn from the Alliance. The Joint Readiness Training Command also draws units from the Cadillac Gage Defense Forces, the majority of those units being assigned to other JRTC sites in Nellisland, and Malkyer.
With the only deepwater port in the country above the 60th parallel, Cadillac Gage has little in the way of a Navy, relying instead on a good Coast Guard primarily tasked with providing assistance and SAR services near the coast.

The Military is drawn from the Cantonment level, and is layered as follows:

Ground Force (Army)

Regular Service-this is the full time CGDF, the 'Career Soldiers' of the nation, and stands as two Divisions of 30,000 personnel, along with a support element of 120,000 supply, medical, maintenance, and Administrative personnel. Ground Force Regulars are organized into Regiments, each Regiment containing assets necessary to carry out independent operations involving all land-forces elements necessary to conduct Mechanized Infantry warfare, including attatched artillery, Helicopter Aviation, Mechanized Infantry, and Tank forces.
Minimum age of Enlistment in peacetime is age 21, base service term is four years.

National Guard
The National Guard is a part-time/full-time force roughly twice the size of the Regular Service. Base Service Time is Three Years, with four more on "Active Reserve".

Reserve (Active)
Active Reserves are drawn from those whose initial commitment to Regular Service, and National Guard units is completed, and from those considered too young to enter Regular Service or National Guard Service (age 18). Active Reserve personnel that enlist at eighteen must complete basic-training, and at least one MOS school. Base Time in Inactive service for Enlistees is eight years.
Active Reserves are available for call-up at the Cantonment or Town level in emergencies, and this "Active" time is compensated at 3/4 Pay.

Reserve/Inactive
Inactive Reserves are the 'desperation' call-up prior to a general draft in the event of invasion. Males between the ages of 16 and 45 are eligible under the Militia clause.

Policies in regard to Gender Roles:

It may seem old-fashioned, but Cadillac Gage policy in regards to females, is that they make fine Pilots and Aviators, good Military Intelligence officers, rear-area medical personnel, and Military Police in Secured Areas. Females are culturally, if not legally, barred from enlistment in Infantry, Artillery, Tank and Mechanized, or Combat Support roles outside of aircraft.

The CGDFAF (Defense Force Air Force) is primarily dominated by women, both in numbers, and in Rank. All Pilots are Officers (or Warrant Officers)., and Females comprise 9 out of 10 Pilot slots in all aircraft types. It is useful to note here, that the Air arm has nearly twice as much budget per capita as Ground Forces, and employs a higher percentage of newer, more effective, machines, weapons, and equipment.
Enlisted in the CGDFAF serve for six-year terms, there is no "National Guard"-this force is full-time.
CGDFAF provides the fixed-wing and rotary-wing aviation support to all CGDF forces save the Coast Guard, which owns its own helos.
This state of affairs places the DFAF in close proximity with most Ground Forces Units (indeed, one of the primary missions in peacetime for the CGDF is airfield security.) Fraternization between Services is acceptable, but not within services (i.e. an Army officer can date an Air Force Officer, but army can't date army, airforce can't date airforce.)

Both Ground Forces, and Air Forces share a supply and support chain, as well as (frequently) basing.


Geophysical of Cadillac Gage

Cadillac Gage is cold and wet in the summer, with a three month growing season. It is then cold and frozen in the winter, with colder and muddier in fall, and slightly less cold and muddy in the spring-this is interrupted by mountains, and a periodic 'dry season' in mid-summer (usually two to three weeks in length.) The nation is primarily tundra and Taiga, interrupted with steep mountains and glaciers. Average local temperature in summer reaches highs of 75 degrees{F} on average, with lows in winter plunging below 130 degrees (F). Summer Days run an average of 18 hours, while winter nights run about the same. There are a small number of volcanic vents and geothermal pockets in the inland portions of the country, and most of the flat-land is Muskeg (deep, soft mud) requiring either road travel, or low-ground-pressure vehicles for travel in the warmer months. This often dreadful and barren countryside hides one of the largest and richest veins of Uranium in the world, as well as Tungsten ore, Bauxite, Iron, and large deposits of nearly pure nickel as well as additional metals.
Mining is big business in Cadillac Gage-so is smelting. The national terrain is quite defensible, with a number of intersecting ridges and small but rugged mountain chains wrapped around narrow valleys.

Civil Infrastructure: .

Power Plants:
One thing Cadillac Gage has a shortage of, is Coal and easily obtained fossil fuels like petroleum. With the Saargaard deposit being the largest local deposit of crude (a field almost too poor for exploitation), the nation must rely on other means for its energy needs.
95% of the National Electrical grid, therefore, is Nuclear-Powered, using the closed-cycle model, and what are termed commonly elsewhere as "Generation Three" powerplants. This allows the small beds of Coal, Petroleum, and other fossil fuels to serve as chemical feedstocks in industry, or as fuel for vehicles (the safest means of travel in the dead of winter.).

Cities:
The population tends to live in dispersed communities numbering under 10,000, with the exception of two major cities- Todos Santos (Pop.50,000) in the southern Canton, and Detrojtja, the Capital, which has nearly one million citizens in the city and outlying suburbs, and enjoys the best weather in the entire country.

The People: Culture, and Religion

The people of Cadillac Gage are a culturally homogenous, but racially mixed people with many religious and ethnic backgrounds, including European, Asian, African, and other subgroups.
The Language is a variant on English, with hints of other, geographically improbable "Loan words". This is more remarkable given the nation's closely guarded privacy and long eras of isolationism.

Religiously, the largest faith is a heretical form of Christianity, which preaches that God is neither patient, nor merciful, and that drawing the attention of the Almighty is nearly as catastrophic as drawing the attention of the Devil. Churches of "The Almighty" include symbols familiar with, but not entirely like, those of other Christian sects, including often a crucifix of the Messiah-with his eyes bound. Sociologists have attributed this to the Nation's horrid climate, isolation, and generally natural unpleasantness, combined with lingering traits of pre-national, pre-current civilization , Norse mythology (some of which has seeped into the local faiths of all stripes.)
Drawing God's Attention is BAD. Local sayings tend to reflect this view, even among believers in such varied forms as Judaism, Islam, Shinto, and Buddhism. "God Blinked" is often stated as a congratulatory remark, or to underscore a person's good fortune, while "May you draw the notice of the Almighty" is often a curse-and has even (in superstition-laden eras) been cause for dueling or worse...

Gender issues:
At some point in their distant history, (so Social scientists have stated) the People of Cadillac Gage must have had a plentiful lack of women. The sociologists say this, because of the peculiar form of Male Chauvenism prevalent in the country. Women often serve in important, even vital posts throughout the government, head major corporations, vote in elections, and in some areas enjoy higher salaries when compared to their male counterparts. However, if the job is dangerous, difficult, hazardous, or includes a good chance that someone is going to try to kill you, the local culture says "NO".
As noted in the section on the Military, women are discouraged from seeking positions in Infantry, Armour, or other Combat arms with one exception-Aviation. Part of that is often justified by locals as "Pilots shouldn't land in combat zones" or "Antiair missiles kill you too quick to feel it, and the Infantry can get her out."

Social Scientist Amile Riaz has a theory that, surprisingly, is quite popular domestically: "Men are more disposeable than women. It makes sense to send Men to do the hazardous and dangerous work, one man can, if he is permitted, impregnate several women, How many Men can be impregnated by a single woman?"

One expression of this chauvenistic attitude, is in the law-codes. It is quite permissible to kill a man who beats his wife-even if you are not a law-enforcement officer, relative, or close friend. Each year, several hundered murder trials are aborted by the defense of "The victim was a Beater, and we can prove it."
Rapists are likewise fair game, and it is often a matter of the police competing to capture a suspected rapist before someone else takes him out.
Child Molesters rarely survive to be tried.

Another, is the subject of Divorce. A woman can simply file a notarized statement with the courthouse, and the marraige is no more. Civil law dictates that 50% of all marital assets be provided to the female, regardless of the reason for the divorce. Husbands who wish to dissolve the marraige must first show Just Cause in a court of law to end the relationship. If Just Cause is shown, then the now-ex-wife only recieves 50% of joint properties, if it is not, and she wishes to then divorce the man, he may be liable for up to an additional 25% of his income being given by the court to his ex-spouse on a perpetual basis, or until she marries someone else.

Homosexuality, while tolerated, is considered 'dirty' by the majority of the population, oddly enough, this seems to only apply to male-male relations. Gays in Cadillac Gage tend to concentrate in the larger towns and cities, and as long as they keep what they do with one another at home, nobody bothers them. Given the punitive nature of Divorce law, there is little interest in the local gay community in obtaining Marital Status.

Adoption/Orphans
Yearly, several hundered children each year wind up orphaned or abandoned. Most of these are ceded to the nearest Female relative (Unless there are no suitable parents available nationwide). Those that lack that option, are fostered out. Frequently, childless couples and Gay couples are brought in. There is, in the case of Fostering, a significant oversight by local authorities and (in smaller areas) Neighbours to prevent the child from being exploited or abused. Child Abuse is a Felony Crime, and has been known to be used as a defense in murder trials in which the abused, or their neighbours, claim that (again) the murder victim was abusing the child.

Adoptions are fairly common in cases where a child has no parents or responsible adult relatives to take on custody. Adoptive Parents have all of the same responsibilities both culturally, and legally, that birth-parents do, up to and including provsion of higher education or apprenticeships. Canton Officials are often quite strict about examining prospective adoptive parents for irregularities- particularly financial or Ethical difficulties, divorces or number of divorces, and, in the case of adoptive families with other children, the academic performance/behavioural performance of said children.

It is appropriate at this time to note that Gay and Lesbian couples often are allowed to both foster, and adopt children, provided there are no Legal, Financial, or other questions relating to the running of their household business. The main concern with such couples is financial stability and ability to provide for the raising of a responsible citizen.

Education:
Public Education is available nationwide, but is financed and provided primarily at the local level. The Education Bureau provides minimal oversight, and simply sets 'achievement standards' for local schools.

Many leave Public education for an Apprenticeship after Grade 8. Apprentices are expected to maintain a set level of Literacy and pass yearly standardized tests in Mathematics and Civics until age 21, or completion of strict, industry-designed (with department approval) Journeyman testing. The youngest Journeyman in any of the trades in Cadillac Gage passed the Journeyman exam at age 17, in the field of welding, with the second highest score on record.
Standards have been tightened since, and the average Apprenticeship ends at age 22.

For the High-School and College-bound, average hours spent in class combined with hours spent on homework equal roughly 14 hours a day, seven days per week, with only short breaks between quarters. This averages rough parity with Apprenticeships, which require both trade-specific classroom time, and general studies.

Economic Law:
Cadillac Gage is a nominally Capitalist nation. However, strict antitrust legislation has prevented the formation of true monopolies, which has kept the mostly-domestic-focused economy strongly competitive, while preserving near-absolute property-rights for the individual.
Corporations are liable for their actions, and an Executive whose decisions result in a criminal incidence or Negligence, may find himself in prison, as Corporate entities have no legal rights of their own, making the directors of said organizations accountable for the actions of the company.


Taxation:
Taxes are collected quarterly, and citizens are responsible for paying them. The universal "Flat Tax" used means that no matter what the citizen earns, he pays the same percentage of his income in taxes-this begins with Apprenticeships at age 14 in many cases, as Apprentices are expected to recieve payment for what work they do between classes.
For generation of additional funds, the Government may hold Lotteries, or issue ten and fifteen year bonds at a fixed interest rate.

Trials and Jurisprudence:

In Civil Cases, a Judge, with a panel of 6 randomly selected citizens may pass sentence.

In Criminal Cases, a Judge (whom sets the penalty with the advice of the Jurors), and a panel of 12 Jurors will hear the case. Said jurors may include witnesses to the crime, and may not be challenged by either the prosecution, or the defense. Attorneys are considered to be a 'good idea' in criminal cases. Jury duty is compensated at the Juror's income (proven by taxation reciepts) for the duration of the trial.
Employers may not fire an employee who is absent due to jury duty.

"Innocent until Proven Guilty" and "Habeas Corpus" rights are strongly enforced-evidence of wrongdoing must be brought before a grand-jury before a citizen is indicted, and rules of evidence are quite strong. On the other hand, "Rough Justice" is often practiced in outlying areas. this may be illegal, but it is "winked at" and often ignored, except in cases where guilt (of the victim) is deeply in doubt.

Social Welfare:
doesn't exist on the National Level. Some Cantons or Townships maintain a small safety net, and some National Trades maintain Unemployment Insurance, but with a chronic shortage of Labour throughout the economy (brought on by national conditions and the need for goods and services to combat the climate, terrain, and geography, if nothing else), no national system has been enacted, or likely will be enacted. People are expected to see to their own "Rainy day". Likewise, retirements are the responsibility of family, and investments are quite common, except in cases of some large corporations, or the Military, Police, and Fire-Services-which have Pensions and Disability funds overseen by the Government, but inaccessable to money-hungery legislators. Civil-Service pension funds are... not insulated from the grasp of the Assembly or local Canton governments in the manner that the above are.

Hoo-Boy, here we go with what people really look at these things for, now that the fluffing is done...

Military Hardware!!!!

Infantry weapons:

Rifle- the Cadillac-Gage infantry rifle is the M-12 semiautomatic high-durability Infantry rifle system in caliber 6.8x43 FA. Laid out in a fairly conventional layout, this rifle weighs only 6.5 pounds (dry weight). Based on an improved version of the M-1 Garand operating system incorporating a bolt-roller and dry lubrication, this box-magazine fed rifle is compatible with STANAG magazines as used in the M4, M-16, Steyr AUG, G-36, OICW, and Enfield L-85. Features of this design include low-mounted iron sights, and a side-mount scope rail.
The choice of the 6.8x43 bullet came from a series of trials to replace the 6.5mm version of the Garand rifle issued previously.
This modified design is more resistant to cold-weather problems than its predecessor. Like the larger "Old Style" rifles, the M-12 uses a conventional "Hunting rifle" layout, with mono-bloc stock, but unlike the garand, the stock is made of dark grey polycarbonate composite. Other changes include stainless steel internal and reciever components, and improved gas-system. The muzzle includes a "Gas ring" for launching the M-15 Rifle grenade. 20 round magazines are still standard issue, but a 25 round and 30 round magazine are being tested. The rifle uses a "Drylube" to facilitate functioning in extreme cold environments, and is capable of mounting most STANAG pattern bayonets (US M-7 pattern or similar)

Pistol: The Bren Ten in .40 Smith and wesson is the issued sidearm, chosen in part due to reliable feeding and double-action performance, and in part due to resistance to wear.

Submachinegun: Cadillac Gage uses a single SMG design-the HK MP-5, which is issued to armoured vehicle crews, heavy weapons teams, and Special Operations forces. This SMG is issued in .40 Calibre exclusively.

(so, that's two calibers so far-the pistol, and the service-rifle.)

Fireteam Automatic: Each five member fireteam includes a light machinegunner. The light machinegun of choice is the FN Minimi without magazine provision, in Cal. 6.8x43 FA.

Squad Level Machinegun: The FN-MAG is the squad Medium Machinegun in the venerable 6.5x55 chambering. Why? because it Always works.

(that makes three cartridges.)

Platoon Machinegun: each Platoon of 44 men includes one Browning M2 Heavy machinegun with fluted barrel in the Heavy Weapons Squad.

(That's four. small arms ammunition is now covered.)

Sniper rifle: the issued Sniper Rifle is of the Mauser pattern, with a heavy barrel and Sako-type ejector, in 6.5x55 mm.
One designated sharpshooter is issued this rifle per platoon.

(still four...)

AMR/Heavy sniper rifle: The McMillan Big-Fifty bolt-action rifle is used. (Caliber .50 BMG), one per company. (four platoons of 44 men, 172 men per company, so a battalion will have four of these...)

Man-Portable antitank weapon: Cadillac Gage issues the Armbrust antitank gun instead of the AT4 or LAW.

Grenade Launcher: issued two per five man fireteam, (four grenadiers per squad) the M-79 "Shotgun" style grenade launcher is a design well over fifty years old, but still in use. It uses the same 40mm grenade cartridge as the Mk-19 automatic grenade launcher (employed on armoured personnel carriers).


Infantry Support weapons

The standard 60mm Mortar is issued two per platoon, in the weapons squad with the .50 caliber machinegun.
Platoons are expected to function as independently as possible in the field, thus significant firepower at the squad level is considered important.

Stinger Bloc III ManPADS-issued four per Company Element, Stinger teams are usually assigned one per platoon. (Gunner/ammo bearer with two rounds apiece in Light Infantry units) and attatched to the "Headquarters" element of most Company-level formations in place of either a single mortar or machinegun team.
In Mechanized formations, stinger teams are assigned to the "Driver's Platoon"-the portion of a Company element responsible for supplying drivers and maintenance to unit vehicles.
Stinger missiles show up in several places-as helicopter air-to-air armament in Air Assault units, on turret mounts of Warrior II Armoured Personnel Carriers (usually mounted offside to the main turret in an en-bloc mount of four ready tubes), and as SHORAD mounts on HumVees (Avenger system).

TOW-Improved: This system is held at the battalion level in light infantry formations, and assigned to antitank platoons as the primary heavy-antitank weapon, (In weapons platoons, issue is two per squad, for a total of eight.)
In Mechanized infantry, three out of four Warrior IFV's will mount dual-TOW mounts on the turret in an en-bloc setup to the left of the main gun on the turret, and are controlled by the track-gunner, or track commander.

155 mm 'Light Gun" towed artillery: assigned to Infantry Battalions in batteries of 12, this british-designed field artillery piece is considered accurate and hard-hitting. One FA Battery is univerally assigned to Light Infantry Battalion.

Military Vehicles-most common

Warrior II IFV: This is a natural development of the British designed Warrior IFV, the primary difference being a modular-turret configuration, and wider Tracks to reduce ground pressure and improve mobility on soft ground. Mechanized Infantry Companies concentrate their Warrior Crew into a single platoon along with the Company mechanics for ease of maintenance. Warriors carry one fireteam of infantry, plus the crew, and additional supplies.
Ground pressure is the CG required 7.5 pounds per square foot, top speed on roads is 45 MPH, broken country speeds are an acceptable 25mph at full bore (but it's not much fun for the crunchies in the back...)
Warrior II's come in several configurations, but the main configurations add either a two-shot TOW-II Mount, or four-shot Stinger pod to the turret.

HumVee: Much like its AM-General cousin, the Cadillac-Gage HumVee (light truck, all-wheel drive, 1 ton) is used as a utility transport. Frequent add-ons to the Turret-ring pintle mount (universally installed on all models) include the Mk-19 Automatic Grenade Launcher, Browning M-2 .50 Caliber, and Infantry-type TOW-III.
Armouring may or may not be installed, depending on budget, mission, and commander's preference.
The local version includes some modifications that the original designers of the parent vehicle would approve of, given the conditions. Included are wider tyres to reduce (again) ground pressure on soft terrain, built-in winching system, and improved vehicle insulation and heating, as well as a "cold-start" and fuel-system temperature regulator good for temperatures down to -140 degrees Fahrenheit. (to keep the diesel from turning into jello)
Configurations include, but are not limited to: armoured, pickup, ambulance, radio-intercept/EW, and Commander's versions.

Three ton Truck: Based on the Mercedes UniMog, the three-ton heavy truck serves as the back bone of supply transport in most ground forces units. Most unit commanders mount the Browning .50 Caliber machinegun in a pintle mount, although some opt for the 40mm Mk-19 paired with the FN-MAG instead.
This heavier version of Unimog technology comes in supply, Command post, and Utility transport versions, and includes similar modifications to the HumVee, including improved heaters, fuel-temperature regulator, and insulation.

Stingray Light Tank.
The local version of this vehicle masses 25 tons, and has improved terrain-handling due to wider track-patch and improved drivetrain. It still mounts the 105mm low-recoil L7 main gun, firing the same rounds used elsewhere. Improved electronics and communications, better internal crew comfort, and add-on "Spaced" and reactive armour patches characterize this version of the vehicle. Ground pressure is a mere 7.5 Lbs/squ. foot, and road speed is 45 Miles per hour, with an off-road speed of 25mph. This "Light tank" serves the Cadillac-Gage army as an MBT, and is capable of operations in conditions where larger designs bog down (local summer, for instance...)with little to no difficulty.

Army Aviation

The standard Utility Helicopter is the Westland Lynx Bloc 9. This also serves as the primary antitank and combat-support helicopter, and has for the last thirty years. The Bloc-9 "Hog" incorporates a modular chin-mount for passive-infrared systems, milimeter wave radar, and flare/chaff dispensers in the rear. Air Assault units run one Lynx per infantry fireteam.

Specialist Attack Helo (CGDFAF issue)
The dedicated "Attack Helicopter" of the Cadillac-Gage air Forces is the AH-1 "Supercobra B", armed with a 25mm chain-gun in the nose turret, two TOW-III mounts, two Stinger Bloc-III mounts, and two hardpoints suitable for mounting most NATO-Standard podded weapons, this helicopter serves as the specialist attack helicopter of the Cadillac Gage Air Forces. Attack Helicopters are 'loaned' with crew and ground staff to Air Assault infantry, Mechanized infantry, and Battalion-level Light infantry formations as needed.
Cockpit space is quite tight, and there is a maximum height for AH pilots of 5'4", as well as a maximum weight allowance of 140 Lbs. (this is to provide maximum fuel and munitions load)
The Supercobra B incorporates the drivetrain and rotor system used on the block-9 Lynx, and mechanical parts are compatible in the majority of the hydraulics and drive systems.

Heavy Lift: The primary heavy-airlift helicopter is the CH-47D.

Communications! (back to the infantry/armour roles...)

Fireteam Leaders carry the AN/TPQ 122 handheld radio.
RTO's at the Platoon level use the SincGars radio system, which is also used in Armoured vehicles, and patches to the radio-communications systems aboard helicopter aircraft and most other aviation elements.
Company Level RTO's use a SincGars with multiplexor to maintain communication with platoon-level elements and coordinate with Battalion, in addition, some Company-level elements are equipped with Sattelite Communications. (this is universal in Mechanized infantry and Tank units, where ample transport is available already.)
Battalion-level communications are handled through similar systems.
At Regimental level, additional transcievers are employed, along with land-line links to repeaters in defensive operations or operations in which multiple regimental Headquarters are within close proximity.

Portable Computers (Notebooks) are issued at the squad-leader and Platoon-first Sargeant level, as well as Platoon leader and higher levels. These are compatible with unit communications and use fairly small bandwidth to transmit encrypted data and even video feed.

FOOD

Infantry field rations run from individual MRE's to full field-kitchens at the Company level.
Standard issue is one MRE per day in the field (two in winter) with whatever the soldiers can cram into their pockets. This is supplemented by hot-meals prepared at the Company mess (usually breakfast.) Each five man fireteam has "Group equipment" issue of one small, multifuel stove to "cook" on.
Each soldier carries a light-metal mess-kit comprising a folding 'Cook pan", eating tray, fork/spoon combination instrument, canteen cup, and scraper (spatula).
Foraging is encouraged as a field skill, provided what you forage isn't a domestic animal (Farm animals, pets...). Soldiers usually learn to gut and skin out an animal in their first bivouac (Unless they already know how.) and wild-game Butchery is one of the MOS skills provided to unit cooks.

Issued rations focus on "High Energy/High Protein" diets, and are often termed "greasy and tasteless" by the men, as spicing is minimal.

NBC
the M-40 "Driver's mask" is the most common gas-mask, NATO-style MOPP gear is also commonly issued.
Light INfantry carries portable detectors to alert them to chemical weapons or radiation hazards.
Vehicles mount these detectors universally.

So far, nobody's come up with a good bioweapons detector. In bio-threat areas, MOPP-5 (MOPP-4 with plastic barrier clothing, taped at the seams) is employed.

Standards to get to MOPP-4 is forty five seconds.

Atropine is issued to all soldiers along with their gas-mask, and reinforcement training is conducted monthly.

In the case of radiological hazards, procedures are to get out of the area as quickly as possible, and make it to a "wash-point". Triage is conducted, and mild cases of exposure are treated. Severe cases are put down mercifully.

More Military notes:

Artillery, Self-Propelled

When it comes to SP artillery units, Cadillac Gage seems a bit behind the times. There are two main chassis in use.

in the 155 mm category, is the recently-adopted Warrior/FH70. This field artillery piece employs the same chassis and components as the Warrior IFV, but instead of a turret and crew space, the entire vehicle has been altered to carry the "Light Gun" 155mm artillery piece in an enclosed, rotating turret assembly. Modifications include electromotive "Steadyrest Legs" to stabilize the chassis while firing. Like the M-109 and most other 155SP artillery units, the Warrior/FH70(L) must stop in order to fire. However, the unit's design differs from many SP artillery units, in that the weapon can be brought fully into action without exposing the crew to the outside environment (a critically important feature in a military vehicle under sub-arctic and tundra conditions.)
Direct-fire performance is average, and due to the use of the "Light Gun" design, range suffers somewhat in comparison with heavier systems. However, the WarriorII/FH70(L) has one of the lowest ground-pressure ratios of any dedicated SP artillery weapon in service throughout the world. Those features, combined with the ability to use the same suspension, track, drive, and engine components as the Warrior-II IFV, both reduces local production costs, and simplifies supply and maintenance training issues.

Warrior-II FAASV- partnered with the Warrior/FH70(L) is the Warrior II FAASV, or Field Artillery Ammunition Support Vehicle. this 25 ton armoured box, serves as a magazine-replenishment and ammunition carrier for the 155mm SP howitzer system. It incorporates an "Umbilical" around the rear doors that seals with a membrane to the rear door of the Warrior/FH70(L) gun-carraige, allowing gun-crew to transfer ammunition without having to go out of the two vehicles.
Both units include NBC overpressure systems and NATO standard Tempest Hardening of electronics, along with fully loaded ground-pressure ratings of 7.5 pounds/sq. foot, allowing this combination to travel over, or set up and fire on, remarkably soft ground without becoming mired.
the Warrior/FH70(L) serves at the Battalion, and Regimental level.

General Dynamics M-110 class 8" field howitzer. These were purchased "Used" on the open market, and this design comprises the largest artillery piece in Cadillac-Gage's arsenal. The M-110 does not have an enclosed firing turret, exerts enormous (For the local standards) ground pressure (reducing its mobility in spring, summer, and early fall) and requires a relatively large gun-crew to operate. Coupled with this, is the standard General Dynamics FAASV, which at least suffers the same handicaps, but no more.
The M-110 serves formations from Regimental (Heavy) to Division Level (DivARTY).


Fuel! WE NEED FUEL!!!

Long testing and basic common sense dictates that any army with vehicles that burn petrol-based materials is eventually going to run out of gas-this is known as "The Fuel Range".
The need to get fuel to units whether advancing, or remaining in one spot, is one that nobody but a complete village fool would ignore.

But... How to get that fuel (which, let's face it, weighs a LOT) up to the units?

Instead of designing a Fueler and trying to produce it, Cadillac Gage shopped for a good Fuel truck.

this took a while, as the ones with the best profile of ground-pressure and mobility often did not carry a lot, and the ones that carried a lot,did so while "Digging in" to the local terrain.

Then, they met... the HMMTT. This ten-ton capacity vehicle has eight large tyres on four powered axles, and room enough to actually install wider tyres, bringing it virtually "Stock" into compliance with the CGDF mandated 7.5 PSF ground-pressure requirement-with only a slight drop in speed and mobility. The Day WAS SAVED!!! (or so they thought-until the price per unit was explained.)

Purchases of the HMMTT Tanker truck were financed by a national Lottery, and the issuance of Fifteen Year Bonds by the National Defense Agency Financing Bureau.

Currently, there are (barely) sufficient HMMTT Fuelers to equip a single Armoured Division, but more are on order from manufacturers, and a licensing scheme to produce them locally may be in the works.

In the meantime, stopgap fueling vehicles have been assembled from modified 3-ton and imported chassis components. These "Baby Fuelers" are capable of transporting five tons of liquid load to armour units, but lack the HMMTT's ground-clearance advantage, and its rough-country performance (15mph off road, 40 mph On-Road).

WOW! This is good but organized it a little better...god u never stop amazing me! Add some color to, that is key. By the way...The Massive Ethiopians and Third Jerusalem do to exist anymore but are combined to be Aliados so please combine them on your embassy list thing!

[OOC: I finally finished researching designs, so we're going to get a look at Cadillac-Gage's standardized fighter design, and why they chose it over some other systems.]

CGAF Fighters and other aircraft...

the Cadillac-Saab 37 Viggen bloc-4 was selected for the Air Force after extensive trials.
This craft serves as the main-line air-superiority bird for the CGDFAF (Cadillac Gage Defense Force Air Force). Originally designed for Swedish service in the late 1960's, the JAS-37 Viggen's rough-field performance, easy maintainability (a single fighter can be refueld and rearmed at an improvised landing area in 11 minutes by a crew of seven), and short-takeoff or landing performance, is combined with structural alterations including a larger fuel-tank, five stage turbofan engine (replacing the original's three-stager), improved avionics, and altered, "Semiprone" pilot-position, turns a mid-cold-war design into a fighter for the 21st Century.
fuel duration with the new engine is multiplied almost four times when combined with the larger internal fuel-tank. this fighter retains the original's thrust-reverser, allowing the fighter to land in remarkably short distances, even fully loaded, while the robust landing gear allows it to make a more "aggressive" landing approach. Critical features in a nation where the majority of airstrips are under 1000 meters, located on hillsides and hilltops, or surrounded by steep cliffs.
The five-stage turbine eliminates the original design's afterburner in favour of a supercruise-feature, chosen more to extend operational range and duration than to improve the top airspeed-the Bloc Four still tops out at Mach 2.

Trials to adopt the JAS-39 Gripen are currently underway as the Viggen fleet grows older. current plans-of-adoption have Gripen-equipped squadrons being deployed in 1st and 2nd Interceptor command.

In the dedicated Ground-attack mission, the Cadillac-Gage military employs a license-built copy of the Fairchild/Republic A-10. Sharing the Viggen's rough terrain performance, but exceeding it in bomb-load, and carrying more than a ton of armour, the A-10 serves in the 1st Bomber Wing as a tactical ground assault aircraft. The type is common enough worldwide to not require technical descriptions here... it is interesting to note, however, that the A-10 shares hydraulic and mechanical components with the Boeing 737 Wedgetail AWAC craft-which serves the CGAF as an early-warning-and-control platform.

Aerial refueling is always considered a critical necessity for any modern military airforce.
Cadillac-Gage uses the KC-767 and KC10 aerial fuelers in a ratio of one 767 per four KC10's, with that ratio steadily altering over time as deliveries of the boeing fueler/transport are accepted, and the KC-10's are phased out.

Air Transport: Here we have a motley assortment, mostly due to needs differing between the years, and available platforms for use.
The most common models are the Lockheed 130 turboprop, the C-120, and the C-5A, though trials are being conducted on a foreign built heavy lifter based on the Airbus A-380 chassis.

Juicy bits that aren't commonly known outside the country...

Okay, the following bits and pieces are rumours that may or may not be known to other nations, they only apply in RPs where such things are permitted-otherwise Cadillac-Gage is merely a Moderntech nation.

The Goodwives

The Goodwives have access to abilities that are...unusual. This is part of the foundation of their local powerbase, and has had a strong impact on the country as a whole.
What kind of abilities, you may ask? How can croplands that poor feed that many with that short a growing season? why is it that the nation seems to know Just when to step aside, when to hide? How have they been able to repel invasions by more powerful neighbours?
Why are Women more valuable than men?

Yah. Some nations wear their true priesthood openly, and some... do not. Stregas, witches...soothsayers, Clairvoyants... wielders of powers impossible to replicate scientifically. Knowers of dark secrets and powerful charms.
The Goodwives.

Power within this group is measured the most direct way possible-raw ability, and they keep their membership to themselves, teaching and learning mistress-to-apprentice. She could be a maid in a cheap-rent hotel, and the most powerful woman in the Canton, and neither foreigners, nor most locals would know it.

Their presence is whispered among those not 'gifted', or known to their closest family.

Other Races than Man

Cadillac Gage is home to another upright, sapient species-a race other than man. Felinoid, large, and tribal, this species is almost burnt out-outcompeted by Humans and unable to adapt. The term is almost utterly impossible for humans to pronounce, but they exist in the emptiest parts of the country, fading away in dignity with little concern for the cares of humans-except rarely, one or two will 'scout' human settlements, for their own reasons, and even more rarely, choose one to teach some of their dying wisdom to. Usually, such a student is 'talented' in the skills valued among the Goodwives, though warriors in the darkest past were also called upon by a feline master-for the arts of the mind, the spirit, and the arts of war are all wisdoms that the 'old people' will preserve if they can.

OOC: Very "Native American" in scope, very well conceived. I'm impressed.

More disorganized bits from the Bomb shelter...

Career Development in the CGDF: "That officer is HOW old?"

Few Officers begin their careers, in most parts of the world, past the age of 24. 24 is, in fact, the average age for most Academy Graduated officers worldwide.

Cadillac Gage is different... very different.
No ground forces officer may comission here without completing the "Big Bonus" six-year term in the Regular forces, then, completing "Officer's Training" at the Service Academy in Trondheim, on the northeast coast... after enlisted service is complete.
The lowest officer rank is Ensign, roughly equivalent to a 2nd Lieutenant in most armies, the CGDF Ensign commands a platoon of soldiers. In peacetime, the only ensigns you find in command of Regular troops, are, well... 'older' than many Captains or Majors in other nations (average age: 32)
Cadillac-Gage's military contains an "old-boys" network that makes it rather difficult for a 'minimum' candidate to be considered-this may have to do with the Civil-Sector's use of the Apprenticeship programme in Education, and the lack of a similarly controlled arrangement in the Military.

the route around this has to do with history-the history of the nation, in particular.

You see, the "Reserves" are not Nationally funded forces except in wartime-they belong, lock, stock, and barrel, to the individual Canton governments within Cadillac Gage. Under the laws, a sixteen-year-old may enlist in the Reserves. If he does so, his Basic-Training period, (and refresher training) occur in the spring and summer (particularly the federally-mandated 'Summer Break' of July through August), with "Maintenance Drill" every sunday through the year... (Sunday being the only day most Canton Schools have off.)

At graduation (or achievement of the eighteenth year), a young man has three choices: Quit, Continue in the Reserves, or Join the National Guard. National Guard service is partially-funded by the National Government, but remains (during peacetime) under the Canton government's control. In addition to basic Light infantry training, National Guard service includes more Technical MOS fields, and training is conducted two to three days a week (Just enough time off to hold a normal job), with a Major field excercise of thirty days' length once per year (Rotating basis).

So, your hypothetical young warrior has spent-by this time, four years in the Reserves, and four in the Guard.
At the end of the fourth year, he elects to "Go Regular"-this is full-time service, and he signs up for the six-year programme instead of the mandated four years.

Upon completion, that's fourteen years of immersion in the Military, fairly consistent training, and learning the Military 'way" of doing things.

He now, with six years "Regular" service, elects to go 'officer'-and qualifies based on proficiency and intelligence tests.
Off to SCHOOL again!! Trondheim is like four years of Basic Training with heavy academics crammed into the cracks.

Eighteen years after beginning his journey, we have our 'young' officer-age 34 years old, with the same responsibilities a twenty-year-old holds in some other country.

For the pay, it hardly seems worth it, right? Except that, in part because of the rather small size of the Regular component, there are an excess of willing candidates every year.

OOC: Could you please change your allies list with the whole "annexation of Nellisland" thingy.

Massive Ethiopians- your entry has been updated.

An Offer of Friendship

Hello This in Prime Minister Cullen From The Republic of Esscose.

We Are A Patrotic Nation of over 400 million Human Souls.

We Would Like to Offer an Hand in Friendship, One Of My Staff Has Informed me That You Had in the past made an Offer for us to Set Up Embassies, Due to an Admin Error we Have only just relised this.

If The Invite for Each of us to set up Embassies is still on the table we would greatly accept. also we are looking for Allies also.

Hopefully Yours

Michael Cullen
Prime Minister
The Republic of Esscose

An Offer of Friendship

Hello This in Prime Minister Cullen From The Republic of Esscose.

We Are A Patrotic Nation of over 400 million Human Souls.

We Would Like to Offer an Hand in Friendship, One Of My Staff Has Informed me That You Had in the past made an Offer for us to Set Up Embassies, Due to an Admin Error we Have only just relised this.

If The Invite for Each of us to set up Embassies is still on the table we would greatly accept. also we are looking for Allies also.

Hopefully Yours

Michael Cullen
Prime Minister
The Republic of Esscose


Dear Prime Minister Cullen:
The offer still stands, we would be happy to have your embassy in our Capital City. I recommend your staff remember to pack warm clothing. Would five acres be sufficient land?

Dr.Suse Randall, Director, External Contacts and Affairs,
Cadillac Gage

That Will Be Great 5 Acres Will Be Perfect. thanks for The Warning on The Cold Weather.

We Have Set Aside 7 Acres in our Capital Caprica City, We Are Generaly a Warm Nation so No Need for any Prior Arangments in That Area.

Your Embassie Will Be Located 10 Miles From The Nearest Airport And 7 Min's from the Nearest Mass Transit Depot.

We Have Aproved You to Land At Our Nearest Military Air Force Base So you Can Set Up Your Embassie This is An 2 Hour Drive From Caprica City Sorry About This But The Civil Airport Would Be of No Use To You No Transport Aircraft is Allowed To Land There Sorry.

And Anything Else Please Contact My Office Direct (ooc Send Me a Message )

Yours

Michael Cullen
Prime Minister
The Republic of Esscose

Okay, this version of the thread is a 'workshop' version, I'll get around to compiling the bits into a more coherent, properly laid out thread later.

[b]Things of Historical and developmental significance[/i]

Archaeologically estimated 731 A.D. with the arrival of a six-mile diameter ring of fire near a Norse colony in Vinland. Records are sketchy but apparently something odd happened around that time, as the settlements in the area simply fell out of contact with their fellow colonies further to the south and east.

1125: Non-human natives finally overcome throughout the region that will become known as Cadillac-Gage. Martial Law enacted under the Council of Commanders.

1750 A.D.: Karl Hasseldoffssen invents the "Hot metal" process steam engine, this primitive atomic pile-and-boiler will drive the industrial revolution in Cadillac-Gage for the next two hundered years, and will form the back bone of the local economy.

1805: Council of Commanders overthrown, Republican system instituted under a Constitutional structure. Repeating rifles issued to Detrojtja Canton Militia, development of rifled cannon in Wjndsur Canton. Brief foreign policy initiative closes with 'the Church incident'.
Railways constructed between several large townships.

1850: Hasseldoffssen Boiler attatched to a new innovation: the Steam Turbine. Mules removed from Railways and replaced by locomotives.

1890: First liquid-fuel internal-combustion powered automobile engine produced.

1915: Curtiss Model 5 airplane procured, Aviation work begins.

1940: Jet aircraft copied from sketchy observations made by External Contacts personnel visiting German Reich and Great Britain. ICE Turbine technology still faces fuel-efficiency problems
CGDFAF formed from Women's Army Reserve. The decision to place women in the cockpit arrived at due to fuel and weight limitations.

1950: Speculations on Atomic Weapons confirmed. decision on whether or not to produce said weapons shelved, due to known hazards of radioactive waste.
CGJ-1 Fighter breaks sound barrier.

1979: Design specifications for the JAS-37 Viggen purchased. Modification programme for the airframe results in greater fuel range. Viggen adopted 1980.
Commando-Stingray light Tank design goes through first modification.
Changeover date for the M-11 6.5x55mm rifle to the M-12 6.8x43mm Assault rifle.
11th Amendment passed, limiting Terms for elected officials by 71% popular vote.

1990: Borders opened fully for the first time in 1,200 years.

Present: 2005.

Bravo, Bravo, an excellent Factbook CG!