NationStates Jolt Archive

Robotstani People's Liberation Army

Still bearing its title from the first successful armed uprising against the Robotstani monarchy, the RPLA boasts nearly half a million men-at-arms and easily twice as many auxiliaries. It is by no means a well-trained force, at least as far as the regular contingent is concerned, with each recruit recieving about one month of basic training before being assigned to a unit, and therefore the RPLA leans heavily on its pool of experienced NCOs and officers.

Rank Structure

Field Marshal, General, Leftenant General, Brigadier, Colonel, Lieutenant Colonel, Major, Leftenant, Sub-Leftenant, Sergeant-Major, Sergeant, Corporal, Rifleman

Uniform

Most RPLA troops wear the Pattern 1940 Cold/Wet Weather Battledress, consisting of a pair of grey-green trousers and a uniform jacket in the same colour, as well as ankle-height leather boots and a leather jerkin. A waterproof, wool-lined overcoat is issued as well for protection against Robotstan's perpetually rainy climate, and in the winter a white overcoat is usually issued as well. Wool balaclavas and tocques are also issued, along with the Mk.IV Brodie Helmet.

The men of the Black Watch, the RPLA's elite light infantry division, are generally issued with camoflauged Denison Smocks.

There is no dress uniform to speak of, due to the RPLA's perhaps misplaced frugality, and on occasions where an RPLA trooper is called upon to be presentable he will usually change into a clean uniform.

Weaponry

Ivanograd Ordnance Factory, located in Ivanograd, a manufacturing town just north of Kingston, builds most of the RPLA's small arms.

Most important in the RPLA's arsenal is the Service Rifle No.2, or Ivanograd No.2, .303 bolt action rifle. It is essentially a copy of the Lee-Enfield No.4, lacking any real departures from the British original except for the fact that the Robotstani No.4 retains the sword bayonet as opposed to the spike bayonet. Most Ivanograd No.2s can fire rifle grenades, although this ability is rarely put into use due to an acute shortage of the grenades, and a rarely-used carbine version, shortened by about eight inches and fitted with a folding stock, exists for use with paratroopers and vehicle crews.

The standard-issue Submachine Gun is the Ivanograd No.1 Machine Pistol, a 9x19mm weapon based on the Sten. Designed to be cheaply and quickly produced, it is made entirely of stamped parts. Like the Sten, its 30-round magazine attaches on the side, but unlike the Sten it is fairly heavy, at 4.42kg. Ivanograd No.1s are generally found with vehicle crews and paratroopers, since the regular army finds its limited range (just over 50 meters) rather useless in most Robotstani terrain.

Pistols are not widely-carried by RPLA troops, as they are again viewed as largely useless in most circumstances, but pilots, vehicle crews, and other specialists are equipped with the rather excessive Ivanograd No.1 Revolver, a break-top design dating back to the 1890s. During the largely urban Second Parliamentary Revolt, it was used heavily due to the power of its .455 round at short range, but as fighting moved out of the city and onto open ground, it became nearly useless.

Light Machine Guns have always been popular with the RPLA, their automatic firepower a valuable compliment to relatively slow-firing bolt action rifles. The standard RPLA section machine gun is the Ivanograd No.2 Section Machine Gun, a carbon copy of the Bren Mk.3. It fires the standard .303 ammunition and is universally well-liked due to its reliability and light weight. Sections deployed to Svenland often carry two Ivanograd No.2s, and it is not unknown for the weapon to be used as an automatic rifle. A very light version, with a folding metal stock and very short barrel, was developed for use by Commandos and paratroopers, but is not widely used.

The Vickers .303 water-cooled MG, produced as the Ivanograd-Vickers Support Gun, is the RPLA's standard heavy MG, and it is well-liked for reliability, accuracy, and range.

Heavy Equipment

The RPLA has relatively few vehicles owing to the nature of Robotstan, but puts great stock into its artillery forces, and operates a fair number of specialty-built vehicles like Aerosans. Most Robotstani armored vehicles are built by Starling Motors of Devongrad, while most artillery comes from Ivanograd Ordnance Factory.

Lanchester Armored Car (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/69/IWM-H-447-Lancheter-armoured-car.jpg)

Despite their shortcomings, the RPLA bought some twenty Lanchester 6x4s from Britain during the 1938 Revolt and has yet to retire all of them. Generally regarded as too heavy and too large, the RPLA still found their cross-country performance satisfactory and approved of their heavy armament, consisting of no fewer than three machine guns. They were used to good effect in the streets of Dubton and are now used as training vehicles.

Penguin Armored Scout Car (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0f/IWM-H-17605-Humber-LRC-Shanklin-19420305.jpg)

Based on the Humber LRC, the 4x4 Penguin is a popular and useful vehicle, boasting good speed and range. The Penguin was developed in 1939 in response to increased Japanese presence in the Sven Islands and western Svenland. With war looming, the RPLA found itself without a good armored vehicle in quantity, and the only armored cars in widespread service were elderly postwar Rolls-Royce models. The Penguin is usually fitted with a single turreted Ivanograd-Vickers K, able to elevate near vertical and useful for low-level antiaircraft defense, and a dismountable Bren for the vehicle commander. Over two hundred are in service.

Walrus Anti-Tank Car (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/77/IWM-MH-4081-Daimler-Armoured-Car.jpg)

The RPLA purchased ten Daimler Armored Cars in 1942 and soon fell in love with their ruggedness, versatility, and firepower. It was easily the equal of any Japanese or Royalist tank, with a QF 2 Pounder antitank gun, and could outrun anything that it couldn't outfight. Extremely pleased with the vehicle, the RPLA commissioned a liscence-built copy, the Walrus, with Starling Motors. Walrus Anti-Tank Cars form the backbone of the RPLA's armored reconaissance force and are the first vehicles deployed when a situation presents itself abroad. An Ivanograd-Vickers K gun is mounted coaxially and a dismountable Bren is available for defense against low-flying aircraft.

Ursus Mk.III Universal Tank

The RPLA has never been much of a fan of tanks, and therefore in order for the service to get excited about one it really has to perform. Starling Motors surprised all observers when their first effort, the Ursus, attracted the Army's praise. The first thing the Army liked about the vehicle was its ruggedness and reliability, proven during trials in Svenland, and its apparent invulnerability to the extreme cold encountered by the RPLA in its main theatre of operations. When stacked-up against other tank types, the Ursus also promised to dominate, fitted with the QF 17 Pounder antitank gun and covered in thick, well-sloped armor. It was also fast, and had excellent road autonomy. The only sticking point was the vehicle's weight, but the Army was, surprisingly, willing to overlook that and accept the Ursus as an extremely capable vehicle.

Archer Tank Destroyer (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4a/Archer_SP_17_pdr_Tank_Destroyer.jpg)

Experiences as part of the British Army during the Anti-Fascist War taught the RPLA to value tank destroyers excessively highly. Impressed by the performance of the QF 17 Pounder antitank gun and convinced of the vehicle's usefulness, the RPLA purchased 153 Archer Tank Destroyers from the British Army at the conclusion of the Anti-Fascist War. Light enough to be used with Duplex Drive equipment, the Archer carried added appeal for the amphibious RPLA.

Universal Carrier

The RPLA was left with over two thousand Universal Carriers at the end of the Anti-Fascist War, and still uses about a thousand of them. Whether the vehicle is actually a good idea is the subject of some debate, since a jeep, while less able to deal with snow and rough terrain, would be lighter and less prone to breakage, but the Universal Carrier fills a rather useful niche carrying mortars and recoilless rifles.

Starling OXD/OXA/OXP

The light, reliable, and cheap Starling OXD 1.5t lorry is the main means of overland transportation for the RPLA. An armored conversion, the Starling OXA, is used by the Dubton Garrison for convoy escort and fire support, with about twenty examples in service. While not a useful or practical scout vehicle, the OXA is the only purpose-built Armored Personnel Carrier in service, and in addition to a driver and gunner, an eight-man infantry section can squeeze into its open armored bed. Firing ports are provided for infantry weapons, and a dismountable Bren is provided for the gunner. The OXP is an anti-aircraft conversion of the OXD, mounting two Polsten cannons on a traversable mounting.

AEC Armored Command Vehicle

Five of the Associated Equipment Company's large 4x4 Armored Command Vehicle were purchased for the RPLA during the Anti-Fascist War and all of them continue in service, their high-power radio equipment and mobility still an asset.

Ivanograd QF 25 Pounder Field Gun

The RPLA grew to like the British 25 Pounder howitzer during the Anti-Fascist War and didn't take long to commission a domestic copy with which to replace the hodgepodge of guns then in service. 25 Pounder weapons are usually towed by Starling Burro artillery tractors, but oftentimes, when the infantry does not expect to operate far from one of the Robotic Archipelago's innumerable waterways, the guns are left aboard ship and fire from there. A handful of Baby 25 Pounders are in service as well, for airborne or expeditionary use.

Ivanograd BL 5.5 inch Medium Gun

Another copy of a British design, the 5.5in Medium Gun provides RPLA units with a heavier artillery weapon than the 25 Pounder, but the very prevalent nature of 4.5in destroyer guns means that opportunities to use the 5.5in piece are relatively rare and therefore rather few are in service.

Ivanograd QF 6 Pounder Antitank Gun

Light and mobile, the QF 6 Pounder can still successfully engage some tank types and is fairly effective against reinforced positions. Several hundred 6 Pounder weapons were inherited by the RPLA during the Anti-Fascist war, and the RPLA liked the gun enough to commission Ivanograd Ordnance Factory to build a copy. About four hundred guns are in service, towed by either Universal Carriers or Starling OXDs.

Organization

The RPLA's basic unit of organization on the strategic level is the Regiment, usually consisting of around 2,000 men-at-arms under the command of a Colonel. Due to the amphibious nature of the RPLA, it usually does best to keep formations rather small. Regiments are then organized into Divisions, which generally consist of five to ten Regiments and are commanded by a Brigadier (who does not, as the name would suggest, command a Brigade). Divisions are in turn organized into Fronts, which are named after the Front's area of operations. A typical example is; East Svenland Front. A front is usually commanded by a General, and usually has at its disposal a navy amphibious squadron, a monitor squadron, and quite often a destroyer division as well, along with the usual artillery and tanks.

The most basic unit of organization in absolute terms is the section, consisting of eight riflemen and commanded by a Corporal. Four sections put together make a squadron, under the command of a Sub-Leftenant, and three squadrons make a company, generally under the command of a full Leftenant or Major.

Special Forces

The RPLA generally keeps well away from Special Forces formations, its old guard believing that they detract from the Army's overall effectiveness. William Slim sums up the RPLA's attitude quite well: "[Special forces] were usually formed by attracting the best men ... The result of these methods was undoubtedly to lower the quality of the rest of the Army." This might be considered a bit of a mistake, since the average RPLA soldier doesn't even have sufficient basic training, never mind specialist training, but the Army cannot afford to clump its precious experienced NCOs and officers into limited-use units.

However, some Regiments that might be described as special forces do exist. The first that usually comes up is the Black Watch, the RPLA's oldest Regiment. It recieves no special training but is always the first to be called-upon for overseas deployments and has consistently shown a level of ability somewhat above that of the regular army. The Parachute Regiment is also considered by many a special forces unit, but in reality sees little action and is only a hair's breadth away from disbandment.

Air Force of Robotstan

The AFR is, in terms of manpower, a massive force, numbering nearly one hundred thousand, but in reality has relatively few modern aircraft and faces a shortage of pilots. It is also the only Robotstani service that faces combat regularly, flying against the Royal Flying Corps over Svenland, and against Effitians in the Jaizar Valley.

Rank Structure

Air Chief Marshal, Air Marshal, Air Vice Marshal, Air Commodore, Group Captain, Squadron Leader, Flight Leftenant, Flying Officer, Air Sergeant, Flight Sergeant, Senior Aerocraftman, Aerocraftman

Uniform

The AFR uniform is largely indistinguishable from that of the British RAF, the only real departure being the substitution of a Robotstani crest on the cap. A one-piece, flame retardant flight suit is usually worn by fighter pilots, and this is usually complimented by a partial pressure suit in the higher-performance aircraft.

Weapons

The AFR uses a wide range of air-launched weaponry, from torpedoes to ASMs and from unguided bombs to anti-tank missiles. Parliament has supposedly started a modernization program but it is not likely that it will ever finish.

18" Mark XVII Torpedo

The Mark XVII is by far the AFR's most important torpedo type. Although it has seen relatively little action, owing to the lack of major anti-surface operations since its induction in 1944, most AFR aircraft are rigged to carry it, including the Canberra, Shackleton, and Beaufighter. Even the jet-powered Vampire and Hunter have been tested with the Mark XVII. It has a range at maximum speed of 2.3km.

RB-04 Anti-Ship Guided Rocket

Although its shortcomings haven't entirely been worked out yet, the RB-04 anti-ship missile has started to enter AFR service with the Canberra and Shackleton. The RB-04 is a Swedish design, liscence-produced by Ivanograd Ordnance Factories, and allows the AFR to attack ships from ranges previously not thought possible. RB-04s have hit targets from as far as 25 kilometers away, even in poor weather, and have a warhead comparable to the Mark XVII torpedo.

76mm Rocket Projectile

76mm RPs are the AFR's weapon of choice for engaging tanks and other armored vehicles, and have seen plenty of action since their introduction in 1943. Due to their heavy weight and relatively crude aerodynamics, they are not terribly accurate, but the 27kg HE/SAP warhead delivers as much explosive as an artillery shell and the 11kg AP warhead can knock-out many modern tanks.

Robotstani Navy of National Liberation

(OCC: Since this needs to be quick...)

Lion Class Battleship

The four Lion Class vessels were laid-down in 1936 in response to the growing threat of Japanese aggression in the North Pacific. Upset with the poor performance of Robotstan's first two home-built battleships, the Lion Class was intended to, before anything else, exhibit a much higher degree of quality in construction. After that, they were to handle much better on high seas and carry considerably heavier armour protection, somewhat at the expense of speed. One Lion, PNS Conqueror, took part in the destruction of the Soveriegn during the 1938 Royalist Revolt.

Displacement: 39,452 tons (deep)
Length: 219m
Beam: 28.3m
Draught: 5.7m standard
Propulsion: 8 Harold boilers, 4 Harold-E steam turbines, 4 three-bladed, 4.42m diameter screws, 108,324 SHP
Speed: 27.4 knots
Range: 5,750km at 27 knots, 26,680km at 10knots
Complement: 1,423
Armament: 8x15in/381mm main guns
14x4.5in/114mm DP guns
18x1.57in/40mm AA guns
8x20mm AA guns
6x21in/533mm torpedo tubes
Armour: 320mm main belt, 119mm lower belt, 132mm deck, 382mm turret fronts, 319mm turret sides
Aircraft: None embarked, landing area for RAI Sycamore light helicopter
In Service: PNS Lion, PNS Conqueror, PNS Formidable, PNS Torbay

Hubertin Class Heavy Cruiser

The Hubertin Class Heavy Cruisers, named for one of the first anti-royalist revolutionaries, are heavily-armed, heavily-armored, and generally considered highly capable. All eight ships built saw action during the Anti-Fascist War and combat performance was considered exemplary, although one was very badly damaged and had to be taken in for extensive refit. They aren't very comfortable ships, though, being cramped, poorly-ventilated, difficult to keep clean, and cold.

Displacement: 10,200t standard
Length: 190m
Beam: 19.2m
Draught: 5.2m
Propulsion: Harold-B2 Boilers, Harold-B2 Steam turbines, 4 shafts, 80,000 SHP
Speed: 31.5 knots
Range: 4,760km at 30 knots, 21,040km at 12 knots
Complement: 720
Armament: 8x8in/203mm main guns
4x4.5in/114in DP guns
14x1.57in/40mm AA guns
6x21in/533mm torpedo tubes
In Service: PNS Hubertin, James, Kampala, Rosvonets, Matabele, Wickramsinghe, Dostovsky, Linus


Jervis (ex-Dido) Class Light Cruiser

The Jervis-Class Light Cruisers, named after a Parliamentary naval hero from the anti-Royalist wars, were formerly Dido-class light cruisers in the service of the Royal Navy. The Parliamentary Navy bought five in 1946 and they have not seen any refits or modifications to speak of.

Displacement: 5,700-5,900t standard
Length: 156m
Beam: 15.4m
Draught: 4.3m
Propulsion: 4 Admiralty boilers, Parsons geared turbines, 4 shafts, 62,000 SHP
Speed: 32.25 knots
Range: 2,414km at 30 knots, 6,824km at 16 knots
Complement: 480
Armament: 10x5.25in/133mm DP guns
8x40mm AA guns
6x21in/533mm torpedo tubes
Armour: 3in belt, 1in deck
In Service: PNS Orwell, Furious, Daring, Implacable, Jervis

Arabia Class Light Cruiser

Named in honour of Parliament's main source of oil, the Arabia-Class Cruisers were designed, as is the case with most of Parliament's ships, to prepare for the inevitable clash with the Japanese, during the late 1930s. They are fairly heavily-armed, fast vessels with excellent seakeeping and have recieved considerable levels of upgrading since the end of the anti-fascist war. These upgrades include anti-aircraft missile launchers, new long-range air warning and surface search radar, and helicopter accomodation.

Displacement: 5,220t standard
Length: 149.3m
Beam: 13.2m
Draught: 4.1m
Propulsion: 4 Harold-D Boilers, 4 Harold-D turbines, 4 shafts, 64,000 SHP
Speed: 32 knots
Range: 2,201km at 30 knots, 6,430km at 18 knots
Complement: 500
Armament: 6x6in/152mm main guns
4x4.5in/114mm DP guns
8x1.57in/40mm AA guns
1xSea Cat SAM launcher
6x21in/533mm torpedo tubes
Armour: 2in belt, 1.3in deck, 1.5in turrets
In Service: PNS Oman, Kuwait, Al-Khals, Jordan, Lebanon

Dili Class Light Cruiser

Laid-down in 1937, the Dili Class light cruisers were designed from the outset as fast ships with excellent handling and seakeeping for use in scouting and convoy protection. They possess plenty of all those qualities, but lack in armament and to a lesser degree armour. All ten ships of the class saw action in the Anti-Fascist War, and they will continue to serve for the forseeable future. Their powerful radar fit and heavy AA armament continues to make them useful even when compared to altogether larger and more modern vessels. Not to mention, Parliament likes the vessels' low cost of upkeep and high rate of serviceability.

Displacement: 4,912t standard
Length: 136m
Beam: 12.8m
Draught: 4.9m
Propulsion: 4 Harold-C Boilers, 4 Harold-C Turbines, 4 shafts, 60,000 SHP
Speed: 34 knots
Range: 1,984km at 32 knots, 6,000km at 16 knots
Complement: 490
Armament: 3x6in/152mm main guns
4x5.25in/114mm DP guns
10x1.57in/40mm AA guns
10x20mm AA guns
6x21in/533mm torpedo tubes
Armour: 1.5in belt, 1in deck, 1.5in turret fronts
In Service: PNS Dili, Baucau, Tutuala, Fohorem, Ermera, Pante Makassar, Bobonaro, Maubisse, Viqueque, Manatuto

Parrot Class Destroyer

The Parrot Class Destroyer is by far the most technologically advanced ship in Robotstani service, having been designed in the late stages of the Anti-Fascist War as a new breed of destroyer. Fast, manouverable, and equipped with the newest sensors and weaponry, they were meant to give the Parliamentary Navy a platform capable of handling anti-aircraft duties better than any other ship afloat. None saw action in the Anti-Fascist War, but the ten completed vessels are set to become integral parts of the postwar Parliamentary Navy with their long-range surface search and air warning radars and advanced weapons fit. The first four Parrots have no rocket armament, the next three have Sea Cat launchers, and the last three have RB-04 launchers.

Displacement: 2,300t standard
Length: 119m
Beam: 11.1m
Draught: 3.5m
Propulsion: 2 Harold-F3 Steam Turbines, 2 Shafts, 52,00 SHP
Speed: 35 knots
Range: 8,100km at 12 knots
Complement: 270
Armament: (Batch 1) 4x4.5in/114mm DP guns
8x1.57in/40mm AA guns
10x21in/533mm torpedo tubes
1xPelican A/S Mortar
(Batch 2) 4x4.5in/114mm DP guns
4x1.57in/40mm AA guns
1xSea Cat SAM launcher
1xPelican A/S Mortar
(Batch 3) 2x4.5in/114mm DP guns
8x1.57in/40mm AA guns
4xRB-04 Anti-Ship Rocket launchers
1xPelican A/S Mortar
In Service: PNS Kakapo, Adelaide Rosella, Bluebonnet, Buderigar, Chattering Lory, Cockatiel, Cockatoo, Macaw, Parakeet, Kea

Lobster Class Destroyer

Named for one of the ocean's smartest inhabitants, the hardy Lobster, the Lobster Class Destroyers were laid-down in 1930 as part of Parliament's re-armament program following the emergence of renewed tensions with Royalist elements. They were meant to replace both the collection of elderly ex-RN vessels in service and the disastrous Orca Class, which suffered from inept design, with a modern and capable ship. At the time of their construction, they were some of the most heavily-armed vessels afloat, with twelve 21" torpedo tubes, four 6" guns, and ten 20mm anti-aircraft cannon in five twin mounts. For a while, they were considered equal to the Japanese Fubuki class destroyers, although in the end this proved not to be the case, the Japanese ships having the advantage in firepower. The Lobster Class Destroyers have seen extensive modification during their period of service with the Parliamentary Navy, being fitted with better air warning radar, the excellent Bofors 40mm AA gun, and dual-purpose 4.5" turrets in place of the 6" guns. The removal of the heavy 6" mounts has actually served to increase speed slightly, although destroyer captains themselves are somewhat skeptical of the reduction in their vessels' gun caliber.

Displacement: 1,950t standard
Length: 112m
Beam: 10.2m
Draught: 3.4m
Propulsion: 2 Harold-F1 Boilers, 2 Harold-F1 Steam Turbines, 2 Shafts, 50,000 SHP
Speed: 38.5 knots
Range: 1,640km at 32 knots, 7,600km at 18 knots
Complement: 190
Armament: 4x4.5in/114mm DP guns
8x1.57in/40mm AA guns
12x21in/533mm torpedo tubes
1xPelican A/S Mortar
In Service: PNS Acanthacaris, Eunephrops, Homarinus, Homarus, Metanephrops, Nephropides, Nephrops, Nephropsis, Thymopides, Thymops, Thymposis

Albatross Class Destroyer

The Albatross Class Destroyer are the newest vessels to enter service with the Parliamentary Navy, and incorporate advanced air-warning and surface search radars in addition to a very modern fire control system. Laid down in 1951, the first vessel of the class was completed in 1952 and soon gained the confidence of its crew with excellent seakeeping. Albatross Class ships are very much optimized for the antisubmarine role, with heavy A/S armament at the expense of anti-aircraft guns and many torpedo tubes. They are also relatively slow, at 29 knots, but have a long range and can perform escort duties at distances that would severely hamper a force of more traditional destroyers.

Displacement: 2,100t standard
Length: 108.4m
Beam: 12.6m
Draught: 5m
Propulsion: 2 Harold-G Boilers, 2 Harold-G Steam Turbines, 2 Shafts, 32,000 SHP
Speed: 29.5 knots
Range: 3,420km at 29 knots, 9,200km at 18 knots
Complement: 215
Armament: 2x4.5in/114mm DP guns
4x1.57in/40mm AA guns
2xPelican A/S Mortar
4x21in/533mm Torpedo Tubes
In Service: PNS Southern Royal Albatross, Northern Royal Albatross, Wandering Albatross, Antipodean Albatross, Tristan Albatross, Amsterdam Albatross, Chatham Albatross, Campbell Albatross, Salvin's Albatross

Gull Class Corvette

The workhorse of the Parliamentary Navy, the slow, crude, and cheap Gull Class Corvettes are nonetheless a favorite of captains, who value their mechanical reliability, relatively heavy firepower, and robustness. During the Anti-Fascist War, when the Parliamentary Navy's destroyer fleet was largely needed elsewhere, a design for a cheap escort vessel was submitted to the Admiralty. For lack of anything better, it was quickly ordered into production. Lucky for the Admiralty, it proved to be a sound and capable design. Besides its primary task of antisubmarine warfare, the Gull Class can be used to sweep minefields and has been used in lieu of specialized minesweepers on several occasions. Over fifty Gull Class Corvettes are in service. One disagreeable characteristic of the Gull Class is its tendancy to roll in the presence of even small waves, thanks to the rounded hull, which can be quite disconcerting to the crew, but thanks to good distribution of weight the class is very difficult to capsize.

Displacement: 970t standard
Length: 62.4m
Beam: 10.3m
Draught: 3.1m
Propulsion: 2 Harold-A8 Boilers, 1 Harold-A8 Steam Turbine, 3,200 SHP
Speed: 15 knots
Range: 17,800km at 12 knots
Complement: 98
Armament: 1x4in/102mm main gun
2x1.57in/40mm AA guns
40xDepth Charges
In Service: PNS C19-C69

Tern Class A/S Sloop

The Gull Class Corvettes soon proved their worth in combat, but they were not without their drawbacks. Their tendancy to roll in even calm seas made them extremely poor gunnery platforms, and a lack of significant anti-ship or anti-aircraft armament made them extremely vulnerable to surface raiders. The Tern Class was meant to complement the Gull corvettes with a more refined ship, with heavier firepower and greater flexibility, as well as improved handling. The first Terns arrived in late 1944 and saw limited action in the Anti-Fascist War, sinking a total of four Japanese submarines and downing several aircraft. They continue to serve in the fisheries protection, coastal patrol, and of course antisubmarine roles to this day, with a replacement being actively sought.

Displacement: 1,280t standard
Length: 87.2m
Beam: 12.4m
Draught: 3.1m
Propulsion: 2 Harold-A9A Boilers, 2 Harold-A9A Steam Turbines, 2 Shafts, 4,400 SHP
Speed: 20 knots
Range: 13,200km at 15 knots
Complement: 190
Armament: 6x4in/102mm main guns
2x1.57in/40mm AA guns
6x20mm AA guns
1xPelican A/S Mortar
In Service: PNS Caspian Tern, Greater Crested Tern, Elegant Tern, Sandwitch Tern, River Tern, Roseate Tern, South American Tern, Common Tern, Arctic Tern, Kerguelen Tern, Foster's Tern, Trudeau's Tern, Black-Bellied Tern, Little Tern, Saunder's Tern, Peruvian Tern, Damara Tern, Sooty Tern

Auk Class Monitor

The necessities of naval warfare in the Robotic Archipelago often call upon vessels to operate in very narrow, very shallow waters in order to bring their guns to bear or to deliver troops and equipment. It is quite difficult for most Parliamentary Navy capital ships to safely manouver in coastal waterways, fjords, and other common features of Robotstani geography. In order to allow the navy to better support land operations, Parliament built the Auk Class of Monitors, heavily-armed and armored gunnery platforms with suitably low draughts and fairly high manouverability. They first saw action in the 1938 Royalist Revolt, where several participated in the sinking of the Soveriegn, and were then used in Svenland against the Japanese. They continue to see use both as harbor protection ships and against Royalist rebels in Svenland.

Displacement: 7,520t standard
Length: 116.4m
Beam: 28.2m
Draught: 2.9m
Propulsion: 2 Harold-A9B Boilers, 2 Harold-A9B Steam Turbines, 3 Shafts, 5,400 SHP
Speed: 10.2 knots
Range: 3,200km at 10 knots
Complement: 430
Armament: 2x15in/381mm
4x4.5in/114mm DP guns
10x1.57in/40mm AA guns
Armour: 4in belt, 1.5in deck, 8in barbette, 12in turret front
In Service: PNS Razorbill, Mancalla, Great Auk, Marbled Murrelet, Cassin's Auklet, Crested Auklet, Rhinoceros Auklet, Tufted Puffin

Petrel Class Motor Torpedo Boat

Another product of the Anti-Fascist War, the Petrel Class MTB is still in widespread service with the Parliamentary Navy and is its primary coastal anti-shipping platform. The Petrel Class is cheap to build, fast, and mechanically reliable, and carries considerable firepower in its relatively small profile.

Displacement: 41t
Length: 20m
Beam: 2.1m
Draught: .85m
Propulsion: 3 Harold Tiger-F Petrol Engines, 4,000 SHP
Speed: 42 knots
Range: 1,020km at 20 knots
Complement: 15
Armament: 2x18" Torpedo Tubes
1x1.57in/40mm AA gun
2x20mm AA guns
4x.303 VIGO machine guns
6xDepth Charges (rarely carried)
In Service: R41-R64

Naval Aviation

Although the RNNL no longer operates aircraft carriers, it does have a large and modern aviation component.

Robotstani Aviation Industrial Consortium Wren Torpedo Fighter

The Wren is a large, turboprop-powered, single-seat fighter driven by counter-rotating propellers, capable of a top speed approaching 500 miles per hour. Intended to fulfill the Torpedo Fighter specification for a high-speed carrierborne attack aircraft, the first Wrens suffered from excessive engine torque and un-responsive control surfaces, and while the installation of the Harold Gremlin turboprop solved some of the engine problems, the aircraft still suffers from a lack of agility. It is widely believed that such an aircraft as the Wren should not have been purchased by the Parliamentary Navy and should be retired at the soonest possible motors. The prop configuration only exists, after all, because of fears that jet aircraft would be unable to operate off carriers, now irrelevant since the scrapping of PNS Audacity. In addition to four wing-mounted 20mm cannon, the Wren can carry nearly 2,000 kilograms of external stores including an 18" torpedo, unguided rockets up to 180mm, bombs, and sea mines.

Robotstani Aviation Industrial Consortium Sycamore Helicopter

One of the RNNL's favorite pieces of equipment is the helicopter, valued for vertical take-off and landing performance. Bristol's Sycamore light helicopter, a five-seat, piston-engined design, was selected in 1951 as the navy's standard type, and has seen plenty of use since then. Although too small to carry much of a warload, the Sycamore can cruise at 130 miles per hour and can be fitted with a pair of depth charges for use against submarines. The Sycamore is considered most useful in coastal waters, where it can scout out terrain before MTB or monitor-based units move through.

Robotstani Aviation Industrial Consortium Canberra Bomber

Fast, high-flying, and agile, the English Electric Canberra is a wonderfully effective aircraft and an obvious choice for modernization-minded Parliament. The first 14 EE-built aircraft arrived in 1951, and Kingston-based RAIC delivered its first liscence-produced example a year later. Powered by twin Avon turbojet engines, the Canberra can reach a maximum speed in excess of 540 miles per hour at altitude and is capable of flying at well over 500 miles per hour at sea level. The AFR is the largest operator of Canberras by a significant margin, but the Parliamentary Navy has 45 examples, all modified to deliver torpedoes and mines. Two 18" torpedoes or six 454kg bombs can be carried internally, and RPs can be fitted to underwing launch rails. A gun pod, containing four 20mm cannon or six .303 machine guns, can also be mounted underneath the fuselage, but for aircraft operating in the torpedo attack role this is usually not fitted.