Zambistan
24-03-2007, 05:40
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/40096000/gif/_40096569_iraq_new_flag3_203.gif
Conventional long form: Tunisian Republic
Conventional short form: Tunisia
Local long form: Al Jumhuriyah at Tunisiyah
Local short form: Tunis
Map:
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/mapimages/africa/tunisia/tunisia.gif
Government: Republic
Language: Arabic
Population: 1.5 million
Ruler: Ali Bach Hamba
Adjective: Tunisian
Natural resources: petroleum, phosphates, iron ore, lead, zinc, salt, agriculture
List of provinces:
Tunisia is subdivided into 24 governorates, they are:
Ariana
Béja
Ben Arous
Bizerte
Gabès
Gafsa
Jendouba
Kairouan
Kasserine
Kebili
Kef
Mahdia
Manouba
Medenine
Monastir
Nabeul
Sfax
Sidi Bou Said
Siliana
Sousse
Tataouine
Tozeur
Tunis
Zaghouan
Armed forces:
Comprising some 2% of the total population, or approximately 200 000 personnel.
Military (land forces): 15,000 personnel
Divisions number just shy of six thousand men at nominal strength, and are commanded by a Captain General. Roughly half of the army fulls various supporting roles. The following list contains only regular front line combat divisions.
1st-3rd cavalry divisions [all partially motorised with armoured cars and supply trucks, primarily function as mounted infantry]
1st and 2nd artillery divisions [generally operate as brigades attached to other divisions]
1st through 5th infantry divisions.
Navy: 20,000 personnel.
Exact crew compliments vary, as do ship group sizes. The remainder of the navy is made up primarily of support and logistics elements and costal-defence ships [corvettes, primarily].
Battleships
Nijimi Sevket
Avni Illah
Muin-I-Zaffer
Messudieh
Resadiye
Crusiers
Abdul Hamid
Abdul Mecid
Destroyers
Tayyar
Samsoun
Muvanet-I-Milet
Torpedo Boats
Ejder
Younous
Drach
Sivrihisar
Phonecian-Class Supply Ship/Troop Transport
Habib 1 through 25
Lombroso-Class Corvette
Khniss
Kairouan
Arfa-Class Frigate
Abdul-Haqq
Tarik
Izz Al Din
Rida
Zuhayr
Harun
Abdul-Khaliq
Baghel
Jamal
Ala' Al Din
Gadhafi-Class Assault Destroyer
Rabi
Abdul-Hafiz
Ala' Al Din
Airforce: 5000 personnel
Generally reliant on the army or navy for long distance logistics, handle their own local logistics and support. Made up of bi and tri planes and zeppelins. Generally deployed in Flights of approximately 640 men of all ranks. [32 planes, 20 men to each including ground crew and local support] under command of a flight captain, with a captain general commanding an airbase with variable numbers of flights [usually at least five]
1st through 20th flights, + command elements and reserves.
Secret projects currently under way:
-None-
General armed forces information:
20 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 12 months; 18 years of age for voluntary military service.
Misc. defence related:
All cities and towns have militias that undergo training and drilling everyweek, and the populace are encourage to buy weapons "to defend themselves with."
Infrastructure:
Tunisia has a diverse and powerful economy, with important agricultural, mining, tourism, petroleum, and manufacturing sectors. Governmental control of economic affairs, whilst still heavy, has gradually lessened over the past decade with increasing privatization, simplification of the tax structure, and a prudent approach to debt. Tunisia has recently flourished due to free trade and a complete domination of the airship market.
Government:
Tunisia is a republic with a strong presidential system dominated by a single political party. President Ali Bach Hamba has been in office since 1884, the year he deposed Habib Bourguiba in a bloodless coup. The constitution has been changed twice to allow Ali Bach Hamba to remain in power: initially from two to three terms, then from three to five. The ruling party, the Democratic Constitutional Rally (RCD), was the sole legal party for 25 years, known previously as the Socialist Destourian Party (PSD). The RCD still dominates political life.
Facing virtually no opposition, the President is elected to 5-year terms. He appoints a Prime Minister and cabinet, who play a strong role in the execution of policy. Regional governors and local administrators also are appointed by the central government. Largely consultative mayors and municipal councils are elected. There is a unicameral legislative body, the Chamber of Deputies, which has 182 seats, 20% of which are reserved for the opposition parties. It plays a growing role as an arena for debate on national policy but never originates legislation. The Chamber virtually always passes bills presented by the executive with only one minor change. The judiciary is nominally independent but responds to executive direction, especially in political cases. The military is professional and does not play a role in politics.
Tunisia is noteworthy for its lack of public political discourse. Tunisia's precise political situation is hard to determine due to a strong level of silence and lack of transparency maintained by the government. There are currently six legal opposition parties all with their own newspapers. However, the Committee to Protect Journalists, has accused Tunisia of a persistent record of harassment, persecution, imprisonment, and physical harm perpetrated on journalists critical of the government. Even Western journalists, when writing on Tunisian soil, are not spared this fate.
Despite official proclamations, the Tunisian government imposes significant restrictions on freedom of speech and human rights. As such Tunisians are noticeably insecure when discussing political matters. Nonetheless the government presents itself as Western-friendly.
Tunisia is also one of the few Muslim countries that prohibits the hijab in government buildings. By government edict, women that insist on wearing the hijab must quit their job or drop out of school. Dissenters are forced to sign a document admitting to having committed a crime punishable by law and, in cases of recidivism, are jailed. Women who insist on keeping their veils despite all threats become the subject of negative propaganda disseminated by the Tunisian authorities on all state and private media.
Underground opposition from Islamic Fundamentalists has an obvious but shadowy existence in Tunisia. Under former president Bourguiba, Islamic Fundamentalists were allowed to serve as a counterweight to more left-leaning movements. Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali, however, has followed an aggressive policy regarding the Fundamentalists, though the extent of government success is difficult to judge in a nation where so much is secret. While Tunisia has a repressive political system, standards of living are among the best in the developing world. Tunisia remains an autocratic regime, but one where starvation, homelessness, and disease, problems seen in much of Africa and Asia, are rare
Prior to 1858 education in Tunisia was only available to a privileged minority (14%). It is now given an extremely high priority and accounts for 6% of G.N.P. A basic education for both boys and girls between the ages of 6 and 16 has been compulsory since 1891
New Designs:
Phonecian-Class Supply Ship/Troop Transport
Length: 320 feet
Width:60 feet
Displacement: 3700 tons
Propulsion: Four Boilers, two Diesels
Speed: 17 knots
Range: 4000nm@17 knots
Crew:120
Accomodation: Marines~30 officers and 500 enlisted men, 3 tendor craft on each side of the boat.
Armament:
-One 10" on main deck
-4 twin-mounted 4" High/Low Angle guns, two on main deck, one on each side
-4 twin-mounted 40mm Pom-Poms, two on main deck, one on each side
-6 .50cal water-cooled MG's, two on main deck, one on rear deck, one on bridge, one on each side
Lombroso-Class Corvette
Length: 203 feet
Width: 25 feet
Displacement: 1003 tons
Propulsion: Two Boilers, one diesel
Speed: 26 knots
Range: 2600nm@26 knots, 4100nm@16 knots
Crew: 87 men
Armament:
-one 4.5" gun on front turret
-one twin high/low angle 4" gun turret on front
-one twin mounted 40mm Pom-Pom on aft deck
-two .50cal MG's, one on the front, one on the back
-one quad mounted 67mm mortar on aft deck
-Gadhafi-Class Assault Destroyer
Length: 307 feet
Width: 40 feet
Displacement: 2100 tons
Propulsion: 2 shaft Parsons type geared turbines, 3 boilers 40,000 hp
Speed: 36 knots
Range: 3200nm@18 knots
Crew: 179
Armament:
-2 6" guns on one forward turret
-5 4" guns, Three on front turret, two on rear
-2 twin 40mm cannons, one on each side
-3 twin .50cal MG's one on each side, one on rear
-4 533mm Torpedo Tubes
-20 mines
-Arfa-Class Frigate:
Length: 207 feet
Width: 41 feet
Displacement: 1890 tons
Propulsion: two diesel, three boilers
Speed: 34 knots
Range: 2000nm@34 knots, 5200nm@23 knots, 8210nm@18 knots
Crew: 84
Armament:
-3 4" guns, two front, one rear
-5 3" High/Low angle guns, 3x2 (frontxrear)
-2 30mm general purpose cannons, one rear, one bridge
-3 .50cal MG's, one on each side, one forward gun deck
Conventional long form: Tunisian Republic
Conventional short form: Tunisia
Local long form: Al Jumhuriyah at Tunisiyah
Local short form: Tunis
Map:
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/mapimages/africa/tunisia/tunisia.gif
Government: Republic
Language: Arabic
Population: 1.5 million
Ruler: Ali Bach Hamba
Adjective: Tunisian
Natural resources: petroleum, phosphates, iron ore, lead, zinc, salt, agriculture
List of provinces:
Tunisia is subdivided into 24 governorates, they are:
Ariana
Béja
Ben Arous
Bizerte
Gabès
Gafsa
Jendouba
Kairouan
Kasserine
Kebili
Kef
Mahdia
Manouba
Medenine
Monastir
Nabeul
Sfax
Sidi Bou Said
Siliana
Sousse
Tataouine
Tozeur
Tunis
Zaghouan
Armed forces:
Comprising some 2% of the total population, or approximately 200 000 personnel.
Military (land forces): 15,000 personnel
Divisions number just shy of six thousand men at nominal strength, and are commanded by a Captain General. Roughly half of the army fulls various supporting roles. The following list contains only regular front line combat divisions.
1st-3rd cavalry divisions [all partially motorised with armoured cars and supply trucks, primarily function as mounted infantry]
1st and 2nd artillery divisions [generally operate as brigades attached to other divisions]
1st through 5th infantry divisions.
Navy: 20,000 personnel.
Exact crew compliments vary, as do ship group sizes. The remainder of the navy is made up primarily of support and logistics elements and costal-defence ships [corvettes, primarily].
Battleships
Nijimi Sevket
Avni Illah
Muin-I-Zaffer
Messudieh
Resadiye
Crusiers
Abdul Hamid
Abdul Mecid
Destroyers
Tayyar
Samsoun
Muvanet-I-Milet
Torpedo Boats
Ejder
Younous
Drach
Sivrihisar
Phonecian-Class Supply Ship/Troop Transport
Habib 1 through 25
Lombroso-Class Corvette
Khniss
Kairouan
Arfa-Class Frigate
Abdul-Haqq
Tarik
Izz Al Din
Rida
Zuhayr
Harun
Abdul-Khaliq
Baghel
Jamal
Ala' Al Din
Gadhafi-Class Assault Destroyer
Rabi
Abdul-Hafiz
Ala' Al Din
Airforce: 5000 personnel
Generally reliant on the army or navy for long distance logistics, handle their own local logistics and support. Made up of bi and tri planes and zeppelins. Generally deployed in Flights of approximately 640 men of all ranks. [32 planes, 20 men to each including ground crew and local support] under command of a flight captain, with a captain general commanding an airbase with variable numbers of flights [usually at least five]
1st through 20th flights, + command elements and reserves.
Secret projects currently under way:
-None-
General armed forces information:
20 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 12 months; 18 years of age for voluntary military service.
Misc. defence related:
All cities and towns have militias that undergo training and drilling everyweek, and the populace are encourage to buy weapons "to defend themselves with."
Infrastructure:
Tunisia has a diverse and powerful economy, with important agricultural, mining, tourism, petroleum, and manufacturing sectors. Governmental control of economic affairs, whilst still heavy, has gradually lessened over the past decade with increasing privatization, simplification of the tax structure, and a prudent approach to debt. Tunisia has recently flourished due to free trade and a complete domination of the airship market.
Government:
Tunisia is a republic with a strong presidential system dominated by a single political party. President Ali Bach Hamba has been in office since 1884, the year he deposed Habib Bourguiba in a bloodless coup. The constitution has been changed twice to allow Ali Bach Hamba to remain in power: initially from two to three terms, then from three to five. The ruling party, the Democratic Constitutional Rally (RCD), was the sole legal party for 25 years, known previously as the Socialist Destourian Party (PSD). The RCD still dominates political life.
Facing virtually no opposition, the President is elected to 5-year terms. He appoints a Prime Minister and cabinet, who play a strong role in the execution of policy. Regional governors and local administrators also are appointed by the central government. Largely consultative mayors and municipal councils are elected. There is a unicameral legislative body, the Chamber of Deputies, which has 182 seats, 20% of which are reserved for the opposition parties. It plays a growing role as an arena for debate on national policy but never originates legislation. The Chamber virtually always passes bills presented by the executive with only one minor change. The judiciary is nominally independent but responds to executive direction, especially in political cases. The military is professional and does not play a role in politics.
Tunisia is noteworthy for its lack of public political discourse. Tunisia's precise political situation is hard to determine due to a strong level of silence and lack of transparency maintained by the government. There are currently six legal opposition parties all with their own newspapers. However, the Committee to Protect Journalists, has accused Tunisia of a persistent record of harassment, persecution, imprisonment, and physical harm perpetrated on journalists critical of the government. Even Western journalists, when writing on Tunisian soil, are not spared this fate.
Despite official proclamations, the Tunisian government imposes significant restrictions on freedom of speech and human rights. As such Tunisians are noticeably insecure when discussing political matters. Nonetheless the government presents itself as Western-friendly.
Tunisia is also one of the few Muslim countries that prohibits the hijab in government buildings. By government edict, women that insist on wearing the hijab must quit their job or drop out of school. Dissenters are forced to sign a document admitting to having committed a crime punishable by law and, in cases of recidivism, are jailed. Women who insist on keeping their veils despite all threats become the subject of negative propaganda disseminated by the Tunisian authorities on all state and private media.
Underground opposition from Islamic Fundamentalists has an obvious but shadowy existence in Tunisia. Under former president Bourguiba, Islamic Fundamentalists were allowed to serve as a counterweight to more left-leaning movements. Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali, however, has followed an aggressive policy regarding the Fundamentalists, though the extent of government success is difficult to judge in a nation where so much is secret. While Tunisia has a repressive political system, standards of living are among the best in the developing world. Tunisia remains an autocratic regime, but one where starvation, homelessness, and disease, problems seen in much of Africa and Asia, are rare
Prior to 1858 education in Tunisia was only available to a privileged minority (14%). It is now given an extremely high priority and accounts for 6% of G.N.P. A basic education for both boys and girls between the ages of 6 and 16 has been compulsory since 1891
New Designs:
Phonecian-Class Supply Ship/Troop Transport
Length: 320 feet
Width:60 feet
Displacement: 3700 tons
Propulsion: Four Boilers, two Diesels
Speed: 17 knots
Range: 4000nm@17 knots
Crew:120
Accomodation: Marines~30 officers and 500 enlisted men, 3 tendor craft on each side of the boat.
Armament:
-One 10" on main deck
-4 twin-mounted 4" High/Low Angle guns, two on main deck, one on each side
-4 twin-mounted 40mm Pom-Poms, two on main deck, one on each side
-6 .50cal water-cooled MG's, two on main deck, one on rear deck, one on bridge, one on each side
Lombroso-Class Corvette
Length: 203 feet
Width: 25 feet
Displacement: 1003 tons
Propulsion: Two Boilers, one diesel
Speed: 26 knots
Range: 2600nm@26 knots, 4100nm@16 knots
Crew: 87 men
Armament:
-one 4.5" gun on front turret
-one twin high/low angle 4" gun turret on front
-one twin mounted 40mm Pom-Pom on aft deck
-two .50cal MG's, one on the front, one on the back
-one quad mounted 67mm mortar on aft deck
-Gadhafi-Class Assault Destroyer
Length: 307 feet
Width: 40 feet
Displacement: 2100 tons
Propulsion: 2 shaft Parsons type geared turbines, 3 boilers 40,000 hp
Speed: 36 knots
Range: 3200nm@18 knots
Crew: 179
Armament:
-2 6" guns on one forward turret
-5 4" guns, Three on front turret, two on rear
-2 twin 40mm cannons, one on each side
-3 twin .50cal MG's one on each side, one on rear
-4 533mm Torpedo Tubes
-20 mines
-Arfa-Class Frigate:
Length: 207 feet
Width: 41 feet
Displacement: 1890 tons
Propulsion: two diesel, three boilers
Speed: 34 knots
Range: 2000nm@34 knots, 5200nm@23 knots, 8210nm@18 knots
Crew: 84
Armament:
-3 4" guns, two front, one rear
-5 3" High/Low angle guns, 3x2 (frontxrear)
-2 30mm general purpose cannons, one rear, one bridge
-3 .50cal MG's, one on each side, one forward gun deck