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Dispatch → Factbook → Military
Majapahit | Imperial Military
The first King of Majapahit, Raden Wijaya, established the Army and Navy during his reign in the late 13th century. Through the years, both of these branches expanded to become among the largest in Asia, able to rival that of Indian kingdoms and Chinese dynasties. Soldiers serving in the militaries of states conquered by Majapahit often found themselves transferred to serve in the Imperial Military after their original units were forcefully disbanded, therefore increasing Majapahit's manpower pool for further conquests.
Historically, the Imperial Military has been involved in many conflicts and wars involving Majapahit and major world powers. These include the numerous conflicts with European explorers and traders, the Majapahit-Siamese War, the Second World War, to the Cold War. As such, the military has long established cooperative relationships with many foreign armed forces, both formally and informally. The need to maintain internal security after the Cold War had ended resulted in the military having been organised along territorial lines, most notably the Army branch.
Under the 1915 Imperial Framework, all Imperial subjects are legally entitled and obliged to defend the nation. Conscription is provided for by law, yet the military has been able to maintain mandated strength levels without resorting to a draft; the most recent instance limited conscription had been put in effect was during World War II. Most enlisted personnel are recruited in their own home regions and generally train and serve most of their time in units headquartered nearby. Presently, the Imperial Military is entirely a voluntary force. The active strength reaches 910.000 men and women, with available manpower in reserve forces (part-time) around 360.000 personnel.
Members of the Imperial Military swear ultimate, unwavering allegiance to His Imperial Majesty, Maharaja Jayanagara VII, the Empire, and the people of Majapahit. The Emperor is nominally the Supreme Commander-in-chief of the Imperial Military, a mostly ceremonial position. However, in times of war, the Emperor may take direct command of the military through Imperial decree. Otherwise, the military is subordinated to the Imperial Bureau of Defence, headed by a civilian cabinet minister who in turn is responsible to the incumbent Premier, enforcing civilian control over the military.
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Service Branches
The Imperial Army (Angkatan Darat) is the military's principal
land warfare branch. It is the oldest and largest in size among the three service branches, with approximately 400.000 servicemen. Additionally, over half a million reservists could be mobilised in wartime by decree from the Emperor, as most of the reserve component fall under the command of the Army. In peacetime, the force is organised into 17 district commands (Komando Distrik, Kodis), centered around regiment or brigade-sized formations. The army currently possesses a wide arsenal of small arms both indigenously produced by the Majapahiti military-industrial complex and imported from foreign countries. It operates modern armoured fighting vehicles, rocket artillery, and attack helicopters among many other equipment in its vast inventory.
The Imperial Navy (Angkatan Laut) is the Empire's
maritime defence force. It is traditionally the strongest branch with relatively greater funding in proportion to its size. In 2018, official data shows the navy has 290.000 servicemen, including 51.000 marines serving in the Imperial Marine Corps (Korps Marinir Kemaharajaan, Kormar). The branch has been a well-equipped coastal defence force and, more recently, a blue-water navy with the task of protecting the sovereignty of Majapahit's vast territorial waters and to provide water-borne support for the military as a whole. The navy's Imperial Fleet consists of surface combat vessels, submarines, and auxiliary craft. Presently, the navy is organized into three major Naval Regions which are headquartered in the ports of Jayakarta (Western Region), Majakarta (Central Region), and Ambon (Eastern Region).
The Imperial Air Force (Angkatan Udara) is the primary
aerial warfare branch tasked with providing airborn support for the other branches and defending Imperial airspace. The IAF is the second smallest branch with only 160.000 personnel. It was also newest branch within the Imperial Military, having only been established in 1938, the second independent air force in Southeast Asia. Currently, it is organised into three separate operational commands covering the western, central, and eastern territories of the Empire, respectively. The air force's present inventory consists of both fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft, ranging from combat jets, interceptors, electronic warfare (EW) fighters, to aerial refueling tankers, transporters, and trainers. The branch is also responsible for Majapahit's limited nuclear weapons arsenal.
The Imperial Guard (Garda Maharaja) was established in the mid 1930s by Emperor Padma II after the conclusion of the Malang Uprising. While the Army handles defence and integrity of Imperial territory, the Imperial Guard's purpose was to preserve the Empire and Emperor, i.e. protecting Majapahit's current political system. The Guard prevents foreign interference in internal affairs of Majapahit as well attempts to overthrow the Emperor. In addition, its role in civil defence and law enforcement is roughly comparable to the modern-day
Italian Carabinieri or
French Gendarmerie. There are approximately 60.000 Guardsmen in active service, however the exact numbers of personnel and equipment are highly classified as the Imperial Guard is the most secretive among the four branches. Though mostly operating on land, the Guard also has its own Air Division and Maritime Division, sharing facilities and resources with the regular Imperial Air Force and Navy.
Command Organisation
As head of state, Emperor Jayanagara VII is the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Military. However, de facto executive authority is also shared in tandem with the Premier and the Minister of Defence, who makes the key decisions regarding the use of the armed forces. The Emperor, however, remains the ultimate authority of the military, with officers and personnel swearing allegiance to the monarch. This includes the power to prevent unconstitutional use of the armed forces, such as summary executions and misuse of the country's nuclear arsenal.
The Imperial Bureau of Defence (Indo-Malayan: Biro Pertahanan Kemaharajaan, BIRHAN) is the government department and highest level of military headquarters charged with formulating and executing defence policy for the armed forces. The bureau is controlled by the Minister of Defence, a civilian official appointed by the Premier. This practice ensures civilian control over the military and its personnel's unconditional loyalty to the Empire. It is headquartered in Benteng Raja building in Central Majakarta.
The Joint Defence Command (Indo-Malayan: Komando Pertahanan Gabungan, KOMHANGAB) is the highest coordinating command of the military. It is headed by the Commandant of the Imperial Military, an appointment that can be held by a Grand General (Army), Grand Admiral (Navy), Grand Marshal (Air Force), or Prime Paladin (Guard). Officers who are appointed to the position of CIM will be elevated to the most senior rank in their respective service branch. The CIM is the principal adviser to the Defence Minister and the Premier.
The four service branches have their own respective professional defence commands: KOMHAN Darat for the Army, the KOMHAN Maritim for the Navy, KOMHAN Udara for the Air Force, and KOMHAN Sipil for the Guard. Traditionally, these branch commands used to stand independently on its own and answer directly to the Defence Minister, before the Joint Defence Command was formed in 1935 as part of a major armed forces reorganisation programme. Each command is headed by a Chief of Staff who are members of the Komhangab and are responsible to the CIM. The respective Chiefs of Staff has administrative control over their own service branch.
Ranks
NATO equivalent | Army | Navy | Air Force | Guard |
OF-10 | Grand General | Grand Admiral | Grand Marshal | Prime Paladin |
OF-9 | General | Admiral | Marshal | Paladin Commander |
OF-8 | Lieutenant General | Vice Admiral | Vice Marshal | Senior Paladin |
OF-7 | Major General | Rear Admiral | First Marshal | First Paladin |
OF-6 | Brigadier General | Commodore | Commodore | Paladin |
OF-5 | Colonel | Captain | Colonel | Knight Commander |
OF-4 | Lieutenant Colonel | Commander | Lieutenant Colonel | Senior Knight |
OF-3 | Major | Lieutenant Commander | Major | Knight |
OF-2 | Captain | Midshipman | Captain | Garrison Commander |
OF-1 | Lieutenant | Lieutenant | Lieutenant | Chief Garrison Officer |
OR-9 | Sergeant Major | Warrant Officer | Lancer Sergeant | Senior Garrison Officer |
OR-7 & 8 | First Sergeant | Chief Petty Officer | First Sergeant | Garrison Officer |
OR-5 & 6 | Sergeant | Petty Officer | Sergeant | Chief Sentinel |
OR-4 | Corporal | Chief Seaman | Corporal | Senior Sentinel |
OR-3 | First Private | First Seaman | Lancer Airman | First Sentinel |
OR-1 & 2 | Private | Seaman | Airman | Sentinel |