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Capellan Confederation Armed Forces

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The Capellan Confederation Armed Forces (CCAF) is the military of the Capellan Confederation. It evolved from the Capellan Defense Force created by the first Capellan Chancellor Franco Liao. A professional and competent fighting force, the CCAF throughout most of its history has found itself on the defensive, forced to fight against nearly impossible odds whilst being hamstrung by its own government.

Besides the regular and militia forces, the Capellan Confederation also maintains Warrior Houses, semi-religious military orders, and the Death Commandos, an elite special forces group, which exist entirely separate from the CCAF and answer directly to the Chancellor whom they swear personal loyalty. They are not covered in this article.

Structure

Strategios

Ostensibly, the High Command of the CCAF - the Strategios - is responsible for all strategic operational planning, both offensive and defensive, and the general day-to-day running the of the military. Its membership includes the Chancellor in their capacity as Commander-in-Chief of the CCAF, various representatives of the Capellan government, the six Senior Colonels, and the Strategic Military Director. In truth, how well the Strategios operates in this capacity depends entirely on the good will of the Chancellor. Many times in Capellan history the Chancellor and other civilian officials have sidelined the Command Council and taken a personal role in running the military, down to micromanaging even the smallest units, with foreseeable results. When allowed to do its job with minimal oversight from the Chancellor though, the Strategios and the military as a whole operates in a streamlined, efficient manner.[1][2][3]

Strategic Military Director

In the absence of the Chancellor, the Strategic Military Director serves as the commander of the CCAF and regent of Sian, and has full authority over the Ministry of the Military. When the Chancellor is present, the SMD serves as their chief military adviser.[1][3] Given the power of the position, trust between the Chancellor and the SMD is important, as is steadfast loyalty. After the betrayal of Pavel Ridzik during the Fourth Succession War, it became official policy for the SMD to relinquish in perpetuity all Sheng titles and landholdings. Additionally, the Chancellor retains personal control over the Warrior Houses and Death Commandos, both as a check on the Director's powers and to carry out tasks which don't have their unwavering support.[2][3]

Senior Colonels/Jiang-Jun

After Jasmine Liao abolished the rank of General, the responsibilities of that title were given over to a new rank, Senior Colonel. There were six senior colonels, one for each of the founding commonalities of the Confederation (including Chesterton-in-Exile). Each senior colonel was responsible for all military planning, logistics and unit readiness within their assigned commonality. On the Command Council, the senior colonels answered to the Strategic Military Director.[1]

After Chancellor Sun-Tzu Liao came to power, he reinstated the rank of general or Jiang-jun. In place of six senior colonels are ten jian-jun, two each for the five commonalities. One is given responsible for the all line regiments assigned to the commonality, the other with all Home Guard and planetary militia.[4][3]

Ministry of the Military

The Ministry of the Military is one of the most important bureaus in the Ministerial, responsible for all aspects of supporting the armed forces. When not being meddled with by the Chancellor or other officials, it typically operates in a highly efficient manner. Composed of six departments, with each head answering to the Minister of the Military and the Strategios. After the ascension of Sun-Tzu Lioa, the department heads of the Ministry were all given the rank of jiang-jun, making them equal in authority to those in the Strategios both to force better cooperation and provide a break on any officer getting too ambitious.[4][3]

Administration and Finance

Responsible for all record-keeping and payroll functions, including disability and death benefits, as well as maintaining promotion lists. Unfortunately, corruption and graft are widespread within this department, requiring a permanent team of Maskirovka auditors on the look-out for illegal activity.[1][3]

Acquisitions and Training

Responsible for the recruitment and training of new CCAF soldiers. Oversees all Duchy Regional Training Centers and other training academies within the Confederation, as well as many of the smaller boot camps and other training facilities located on every world. With the Strategios' approval, it also oversees the creation of new CCAF units.[1][3]

Capellan Medical Corps

Responsible for all health and medical care in the CCAF. Provides medics and corpsmen to line and Home Guard regiments, and maintains standing emergency medical battalions with their own transports, surgical and intensive-care facilities (ten battalions in 3025, increasing to fourteen by 3067. Notably, the CMC is not obligated to provide medical care to "enemies of the state" excepting prisoners (and only until they can be turned over to the proper authorities), leaving such decisions at the discretion of unit commanders.[1][3]

Capellan Navy

Responsible for the transportation of ground forces and their protection whilst in transit. Includes all WarShips (both before they became extinct and after their reintroduction in the Inner Sphere), JumpShips and DropShips. Aerospace Fighters not integrated as part of a regiment or grouped together as aerospace regiments also fall under this department.[1][3]

Procurement Division

Responsible for all logistical concerns, including the purchase, transportation and storage of all equipment and munitions, for every unit (including the Warrior Houses and Death Commandos). Also oversees all civilian production of military equipment.[1][3]

Research and Development

Responsible for conducting all scientific research into martial technologies and testing of new equipment for quality control. Frequently partners with civilian research firms (often temporarily nationalized for security purposes). Notable success have included the Raven, Cataphract, Sha Yu and Stealth Armor.[1][3]

Organization

Deployment Status

In 2750 the CCAF had a strength of 42 BattleMech regiments and 30 WarShips. By 2765 they were well equipped with 92 'Mech regiments, and a naval fleet of 37 vessels.[5] At the start of the Succession Wars the CCAF had nearly doubled with a standing force of 192 front-line 'Mech regiments.[6] That number was drastically decreased down to 45 regiments by the end of the Third Succession War though,[7] and after the end of the Fourth the CCAF could must just 30 'Mech regiments.[8] By 3062 though the CCAF had managed to rebuild some of its lost strength and could muster the equivalent of 45 'Mech regiments.[9]

2765

3079

3085

3145

Military Academies

Duchy RTC

Every Duchy provides at least one training facility that allows for common citizens to serve in the Confederation's armed forces.

Capella War College

Capella-WC.png
The Capella War College is the most prestigious of all the academies in the Capellan Confederation. The War College is the source of many of the most important leaders of the CCAF. Historically, the Holdfast Guard and Capellan Hussars have been given "first pick" among graduates.

Liao Conservatory of Military Arts

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The Liao Conservatory of Military Arts was formed in 3058 in part to ameliorate the gap caused by the loss of several academies during the Fourth Succession War. It is famous for its heavy influence on meditation and intellectual pursuits.

Sarna Martial Academy

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The Sarna Martial Academy (SMA) was an important part of the Capellan Confederation's training program. During the Fourth Succession War, the world of Sarna was conquered by the Federated Suns and was briefly integrated into the Armed Forces of the Federated Commonwealth. After the collapse of authority in the Sarna March and the re-emergence of the Sarna Supremacy, the academy opened its doors to all and became known as an independent school for mercenaries. After its reintegration into the Confederation the academy still remained independent for a time and was considered the least prestigious of the major Capellan military academies.

Sian Center for Martial Disciplines

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Sian Center for Martial Disciplines (SCMD) cadets must be outwardly perfect and maintain philosophically correct views when training on the capital world of the Confederation. All cadets are very closely scrutinized by some of the best instructors in the CCAF, and recruiters for the Warrior Houses and Death Commandos are common sights on-campus.

Sian University

Sian University.jpg
The prestigious Sian University offers an Officer Cadet Program known as Hen gao Xiao-lu or the High Path. The program frequently takes applicants from the SCMD and other academies from across the Confederation.

St. Ives Academy of Martial Sciences

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SIAMS was the principal academy for the St. Ives Compact during that nation's brief life span. Attached to the St. Ives Institute of Science, SIAMS has its own officer training program. Following its reintegration into the Confederation, SIAMS once more began political indoctrination classes.

Victoria Academy of Arms and Technology

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The Victoria Academy is the newest military academy, and thanks to its location next to a refurbished Star League factory trains more technicians than cadets. Also used to help train the Confederation's Trinity Alliance allies.

Ranks

During the Age of War, CCAF generals attempted to engineer a coup. In retaliation after the coup was put down, the incumbent Chancellor (Jasmine Liao) removed all officer ranks above Colonel, instituting instead the title "Senior-Colonel" as the rough equivalent of a general officer.[14] During the Xin Sheng reorganization, Sun-Tzu Liao reinstituted the ranks, denoting the two military commanders of each commonality and the CCAF fleet commander.

Immediately prior to the invasion of the St. Ives Compact, the Chancellor reformed and streamlined the rank system of the Capellan military to try and reduce confusion and to further remind and enhance the renewal of the Capellan Chinese culture.

Old Rank New Rank Insignia
Commissioned Officers
Chancellor Unchanged N/A
Sang-jiang-jun (Senior General) Brass triangle with green center
Senior Colonel Jiang-jun (General) Brass triangle with open center
Colonel Sang-shao (Colonel) Silver triangle with open center
Major Zhong-shao (Lieutenant Colonel) Brass bar with three silver pips
Captain Sao-shao (Major) Brass bar with two silver pips
Commander Sang-wei (Captain) Brass bar with one silver pip
Subcommander Sao-wei (Lieutenant) Brass bar
Enlisted Ranks
Force Leader Yi-si-ben-bing (Master Sergeant) Brass bar with two green diagonal stripes
Lance Sergeant Si-ben-bing (Sergeant) Brass bar with one wide green diagonal stripe in center
Lance Corporal San-ben-bing (Corporal) Green bar with two diagonal brass stripes cutting along the corners
Recruit Shia-ben-bing (Recruit) Green bar

See Also

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 House Liao (The Capellan Confederation), p. 67-68
  2. 2.0 2.1 Field Manual: Capellan Confederation, p. 24
  3. 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 Handbook House Liao, p. 101 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "HHL101" defined multiple times with different content
  4. 4.0 4.1 Field Manual: Capellan Confederation, p. 25
  5. Historical: Liberation of Terra Volume 1, p. 49, "Member State Troop Strengh"
  6. Field Manual: Capellan Confederation, p. 32
  7. House Liao, p. 5
  8. 20 Year Update, p. 62
  9. Field Manual: Capellan Confederation, p. 23
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 10.6 10.7 10.8 10.9 Field Report 2765: Capellan Confederation, p.7-16
  11. 11.00 11.01 11.02 11.03 11.04 11.05 11.06 11.07 11.08 11.09 11.10 11.11 Field Report: CCAF, pages 8-19
  12. 12.00 12.01 12.02 12.03 12.04 12.05 12.06 12.07 12.08 12.09 12.10 12.11 Field Manual: 3085, pages 23-32
  13. 13.00 13.01 13.02 13.03 13.04 13.05 13.06 13.07 13.08 13.09 13.10 13.11 13.12 13.13 13.14 Field Manual: 3145, pages 30-43
  14. House Liao (The Capellan Confederation), p. 34

Bibliography