The Rise of the New Militaries
By Admiral Stratton
Ever since the Great War, the militaries of the powers that be have more or less remained stagnate, equal, and purposed to be symbolic. Nobody has wanted war, and very few have gotten it; that is, until these last few months.
Across the board militaries have expanded, whether it be additional funding to the army, navy, or air force. Several military campaigns have also been launched, with two of the three being complete successes by larger powers over a much smaller one.
The USA has seen a recruitment of a further 2 infantry divisions. Strangely, it does not appear that these divisions are specialized, as no Minutemen units have been fielded as of yet, but unless the USA decides to invade Quebec or become involved in the crisis between her southern neighbors, there is no conflict on the horizon.
The Republic of Acre witnessed severe losses this summer with the bulk of her infantry being destroyed in the successful invasion of Argentina. Acre does not seem to have expanded her military, but will surely do so in order to replace the large amount of losses sustained in the aforementioned conflict. Acre also holds an experienced air force, as well as armored ground force, and this could prove an essential advantage over an enemy army that is as yet has not been blooded. Perhaps the reason for their large losses however is that an Air Marshal was commanding the invasion instead of a General, thus leading to several tactical mistakes.
The Republic of Indonesia settled for more domestic growth and peaceful expansion, and as such their military has not grown as much as some other nations. However one could predict that they will likely expand their navy in the coming months.
The Empire of Spain also avoided any significant expansion of her military, instead opting to invest in other countries in return for influence. A poor decision given that they invested in a country which was annexed immediately afterwards.
The Greater Russian Empire recruited an additional infantry division, signifying a potential focus on their army in coming months and years. It is likely that Russia will expand quickly and steadily in their surrounding area, potentially creating an eastern european and western asian hegemony. However, as we will see later, China may prove an obstacle.
The Weimar Republic saw a relatively huge expansion of her ground forces, with a normal infantry division as well as 4 units of Panzergrenadiers being created. This poses an interesting question as to where and how they will expand next, seeing as after their recent expansion they are bordered on all sides. Perhaps they will move into Scandinavia, or perhaps the nations neighboring it should be on their guard for something a bit more violent?
The Empire of the Alamo, my home nation, created a unit of Stalker Interceptors to herald an age of air superiority over her enemies, as well as several infantry divisions in order to claim the surrounding areas as quickly as possible. This fast expansion was wise in hindsight as the Alamo would be thrust into a major conflict quickly with the aggressive Yucatans to the south. One valuable note is the power of Armored divisions as has been shown in the Battle of Mexico City where a single Armored division held off many times their number in the streets as well as surviving attacks by a pair of bombing wings, all of this in spite of being outmaneuvered by a top enemy general.
The Republic of India shows all the signs of a nation that may fall prey to an enemy aggressor before they have time to react. Statements by their government show that military expansion is unlikely as they focus on their economy. They bear watching however, as they stand to potentially become the economic hegemony of us all if they are left unattended.
The Republic of Naples began their expansion with a pair of new infantry divisions as so many other nations did, however it can be expected that Naples shall turn to naval and air expansion soon enough as they run out of land and wish to project power across the mediterranean. Without naval and air power, their ground forces will only do so much good unless they wish to expand north into Germany. However, provided they play their cards right, Naples stands to be the undisputed master of the Mediterranean unless a coalition of powers, such as Spain and the Ottomans, were to come together to take them down a notch.
Great Britain is the first nation seen to create an Aircraft Carrier in this new age. This was accompanied by the construction of 2 new destroyers. All combined, Great Britain now possess the most capable navy in the world, and should they continue to focus on the navy, their homeland may become nigh impregnable and their navy may make them a very desirable ally.
The Republic of China is perhaps the most potent military force in the world at the moment, although this could change rapidly. They sustained very few casualties in their invasion of Mongolia in contrast to those sustained by Acre. Therefore they not only lost few soldiers, but recruited 2 more infantry divisions, and gained experience with most of their ground and air troops. With a little more, they might even be called true veterans of combat. China is the biggest obstacle to Russian hegemony over western asia if they choose to oppose such a move by Russia because of these early successes.
The Ottoman Empire also recruited 2 infantry divisions, however did little this turn. Unless they move quickly, they may find themselves prey to an ever expanding Russian Empire as politics stand.
The Greater Korean Empire is in a strained position. Its only two options are really to begin expanding in Japan and islands of the Pacific, or invade a neighbor, and invading China would not be wise. That means The State to its north, and such a war might put them behind in other areas. Their 2 new infantry divisions likely won't offset this challenge, and it shall be interesting to see whether Korea becomes a focal point for a large Asian war or not.
The Kingdom of Egypt also saw 2 new infantry divisions rise. Their expansion is unchecked to the south, and if they continue to expand and perhaps gain control over the smaller countries such as Ethiopia, Arabia, and Madagascar, then they might find themselves as the wild card in Asian politics with quite a bit of influence to throw around.
CAS is in a similar position as Egypt, with a large amount of expansion completed and still possible, as well as 2 new infantry divisions. They may also find themselves the wild card in european politics if Naples or Spain need an ally, and with their new production Licenses of the Stalker Interceptor, they will have quite a bit of air power to throw around.
The State saw an infantry division created as well as a new destroyer to patrol the seas. They also possess the single likeliest opportunity to check Russian expansion this turn, although in many opinions, they won't take it.
Belgium is in a bad position at the moment. On one hand, they are stretched out with their colonies in africa out of range of their homeland so that if one is assaulted, forces from the other won't be available to help any time soon. On the other hand, they neighbor a land hungry Germany, a Germany with an ever expanding army and a look at creating an elite air force. Belgium needs allies and Belgium needs them quickly.
The Grand Republic of the Yucatan treads on dangerous ground. Their recently instigated war with the Alamo means they are at war, the first major war since the Great War, although recent portrayals of the battles as bad as the Great War itself are clearly over exaggerations. Their 2 infantry are stranded in the caribbean, they have no way to directly aid the rebellion they so long to protect, and Mexico City is still in the hands of the Alamo. Not only that, but their capital itself is wide open to amphibious invasion. Yet all they built last turn were some forts near the capital and a new battleship to aid the fleet that was so damaged last turn in the Battle of Jamaica. The next year shall be the turning point one way or another in this war, and the question is, will the Yucatan survive?
As it is, analyzing the militaries of the world is open to a lot of guesswork. The next few months should reveal much more about where the geopolitics of the world will take us.
