Baerne
The Sovereign Duchy of Baerne
The Duchy is a highly militaristic, fiercely patriotic nation on the continent of Frequesque, known for it's obsession with matters naval and armored. It was a Shroomanian colony until 2 January 1875, when rebel forces under the control of Edward Baerne seized control of the governor's mansion in what was then called Shroomington, renaming both city and mansion Fortress Baerne and declaring the formation of the Sovereign Duchy. The House of Baerne has ruled the nation with an iron fist ever since, barring a brief experiment with democracy shortly after WWI that resulted in the formation of the now-powerless Senate.
Government
Conventional short form: Baerne
Government type: Absolute Monarchy
Independence: 1875
Chief of state: James Baerne, Duke of Baerne, Protector of the Baernish, Lord of Fortress Baerne, etc.
The Duke lives in Fortress Baerne, a castle-cum-palace at the top of a rocky escarpment in the aptly named capital, Fortress Baerne.
Legislative branch: There are 100 counties, each of which elects a Count (from among the local nobility). The Counts elect the Senate Praetor from among themselves; each remaining member of the Senate runs one of the 99 other counties, with control of the Praetor's rotating randomly. (The Senate provides only a sham of democracy; all real power resides with the Duke and his appointed ministers.) Depending on the will of the Duke, Counts may serve as Ministers, while Viscounts serve as the heads of Subministries.
Ministries: Ministry of War: Her Excellency Countess Truman, Minister for War -Subministry of Procurement: His Excellency Viscount Spinello, Minister for Procurement Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Her Excellency Countess Domizia, Minister for Foreign Affairs Ministry of Internal Affairs: His Excellency Count Lawrence, Minister for Internal Affairs -Subministry of Health and the Environment: Her Excellency Viscountess Krasta, Minister for Health and the Environment Ministry of Economics, Industry, and Finance: His Excellency Count Sabrino, Minister for Economics, Industry, and Finance Baernish Intelligence Service (Reports to MinWar, MinForAff, and MinInAff): His/Her Excellency Count/ess (Censored)
Judicial branch: Ducal Bench; a supreme court appointed by the Duke. County court system
International organization participation:
Shroomanian Commonwealth Frequesque Treaty Organization -FTO Joint Fleet -FTO FAWS Program, Naval Aspect
Geography
Location: Western edge of Frequesue; that orange bit below San Dorado.
Area: Unknown at this time.
Maritime claims: Territorial sea: 12 nautical miles; Exclusive Economic Zone: 200 nautical miles.
Climate: Tropical; tropical; rainy, warm, cloudy southwest monsoon (mid-May to September); dry, cool northeast monsoon (November to mid-March).
Natural resources: Opals, petroleum, granite, iron ore, coal, gold, niobium, tin, zinc
People & Economy
Language: Baernish Shroomanian (English) (Ex-colony)
Population: 25,003,147 (August '08 est.)
Currency: Mark ($)
GDP: $370 billion
GDP per capita: $19,907
Major Cities 1. Fortress Baerne (6,213,112) 2. Forgeville (4,509,981) 3. Greenport (4,417,996) 4. Mereen (1,003,164) 5. James (701,331
Major sources of income: mining; off-shore oil drilling; petrochemical industries; construction; heavy industry; moderately-skilled labor; fishing (Central Lake; ocean); shipbuilding
Baernish Armed Forces
Baernish Ducal Navy 1x Kitty Hawk CVN (HGS Isabella) 1x Tarawa LHA (HGS Terrapin) 6x Kirov CA (HGS Redress of Grievances, HGS Twice for Flinching, HGS Think Twice, HGS Right to Bear Arms, HGS Right of Assembly, HGS Avoid If Possible) 7x Standard DDG (HGS Alice, HGS Jasper, HGS Edward, HGS Rosalie, HGS Emmett, HGS Carlisle, HGS Esme) 7x Sovremenny DDG (HGS Fearless, HGS Once Only, HGS Courser, HGS Green Opal, HGS Balastro, HGS Gift, HGS Ripple ) 10x Perry FFG (HGS Piece of Eight, HGS Medusa, HGS Eye in the Sky, HGS Pie Are Round, HGS On Occasion, HGS Steading, HGS Burdette, HGS Marcos, HGS Fitzclarence, HGS Mad William ) 3x Virginia SSN (HGS Silence, HGS Glowworm, HGS Trident) 5x Vigilant SSGN (HGS Vampire, HGS Werewolf, HGS Ghost, HGS Specter, HGS Bloody Hand) 10x LCS Corvettes (HGS Gray, HGS Green, HGS Blue, HGS Red, HGS Purple, HGS Yellow, HGS Orange, HGS White, HGS Black, HGS Aqua) (Coast Guard Duties) 2x Lewis and Clark AKE (HGS Tinker, HGS Tailor) 2x Supply AOE (HGS Binder, HGS Builder)
Deployment Orders: Assigned to FTO Joint Fleet: 2x Kirov CA 4x Sovremenny DDG 4x Perry FFG 3x Virginia SSN
3rd Squadron: 1x Kirov CA 3x Sovremenny DDG 2x Perry FFG
4th Squadron: 1x Kirov CA 3x Standard DDG
5th Squadron: 1x Kitty Hawk CV(Nuclear-modified) 2x Kirov CA 3x Standard DDG 2x Perry FFG
6th Squadron: 1x Tarawa LHA 3x Standard DDG 2x Perry FFG
(Independent Patrol) 5x Vigilant SSGN 10x LCS corvette
1x Marine Expeditionary Regiment 60 AAV 60 LAV 2700 marine infantry 30 tanks 24 Light ADA (24x M6) 2 Battalions SP guns (32x M109) 12 AH-1 45 UH-60 15 CH-53 24 AV-8B
Baernish Ducal Air Force Main Operating Bases Fortress Baerne Air Base (Fortress Baerne) 101st Quick Reaction Force Sqn. "Ducal Guard" (20x MiG 31) 103rd Quick Reaction Force Sqn. "Air Marshals" (20x MiG 31) 105th Quick Reaction Force Sqn. "Eagle's Screeches" (20x MiG 31) 107th Quick Reaction Force Sqn. "Silver Strikers" (20x F-16XL) 205th Naval Air Wing "Ripple Effects" (20x AV-8B Harrier II) 1001st Strategic Bomber Sqn. "Exploding Rocs" (20x B-1B) 1003rd Strategic Bomber Sqn. "Suborbital Shockers" (3x Silver Streaks) 301st Training Evaluation Standardisation Sqn. "Flying Dodos" (16x C-101) 601st Security Sqn. 901st Maintenance Support Sqn. 902nd Miscellaneous Support Sqn. 903rd Logistic Sqn. 1st Long Patrol Sqn. (6x P-3C Orion, 1x Hawkeye 2000) 1st Tactical Transport Sqn. "Guinea Pigs" (5x C-130) 2 Divisions S-400 SAMs
Greenport Air Base (Greenport) 102st Quick Reaction Force Sqn. "Airsharks" (20x MiG 31) 104th Quick Reaction Force Sqn. "Raptor Claws" (20x MiG 31) 106th Quick Reaction Force Sqn. "Falcon Screams" (20x MiG 31) 108th Quick Reaction Force Sqn. "Blazing Eaglets" (20x F-16XL) 206th Naval Air Wing "Tidal Forces" (20x AV-8B Harrier II) 302st Training Evaluation Standardisation Sqn. "Swimming Meese" (16x C-101) 602st Security Sqn. 902st Maintenance Support Sqn. 903nd Miscellaneous Support Sqn. 904rd Logistic Sqn. 2nd Long Patrol Sqn. (6x P-3C Orion, 1x Hawkeye 2000)
Baernish Ducal Army Army Structure
First Armored Division First Armored Cavalry Regiment 120 T-80 MBTs 120 Bradley IFVs 500 professional infantry 1 battalion rocket artillery (16x MLRS)
Second Armored Cavalry Regiment 120 T-80 MBTs 120 Bradley IFVs 500 professional infantry 1 battalion rocket artillery (16x MLRS)
First Mechanized Infantry Regiment 2000 professional infantry 180 Bradley IFVs 30 T-80 MBT 1 Battalion Light ADA (16x M6) 1 Battalion SP guns(16x M109) 400 engineers
Second Mechanized Infantry Regiment 2000 professional infantry 180 Bradley IFVs 30 T-80 MBT 1 Battalion Light ADA (16x M6) 1 Battalion SP guns (16x M109) 400 engineers
First Heavy Regiment 1000 professional infantry 120 Bradley IFV 60 T-80 MBT 1 Battalion Light ADA (16x M6) 1 Battalion SP guns (16x M109) 400 engineers
Second Heavy Regiment 1000 professional infantry 120 Bradley IFV 60 T-80 MBT 1 Battalion Light ADA (16x M6) 1 Battalion SP guns (16x M109) 400 engineers
First Aviation Regiment Attack Helicopter Battalion (24x AH-1) 2x Utility Helicopter Battalion (60x H-60) Heavy Lift Helicopter Battalion (30x CH-53)
Second Armored Division
-See Above-
Third Infantry Division First-Fourth Mechanized Infantry Regiments 2000 professional infantry 180 Bradley IFV 30 T-90 MBT 1 Battalion Light ADA(16x M6) 1 Battalion SP guns (16x M109) 400 engineer
First-Second Heavy Regiments [/b]1000 professional infantry 120 Bradley IFV 60 T-80 MBT 1 Battalion Light ADA (16x M6) 1 Battalion SP guns (16x M109) 400 engineers
First Aviation Regiment Attack Helicopter Battalion (24x AH-1) 2x Utility Helicopter Battalion (60x H-60) Heavy Lift Helicopter Battalion (30x CH-53)
Fourth Infantry Division
-See Above-
Baernish Army Equipment: The Duchy's army uses mainly old CSR (Russian) equipment, though a deal has recently been struck with the Byzantine Empire to license designs for cutting-edge tanks and weapons. -Vehicles as above -AN-94 assault rifle -Glock 17 handgun -PP2000 SMG
-SV-98 sniper rifle -VSSK "Vychlop" antimaterial rifle
-RPK-74 or RPK-74N LMG -PKM GPMG -XM312 HMG
-M67 fragmentation grenade -MK3A2 concussion grenade -Potassium chlorate + various dies smoke grenade -Thermate incendiary grenade -M84 stun grenade -RKG-3 antiAPC grenade
-RPG-32 RPG -RPG-29 anti-personnel RPG -GROM missile launcher -Javelin ATGM -Stinger MANPAD