Royal Antoran Armada

Royal Corric Armada
Armada de Corric Réal
Founded	1 May 1710
Country	Casilló y Réal
Type	Navy
Role	Maritime warfare
Size	110,890 personnel 112 ships 190 aircraft
Part of	Royal Corric Defense Forces
Headquarters	Descarei, Casilló y Réal
Colors	Midnight Blue, Ultramarine Blue, and White
Anniversaries	1 May
Fleet	1 helicopter cruiser 2 Destroyers 7 Frigate 12 Corvettes 8 Landing Ships 5 Mine Ships 7 Fast Attack Craft 39 Patrol Craft 5 Auxiliaries (77 Other)
Commanders
Chief Admiral of the Armada	Teodoro Maro Guadanala
Admiral of the Fleets	Asier Durán

The Royal Corric Armada (Corric: Armada de Corric Réal, abbreviated ACR) is the maritime force of the Royal Corric Defense Forces. The Armada was first established in 1710, as the First Constitution of the Kingdom of Corrí called for the crown and government to maintain a professional naval force to defend Corric Shipping. What had previously been the independent fleets of nobles and merchants were consolidated, refitted, and organized into the Royal Corric Armada. The fleets of ships were slowly modernized, until after the Great War, which saw much of the steam-and-sail armored ships of the Armada quickly replaced with contemporary technology.

The Armada was briefly subject to a schism in the 1979 Corric Succession Crisis. Those squadrons that rebelled were removed from the Armada Service Rolls and their vessels mothballed to excise the stain of their dishonor. The mission statement of the Armada is to defend the coastal territory and oceanic economic zones of Casilló y Réal from foreign threats, to protect state-sponsored shipping abroad, and to prevent waterborne crime. As of 2021 the Armada maintains a strength of 110,890 personnel, 174 watercraft, and seven shore installations.

History

The earliest form of organized navy in Andora was the ships of the Pinoan merchants. As the Kingdom of Pinoa expanded their trade across the North Concordian Ocean in the 8th century, the ships of various merchants would be supplied with large deck-mounted ballistae and squadrons of marines to prevent piracy. The Pinoan trade became very profitable, and the nation grew to be a contender in nautical affairs. Certain alliances and guilds would form to protect the mercantile interests. These merchant-navies operated with the blessing, and often funding and direction, of the king. Most ships belonging to the Pinoan merchant-navies were simply converted merchant vessels, but a few vessels sponsored by nobles and the crown would be purpose-built galleasses.

When Avantana began to conquer the coastal states in the 13th century, it became apparent that it needed to find a way to counter the strong naval capabilities of Pinoa. An eventual solution was reached in the form of a strong core of biremes, triremes, and galleasses which would be proceeded by a multitude of cheaply constructed fire ships. This tactic was effective against the Pinoan navies, which were slow to maneuver. The Battle of Costa Tranquila was an Avantanan victory, where their fire ships caused chaos among the different Pinoan formations. What ships were not burned were captured and converted to the Avantanan Armada. This force remained small, and much like the Pinoan system would take a large amount of wartime power from mercantile vessels. However, all noble houses that had the means in Avantana, and later the Kingdom of Casilló, were required to maintain a fleet of warships. This allowed the crown to assemble a professional naval force in emergencies and the nobility to proactively defend their shipping and territory.

These ideals of local defense and compartmentalization were carried over to the much more organized navy of the Kingdom of Corric, founded in 1584 with the absorption of the Kingdom of Réal. While Réal never had access to the ocean, it had an abundance of resources that allowed the Crown to expand and consolidate the navy. The forests and mines of Réoran land provided matierals to construct more capable warships. The astronomers of the Réoran mountains had much better star charts than Arranzic scholars which allowed for more accurate navigation. The increased population also let the Armada recruit more, especially from Réoran populaces that were curious about the sea.

In 1588, the Royal Arranzic Armada, the various fleets of the nobility, and the warships of shipping guilds were all brought together in the Great Fleet Project. This initiative was the combined brainchild of King Felipé III and his wife, Queen Alicia la Joven, former princess of Réal. The Queens newfound love of the ocean, and the desire for the King to have a national project to unify the Réoran and Arranzic peoples, made this the first large-scale Crown-sponsored project of the new kingdom. Older ship designs were scrapped or sold, new ones built or bought, crews were trained and standards set. The Armada was officially headquartered at Porto Armada on the southern coast. After nearly four years of preparation, the Royal Corric Armada was fully formed. The new navy was tasked with much of the same duties as had previously fell to its predecessors. The new command structure enabled it to be vastly more effective than the earlier organizations had been, and a Royal Admiral position was created within the crown's government.

Heavy fighting against coastal and deep-water shipping pirates in the 17th century left the Armada battle-hardened but diminished. By the late 1600s, the ships of the fleet were mostly relegated to coastal defense duties, which left most long-distance shipping vulnerable to attacks. The losses of merchant ships, combined with the general flow of wealth to the nobility and already-wealthy commoners, was one of the greatest contributors to the Ambrezar Revolution of 1659. The revolution, headed by Armada captain Marco Juan Ambrezar, was a general movement of the people of Casilló y Réal to reform the standards by which they were governed. Large portions of the Corric economy were paralyzed, and significant numbers of military personnel joined the revolutionaries. The nobility and royal family were threatened with death and exile unless they complied with the populaces' demands. King Juan Teo was forced to sign the First Constitution of the Kingdom of Corrí, which established the constitutional monarchy the nation exists as today.

Part of the Constitution enshrined in law the governments responsibility to protect trade. Section 10 of the document makes it illegal for the Crown to maintain less than a certain number of professional military forces, stipulating the following:

"...And as 1.) the defense of all maritime territory, 2.) the defense of all native goods being traded, 3.) the defense of all peoples of the state that use the water as a means of livelihood, 4.) the defense of the coasts and their inhabitants, is important to the people of this state, 5.) the government of the people, specifically the Minister of Armed Services established in this document, Section 10.A.6, and the organ of the state that is the Royal Family and King or Queen, will be hereafter required to pay, equip, maintain, train, task, and employ such an establishment as a professional and modern navy, 6.) an Armada of no less than thirty vessels of good disposition and heavy gun, 7.) that may be enlisted for the defense of all articles of this Section 10.C.1 through 4, and to the best and honest and honorable extent of its commanders and sailors accomplish these charged tasks, 8.) and if necessary the organs of the state mentioned previous in this Section 10.C.5 may expand the ships available for it to carry out these tasks, 9.) through the reallocation of funds, increase of specific taxes, tariffs, or duties, or the seizure of assets held within the financial systems of this state, 10.) so long as these funding methods be examined and approved by the legislature government Ministry of Popular Assembly, established within this document Section 2.A.2, 11.) and that the organs of state mentioned in Section 10.C.5 be also required to pay, equip, maintain, train, task, and employ such an establishment as a professional and modern force of marine infantry, 12.) that will assist the Armada with its duties of defense, 12.) that will garrison the lands and shores of all major oceans, lakes, waterways, and ports of the state when established as necessary in times of armed conflict, 13.) that will act as a deterrent for criminality and intrusion upon the facilities used by the Armada, 14.) and to bring the force of arms of the people of this state to enemies abroad such that require an armed presence conveyed to their lands via water..."

The Constitution, while moving the headquarters of all military branches of the internal city of Descarei, Porto Armada remained the most important naval installation. Large portions of wealth from private coffers was sized by the newly-created parliamentary Ministry of Armed Services to build out its portfolio, including the Armada. By 1688, the Armada is recorded as having 45 ships of respectable tonnage and guns and over 200,000 sailors and marines. The Royal Corric Defense Forces successfully defended territory and economic interests several times in this period, securing the eastern Novaris coast for shipping and commerce.

Organization

The Royal Corric Armada is headed by the Chief Admiral of the Armada, an appointed position on the General Staff. The current C.A.A. is Teodoro Maro Guadanala, who held the rank of Vice Admiral before his appointment. Directly under the C.A.A. is the Board of Admirals, a seven-person panel. The Admiral of the Fleets and head of the Board is currently Asier Durán. The Board manages the divisions of the Armada, including Deployment Fleets, Logistics, Administration, and Legal.

Royal Corric Fleets

The Armada is separated into four fleets, each with a specialization and headed by a Vice Admiral.

• First Attack Fleet
  • 1 Squadron: 1 Gracia-class helicopter cruiser, 1 Rége Felipé-class frigate, 1 Rége Julián-class frigate, 1 Princesa Mariangel-class corvette, 1 Pelicáno-class tank landing ship. Stationed at Porta Armada.
  • 2 Squadron: 1 Rége Arturo-class destroyer, 1 Rége Julián-class frigate, 1 Rége Felipé-class frigate. Stationed at Giroruña.
  • 3 Squadron: 1 Rége Arturo-class destroyer, 1 Régeñe Natalia Romero-class frigate, 2 Princesa Mariangel-class corvettes, 1 Pelicáno-class tank landing ship. Stationed at Costa Tranquila.
  • 4 Squadron: 1 Rége Julián-class frigate, 1 Régeñe Natalia Romero-class frigate, 1 Princesa Mariangel-class corvette. Stationed at Iravala.

• Second Deterrent Fleet
  • 1 Squadron: 2 Principé Jerónimo-class corvettes, 1 Princesa Gloriá-class light corvette, 1 Principé André-class minelayer, 2 Princesa Alandra-class fast attack craft, 1 Colmillo-class patrol ship, 2 Ortiga-class patrol boats, 1 Garza-class landing ship, 2 Pinguíno-class landing craft, 6 VPE-22 skiffs. Stationed at Covielés.
  • 2 Squadron: 1 Principé Jerónimo-class corvette, 2 Princesa Gloriá-class light corvettes, 1 Principé André-class minelayer, 1 Colmillo-class patrol ship, 2 Ortiga-class patrol boats, 1 Garza-class landing ship, 2 Pinguíno-class landing craft, 5 VPE-22 skiffs. Stationed at Porta Armada.
  • 3 Squadron: 1 Princesa Gloriá-class light corvette, 1 Princesa Alandra-class fast attack craft, 2 Ortiga-class patrol boats, 2 Principé Juan-class minehunter, 7 VPE-22 skiffs. Stationed at Porta Tranquila.
  • 4 Squadron: 1 Princesa Gloriá-class light corvette, 1 Garra-class patrol ship, 1 Colmillo-class patrol ship, 1 Princesa Alandra-class fast attack craft, 2 Ortiga-class patrol boats, 1 Principé Juan-class minehunter, 4 VPE-22 skiffs. Stationed at Giroruña.

• Third Patrol Fleet
  • 1 Squadron: 1 Garra-class patrol ship, 1 Colmillo-class patrol ship, 1 Río Blanco-class patrol cutter, 1 Espina-class patrol boat, 1 Pinza-class patrol boat, 1 Princesa Alandra-class fast attack craft, 1 Ortiga-class patrol boat, 2 Agujíon-class patrol boats, 1 Pinguíno-class landing craft, 8 VPE-22 skiffs. Stationed at Covielés.
  • 2 Squadron: 2 Cuerno-class patrol ships, 2 Princesa Alandra-class fast attack craft, 1 Río Blanco-class patrol cutter, 1 Ortiga-class patrol boat, 1 Espina-class patrol boat, 2 Agujíon-class patrol boats, 1 Pinguíno-class landing craft, 8 VPE-22 skiffs. Stationed at Porta Tranquila.
  • 3 Squadron: 1 Garra-class patrol ship, 1 Pico-class patrol boat, 1 Río Naranza-class patrol boat, 2 Pinza-class patrol boats, 1 Espina-class patrol boat, 2 Agujíon-class patrol boats, 6 VPE-22 skiffs. Stationed at Eleçeron.
  • 4 Squadron: 1 Pico-class patrol boat, 2 Río Naranza-class patrol boats, 2 Pinza-class patrol boats, 2 Espina-class patrol boats, 1 Agujíon-class patrol boat, 6 VPE-22 skiffs. Stationed at Tonderouca.

• 4th Support Fleet
  • 1 Replenishment Squadron: 1 Santa Rivíera-class replenishment ship, 2 Santo Emanuel-class multirole logistics ships, 2 Santa Alíz-class logistics ships. Stationed at Iravala.
  • 2 Rescue Squadron: 1 Río Blanco-class patrol cutter, 2 Río Naranza-class patrol boats, 1 Río Azure-class salvage, search, and rescue ship, 2 Río Amaríllo-class search-and-rescue ships, 2 Santa Maria-class tugboats. Stationed at Covielés.
  • 3 Survey Squadron: 1 Río Naranza-class patrol boat, 1 Santo Marco-class oceanography ship, 3 Río Rojo-class buoy tenders. Stationed at Costa Tranquila.
  • 4 Dock Squadron: 2 Santa Grana-class tugboats. Stationed at Costa Tranquila.
  • 5 Dock Squadron: 2 Santa Grana-class tugboats. Stationed at Iravala.
  • 6 Dock Squadron: 2 Santa Grana-class tugboats, 1 Santa Maria-class tugboat. Stationed at Porta Armada.
  • 7 Dock Squadron: 2 Santa Maria-class tugboats. Stationed at Giroruña.

Shore Group

The Armada maintains a force of 78,000 personnel in the 5th Shore Group, which encompasses all aspects of naval operations outside of serving on ships. This includes logistics, ship construction, repair, and outfitting, weather forecasting, research and development, communications, shoreside hospital, scrap and mothballing, and security of shoreside installations. The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Naval Infantry Battalions, which serve as the Armada's marines, are attached to the 5th Shore Group.

• 1st Shore Garrison Regiment, Porta Armada Naval Base.

• 2nd Shore Garrison Regiment, Costa Tranquila Naval Base.

• 3rd Shore Garrison Regiment, Iravala Naval Base.

• 4th Shore Garrison Regiment, Giroruña Naval Base.

• 5th Naval Engineer Regiment, Covielés Shipyards.

• 6th Naval Engineer Regiment, Porto Francisco Shipyards.

• 7th Naval Preservation Regiment, Porto Mañuel Shipyards.

• 8th Riverine Garrison Battalion, Tonderouca Dockyards.

• 9th Riverine Garrison Battalion, Eleçeron Dockyards.

• 10th Armada Development Corps, Descarei Proving Grounds.
• 1st Naval Infantry Battalion, Porta Armada Naval Base.
• 2nd Naval Infantry Battalion, Iravala Naval Base.
• 3rd Naval Infantry Battalion, Descarei Defense Command.

Equipment

Major surface combatants

Class	Picture	Type	Ship	Displacement	Note
Gracia class		Helicopter Cruiser	CAB Gracia de Régne	10,575 tonnes	Flagship and Royal conveyance
Rége Arturo class		Guided-missile Destroyer	CAB Rége Arturo CAB Rége Marius Alejandro	5,700 tonnes
Rége Julían class		Guided-missile Frigate	CAB Rége Julían CAB Rége Juan Teo CAB Rége Diego Erik	3,250 tonnes
Rége Felípé class		Guided-missile Frigate	CAB Rége Felípé CAB Rége Marius Sancho	2,640 tonnes
Régeñe Natalia Romero class		Anti-submarine Frigate	CAB Régeñe Natalia Romero CAB Régeñe Alenjandra CAB Régeñe Maria Platia CAB Régeñe Alícia la Joven	2,100 tonnes
Princesa Mariangel class		Air-defense Corvette	CAB Princesa Mariangel CAB Princesa Julieta CAB Princesa Estefania Lia CAB Princesa Vanesa (in drydock)	1,409 tonnes
Princípe Jerónimo class		Light Corvette	CAB Princípe Jerónimo CAB Princípe Victor CAB Princípe Hector CAB Princípe Albert Ramón	1,076 tonnes
Princesa Gloria class		Light Corvette	CAB Princesa Gloria CAB Princesa Lorena Alexia CAB Princesa Desiree CAB Princesa Sofia Nora	1,126 tonnes	CAB Princesa Desiree (pictured) serves as a training ship.
Princesa Alandra class		Fast Attack Craft	CAB Princesa Alandra CAB Princesa Ona Racio CAB Princesa Clara Luna CAB Princípe Tomas CAB Princípe Ivan CAB Princípe Sebastián CAB Princípe Diego Iñigo	234 tonnes