Union Navy

The **Union Navy** is the naval warfare service branch of the Union Armed Forces. It is the second largest and one of the most capable navies in the world. Only the Royal Meddish Navy (RMN) is larger.

The Union Navy traces its origins to the Colonial Squadron, which was a squadron of the RMN. It defected to form the Patriot Navy, which eventually disbanded as an entity in 2341. After beginning with only converted merchant vessels, Hyram Bridleman, under the guidance of Secretary of the Navy Karon Prestman, ordered the construction of 4 heavy frigates, the first commissioned ships of the Union Navy.

The Navy played a major role in the Vermello War by blockading Verrian holdings and seizing control of its rivers. It played a central role in the defeat of the Shennish rebels in 2470.

The current Navy maintains a sizeable global presence, deploying in strength in the Arrana Strait, as well as navigating the Souther Sea all the way to Garafani.

The Navy is administratively managed by the Department of the Navy, which is headed by the civilian Secretary of the Navy. The Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) is the most senior naval officer.

## Ranks, Rates and Ratings

The Navy has over 20,000 personnel. More than eighty percent are enlisted sailors and around fifteen percent are commissioned officers; the rest are midshipmen of the New Naval Academy, as well as those serving on ships.

Enlisted sailors with minimal sailing experience must complete 6 months as a landsman on a ship before beginning their apprenticeships.

Sailors prove they have mastered skills and deserve responsibilities by completing their apprenticeships, and eventually achieving Master Tradesman status, which confers upon them the rank of Able Seaman.

Flag Officer Ranks of the Union Navy
 Role

Officer Ranks of the Union Navy
 Role

Officer candidates serving on a ship are known as Midshipman and, whilst they are considered to outrank ordinary sailors, they are not officers and are ranks below the Department Heads of the ship.

Enlisted Rates of the Union Army
 Role

Whilst a rate may be referred to by their rate, they are usually addressed by their job role (rating). This is especially common with new recruits yet to be assigned to apprenticeships - they are referred to as Landsmen. Those within a trade apply their rate to their rating (for example, a builder who is a leading seaman would be referred to as a Leading Builder).

Those holding the rank of Chief Petty Officer or Master Chief Petty Officer are referred to by all ship's crew as "Mister".

In addition, there are some jobs within each department which are unique (and only found on Ships of the Line and not on smaller vessels). The jobs are filled by Petty Officers:

* Captain's Clerk - the personal secretary of the ship's commanding officer, part of the Purser's department (usually a CPO)
* Cooper - works for the Carpenter making barrels (usually a CPO)
* Cooper's Mate - assists the Cooper (usually a PO)
* Corporal - assists the Master-at-Arms (usually a PO or JPO)
* Gunsmith - repairs the ship's armaments, reports to the Chief Gunner (usually a CPO)
* Gunsmith's Mate - assists the Gunsmith (usually a PO or JPO)
* Helmsmen - helms the ship, reports to the Boatswain, usually 2 or 3 per ship (usually a PO or JPO)
* Master-at-Arms - responsible for discipline and regulating duty on ship, reports to the Boatswain (always a CPO)
* Navigator - responsible for navigating the ship under the captain's instruction (MCPO on a ship of the line, possibly a CPO on a smaller vessel)

## Organisation

Though sailing ships are no longer in use by the Union Navy, the navy has retained the tradition of referring to "Ships of the Line" (that is, battleships) and other vessels (cruisers, corvettes and sloops).

The Navy overall is run by the Admiralty Board which comprises all flag officers. The Union Admiralty Board is chaired by the Chief of Naval Operations.

The Navy is comprised of three Fleets, the Northern, Strait, and Southern fleets. The Northern Fleet is stationed at UNB Worston, the Strait Fleet at UNB Tynmouth, and the Southern Fleet at UNB Estermark near Far Beach, WN.

Each fleet is subdivided into 3 squadron, with each commanded by the Fleet's Admiral, Vice Admiral, and Rear Admiral.

Below is the structure of the Southern Fleet:

### Southern Fleet

#### 1st Squadron

Commander: Admiral Horsa Washer

3 Ships-of-the-Line: UNS Estermark, UNS Swinum, UNS Cleft

3 Cruisers: UNS Warhammer, UNS Longbow, UNS Bridle

2 Frigates: UNS Stirrup, UNS Orchardman

#### 2nd Squadron

Commander: Vice Admiral Reckart Copse

2 Ships-of-the-Line: UNS Debois, UNS Dowd

2 Cruisers: UNS Bandit, UNS Highwayman

2 Frigates: UNS Desert Rose, UNS Forget-Me-Not

#### 3rd Squadron

Commander: Rear Admiral Dannock Brownstone

2 Ships-of-the-Line: UNS Grister, UNS Ridder

2 Cruisers: UNS Brigand, UNS Saddle

1 Frigate: UNS Burg

2 Gunboats: UNS Smallhill, UNS Tinnerton

### Ship's Crew

Aboard a ship there are a multitude of crewmen. Whilst each ship has a different complement, this is the crew of the 26-gun UNS Orchardman, which has a complement of 416 officers and men:

##### Wardroom:

* First Officer: Lt Cdr. Lucan Vierton
* Second Officer: Lt. Killin dan Worf
* Third Officer: Lt. Willem Whitt
* Gunnery Officer: Lt. Raylan Goatshead
* Surgeon: Lt Cdr. Odie Alvaric
* Navigator: Mr. Brannon Rookery
* Purser: Mr Royce Torrey

##### Standing Officers:

* Boatswain: Mr Mal Stoor
* Chief Gunner: Mr Wylan Capstone
* Carpenter: Mr Dannock Clover
* Chief Engineer: Mr Oswin Thicket
* Chief Steward: Mr Fergal Shem
* Assistant Surgeon: Mr Maxim Reeve

##### Gunroom:

* 4 Sub-Lieutenants
* 4 Midshipmen
* 2 Navigator's Mates
* Captain's Clerk
* Master-at-Arms
* Gunsmith
* Cooper

##### Boatswain's Department:

* 4 Boatswain's Mates
* 4 Corporals
* 2 Helmsmen
* 160 Seamen
* 18 Landsmen

##### Building Department:

* 4 Carpenter's Mates
* 1 Cooper's Mate
* 40 Builders

##### Engine Department:

* 2 Engineer's Mates
* 18 Stokers

##### Galley:

* 2 Stewards
* 18 Cooks

##### Gunnery Department:

* 7 Gunner's Mates
* 2 Gunsmith's Mates
* 112 Gunners

##### Purser's Department:

* 2 Yeomen
* 8 Storekeepers

##### Surgeon's Department:

* 1 Surgeon's Mate
* 3 Orderlies

## Ships Classes

### Ships-of-the-Line

#### Victory-Class (2458)

* *Cape Bless* (2458) (decommissioned 2493)
* Lonpraia Bay (2459)
* *Fladden* (2462) (sunk 2491)

#### Hero-Class (2469)

* Taberfore (2469)
* Estermark (2470)
* *Gold* (2470) (sunk 2470)
* Debois (2472)
* Ridder (2472)

#### Deputy-Class (2486)

* *Oslyn* (2486) (sold to Shenlan 2493)
* Swinum (2486)
* Cleft (2487)
* Acker (2487)
* Reel (2489)

#### Independence-Class (2493)

* Patriot (2493)
* Yardman (2494)
* Grister (2494)
* Dowd (2495)

### Cruisers

#### Weapon-Class (2471)

* Greatsword (2471)
* Battleaxe (2472)
* Warhammer (2474)
* *Lance* (2475) (decommissioned 2481)
* Longbow (2477)

#### Storm-Class (2479)

* Thunder (2479)
* *Lightning* (2480) (sunk 2481)

#### Raider-Class (2480)

* Raider (2480)
* Bandit (2483)
* Highwayman (2484)
* Rustler (2484)
* Brigand (2485)

#### Rider-Class (2488)

* Saddle (2488)
* Bridle (2489)
* Pommel (2489)

### Frigates

#### Speaker-Class (2466)

* Stirrup (2466)
* *Yarrow* (2466) (sold to Shenlan 2493)
* Burg (2466)
* Stroop (2468)
* *Klay* (2468) (sunk 2470)
* Orchardman (2471)
* Farrier (2472)

#### Flower-Class (2483)

* Desert Rose (2483)
* Forget-Me-Not (2483)
* Laurel (2484)
* Tickseed (2484)
* Violet (2485)
* Magnolia (2485)
* Goldenrod (2488)
* Tulip (2489)

#### Trade-Class (2488)

* Butcher (2488)
* Baker (2490)
* Chandler (2491)

### Sloops

#### Temmon-Class (2473)

* Three Falls (2473)
* Newground (2473)
* Smallhill (2473)
* Tinnerton (2474)
* Yellow (2474)
* Brownwater (2476)
* Crowfoot (2476)
* Rybridge (2477)

#### Toroll-Class (2480)

* Eston (2480)
* Cedarhill (2480)
* Kelliger (2481)
* Fresh Tracks (2481)

#### Cavalry-Class (2486)

* Dragoon (2486)
* Sorrel (2486)
* Leftwood (2487)
* Quicksilver (2488)

## Medals & Awards

The **Union Navy awards and decorations** are primarily the medals, service ribbons, and specific badges which recognise military service and personal accomplishments while a member of the Union Navy. Such awards are a means to outwardly display the highlights of a service member's career. First Order awards allow the recipient to use post-nominal letters, but Second Order do not. Unlike the Army, there are no specific campaign medals.

They are, in order of precedence:

### First Order Gallantry & Service Awards

#### Union Star (US)

The **Union Star** is the Union's highest and most prestigious personal military decoration that may be awarded to recognise Union military service members who have distinguished themselves by acts of gallantry. The medal is normally awarded by the Chancellor of the Union. The post nominal letters given are US.

There are two versions of the medal, one each for the Department of the Army and the Department of the Navy (Navy, Marine Regiment and Coast Guard). The Union Star was introduced for the Department of the Army in 2348 by Hyram Bridleman, soon followed by the Department of the Navy's version in 2450. The Chancellor typically presents the medal at a formal ceremony intended to represent the gratitude of the Union people, with posthumous presentations made to the primary next of kin.

#### Navy Star (NS)

The **Navy Star** is the Union Navy's second-highest decoration awarded for valour in combat. The Navy Cross is awarded primarily to a member of the United States Navy and the Coast Guard (when operating as a part of the Department of the Navy) for extraordinary heroism. The medal is equivalent to the Army's Medal of Valour.

The Navy Cross is bestowed by the Secretary of the Navy and may also be awarded to members of the other armed services, and to foreign military personnel while serving with the Union Navy. The Navy Star was established on Coloran 4, 2346.

#### Navy Medal (NM)

The **Navy Medal** is a military award of the Union Navy that is presented to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the navy, has distinguished himself or herself by exceptionally meritorious service to the Government in a duty of great responsibility. The performance must be such as to merit recognition for service that is clearly exceptional. Exceptional performance of normal duty will not alone justify an award of this decoration. The award is not given for service in action.

#### Captain's Commendation Medal (CMM)

The **Captain's Commendation Medal** is a Naval decoration awarded to members of the navy for either heroic achievement, heroic service, meritorious achievement, or meritorious service in a combat zone. The award does not require the recipient to have been in combat, but merely in a theatre of war. This award is given by the recipient's Commanding Officer, on behalf of the Admiralty Board.

### Second Order Gallantry & Service Awards

#### Patriot Star (PS)

The **Patriot Star** is awarded in the name of the Chancellor to those wounded or killed while serving with the Union Armed Forces. The award was established in 2380.

The Patriot Star is awarded to any member of the Armed Forces who, while serving under competent authority in any capacity with one Armed Forces after 3rd Coloran 2380, has been wounded or killed.

#### Medal of Commendation (MC)

The **Medal of Commendation** is awarded to any member of the Armed Forces other than General Officers who, while serving in any capacity within the military, distinguished themselves by heroism, meritorious achievement or meritorious service. The medal may be awarded to a member of a friendly foreign nation who distinguishes themselves by an act of heroism, extraordinary achievement, or significant meritorious service which has been of mutual benefit to the friendly nation and the Union.

#### Loyal Service Star (LSS)

The **Loyal Service Star** is awarded to any member of the armed forces who has served 20 years, including 6 months in a theatre of war.

#### Loyal Service Medal (LSM)

The **Loyal Service Medal** is awarded to any member of the armed forces who has served 10 years, including 6 months in a theatre of war.

#### Foreign Service Medal (FSM)

The **Foreign Service Medal** is awarded to all sailors who have served in a theatre of war in foreign or international waters.

#### Territorial Service Medal (TSM)

The **Territorial Service Medal** is awarded to all sailors who have served in a theatre of war in territorial waters.