Special Naval Operations Brigade

Great War Era SNOB

The Special Naval Operations Brigade (SNOB) is a special forces unit of the Kokkunate Military Service. It was founded in 1802 RT, as a single battalion but was later reconstituted as a brigade in 1803RT. Created by the shirudan noble Sun Daigo and Fredheim Winter of Hesse. The SNOB was formed from remnants of the Shogunate Royal Marines and the hessian Luftmarines. It is a unit specialised for covert reconnaissance and  direct action. After the Great War, Kokkunate SNOBs have also begun to specialise in anti-piracy, counter-terrorism and hostage rescue operations. SNOB members are also referred to as Rikushudan.

## History

### Formation

By late 1801 RT, the Royal Marines were depleted after a disastrous series of engagements and amphibious landings in the opening weeks of the invasion of Enshaw. The Dai-Shogun, Ueda Shirudo, ultimately favoured his Grand Army over the other units of the Shogunate army and decided that the Royal Marines be disbanded. This decision frustrated Sun Daigo, who aside from being a Colonel in the Royal Marines was also a nephew of the Dai-Shogun. He saw this as a direct insult to his personal honor and the memory of his fallen comrades. He sought for a way to rejoin the fight but never under the Grand Army.

In 1802 RT, Magna Tranfa and the hessian Luftmarine Fredheim Winter. approached Sun Daigo with a plan to create a commando battalion with soldiers from both the Shogunate  and the Hessian elite Luftmarines. Upon arriving to the hessian city Zukuntaflow with his recruits, Sun Daigo met with Talbert Foreman. Together they created the battle language that the new unit would use to bridge the gap between the 2 nationalities quickly. After 2 months of excessive training the SNOBs embarked on their first mission in Imania attacking anti-government radicals.  It was a success. The SNOBs would then launch raids in Ephesus, supporting the invasion and the shirudan backed uprisings.  The SNOB proved to be an invaluable asset.

### Great War

When the Dominion of Unos Solum was created in 1803 RT, the Battalion was reorganized and reinforced into a Brigade with 2 additional battalions. Throughout the war the SNOBs would continue to perform daring raids and recruit soldiers from every member state of the Dominion. Despite the efforts of the SNOB, the Dominion would lose the war. In the climatic campaign for Gosumo, the SNOBs were split into two camps, one for Magna and the Arrowheads while the other pledged their loyalty for Hathor Shirudo. Hathor’s faction won in the end. Sun Daigo died in the fighting aboard Magna’s Airship, the “Impartial Witness.”

## Post War

With the death of Sun Daigo, command of the brigade fell to Fredheim Winter. The aftermath of the Great War called for the demobilisation of the armed forces of the Shogunate. The SNOBs were not affected by this however. For a time, the SNOBs were one of a few military units for the shirudans until the Kokkunate Military Service was established in 1811RT.

The SNOB was instrumental in diffusing the tension between Hathor Shirudo and Tahbert Foreman on the days following the end of the Gosumo Campaign. Winter convinced Foreman to meet with the new Dai-Shogun. The SNOB's shared hessian and shirudan heritage paved the path for a peaceful resolution between their countries. Hessia would join the new Kokkunate.

The SNOBs then played a key role in dealing with an infamous event on Hijjia.

### Long Peace

Kokkunate SNOB retains its position as an elite unit of the Kokkunate Military Service. As such it is equipped with the latest weapons available. In 1815 RT, the Brigade was reinforced with several more brigades in an attempt to strengthen it into a division. However there were concerns that this action would affect the quality and training of individual SNOBs. In 1820 RT, the new regiments added would be reconstituted into the Kokkunate Luftmarine Corps or Rakasans. The KLC would fall under the Kokkunate Sky Fleet.

By 1828 RT command of the SNOB fell to General Osk Telesko, Under Telesko's command, the SNOBs are often deployed alongside the Kokkunate Intelligence Office's Special Response Team.

The current official strength of the Brigade is classified information.