Zalkentian Navy

RZN Royal Zalkentian Navy
Founded		7 March, 2182
General Nature		Military
Motto		The Holy Wind Shall Guide Us.
Headquarters		Lesk, Zalkent
Membership		Zalkent
Supreme Naval Commander		Chūichiro Nakamura
Insignia
Ensign
Ships operated
Aircraft carrier		Valkyrie Class
Battleship		Morser Class Admiral Nakamura Class
Destroyer		Hikaze Class
Submarine		Type 271
Aircraft flown
Attack		Tenrai Model 72
Fighter		Tenrai SF-1 Type 11 Invicta Tenrai Model 72

The Royal Zalkentian Navy is the naval service branch of the Zalkentian armed forces.

History

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Organization

The Royal Zalkentian Navy has multiple different organizations under it. Procurement of aircraft and ships is handled by the Naval Ordinance Bureau. However, with regards to combat services, there are three within the Navy. These branches are the Royal Zalkentian Fleet Air Force, the Royal Zalkentian Navy Surface Command, and the Royal Zalkentian Navy Submarine Arm.

Royal Zalkentian Fleet Air Force

The Royal Zalkentian Fleet Air Force is a relatively new development for the Navy, as a carrier was not considered until the year 2198 due to the cost of operation. The Fleet Air Force (FAF) is primarily comprised of volunteers from the Royal Zalkentian Air Corps (RZAC), which is reflected by the equipment that is utilized. The aircraft that are used in the FAF primarily consists of modified RZAC land-based aircraft, such as the Tenrai Model 72 and LAC Type 11 Invicta. The decision to do this was to reduce the training costs for the pilots in the FAF, while still providing capable airframes and pilots to the Navy. Production of the RZN-RZAC jointly developed Tenrai SF-1 has slowly begun to ramp up in recent years, which has led to these aircraft being integrated into the FAF, slowly phasing out the Invicta. Invicta airframes have slowly ended up in the hands of the RZAC, with some ending up as combat trainers for the FAF.

Royal Zalkentian Navy Surface Command

The Royal Zalkentian Navy Surface Command is the oldest organization within the service, being formed in the year 2182. However, up until the recent development of the Hikaze Class Destroyer, the Surface Command only operated on loaned ships from Zalkentian allies. The majority of the budget is focused on increasing the size of this naval arm, with emphasis being placed on the acquisition of an aircraft carrier RZS Masahiro Ashigaru and the expansion of the escort forces used as part of the New Navy Program (NNP). With the planned 3 Capital Ships, the Surface Command aims to operate at least 15 escort type vessels alongside them in order to reduce the risk of catastrophic losses. The Admiral Nakamura Class Battlecruiser is also being considered as a surface disruption vessel, being capable of operating entirely autonomously from the main fleet itself. However, this ship is currently only a possibility, and is estimated to have incredibly high costs.

Fleets and Doctrine

The Royal Zalkentian Navy Surface Command plans to consist of one main fleet, the 1st Fleet, which will encompass most ships operated by the Surface Command. The 1st Fleet can also be split off into multiple task groups per mission parameters.

Doctrinally, the Surface Command focuses on the ideas of the Chain of Command and Operational Initiative, as well as placing emphasis on the multi-mission capabilities that most ships operated by the Surface Command have. This allows flexibility in the missions that are undertaken by the ships, and prevents operational stiffness as well as dependence on orders provided by the Chain of Command. The initiative is given to the officers of the ships, which can make the difference in a life or death scenario. The caveat with this approach is that glory hunting is encouraged, which is partially muted by how the officers and captains are trained.

Royal Zalkentian Navy Submarine Arm

The Royal Zalkentian Navy Submarine Arm is one of the combat organizations within the Royal Zalkentian Navy, and is a core part of the naval operations. Established in 2190, the Submarine Arm was initially tasked with Anti-Submarine R&D, along with naval intelligence and counter-intelligence. However, after the Type 271 Submarine was developed, the role of the service changed to become an active combat force. The Submarine Arm currently operates 7 vessels, but this number is planned to increase to 15 as part of the New Navy Program (NNP), with potentially more hulls being produced after the first 15 are finished.

Doctrine

The Royal Zalkentian Navy Submarine Arm has a doctrine centered around multi-role capabilities, like the Surface Fleet, and emphasizes the importance of the Chain of Command and Operational Initiative. Submarine commanders are encouraged to operate within mission parameters by relying on their own instinct in the moment, which helps to prevent operational stiffness and complete dependence on orders from Submarine Command. However, this doctrinal decision has the unwanted side effect of encouraging glory hunting, so commanders are trained to weigh their current situation against their desire to be labelled as a "war hero". Two of the main roles that the Submarine Arm is trained in is the disruption of surface vessels and an active hunter-killer role against both submarines and surface ships.

Equipment

Royal Zalkentian Navy Ship Inventory

Unit	Image	Planned	In service	Notes
Valkyrie Class Supercarrier		1	0
Morser Class Battleship		0	2
Admiral Nakamura Class Battlecruiser		0	0	Design Study
Hikaze Class Destroyer		5	4
Type 271 Submarine		15	7

Royal Zalkentian Fleet Air Force Inventory

Unit	Image	In Service	On Order	Notes
Tenrai SF-1		15	35
Tenrai Model 72		30	20
LAC Type 11 Invicta		15	0	Transitioning to trainer usage, or being sent to the RZAC.