Royal decree reforms military

SEATTLE – This past Wednesday, 2 February, King Adam issued his twenty-seventh royal decree to reform the Royal Armed Forces, Überstadt’s military.

The new decree regulates the Royal Navy, previously known as His Majesty’s Navy, and the Royal Militia, a successor to the reserve army force that existed several years ago. It defines the two services’ missions and creates rules for their ranks and uniforms.

Most provisions focus on the Royal Navy, Überstadt’s only standing military force. The decree articulates the doctrine that “every member [of the Navy] is a sailor, marine, conservationist, and emergency responder,” reflecting its role in both traditional military activities and the King’s intention to use it as an instrument of environmental policy and emergency planning.

Disaster response also features in the new Royal Militia’s role. The decree defines it as a volunteer reserve force available for the King to activate in times of emergency and encourages broad citizen enlistment.

The Royal Navy’s new emblem

Besides a new name, other changes to the Navy include defining its symbols, changing the official designation of its commissioned watercraft from His Majesty’s Naval Ship (HMNS) to Royal Navy Ship (RNS), and creating a body called the Admiralty to help govern the force. The Navy’s incumbent commander, Crown Prince Aaron, now holds the office of First Lord of the Admiralty. Lord Vice Admiral Michael, Duke of San Juan, holds the post of Second Lord of the Admiralty, responsible for the fleet’s upkeep.

Überstadt has a strong naval tradition. Its leaders have commissioned naval officers since before the state’s official foundation. The Navy has conducted boat patrols of Überstadti waters and the surrounding Salish Sea for years and features prominently in the national consciousness.

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New naval craft tested in Überstadt

ROSEWOOD – A new amphibious warfare boat was sea-tested by Überstadt’s navy Monday evening, spending much of its brief voyage in Überstadti waters around Edmount Island. The craft will replace the one destroyed in last August’s gale.

The vessel, crewed by Vice Admiral von Friedeck and King Adam himself, circled Lake Ballinger and surveyed the shores of Edmount Island. It was declared ready for naval service by those on board.

Like its predecessor, HMNS Bergstrom, this craft is an inflatable dinghy, but is a longer model with a rigid floor. Upon its commissioning, it will likely be christened HMNS Duke of Edmount.

Storm-damaged HMN ship scrapped

ROSEWOOD – Earlier this month, His Majesty’s Überstadti Navy scrapped its amphibious landing craft, reducing the national fleet to a single vessel.

HMNS Bergstrom was severely damaged at sea last August, when the Überstadti fleet sailed through a gale. The inflatable craft received multiple gashes in the storm, rendering one of its two tubes useless. After its return to George Naval Base in Rosewood, it sat in storage until being judged beyond repair, at which time it was scrapped.

Bergstrom was used as a tender for the Überstadti navy’s flagship sailing patrol boat, HMNS Bert George, as well as for operations in Lake Ballinger. Admiral Michael von Friedeck has commenced a search for a new amphibious operations vessel.