Hellenikos Stratos 2303
By Demetrios Rammos
INTRODUCTION
A relatively small nation located on a geopolitically important region of Earth and faced with considerable external threats in the east, Greece maintains a well trained modern army that has seen not inconsiderable combat during the 23rd century. With most potential opponents having considerably larger populations than Greece, the country relies to maintaining an edge in training, doctrine and equipment over its potential opponents. The price is the costliest army per soldier of southeastern Europe and the eastern Mediterranean.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Acknowledgements
Narrative
Terminology
Order of Battle
Background
Recent Military Actions
Foreign relations and off Earth commitments
Defence issues
Organization
Divisions and other notable units.
Personnel and Rank structure.
Notes
Equipment
Appendix A. Heavy division organization
Appendix B. Unit names.
Acknowledgements
The all too many writers on Etranger from whom I shamelessly borrowed weapons systems and ideas. Dan Hedbitch for hosting this in addition to the above. Mitteleuropa and the Multinational commission for Garten are both ideas of Randy McDonald and the Nea Hellas enclave stems from the latter. Nova Ostia and its ongoing transfer to Greek sovereignty come from Ben Levy’s writings on Provincia do Brazil.
Narrative
The last time lochagos Georgiou had seen a city burning had been as a DEA with the 2nd para squadron in the ending days of the Central Asian War. Tirana burning under him were much closer to home and the burning as much the doing of the Hodjaists fighting the Etemists than anything the anything the Greek and Italian forces had done. As far as Georgiou was concerned Ramiz Etem the father of modern Albanian communism was mad enough and his followers nowadays not much better. But at least they left foreigners with the bad taste of visiting Albania alone. Hodjaists named after the ultra-Stalinist isolationist leader of 20th century Albania were not and taking drastic measures to remove foreigners from among their mist.
Unlike the CAW, flak over Tirana was limited as the tilt-rotors started landing withGreek and Italian paratroopers darting out of them and moving to secure a perimeter around the embassies. Georgiou passed by the familiar feature of a burning Type 27 heavy tank as he advanced with his men. The Guards brigade had gone partly to the Hodjaists and was being used to threaten the embassies. But from intimidation and coups to full scale urban warfare there was a distance and the Greek and Italian fighters now roaring over Tirana had way lesser trouble than they should in destroying the Type 27s. By the night the civilians in the embassies would be safely in Greece…
Excerpt from “Rival Eagles”
Trojan Horse editions,
Nicosia, 2303
Terminology
Why a glossary before anything else? To quote the English proverb. “It’s all Greek to me.” Terms not found here can be found in parentheses in the OOB.
Abbreviation / Full / MeaningAED / Archigeio Enoplon Dynameon / Armed Forces Headquarters
DEE / Dioikisis Eidikon Epixeiriseon / Special Operations Command
GES / Geniko Epiteleio Stratou / Army General Staff
- / Soma Stratou / Corps
- / Merarchia / Division
- / Taxiarchia / Brigade
Merarchia Katadromon / Commando Division
Merarchia Pezonauton / Marine Division
Tethorakismeni Merarxia / Armored Division
Merarchia Pezikou / Infantry Division
Merarchia Ippikou / Cavalry Division
ORDER OF BATTLE
Archigeio Enoplon Dynameon (AED)
Dioikisis Eidikon Epixeiriseon
ETA (Army paracommando)
Ieros Lochos (Sacred Band, army amphibious commando)
DYK (navy SEAL)
31stSMEE (HAF commando)
Geniko Epiteleio Stratou (GES)
475th Signal Battalion
35th MI Regiment
B Soma Stratou
1stRecon Battalion
476th Signal Battalion
453rd MI Battalion
701st Engineer Battalion
II Artillery Brigade
101st ADA Battalion
102nd Heavy Artillery battalion
103rd Rocket Artillery Battalion
104th Rocket Artillery Battalion
105th Rocket Artillery Battalion
III Merarchia Katadromon
1 Taxiarchia Katadromon“Kresna”
B Commando Squadron
Δ Commando Squadron
E Commando Squadron
2 Taxiarchia Alexiptotiston“Samos”
1st Paratrooper Squadron
2nd Paratrooper Squadron
3rdParatrooper Squadron
4thParatrooper Squadron (reserve)
III Oreini Taxiarchia “Rimini”
31stCommando Squadron
32ndCommando Squadron
33rdCommando Squadron
5/42 Taxiarchia Katadromon “Nikolaos Plastiras”(reserve)
34thCommando Squadron
38thCommando Squadron
40thCommando Squadron
VMerarchia Pezonauton
13Taxiarchia Amphibion Katadromon“Dodekanesos”
AAmphibious Commando Squadron
ΓAmphibious Commando Squadron
Z Amphibious Commando Squadron
H Amphibious Commando Squadron (reserve)
32 Taxiarchia Pezonauton“Erythraia”
2ndArmor Battalion
505th Marine Battalion
521st Marine Battalion
575th Marine Battalion
106th Artillery Battalion
702nd Engineer Battalion
29 Taxiarchia Pezonauton“Lesvos”
3rd Armor Battalion
501st Marine Battalion
502nd Marine Battalion
503rd Marine Battalion
107thArtillery Battalion
703rd Engineer Battalion
1/38 Taxiarchia Pezonauton“Bizani”
4th Armor Battalion
504th Marine Battalion
506th Marine Battalion
507th Marine Battalion
108thArtillery Battalion
704th Engineer Battalion
A Soma Stratou
5th Recon Battalion
477th Signal Battalion
454thMI Battalion
705th Engineer Battalion
I Artillery Brigade
109th ADA Battalion
110th Heavy Artillery Battalion
111th Rocket Artillery Battalion
112th Rocket Artillery Battalion
113th Rocket Artillery Battalion
XX Tethorakismeni Merarxia
XXI Tethorakismeni Taxiarchia “Rhodope”
6thArmor Battalion
7th Armor Battalion
508th Infantry Battalion
509th Infantry Battalion
114thArtillery Battalion
706th Engineer Battalion
XXV Tethorakismeni Taxiarchia “Petros Theodorou”
8th Armor Battalion
9th Armor Battalion
510th Infantry Battalion
511th Infantry Battalion
115thArtillery Battalion
707th Engineer Battalion
XXIII Tethorakismeni Taxiarchia “Lissa”(reserve)
10th Armor Battalion
11th Armor Battalion
512th Infantry Battalion
513th Infantry Battalion
116thArtillery Battalion
708th Engineer Battalion
478th Signal Battalion
455th MI Battalion
117th ADA Battalion
118th Artillery Battalion
II Merarchia Pezikou
34Taxiarchia Pezikou “Apospasma Dialeti”
12thArmor Battalion
13th Armor Battalion
514th Infantry Battalion
515th Infantry Battalion
119th Artillery Battalion
709th Engineer Battalion
7 Taxiarchia Pezikou“Sarantaporos”
14th Armor Battalion
15th Armor Battalion
516th Infantry Battalion
517th Infantry Battalion
120th Artillery Battalion
710th Engineer Battalion
33Taxiarchia Pezikou“Strymon”(reserve)
16th Armor Battalion
17th Armor Battalion
518th Infantry Battalion
519th Infantry Battalion
121st Artillery Battalion
711th Engineer Battalion
479th Signal Battalion
456th MI Battalion
122nd ADA Battalion
123rd Artillery Battalion
D Soma Stratou
18th Recon Battalion
480th Signal Battalion
457thMI Battalion
712th Engineer Battalion
IV Artillery Brigade
124th ADA Battalion
125th Heavy Artillery Battalion
126th Rocket Artillery Battalion
127th Rocket Artillery Battalion
128th Rocket Artillery Battalion
MerarchiaIppikou
2Taxiarchia Ippikou “Ephessos”
19thArmor Battalion
20th Armor Battalion
520th Infantry Battalion
522ndInfantry Battalion
129th Artillery Battalion
713th Engineer Battalion
3 Taxiarchia Ippikou “Dorylaion”
21st Armor Battalion
22nd Armor Battalion
523rdInfantry Battalion
524thInfantry Battalion
130th Artillery Battalion
714th Engineer Battalion
XXII Tethorakismeni Taxiarchia “Ypsala”(reserve)
23rd Armor Battalion
24th Armor Battalion
525th Infantry Battalion
526th Infantry Battalion
131st Artillery Battalion
715th Engineer Battalion
481stSignal Battalion
458th MI Battalion
132ndADA Battalion
133rdArtillery Battalion
XII Merarchia Pezikou
30Taxiarchia Pezikou“Adrianoupolis”
25thArmor Battalion
26th Armor Battalion
527th Infantry Battalion
528th Infantry Battalion
134thArtillery Battalion
716th Engineer Battalion
31Taxiarchia Pezikou“Digenis”
27th Armor Battalion
28th Armor Battalion
529th Infantry Battalion
530th Infantry Battalion
135thArtillery Battalion
717th Engineer Batalion
37Taxiarchia Pezikou “Xarkovo”(reserve)
29th Armor Battalion
30th Armor Battalion
531stInfantry Battalion
532ndInfantry Battalion
136thArtillery Battalion
718th Engineer Battalion
482ndSignal Battalion
459th MI Battalion
137thADA Battalion
138thArtillery Battalion
I Merarchia Pezikou
XX TethorakismeniTaxiarchia“Nicosia”
31stArmor Battalion
32ndArmor Battalion
533rdInfantry Battalion
534thInfantry Battalion
139th Artillery Battalion
719thEngineer Battalion
IVTaxiarchia Pezikou“ELDYK”
33rdArmor Battalion
34thArmor Battalion
535th Infantry Battalion
536th Infantry Battalion
140th Artillery Battalion
720th Engineer Battalion
50Taxiarchia Pezikou“Grigoris Auxentiou” (reserve)
35thArmor Battalion
36thArmor Battalion
537th Infantry Battalion
538thInfantry Battalion
141stArtillery Battalion
721st Engineer Battalion
483rdSignal Battalion
460th MI Battalion
142ndADA Battalion
143rdArtillery Battalion
Aeroporia Stratou(Army Aviation)
1 Taxiarchia Aeroporias stratou
1st Assault Battalion
2nd Assault Battalion
3rdTransport Battalion
4th Transport Battalion
2 Taxiarchia Aeroporias stratou
5th Assault Battalion
6th Assault Battalion
7th Transport Battalion
8th Transport Battalion
3 Taxiarchia Aeroporias stratou
9th Assault Battalion
10th Assault Battalion
11th Transport Battalion
12th Transport Battalion
BACKGROUND
Independent since 1821 Greece found itself drawn in all three world wars of the 20th century. Firmly on the western side during the first and second world wars and a NATO member since 1952 Greece was one of the NATO members that did not support the German aggression against the Soviet Union that turned the Soviet-Chinese war into the third world war instead opting for neutrality.
The Greek neutrality was seriously compromised when Turkey on the wake of her early victories over Bulgaria invaded Cyprus. Greece declared war on Turkey and till June 1997 would be a cobelligerent of the Soviet Union against Turkey but neutral in regards to NATO. At the same time a mutual defence pact was made with Italy, another NATO member that had declared its neutrality when the alliance attacked the Soviets. Forced into the war when the USN 6th fleet attempted to drive through the Greek naval blockade of Turkey, the Hellenic Navy and air force would deal a severe defeat on the 6th fleet in the battle of the gulf of Smyrna and war would be declared on July 1st 1997.
When the war entered its nuclear phase Greece became target to multiple US nuclear attacks as well as a number of Israeli strikes. Greek and Italian forces would retaliate in kind using a small number of domestically made weapons and others of Soviet manufacture but this could not alleviate the heavy damage wrought on both countries.
Recovering from WW3 during the 21st century, modern day Greece is a prosperous post-industrial nation with a not inconsiderable presence in space and a leading country in marine technology, the latter an understandable result of its geographic position and long maritime tradition. Greece together with Serbia, Romania and Bulgaria are parts of the Aimos Union a military and economic alliance.
Recent Military Actions
The Greek army has been involved in four major wars as well as a number of smaller conflicts during the past 60 years.
The 2nd Aegean war (2243):Coming over 80 years after the 1st Aegean war between Greece and Turkey the war would catch the Greek armed forces unprepared as relations with Turkey had been generally cordial for nearly all the way to the late 2230s. With Turkish-Bulgarian relations considerably worse the war was sparked by a border incident between Turkish and Bulgarian forces quickly expanding to include the other Aimos Union members as well as the Confederation of Palestine, Hungary and Croatia. The Turkish army would make considerable inroads into Bulgarian and Greek Thrace before being checked by Greek counterattacks. In the Aegean Turkish hovermobile forces taking advantage of the close proximity of the eastern Aegean islands to the Anatolian coast, would occupy Lesvos, Chios and Rhodes and a number of smaller islands while failing to take Samos before the Greek navy could intervene. While Lesvos would be recovered the ceasefire left Turkey with the rest of its gains.
The 4th Bosnian war (2243-44): Also known as the Transylvanian war the war was the last of a long series of conflicts involving Hungary, Croatia and on occasion Austrovenia on one side and the Aimos allies on the other. Started by Hungary and Croatia taking advantage of the 2nd Aegean to attack Serbia the war had mixed results as far as the Aimos alliew were concerned. Romania failed to make inroads in Transylvania but Aimos forces did rather better against Croatia especially after Greek naval units could be deployed to the Adriatic and Greek and Bulgaria reinforcements reach Serbia after a ceasefire was reached with Turkey. In the decades post the war relations with both Hungary and Croatia have steadily improvedwith the exception of a brief border conflict between Serbia and Croatia in 2278 that was quickly put under control.
The Kurdish-Armenian war 2267-2270: While not officially allied with Armenia, nor officially taking any part in the border war between Armenia and Turkey, Kurdistan and the Confederation of Palestine,the two nations maintained friendly ties for several centuries and Greece much like Russia did not view favorably the possibility of an escalation of the conflict that could possibly lead to the occupation of Armenia, both for strategic and moral reasons. While not openly threatening war Greece moved forces to Thrace and the Aegean while Russian forces deployed to the Caucasus to intervene in Armenia in case of invasion and Armenia “lent" the services of the Stratiodi military corporation. Russian and Greek special operation forces used the latter as a cover and to this day both governments neither confirm nor deny the participation of their forces to the conflict.
The 3rd Aegean war (2274): The end result of mounting tensions ever since the time of the 2nd Aegean war, renewed conflict found the Greek armed forces much better prepared than the previous one and while considerably smaller on land than their Turkish counterparts enjoying a significant qualitive advantage over them in training and material. Turkey growing overconfident after its victories in the in the 2nd Aegean and the Kurdish-Armenian wars tried forcing Bulgaria by the threat of military action to stop giving support to Bulgarian partisans in the parts of Bulgaria occupied back in 2243 and the crisis quickly led to war. With the Greek navy and air force managing to deal severe blows on their Turkish counterparts in the early stages of the war, Greek forces were able to recapture Chios and Rhodes while the Greek and Bulgarian armieswith Romanian and Serb aid took the offensive in Thrace capturing Adrianople and advancing to the outskirts of the Constantinople metroplex before Bavaria brokered a ceasefire and eventually a peace treaty re-establishing the pre 2243 borders.
The Serb-Croat border conflict (2278): A brief flare up between Serbia and Croatia in Bosnia in 2278, the conflict was more a series of border incidents, quickly put under control before they could escalate. Nevertheless Greek rapid response forces including the 2nd paratrooper brigade did deploy in Serbia and saw some action before things could come under control.
Central Asian war (2282-2287): Despite French pressure as well as pressure inside the Aimos league, Greece was quite reluctant to enter a war so far from home. Still in the aftermath of attacks on Greek merchant shipping both in space and Earth as well as an attack on Aimos asteroid mining installations by Manchu raiders, Greece entered the war and send a division sized force as part of the Aimos expeditionary corps.
The interventioninto Albania (2296): Rivalry between different factions of the Albanian communist party would lead to a coup and attacks by the xenophobe Hodjaist faction on foreign citizens in Tirana, Pristina and Duress. Greek, Italian, French and Serb rapid deployment units had to intervene and safely evacuate foreign nationals engaging some of the pro-Hodjaist units in doing so.
Kafer war (ongoing): The Greek space merchant marine has been extensively involved in moving supplies and troops to the colonies of the French arm while the HSF has seen some action against the Kafer on escort duties and way more in suppresing the surge of piracy the war has caused. The Greek army has a special composition expeditionary regiment as part of the Italian led European expeditionary division.
Foreign Relations and off Earth commitments in 2300
Greece and Space
Greece is a modestly sized interstellar power. Together with several other European countries Greece had participated to the Garten colonization project on Tirane, gaining a lease that became the Nea Hellas enclave on Tirane. Greece has two more, much smaller enclaves Hyperboreia in Neubayern and Atlantis in Botany Bay. More recently Brazil decided to pass part or the whole of the largely Greek, Nova Ostia province on Tirane to Greece, the transfer being in progress and expected to be completed around 2310. This has been a largely unexpected boon to the country’s colonial effort as the Nova Ostia colony would be between 4 and 7 times larger in population compared to the Nea Hellas enclave. Greece and its Aimos leagueallies are currently looking at the possibility of establishing a joint colony, with negotiations taking place with Brazil and the United States in regards to Paulo and Avalon respectively.
The Greek army maintains forces of varying size on all enclaves in addition to a force in Nova Ostia.
The Aimos league: Starting as an alliance between Greece, Serbia and Romania the alliance expanded to include Bulgaria later in the 22nd century. Nowdays there is also a considerable degree of economic and space cooperation between the 4 members.
America and Australia: Both countries had large Greek diaspora communities before the Twilight war that were strengthened by continuing immigration and expanded communications in the following three centuries. The American city of Boston is home to the patriarch of Constantinople after his expulsion from Turkey in the 21st century. Relations are very friendly especially given the large amount of trade and tourism back and forth between Greece and the 2 Anglo-Saxon countries. The Australian and Greek space forces are quite more closely cooperating with the HSF participating in Australian space force exercises.
Albania: Greece, like Italy, is home to large numbers of Albanian immigrants, generally ones not particularly in favor of the communist regime back home. As long as the communists don’t stir any trouble beyond their borders both Athens and Rome are willing to let them alone but border incidents especially on the Albanian-Serb frontier happen from time to time and in 2296 Greek forces had to intervene alongside, French, Italian and Serb units to evacuate foreign civilians from Albania.
Arabia: Relations are cordial if only on the principle of the enemy of someone enemy being a friend but not particularly close.
Argentina: Relations are cordial, complicated only by the hostility between Argentina and Brazil and the United Kingdom with both of whom Greece maintains closer ties. The transfer of Nova Ostia could complicate the Greek diplomatic position as it is opposite Islas Malvidas were the Argentine colony of Santa Maria lies.