Military: Olvana

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The People’s Republic of Olvana is the largest country in terms of size and population in the Western Pacific. Underpinning a national objective to become the regional hegemon, Olvana maintains the largest military in the region. The Olvana People’s Army (OPA) includes Olvana’s land forces as well as the Olvana People’s Navy (OPN) and Olvana People’s Air Force (OPAF). The OPN and OPAF are subordinate to the OPA. Olvana attempts to influence the region by deploying advisors to various countries and through foreign military sales.

Military Forces

Olvana’s military consists of approximately 1.5 million soldiers, sailors, airmen, and naval infantry. The Olvana military plays an important political role as it serves as the vanguard of the regime. The military is divided geographically into three military theaters—East, Central, and South. The air force operates along the same three geographical boundaries. The navy is only assigned to the eastern and southern regions, as the central region is landlocked except for the rivers that flow into the Pacific Ocean. Though ground forces assigned to each region are approximately similar in number, the composition of forces varies due to the geographical conditions. The southern military region contains fewer mechanized forces due to the more tropical climate, while the central military region operates more armor units that thrive in terrain that is more open. The navy deploys a higher proportion of amphibious ships to the Southern Fleet, as it is closer to areas where amphibious operations may occur in a future conflict. While there are some amphibious ships in the Eastern Fleet, these units would deploy with OPA personnel less familiar with maritime operations. The OPA’s Supreme High Command (SHC) keeps some ground and aviation assets under its direct command, with most of these forces stationed around the capital. These units are used for strategic operations, internal control, and protection of the government.

National Command Authority

Olvana National Command Authority

All countries including Olvana share a similar National Command Authority (NCA) construct. Olvana’s NCA exercises overall control of the application of all instruments of national power to plan and carry out the country’s national security strategy. The NCA includes the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Public Information, Finance and Economic Affairs, Interior, and Defense, along with other members selected by Olvana’s president, who chairs the NCA.

The president appoints the Minister of National Security, who exercises responsibility for the NCA’s Strategic Integration Department (SID). The SID serves as the overarching agency responsible to integrate all the instruments of national power under one cohesive national security strategy. The SID coordinates the plans and actions of all Olvana’s ministries, but particularly those associated with the instruments of national power. (See TC 7-100.2: Opposing Force Tactics, Chapter 1, Strategic and Operational Framework.)

Strategic Operational Framework

People's Republic of Olvana Supreme High Command and Military Force Structure.

The history of Olvana dates back thousands of years. Its power and political strength has ebbed and flowed over the years. Olvana is currently in a renaissance era in terms of influence and power, not only in the Pacific region, but around the world. Olvana is participating in UN peacekeeping operations in many countries, providing advisors to allies in the Pacific and in Africa, while selling enough military equipment to become one of the world’s largest military suppliers.

Olvana exercises command and control (C2) of the Armed Forces via the Supreme High Command (SHC). The SHC includes the Ministry of Defense (MoD) and a General Staff drawn from all the service components. In peacetime, the MoD and General Staff operate closely, but separately. The MoD assumes the responsibility for policy, acquisitions, and financing the OPA. The General Staff promulgates policy and supervises the service components, while its functional directorates assume responsibility for key aspects of defense planning. In wartime, the MoD and General Staff merge to form the SHC, which functions as a unified headquarters.

Olvana configures the OPA in an administrative force structure (AFS) that manages its military forces in peacetime. This AFS contains the aggregate of various military headquarters, facilities, and installations designed to man, train, and equip OPA forces. In peacetime, the OPA groups its forces into three military regions called “theaters” for administrative purposes. If the OPA elects to create more than one theater headquarters in a specific area, it may allocate parts of the AFS from the other theaters. Typically, these peacetime theater groupings differ from the country’s go-to-war (fighting) force structure. Other parts of the AFS consist of assets centrally controlled at the national level. (See FM 7-100.4 Opposing Force Organization Guide: Chapter 3, Task Organizing.)

National Strategic Goals

Olvanan strategic goals stem from its long history as the major power in the Western Pacific for more than 20 centuries. While Olvana has periodically been occupied by other powers for short periods, the people have always risen up to reinstate their independence from their oppressor. Olvana today wishes to be regional hegemon, with major influence in all parts of the world. Examples of specific strategic goals for Olvana may include:

• Defend Olvana’s sovereignty
• Support and defend the Olvanan Communist Party (OCP)
• Maintain standing as a nuclear power
• Become a regional superpower
• Obtain world superpower status on par with Donovia and the US
• Develop a major foreign military sales presence
• Influence world affairs, including those in the Middle East and Africa
• Become energy independent
• Maintain and protect international trade while creating new markets for Olvanan exports
• Ensure access to rare-earth metals and other resources necessary for manufacturing high tech weapons and equipment

Implementing National Security Goals

Strategic Operations in Peace and War

Strategic operations for Olvana remain a continuous process, not limited to wartime or preparation for war. Once war begins, strategic operations continue during regional, transition, and adaptive operations. Each of the latter three types of operations occurs only during war, and only under certain conditions. Transition operations can overlap regional and adaptive operations.

In pursuit of its national security strategy, Olvana finds itself prepared to conduct four basic types of strategic-level courses of action. The four types of operations include:

• Strategic operations use all instruments of power in peace and war to achieve a country’s national security strategy goals through attacks against the enemy’s strategic centers of gravity.
• Regional operations include conventional, force-on-force military operations against overmatched opponents, such as regional adversaries and internal threats.
• Transition operations bridge the gap between regional and adaptive operations and contain some elements of both. The country continues to pursue its regional goals while dealing with developing outside intervention that has the potential to overmatch its military.
• Adaptive operations preserve the country’s power and apply it in adaptive ways against opponents that overmatch the country’s military.

National Security Strategy

Although Olvana may refer to them as “operations,” each of these courses of action is actually a subcategory of strategy. Each type of operation aggregates the effects of tactical, operational, and strategic actions, in conjunction with instruments of national power, to achieve each country’s strategic goals. The types of operations employed at a given time will depend on the types of threats, opportunities, and other conditions present.

Olvana will attempt, if possible, to achieve its ends without armed conflict. Accordingly, Olvana does not limit strategic operations to military means, and usually does not begin an operation with armed conflict. Olvana may achieve the desired goal through pressure applied by nonmilitary instruments of power, perhaps by merely threatening to use superior military power against the opponent. These actions fall under the general framework of “strategic operations.”

Olvana considers armed conflict when nonmilitary means prove insufficient or not expedient. Strategic operations continue, however, even if “regional operations,” that may include military means, commence. Prior to the initiation of hostilities—and throughout the course of armed conflict with its regional opponent—the government will continue to conduct strategic operations. These are designed to preclude intervention by outside parties such as regional neighbors or, more seriously, global powers that could overmatch its forces. Such operations, however, always include branches and sequels to deal with the possibility of intervention by an extra-regional power.

Military Forces Overview

Olvana ground forces disposition. Units not shown on the map are co-located with their higher headquarters.

Olvanan military strategy revolves around three primary objectives: nuclear weapons deterrence, control of the South China Sea, and ensuring global freedom of navigation. Olvana attempts to limit the US and its allies in Western Pacific through a combination of economic and military strategies. Olvana often provides funding for infrastructure projects in other countries—as long as Olvanan firms receive the bid for contract. Olvana often provides aid for regional natural disasters, such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and tsunamis. The OPA provides soldiers to the UN for peacekeeping operations, especially those in the Pacific region. Besides being able to influence the political situation by the presence of the OPA, the OPA’s participants are exposed to the professionalism of western armies. The OPA maintains a large enough army to defend its homeland and to project its ground forces anywhere in the Pacific region. The OPN can patrol its territorial waters, inland waterways, and protect the sea lanes vital to its commerce. The OPAF can protect and support the OPA and OPN, and is in the midst of developing a carrier air wing following successful construction of the OPN’s first aircraft carrier.

Olvana People's Army Eastern Theater Force Structure. Units without locations listed are co-located with higher headquarters.

Army Overview

The OPA ground force field approximately 1,120,000 soldiers, but short-term 24-month draftees comprise approximately half of this force. Approximately five years ago, OPA ground forces changed their primary maneuver element from division to brigade, with the intent to concurrently reduce the active force size by approximately 500,000 soldiers. Brigades now report directly to an Army headquarters subordinate to a military theater. There are three primary types of brigades: mechanized infantry, motorized infantry, and truck-mounted infantry. The types of brigades assigned to each army depend on the terrain and mission of the theater commander. In each theater, three brigades report directly to the theater. The fourth type of brigade—airborne—report to the 74th Airborne Corps that is a strategic asset of the SHC. There are three airborne brigades. Each Army also contains a combat helicopter brigade that employs attack, transportation, and reconnaissance aviation assets.

Olvana People's Army Southern Theater Force Structure. Units without locations are co-located with their higher headquarters.

Army Size and Structure

The maneuver brigade serves as Olvana’s basic combined arms unit. In the AFS, some maneuver brigades are organic to the base structure of the OPA’s armies. In reality, these “armies” are actually division-sized, and are part of divisional brigades. The OPA also organizes some units as separate brigades, designed to be more independent and less reliant on augmentation from higher-level headquarters. Separate brigades possess some subordinate units with the same force structure as a divisional brigade of the same type (for example, the headquarters); some units that are especially tailored to the needs of a separate brigade, marked “(Sep)” in the organizational directories; and some that are the same as units of this type found at division level, marked “(Div).”

The Olvanese army designs its maneuver brigades to serve as the basis to form a brigade tactical group (BTG). A brigade, separate or as part of a BTG, can fight as part of an army (division or division tactical group, a separate unit in an operational-strategic command, an organization of the AFS (such as army, corps, or military district), or as part of a field group. (See TC 7-100.2: Opposing Force Tactics, Chapter 2, Command and Control.)

The OPA contains an estimated 1,120,000 ground troops divided between three military theaters and the direct reporting units to the SHC. Each theater contains three “armies” (actually divisions in TC 7-100.2 terms), three separate infantry brigades (type varies between theaters), other combat units, combat support (CS) and combat service support (CSS) units. Each OPA “army” contains six infantry brigades, but the ratio of mechanized, motorized, and truck-mounted varies from army to army. Each “army” contains, however, at least one of each of these three types of infantry brigades.

Olvana People's Army Central Theater Force Structure. Units without locations listed are co-located with their higher headquarters.

Army Doctrine and Tactics

The OPA believes that victory can only be achieved by attacking the enemy. OPA offensive doctrine is based on Olvanese history modified by Donovian advisors’ influence over the past 80 years. The OPA believes that a minimum of a 3:1 offensive-to-defensive force ratio is needed for battlefield success, and prefer a 10:1 advantage at the site of the main attack.

The OPA seeks to annihilate the enemy while occupying the enemy’s important terrain and strategic targets. To achieve offensive objectives, the OPA modifies its actions based on the current actions of the enemy (TC 7-100.2 terms listed in parentheses):

• Enemy in defense (complex battle position)
• Enemy not well-established (simple battle position)
• Enemy on the move

Basic Offensive Principles

The OPA’s basic offensive principles include the following (US terms listed):

• Centralize strength (mass): Use organic and supporting forces and weapons systems to create comprehensive superiority over the enemy in both quantity and quality at a certain place and time.
• Conduct full-depth attack, partition, encirclement, and annihilation (offensive): Offensive actions should take place simultaneously and throughout the depth of the enemy to divide the enemy’s forces in the shortest time possible to weaken the enemy to the point that containment and annihilation is possible.
• Keep in mind the entire situation and attack the enemy’s vital points (objective): Know the enemy and the situation so well in order to carry out prioritized attacks and focused assaults against the key enemy targets.
• Make changes based on the situation and launch flexible attacks (flexibility): Do not remain rigid and make adjustments according to changes in the battlefield conditions in order to achieve the directed mission.
• Fight a quick decisive battle and annihilate the enemy through sudden and vigorous actions (offensive): Use sudden, firm, quick, and continuous offensive actions to maintain pressure on the enemy to achieve a positive outcome in the shortest time possible.

No matter what the OPA’s enemy is doing, their actions will accomplish certain basic tasks. Of these, the annihilation of the enemy is the most important consideration.

• Break through the enemy’s positions
• Eliminate the enemy in the defensive positions
• Occupy the important areas/targets
• Attack/annihilate the enemies that are on the move or in stagnation
• Occupy the enemy’s key depth points
• Cut apart the enemy’s operations disposition

Basic Defensive Principles

The OPA only goes on the defense in order to transition to the offense. OPA defensive operations attempt to cause enemy casualties, protect key areas or targets, delay or foil enemy’s offensive operations, trade space for time, or preserve combat strength to set the stage for the next offensive. The OPA conducts three types of defense (TC 7-100.2 terms):

• Positional Defense (Area Defense)
• Mobile Defense (Situational Defense/Maneuver Defense)
• Maneuver Defense (Maneuver Defense)

The OPA espouses five key principles in their defensive tactics:

• Full-depth integrated defense: Maximize the use of terrain and the friendly forces to conduct an integrated defense.
• Amass strength to form focused resistance: Centralize defensive forces to mass combat power and provide protection against the enemy’s offensive while maintaining the maneuverability of the OPA’s units.
• Combine protection, resistance, attack, and counterattack actions: Conduct close protection to preserve combat power, block the enemy’s offensive tactics, and attrite the enemy in order to prepare friendly forces for future offensive operations.
• Fight for initiative through firm and active actions: Fight for local superiority in inferior circumstances by using forces flexibly, smart planning, and imaginative techniques.

Whatever defense the OPA chooses, the force will conduct five basic tasks:

• Safeguard important areas or targets to foil the enemy’s offensive actions.
• Block the enemy’s reinforcement, breakthroughs, or retreats, and attempt to delay all enemy actions.
• Entice the enemy to create favorable battle opportunities for annihilating the enemy or to draw forces away from the OPA main effort.
• Consolidate occupied areas to resist the enemy’s counterattack or assure the flank security of the OPA main effort.
• Cover the centralization, maneuver, transfer, or rest and reorganization of the main force.

Army Training and Readiness

The OPA ground forces rely on short-term conscription to meet most of its manpower requirements. Each year, about 12 million Olvanese citizens reach military draft age; 53% of them are males. Females are currently exempt from mandatory military service. The OPA annually drafts over 300,000 males between the ages of 18 and 24, following completion of high school. Deferments are easy to obtain for university studies. Males selected for military service must serve for two years. Most go to the army; a small number are assigned to the navy. All OPA officers are volunteers. Non-commissioned officers are as educated or better educated than their western peers. Due to the large pool of potential soldiers, the OPA can be more selective about who gets drafted. Despite the higher education level, a turnover rate of almost 50% of the force every two years reduces the OPA’s ground forces’ capabilities. Due to this turnover, the operational readiness rate of most OPA ground units is about 87%.

The OPA is decreasing the number of personnel assigned to officer candidate schools as the military modernizes its force, focusing more on new technologies and less on fighting the wars of yesteryear. The number of officer cadets selected to attend infantry and artillery schools will decrease by about one-quarter. Branches that will receive an increase of about 15% include aviation, missile, space intelligence, electronic warfare, unmanned aerial systems (UAS), and the naval forces. Logistics and support departments will maintain their officer levels despite the overall anticipated reduction in the total army.

In addition to the active duty ground forces, the OPA maintains about 340,000 active reservists. These soldiers come from several sources. Those soldiers that leave active duty after their two-year obligation can join the Olvana People’s Reserve (OPR) voluntarily and stay to the age of 45. If not drafted for active duty, an Olvanese citizen can volunteer to serve in the OPR until the age of 45. If there is a shortage in the OPR, the draft for a particular year will be extended to make up for the shortfall. Those drafted for the OPR still must serve until they reach 45 years of age. Reserve units are based on geography and report through a chain of command to the local theater commander. Reserve units include the following types:

• 1 Tank Regiment (Sep)
• 30 Infantry Brigades (Sep)
• 6 Artillery Brigades
• 20 Air Defense Brigades
• 8 Engineer Brigades
• 2 Pontoon Bridge Brigades
• 5 Chemical Brigades
• 5 Signal Brigades
• 5 Material Support Brigades

Olvana maintains a robust special-purpose forces (SPF) capability. The national SPF Command fields five SPF brigades and five commando brigades. Each of the three theaters and nine armies contain an SPF brigade. Soldiers who wish to serve in the SPF units must volunteer and go through a rigorous training program before assignment. SPF units receive priority of new equipment, with their old equipment being cascaded down to lower priority units.

Army Equipment and Weapons

The Olvanese army operates primarily tier 1 or tier 2 equipment, though reserve units may operate some tier 3 equipment. When a high priority unit receives new equipment, the unit’s old equipment is passed to a lower priority unit. At some point, the equipment ends up in reserve, or is sold to another country. Active duty equipment is maintained very well due to the education of the individual soldier and the OPA’s strict disciplinary procedures. Reported equipment readiness rate is 93%. (For further information see the Worldwide Equipment Guide (WEG), Vol. 1, Chapter 1, OPFOR Tier Tables.)

Martime Forces Overview

Locations of Olvana's major naval bases.

People's Republic of Olvana Naval Force Structure.

Unlike many navies throughout the world, the OPN is a subordinate branch of the OPA. The OPN operates more ships than any other Western Pacific country. The OPN is both a blue- and brown-water force, divided into two fleets—Eastern and Southern. The OPN also operates riverine ships that secure the navigable rivers within Olvana. The OPN operates a large number of submarines, both ballistic missile and attack. Olvana states that their military force is for defensive purposes, with its size and capabilities as a deterrent against other major powers. Currently, the OPN is putting its first aircraft carrier through sea trials, while simultaneously determining which existing aircraft might successfully convert to being carrier-based. It is also seeking to increase research and development in more advanced submarine technology and naval surface-to-air missiles. It will also likely seek additional aircraft carriers once the first LIAONING is fully mission capable.

Navy Size and Structure

Olvana People's Navy Eastern Fleet Force Structure.

Approximately 115,000 sailors— including 20,000 conscripts—serve in the OPN. Each year, the OPA drafts about 10,000 civilians to serve in the OPN. The OPN also fields a 10,000 man marine division that is assigned to the Southern Fleet. This is double the number of marines from five years ago; the numbers are due to double again over the next decade. The OPN fields its own information warfare (INFOWAR) brigade and SPF battalion that report directly to the OPN headquarters. While both the Eastern and Southern Fleets are similar in structure, the types of ships assigned to each may vary depending on the mission. The Southern Fleet is geared to amphibious operations while the Eastern Fleet operates mainly in blue water. The Southern fleet contains more mine/countermine ships and amphibious landing craft than the Eastern Fleet. When the LIAONING aircraft carrier becomes operational, it will likely be assigned to the one of the destroyer/frigate divisions in the Eastern Fleet.

Navy Doctrine and Tactics

The main purpose of the OPN is to ensure freedom of navigation for Olvanese exports to reach their destinations. The OPN is also available to project military power in the region, and, increasingly, globally through its aircraft carrier and future fleet upgrades.

Typical OPN missions might include:

• Mine laying, particularly in narrow channels and coastal areas
• Minesweeping
• Naval gun fire
• Insertion/extraction of SPF
• Defensive patrolling of coastal areas
• Riverine patrolling of Olvana’s navigable rivers
• Counterdrug search and seizure
• 

  Olvana People's Navy Southern Fleet Force Structure.
  Anti-smuggling and piracy operations
• Sea search and rescue
• Submarine operations
• Convoy escort

Navy Training and Readiness

With a large pool of possible draftees to choose from, the OPN can be selective with the approximately 10,000 conscripts that join the navy each year. Many of these conscripts decide to stay longer than their two-year military obligation. There is no naval reserve in Olvana, but the government tracks those that have served in the navy. Each former sailor under the age of 45 must annually inform the government of their current contact information during the month of their birth. After a short basic training period, new sailors receive an assignment to a ship; they will likely serve on this same ship until their two-year service ends. Trained sailors—including draftees—are usually very proficient in their occupations, generating an operational readiness rate of over 90%.

Navy Equipment and Weapons

The OPN operates primarily tier 2 equipment. Replacement ships arrive annually and Olvana then sells the older ships to other countries. While smaller than American carriers, the LIAONING Class aircraft carrier is a state-of-the-art tier 1 ship. Olvana will place some of its latest tier 1 fixed wing aircraft on the carrier for air operations. The equipment readiness rate for the OPN runs normally around 91%.

People's Republic of Olvana Air Force Structure. Units without locations are co-located with their higher headquarters.

Air Force Overview

Like the OPN, the OPAF is a subordinate branch of the OPA. It is composed of some 265,000 airmen. The OPAF has two primary missions: air superiority and ground support. The OPAF also must be able to project airpower throughout the Western Pacific.

Locations of Olvana's major air force installations. The Olvana aviation units have priority for use of any runways in the country. Olvana air assets will use civilian facilities for both training and combat.

People's Republic of Olvana Eastern Air Force Structure. Units without locations are co-located with their higher headquarters.

Air Force Size and Structure

Three air forces align with the three military theaters—Eastern, Southern, and Central. There is also a large Strategic Air Division that reports directly to the OPAF commander. Each theater air force commander is subordinate to the OPA theater commander. Each of the three theater air forces are almost identical. An air force may be augmented by assets from the strategic air division based on mission requirements.

Air Force Doctrine and Tactics

OPAF operations were heavily influenced by Donovian aviation doctrine up to the 1970s. Since then, the OPAF has developed their own doctrine. As the OPA introduces air and ground forces into an area of operations, the OPAF (primarily the theater air forces) concentrates on gaining and maintaining air superiority. Mission allocation is determined by the operational situation and the number of aircraft needed to obtain air superiority, versus support of the OPA ground forces.

Early in a conflict, most OPAF air theater air force assets will conduct strategic and operational-level missions. Examples of these higher-level missions are strategic bombing, long-range strike, wide-area defensive and offensive counter-air, air interdiction, theater air reconnaissance, electronic warfare, and possibly chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) delivery.

Early operational and tactical missions—air interdiction, close air support, and local offensive/defensive counter air—are intended to gain and maintain air superiority. Airspace conditions dictate aircraft employment throughout the theater of operations at the strategic, operational, and tactical levels.

The OPAF, through the Strategic Air Division and/or the Theater Air Forces, may reinforce tactical maneuver units by allocating a small number of aviation assets, either through attachment or assignment as supporting aviation to a subordinate unit such as a KPA army. An attached aviation unit is under the control of the maneuver unit commander. An aviation unit assigned to support a maneuver force remains subordinate to its parent squadron or regiment, but carries out missions in support of the maneuver commander.

The OPAF possesses the following aviation-related capabilities:

• Bomber aviation
• Fighter aviation
• Fighter/ground attack aviation
• Reconnaissance aviation
• In-air refueling
• Mixed aviation (fixed wing and rotary wing)
• Long-range fixed and rotary wing transportation
• Electronic Warfare including heliborne jamming
• Integrated air defense system (IADS) in conjunction with the 80th Air Defense Command
• Combat search and rescue
• Strategic, operational, and tactical UAV operations

People's Republic of Olvana Southern Air Force Structure. Units without locations are co-located with their higher headquarters.

Although the OPAF aviation is not normally found at the tactical level, the OPAF is often tasked to provide support to the KPA ground units. The primary function for tactical aviation is to provide continuous fire support to ground forces by serving as “flying artillery,” quickly responding to changes in the battlefield situation. They can be used to strike targets out of artillery range, and provide maneuver support to the tactical and operational depth of the enemy. Fixed-wing assets available to the ground commander are found at the military district level in the administrative force structure. The majority of the direct aerial support that ground commanders receive comes from the army-level helicopter brigades.

Air Force Training and Readiness

The OPAF is an all-volunteer air force with all officers possessing a university degree. The OPAF is considered an excellent career or as a great place to obtain skills useful in a civilian occupation. The OPA reserves the right, however, to conscript civilians for service in the air force if there are not enough volunteers. Any airman who leaves the service must annually submit his contact information to the government during the month of his birth. It takes approximately five years to train a pilot from the time they are selected for pilot training to assignment to a deployable unit. OPAF pilots average flying 120 hours per year—more than many American pilots. While the OPAF does possess some flight simulators, the OPAF spend less time on them than American pilots. Due largely to the high quality volunteer professional force, the OPAF maintains a 93% operational readiness rate for its personnel.

The operational readiness rate (OR rate), or “ready to fly rate,” refers to the capability of a unit, equipment, or weapon system to perform the mission or function for which it was organized or designed. Factors such as on-hand major-end items, spare part availability, scheduled aircraft maintenance, logistical and resupply procedures, transportation capabilities, and aircraft cannibalization and/or transfer procedures are considered. Initially, an OR rate in excess of 85 to 90 percent is considered normal. As hostilities continue, this rate can diminish considerably.

People's Republic of Olvana Central Air Force Structure. Units without locations are co-located with their higher headquarters.

Air Force Equipment and Weapons

The OPAF operates mostly tier 1/2 level equipment and aircraft, though some units may have tier 3 equipment. It also possesses the potential to employ niche and emerging technologies. The OPAF fields domestically manufactured advanced aircraft, including long-range bombers, fighters/interceptors, and multi-role aircraft. These capabilities allow the OPAF to project power both regionally and potentially globally.

Due to the relatively newness of many of the aircraft and the regular replacement of aircraft with the surplus sold to other countries, the equipment operational readiness rate of the OPAF averages around 92%.

Air defense from the ground is handled primarily by the OPA. The 82nd Integrated Fires Command at the national level coordinates air defense between the OPA air defense units and the OPAF aerial assets.

Government Paramilitary Forces

The Olvana Armed Police (OAP) is a national police force of approximately 700,000 officers equipped with small arms and civilian or modified civilian vehicles. There is no set structure for the OAP, as the number assigned to any area is based on the population, criminal activity, and the area’s importance. The OAP has the authority to arrest, investigate, and patrol all parts of Olvana, except those under military control. The OAP also serves as Olvana’s border control agents and guard strategic civilian infrastructure such as power stations, water purification plants, and dams. The OAP reports to the Minister of Interior.

Internal Security Forces

The OAP operates an internal security force (ISF) of approximately 200,000 personnel, whose mission is to ensure that there are no revolutions against the current Olvana regime. The average Olvanese cannot tell the difference between the two types of OAP members, as both wear the same uniform. The OAP ISF maintains a large number of its members in the country’s capital city to protect government leaders and to deter attempts at destabilizing or overthrowing the government. Though lightly armed when compared to the regular ground forces, OAP ISF members operate some of the latest military equipment that Olvana possesses.

There are two types of military style units in the OAP ISF: the paramilitary brigade, and the SPF brigade. There are five of each type of brigade. The paramilitary brigades’ primary mission is to protect the Olvanese Communist Party (OCP) from insurrection or overthrow, with a secondary mission to suppress political protest. The SPF brigades have two primary missions. In peacetime, the SPF is focused on stopping any terrorist activities before they happen, or reacting to terrorist events in case prevention fails. In wartime, the OAP ISF conducts strategic level SPF missions. The OAP, including the ISF, operates a large anti-criminal/anti-terrorism intelligence operation.

Reserves and Militia

Olvana does not maintain an organized reserve force typical to many Western militaries. There is, however, a geographically-based organized militia. Former Olvanese soldiers must report annually, in person, to the local militia brigade commander and provide their most recent contact information until 40 years of age. Many of these military veterans forget to report during the month of their birth, but little is done to track down those that fail to comply with the requirement.

Males who do not serve in the active military receive two weeks of local basic training after graduating from high school. After their military training, these militia members are also required to report annually to the local militia brigade commander, just like active duty veterans until the age of 40. Again, many of these militia members fail to comply. This is especially true in the rural areas. With over one million militia members in each of the military regions, the local militia commanders do not receive enough resources to force compliance with the annual reporting requirement.

There are three active militia brigades in each military region. Militia members can opt to serve in one of these units by volunteering during their annual check-in with the local militia brigade. In times of economic difficulty, there are always plenty of volunteers. In good economic times, volunteers are scarce. Active militia members serve two weeks of duty followed by a furlough of four weeks. Thus, there is always one active militia brigade at all times. In a local emergency, the other active militia members can be called up to triple the size of the militia force.

Militia units only use small arms and travel in wheeled vehicles. They are poorly trained. During a national emergency, the intent is for the militia to defend Olvana’s borders, serve as quick replacements for active military casualties, and protect internal supply lines. They may also conduct irregular warfare operations behind enemy lines in the event parts of Olvana are occupied by an external enemy, though the militia receives little training in the techniques to conduct such activity.

Non-State Paramilitary Forces

Insurgent/Guerrilla Forces

Several groups in Olvana actively oppose the central government and the single-party communist political system. The three largest are the Yellow Sashes, the Olvana Jemaah Islamiyah (OJI), and the Olvana Mission (OM). All three groups operate primarily in the rural areas of Olvana. This choice of location is driven by three main reasons. First, the cities are more homogeneous: large numbers of Hindu faith making recruiting for their causes more difficult. Second, the Olvanese government maintains better control of the people in the cities than the rural areas, making it easier for insurgent groups to survive in rural areas. Lastly, the groups often operate in some of the most difficult terrain in Olvana, making it difficult for the police or military to destroy the groups’ cells without suffering large number of casualties in ambushes.

The Olvana strategic air force elements are located in Shanghai.

Yellow Sashes are a loose organization found throughout the country.

Yellow Sashes

The Yellow Sashes are primarily Hindu. Their intent is to resist the OCP’s suppression of religion. The Yellow Sashes are often traditionalists who wish to return the country back to the way it was 150 years ago. The Yellow Sashes want a return to the pre-communist form of government: a hereditary monarchy. They want to restore Zhang Wei Hunan, the fifth great-grand nephew of the last Olvanese ruling dynasty to power. Zhang Wei Hunan is living in exile in Belesia under an assumed name. There are no indications that Zhang Wei Hunan is directing the Yellow Sashes from his overseas location. The Yellow Sashes operate primarily in the northern portion of Olvana, but pockets of the group can be found in the western or southern regions. Their primary technique is to ambush small groups of government officials or soldiers. Cells operate independently of each other and the elimination of one cell has little effect on the overall group.The Yellow Sashes are estimated at under 10,000 active members, but the true figure is probably closer to 3,000.

The OJI started in western Olvana, but has been working its way east.

Olvana Jemaah Islamiyah (OJI)

The OJI is a Muslim insurgent group that operates primarily in Western Olvana. Many of its leaders are trained in the Middle East. As the OJI becomes stronger, the group continues to push further to the east. Mainline OJI is usually content to slowly convert people to Islam by providing services to the poor rural people that the central Olvana government seems to forget. There are, however, OJI cells that do not feel the conversion process is occurring fast enough, and are thus trying to convert rural villages by force. These OJI cells enter a village and try to convince the people to convert to Islam. If the local leaders are unwilling to convert, the OJI executes the village leaders. If this does not convince the people to convert, more of them are killed. If the village converts and pays tribute to the OJI in the form of supplies and/or money, the OJI cell moves on to another village. The OJI will send in spies to the converted villages at later times to see if the village has actually converted to Islam. If they have not, the OJI may return to set another example. These extremist OJI cells sometimes will kidnap young women, usually from 10-20 years of age, and force them to become wives of the OJI members.  The OJI cells also kidnap younger male children (5-10 years of age) to convert them to Islam and join the OJI cause. The OJI tests the loyalty of these young children by using them as couriers to carry messages, supplies, ammunition, and arms, as local police seldom bother the children carrying goods in rural areas.It is estimated that there are less than 10,000 true OJI believers, but due to fear many others support the group or at least not stand in their way.

The Olvana Mission works primarily in the northwest part of the country.

Olvana Mission (OM)

The OM is a group of Christian missionaries whose mission is to make the lives of rural Olvaneses better while converting them to Christianity. The Olvanese central government is not extreme in its denunciation of religion, and will generally allow free religious practice as long as those practicing their faith do not seek to use it as a means to overturn the current political structure. The OM is on the cusp of going from a group tolerated by the Olvana government to one that the OCP will seek to suppress. John Henry Brown from Europe founded the OCP when he arrived in the extreme northeastern part of Olvana ten years ago. At the time, Brown was a 30-year old self-proclaimed missionary who just wanted to help the Olvanese people improve their lives. Brown grew up in a European commune whose purpose was to worship God in an agricultural setting. Brown learned to farm at an early age and in the commune learned all sorts of skills necessary to survive in nature without many resources. When Brown was 20 years of age, he left the commune to spread his vision of God’s work, working his way east before eventually arriving in northeastern Olvana. Brown has taught the Olvana people better farming techniques, help dig wells for improved access to water, taught better hygiene to reduce sickness, and simple ways to improve their life while trying to convert them to his brand of Christianity. While Brown may seem peaceful, he will defend himself and his supporters with force because he believes his cause is just. Brown’s supporters will not give him away, but his presence bringing Christianity to the Olvanese people brings him in conflict not only with the Olvana central government so far away, but with the Yellow Sashes and OJI as well. Brown and the OCP do not normally attack other groups, but will not hesitate to defend what he is trying to build.  There are less than 1,000 active OCP members, but many people support them because of the humanitarian projects they bring to rural Olvana communities.

Criminal Organizations

The Tantoco Cartel has its headquarters in South Torbia, but has been gradually expanding its organization to other Pacific countries including Olvana.

Tantoco Cartel

The Tantoco Cartel was founded in the Republic of Torbia; it has expanded its operations into the largest cities of Olvana. The Tantoco Cartel is involved in almost every type of criminal activity imaginable: drug and weapons smuggling, extortion, motor vehicle theft, illegal gambling, money laundering, counterfeiting, and murder-for-hire.

The leader of this cartel is Hilmi Tantoco. Tancoto is a 67-year old male operating a string of businesses under the umbrella company known as Tantoco Enterprises in South Torbia. A native of Torbia, Tantoco got his start as an enforcer with a local gang involved in racketeering, primarily extortion from small business owners to prevent their business from being ransacked by hooligans. He worked his way up until his mid-30s, when he ousted the local gang leader and his friends by detonating a bomb while they were deep-sea fishing. Tancoto then set up a number of legitimate businesses to serve as a front for his illegal activities. Rumors are that he has connections to the local police and politicians, as well as possibly to the federal police and some of RoT’s cabinet members. These connections allow him to stay one step ahead of most attempts to close down his businesses. There is enough distance between him and his illegal businesses that, if necessary, a fall guy will be found to prevent any investigation reaching him.

Tantoco’s cartel has now spread to other countries, including Olvana. There are rumors of bribery of local officials and even officials at the national level. The Olvanese government’s recent crackdowns on corruption forced some senior officials to resign or imprisoned after being caught taking bribes. It is estimated that less than 500 people in Olvana work for the Tantoco Cartel.

Each Black Society group is semi-autonomous and operates almost exclusively in their own city.

Black Societies

There are a number of “black societies” or organized criminal networks in the largest cities in Olvana. These criminal networks are normally family affairs, with each family staying local to avoid conflict with other groups. These criminal networks are involved in armed robbery, racketeering, smuggling, narcotics trafficking, prostitution, gambling, and contract killings. These groups are not happy with the Tantoco Cartel moving into their cities, and may fight them to keep Tantoco out. These groups are normally named after a color and an animal, usually a bird of prey. These are the most prevalent groups by city:

• Hong Kong: Blue Crescent
• Shang Hai: Red Eagle
• Nanning: Green Hawk
• Guangzhou: Jade Vulture
• Shantou: Black Owl
• Xiamen: Yellow Tiger
• Guiyang: White Shark

Every city over 50,000 in Olvana has at least one gang if not more.

Local Crime Gangs

In cities where the Black Societies do not operate, local gangs are often present. The type of gang activity will correspond to the local conditions. Most likely this will involve narcotics, gambling, and racketeering. Local gangs are less well-armed than the organized criminal networks or the Tantoco Cartel.

Private Security Organizations

Due to restrictive firearm control policies there are few private security organizations in Olvana. Only the richest citizens can afford to hire personal security guards that can carry guns. Legal civilian firearm ownership is rare, as there is no guaranteed right to own a gun in the country. The Olvana government will issue a firearm to those civilians that can establish a genuine reason, such as animal control, hunting, or sports shooting. All those that apply for a gun permit must pass a rigorous criminal, mental, and domestic violence check of their records. It is not unusual for it to take up to a year to even get permission to own a gun for those that apply. Before receiving their government issued firearm, the applicant must pass a written and practical test administered by Olvana governmental officials.

Foreign Military Presence

Except for security personnel at the embassies, there is no continuous foreign military presence in Olvana. The OPA regularly conducts exercises with multinational partners, including ground-based exercises, naval exercises near the Olvanese coasts, or in Olvanese airspace.

Nonmilitary Armed Combatants

Despite the tight restrictions on civilian gun possession, it is estimated that about 15 million people in Olvana possess a firearm. Most of these are illegal, as the registered number of guns in Olvana is only 5 guns per 10,000 people. It is estimated that the OPA possesses approximately 15 million firearms, while the police possess another 1.5 million firearms.

Military Functions

Joint Capabilities

Olvana and its armed forces may act independently, or as part of a multinational alliance or coalition, and may engage in regular, irregular, or hybrid warfare. When conducting hybrid warfare, Olvana’s regular forces will act in concert with irregular forces and/or criminal elements to achieve mutually benefitting effects. In such cases, the national-level strategy, operational designs, and courses of action of the Olvana military constitute a wide range of capabilities and motives.

The OPA is adept at conducting joint operations, primarily because the OPA controls the ground forces, naval, and air forces of Olvana. The overarching mission of the Olvanese navy and air force is to support  OPA ground forces while maintaining control of the sea lines of communication and air superiority over the battlefield.

Command and Control

While Olvanese military doctrine stresses that military decisions should be made at the lowest levels based on commander’s intent, in actuality the Olvanese command and control procedures have created the opposite effect. Often, commanders will not take initiative in the absence of orders to avoid mistakes. In peacetime training, the OPA often fires commanders who fail to accomplish their missions. Commanders, in response to the zero defects mentality, will do everything possible to comply with orders from their superiors, but will risk nothing for fear of retribution.

Maneuver

The OPA fields various types of units that can maneuver in all types of terrain, from deserts to mountains to jungles. In the last decade, Olvana developed a smaller, lighter tank that is built to fight in mountainous terrain. The OPA deploys types of units best suited for the terrain on which the battle will take place. The OPA can conduct relatively small amphibious, heliborne, or airborne assaults. Within Olvana, the train system can deploy larger size units relatively rapidly. It would take control of the seas to move large numbers of OPA ground forces to attack another country.

Air Defense

The OPA possesses a large and modern layered national air defense command composed of four long-range, four medium-range, and two short-range air defense brigades.  Each military theater and army also fields their own air defense command. Each OPA brigade contains an air defense capability. Olvana recognizes that air defense is an all-arms effort. Thus, all ground units possess some type of an organic air defense capability to differing degrees, depending on the type and size of the unit. Many weapons not designed specifically as air defense weapons are used to target aircraft when possible. For example, machine guns on armored personnel carriers, and automatic cannon on infantry fighting vehicles can engage both ground and air targets. Most antitank guided missiles (ATGMs) are extremely effective against low-flying helicopters. Several ATGM manufacturers offer anti-helicopter missiles and compatible fire control, which are especially effective against low-flying rotary-wing aircraft. Field artillery and small arms can also be integral parts of the air defense scheme.

Olvana considers every soldier with a man-portable air defense system to be an air defense firing unit. These weapons are readily available at a relatively low cost and are widely proliferated. The small size and easy portability of these systems provides the opportunity for ambush of enemy airframes operating in any area near Olvanese units. Ground units also employ them to set ambushes for enemy helicopters, especially those on routine logistics missions. (For more information, see TC 7-100.2: Opposing Force Tactics, Chapter 11, Air Defense.)

Another facet of the Olvana military’s air defense is their aircraft, especially those with extremely long range that can help control maritime airspace well outside their economic exclusion areas.

INFOWAR

Olvana considers information warfare (INFOWAR) an integral piece of all operations, and resources the INFORWAR capabilities accordingly. At the national level, an INFOWAR brigade conducts strategic missions. This brigade is composed of subordinate units that conduct the seven types of INFOWAR missions. Below the national level resources, the theaters and armies contain units that can conduct some types of INFOWAR. Cyber warfare, such as information attack and computer attack, are controlled and executed at the national level.

The other five INFOWAR types can take place at any level by many types of units. This includes electronic warfare, deception, physical destruction, perception management, and protection and security measures. The OPAF recently introduced a new aircraft, the Gaoxin-7, which can be used as a flying broadcast station that can transmit media in AM, FM, HF, TV, or on military communication frequencies. The OPA places great weight on deception operations at all levels including emphasis on camouflage down to the lowest level.

RISTA

The OPA possesses a large number of the most modern reconnaissance, intelligence, surveillance, and target acquisition (RISTA) assets. At the national level, there is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) brigade in addition to the aviation assets available in the OPAF and satellites available for military use. Each theater and army commander controls his own RISTA command while lower-level units contain reconnaissance units that can conduct a variety of RISTA missions. The chart below shows the normal effective distances for RISTA elements in the region.

Effective Range of Regional Reconnaissance Assets

Fire Support

The OPA emphasizes artillery and fire support for its ground forces. At the national level, there is an artillery command whose units can be distributed to the theater or armies as needed, or consolidated at higher levels to mass fires on critical targets. All levels of units down to the company level have an organic indirect fire capability, ranging from superheavy rocket artillery to infantry mortars. In the last decade, the OPA has improved its counterfire capabilities by conducting exercises especially design to enhance that skill.

The OPA at the strategic level fields the 78th Surface-to-Surface Missile (SSM) Command that operates several different types of missiles. Olvana's scientific research in the missile field makes it one of the most capable ballistic missile country in the world.

Many of the OPAF aircraft are multirole, designed to perform both the air superiority and ground support missions. Each theater contains two air regiments whose sole mission is to provide support to OPA soldiers on the ground, and three other regiments who are dual-purpose. Each theater army also possesses their own combat helicopter brigade that can provide support to the ground forces.

Protection

The OPA uses a variety of techniques to enhance force protection from the national level to the individual soldier on the ground. At the higher levels, aircraft and radar provide early warning of enemy aerial attacks. Chemical defense units at all levels alerts local units to potential chemical attacks. At the lower level, the emphasis on camouflage provides protection against enemy aerial attacks. Soldiers possess protective masks to use against enemies that may use chemical weapons. Tanks and other armor vehicles provide limited protection against enemy small arms fire. The OPA’s newest armor vehicles feature an active protection system against enemy antitank missiles and explosive reactive armor in case the missile hits the vehicle. Engineer assets can increase the survivability of ground forces in the defense. Reconnaissance elements at all levels will provide early warning against enemy ground attacks that will allow units enough time to prepare for a potential enemy assault. (See TC 7-100.2: Opposing Force Tactics, Chapter 12, Engineer Support and Chapter 7, Information Warfare.)

Logistics

While the OPA fields an integrated support command (ISC) with various types of logistical units at all levels from the SHC down to the brigade level, the OPA still lacks the robustness of the supply system of most western militaries. An emphasis on combat units over support units still prevails through the OPA. The OPA is making plans to improve its logistical procedures by adapting many of the processes of western armies.

Olvana is developing unmanned supply trucks that are currently undergoing testing. It is not known when these trucks will be distributed to the field. While unmanned vehicles would reduce human casualties, it may be difficult to protect the supplies from theft or destruction.

The pressure on the OPA officers to be thrifty in their actions has caused some problems in the past. Some units have been known to use ammunition past its expiration date, a behavior that could cause accidents. Other officers would rather horde supplies, instead of turning excess equipment or material back into the supply system to be used by another unit.

Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear

Olvana possesses chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear weapons. OPA doctrine states that chemical warfare may be necessary to achieve battlefield success against some enemies. Expect OPA artillery attacks to contain non-persistent chemical agents. Olvana is conducting tests to determine the best way to use biological agents against their enemies. The issue is to control the biological weapon in such a way that it only affects enemy soldiers and not their own OPA personnel. If in a bind, there is a small possibility that Olvana may resort to radiological weapons in order to reverse their fortunes. Olvana is a nuclear power and has stated it will not initiate a nuclear launch. If faced with certain defeat with an expected regime change or if attacked by a nuclear power, Olvana could use their nuclear weapons. Currently, Olvana possesses about 500 nuclear warheads with plans to increase their nuclear arsenal to 600 warheads within 10 years.

Research and Development Goals

Olvana is a major weapons manufacturer and arms seller. It recently created a new department especially designed to develop new weapons systems similar to organizations found in advanced Western militaries.  Normally, the newer equipment is assigned to the best units in the OPA with their older equipment being cascaded down to lower quality units. At some point, the oldest equipment is removed from the army, then either sold or given away in exchange for other considerations.

Olvana continues to improve its computer, communication, and satellite systems as technology at a rapid pace. Olvana will not hesitate to steal the latest plans or prototypes from any other country in the world. This can be done by cyber warfare hacking into other countries’ computer systems, or industrial spies obtaining the information overseas.

Special Considerations

Olvana is the largest and most powerful country in the Western Pacific. It wishes to be the regional hegemon, keeping all other world powers out of the area, while becoming a larger player on the international stage. Olvana is spreading its influence in the Middle East, Africa, and the Pacific region through a combination of economic assistance and military pacts to countries that need their assistance.

Olvana is a special friend to the DPRT (North Torbia) and does not wish for the RoT (South Torbia) to control the entire country under a democratic regime. As such, the PRO will likely provide assistance to the DPRT to deter the RoT from invading it to unify the two countries.

Olvana sometimes tries to bully smaller nations, such as Gabal, in the Pacific region. Gabal has little recourse other than to appeal to the UN or other western nations for support. Olvanese fishermen in the South China Sea will sometimes cross into Gabal’s territorial waters due to the potential rich harvest of fish available in the area.

Olvana wants to influence Belesia, but is upset that the western countries have gotten there ahead of them. Olvana will attempt to undermine the western nations supporting Belesia wherever they can in hopes to make Belesia another one of their client states.

Olvana’s nuclear capability is sufficient to serve as a deterrent. Olvana will most likely not pre-emptively launch these against the US or its allies, as the country has publicly embraced a no first-use nuclear weapon doctrine. On the other hand, Olvana has seen that the western countries have been weak to react to belligerents who have attempted to coerce a neighboring country so some of their policymakers may believe that a small nuclear bomb may be a method for a quick solution without any major repercussions.

Summary

Olvana maintains the largest military in the Western Pacific. The OPA protect Olvana’s borders and has the capability to deploy a large military force over the oceans and/or through the skies to another country in the Pacific region. When the OPN aircraft carrier is combat ready, this new capability will allow Olvana to project its force around the world. Olvana desires regional hegemony in the Western Pacific, keeping other major powers out of the region. Olvana will not hesitate to join a local war if the result will help the country continue its economic and military climb to become a dominant world power on par with Donovia and the USA.