Military: South Torbia

This page is a section of South Torbia.

The Republic of Torbia (RoT or South Torbia) military is primarily a defensive force aimed at stopping the Democratic People’s Republic of South Torbia (DPRT or North Torbia) from taking over the entire country. Many years ago due to the fear of the DPRT, the RoT adopted a universal military service of short duration for all its male citizens. After leaving active duty, the military veterans serve in an active or inactive reserve role as a deterrence against external threats to the country’s independence.

Military Forces

Due to South Torbia’s defensive plans and the island terrain, most units in the South Torbian Army are infantry. There are a limited number of other type units including one tank division, one mechanized infantry brigade, and one airborne brigade. The infantry battalions, however, must move on foot or be transported in trucks available to the infantry battalions from a higher command.

Military Strategy

National Command Authority

South Torbia National Command Authority

South Torbia refers to its National Command Authority (NCA) as a National Council (NC). The RoT NC exercises overall control of the application of all instruments of national power to plan and carry out the country’s national security strategy. The NC includes the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Public Information, Finance and Economic Affairs, Interior, and Defense, along with other members selected by the ROT’s president, who chairs the NC.

The president appoints the Minister of National Security, who exercises responsibility for the NC’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 South Torbia’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 for additional information on the NCA’s role.)

Republic of Torbia Defense Forces Structure

Strategic Operational Framework

The South Torbian NC exercises command and control (C2) of the Armed Forces via the Supreme High Command (SHC) that 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 Armed Forces. 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.

The RoT military is designed under 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 the forces. In peacetime, South Torbia groups their forces into Army Force Commands for administrative purposes designated by a number. If the South Torbian SHC elects to create more than one theater headquarters, it may allocate parts of the AFS to each of the theaters, normally along geographic lines. Typically, these administrative groupings differ from South Torbia’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

RoT forms its strategic goals from its history that involved division of greater Torbia during the last century into the Democratic People’s Republic of South Torbia (DPRT) and the RoT. The DPRT wants to unify the country again, but only under North Torbia’s style of government. South Torbia wants fair and open elections to determine any unified Torbian government. North Torbia will not compromise on its stated political goal of reunification of the country under DPRT’s style of government. Other RoT goals include the maintenance of South Torbia’s sovereignty, increased economic activity in the region and globally, and the suppression of any insurgent groups. RoT’s strategic mission also includes the expansion of their role as a regional leader. South Torbia may formulate one or more specific short-term goals, each based on a particular threat or opportunity. Examples of specific strategic goals include:

• Defense of RoT’s sovereignty, especially against the threat from the DPRT
• Protection of South Torbia against smugglers
• Protection of RoT territorial waters from illegal fishermen
• Continued economic expansion, especially by exporting RoT goods to other countries
• Destruction of all insurgent groups fighting against the RoT government
• Reduction or the elimination of organized crime

Arianian Strategic Operations in Peace and War

Implementing National Security Goals

Like most countries, South Torbia shares a similar strategy to achieve their national goals. Strategic operations remain a continuous process not limited to wartime or preparation for war. Once war begins, strategic operations continue during regional, transition, and adaptive operations and complement those 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, South Torbia 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 any 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 RoT 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 South Torbia’s strategic goals. The types of operations employed at a given time will depend on the types of threats, opportunities, and other conditions present.

Only if necessary, South Torbia strategy typically will start with actions directed at an enemy regional opponent that RoT overmatches in conventional military power (i.e., Belesia and Gabal), as well as other instruments of power. If possible, South Torbia will attempt to achieve its ends without armed conflict. Accordingly, South Torbia does not limit strategic operations to military means and usually does not begin with armed conflict. South Torbia may achieve the desired goal through pressure applied by nonmilitary instruments of power, perhaps by merely threatening to use superior economic or military power against the opponent. These actions fall under the general framework of “strategic operations.”

South Torbia will resort to initiating armed conflict to achieve its desired end state only when nonmilitary means prove insufficient. Strategic operations, however, continue even if a particular regional threat or opportunity causes the country to undertake “regional operations” that may include military means as a last resort. 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 in an attempt to preclude intervention by outside players, other regional neighbors, or an extra-regional power that are not supportive of their actions. South would welcome outside assistance to achieve its strategic goals, especially if attack by an external enemy such as the DPRT or Olvana.

Military Forces Overview

Military Strategy

South Torbia ground forces disposition. Units not shown are co-located with their higher headquarters.

The South Torbia military strategy focuses on the defense of their country against the DPRT whose intent is to reunite all of South Torbia led by the DPRT President, Park Sung-Min. As such, the RoT military has limited its offensive capabilities creating most of its ground forces as infantry. While the South Torbian military does field a small number of armored, mechanized, and airborne units.

Army Overview

The RoT army fields approximately 385,000 soldiers with about one-third of them being short-term draftees for 18 months. Since military service is mandatory for all South Torbian males physically capable of serving, the incentive to join the army over the navy or air force is the six-month shorter enlistment for the service in the ground forces. Some vocal opponents of conscription have recently surfaced in the media, but there does not seem to be enough political pressure to end the universal military service requirement for RoT males. The three Army Force Commands are in various states of readiness. The 1st Army Force Command is in the highest state of readiness with the least amount of draftees with trucks available to transport the infantry. The 3rd Army Force Command is in the lowest state of readiness with the most draftees. The 2d Army Force Command is between the other two in terms of readiness.

Republic of Torbia 1st Army Command Force Structure

Army Size and Structure

The maneuver division serves as the RoT army’s basic combined arms unit. In the AFS, some maneuver brigades are constituent, or organic, to the base structure such as divisions. The NCA calls them divisional brigades. There are some South Torbian units designated as separate brigades, designed to possess greater ability to accomplish independent missions without further allocation of forces from a higher tactical-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 RoT army designs its maneuver brigades to serve as the basis to form a brigade tactical group (BTG) if necessary. A brigade, separate or as part of a BTG, can fight as part of a division or division tactical group (DTG), a separate unit in an operational-strategic command (OSC), an organization of the AFS (such as army, corps, or military district), or as part of a field group (FG). (See TC 7-100.2: Opposing Force Tactics, Chapter 2, Command and Control.)

The South Torbian army fields an estimated 385,000 troops distributed between three Army Force Commands and units that report directly to the Supreme High Command (SHC). The three Army Force Commands maintain themselves at different levels of readiness. The best and most well trained units receive assignment to the 1st Army Force Command. This Command also receives an organic mechanized infantry and tank brigade. Most of the lower ranking soldiers volunteered for military service instead of waiting to be drafted. The 2d Army Force Command is similar in structure to the 1st, except there is no mechanized infantry brigade and there a slightly larger number of draftees. The 3rd Army Force Command is almost exactly like the 2nd in structure, but almost all the lower enlisted personnel are draftees.    (See the Order of Battle (OB) at the end of this country’s variable.)

Republic of Torbia 2d Army Command Force Structure

Army Doctrine and Tactics

The RoT army doctrine and tactics is a conglomeration of those that they have found to work best in their island environment dating back almost 100 years. Due to various influences over the years, South Torbian doctrine and tactics are the best practices from the Donovian, PRO (People’s Republic of Olvana), and western armies. Over the last two decades as South Torbia has purchased more western military equipment, the American influence on their doctrine and tactics continues to increase. Western military trainers travel to South Torbia to train their army while the RoT army sends its best officers to western military schools to glean their latest techniques. These officers with experience working with western armies are now reaching the general officer ranks and can now exert their influence on the South Torbian ground forces from a more western view.

Army Training and Readiness

For the most part, the RoT army relies on short-term conscription to field the majority of its ground forces. Each year, almost 200,000 of those South Torbians graduating from high school or reaching the draft age of 18 must serve for 18 months in the army or 24 months in the navy or air force. High school graduates who receive acceptance to a university can defer their military service until after college graduation. College graduates then can request an appointment as an officer or serve as an enlisted soldier. College graduates going on for a graduate or medical degree can continue to seek an educational deferment. If there is no need in the army for the college graduates’ service, they can receive an indefinite delay or request to be serve their military obligation in a reserve unit.  Most middle and senior officers and some noncommissioned officers receive their training in western military institutes or from training teams sent to South Torbia.

The RoT military maintains a competent special-purpose force (SPF) that cross-trains with several western SPF units including the American Special Forces community. The South Torbian SPF has traveled to several countries in Africa and the Pacific to teach skills to SPF units there. Each of the Army Commands contains an SPF brigade and there is a national SPF battalion subordinate to the SHC who specializes in anti-terrorism operations. There is also a strategic SPF brigade that reports to the Minister of Interior that is also highly trained. The best SPF soldiers are assigned to the unit that specializes in deep penetrations of the enemy with the intent to decapitate the enemy’s leadership through various methods, but most notable long distance sniper shots. Most of these individuals come from the army’s SPF community and were hand-picked for their assignment based on merit and skills.

Republic of Torbia 3d Army Command Force Structure

Army Equipment and Weapons

The RoT army operates a variety of equipment throughout its force structure ranging from tier 1 for selected equipment to tier 3 for other gear. Older equipment is normally from Olvanian and Donovian sources while the newer equipment is from western armies due to the recent relationships between South Torbia and western countries such as the US. The newest and best equipment is purposely assigned to the units in the 1st Army Force Command or in units that directly report to the SHC. As new equipment is purchased and received, their equipment is cascaded down to the 2nd Army Force Command that in turn transfer their equipment to the 3rd Army Force Command. Excess equipment from the lowest readiness active duty units are then transferred to the RoT reserve units or sold as surplus to other countries. The South Torbian military forces can operate in all terrain types and while difficult, can successfully conduct 24-hour operations. (For further information see Section 4: Appendix C or the Worldwide Equipment Guide (WEG), Vol. 1, Chapter 1, OPFOR Tier Tables.)

Naval Forces Overview

Due to its geographic location and location on a number of islands, the RoT navy is essential for the country’s defense. With approximately 60,000 personnel, the South Torbian navy is primarily a defensive entity with little capability to operate as a blue water force. The RoT navy conducts patrols in its territorial waters and normally stays within 25 miles of the country’s shores.

Navy Size and Structure

The RoT navy operates two commands—East and West—based on the country’s geography. While a ship may have a primary port city, the ship may move to another harbor based on mission analysis. The South Torbian navy possesses some amphibious capability, but the number of ships available limits landings from the sea to less than two battalions of infantry at any time. Many more infantry battalions go through amphibious training, but additional amphibious ships from possibly another country would be needed for any larger landing. 

Republic of Torbia Navy Force Structure. Units without a location are co-located with their higher headquarters. Ships may not be in their home ports due to mission requirements.

Navy Doctrine and Tactics

The RoT navy protects its coastal borders and patrols any navigable rivers for illegal activities. As secondary missions, the South Torbian naval forces may conduct search and rescue (SAR) and port security operations. The navy has no aviation assets, fixed wing or aerial. The navy works with the air force for aerial support during maritime SAR missions.

• RoT naval missions might include:
• Stopping illegal fishing activities
• Defensive patrolling of coastal areas
• Anti-smuggling operations
• Mine laying
• Small amphibious operations
• Water search and rescue

The major naval locations of the ships belonging to the South Torbia navy.

Navy Training and Readiness

Due to the requirement to serve 24 months in the navy for draftees, those that select to join the maritime service are either enthusiastic about going to sea or want the training that the navy may provide them. Due to these reasons, the navy is highly competent at the individual sailor level. The downside is that many of the draftees leave after their two-year commitment to use their skills to pursue work in the civilian sector. This creates a turnover of up to 10,000 sailors coming and going each year.

The RoT navy conducts training mainly within its territorial waters. The missile attack boat squadron and submarines sometimes venture into the South China Sea for maneuvers. Recently the South Torbian navy has conducted operations with Western navies including ships from the US. Due to the quality of its sailors, the RoT navy typically achieves an of 88% operational readiness rate.

Navy Equipment and Weapons

The RoT navy operates weapons and equipment with primarily tier 2 capabilities with some tier 3 equipment. There are negotiations between the country and several Western powers to provide some newer ships with tier 1 capabilities in order to better reduce the smuggling operations throughout the country. The South Torbian navy can operate in all waters in and around the country with the ability to conduct both day and night operations, but not at the level of most western navies. Navy capabilities include missile attack boats, patrol boats, submarine chasers, minesweepers and minelayers, submarines, and amphibious landing. Due to the high quality of the individual sailor, equipment readiness rates in the RoT navy typically approach 95%.

Air Force Overview

The RoT air force’s missions include the protection of the country’s borders, troop transport, and close air support for ground forces. The South Torbian air force also works with the RoT naval forces to assist in waterborne SAR missions. The South Torbian air force operates primarily tier 2 equipment and planes. RoT pilots possess a respectable reputation for their flying skills as many of them received their training through western armies.

Republic of Torbia Air Force Structure

Air Force Size and Structure

The RoT air force of approximately 60,000 is divided into two Air Commands—East and West. Major aviation units include a bomber regiment, five fighter regiments, three transportation aviation regiments, a reconnaissance squadron, a ground attack regiment, and a UAS squadron.  The South Torbian air force is not responsibility for air defense as that mission is assigned to the army.

Air Force Doctrine and Tactics

Over the last 20 years, western aviation doctrine has heavily influenced the RoT air force operations. With its current generals receiving exposure to western military thought by training in western countries or by teams conducting training in South Torbia, the RoT air force continues to shed any past tactics taught to them by Donovian or PRO aviators. The South Torbian air force will rely on the better equipment, the skill of its pilots, and more modern western tactics to defeat any force that attacks their country including the DPRT.

Air Force Training and Readiness

Like the navy, RoT air force draftees must serve for two years instead of 18 months as soldiers can in the army. Thus, the draftees want to serve because of the service’s prestige or to leverage their military training into a civilian occupation when they leave active duty. There is an air force training regiment that all airmen attend for six weeks before reporting to their assigned unit for additional on-the-job training. Some airmen may be sent to a specialized school, but this is the exception not the norm. Like the navy, RoT Air Force personnel turnover hovers around 10,000 airmen a year coming and going. Despite the turnover, South Torbia maintains a well-trained air force with an 89% operational readiness rate.

Major airports and runways used by the South Torbia air force. During war, any runway or airport will give priority to military aircraft.

Air Force Equipment and Weapons

The RoT air force operates primarily Tier 2 equipment, but there can also be some tier 1 and tier 3 equipment in selected niche capabilities. There are discussions within the South Torbian government that the air force needs to upgrade its aging aircraft in order to continue to deter the DPRT’s aggression. These discussions center around whether to continue to use Donovian equipment or to speed up the switch to western aircraft since their pilots are now being trained in western countries or by western air force personnel. Due to the high quality of the individual air force maintainer and despite the turnover, the RoT air force maintains an equipment readiness rate of over 89%.

Government Paramilitary Forces

The RoT Ministry of the Interior (MOI) controls approximately 10,000 personnel who use military-style light weapons. These forces include the country’s border guard force of 7,000, a national police force of 1,000, and a strategic SPF brigade of around 1,000 personnel. These personnel will be essential to reduce the chaos of dislocated civilians that could occur if the DPRT ever decided to invade South Torbia.

Border Guards

The RoT MOI operates a border guard unit to enforce the country’s importation laws that is comprised of approximately 5,000 personnel. Internally trained, the country has begun to turn to some of the larger western countries for guidance on the latest methods to secure their borders, especially their coastline.  Tasked primarily with anti-smuggling operations and border control, the border guard is thinly stretched due to the large coastline with its many hidden coves and caves that make it a haven for those conducting nefarious activities. The border guards do not have to worry about the common border with the DPRT, however, as the South Torbian army receives the primary responsibility for securing the country’s primary non-coastal boundary.

Internal Security Force/National Police Force

The RoT maintains a small civilian internal security force of 1,000 personnel known as the National Police Force (NPF). The NPF is similar to the FBI and has several missions: protection of political figures, national criminal investigations, anti-terrorism activities, and investigations into corrupt local police forces. There are discussions at the national level about increasing the size of the NPF, but no action has been taken due to lack of funds.

National SPF Battalion

The MOI also controls an SPF Battalion that operates at the strategic level. This unit is called upon in peacetime to combat terrorism, hostage rescue, and other important missions that require stealth. In wartime, this unit would conduct deep operations in its enemy’s rear areas to include reconnaissance, target selection, battle damage assessment, and possibly attacks on strategic targets.

Reserves and Militia

The RoT army maintains a huge active reserve composed of 36 militia brigades. The number of militia brigades may fluctuate depending on how many active reservists are serving. After army draftees serve two years, they have an option. They can continue to serve on active duty or they can transfer to the reserves. Most choose the latter option. These reservists must serve for five years in one of the militia brigades meeting for three weeks each year for training. After their reserve obligation is completed, their name is maintained on a roster of citizens with military experience until the age of 45. Each year, the former soldier must notify the government of their current address, civilian occupation, and contact information.

There is no RoT reserve naval or air forces. When a sailor or airman complete their two years of training, their name goes on the roster of citizens with military experience until the age of 45. Like the soldiers, annually the former sailor or airman must notify the government of their location, occupation, and how to reach them in case of a national emergency.

Non-State Paramilitary Forces

Insurgent/Guerrilla Forces

South Torbian Communist Army

The South Torbian Communist Army (TCA) is probably less than 1,000 actual fighters, but they may have many more supporters throughout the country. Their expressed intent is to establish a communist country based on the Marxist model, the same goal as stated by the South Torbian Communist Party (TCP). The TCP claims that their group has no connection to the TCA, but there are probably some members that belong to both organizations. In actuality, the TCA probably contains a number of DPRT agents who are using the group in order to gain control of the entire country under the control of their leader, Song Chong-Su. Over the last decade, the RoT government has arrested over a dozen of their citizens for spying for the DPRT. Several of those arrested had connections to the TCP or the TCA.

The TCA attacks government leaders and buildings as well as symbols of the government such as schools. The TCA’s snipers have shot government leaders and have at times attempted to foment a revolution by simultaneously attempting to take over the congress buildings and the president’s home. Due to the police and RoT SPF, both attempts failed at the demise of many of the organization’s leaders and most ardent supporters. Since that attempt five years ago, the TCA has kept a lower profile as they continue to attempt to rebuild the organization.

Islamic South Torbian Army

The Islamic Torbian Army (ITA) began on Mindoro as a movement to convert the country into an Islamic Republic. The ITA has expanded to many parts of South Torbia, especially those that contain a large number of Muslims. On Mindoro, it is believed that the ITA has connections to the Osongco Syndicate and the two organizations, at times, may work together when they find a mutual interest.

Since the ITA wants the country to become Muslim, most of their attacks are against non-Muslims. To fund their operations, the ITA has been known to kidnap rich citizens or Western tourists and hold them for ransom. Due to the rugged nature of Mindoro, it is difficult for the authorities to track down the ITA. Since the ITA normally attacks non-Muslims, most other Muslims remain neutral or provide tacit support to the ITA.

DPRT Sleeper Agents

It is widely known that the DPRT has planted agents throughout the permissive society of South Torbia. These agents could be turned on during an invasion by North South Torbia or just before to help facilitate the initial attack. These agents would operate as individuals or in teams of not more than three personnel. These agents probably already know their primary and secondary targets whose destruction would benefit the movement of the DPRT ground forces as it moved south over the DPRT/RoT border.

Criminal Organizations

Tantoco Cartel

While there may be other transnational criminal organizations in South Torbia, the most prominent one is the Tantoco Cartel. The Tantoco Cartel is based in Manila, but its tentacles reach throughout the country and into the Federated States of Belesia (FSB), the Republic of Gabal (RoG), and the People’s Republic of Olvana (PRO). The Tantoco Cartel may have even made inroads into the DPRT.

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 who is a 67-year old male who operates a string of businesses under the umbrella company known as Tantoco Enterprises. A native of South Torbia, Hilmi 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, a hobby for rich men in South Torbia. Hilmi 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. Now, 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.

Osongco Syndicate

The Osongco Syndicate is a large-scale criminal network that is based on the island of Mindoro in Bongabong led by Zikri Osongco. Osongco may sometimes work with the Tantoco Cartel, but it is not part of the latter. Tantoco leaves Osongco alone as long as he confines his activities to Mindoro.

The Osongco Syndicate is primarily involved in stolen goods and smuggling, but will not hesitate to delve into other areas on the island that can make the organization money such as extortion or even bank robbery, especially those that do not practice the Muslim faith.

Zikri Osongco is 42 year-old practicing Muslim who has lived on Mindaro all his life. Growing up poor and without a father, Osongco got involved in crime early on robbing non-Muslims to survive beginning in his teens. Even though he dropped out of school at an early age, Osongco is intelligent and street savvy. Naturally charismatic, he began to attract other unemployed teenagers to him so he started to organize them. As a Muslim and primarily attacking non-Muslims, other Muslims hesitated to serve as a witness to any crimes he may have committed. This protection became further strengthen as he practices zakat (charitable donations to other Muslims in need) regularly. Some Muslims see Osongco as a modern-day Robin Hood who takes from the rich and gives to the poor.

Piracy

Unemployed fishermen with guns have been known to board yachts operating off the west coast of Mindoro Island. If those on board are locals or perceived by the boarders as not worth the effort, the pirates force the boaters to swim to the beach near the towns of Mamburao, Santa Cruz, or Sablayan. The pirates then sell the boat and its contents for whatever they can get. If the yachters are perceived to be rich, especially those from western countries, the pirates will hold the boaters for ransom. When the families pay the ransom, the pirates will release their kidnap victims on the beaches near the same three towns. While the RoT government attempts to stop the piracy and kidnappings, the limited number of military watercraft and higher competing requirements makes it almost impossible to stop all of them. Whenever one of the hostages’ families pays the kidnappers what they want, it only causes additional attempts by the pirates to board other yachts due to the financial incentives found in the kidnapping for ransom business.

Street Gangs

In South Torbia’s larger cities such as Manila, there are street gangs that operate. They mainly focus on armed robbery and extortion. The street gangs are usually confined to a defined neighborhood whose petty crime does not encroach on the Tantoco Cartel’s activities.

Private Security Organizations

There are a number of small security firms that provide personal protection to South Torbian businessmen. These companies must be licensed by the RoT MOI and their personnel approved to carry small arms weapons after a background check. These companies’ names include Blue Storm, White Star, and Orange Dragon when translated into English.

Foreign Military Presence

There are no permanent foreign military personnel presence in South Torbia except those assigned to the embassies in Manila. During the last two decades, Western military personnel have deployed to help train the RoT army, navy, and air force personnel and units. In the last decade, western militaries have conducted operations with their RoT military counterparts on South Torbian territory, airspace, or territorial waters. Some of the western embassies work with the RoT military through a Defense Cooperation Program (DCP).

Nonmilitary Armed Combatants

There are approximately 300,000 licensed private gun owners in South Torbia. Private gun ownership is not guaranteed by law. All guns must be registered with the NPF, but the criminals do not obey the law. Open carry is against the law, but in some rural parts of the country this law is not strictly enforced. Most legally armed South Torbians would avoid antagonizing the RoT military and its allies.

Military Functions

Joint Capabilities

The RoT military continues to improve their joint operations between the army, navy, and air force with the goal of continual improvement. The air force is flying SAR missions to assist the navy. The air force flies CAS missions for the army. The army is responsible for air defense and must coordinate with the air force to prevent friendly fire shootings. The army works with the navy to practice amphibious landings.

Command and Control

The RoT military have moved away from Olvanian/Donovian C2 procedures and adopted more Western methods of mission command. Orders are delegated to subordinate units and units must decide how to act to complete their assigned missions. South Torbian military officers will take the initiative in the absence of orders in order to complete the commander’s intent.  

Maneuver

There is a lack of vehicles for the infantry in some RoT ground force infantry units. The 1st Army Force Command is an exception with all its infantry units mounted in tanks, mechanized vehicles, or in trucks.  The maneuver divisions that report directly to the SHC also possess their own transportation. Most of the 2d Army Force Command, almost all of the 3rd Army Force Command, and all the militia units are traditional infantry. These units must move on their feet or receive vehicles from some other organization to travel major distances. When on the defense, this lack of mobility may not cause issues. In offensive actions, these regular infantry units could only move as fast as their feet could carry them.

Air Defense

RoT air defense is an assigned mission to the army, but they must coordinate with the air force to prevent friendly fire accidents. The 457th Air Defense Command that reports to the SHC fields long-range, medium-range, and short-range missile capabilities. Each Army Force Command fields a smaller number of air defense weapons for all ranges, but at different tier levels.  The South Torbian army 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 as air defense weapons will also damage and/or destroy tactical aircraft when within range.

Throughout maneuver units, there are a number of systems designed for air defense and other systems that can be used in an air defense role. The heavy antiaircraft machineguns on tanks are specifically designed for air defense. Machineguns 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. All these weapons can be extremely lethal when used in this role.

The South Torbian military 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 RoT units. Ground units also employ them to set ambushes for enemy helicopters, especially those on routine logistics missions.

INFOWAR

The South Torbian Information Warfare (INFOWAR) campaign is primarily directed against the DPRT located to the north, but there is some residual effect on their own people. While both countries would like to see a unified South Torbia, neither is willing to make the compromises. This is especially true for the DPRT that sees their government being in charge as the only legitimate end to the split between the homogeneous country.

The RoT aims some of its radio and television programming at the DPRT people trying to show them the economic and social benefits of a democracy. At times, the RoT may also send balloons over the DPRT to drop leaflets and portable radios to get their message straight to the people as the DPRT government attempts to filter and influence all messages aimed at its people.

The RoT does not currently engage in any offensive cyber warfare, but is in the process of adding offensive cyber capabilities. Most of RoT computer expertise is on the prevention of cyberattacks, especially by the DPRT. The DPRT has been known to hack into South Torbian computer systems to steal defense secrets, bank account information to take funds, and even rob bitcoin accounts.

RISTA

The RoT military possesses reconnaissance, intelligence, surveillance, and target acquisition (RISTA) capabilities, with a reconnaissance battalion in each of its maneuver brigades. Additional RISTA assets include the 454th Reconnaissance Brigade and the 465th RISTA Command at the national level that fields a signal recon brigade, signal battalion, UAS battalion, and an Information Warfare (INFOWAR) battalion. Each of the Army Force Commands also contain a reconnaissance brigade. Most of the equipment is Tier 2 in the best Army Forces Command, but of a lower tier in the units in the other two commands. The chart shows the range of most reconnaissance weapons for all militaries operating in the Pacific theater.

Effective Ranges of Arianian Reconnaissance Assets

Fire Support

While the RoT ground forces contain a number of units that use indirect fire weapons, the South Torbian army does not rely on artillery to the extent that the DPRT does. It is likely that the RoT would receive more support from their air force than the DPRT would receive because of local air superiority. Each of the Army Force Commands field their own artillery command with artillery and multiple rocket launchers systems. At the SHC level, fire support assets include self-propelled artillery, multiple rocket launchers, ballistic missiles, and short-range air defense weapons that can be allocated to reinforce subordinate units where necessary. If available, foreign air forces may also provide additional aviation assets to support the South Torbian ground forces.

Protection

Because much of the RoT infantry is foot-mobile, the soldiers lack protection even from small arms fire. Tank and mechanized infantry units would enjoy some protection from small-arms fire. Four engineer commands and four chemical brigades provide some protection against indirect fire and chemical weapons. The South Torbian military like many countries, do not train that often while wearing protective masks. While equipment is available, there is a lack of knowledge on chemical protective measures throughout the military. The RoT government has issued a protective mask to each civilian in case of a chemical attack, but many South Torbians ignore any drills associated with a potential DPRT attack. All maneuver brigades also contain engineer and chemical defense units. Radar and the air force should provide necessary protection against the DPRT air force or any other enemy in the region except that of Olvana. (See TC 7-100.2: Opposing Force Tactics, Chapter 7, Information Warfare; Chapter 12, Engineer Support; and Chapter 13, CBRN and Smoke.)

Logistics

The RoT military continues to improve its logistical capabilities, especially in comparison to that of the North South Torbia and even Olvana. The RoT military sees the importance of securing the supply line and maintaining equipment properly to win on the battlefield due to purchasing equipment from, training with, and conducting exercises with western forces. While logistics are currently adequate for their units, more modernization will force South Torbia to continue to improve its supply procedures and maintenance capabilities.

Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear

The RoT is against the use of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) weapons and possesses no offensive capabilities in any of these areas. Their chemical units concentrate on protecting their force from these weapons and remediation of the situation after their use. Individual soldiers outside of the chemical units detest wearing protective masks and may suffer needless casualties in a chemical environment due to a lack of regular training. Each of the Army Force Commands fields a Chemical Defense Brigade while a Chemical Defense Battalion supports the SHC and the RoT government. (See TC 7-100.2: Chapter 13, CBRN and Smoke.)

Research and Development Goals

There are limited opportunities in the RoT industrial arena to produce military weapons and equipment, but this is changing with the recent opening of the defense industrial complex in Lamoa, Bataan. This complex provides weapons, ammunition, and munitions for the nation’s military and police. South Torbia is attempting to obtain contracts with foreign governments to export helicopters and fixed wing aircraft. Factories in South Torbia do have dual use potential such as the automobile, aviation, and communications industries.  South Torbia is investigating the feasibility of getting involved in launching their own satellites into space, but has already used other countries’ rockets to place eight commercial telecommunications satellites into space (see the Information variable for more details).

Special Considerations

The RoT lives in constant dread that the DPRT will act on its threat to unify the entire country under the North Torbian’s dictator’s control. As such, the South Torbian military focuses on the DPRT as its primary enemy leaving the country vulnerable for smuggling and other criminal activities. The RoT army operates many guard posts along the common border with the DPRT and patrols the area between the guard posts. The rough terrain makes it impossible, however to prevent some DPRT personnel crossing over the border into South Torbia for nefarious activities. The RoT continues to look more to the western military powers for its training and equipment as it looks for a way to stymie the DPRT’s threats.

It is believed that the DPRT may have built several infiltration tunnels under their mutual border with the RoT. While South Torbia has been searching for the tunnels for many years, none are yet to be found. If the tunnels are present, they would most likely be used by DPRT SPF to get behind the RoT army to attack strategic targets, C2 nodes, and assassinate South Torbian political/military leaders.

Summary

The RoT military is primarily a defensive force with a focus on its northern border in an attempt to deter the DPRT from attacking. South Torbia uses its mandatory service requirement to field a competent army and a large reserve. While smaller than the DPRT, the RoT military is of higher quality, better logistics, and a substantially more capable air force. These positive attributes currently keep the DPRT from acting on its verbal declaration that the country should be unified under North South Torbia’s government. The RoT military continues to modernize their equipment when they can by purchasing mostly western equipment as they now believe the technology is superior to that of Donovia or Olvana. That being said, South Torbia still needs to continue their modernization program in order to continue their deterrence of the DPRT. If the DPRT ever felt it could successfully take the rest of the country over without outside interference, regionally or internationally, the DPRT would likely not hesitate to launch an offensive against South Torbia.