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El Ejército Nacional de República Inca: The Incan Republic National Army, ca. 2300AD
Introduction The República Popular del Inca (Incan Peoples’ Republic), sometimes referred to by its ancient Quechua name of Tawantinsuyo, is one of Earth’s newest nations, and a curiosity in many senses, combining a sometimes troubled revival of an idealized pre-Colombian civilization with an equally archaic tendency towards neo-Marxist and Maoist ideology. The nation’s army, the Ejército Nacional de República Inca (ENRI), is a large force of questionable abilities, though ongoing conflict with Brazil, suppression of internal armed dissident groups, support for anti-government insurgents in Venezuela, and occasional border clashes with Bolivia have all served to hone the elements of the ENRI’s skills at small unit operations to a very fine edge.
AcknowledgementsNotable Units
A good deal of the equipment described in this article as
being in service with the ENRI is mentioned or described in detail in other
articles available on the Etranger website or elsewhere on the internet. The CASA-12 assault rifle is a design by
Jason Weiser, re-used here in a slightly modified form with his
permission. The Estoque
anti-tank missile, the Tipo 14 80mm automatic mortar, the VA-90 light
hovercraft, and the VLI-45 wheeled AFV family are all the work of Greg Hunter
in his description of the Mexican armed forces circa 2300. The IMCA-1 combat walker is mentioned in Dan
Hebditch’s article describing combat walkers.
Ejército del Norte [HQ: Quito]
IIda Cuerpo de Ejército (Division-Sized Units) 1ro Kimsa Pachak de Tiradors Blindado “Topac Yupanqui” (A) 2da Chunka Waranqa Montaña (B) (Brigade and Smaller Sized
Independent Units) Waranqa de Fuerzas Especiales del Norte (A) 1ra Waranqa de Anfibia (E) [Guayaquil, Ecuador] 11ro Pachak de Artillería Antiaéreo (A) 157ma Packak de Artillería de Montaña
“Saraguro” (A) 159no Packak de Artillería de Montaña (B) Grupo Takiri (E) Ira Cuerpo de Runa 3er Chunka Waranqa del Runa “Quitas” (D) 51ro Chunka Waranqa del Runa “Huaorani” (C) 54ta Chunka Waranqa del Runa “Quichuas” (D) 87ma Chunka Waranqa del Runa “Otovalo” (C) 92da Chunka Waranqa del Runa “Tsáchila” (D) Ejército del Sud [HQ: Lima]
Ira Cuerpo de Ejército (central Peru) (Division-Sized Units)
1ra Chunka Waranqa de
Fuerzas Especiales “Los Serranos” (A) 3ra
Waranqa de Fuerzas Especiales “Katari”
4ta Waranqa Montaña “Tarapaca” (A)
(Brigade and Smaller Sized Independent Units) Waranqa Inca de la Guardia (A) 1ra Pachak de Aviación Militar (A) 18vo Pachak Blindado “Qari Wakanka”
(The Bulls) (A) Grupo Yawarpuma (E) IIIer Cuerpo de Ejército
(southern Peru) (Division-Sized
Units) 3ra Kimsa Pachak Blindada “Huaynaputina”
(A) 3ra Kimsa Pachak de Cabellería (A) (Brigade and Smaller Sized Independent Units) 1ra Waranqa de Fuerzas Especiales “Kuntur” (A) 5ta Waranqa Montaña (A) 19na Waranqa Montaña (B) 208va Pachak de
Aviación Militar (A) IVta Cuerpo de Runa (northern Peru) (Division-Sized
Units) 2da Chunka Waranqa del Runa (C) 7ma Chunka Waranqa del Runa (C) 52da Chunka Waranqa del Runa (C) 79na Chunka Waranqa del Runa (C) (Brigade-Sized Units)
301ra Waranqa del Runa (C) [Lima] XIro Cuerpo de Runa (central Peru) 8va Chunka Waranqa del Runa (C) 11ra Chunka Waranqa del Runa (C) 31ra Chunka Waranqa del Runa (C) XIXna Cuerpo de Runa 4ta Chunka Waranqa del Runa (C) 12da Chunka Waranqa del Runa (C) 19na Chunka Waranqa del Runa (C) Ejército del Colombia [HQ: Bogotá, Colombia]
IVta Cuerpo (Venezuela Border)
1ra División Blindada (A)
5ta División de Infantería (A) 9na División de Infantería 11ra Divisíon de Infantería de
Reserva VIta Cuerpo (Central Colombia) 2da División Infantería (B) 3er División de Infantería
Paracaidista
7ma División Blindada (A) 12da Divisíon de Infantería de
Reserva 13ra Divisíon de Infantería de
Reserva 14ta Divisíon de Infantería de
Reserva VIIIta Cuerpo (Brazil Border)
8va División de Infantería de Selva 6ta División de Infantería (B) 10ma Divisíon de
Infantería de Reserva Ejército de Antisuyu [HQ: Iñapari, Peru] 2da Waranqa de Fuerzas Especiales
“Kutuna” (Peru)
Grupo de Aviación Uruguayo Voluntario (F) Grupo Matsuhara (E) La Legión Internacional Libertad de
Antisuyu (F) VIIma Cuerpo de Selva (Division-Sized
Units) 1ra Chunka Waranqa de Selva “Túpac Amaru”
(Peru) (A) 5ta Chunka
Waranqa de Selva “Marshall
Antonio Jose de Sucre” (Peru) (A)
77ma Chunka Waranqa de Selva “Héroes
del Rio Japura” (Peru) (A) 106ta
Chunka Waranqa de Selva “Andrés Cáceres” (Peru) (A) (Brigade and Smaller Sized
Independent Units)
11ra Pachak de Aviación Militar (Peru & Ecuador) (A) IX Cuerpo de Selva (Division-Sized
Units) 4ta División de Infantería de Selva
(Colombia) (A) 17ma Chunka Waranqa de Selva “Pastaza” (Ecuador) (A)
(Brigade and Smaller Sized
Independent Units) Grupo de Aviación de Ejército 27 (Colombia) (A) 304ta Waranqa de Selva (B) (Peru)
Ejército
de Mariategui (Rho Eridani)
1ra Waranqa de Selva (A) 2ra Waranqa del Runa (D) Ejército de Wampar Allpa (Austin's World) 1ra Waranqa de
Montaña (B) 2ra Waranqa del Runa (C) 3ra Waranqa del Runa (D)
4ta
Waranqa del Runa (D)
Notes: (A) Unit is a first-line formation manned at or near 100%, and with full equipment set. (B) Unit is a first-line formation, but is at less than 70% strength during peacetime. Mobilization to full strength would require recall of former conscripts and refresher training. These units are, in theory, capable of being fully operational within 60 days of a mobilization order. In practice, it would take perhaps 2-3 times as long to fully man and equip the units, particularly in terms of modern combat systems and key technical personnel. (C) “del Runa” units (Peoples’ Militia), likely maintained at one-half to one-third strength, and would require extensive mobilization of reserves and appropriation of additional equipment to be brought up to full strength. (D) “del Runa” units (Peoples’ Militia), likely maintained at less than one-third strength, and would require extensive mobilization of reserves and appropriation of additional equipment to be brought up to full strength. (E) Unit not under direct ENRI control (naval infantry, paramilitary units subordinate to Chapaqinchikkuna internal security ministry, etc.). (F) International unit or foreign military unit serving under ENRI command under various agreements. The Ejército Nacional de República Inca (ENRI) has a rather convoluted organization, reflecting both the “intranational” and national politics of the Inca Republic. The ENRI is operationally divided into four field armies, the Ejército del Norte (comprising the armed forces of the province of Ecuador), the Ejército del Sud (comprising the armed forces of the province of Peru), the Ejército de Colombia, and a field force in the Amazon, the Ejército de Antisuyu, jointly manned by contingents from the other three armies (plus a number of foreign units and mercenary formations). Administratively, the Ejércitos del Norte and del Sud are divided into Army formations and Peoples’ Militia (Ejército del Runa) that answer to a separate Peoples’ Militia headquarters which is, itself, a separate entity under the control of the Ministry of Defense. The del Runa units are generally garrison units tasked with internal security missions, unless mobilized during wartime at which time they would, in theory, fall under Army control. The Ejército de Colombia does not maintain separate a del Runa establishment. The Republic’s internal security apparatus, the Chapaqinchikkuna (Peoples’ Guardians) also maintain separate paramilitary units involved in counterinsurgency operations in the Amazon and north-central Peruvian and Ecuadorian uplands. These units do not fall under military command, though in wartime this arrangement would possibly be altered. The Chapaqinchikkuna counter-insurgency units are generally regarded as the most effective anti-guerilla and anti-special forces units of the Incan national military establishment, but they also tend to have a high degree of international notoriety and infamy associated with their tactics and procedures, which tend towards the brutal rather than the subtle. Generally speaking, the Ejércitos del Norte and del Sud have a relatively high degree of commonality, having adopted a novel organization since the revolution that gave birth to the Inca Republic. Colombia’s military contingent remains distinct and quite separate from the other two provinces, retaining most of its pre-unification institutions and traditions. Relations between the “revolutionary” and “Colombian” branches of the Incan military are generally proper at high levels, but often much more strained at lower levels, with a great deal of friction. “Revolutionary” troops tend to be suspicious of Colombian troops (a “reactionary imperialist” nation in Incan propaganda and dogma until its abrupt and largely unanticipated entry into the Republic), and feel the average Colombian soldier has a misplaced sense of superiority. The average Colombian soldier does tend to consider the Andean branches of the nation’s military to be undisciplined, corrupt, and essentially rabble. The Ministry of Defense, located at the national capital in Cuzco, exercises high command over all four armies, though outside observers have described this control as nominal in regards to many units, including both the entire Ejército de Colombia, as well as many of the more remote garrisons throughout the country. The military occupation of the former Brazilian territory in the Amazon has been somewhat more coherent to date, in part because Argentina and Mexico partially subsidize the Ejército de Antisuyu, and also make certain demands in regards to their investment, that keep things operating more smoothly. Below the army level, the ENRI is divided into a number of corps (Cuerpo) which have geographic areas of responsibility. Subordinate units are generally deployed in relatively small garrisons (battalion and company sized elements) throughout the country, and the primary mission in most areas is the maintenance of law and order, to include operations against anti-government guerillas in some areas. The exceptions to this are the corps located in “front-line” zones, including the Brazilian, Venezuelan, and, to a lesser extent, Bolivian borders, where units are maintained on a footing more suited to conventional war. There are presently two separate organizational schemes used by the ENRI for tactical formations below the corps level. The Ejército de Colombia retains a traditional Latin American organization pattern, with infantry and most other arms organized into Compañia and Batallóns or Regimientos, cavalry in Escuadrons and Regimientos, and artillery units in Baterias and Grupos, etc. The more revolutionary minded Ejércitos del Norte and del Sud, however, have adopted an organizational system based very loosely on the old Inca organization system of 10/100/1000, etc. In practice this system is one of nomenclature only, as, for instance a Waranqa (Quechua, “one thousand”) is used to describe a brigade-sized element, and the term does not reflect the unit’s total authorized manpower except in the very loosest sense. The following table summarizes ENRI nomenclature. Note that for armor, cavalry, aviation and artillery units, the counting system refers to number of vehicles, not personnel, so infantry fire teams and tank platoons are both referred to as Pichqa, the Quechua number for five. Also note that the number system may or may not literally reflect a given unit’s authorized Tables of Organization and Equipment, to say nothing of its actual day-to-day personnel or AFV strength.
Infantry Formations (Tiradors)
The basic building block of infantry
formations is the five-man Pichqa de Tiradors, typically armed primarily
with a light machinegun and a grenade launcher, with the other three personnel
carrying assault rifles, and the unit collectively carrying several Waqtana
smart-LAWs for anti-armor and bunker-busting work. Units serving in the Amazon will often substitute a combat
shotgun for one, sometimes two, of their assigned assault rifles. Units of the People’s Militia (Ejército
del Runa) nominally follow this basic pattern as well, but usually only
have the LMG or grenade launcher, rather than both, and sometimes simply have
five assault rifles. Two Pichaqkuna (plural of Pichaq)
combine to form an infantry Chunka de Tiradors of ten men, with the
senior fire-team leader being the Chunka’s overall leader. Three Chunkakuna (plural of Chunka)
combine to form an austere platoon equivalent, the Kimsa Chunka de Tiradors. The latter term literally means “30” though,
at full strength, the unit typically has 33-35 personnel, including a three-man
command element and, perhaps, a medic and a signaler. Units, however, are rarely at full strength and the “thirty”
descriptor accurately describes a well-manned Inca infantry platoon. Additional support weapons, such as
anti-tank or anti-aircraft missiles, heavy machineguns, etc., are not organic
to the Kimsa Chunka, but may be issued out by higher headquarters as
needed, either in the form of weapons systems themselves, or weapons with their
operators. Three Kimsa Chunkakuna likewise combine to form most of a Pachak (one hundred, plural Pachakuna), augmented by a ten to twenty man command element (Chunka de Comando), and a weapons platoon called a Chunka de Armas equipped with five 8cm mortars and five man-portable anti-tank missile launchers. A Pachak at full strength may actually be closer to 150 men than the 100 men suggested in the echelon’s name, but a great deal of variation is seen and most tend to run 100-120 men. A number of infantry Pachakuna combine with some support assets to form a Waranqa (one thousand). Typically, an infantry Waranqa will have ten Pachakuna subordinate (though examples of Waranqa with anywhere from seven to twelve line Pachakuna can be found), with one subunit designated as a Pachak de Cazadores and responsible for reconnaissance (this unit is organized identically to other infantry units, but personnel do receive some specialized training in reconnaissance). Additional assets at the Waranqa level include a headquarters (Pachak de Comando), logistics element (Pachak de Apoyo) and motorized transportation echelon (Pichqa Chunka de Transporte). Fire support is normally provided by a Chunka of ten heavy (12cm) mortars, another of ten heavy ATGM launchers (usually mounted on range trucks), and a Kimsa Chunka of thirty man-portable SAM systems. The Waranqa can be rather unwieldy as a tactical formation, and so the standard practice is to form multiple, task-organized subcommands, under the command of members of the Pachak de Comando. These formations are not permanent, according to ENRI doctrine, though in practice they sometimes become so. They are usually referred to as either Kimsa Pachak (three hundred – though actual organization may range from 2-5 Pachakuna, augmented with transportation, logistics, and fire support assets), or sometimes as Columna Móvil (mobile columns), a term that dates back to the revolutionary era and the organization of guerilla bands. Above the Waranqa level is the Chunka Waranqa (ten thousand), a formation of roughly division size. Composition of these units varies greatly, but usually consists of three to six infantry Waranqakuna, plus the usual range of divisional support assets, including logistical and maintenance units, UAV and signals intelligence units, engineers, medium range air defense, etc. A Pachak of howitzer and MRL artillery with six to ten ten-tube Chunkakuna normally provides fire support (fire support elements tend to be smaller in the Ejército del Norte, where much of the available artillery strength is grouped into separate brigade-sized units). Battalion-sized elements (Kimsa Chunka or Pachaq Chunka, depending on numbers) of combat walkers and/or armored vehicles are often attached as well for support. Note that Chunka Waranqakuna in the ENRI may be designated as “de Selva” (jungle), “Montaña” (mountain), or “de Runa” (Peoples’ Militia) formations, but all tend to be organized along the same lines, with the difference in nomenclature reflecting more about unit training than structure. Armor, Cavalry and Mechanized Infantry Formations (Blindados
or Tanqu) Within the Ejército del Norte and Ejército del Sud, it is notable that mechanized infantry units are organized using terminology specific to armored formations, in that the numbers referenced relate to the number of vehicles assigned, rather than personnel. This has prompted some foreign sources to describe Inca mechanized infantry as “dragoons,” though in practice such units do not function any differently than mechanized or armored infantry units elsewhere. The base unit of armor, cavalry, and mechanized infantry formations is the Pichqa of five vehicles, equivalent to a platoon in common western usage. Two Pichqa, usually with one additional command vehicle (sometimes two), form a Chunka (sometimes referred to as a Columna Blindado, another revolutionary-era term). In the case of mechanized infantry units, dismounted elements will be organized along the lines of standard infantry formations, with each mechanized Chunka generating approximately a Pachak de Tiradors. It should be noted that ENRI formations typically mix vehicles down to the Chunka level, formally, and sometimes informally within Pichqa. Above this level, there are two different organizational patterns seen. In some cases, battalion-sized formations are maintained as part of larger infantry units. In this case, Chunkakuna are organized into groups of three or five (Kimsa Chunka or Pichqa Chunka, respectively), with a logistics and maintenance support element and usually with at least a five-tube Pichqa de Morteros of 12cm mortars for fire support, sometimes a ten-tube Chunka. As the ENRI does not anticipate operating with air superiority, such units will always include a liberal provision of shoulder-fired surface to air missiles (if the vehicles lack integral air defense systems), usually one launcher per two to three vehicles. In larger armored or mechanized units, the next level of organization is the Pachak, in lieu of the Kimsa Chunka or Pichqa Chunka. The Pachak is made up of ten Chunkakuna, with Chunka-sized command, logistics, maintenance, fire support (mortars, though sometimes MRLs as well), and UAV reconnaissance components. Like the infantry Waranqa, this echelon is not especially easy to control tactically, and so usually divides into task-organized subcommands designated Kimsa Chunka. Above this level is the Kimsa Pachak, a division-sized formation that tends to be quite variable in format, typically including 3-4 Pachakuna, plus one or more infantry Waranqakuna, and the usual range of divisional support assets as described above for the infantry Chunka Waranqa. Combat Walkers (Pururauca)
Combat walkers are organized along the lines of armored and mechanized units, but the largest formation within the ENRI is the fifty ‘walker Pichqa Chunka de Pururauca . This unit has organic logistics, transport, and maintenance echelons, and sometimes will have its own five-tube mortar support (usually 8cm weapons) and one to two Kimsa Chunkakuna of infantry for local security during movement and the like. The following units in the Ejército del Norte and Ejército del Sud have organic ‘walker Pichqa Chunka units:
Ejército del Norte ·
1ro
Kimsa Pachak de Tiradors Blindado ·
2da
Chunka Waranqa Montaña ·
51ro
Chunka Waranqa de Runa “Huaorani” Ejército del Sud ·
3ra
Kimsa Pachak de Cabellería
Ejército de Antisuyu · 1ra Chunka Waranqa de Selva · 5ta Chunka Waranqa de Selva · 17ma Chunka Waranqa de Selva · 77ma Chunka Waranqa de Selva Artillery and Mortars
Indirect fire support assets are generally organized into batteries of five or ten tubes, using the armor/mechanized nomenclature system. In some cases they are organized into thirty-tube Kimsa Chunka, but most are organized into a unit approximating a divisional artillery group of a Pachak with (in theory) one hundred artillery pieces. In practice, most such units are actually equipped with about 60-80 howitzers and MRLs, some with significantly less. The units of the Ejército de Antisuyu are generally believed to have full complements of division-level artillery, however. As in the case of organization, there is a marked difference between the rank system used in Ejército de Colombia and the remainder of the ENRI, with the Colombian component retaining a fairly typical Latin American rank structure, reflecting a European influence. In the former Peruvian and Ecuadorian segments of the military, however, the rank system reflects a (largely fictitious) Inca heritage. It also reflects the revolutionary mindset of the western Inca provinces, and their neo-Marxist egalitarianism.
In the Ejército del Norte and Ejército del Sud, ranks up to brigade commanders and brigade senior NCOs are rendered in Quechua. Private soldiers are referred to by job-specific titles, or the catch all (used for all combat arms personnel) of Awqalli (solider). Various other titles include Mikaniku (mechanic), Midiku (medic), Tukachina Chuqu (signaler), Kichaq (engineer), Tekniqu (technicians and specialists), and various others. Leaders of units up to company size (Pachak, or Chunka, for artillery and armor/cavalry units) are designated as Pusaq, a Quechua term meaning “leader” or “boss.” Above that level, and up to division level, the term used is Hilaqata, another term for “leader,” though with a somewhat more important or grander connotation is used for the overall unit commander. At all levels of command beginning at the platoon-equivalents, there is an NCO of sorts, referred to as the Chapaq (“guardian”), though there is no distinction between officer and NCO ranks within the Ejército del Norte and Ejército del Sud. The Chapaq’s actual function in a unit tends to blur the line between those responsibilities normally entrusted to senior NCOs and second-in-command officers in traditional western military organizations. Each echelon, beginning at the platoon-equivalents, also has an official responsible for training and readiness of personnel, titled the Amawta (“teacher”), who is subordinate to the Pusaq/Hilaqata and the Chapaq. The Amawta is also expected to concern himself or herself with the ideological motivation of the unit, and the position is sometimes translated as “commissar” (or its equivalent), though ideological instruction is not the sole or primary mission of this individual. Additional staff personnel required at different echelons are designated as Yanapana (“assistants”), and are subordinate to the Amawta, if they function in a position of responsibility (i.e. responsible for unit quartermaster functions. Personnel not in a position of authority, such as a quartermaster’s assistant, are officially classed as Maqtakuna (“servants”), but are usually referred to by their primary specialty (Awqali, etc.). A distinct category of technicians and specialists, known as Sakri, are intermediary between the two, with limited responsibility but higher status due to technical skills. They function something like warrant officers in the US military, though without the same level of authority and autonomy.
For all the above ranks, the echelon involved precedes rank title, so, for instance, the commander of an infantry company would be a Pachak Pusaq, while the training officer for an infantry brigade would be a Waranqa Amawta. Above the divisional level (Chunka Waranqa or Kimsa Pachak), the term Curaca (an Inca term to describe a local noble or chief) is used to refer to unit commanders, though the western terms Cuerpo and Ejército are used to describe the units. Corps are commanded, by Curacas de Cuerpo (the proper plural of Curacakuna is not usually used to refer to these senior leaders) and armies by Curacas de Ejército. The chief of staff of the ENRI is the General-Jefe del Ejército Nacional de República Inca. There are also a good number of Generals de Estado-Mayor who occupy various staff positions at the corps level and higher.
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