Margate Armed Forces

The Republic of Margate Armed Forces, usually known as the Margate Armed Forces and locally known as the MAF, is the military of the archipelago nation Margate. Formed in 2013 following the reorganisation of the Margate Defence Forces (MDF), it is one of the most powerful militaries in Antarctica, ranked tenth in the Military Strength of Antarctica list. Noted for its relatively advanced military technologies, compulsory two-year military service for all citizens (regardless of ethnicity, gender and species) and a specialisation in urban warfare and tropical guerrilla fighting, the MAF stands as a force to be reckoned with, and is one of the pillars of Margate's power projection on the Antarctic stage.

The MAF is split into five major services - Army (MAR), Navy (RMN), Air Force (RMAF), Military Space Command (MSC) and the Strategic Research Administration (SRA) and an autonomous anti-terrorism and reconnaissance agency, the Special Branch (MSB). It currently employs 1.1 million personnel, with an additional 7 million in reserve.

History
In 1965, after the nation's independence, the Sherbians, their former colonial masters, announced that they were going to pull out the military from Margate in 1971. Shocked, Lee Kun You, then Prime Minister, arranged a meeting with his ministers and Sherbian military officers. The growing nation had 5 million penguins on about roughly 4000 square kilometres of land, and already many Ninja Archipelagoan nations were eyeing the new nation, in particular Castilla and Puffle'and due to the island's strategic location.

Recognizing that the threat from imperialistic nations was imminent, Kuan You consulted with the Defence Minister of Sherby. After rounds of negotiations, it was decided that to face up to stronger militaries and at the same time allow for strong economic growth by getting penguins to be employed by the foreign companies that set up factories here, it was decided that a citizen army would be created, with another 50,000 penguins serving full time. Amid backlash from angry male citizens who wanted to continue Junior College Education, the entry age would be raised from 16 to 18 and the men would serve two and a half years of service, along with two weeks of training (known as Reservist Training) every year until they turned forty years of age.

Infantry regiments were built up and equipped with the latest weapons and a number of state-of-the art tanks and other war machines were procured from Sherby, Frankterre, Puffle'and and Castilla. The military, named the Margate Defence Vanguard (MDV) was for solely defence purposes, and they invested heavily in training troops for jungle and guerrilla warfare in addition to Fighting in Built Up Areas (FIBUA)

In its early years, the MDV conducted joint-military exercises with other nations, including South Joseon, Austiceia, UnitedTerra and Sherby, as well as conduct humanitarian aid relief efforts. It was a time of peace, as any war affecting the small nation would cause part of the continent's economy to collapse, as prior to the ASTRO, 95% of trade by shipping went through the nation.

However, the army was activated in 2003, when Sherby, under communist rule, attempted to take over Margate. Trade was disrupted, and as the small army was overwhelmed by the superior Sherbian forces (many had also defected to other nations), the USA and Freezeland stepped in to help, and the war concluded in 2004. Recognizing the need to upgrade, the military went through a complete overhaul, with recruits and servicemen being restricted to leave the country and increased funding being given. This allowed the nation to jump in rank quickly in the Military Strength of Antarctica list.

Army
The Army, responsible for ground operations, consists of over 1,000,000 active troops. While this number is relatively small compared to other nations, another 2,400,000 can be drawn from reserve, however they are rarely called up as their primary purpose is for homeland defense. Troops are further divided into six fields of operation, which are Armoury, Artillery, Infantry, Logistics (communications and engineering), Combat Support and Special Forces, which the elite Nexonan Corps and the Exoarmoured Squadron come under. Active personnel are trained in offensive strategies and are usually used for most operations, including invasion and enacting martial law if need be. The Reserve Army comprise of regular male civilians aged 20 to 40 who are fit for service. Unlike most other nations, the draftees are properly trained as all of them would have gone through National Service at the age of 19. However, the Reserve Army has only been called out once, during the Sherby Hoodwounds War in 2003, when the reserves then formed the bulk of personnel, as drafting all of them out would cost the trade, manufacturing and services-reliant economy of Margate to suffer a huge blow.

The equipment used is both locally manufactured and purchased from other nations, including the USA, Great Permatan, Rusca and Shops Island. Most f this equipment is very new, as the MDV's equipment was mostly scrapped and sent to be reused to construct new equipment and the Rearmament Program doubled or even tripled the numbers of certain equipment types. The MAF is reliant on a few classes of equipment for efficiency, using two primary types of tanks, and a single primary class of artillery. These are, and will be, phased out when much more superior technology comes around and these existing equipment can no longer match new ones. The equipment, along with the uniform, has a standard colour of dark blue. Army bases which house the equipment and active corps, numbering roughly 30 in the homeland and 5 overseas, are scattered around major population centres for easy access, although a significant number is located in Nexon.

Nexonan Corps
The Nexonan Corps is a special force in the MAF which only accepts Nexonan Penguins as members. This is due to the fact that it's almost impossible for ordinary penguins (even athletes) to complete the brutal and harsh training that only the strength and agility enhanced subspecies could. These trainings moulded them into aggressive and disciplined soldiers who will fight to the end. The Corps are armed with the best weapons in the Margatian arsenal. There are currently around 100,000 soldiers in the Nexonan Corps, who are unknowingly brainwashed by the New Order government via implanting inhibitor chips into their brains. Surviving clone soldiers of the High Empire of Nexon made up the bulk of the Corps, which made them very dangerous as they possess combat experience from fighting in the Fall of Nexon and the Plague War. As a term for amnesty, the offsprings of these ex-clone soldiers have to join the Nexonan Corps. The Corps also get it's pool of cadres from Nexonan orphans living in state-operated foster homes.

Exoarmoured Squadron
The Exoarmoured Squadron is yet another special force in the MAF. Candidates who want to enlist have to undergo both army and Air Force training since they are given control of one of the SRA's most powerful weapon - the Mark X Combat Armour. The iron suit is capable of flight of up to 75 meter and deflecting damage from bullets and conventional explosives such as grenades and rockets. Aside from that, the wearer can fire laser bolts from the armour's palms. A uni-beam projection gun is also fitted on the chest plate, which fires a charge of destructive energy against a hostile force. The armour is also equipped with two Keysabers on each wrist (which could be deployed anytime the wearer engaged in close combat), two rocket launchers on the shoulders (each with an ammunition of 15 rockets) and finally a plasma carbine rifle at the back of the armour. The armour is quick and versatile unlike the Ed Island Army's power suits, although it isn't as protective. Around 35,000 are built as of May 2016.

Navy
The MAF Navy, headed by Supreme Admiral Chris Tang, is responsible for all operations on water, including coastal guard and search-and-rescue duties. Being an island nation, Margate initially invested heavily in its navy, and today possess one of the larger and more powerful naval fleets in Antarctica, with approximately 900 ships, with 750,000 active personnel, and the ability to conscript another 400,000. The equipment used is largely manufactured in a range of countries including USA, South Joseon, Great Permatan and Shops Island, with locally-produced equipment accounting for a small minority. In recent years the Navy has also expanded considerably to combat growing international threats and to secure the nation's interests, doubling in number after the events of the Puffalian-Western War and as such Margate has a relatively young and advanced fleet.

Warships and frigates, along with all ships allocated to military duties, form the bulk of the fleet at 700 ships, and are labelled with the prefix MG. These include a small but growing fleet of 15 aircraft carriers and 70 submarines, the bulk of which are recent additions. The Coastal Guard division is much smaller, although military-class vessels do aid with civilian duties during peacetime. The majority of this fleet is based in the homeland, spread across 10 large naval bases, of which the majority are located in Nexon. The MAF Navy, however only has 3 overseas bases located on Aerius Island, V2V Island and the Soloraya Archipelago, and thus relies on its Western Union and SATO allies for use of their naval bases during overseas operations.

Air Force
Led by Supreme Commander Natasha Ling, the MAF Air Force deals with aerial operations, including the use of the MAF's misile defense system and Previously the smallest division of the MDV just a few years ago, it has since expanded rapidly alongside the rest of the MAF following the events of the Fall of Nexon. 750,000 men, as well as 400,000 in reserve, operate the aircraft and missiles which number roughly 20,000 and 200 respectively. The fleet is mostly brand new and equipped with the latest technologies known to Margate, manufactured in nations such as Castilla, USA and Shops Island. A significant portion of the fleet is also Margatian-developed and manufactured. The Air Force assists the Navy in search-and-rescue operations at sea during peacetime as well in addition to defending the airspace above Margatian territories.

Weapons of Mass Destruction
The Margatian Armed Forces have denounced and condemned the uses of biochemical and nuclear weapons numerous times. However, it is neutral regarding the use of Squarium and Porcyal weapons.