Ed Island Army

Ed Island Army
EIA
EIA Balkenkreuz
War Ensign of the EIA
Military overview
Formed	1726
Anthem	Königgrätzer Marsch
Jurisdiction	Ed Island and her colonies
Headquarters	Heer Ministry, Bridgestadt.
Child agencies	Bloodstone Brigade Snowjave Rangers Wulfen Heer Glawus Defense Force Droid Corps

The Ed Island Army is Ed Island's primary ground force. The EIA is not as large as the other military branches, due to Ed Island's status as an island promoting naval and aerial combat. Despite this, the EIA receives the same ample funding as the other branches.

History

The Ed Island Army can trace many of its roots back to the army of the Kingdom of Acheros, which originated from the first Ed Islandians to fight back against the Puffish troops in 1724 with advanced breech-loading snowball muskets. When the Ed States united to form Imperial Ed Island, the armies of the other states were united with Acheros' to the Imperial Army, or Reichswehr. Each of the states possessed their own uniforms and ranks, but were tied to that of the Acherosian Army.

Throughout the 19th century, Ed Island became known for its vast developments in small-arms technology. While breech-loading firearms were still used in large numbers by the Reichswehr, as well as muzzle-loading firearms by the vast majority of Antarctica, a new rifle was adopted in 1854 that fired metallic cartridges. The Gewehr 54, which was operated by a lever action in the trigger guard to open the breech, is widely considered to be the first cartridge-firing rifle adopted by a national military. In 1860, the rifle was improved to create the Gewehr 54/60, which added a seven-round magazine in the stock operated by the lever-action. While not the first of its kind, the Gewehr 54/60 was used to great effect during the Comona Campaign when the then-Frankterran Comona Islands were invaded and taken over by Ed Island. The merits of superior capacity were shown when the seven-round Gewehr 54/60 could outgun the single-shot Gras used by Frankterran soldiers.

When Imperial Ed Island was dissolved and the Republic of Ed Island formed in 1914, the Acherosian Army played an even less significant role in the new Ed Island Army. The uniforms and ranking systems were standardized across Ed Island into an early form of the system used today. After the Wulfen War and the defeat of the Neumenian Reich, the modern Ed Island Army was formed through the merge of the EIA with remnants of the Wulfen Heer.

Divisions

See also: Ranks and Insignia of the Ed Island Army

Division Types
Name	Role	Description
Infantry	Foot-soldiers	The most basic role for soldiers in the EIA, making up the majority of the armed forces. Infantry soldiers primarily carry the StG-3 or K46 rifles.
Gunner	Machine gun operators	Gunners primarily use the MG 10 or MStg-3 for suppressing or defensive cover.
Grenadier	Explosive ordinance	Grenadiers utilize explosives on the battlefield, including grenades, rocket launchers, mortars, and other such weapons.
Stormtrooper	CQC	Vastly different than Snowzerland's Stormtroopers, Ed Islandian Stormtroopers are equipped to invade enemy trenches and fortifications. Stormtroopers wear plate armor made of composite steel and are armed with shotguns or SMGs to quickly dispatch enemies.
Jump troopers	Specialized infantry	Soldiers equipped with jetpacks to aid in scaling buildings or rock formations. Not to be confused with the EIAF's Fallshirmjäger branch, who sometimes also use jetpacks.
Mechanized Cavalry	Heavy weapons support	Military personnel fitted with advanced power armor, Cavalry units are effectively one-man tanks. Their armor allows soldiers to take extreme amounts of damage and lift super-penguin weights, but its bulky appearance causes the armor to be slow and unwieldy. Cavalry units often carry laser weaponry or miniguns, making effective use of the lifting capabilities of the armor.

Weaponry

The EIA contracts four primary weapon manufacturers for their small arms; Empire Arms, Waffenfabrik Acher, Arms Matériel, and Broughton. Unlike other SATO members, Ed Island did not standardize their weapon calibers and magazines to 5.56x45mm and 7.62x51 SATO like other members, preferring to use 7.92x57mm and 8mm Kurz. Non-standard branches of the EIA, such as the Snowjave Rangers and SF, do however utilize SATO cartridges and STANAG magazines that are produced locally.

Ed Island is one of the few countries to utilize shotguns in warfare, utilizing them in trench raiding and close-quarters combat. Modern shotguns such as the StF-12 typically fire solid slug shot, whereas previous shotguns such as the F95 shotgun converted from Puffish single-shot rifles have smoothbore barrels that fire 'trench grade' pellet ammunition. Several nations in Antarctica, most notably Snowzerland and the United Provinces, protest Ed Island's use of shotguns in warfare while stating them to be 'needlessly violent' and 'barbaric' and have attempted to have them banned by international law.

Designation	Role	Cartridge	Description
Handguns and Sidearms
P09	Officer sidearm	9x19mm	Utilized by officers, the P09 is a Snoss-designed firearm famed for its accuracy and sleek design. It is not uncommon for honored soldiers to be awarded with a specially engraved P09 as a reward for their exceptional service. Outside of the military, the P09 is an extremely popular handgun among the civilian market due to its extensive history and military use.
M1920	Sidearm	.45 Auto	A conventional handgun designed to be produced cheap enough to issue to all soldiers. It was chosen over its competitor, the P20, for its all-metal construction and large-diameter cartridge.
Rifles and shotguns
G46 K46	Battle rifle	7.92×57mm	The Gewehr 46 is a semi-automatic rifle designed in 1945 to replace the Gewehr 26. It is operated using a short-stroke gas piston system, and fires standard 8mm cartridges from a 15-round detachable magazine. The Karabiner 46 is a shortened variant of the G46 with a double-stack 20-round magazine and flash hider. The K46 has replaced the G46 in all areas other than as a precision rifle.
StF-12	Shotgun	12-Gauge	The Sturmflinte-12 is a 12-gauge semi-automatic shotgun patterned after the StG-3 system of weapons. The shotgun closely resembles a standard StG-3 with a gas port adjustment sight and muzzle break, and is fed from a 6-round box magazine or an 18-round drum. StFs are equipped with smoothbore barrels, and thus can utilize either slug shot or "trench grade" ammunition consisting of nine 00-shot pellets.
KBG-17	Laser rifle	Fusion cell	Replacing the AER9 rifle, the Kugelblitzgewehr-17 is a directed-energy weapon superficially resembling the StG-3. More compact than the AER9, the KBG-17 is being issued in small numbers to specialized troops within the EIA. The rifle is fed from a fusion cell 'magazine' that can be replaced to recharge the weapon.
Assault Rifles and Submachine guns
StG-3 StG-3NL	Assault Rifle	7.92×33mm 'Kurz'	The Sturmgewehr-3 is the standard-issue assault rifle of the EIA. Designed as a highly variable weapon, the StG-3 can utilize a large variety of modifications; these include bayonets, grenade launchers (both rifle-grenade and under slung), optics, folding stocks, and many more developed both by the EIA and civilian contractors. A non-lethal variant of the rifle known as the StG-3NL is distinguished by its blue barrel and magazine, and is primarily used by soldiers onboard warships or FOB platforms.
StG-16	Assault Rifle	7.92x33 'Kurz'	A redesigned sturmgewehr with a new bolt design, iron sights, and a stacking swivel replacing the gas expansion chamber of the StG-3. Externally, the StG-16 is interchangeable with over 70% of parts with the StG-3, due to it retaining the same trigger group, stock, and other similar features. It is currently replacing the StG-3 in small numbers, and is expected to completely replace it in large numbers by 2018.
StKb-3 StKb-3M StKb-3P	Assault Carbine	7.92x33 'Kurz' 9x19mm	The Sturmkarabiner-3 is a carbine variant of the StG-3, with a shortened barrel length and handguard. They are mainly issued to guards and tank crews who would be hindered by a full-length rifle.
MP 02 MP RIOT	Submachine gun	9x19mm .45 Auto	A small open-bolt submachine gun used by Stormtroopers and paratroopers. The MP 02's lightweight design allows it to be carried as a compact sidearm while providing a high rate-of-fire. A non-lethal variant known as the MP RIOT is utilized by soldiers onboard warships and FOBs.
Sniper Rifles
G46ZF	Sniper Rifle	7.92x57mm	A variant of the G46 with a rail for a telescopic optic, bipod, and K46-style flash hider.
K89k G77 G77TP	Bolt-Action Rifle	7.92×57mm	While removed from active service in 2008, the Karabiner 89 Kurz continued service in the EIA as designated marksman rifles. The K89k has been increasingly replaced by the Gewehr 77, which is essentially a K98A1 with a shortened handguard and telescopic sight. A non-lethal variant of the G77 is in use with the designation of G77TP, converted to fire tranquilizer rounds.
Machine Guns
MStG-3	Light machine gun	7.92×33mm 'Kurz'	A squad support weapon based on the StG-3 design with a hardened receiver and heavier barrel. The MStG-3 is also sometimes outfitted with drum magazines or folding stocks and are used by Jump Troopers and the EIAF Fallshirmjäger divisions.
MG 10	Machine gun	7.92×57mm	A belt- or box magazine-fed machine gun used primarily for fortification and defense. Often supplemented by the MStG-3 in combat. The MG 10 was designed with the concept of "walking firing" in mind, with soldiers being able carry and fire the MG 10 with little more effort than a regular rifle.
Heavy Weapons
RPzB 88	Rocket launcher	88mm rocket	The RPzB 88 (Raketenpanzerbüchse) is an anti-tank rocket launcher designed to be able to launch a large variety of warheads, including HEAT, fragmentation, thermobaric, and other specialized explosives. Many variants of the Panserschreck are equipped with a blast shield to protect the user while aiming the weapon.
PzB 95	Anti-materiel	20mm	The Panzerbüchse 95 is a semi-automatic precision rifle utilized as an anti-materiel and anti-aircraft rifle. Fed from a six-round magazine, it is extremely unwieldy and requires two penguins to carry effectively. Some variants were converted to fully-automatic fire and used on mounts as anti-aircraft rifles fed from extended 12-round magazines.
Other
Bladed Weaponry	Close-quarters	N/A	Various bladed weapons used by the EIA including the M1921 trench knife, the standard M1889-pattern bayonet, and dress bayonet.
M2008 Keysaber	Close-quarters	N/A	The EIA variant of the famous Keysaber invented in Ed Island in 1998. While newer models have been introduced and utilized by small portions of the military, the M2008 pattern remains the standard but is set to be replaced by the Type-1 Energy Keysaber by 2020.

Vehicles

Vehicles are typically painted in grey, green, or tan paint. Unlike the Dot-24 camo used by footsoldiers, vehicles typically use the Antarctican Woodland or Desert Tan colors which were found to be well-suited for

Name	Role	Description
Tanks
Pz. Kpfw VIII Puffle I	Super-Heavy Tank	A super-heavy tank, the 'Puffle I' is known for its devastating firepower and reputation as a "mobile bunker." The sheer weight of the tank's armor puts a heavy strain on the drive train, causing the tank to be extremely slow and vulnerable to sustained fire.
SPAA
Cars and Trucks
Other Vehicles
Walker Gear	Bipedal walker	Designed for more conventional anti-infantry/anti-vehicle combat use, EIA-WG 'Walker Gears' are capable of bipedal movement for greater maneuverability on rough terrain or can fold up and move on wheels for greater speeds on flat terrain. They can be loaded up with different types of heavy weaponry such as gatling guns, missile launchers, tesla dischargers, or large heavy-lifting arms. Additionally, Walker Gears possess two small arms that fold up into the chassis that can hold handguns or other small arms.
ST-84	Bipedal Weapon System	The latest bipedal 'mecha' developed from Bloodstonian robotics technology, ST-84 is capable of a fully-upright stance in addition to a hunched-over pose of its predecessors. ST-84 is equipped with a railgun capable of firing ICBM warheads, close-range rotary cannons, numerous rockets and explosives, and a nano fiber sword used for melee attacks.
Power Armor
T-45 T-60	Power Armor	The first model of power armor used by the EIA, the T-45 was revolutionary for its abilities to shield the occupant from most harm. While no longer used as front-line armor, many suits of T-45 armor were converted to use the T-51's endoskeleton and were designated T-60.
T-51	Power Armor	The T-51 power armor was designed to augment the abilities of its user in addition to its near-invulnerability. While T-45 armor was little more than powered plate armor, T-51 was built upon a large hydraulic frame that the user operates from within. This frame continues to be used by later models of power armor such as the T-60 and X-01. Unlike the T-45, which had no internal power supply, T-51 is powered by fusion cores inserted into the back of the armor.
X-01	Power Armor	Representing the pinnacle of power armor technology, X-01 armor is constructed using lightweight alloys and ceramics in order to be lighter than its predecessors while being more resistant to damage. The X-01 is powered by fusion cores, but some models are fitted with prototype micro nuclear reactors.

Gallery

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  A soldier of the EIA

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  A soldier wearing Dot-24 Camo

See Also

• Ed Island
• Ed Island Air Force
• Ed Island Navy
• Ed Island Space Command

Ed Island