Die Kaiserliche Marine¶
The Imperial Navy of the Kaiserreich (Die Kaiserliche Marine) is the empire's seagoing service. 220,050 active personnel + 123,150 trained reservists, including the Naval Air Arm. The empire's principal naval base is at Königswasser Naval Base on the Hesperian Ocean; the Königswasser Werften shipyards build every class in service. Secondary bases at Süderhafen and Nordheim cover the empire's northern coastline.
Doctrine¶
Under the 1998 reorganization the Kaiserliche Marine transitioned from a green-water sea-control navy to a carrier-led blue-water coalition force. Its principal missions are:
- Carrier strike group operations — power projection from KMS Kaiser as the OFBN alliance's only large-deck carrier
- Securing the Hesperian Ocean tanker routes — the empire's strategic energy import dependency makes this the Marine's defining mission
- Contesting Thumbrian and UTSR naval operations in the Hesperian and northern Aegiran Seas
- Joint operations with OFBN naval partners under the OFBN Joint Naval Command
- Strategic amphibious lift for the Marineinfanterie via the Amphibische Flottille
- Sea-based ASW + maritime patrol — Type 212CD AIP submarines + P-8I Poseidon land-based MPA
Force structure¶
The Marine is organized into operational and functional commands under Marinekommando Königswasser (Fleet Command):
Operational squadrons¶
| Formation | Composition | Mission |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Trägergruppe 'Reichsadler' | KMS Kaiser + 2 Königsmark-class CGs + 4 Eisengau-class DDGs + AOE + air wing | Carrier strike group — apex naval force. OFBN coalition flagship. |
| 1. Geschwader (Nordlich) | 4 Königsmark-class FFGs + 3 Falkenfels-class FS | Northern surface squadron — Boreal Coast / Hesperian patrol. |
| 2. Geschwader (Östlich) | 2 Eisengau-class DDGs + 2 FFGs + 2 FS | Eastern surface squadron — Aegiran Sea coverage + amphib escort. |
| U-Boot-Flottille | 2 SSN + 6 Type 212CD AIP | Submarine flotilla — homeport Königswasser. |
| Amphibische Flottille | 2 LHD + 2 LPD + 2 LST | Strategic sealift for the Marineinfanterie. |
Aviation + functional commands¶
- Kaiserliche Marineflieger (Naval Aviation Command):
- Marinefliegergeschwader 1 — P-8I Poseidon (2 squadrons land-based MPA)
- Marinefliegergeschwader 2 — NH-90 NFH ASW + utility helos (2 squadrons)
- Marinefliegergeschwader 3 — F/A-18E Super Hornet (land-based naval strike)
- Carrier air wing aboard KMS Kaiser — F-35C, F/A-18E, E-2D, EA-18G, NH-90 NFH
- Minenkriegsflottille — Nordhafen-class MHC + Tieffeld-class MCMV
- Kommando Küstenverteidigung — coastal anti-ship missile batteries (RBS-15 Mk4 Gungnir) + coastal radar
- Versorgungskommando — replenishment and fleet logistics
Principal vessels¶
Carrier¶
KMS Kaiser (CV-01) — Kaiser-class fleet carrier. Approximately 75,000 tonnes displacement; conventionally powered (steam catapults, no nuclear plant — the empire is Protocols-compliant); ski-jump-omitted CATOBAR design enabling F-35C and Super Hornet operation. Air wing typically embarks:
- 1 Staffel F-35C (12 aircraft)
- 1 Staffel F/A-18E (12 aircraft)
- 1 Staffel E-2D (4 aircraft)
- 1 Staffel NH-90 NFH (6 helos)
- 1 Staffel EA-18G (4 aircraft)
Built at Königswasser Werften over a 9-year program; commissioned 2019. The Kaiserreich's only fleet carrier and the OFBN alliance's only large-deck carrier.
Surface combatants¶
| Class | Type | Hulls | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Königsmark-class | Cruiser (CG) | 2 (CG-01, CG-02) | KMS Kaiserin, KMS Prinzregent. Aegis-equivalent air-defense ships, escort the carrier. |
| Eisengau-class | Destroyer (DDG) | 6 (DDG-11 through DDG-16) | F125-derived; Mk 41 VLS, Naval Strike Missile, ASW + AAW capable. |
| Königsmark-class FFG | Frigate (FFG) | 6 (FFG-21 through FFG-26) | F126-derived. General-purpose escort; ASW-strong. |
| Falkenfels-class | Corvette (FS) | 5 (FS-31 through FS-35) | Coastal / littoral combatant. RBS-15 anti-ship. |
Submarines¶
| Class | Type | Hulls | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drachenhort-class | SSN | 2 (SSN-01, SSN-02) | Nuclear-powered attack submarines — domestic LKR design, peer-power signal. KMS U-21, KMS U-22. |
| Type 212CD | SSK | 6 (SSK-11 through SSK-16) | Modern AIP-equipped conventional SSKs. Standard OFBN submarine pattern. |
Amphibious¶
| Class | Type | Hulls | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blutfeld-class | LHD | 2 (LHD-01, LHD-02) | KMS Blutfeld, KMS Hochsee. ~30,000-tonne amphibious assault ships with 6-spot flight deck + well deck. Each lifts a Marine Battalion Landing Team. |
| Königsbrücke-class | LPD | 2 (LPD-11, LPD-12) | KMS Königsbrücke, KMS Strommund. Dock landing ships, complement the LHDs. |
| Tiefland-class | LST | 2 (LST-21, LST-22) | KMS Tiefland, KMS Eisenberg. Direct-beach armor lift. |
Coastal defense¶
- 2 Küstenflugkörperbataillone (RBS-15 Mk4 Gungnir) — anti-ship batteries at Königswasser approaches and Eastern coast
- 1 Küstenradarbataillon — coastal surveillance
Bases¶
- Königswasser Naval Base — Fleet HQ. Homeport for the carrier group, all surface combatants, all submarines, the amphibious flottille.
- Königswasser NAS — Naval air station. Marineflieger MPA + utility squadrons.
- Königswasser Werften — naval shipyards. Build every class in service, plus export hulls.
- Königswasser Handelshafen — civilian commercial port (Continuation War Turn 0: 50% damaged after limited Aegiran reprisal strikes).
- Süderhafen, Nordheim — secondary naval bases (not currently mapped in Turn 0 OOB).
Continuation War status (Turn 0)¶
- 1. Trägergruppe has been forward-deployed in the Aegiran Sea since the Continuation War's opening, conducting blockade and coalition-strike-support operations. KMS Kaiser has not been damaged in combat.
- The U-Boot-Flottille has deployed 4 of 8 boats forward; 1 conventional SSK (KMS U-33) is operating in the northern Volnian SLOC.
- Königswasser Handelshafen sustained 50% damage from a Volnian reprisal cruise-missile strike in August 2026; operational but at degraded capacity.
- Marine ammunition stocks are in better shape than primary belligerents — convoy escort tempo is high but kinetic engagement has been limited.