Calinthian People's Army

Calinthian People's Army Gothic: Kalinthische Volksarmee
Coat of Arms of the People's Republic of Calinthia
Motto	Für Gott und die Einheit der Arbeiter (For God and Unity of the Workers)
Founded	Founded in 1942.
Current form	Military Besserung of 1944
Headquarters	Spesnova, Calinthia
Leadership
Grand General	Siegmund Goering
Minister of Defense	General of the Military Friedrich von Guder
Manpower
Military age	18
Conscription	Yes, mandatory for males and females.
Active personnel	1,263,138 military & 219,114 civilian (1978)
Reserve personnel	At any time, 2,000,000 reservists could be called upon
Industry
Domestic suppliers	Bralonia •
Foreign suppliers	Yonderre
Related articles
History	Military history of Calinthia
Ranks	Ranks and insignia of the Calinthian People's Army

The Calinthian People's Army (KVA) is the military of the People's Republic of Calinthia. Gothic: "Volksrepublik Kalinthische"

History

Main article: Military history of Calinthia

The history of the Calinthian People's Army dates back to the creation of the People's Republic of Calinthia (PRC) in 1942. The Calinthian People's Army was raised to defend the goals of the Calinthian Communist Party in establishing a Soviet State during the Calinthian Civil War. The Calinthian Civil War would rage for six years and would see the KVA fight against Republican Guard Forces and Loyalist Forces.

The Communist uprisings on the Western territories of Calinthia by mainly Gothic Calinthians resulted in Republican Guard Forces being stretched thin. At first the Communist Calinthians and Loyalist Calinthians would openly fight one another in many minor skirmishes in the North. However, by late 1937 the Communist Calinthians under General Secretary of the Communist Party Siegmund Goering (1901 - 1991) would ally themselves with the Loyalists against the Republican Guard Forces. With Communist forces in the West and Loyalists in the East, the Republican Guard quickly found themselves on the back-foot. By early 1940, Republican Guard Forces prepared a hastily built defense around Aurelia and struggled to maintain their supply lines from the port of Napolis. Constant air attacks by the superior Loyalist air force rendered many of the railroads inoperable. In addition, the mechanized Communist assaults using a tactic called "Schwerpunkt" penetrated deep into Republican Guard lines, cutting supply lines. The tactic was an adaptation of the Urcean "lightning war" tactic developed by Benno de Caryale. It was adapted and implemented by the Calinthian People's Army under the command of General Friedrich von Guder (1910 - 1994) a graduate of the Urcean Imperial War College and student of de Caryale's tactics.

A BT-51 of the Calinthian People's Army in the city streets of Spesnova (1951)

BT-56 Logistical Support Vehicles traversing mud around Karlsplatz (1956)

The Calinthian Civil War resulted in the dissolution of the Republic of Calinthia and it's military in 1942. Following the collapse of the Republic of Calinthia, Gothic Calinthians formalized their new state through the creation of the Communist State of Calinthia. In 1944, the Calinthian People's Army would undergo reformations to strengthen the military might of the PRC. These reformations were the Military Besserung of 1944.

Tactics & Strategy

Since the Military Besserung of 1944, KVA ground tactics consists of large mechanized and armoured assaults with supporting artillery using the Calinthian strategy of 'Manöververteidigung' (maneuver defense). In Maneuver Defense, Calinthian forces dig entrenched forward positions in such a way that they can easily fall back while under the cover of other nearby friendly positions. When the KVA go on the offensive, they do so slowly and methodically, building entrenchments, forward operating bases, and solidifying logistical lines. In addition, a strong reliance on tanks, mobile infantry, as well as mass artillery mean that no unit has a high likelihood of being unsupported at any given time. However, in exchange for survivability and time, KVA forces relinquish land and even fortified positions. This means most KVA units choose to retreat to better positions rather than stay and fight to the death. However, some generals will give or be given the order to hold their positions in a static defense such as at the Battle of Wagner Platz. Most Calinthian equipment represents this strategy and preference of long range engagements. KVA general Hannelore von Klaive was the first to formalize the concept of maneuver defense against loyalists in the Calinthian Civil War.

Equipment

Main article: List of equipment of the Calinthian People's Army

All numbers are approximate and as per the Calinthian People's Army own statistics from the People's Republic of Calinthia report of 2001.

Equipment	Numbers	Notes
Main Battle Tanks	6,121
APCs/IFVs/Scout Cars	11,613	Mostly BM-52s, BM-62s, and BT-51s.
Utility Vehicles	3,111
Trucks	612
Towed Artillery	14,689
MLRS	912
Fighter Aircraft	114	Land deployment only
Bomber Aircraft	346	Land deployment only
Transport Helicopters	189	Most are AMS-68 imported from Yonderre
Attack Helicopters	123	Most are AMS-72 imported from Yonderre
Amphibious Assault Vehicles	4,896	Mostly BT-51s, and BT-62s

BM-62 at a training camp in Spesnova (1973)

Gallery

• 
  KVA Blumentarn camo uniform and wool Kopfschützer in Spesnova National Heritage Museum
• 
  BT-56 equipped with a BSG-3
• 
  KVA soldiers advancing on Loyalist positions around Karlsplatz (1956)

Notes

Calinthian People's Army had direct control over the Air Force wing of the Calinthian People's Military.