Ventoran Navy

The  (: Armada de Ventora) is the maritime military component of the Ventoran Armed Forces. Although various naval forces existed off and on among duchies within the Kingdom of Ventora, the service's unbroken lineage stretches back to 1763 when King Pedro I established the permanent navy. Today, the navy ensures the protection of Ventoran shipping on the high seas and has responsibility for the seaborne defense of the homeland.

Ventora's navy is comparatively robust considering the size of the country, rostering about 97 vessels on the official naval fleet register. Including minor auxiliary vessels, the vessels in naval service account for more than 335000 t of total fully-loaded displacement. The navy's manpower is deceptively small, however, at 26,032 active duty personnel, including some 5,100 naval infantry. This is because the navy itself does not have many support personnel since these services are purview of the military's Logistics Corps.

Origins
The Ventoran Navy has its origins in the various armadas that put to sea on behalf of the various individual duchies before the 18th century. There was no uniformity among these fleets and many operated as privateers. In 1763, King Pedro I levied a naval tax uniformly on all the duchies in order to establish a permanent navy for the benefit of the entire kingdom. The coastal duchies that had some semblance of naval fleets were encouraged to transfer them to the kingdom by means of tax reductions. This gave King Pedro a permanent military force at little to no expense since the costs were born by the duchies.

Organization
Operationally, the navy consists of the Naval High Command under the direction of the Chief of Naval Operations. Captain-General Horacio Fabián Borja y Chavarría is the current Chief of Naval Operations. Ships are assigned either to the High Seas Fleet or the Coastal Fleet. The Naval Air Group and Naval Infantry Brigade, which consists of two naval infantry regiments, may be assigned to fleets when necessary. The Air Group typically operates with the High Seas Fleet, since that's where the navy's aviation cruiser, Florián III, is assigned. While naval infantry may operate with the High Seas Fleet, they more frequently support the Coastal Fleet in its homeland defense role.

Ships and submarines
The navy operates 59 combatant vessels and a number of auxiliary vessels and small craft that bring the total to 97 in the fleet registry. The fleet adds up to 335000 t of total fully-loaded displacement.

Aircraft
Naval aviation includes the AV-38 V/STOL attack aircraft, most of which are stationed aboard the Florián III. Some are land-based for training and reserve purposes. The other fixed-wing aircraft operated by the Navy Air Group is the PM-40 maritime patrol aircraft. This unique aircraft can land on the seas or at traditional airfields. It also has cargo and executive transport variants operated by the Logistics Corps sister service.

Rotary-wing aircraft operated by the Air Group include the attack and  and  utility helicopters.

Personnel
With 26,032 active duty members, the Navy is the second smallest service, by manpower, of the armed forces. Approximately a third of the personnel are fulfilling their obligatory service requirement. The remainder, who make up the bulk of the non-commissioned and officer ranks, are careerists. The navy has a ready reserve force of 121,712 personnel and the support of 11,350 civilian employees. An additional 497,852 inactive reservists are subject to call-up if needed

Training
As with all conscripts, new naval personnel attend 8 weeks of basic military training. Upon completion, they attend 2 weeks of naval familiarization training, and then functional training specific to their duty assignment. Course lengths for functional training vary depending on the complexities involved. Following basic military and functional training, new personnel attend the naval 8-week collective training course.

Naval non-commissioned officers (NCO) attend basic military training and then the basic leadership course. Advanced and senior NCO schools appropriate to responsibilities are offered, typically to careerists, as they advance in rank. Officer aspirants attend the officer training school. A select number of Ventoran Military Academy graduates enter the naval officer corps and attend the naval familiarization course. Training for officer aspirants, including those from the Military Academy, culminates in a semester aboard the training ship Diego Ruy Cantú. All naval officers also complete basic, advanced, and senior officer schools as they advance during their careers.

Pilot candidates including seaplane and carrier-based aircraft, must attend officer and flight school training totaling 270 days. Carrier-based pilots must also complete an additional 90 days of carrier aircraft training. Because of the complexity of training, naval pilots must agree to a total obligation of 4 years of active duty and 4 years of ready reserve service.

Uniforms
The standard field uniform is the typical day-to-day uniform for all services of the Ventoran armed forces. It consists of a top, trousers, and cap in a woodland digital camouflage pattern which works well throughout southwestern Alutra. The design is the same for all ranks and for males and females. Navy personnel typically wear this uniform at naval installations or when assigned to land service.

Aboard ship, naval personnel usually wear the navy utility uniform. It is a cover-all type uniform with a cap in dark gray in the same style for all ranks and both male and female personnel. Another frequent use for the utility uniform is technical work in shops and service facilities.

For dress occasions, the navy dress uniform consists of navy blue trousers, tunic, and peaked cap. Ribbons representing medals awarded to the wearer are worn on the left breast of the tunic. The trousers may be worn with a light blue shirt, with or without a tie, and no tunic as a duty uniform when designated by the commander. For more formal occasions, the dress uniform is worn with a belt, white shirt, and medals awarded the wearer. For officers, the cap strap and belt are gold brocade. The overall style is the same for both males and females, but the cut is slightly different to present a more appropriate professional appearance.

Navy blue rank epaulettes on both shoulders designate the wearer's rank on all navy uniforms. A nametape in material matching the uniform displays the wearer's last name on the left breast of the utility and field uniforms. A patch representing the flag of Ventora is displayed on the left shoulder of the field and utility uniforms.

Ranks and insignia
The following charts show Ventoran Navy ranks and insignia.