Fröhlichwaffe

Fröhlichwaffe
Flag of the Fröhlichwaffe
Active	8 July 2018 - 19 June 2019 346 days
Headquarters	Les Paddocks

The original Fröhlichwaffe logo, based upon the RAF logo.

Basic original Fröhlichwaffe logo, which was used on all Essexian military aircraft.

Fröhlichwaffe original Low Visibility Logo.

The Fröhlichwaffe was the former air force of Essexia. On the 17th June 2019, at the Danbury Conference, it was decided that the Fröhlichwaffe would be divided into a Fleet Air Arm and Army Air Arm. In a defence review headed by Jacob M on the 19th July 2020, it was decided to merge all Essexian military air assets into the Imperial Essexian Navy as the Fleet Air Arm, including the Scuffling Seaxes.

History

The Fröhlichwaffe was established on the 8th of July 2018, when Earl Jack was contracted by Emperor Terry to construct an aerial vehicle for the protection of Essexia. The result was the R/C-01 'Pelican', which couldn't fly, and was a hand-built glider. The only example of an Essexian-built active service air vehicle is the H-1 Hummingbird, a utility helicopter developed on the 1st May 2019. The Fröhlichwaffe's name roughly translates to "Cheerful Weapons", or "Cheerful Air".

Squadrons were introduced on the 1st May 2019, when the H-1 Hummingbird was put into active service. It was given '1st Helicopter Squadron', leaving the F-1 and F-2 to be placed in '2nd Attack Squadron'.

X-1 Pelican

The R/C-01 'Pelican' was a hand-crafted glider built by Earl Jack for Emperor Terry, however it has never left testing due to its inability to glide or fly.

F-1 Raptor

A radio defence vehicle ordered by Lord Jack for the fröhlichwaffe. It has the ability to vertically take off and land, and is carrier-capable.

F-2 Sea Bear

A radio defence vehicle ordered by Earl Jack for the fröhlichwaffe. It has the ability to fly at relatively fast speeds horizontally, and is carrier capable. On the 27th of August 2018, the REQ Jaywick super carrier was fitted with a ski ramp to allow the R/C-03 'Bear' to successfully take off from the carrier for the first time.

H-1 Hummingbird

The H-1 'Hummingbird' was Essexia's first home-made aircraft to see active service. It served in the 1st Helicopter Squadron on board the REC Jaywick during 2019 before being scrapped due to a lack of maintenance.

X-2 Gull

Planned to be a test bed for future domestic aircraft technologies, the X-2 Gull was being designed by Earl Jack when the air force was dissolved.

Trivia

• This branch of the Essexian armed forces was operational for 11 months and 11 days, a coincidental homage to 11/11 armistice of World War 1.