Hanslandic Armed Forces

Hanslandic Armed Forces
Forces armées hanslandaises
Emblem of the Hanslandic Armed Forces
Flag of the Hanslandic Armed Forces
Motto	Per arctium (Latin for 'Across the Arctic')
Founded	22 0ctober 2022
Service branches	Royal Hanslandic Navy Hanslandic Army Royal Hanslandic Air Force
Headquarters	National Defense Headquarters, Vancouver, Canada
Leadership
Commander-in-Chief	Carl I, King of Hansland
Prime Minister	Dionne Anderson
Minister of Defense	Lucas Gonyer
Chief of the Defense Staff	vacant
Manpower
Military age	18
Active personnel	6
Reserve personnel	2
Expenditures
Budget	$50 CAD
Percent of GDP	3.5% (2024)
Industry
Domestic suppliers	Arctic Warfare Systems PPY Holdings
Foreign suppliers	Canada United States

The Hanslandic Armed Forces (HAF;French: Forces armées hanslandaises), known domestically as His Majesty's Armed Forces, are the combined military forces responsible for the defense of the Kingdom of Hansland and the various territories that make up the Hanslandic Realm. It is comprised of land, sea, and air commands referred to as the Hanslandic Army, Royal Hanslandic Navy and the Royal Hanslandic Air Force. With a standing troop strength of 8, it is one of the smallest armed forces in the world, even by micronational standards. It is often described as a parade force by outside observers due to its limited offensive capabilities. Hansland's government officially describes the HAF as an entirely peaceful organization that is dedicated to Arctic environmental protection, search and rescue, and scientific research.

The commander-in-chief of the Hanslandic Armed Forces is Hansland's monarch, Carl I. The professional head of the HAF is the chief of the Defense Staff who is under the direction of the minister of defense. As of 2024, the HAF had an annual operating budget of $50 CAD, which amounts to 3.5% of the country's gross domestic product (GDP). It is a professional volunteer force with no conscription currently being enforced in the kingdom.

History

The Hanslandic Armed Forces in its current form was established on 22 October 2022. Previously, the Royal Hanslandic Navy and Hanslandic Army existed as independent military forces. Upon the creation of the Royal Hanslandic Air Force in 2022, the three commands were unified into the HAF on the direction of the Hanslandic Crown-in-Council. The mission statement of the Hanslandic Armed Forces claims that its primary objective is to free Hans Island from what the Hanslandic government lightheartedly calls "a foreign occupation of its sovereign territory." Hansland has claimed jurisdiction over the uninhabited island since its founding in 2020, when it was still disputed between Canada and Denmark. The two countries formally resolved their dispute by dividing Hans Island between them in 2022, but Hansland rejects this agreement, and still claims sovereignty over the entire island.

To date, the HAF does not maintain a presence on, or near, Hans Island and lacks any real combat capability. All three of its service branches are stationed in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, which is approximately 4,040 km away from the isolated Arctic territory. Instead, the HAF commits most of its resources to localized training missions, ceremonial guard duties, and emergency response efforts at its embassies and government offices across the wider Hanslandic Realm.

Structure

Hansland's constitution states that "all Hanslandic Forces are the armed forces of His Majesty King Carl I, consisting of one united service called the Hanslandic Armed Forces." All troop deployments, including declarations of war fall strictly under royal prerogative and all such orders must be signed by the sovereign on the advice of his ministers and both houses of Hansland's parliament.

Royal Hanslandic Navy

The largest and most prestigious of the three military branches is the Royal Hanslandic Navy (RHN). It was established upon the foundation of Hansland itself in 2020, making it the oldest active service branch in the Hanslandic Armed Forces, and is therefore known as the "Senior Service." King Carl I holds the title of Lord High Admiral (and overall Head of the Armed Forces), while also holding the highest naval rank of Admiral of the Fleet. All surface ships are given the prefix of His Majesty's Hanslandic Ship, or HMHS. There is a similar designation of His Majesty's Hanslandic Submarine, although Hansland does not currently possess any submarines. The total strength of the navy's surface fleet is 3 small vessels, 2 fitted for freshwater operations and the remaining ship capable of limited seafaring activity.

Ensign of the Royal Hanslandic Navy.

The Royal Hanslandic Navy is technically considered a brown-water navy due to its limited blue water capabilities. Nevertheless, Hansland's government has publicly stated its intentions to expand its naval fleet over the next several years and become a maritime power on a micronational scale. To date, the Royal Hanslandic Navy claims to have been involved in one macronational conflict, the Whisky War, Canada and Denmark's bloodless war and territorial dispute over Hans Island from 1973 - 2022. Hansland's involvement in this conflict began in 2020, but was limited to sending letters of protest to the governments of both conflicting powers to assert its claims to the island. These letters were ignored, and the navy itself never actually saw action or operated in the region during the Whisky War.

The HMHS Georgia conducting training exercises in the Salish Sea.

Hanslandic Army

The Hanslandic Army is the land warfare service branch of the Hanslandic Armed Forces, established two months after the formation of its navy. It follows the tradition of the British Army and most Commonwealth armies by not having the title "Royal" and instead consists of various regiments that have been granted the royal title by King Carl I, most notably the Royal Hanslandic Dragoons, which is the oldest army regiment under its command. Like its naval counterpart, the Hanslandic Army is limited in scope. It lacks heavy weaponry and possesses little offensive combat capability, with most of its resources being directed towards the Royal Guard and other ceremonial functions. It does, however, field a small but highly trained border patrol unit that participates in firefighting and wildfire prevention during the summer months, as well as first aid and disaster relief efforts.

Flag of the Hanslandic Army, also used as the country's war flag.

The rank structure of the army closely resembles that of the British and Canadian armies. Its highest officer rank is that of Field Marshal, a five-star rank equivalent to an Admiral of the Fleet of the Royal Hanslandic Navy. By 2023, the Hanslandic Army had become the fastest growing branch of the Hanslandic Armed Forces. It is the official guardian of the national flag of Hansland and until 2024, used it as its war flag until being granted a distinctive service flag of its own by King Carl I.

Royal Hanslandic Air Force

Hansland's youngest military branch is the Royal Hanslandic Air Force (RHAF), established in 2022. It is also the smallest, consisting of two drones operated by a single pilot. The RHAF completely lacks manned aircraft and exists almost entirely as a ceremonial organization. In 2024, the Hans Island Observation Act was passed by Hansland's parliament and was granted royal assent. This act calls for an unmanned drone flight to be launched from Grise Fiord on Ellesmere Island and perform a fly-over and possible landing on nearby Hans Island sometime before 2026. If successful, this will be the first official mission conducted by the RHAF.

Ensign of the Royal Hanslandic Air Force.

Hansland's space command falls under the direction of the Royal Hanslandic Air Force, although there is currently discussions in its parliament to upgrade the organization into a fourth service branch of the Hanslandic Armed Forces. Its activities are mostly limited to star gazing and telescopic observation of space for scientific research.

Defense policy

Hanslandic defense policy has three primary objectives:

• The defense of Hans Island
• The defense of the Hanslandic Realm
• Contributing to broader micronational security

The Hanslandic government is a vocal supporter of NATO and the Hanslandic Armed Forces in its current form is largely modeled upon the Western military powers that make up its membership.

Military expenditures

The total military budget for 2024 is approximately $50 CAD. There are currently plans to increase defense spending at a gradual rate over the next several years, with regards to expected increases to Hansland's GDP. All military expenditures during peacetime are part of Hansland's national budget, with the bulk of spending being allocated to the acquisition of new naval assets and overall force modernization.

Ranks

NATO equiv. code	OF-10		OF-9		OF-8		OF-7		OF-6		OF-5		OF-4		OF-3		OF-2		OF-1						OF(D)						Student officer
Royal Hanslandic Navy	Admiral of the Fleet		Admiral		Vice-admiral		Rear-admiral		Commodore		Captain		Commander		Lieutenant-commander		Lieutenant		Sub-lieutenant						Cadet						No equivalent

Rank group	Senior NCOs																						Junior NCOs						Enlisted
Royal Hanslandic Navy													Chief petty officer 1st class		Chief petty officer 2nd class		Petty officer 1st class		Petty officer 2nd class		Master Seaman		Leading seaman		Able seaman				Ordinary seaman						Recruit

NATO equiv. code	OF-10		OF-9		OF-8		OF-7		OF-6		OF-5		OF-4		OF-3		OF-2		OF-1						OF(D)						Student officer
Hanslandic Army	Field Marshal		General		Lieutenant-general		Major-general		Brigadier		Colonel		Lieutenant colonel		Major		Captain		Lieutenant Second liutenant						Cadet						No equivalent

Rank group	Senior NCOs																						Junior NCOs						Enlisted
Hanslandic Army													Chief warrant officer		Master warrant officer		Warrant officer		Staff sergeant		Sergeant		Corporal		Lance corporal				Private 1st class						Private

NATO equiv. code	OF-10		OF-9		OF-8		OF-7		OF-6		OF-5		OF-4		OF-3		OF-2		OF-1						OF(D)						Student officer
Royal Hanslandic Air Force	Marshal of the Royal Hanslandic Air Force		Air chief marshal		Air marshal		Air-vice marshal		Air commodore		Group captain		Wing commander		Squadron leader		Flight lieutenant		Flying officer Pilot officer						Cadet						No equivalent

Rank group	Senior NCOs																						Junior NCOs						Enlisted
Royal Hanslandic Air Force													Chief warrant officer		Master warrant officer		Warrant officer		Flight sergeant		Master corporal		Corporal		Lance corporal				Air specialist						Aviator

See also

• List of micronational militaries