The Imperial Army also known as the Imperialis Auxilia in High Gothic, was the largest military force in the early Imperium, and was founded during the early Great Crusade to fill the need for more manpower to support the Astartes Legions, and quickly was used to garrison worlds, perform sieges, and mass invasions. The Imperialis Armada was the fleet subset of the Imperial Army and was subordinate to it, and both of them were subordinate to the Astartes command structure.
The fighting elite of the Imperial Army was the Solar Auxilia, which comprised about 20-25% of the Army's strength by the end of the Great Crusade. The Imperial Army also maintained a force of auxiliaries known as the Imperialis Militia.
"This is the army of the Imperium of Man huh?" Sabo said.
"It is more correct to say that it was as the Imperial Army has been replaced by the Imperial Guard." D replied.
"Also the Imperial Army was only one arm of the armed forces of the Imperium." D continued.
"The Imperial military must be quite immense given the sheer scale of the Imperium." Ozpin noted a matter of factly.
"Oh you have no idea Oz." Z smirked.
History
The genus of the armed force that was to become the Imperial Army was on Terra, in the form of the few Strife-era military formations that the Emperor allowed to continue in his service after the end of the Unification Wars. These surviving units in time became referred to as the Old Hundred, and formed the initial nucleus of human soldiery at the very beginning of the Great Crusade.
"Wow..." Ruby said in awe as did the more childish members of the audience.
John Stewart AKA Green Lantern wondered how experienced those veterans of the Unification Wars were.
Unknown to him, several of the Marines as well as Najenda were having the same thoughts.
When the Emperor left Terra on the Great Crusade, it is said that he would expect the inhabitants of the worlds he conquered to maintain defenses and armed forces for their own safety, against internal rebellion and external invasion; similar to the role of Planetary Defence Forces in the 41st millennium. It is out of these forces that the Imperial Army was first formed. Initially used as garrison forces, they were quickly pushed to the forefront of the Crusade.
The more martial viewers nodded at this.
The Imperial Army's subordination to the Astartes Legions led to the Imperial Army tearing itself apart in the Horus Heresy, when half of the legions rebelled against the Emperor, and took their Army regiments with them. Thousands of Army commanders took it upon themselves to carve themselves their own empires, with no loyalty to Horus or the Emperor, and it was centuries before the Imperium was reforged.
"That is a nightmare to imagine." Toshinori Yagi who was better known as All Might said.
"No kidding, I think it's a miracle that the Imperium managed to put itself together." Hizashi Yamada better known as the Voice Hero: Present Mic said.
In the aftermath of the Horus Heresy many changes were made to the structure of the Imperial armed forces. Many of these changes were made to ensure no single individual would be powerful enough ever again to attempt to overthrow the ruling body of Imperium if he turned traitor. It was during these post-Heresy reforms that the Imperial Army was split into two organizations: the Astra Militarum and the Imperial Navy; the link between them was severed. Astra Militarum commanders now have no authority over the Navy personnel transporting them and are forbidden from being able to command a navy force.
"This was a smart move." Erza Scarlet observed.
"Agreed, dividing the army and fleet would reduce the damage of rebellion." Makarov Dreyar, guildmaster of Fairy Tail said.
However some viewers didn't agree.
"Those reforms were shortsighted." Ironwood argued.
"We've seen the Imperium at its breaking point in the 41st Millennium. It would have been more sensible to purge the traitors and retain the institution of the Imperial Army." He continued.
Before the argument could continue, D interrupted it.
"The sole reason these reforms were put in place was due to their autonomy, the traitor forces were able to amass large portions of the Imperial Army to their side." D explained.
"Thus making it harder for the Loyalists as the traitor Imperial Army regiments had control of their fleets. D continued.
Realization dawned upon the members of the audience who were initially unconvinced as those who agreed with the reforms felt vindicated by D's statement.
"And let me tell you, lots of the regiments get more interesting than that." Z grinned, making several interested.
Recruitment
The Imperial Army was recruited from each world in the Imperium unless exempted (such as Astartes home worlds, Forge Worlds, and planets in the Sol System, though some of the regiments from the Unification Wars of Terra were allowed to fight in the Great Crusade), but the size of the tithed forces was dependent on the population of the planet, and Imperial administrators determined the amount of soldiers and war materiel demanded.
If all else failed or in times of desperation, the Imperial Army would utilize inducted levy militia, troops with little to no training and poor equipment.
Tatsumi narrowed his eyes at the mention of this form conscription, it was just like the Empire back home.
Sengoku thought back to the World Draft that happened in the aftermath of the Battle of Marineford.
The best equipped and trained Imperial Army troops were known as Grenadiers. The fighting elite, made up of 20-25%, were known as the Solar Auxilia.
"Special Forces?" Barry Allen AKA the Flash asked.
"Not quite." D replied plainly.
"Oh." Barry murmured.
Organization
Overall command of the Imperial Army was overseen by two Lord Militants who at the end of the Great Crusade were Tabor Ludovicia and Haldane Ma'lon. Like the Imperial Guard of the 41st Millennium, the Imperial Army relied on the Departmento Munitorum for administrative duties. This in turn answered to the Officio Militaris, an umbrella organization including all of the many mortal soldiers, laborers, and bureaucrats dedicated to the Great Crusade. However, operational command for the Imperial Army fell to the War Council.
"The names are hard to understand but I get the jist of the organization." Izuku said as he took notes.
"Interesting chain of command." Clover, leader of the Ace-Ops noted.
The largest single organizational unit in the Imperial Army was the Expedition Fleet, each of which was controlled by a Lord Commander unless an Astartes officer was attached. By the time of the Ullanor campaign and the inauguration of Warmaster Horus, there were 4,659 Primary Expedition Fleets (with 372 of those in refit at the time) and more than sixty thousand Secondary Expedition Fleets. Expedition Fleets each had several ships and a large amount of Army personnel for ground warfare.
The audience perked up at this information.
"Whoa, that is a lot of ships." Nami said in awe.
"What would I give to have a fleet like that!" Kaido grinned as he imagined being in possession of such a vast and mighty fleet.
Yamato glared at her father as she knew full well what Kaido would do if he was in charge of such a fleet.
For garrisoning and occupying worlds, the Imperial Army organized local Imperialis Militia units.
"Garrison duty is the most boring thing I can imagine." Grimmjow stated idly.
"Of course only you would think that." Ichigo snarked.
"He's not wrong, you know." Renji replied, causing Ichigo to facepalm.
Organization of Imperial Army Regiments
The largest permanent organizational unit during the Horus Heresy for the Imperial Army was the regiment, and to take a typical example, regiments could be divided into three or more battalions, with each battalion made up of two or more companies and Platoons, with additional support units attached at the battalion and regimental level.
The organization of individual regiments varied immensely because of the massive lack of standardization within the Imperial Army. Expedition Fleets were only equipped with a portion of their supply needs, and were expected to re-supply themselves from conquered worlds. These issues were partially resolved with the Council of Terra's introduction of the Departmento Munitorum. The Munitorum originally existed as the Corps Logisticae, a division of naval administration, but was made into a full Departmento shortly before the Ullanor Crusade.
"I can't imagine the logistics necessary to keep the Imperial Army operating at optimal capacity." Shayera Hol AKA Hawkgirl commented and many members of the audience nodded in agreement.
Organization of the Imperialis Armada
The Imperialis Armada was overseen by a Grand Admiral who by the end of the Great Crusade was Constansa Suati-Falkan.
Regiments were usually assigned to individual ships, with Army personnel commanding both elements. In the fleet, the highest rank was the Master of the Fleet, who was under the authority of the Lord Commander or Astartes officer in the Expedition Fleet. Other common ranks include Shipmaster (in control of a ship), Executive Officer (second in command), First Master and Master (other ship officers). Some fleets, like the Saturnine Fleet, retained their old ranks from before the Unification Wars.
Equipment
The Imperial Army of the Great Crusade was much more well-equipped than the Astra Militarum of the 41st Millennia. Vehicles that are considered rare or lost technology in M41 were common, such as the Testudo, Dracosan, Aurox, Gorgon, Carnodon, Malcador, Leman Russ Incinerator, Leman Russ Vanquisher, Leman Russ Executioner, and Destroyer Tank Hunter. Entire divisions were equipped with Baneblade and Stormhammer Super-Heavy Tanks and Valdor Heavy Tanks and fleets were equipped with multitudes of Battleships and Grand Cruisers, all now considered a rarity. In the ten thousand years since the Great Crusade and Horus Heresy, STCs have been lost, Forge Worlds destroyed, and the technology has been treated with far more superstition by the Adeptus Mechanicus.
"Damn!" Leone yelled while Night Raid looked on in shock, their world's Imperial Army would kill to have that kind of weaponry!
Both Akainu and Sengoku blinked at the weaponry of the Imperial Army, wondering if they could attempt to replicate it.
Notable regiments
91st Industani
"They were part of the Siege of Terra." Z answered.
Addaba Free Corps — Defected to Horus during the Siege of Terra.
Antioch Miles Vesperi
"These men were actually part of the Unification Wars." D explained to the surprised audience.
Ayliet Phalanx — Subordinate to the Luna Wolves.
"These guys were known for using Jezzaillis, a kind of laser weapon that was more of a spear than a gun." Z
"I wonder if I can get one for my armoury?" Erza mused.
Archite Palatines — Attached to the 28th Expedition Fleet.
"These guys were taken from Europan noble military families." D explained, "They rebelled alongside the Emperor's Children during the Horus Heresy."
"And here I thought that nobles were too privileged to serve in the military." Sabo said sarcastically. He knew many nobles in his world who would balk at the notion of serving in the army.
Angkorian Dragoons — Part of the Old Hundred.
Byzant Janizars — Attached to the 63rd Expedition Fleet, rebelled during the Horus Heresy.
Caliban Jaegers — Assigned to the 4th Expeditionary Fleet serving the Dark Angels Legion.
Calth 2nd Irregulars
Calth 3rd Infantry
Castellan Exemplars
Clandestine Orta — Special forces akin to Stormtroopers
"These guys are used for special missions in the Imperium, basically CP0." Z explained casually, shocking Akainu that he knew such a thing.
"How much do they know about our worlds?" Robin thought.
Charonid Sentinels
Dogan Maulers
Fasadian Heavy Infantry
Fasadian 45th Infantry
Fellesian 5th Airborne Auxiliary
Fellesian 23rd Airborne
First Terran Armoured
Geno Five-Two Chiliad — Attached to the 670th Expedition Fleet. Part of the Old Hundred.
Geno Seven-Sixty Spartocid
Golden Hegera — Part of the Old Hundred.
12th Helian Rifles
Host of Brass
Hundred and Fifth Tercio Upland Grenadiers
Inferallti Hussars — Assigned to guard Pluto
Jovian Grenadiers
Kimmerine Corps Bellum
Kushtun Naganda — One of the Old Hundred.
13th/5th Hylgar's Hell-Raisers — A formation likely to be from early M31.
Lacunan Lifewatch — Present during the Ark Reach Secundus campaign.
Lucifer Black — Attached to the 670th Expedition Fleet.
"These guys are basically the royal guard of the Imperial Palace! Well... More like the second royal guard due to the Custodes." Z explained, "They are considered one of the strongest regiments of the Imperium!"
Everyone was surprised at this proclamation, thinking that the Lucifer Blacks must be exceptionally powerful.
Magdan FreeKorps
Malcador's Chosen — Praetorian Guard of Malcador the Sigilite
"Who's Malcador?" Ruby asked innocently.
"He's considered by many to be the Emperor's right hand man." D explained, "He was the First High Lord of Terra and the creator of the Officio Assassinorum. He perished after the Horus Heresy."
"Uh, what's the Officio Assassinorum?" Jaune asked.
"We'll talk about them later." D said.
Mohindas Eleventh — Wiped out by the Nephratil on Diurnus in the 6th year of the Great Crusade.
Neshamere Eighth
Ninth-Ward Angeloi Adamantiphracts — Assigned to garrison the Schadenhold alongside the iron Warriors under the command of Warsmith Barabas Dantioch.
Ouranti Draks — Attached to the 47th Expedition.
Outremar — Attached to the 670th Expedition Fleet and most other fleet, backbone of the Imperial Army.
Phyrian 2nd Auxiliary
Prospero Spireguard — attached to the 28th Expedition
"This regiment was attached to the Thousand Sons legion, who were basically super psykers." Z explained.
"Interesting." Makarov replied.
Regnault Thorns
Saaven Masonites
Sallan 11th Infantry — rebelled during the Horus Heresy.
Sarcosan Voltigeurs
Saturnine Hoplites
Selucid Thorakites — troops of the Iron Warriors
Seventh-Suckle Parthenari Shieldmaidens
Solar Auxilia — Elite fighting force
"This regiment is as it sounds, a very effective fighting force." D explained.
Tanagran Dragoons — Formed the garrison of the Forge World of Diamat.
1st Terra Tank Division
Terranic Auxilia
Therion Cohort
Thorosian Voltigeurs — Took heavy losses in the Battle of Hell's Anvil.
Thramassi Nightwatch
Tupelov Lancers — Part of the Old Hundred
Urslavik 12th Infantry
Uzuran Sabreteurs
Veridan Korracts
Ydranian Seekers
Notable fleets
The 63rd Expedition Fleet — the Expedition Fleet of the Warmaster Horus.
The 28th Expedition Fleet — the Expedition Fleet of Fulgrim and the Emperor's Children.
The 12th Expedition Fleet — the Expedition Fleet of Roboute Guilliman.
The Saturnine Fleet — a war fleet remaining from Old Night.
Notable Members of the Imperial Army
Adreen — Lord Commander Militant by the Siege of Terra.
Tabor Ludovicia and Haldane Ma'lon — Ruling co-Lord Militants a the end of the Great Crusade.
Kli-San Weia — Early Lord Commander Militant during the Unification Wars.
Pietra Veitz Gustavus — Lord Militant.
Saul Niborran — High Primary Solar General.
Konas Burr — Militant General.
Ireton MaSade — Lord Marshal.
Teng Namatjira — Lord Commander.
Hektor Varvarus — Lord Commander.
Thaddeus Fayle — Lord Commander.
Tyana Kourion — Lord General.
Bollivar — Lord General.
Niora Su-Kassen — Admiral.
Eodraki Hakon — Marshal.
Aldana Agathe — Marshal.
Niora Su-Kassen — Admiral.
Tempis Lor — General.
Kaze — General.
Dellasarius — Imperial Commander.
Holst Lithonan — Traitor General.
Maylon Idar III — Traitor General.
Yennu Egwu — General, defects to Horus.
"Treacherous bastard." Smoker thought.
Hestor Navarre — Officer of the Ouranti Draks.
Marcus Valerius — Commander of the Therion Cohort.
Hurtado Bronzi — Hetman.
Dimitar Shiban — Hetman.
Peto Soneka — Hetman.
Clement Brohn — Militant Colonel Auxilia.
Fatidicus — Decorated veteran later key Imperial Cult religious figure.
Ollanius Pius — Patron Saint of the Imperial Guard.
"I wonder what he was like?" Wonder Woman questioned as she took note of his status as the Patron Saint of the Imperial Guard.
Ospheus LaBray — Admiral of the Imperial Armada.
Kaminska — Rear Admiral of the Imperial Armada.
Lucretia Elunnirai — Seneschal-Prime of the Prospero Spireguard.
Maigraut — Colonel.
Andrei Ornatov — Colonel, Urslavik 12th Infantry.
Hasani Sabbyat — Stormtrooper Officer.
Aevos Jovian — Medicae Officer.
Khalid Hassan — Captain of the 4th Clandestine Orta.
Kulok — Soldier.
Ollanius Piers — Corporal.
Katsuhiro — Conscript.
"Well, that it then!" However, just as Z was about to press the button, someone interrupted him.
"Wait!" Izuku yelled out, stopping him, "You said that several regiments were interesting in the future. Can you show us one of those?"
Z and D looked at each other, musing to themselves before the former shrugged and the latter merely said, "Very well." D then took the remote before telling the audience, "This entry will be narrated by one of those who watch over the 40K universe."
