1st Federated Suns Armored Cavalry

Insignia of the Federated Suns Armored Cavalry
First Federated Suns Armored Cavalry RCT
Formed 3013
Nickname The Point of the Sword
Affiliation Federated Suns
Parent Command AFFS

The personal project of Prince Ian Davion, the First Federated Suns Armored Cavalry is a medium-weight formation that specializes in speed and firepower. The unit has seen almost constant combat through raiding missions on the Capellan border.

History[edit]

Unit Creation & Early Actions[edit]

The unit was created by Ian Davion shortly after his ascension to the throne in 3013. He wanted to create an elite highly mobile 'Mech regiment that could overwhelm its opposition with sheer speed and firepower. Though quite successful, the associated heavy losses prevented the AFFS spreading the concept further. The Cavalry has a heavy aerospace fighter wing for additional firepower. Both ground and air units were staffed by highly skilled and experienced troops.

The unit's homeworld is Ziliang, where the Cavalry was raised in time to participate in the last years of the Third Succession War. The unit was used as a vanguard in numerous actions during the conflict, frequently mounting raids against Capellan Confederation worlds. Its actions during these early years were often overlooked by military scholars and historians. After the Third Succession War's end, the unit continued to conduct raids against House Liao.[1]

Grand Base Assault of 3039[edit]

During the War of 3039, the unit was chosen by Duke Morgan Hasek-Davion to strike the House Liao manufacturing world of Grand Base as part of Case Juliet. This operation was the Federated Commonwealth's retaliatory attack for the McCarron's Armored Cavalry raids during the war. They were ordered to take the Earthwerks Limited plant, which was expected to be heavily defended by Liao forces as part of the Capellan March's preemptive strikes in preparation for war with Liao's allies: the Draconis Combine.

In August of 3039, the 1st FedSuns Armored Cavalry led a task force consisting of the 9th Illician Rangers, two mechanized infantry regiments, and two free wings of aerospace fighters. The Cavalry's task force met heavy resistance from Liao defenders. The defenders were led by the 1st Battalion of the Death Commandos, as well as the 1st Battalion of Warrior House Fujita and a mixed number of conventional militia regiments and security forces from Earthwerks plant. Over the course of the battle for the plant the Cavalry's Commanding Officer, Todd Revons, used information gathered by MI-6 teams to allow a two-pronged attack on the Earthwerks plant. However, the resistance around the manufacturing plant was strong enough to stop the cavalry from penetrating the defenses. In response, Revons focused the task force's efforts on damaging the Death Commando units, striking at the strongest point of defense.

Despite inflicting considerable losses on the Commandos, the defenders were able to conduct multiple, covert attacks against AFFC troops. As the conflict continued into September, the Cavalry had still failed to penetrate the plant's defenses, but had successfully decimated the Liao defenders.[2]

The 3040s & 3050s[edit]

During the "peacetime" years, the Cavalry did not see frontline service as it did in late Succession Wars. The unit was not deployed to the Clan front, instead seeing almost constant service in small conflicts on the Capellan border.[1]

Operation Bulldog[edit]

The Cavalry was deployed as part of the newly resurrected 2nd Star League's SLDF. It participated in Operation Bulldog in 3059, where the unit went on to fight against elements of Clan Smoke Jaguar's Zeta and Omega Galaxies.

The unit was placed on the Draconis Combine world of Lonaconing prior to the First Wave, then moved to garrison the previously Clan Nova Cat–held planet of Sawyer. The Cavalry became combat active on Smoke Jaguar world of Virentofta. With ComStar's 31st Division and two Northwind Highlander regiments, the 1st FedSun AC prevented all Clan Warriors of the 151st Garrison Cluster planet from escaping.[3] It went on to Schwartz where it met with token resistance from the Smoke Jaguar garrison force, the 189th Garrison Cluster[4] Later, with ComStar's 85th Division, the 1st FedSun AC prepared for a massive counterattack by Smoke Jaguar forces, but no such offensive developed.

FedCom Civil War[edit]

On Sirdar the Cavalry suffered light losses but destroyed the Sirdar CMM during the first wave with the help of the 9th Illician Rangers, 21st Illician Rangers, and the Davion Light Guards.

While fighting on Kathil, they sided with the allies of Victor Steiner-Davion. In the course of the battle, they suffered moderate losses against the Loyalists. During Wave 5 of the FedCom Civil War, they were finally able to secure victory on Kathil.

Jihad[edit]

During Operation SOVEREIGN JUSTICE, the 1st Federated Suns Armored Cavalry nearly destroyed Warrior House Fujita. Further attacks on Capellan worlds went well but reduced their numbers significantly. The First retired to Halloran V after being reduced to half of their pre-Jihad strength. They later faced off against several CCAF units that raided the world as part of the Capellan counterattack. After rebuilding with available forces, they were reassigned as a "mobile defense unit", traveling the width and length of the Capellan March to counter Capellan, Blakist, and Taurian attacks. They later returned to Ziliang to rebuild.[5]

Dark Age[edit]

During the Victoria War the First Federated Suns Armored Cavalry landed on Jacson along with the 8th Syrtis Fusiliers and Holt's Hilltoppers. They engaged Lethal Injection and forced the mercenaries to withdraw from the world. They then moved on to Victoria and landed on the world with the 2nd Syrtis Lancers and 3rd Federated Suns Lancers.[6] The First FSAC engaged the remainder of Lethal Injection outside the Earthwerks Incorporated factory on Victoria, inflicting heavy losses on the mercenary unit. Unfortunately they also inflicted damage on the factory and this would take several years to fix.[7]

The First Federated Suns Armored Cavalry forced the 3rd Sian Dragoons and 1st Tikonov Guards to a standstill on Almach. They were able to pin down the two Capellan units for several weeks by using hit and run and battle armor ambush tactics. However, the arrival of the Red Lancers on Almach in the 3145 changed the equation.[8] They took heavy damage from Arrow IV missile artillery.[9] The First FSAC were forced to withdraw and landed on Tawas to rebuild. As of 3145 the unit was down to a quarter of its 'Mech strength and was missing large portions of its armored brigade.[10]

Officers[edit]

Rank Name Command
Commanding Officers of the 1st Federated Suns Armored Cavalry
Colonel Todd Revons 3025[11]
Leftenant General Rudolph Chapman 3047 - 3049[1]
Hauptmann General Rudolph Chapman 3050 - 3054[1]
General Rudolph Chapman 3054 - 3067[12][13]
Major General Tabitha Rennard 3067 - 3085[14]
General Tabitha Rennard 3085[15]
General Andrea Chapman 3145[16]

Tactics[edit]

The first excels as a raiding force. This type of fighting typically extracts a high price on the unit in both personnel and equipment.[17]

Composition History[edit]

3025[edit]

First Federated Suns Armored Cavalry (Regiment/Elite/Fanatical)[11]

  • CO: Colonel Todd Revons[11]
Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on Ziliang.[11]

3028[edit]

First Federated Suns Armored Cavalry Regimental Combat Team[18]

3040[edit]

First Federated Suns Armored Cavalry (Regiment/Elite/Fanatical)[19]

Note: At this point in time the command was stationed on Ziliang.[19]

3050[edit]

First Federated Suns Armored Cavalry (Regiment/Elite/Fanatical)[20]

  • CO: Leftenant General Rudolph Chapman[20]
Note: At this point in time the command was stationed on Ziliang.[20]

3054[edit]

First Federated Suns Armored Cavalry (Regiment//Elite/Fanatical)[21]

  • CO: Hauptmann General Rudolph Chapman[21]
Note: At this point in time the command was stationed on Ziliang.[21]

3062[edit]

First Federated Suns Armored Cavalry (1 Reinforced Regiment/Elite/Fanatical)[1]

- Elite Skilled & Fanatical - Formation consists of three reinforced Battalions, each containing an OmniMech Company

First Armored Cavalry Auxiliary (2 Mixed Combat Vehicle & Infantry Battalions/Elite/Fanatical)[1]

- These battalions are composed of hovercraft. The force includes two platoons of Regulator hovertanks.[1]

First Cavalry AeroWarriors (1 Wing/Elite/Fanatical)[1]

3067[edit]

First Federated Suns Armored Cavalry (Elite/Fanatical)[14]

  • CO: Major General Tabitha Rennard

First Federated Suns Armored Regiment (Elite/Fanatical)[14]

First Federated Suns Fighter Wing (Elite/Fanatical))[14]

3079[edit]

First Federated Suns Armored Cavalry (1 Reinforced Regiment/Elite/Fanatical)[5]

Note: The Jihad took a toll on the First FedSuns Armored Cavalry, but High Command dispatched replacements to rebuild the unit. They were at three-quarters of their pre-Jihad strength in 3079.[5] The equipment was fully upgraded and the unit was stationed on Ziliang.[5]

3085[edit]

First Federated Suns Armored Cavalry (Elite/Fanatical)[15]

  • CO: General Tabitha Rennard

First Federated Suns Armored Fighter Wing (Elite/Fanatical)[15]

First Federated Suns Armored Armor Regiment (Elite/Reliable)[15]

3145[edit]

First Federated Suns Armored Cavalry (Veteran/Fanatical)[16]

  • CO: General Andrea Chapman

First Federated Suns Armored Cavalry Armor Regiment (Elite/Fanatical)[16]

Unit Insignia and Color Scheme[edit]

For ceremonial duties the Armored Cavalry use a simple color scheme of Davion green with white highlights.

Notes[edit]

  • The Field Manual: Federated Suns shows that the unit participated in the Fourth Succession War, however the information in NAIS The Fourth Succession War Atlas Volume 1 and Volume 2 does not show the unit deployed from its garrison world of Ziliang. Sourcebooks published after the field manual have not reflected on past actions of the Cavalry during the Fourth Succession War.

References[edit]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Field Manual: Federated Suns, p. 48: "1st Federated Suns Armored Cavalry Unit Profile"
  2. Historical: War of 3039, p. 128: "Grand Base (August-September)"
  3. The Dragon Roars, pp. 12, 13, 24: Unit Summaries & Wave Two: Driving Forward - 2nd Wave target world Virentoffa, no Smoke Jaguar warriors from the 151st Garrison listed as having escaped the world. The planet was assigned to the Cavalry as part of its 2nd Wave assignment
  4. The Dragon Roars, p. 13: "Unit Summaries" - 189th shown as partially destroyed, but escaped
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Field Report: AFFS, p. 8
  6. Historical: Wars of the Republic Era, pp. 50–51
  7. Historical: Wars of the Republic Era, p. 53
  8. Technical Readout: 3145 Federated Suns, pp. 42, 52
  9. Technical Readout: 3145 Capellan Confederation, p. 22
  10. Field Manual: 3145, p. 72
  11. 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 House Davion (The Federated Suns), p. 137: "Federated Suns Deployment Table (3025)"
  12. 20 Year Update, p. 21: "AFFC Deployment Table - 3050"
  13. Objective Raids, p. 15: "AFFC Deployment Table - 3054"
  14. 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 Field Manual: Updates, p. 138: "AFFS Deployment Table - 3067"
  15. 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 Field Manual: 3085, p. 70: "AFFS Deployment Table - 3085"
  16. 16.0 16.1 16.2 Field Manual: 3145, p. 90: "Armed Forces of the Federated Suns"
  17. House Davion (The Federated Suns), p. 147: "Federated Suns Armored Cavalry brief"
  18. NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 1, p. 11: "Operation Rat (Deployment Table)" - 1st FedSun Armored Cav shown now to be RCT. Not listed as an RCT in 3025
  19. 19.0 19.1 Historical: War of 3039, p. 135
  20. 20.0 20.1 20.2 20 Year Update, p. 21
  21. 21.0 21.1 21.2 Objective Raids, p. 15

Bibliography[edit]