1st Jaguar Guards (Clan Smoke Jaguar)

Beta Galaxy (Clan Smoke Jaguar) Unit Insignia
First Jaguar Guards Cluster
Disbanded 3059 (destroyed)
Nickname The Whitewatch
Affiliation Clan Smoke Jaguar
Parent Command Beta Galaxy


Overview[edit]

The First Jaguar Guards was a front-line Cluster of Clan Smoke Jaguar.

History[edit]

Operation Revival[edit]

The First Guards fought on the following worlds during Operation Revival, the invasion of the Inner Sphere:

Wave One[edit]

Almunge
The Almunge Cadet Infantry Battalion faced off against Alpha Battle Star of Trinary Battle in the Sculyan Hills when the Guards attacked Almunge in April 3050. Star Captain Anthony Chrisholm had been one of the few commanders to bid for this world after it was learned that the opponents were little more than children. Though totally outclassed, the Cadets fought hard for every inch of ground, managing to destroy one 'Mech and severely damage two others before their own mounting casualties forced Chu-sa Manderly to surrender. The survivors were made bondsmen by a somewhat grudgingly impressed Star Captain Chrisholm.[1][2]

Wave Three[edit]

Albiero
The Guards landed at Dartson ridge on Albiero in July 3050 and were immediately attack by the Eighth Albiero Militia trapping them with artillery strikes until Trinary Striker broke out and eliminated the artillery unit with a daring charge. When the Militia's command unit was ambushed and destroyed by Trinary Command the Militia regiment broke and fled into the Little Hills area, some forming guerrilla units.[3]

Wave Five[edit]

Luthien
The Guards participated in the Battle of Luthien when they landed on the Tairakana Plains, almost immediately their defenses were probed by DCMS scout forces. Within two hours and suffering under air attacks they were advancing towards three Kurita regiments drawn up on the shores of Basin Lake. As the Guards pushed the attack they found themselves trapped in a vibrabomb minefield amidst exploding Q-Mechs. In the chaos the real Kurita units attacked, forcing the Clan unit to fall back. The Guards regrouped and smashed through the defenders' line, pushing for the capital city, but were eventually worn down and forced to withdraw.[4][5]

Tarazed
Landing on Tarazed in April 3052, Trinary Assault and Trinary Battle launched a ferocious assault against the defending 7th and 13th Tarazed Armored Regiments in the area of Lucerne, swiftly defeating them.[6]

Tukayyid[edit]

The Guards landed in the Racice Delta and quickly became bogged down. The swamps of the Delta proved excellent defensive grounds, hiding ComStar 'Mechs and boobytraps. After three days' fighting, saKhan Weaver was killed and Beta Galaxy ordered to retreat by ilKhan Ulric Kerensky.[7] The First Jaguar Guards were shattered during this battle and Mikhail Ward was their sole surviving officer.[8]

Post-Tukayyid[edit]

The Guards were stationed on Avon in 3054 within easy striking distance of the Draconis Combine border.[9]

Operation Bulldog[edit]

Wave Two[edit]

Avon
The Second Star League attacked Clan Nova Cat on Avon during the first wave of Operation BULLDOG in early June 3059. On the Bristol Levels, Trials of Possession were fought between the First Nova Cat Guards, the First Garrison Cluster and the Third Garrison Cluster against the Fourth Pesht Regulars that ended with all three Nova Cat Clusters joining the Combine regiment.[10] Other Inner Sphere forces on the planet included the Third Royal Guards and the 198th ComStar Division.[11] Later the same month these forces turned their attention against the unprepared First Guards and Galaxy Commander Ward's Swath Keshik. Seeing collusion between the Cats and the Inner Sphere forces, they fought a defensive withdrawal and retreated in good order to Outer Volta.[12]

Wave Three[edit]

Outer Volta
The Guards arrived at Outer Volta and for a while joined with the 267th Battle Cluster. At the request of Hang Mehta, the 267th Battle Cluster joined her counterattacking forces. The Guards sent their naval and transport assets to support the 267th Battle Cluster's assault on Meinacos, leaving them effectively trapped on the planet. While their transports and naval assets were away, the First Guard, Swath Keshik and Omega Trinary of the 267th Battle Cluster were attacked by the 8th Sword of Light, the Com Guard Thirty-ninth Division and the Izanagi Warriors, who landed in August 3059.[13] The Clan forces took up a defensive position in the capital city. Ordered by Lincoln Osis to delay the Inner Sphere troops for as long as possible, Ward fought a series of running battles over four days before being pushed out of the city to the Oshira foothills. Harried by flank attacks from the Com Guards and rear attacks from the Sword of Light, the remnant of Beta Galaxy found themselves surrounded. On 4th, August Ward had the equivalent of eleven mixed Stars of BattleMechs and Elementals; by 5th August the Clan force was down to twelve warriors. Shin Yodama led the Izanagi Warriors against them, but before he attacked he radioed asking if Galaxy Commander Ward was still alive. Ward answered and Yodama informed him that he had been order to "verify his death". With that Yodama led an equal number of Izanagi to duel and wipe out the survivors.[14]

Officers[edit]

Rank Name Command
Commanding Officers of the 1st Jaguar Guards
Star Colonel Blaine Radick 30?? - 3052
Star Colonel Frayne 3052[15]
Star Colonel Terrance Stiles 3054 - 3059

Other Officers[edit]

Tactics[edit]

During Operation Revival the Guards appear to have favored frontal assault tactics employing heavy and assault 'Mechs.

Composition History[edit]

3049-3052[edit]

Three Trinaries were Elite and two were Veteran.[24]
Alpha Trinary was the elite shock unit of the Guards.[25]

3057-3059[edit]

  • Trinary Command - (15 OmniMechs)
  • Trinary Battle - (15 OmniMechs)
  • Trinary Striker - (15 OmniMechs)
  • Binary Elemental - (50 Elementals)
  • Trinary Assault - (15 OmniMechs, 10 OmniFighters)[26]

Gallery[edit]

References[edit]

  1. Invading Clans, p. 64
  2. Fourth Form
  3. Invading Clans, p. 66
  4. Invading Clans, pp. 60–61
  5. Luthien, p. 34
  6. Invading Clans, p. 69
  7. Invading Clans, p. 62
  8. 8.0 8.1 The Dragon Roars, p. 65
  9. Objective Raids, p. 34
  10. The Dragon Roar, pp. 22–23
  11. The Dragon Roar, pp. 10–11
  12. The Dragon Roar, p. 24
  13. The Dragon Roar, p. 44
  14. The Dragon Roar, pp. 46, 58–59
  15. 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 Luthien, p. 39: "Trojan Horses - Attacker"
  16. Fourth Form
  17. 17.0 17.1 Luthien, p. 42: "Sword Play - Attacker"
  18. Invading Clans, p. 70
  19. The Dragon Roars, pp. 46 & 59
  20. The Black Thorns, p. 19
  21. The Black Thorns, p. 21
  22. Luthien, p. 39
  23. Luthien, p. 42
  24. Luthien, p. 27
  25. Luthien, p. 41
  26. Invading Clans, p. 70

Bibliography[edit]