11th Lyran Regulars

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Eleventh Lyran Regulars
Nickname The Hammers
Affiliation Lyran Commonwealth
Parent Command Lyran Regulars


The Eleventh Lyran Regulars was a BattleMech regiment in service to House Steiner.

History[edit]

Formation[edit]

The Eleventh Regulars were reportedly one of the most active Lyran units on the Free Worlds League border during the Third Succession War. By the end of that long conflict, they were in a sorry shape, and the LCAF nearly dissolved the regiment. After the Eleventh protested, it was instead decided to relocate them to Australia far from the border to allow them to rebuild. [1]

As of 3025, the Eleventh was based on Australia. [2]

Fourth Succession War[edit]

Still recovering on Australia, the Eleventh saw no action during the Fourth Succession War, however several of its former veterans distinguished themselves with other units during Operation GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG. [1] [3]

First Skye Rebellion[edit]

The Eleventh was sent to the Federation of Skye to help contain the First Skye Rebellion. With no apparent ties to the Free Skye movement, they made an effective stabilizing force.[1]

War of 3039[edit]

When the War of 3039 was launched, the Eleventh Regulars were chosen as part of the Lyran thrust of the invasion. Leaving their homeworld of Sabik, the Eleventh used Ryde as a jump-off point, joining General Caesar Steiner's task force in an assault on Kessel. Fighting alongside the Second Donegal Guards and the Fourth Skye Rangers, the Lyrans hit Kessel in April, officially defended only by the Twelfth Sun Zhang Academy Cadre. Despite the Lyrans having an overwhelming advantage in numbers and experience, the Cadre gave a good accounting of itself, defending the capital city of Sverdlovsk. Eventually driven away with heavy casualties, the Twelfth had seemed to retreat to their DropShips, apparently leaving Kessel in Lyran hands.[4] Having been held mostly in reserve, the Eleventh Regulars took only light casualties.[5]

Unfortunately the planet's citizenry was not willing to accept the LCAF easily, and elements of the Eleventh were alleged to have supported Lyran partisans in a series of brutal reprisals against the Yakuza and ISF-backed guerrilla resistance, a turn of events that made a bad situation worse. It was also discovered that the Twelfth Sun Zhang was still on-planet, having feigned a retreat offworld earlier in the campaign, and they were now assisting the Kuritan civilian population with 'Mech attacks against the Lyrans. In July, the Twelfth Sun Zhang was reinforced by the elite Second Sword of Light and the Fifth Sun Zhang Academy Cadre. On July 29, the second battle for Kessel truly began. The Eleventh Regulars and Skye Rangers attempted to use Listen-Kill Missiles to slow the advance of the Sworders, only to find they were ineffective. The Second Donegal was able to maul the Fifth Cadre when the inexperienced Kuritan soldiers pressed an apparent weakness in the enemy's line, only to fall into a trap. Unfortunately for the Eleventh Regulars, while their companions were smashing the Fifth Cadre the Second Sword of Light bore down on the relatively green Eleventh Regulars. Under orders from General Steiner to hold their position against one of the most storied units in the Inner Sphere, the Regulars were brutalized. The Sworders reached to within fifty meters of the Lyran regimental headquarters before the Hammers managed a bold counterattack, supported by the Second Donegal. The Steel Dragon withdrew, settling for the knowledge that they had heavily damaged the Eleventh Regulars. For weeks afterwards, the two sides maneuvered in a series of minor actions, unwilling to fully commit to another pitched battle. In early September, however, the ISF succeeded in destroying the Lyrans' main ammunition depot, putting Caesar Steiner in a difficult position. When it became clear no further support would be forthcoming from the High Command, Steiner ordered a retreat in early October.[6] The Eleventh retreated to Ryde with the rest of the task force, but so great were the Hammers' losses that they ceased to exist as a viable fighting unit.[5]

After the war, the Eleventh Regulars returned to Australia to recover,[5] though it apparently soon returned to the Federation of Skye.[1]

Clan Invasion[edit]

When the Clan Invasion struck in 3050, the Eleventh was based on Sabik once again.[7] The Eleventh was briefly relocated to the Clan border for garrison duty, but was eventually transferred back to the Federation, apparently having seen little action.[1]

The Lyons Thumb[edit]

The Draconis Combine placed troops in the Lyons Thumb as peacekeepers in response to the secession of the Lyran Alliance from the Federated Commonwealth.

Sabik was occupied by the Thirty-second Galedon Regulars. The Eleventh initially contested the Thirty-second Galedon's landing, and only stood down two days later after receiving orders from Tharkad. Despite orders not to interfere with the Kuritans, members of the Eleventh continued to cause trouble through sabotage, jamming of DCMS communications and stirring the local civilian population to revolt. Unwilling to start a war, the Lyran High Command relocated the Eleventh Regulars to Alphecca.[1]

FedCom Civil War[edit]

When the FedCom Civil War broke out in December 3062, the Eleventh was still based on Alphecca.[8] They remained there until July 3065, when they were sent to Skye by General of the Armies Nondi Steiner to bring the Skye Legislature under control in the wake of Duke Robert Kelswa-Steiner's revolt. After letting them land, John Claverhouse Dundee ordered the First Skye Jaegers and the planetary militia to attack the Eleventh, driving them out of the capital city of New Glasgow. Having taken heavy casualties and with two of his DropShips under Free Skye control, the Eleventh withdrew back to Alphecca, but not before Colonel Jeremy Donner left some of his "irregulars" behind to join with Lohengrin operatives in forming an underground force that effectively disrupted the Skye government until the end of the conflict.[9] The intelligence gathered by the Eleventh would later prove critical to the LAAF in future operations on Skye.[8][10][11][12]

The Eleventh Regulars later saw action on Launam, where they took moderate damage.[8]

According to one report, the Eleventh fought on Freedom late in the war, fighting on the side of the Free Skye Movement. Finally forced to surrender, Colonel Jeremy Donner was apparently charged with war crimes.[13] These events, however, are not reflected in multiple accounts and postwar descriptions, and may be considered unreliable.

The Jihad[edit]

As of August 3067, the Eleventh was still based on Launam at 60 percent strength.[12]

Even while the rest of the Inner Sphere was reeling from the opening salvos of the Word of Blake's Jihad, the Eleventh became part of Operation ÜBERSCHATTEN, the Skye Province's unsanctioned and unsupported invasion of the Free Worlds League. They were able to take Colfax, facing only light resistance. Unfortunately for the Regulars, in August 3068 they faced Marshall Jeremy Brett's counterattack, Operation BROKEN FIST, and found themselves besieged by three FWLM regiments. Despite being an understrength green unit, the Eleventh refused calls to surrender and were destroyed. At least a third of the Eleventh survived and were taken as POWs to camps on other worlds.[14][15]

Re-formation[edit]

Years later, then-Archon Adam Steiner ordered the Eleventh Regulars rebuilt as part of the restored Lyran Commonwealth Armed Forces. Based on Loburg, the new unit was built around two companies of the Fifteenth Lyran Regulars. [16] As of 3085, they were at 30 percent strength with an attached infantry brigade operating at 60 percent strength.[17] Its re-formation was met with protest by locals due to the presence of Lt. Kylie Karmak, who was the granddaughter of the criminal, "Baron" Karmak.[18]

Dark Age and beyond[edit]

The unit was deployed as part of Operation HAMMERFALL, as part of the invasion force to claim a swath of new worlds from the former Free Worlds League in 3137. However, Clan Wolf a ally in the invasion, would turn its guns on their Lyran allies. The Eleventh was destroyed by Clan Wolf forces by 3142.[19]

Officers[edit]

Rank Name Command
Commanding Officers of the 11th Lyran Regulars
Leutnant-General Jeremy Donner[7][1] 3050 - 3062
Colonel Jeremy Donner[12] 3067
Leutnant-General Dennis Fuentes[17] 3085

Tactics[edit]

Accustomed to dealing with the situation in the Skye region, the Eleventh developed unusual "special forces" tactics that made them an effective nuisance against the 32nd Galedon Regulars. [1]

Composition History[edit]

2786 - 2821[edit]

11th Lyran Regulars (Regiment/Regular/Questionable) [20]

Note: At this point in time the medium-weight unit was stationed on Rodigo. In 2821 the command was reduced to 41 percent of its strength and was deployed on Harvest. [20]

2830[edit]

11th Lyran Regulars (Regiment/Regular/Questionable) [21]

Note: At this point in time the heavy-weight unit was stationed on Harvest with an operational readiness of 84 percent. [21]

2864[edit]

11th Lyran Regulars (Regiment/Veteran/Questionable) [21]

Note: At this point in time the heavy-weight unit was stationed on Thannhausen with an operational readiness of 41 percent. [21]

3025[edit]

11th Lyran Regulars (Regiment/Green/Reliable) [2]

Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on Australia.

3040[edit]

11th Lyran Regulars (Regiment/Green/Reliable)[22]

Note: At this point in time the command was stationed on Australia. [22]

3050[edit]

11th Lyran Regulars (Regiment/Green/Reliable) [7]

  • CO: Leutnant General Jeremy Donner[7]
Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on Sabik. [7]

3062-3067[edit]

11th Lyran Regulars (Green/Reliable)[1][12]
CO: Colonel Jeremy Donner

11th Lyran Regulars Combat Auxiliary (Reinforced Battalion/Regular/Reliable) [1][12]
CO: Kommandant Tiffany Steiner-Zibler

3085[edit]

11th Lyran Regulars (Regular/Reliable)[17]
CO: Leutnant-General Dennis Fuentes

11th Lyran Infantry Brigade (Regular/Reliable)[17]
CO: Colonel Tihomir Novotny

References[edit]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 Field Manual: Lyran Alliance, p. 93, 11th Lyran Regulars Unit Profile
  2. 2.0 2.1 House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth), p. 121, Unit Deployment Table - 3025
  3. NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 1, p. 42, Lyran Commonwealth Armed Forces in 3028
  4. Historical: War of 3039, p. 30, "Kessel"
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 Historical: War of 3039, p. 137, Deployment Table
  6. Historical: War of 3039, pp. 74-75, "Kessel"
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 20 Year Update p. 26, "AFFC Deployment Table - 3025"
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 FedCom Civil War (sourcebook), p. 183, "Lyran Alliance Armed Forces Deployment Table"
  9. FedCom Civil War (sourcebook), p. 148, "Skye"
  10. FedCom Civil War (sourcebook), p. 164, "Skye"
  11. Field Manual: Updates, p. 171, "11th Lyran Regulars"
  12. 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 Field Manual: Updates, p. 179, "LAAF Deployment Table - 3067"
  13. Imminent Crisis (novel) p.??[citation needed], In other news...
  14. Field Report: LAAF, p. 13, "Lyran Regulars"
  15. Jihad Secrets: The Blake Documents, pp. 21-22, "Turning Point"
  16. Field Manual: 3085 p. 102, Lyran Regulars
  17. 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 Field Manual: 3085 p. 107, "LAAF Deployment Table - 3085"
  18. Field Manual: 3085, p. 102 Lyran Regulars/11th Lyran Regulars - Unit's reconstruction and problems along the way.
  19. Field Manual: 3145, pp. 18 & 128 Snapping Wolves/Lyran Regulars - Eleventh listed as a unit serving in Operation Hammerfall and its destruction by Clan Wolf in their offensive against the Commonwealth.
  20. 20.0 20.1 First Succession War, p. 139
  21. 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 Second Succession War, p. 99
  22. 22.0 22.1 Historical: War of 3039, p. 137

Bibliography[edit]