Kestrel Crucis March Militia

Crucis March Militia -Brigade logo.png
Kestrel Crucis March Militia
Formed 2754[1]
Nickname Kestrel CrMM
Affiliation Federated Suns
Parent Command Crucis March Militia


The Kestrel Crucis March Militia was responsible for defending the worlds of the Kestrel Combat Region.

History[edit]

Formation[edit]

In common with the other March Militias found across the Federated Suns, the Kestrel Crucis March Militia or Kestrel CrMM was formed in 2754 as a result of the Preparedness Act enacted by First Prince Richard Davion in 2735.[2] Richard established a formal training program aimed at increasing the general readiness level of the Armed Forces of the Federated Suns reserve forces and formalized the structure of the March Militias, bringing the planetary militias into a common structure.[1]

Richard established a system whereby each of the Marches within the Federated Suns conducted internal wargames every two years, with those wargames being inspired by the Martial Olympiad conducted by the Star League Defense Force every four years. Each March Militia was formed as an ad hoc brigade drawing on the winners from each planetary militia across each Combat Region. These ad hoc brigades then competed against each other at a March level to earn the title of "Best Prepared" March Militia within each of the three Marches.[1]

The wargames proved to be very popular and by 2750 the prestige that was associated with the "Best Prepared" title inspired troops in every combat region to give their best effort, with some commands making plans years in advance to try and ensure that they were ready. After the close of the 2754 games First Prince John Davion activated all of the combat region commands as federal troops and formed them into the March Militias; while this move was controversial and provoked a flurry of judicial cases opposing the creation of the commands, it also added twenty BattleMech-equipped combat commands to the AFFS in a single stroke. Many of the planets that provided troops for the games were resentful of having their best militia troops pressed into federal service, and it would be 2763 before the last of the cases worked its way through the courts. With the final ruling going in favor of Prince John, he then moved to allay many of the fears expressed by the planets involved by laying down specific instructions that the March Militias wouldn't be deployed outside their home combat regions except under a small number of very rare and clearly-defined exceptions.[1]

Like the other Crucis March Militias the Kestrel CrMM was well-equipped, much more so than the average Capellan March Militia or Draconis March Militia, and soon established a constant training regimen. The Kestrel CrMM was highly active, leading to a readiness level greater than might have been expected of a militia formation, and acted as a mobile reserve for the Kestrel Combat Region and a staging ground through which planetary militia soldiers could move on into the AFFS, while retiring AFFS personnel moved into the March Militia to pass on their knowledge and experience.[1] The Kestrel CrMM was one of ten March Militia brigades founded within the Crucis March in 2754, with the other nine being the Anjin Muerto, Bastian, Broken Wheel, Islamabad, Malagrotta, Marlette, New Avalon, Point Barrow and Tsamma Crucis March Militias.[3]

Succession Wars[edit]

During the Second and Third Succession Wars, the Kestrel CrMM was called up to support units in the Draconis March. The unit has taken several trophies of their time on the front lines, including a Star League-era Thug piloted by Jinjiro Kurita and the First Sword of Light's unit flag, which they captured when the DCMS unit attacked Robinson in 2854.[4]

In 3062 the unit hadn't been called upon to serve in the front lines for nearly a century. This allowed them to develop their combat skills to a high degree, but training wasn't a substitute for combat.[citation needed]

FedCom Civil War[edit]

The Kestrel CrMM didn't participate in the FedCom Civil War.[5]

Jihad[edit]

The Kestrel Crucis March Militia spent most of the Jihad moving around the worlds of their PDZ searching for pirates, Word of Blake troops, and enforcing New Avalon's policies on the troubled worlds near the Word of Blake Protectorate. The constant planet-hopping has taken a toll on the troops and they wanted to remain on Edwards for a while for some rest and relaxation.[6]

After recuperating on Edwards for several years, the Kestrel CrMM reorganized into a Light Combat Team. They had also been deployed to New Valencia to take up their new permanent base. Like all post-Jihad Crucis March Militia units, the Kestrel CrMM was equipped with an engineering company of IndustrialMechs and engineering vehicles to rebuild the damage their garrison world suffered during the Jihad.[7]

Dark Age[edit]

When the Draconis Combine assaulted the Federated Suns, they took Kestrel. The Kestrel CrMM had been moved to Markesan however and survived. Despite the fact that they would have been killed, many members of the unit wished they could have fought the DCMS on Kestrel.[8]

Officers[edit]

Rank Name Command
Commanding Officers of the Kestrel Crucis March Militia
Major General Hilda Delf 3025[9]
Leftenant General Vivian Petty 3050 - 3062[10][11][4]
Major General Joachim Brandeis 3067[12]
Leftenant General Wade Plate 3085[13]
Leftenant General Sean Jaffey 3145[14]

Tactics[edit]

The command staff could predict the movement of enemy formation, because of their knowledge of many ancient battles.[4]

Composition History[edit]

2765[edit]

Kestrel Crucis March Militia (Regiment/Regular/Fanatical)[3]

- One BattleMech regiment[1]
- Two armor regiments[1]
- Three infantry regiments[1]
- One mobile artillery battalion[1]
- Two aerospace wings, each of eighteen aerospace fighters[1]
- The Kestrel CrMM was stationed on Kestrel at this point in time.[3][15]

2786–2821[edit]

Kestrel Crucis March Militia (Regiment/Regular/Fanatical)[16]

- At this point in time the Militia was a medium-weight unit operating at full regimental strength, and was based on Kestrel.[16] In 2821 the unit was operating at just below one-third of full strength, and was based on Markesan.[16]

2830[edit]

Kestrel CrMM (Regiment/Regular/Fanatical)[17]

Note: At this point in time the medium-weight unit was stationed on Kestrel with an operational readiness of 68 percent.[17]

2864[edit]

Kestrel CrMM (Regiment/Regular/Fanatical)[17]

Note: At this point in time the heavy-weight unit was stationed on Kestrel with an operational readiness of 16 percent.[17]

3025[edit]

Kestrel Crucis March Militia (Regiment/Regular/Reliable)[9]

  • CO: Major General Hilda Delf[9]
Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on Kestrel.[9]

3040[edit]

Kestrel CrMM (Regiment/Regular/Reliable)[18]

Note: At this point in time the command was stationed on Kestrel.[18]

3050[edit]

Kestrel Crucis March Militia (Regiment/Regular/Reliable)[19]

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

3054[edit]

Kestrel Crucis March Militia (Regiment/Regular/Reliable)[20]

  • CO: Leftenant General Vivian Petty[20]
Note: At this point in time the command was stationed on Kestrel.[20]

3062[edit]

Kestrel Crucis March Militia (1 Regiment/Regular/Reliable)[4]

Kestrel CMM Aerospace Wing (1 Wing/Green/Reliable)[4]

Kestrel CMM Armor Brigade (2 Regiments/Regular/Reliable)[4]

Infantry Brigade (4 Regiments/Regular/Reliable)[4]

3067[edit]

Kestrel CrMM (Regular/Fanatical)[12]

  • CO: Major General Joachim Brandeis

Kestrel CrMM Aerospace Wing (Veteran/Reliable)[12]

Kestrel CrMM Armor Brigade (Regular/Reliable)[12]

Kestrel CrMM Infantry Brigade (Regular/Reliable)[12]

3079[edit]

Kestrel Crucis March Militia RCT (Regiment/Regular/Reliable)[21]

Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on Edwards.[21] The decade of planet-hopping took its toll on the Kestrel CrMM. By this time they were down a third of their forces.[6]

3085[edit]

Kestrel CrMM LCT (Regular/Reliable)[13]

Kestrel CrMM Aerospace Wing (Green/Reliable)[13]

Kestrel CrMM Armor Brigade (Regular/Reliable)[13]

Kestrel CrMM Infantry Brigade (Green/Reliable)[13]

3145[edit]

Kestrel CrMM (1 Battalion/Regular/Reliable)[14]

  • CO: Leftenant General Sean Jaffey

Kestrel CrMM Aerospace Wing (Green/Reliable)[14]

Kestrel CrMM Armor Brigade (Regular/Questionable)[14]

Kestrel CrMM Infantry Brigade (Veteran/Reliable)[14]

Notes[edit]

  • Field Report 2765: AFFS attributes the Preparedness Act of 2735 to both Richard Davion[2] and Roger Davion.[1] Because other sources indicate that Richard Davion was First Prince in 2735, and that Roger Davion died in 2703, the latter attribution is probably an error.
  • Leftenant General Vivian Petty is a notable historian, having spent a lot of time delving into history tomes due to her assignment in a unit seeing little action for many years.[4]

References[edit]

  1. 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 Field Report 2765: AFFS, p. 21: "Federated Suns March Militias"
  2. 2.0 2.1 Field Report 2765: AFFS, p. 3: "Strategic Update"
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Field Report 2765: AFFS, p. 22: "Regimental Status"
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 Field Manual: Federated Suns, p. 115: "Kestrel CrMM Profile"
  5. Field Manual: Updates, p. 134: "Kestrel CrMM"
  6. 6.0 6.1 Field Report: AFFS, p. 17
  7. Field Manual: 3085, p. 65
  8. Field Manual: 3145, p. 82
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 House Davion (The Federated Suns), p. 138 (PDF version): "Kestrel Combat Region"
  10. 20 Year Update, p. 22: "AFFC Deployment Table - 3050"
  11. Objective Raids, p. 15: "AFFC Deployment Table - 3054"
  12. 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 Field Manual: Updates, p. 139: "AFFS Deployment Table - 3067"
  13. 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 Field Manual: 3085, p. 71: "AFFS Deployment Table - 3085"
  14. 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 Field Manual: 3145, p. 91: "Armed Forces of the Federated Suns"
  15. Field Report 2765: AFFS, p. 29: "Armed Forces Federated Suns Deployment Map 2765"
  16. 16.0 16.1 16.2 First Succession War, p. 134: "Armed Forces of the Federated Suns (AFFS)"
  17. 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 Second Succession War, p. 95
  18. 18.0 18.1 Historical: War of 3039, p. 136
  19. 19.0 19.1 19.2 20 Year Update, p. 22
  20. 20.0 20.1 20.2 Objective Raids, p. 15
  21. 21.0 21.1 Field Report: AFFS, p. 16

Bibliography[edit]