Narhal's Raiders

Insignia of Narhal's Raiders
Narhal's Raiders
Formed 2799[1]
Affiliation Mercenary
Parent Command Independent

Narhal's Raiders are a regimental-sized mercenary unit in the Inner Sphere. They have fought for the Lyran Commonwealth, Capellan Confederation, Draconis Combine, and Federated Suns throughout their lengthy career, but are currently well known for their loyalty to the Federated Suns.

History[edit]

First Succession War[edit]

During the First Succession War, a Star League Defense Force* regiment fled to the Periphery. There, they teamed up with the remnants of a BattleMech regiment from the Rim Worlds Republic and the two formed Narhal's Raiders in 2799*.[1] The unit was named after both the commanding officer, Tyilik Narhal, and the Narhal Rover, a predator from Tyilik's homeworld and was initially composed of two regiments. These were aptly titled the First and Second Narhal's Raiders. Under Narhal's leadership the Raiders lived a life of banditry, plundering worlds of the Free Worlds League and Capellan Confederation to sustain itself. After ten years of this piracy, however, the Narhal family member that was then commanding of the unit was ousted by Ustinov Matthews, who along with many of the Raiders' troops had soured of the raiding life. Under his new leadership, the Raiders sought official contracts with the Capellan Confederation and the Federated Suns. At some point during their employment by the two houses, the Second Narhal's Raiders were destroyed 2819 and their survivors folded into the First.[2] In 2821, they were listed as officially contracted with the Capellan Confederation Armed Forces.[2][3]

Second Succession War[edit]

Shortly before the Second Succession War in 2830, the unit signed a contract with the Lyran Commonwealth. They briefly returned to employment with the CCAF from 2849 to 2859, but this choice proved so disastrous that they returned back to the Lyran Commonwealth immediately upon the contract's conclusion. They remained in the Commonwealth's employ all the way up to the Fourth Succession War.[3][4]

Due to intentional interference from Commonwealth officials, the Raiders found themselves in increasingly poor financial shape. For several years they were trapped under a steadily growing mountain of debt that forced them to remain in the LCAF's "company store" and stay under contract to the Commonwealth. This changed in 2866, when Archon Elizabeth Steiner intentionally renegotiated the contract to be more in the Raiders' favor. Thanks to this intervention, the Raiders slowly grew in morale, equipment, and materiel.[3]

Third Succession War[edit]

By the time of the Third Succession War, the Raiders had enjoyed enough success that they were able to reform their second regiment and again operated as the First and Second Narhal's Raiders.[5] In November 3021, the Raiders defended New Ivaarsen while under a contract to House Davion. The inexperienced garrison commander, Lieutenant Commander Arlin Stuart, sought to conserve his forces in fortified positions and let the mercenaries do most of the strategically important fighting. This lead to heavy losses for the mercenaries, while the House unit remained untouched. When the 7th Crucis Lancers, including McKinnon's Raiders, arrived to relieve the defenders, Captain Lewis Gilbert and the battalion of Narhal's Raiders under his command were on the verge of abandoning their post and surrendering to the Kuritans. Acknowledging that the mercenaries' grievance was legitimate, Lieutenant Karl Ryder challenged Gilbert to a one on one duel to return his unit to their duty, with the promise that the wrongs done to them by Stuart would be corrected.[6]

Fourth Succession War[edit]

The unit had returned to the employ of the Lyran Commonwealth by the beginning of the Fourth Succession War. The First Narhal's Raiders landed on Wheel in support of Hansen's Roughriders and engaged the Tooth of Ymir in a series of honor duels. The Raiders and Roughriders won, and the Tooth withdrew.[7][8] The Second Narhal's Raiders faced off against the defenders of Volders in November 3028 alongside Snord's Irregulars.[8][9]

War of 3039 and Clan Invasion[edit]

The Raiders were not tapped to participate in the abortive War of 3039, and remained at their assigned garrison worlds throughout the duration of the conflict.[10]

In late 3051, Narhal's Raiders had been redeployed to Benfled to assist with efforts to defend worlds threatened by the invading Clans. Benfled was squarely in the path of the Clan Steel Viper invasion corridor and the Raiders engaged the Clan Steel Viper Alpha Galaxy's 400th Assault Cluster as they made planetfall. The Steel Viper attack was so fierce that the Raiders were forced to retreat in just four hours, losing an entire regiment to the Clan warriors' ferocious and wily tactics.[11] They were rotated back to the Federated Commonwealth's rear lines to serve as a garrison force on Clermont while they rebuilt.

Following the secession of the Lyran Alliance from the Federated Commonwealth in 3057, the Raiders were released from their contract after Colonel Giraudoux threatened to attack the newly-minted Lyran Alliance Armed Forces in Prince Victor's name. The Raiders rotated to Outreach, where they spent their contract fee upgrading and expanding their 'Mech roster. While on Outreach Giraudoux refused any and all attempted meetings from the LAAF's mercenary liaison. When the LAAF officer finally confronted him in public, Giraudoux loudly expounded upon his low opinion of Archon Katherine in a tirade that quickly spread across Federated Commonwealth news networks. The Raiders immediately accepted a contract with the Draconis Combine to garrison Kilmarnock, freeing up the veteran DCMS regiments that were there to participate in Operation Bulldog.[12]

Combine-Dominion War[edit]

Upon the conclusion of Operation Bulldog, they were reassigned to Rockland and were present on that world when the Ghost Bear Dominion invaded the Draconis Combine. As Rockland was not one of the worlds targeted by the Dominion, the Raiders were tasked with launching a counterattack against the Dominion's forces on Thule, and there faced off against Pi Galaxy. The Raiders attempted a direct head-on confrontation that cost them a full company of 'Mechs before they closed with the Clan Ghost Bear warriors. Once they closed they continued to take heavy casualties, losing another company while destroying approximately thirty Clan 'Mechs. Realizing that reinforcements were imminent and knowing that they likely would not last another bout, the Raiders salvaged what they could and left the world. Colonel Giraudoux was forced to disband the fourth battalion due to the losses the Raiders had sustained, and the unit shrank to the size of a traditional regiment.[13]

FedCom Civil War[edit]

Following the end of the Combine-Dominion War, the Raiders found themselves reassigned to the Combine's Draconis March border after the Federated Suns province attacked the Combine. Seeing that the Civil War was reaching its final stages and noting that the Combine had treated them well, the Raiders elected to stay out of the conflict and renew their contract with the DCMS. Giraudoux was still loyal to First Prince Victor Steiner-Davion, however, and had no desire to fight against Allied units that he felt could be used to help against Katherine, so he pushed for the Raiders to be assigned garrison duty on Fellanin II.[13]

Jihad[edit]

In December 3067, an operative from the Federated Suns' Ministry of Information, Intelligence, and Operations alerted Colonel Giraudoux that there were prisoner-of-war camps located within the Draconis Combine that had been converted to slave labor. When Giraudoux attempted to confirm or deny these rumors with his employer, he was stonewalled and threatened. No longer able to trust the Combine, Giraudoux decided not to renew the Raiders' contract when it expired.[14]

In July 3068, the Raiders were assisting the First Ghost Regiment in their efforts to locate a group of guerilla fighters that had slipped on world and had evaded the DCMS regulars. The Raiders were able to locate this group almost immediately and they surrendered without a struggle, identifying themselves as the MIIO operatives that previously made contact with the Raiders. The team leader informed Giraudoux that there was a converted POW camp located next First Ghost's base on the other side of Fellanin II. Giraudoux hid the MIIO operatives in the brig of one of his DropShips and transmitted to the First Ghost that the Raiders had located and destroyed the guerillas as ordered. As the Raiders lifted off to redeploy, Giraudoux's curiosity overcame him and ordered a reconnaissance flight to sweep the DCMS base and confirm or deny the rumors. As the flight came within range of the base, they were immediately fired upon, but were able to confirm the MIIO operatives' story. Incensed, Giraudoux ordered Narhal's Raiders into action. They attacked the POW camp and were able to were able to liberate the majority of the captives despite a fierce battle with the First Ghost. The MIIO team was able to order an extraction and the Raiders were able to escape across the border on a Federated Suns JumpShip that arrived in-system via pirate point.[14]

On their arrival in the Draconis March, the mercenaries were hailed as heroes, saviors who heeded their consciences over their wallets. Duke Tancred Sandoval quickly offered them a new contract even as the DCMS lodged a complaint with the Mercenary Review and Bonding Commission over their desertion, alleging that Giradoux had escorted prisoners to that very camp and that the reconnaissance flight had been on an attack run that had refused to break off. Giraudoux categorically denied these claims. The Raiders were the target of multiple reprisal raids from Combine troops, which though they were successful in repulsing, left a full two companies of their 'Mechs stuck in their repair bays.[14]

Dark Age[edit]

Records regarding the Narhal's Raiders service and history during the Jihad are spotty and incomplete, but they managed to survive the catastrophic conflict, still in the employ of the Federated Suns.[15] In similar vein, the Raiders weathered the dearth of mercenary contracts during the time of the Republic in service to House Davion, though not much is known of their exploits during this time. They were assigned by the AFFS to garrison Tigress at some point, and were forced off of that world by Laurel's Legion between 3135 and 3145.[16] The Raiders then fell back to the recently-liberated world of Mara, where they remained in garrison until 3151, when they were attacked by the DCMS's Sixth Benjamin Regulars. The Raiders had by that time endured nearly ten years of difficult, taxing operations, and were in no shape to fight a full-strength Combine front line unit. Nevertheless, the Raiders' commander, Colonel Juan Pablo Diaz, resolved to hold Mara for as long as possible. The Raiders mounted a lengthy guerilla warfare campaign, using dirt landing strips, constantly-relocated aerospace assets, and hit and run tactics to harry the Sixth Regulars at every turn. Despite the attrition amongst their battered forces, it was not until the DCMS discovered the location of the Raiders' newest landing strip and launched an overwhelming raid against it that the Raiders were finally forced to retreat offworld. As of the most recent reports, the Raiders were only able to field a short battalion of BattleMechs, though the Federated Suns has made nebulous promises to replenish their losses at some point in the future.[17]

Officers[edit]

Rank Name Command
Commanding Officers of Narhal's Raiders
Tyilik Narhal
Tyilik Narhal'son ? - 2799
General Ustinov Matthews 2799 -
Leutnant-General William Matthews 3025[5]
Leftenant General Pedro Antonio Giraudoux 3054[18]
Colonel Pedro Antonio Giraudoux 3059 - 3071[12][14]
Colonel Juan Pablo Diaz 3145[19]

Tactics[edit]

Though they originally employed a strategy of brutal, straightforward assaults, the Narhal's Raiders were forced to evaluate their tactics after repeated clashes with Clan forces. Though still lovers of close quarters battle, physical 'Mech attacks, and concentration of fire, they have integrated some rudimentary flanking tactics into their battle plans.[13]

Mercenary Rating[edit]

3059[edit]

Dragoons Rating: C+ [12]

3067[edit]

Dragoons Rating: C+ [13]

3071[edit]

Dragoons Rating: F (under review)[14]

Composition History[edit]

2786 - 2821[edit]

1st Narhal's Raiders (Regiment/Veteran/Questionable)[2]

2nd Narhal's Raiders (Regiment/Regular/Questionable) [2]

  • Note: The light-weight command was destroyed in 2819; no post was listed for 2786.[2]

2830[edit]

Narhal's Raiders (Regiment/Elite/Questionable)[20]

2864[edit]

Narhal's Raiders (Regiment/Elite/Questionable)[20]

3025[edit]

Narhal's Raiders (2 Regiments/Regular/Reliable)[5]

3028[edit]

1st Narhal's Raiders (Regiment/Regular)

  • CO: Leutnant-General William Matthews[21]
  • Base: Poulsbo[8]
  • Note: General Matthews commanded the First Narhal's Raiders on Wheel during the Fourth Succession War.[21]

2nd Narhal's Raiders (Regiment/Regular)

  • CO: Leutnant-General Thomas Gerould
  • Base: Poulsbo[8]
  • Note: General Gerould commanded the Second Narhal's Raiders on Volders during the Fourth Succession War.[9]

3038 - 3040[edit]

1st Narhal's Raiders (Regiment/Regular/Reliable)[10]

2nd Narhal's Raiders (Regiment/Regular/Reliable)[10]

3050[edit]

1st Narhal's Raiders (Regiment/Regular/Reliable) [22]

2nd Narhal's Raiders (Regiment/Regular/Reliable) [22]

3054[edit]

Narhal's Raiders (1 Reinforced Regiment/Regular/Reliable)[18]

3059[edit]

Narhal's Raiders (1 Reinforced Regiment/Regular/Reliable)[23]

  • XO/1st Battalion CO: Lt. Colonel Luigi Froeze
  • 2nd Battalion CO: Major Geraldine Tolly
  • 3rd Battalion CO: Major Brett Marionetti
  • 4th Battalion CO: Major Trey Sun Lok

Narhal's Flock (2 understrength squadrons/Veteran)[12]

  • CO: Major Jesse Hastings[12]

3067[edit]

Narhal's Raiders (Regiment/Regular/Reliable)[13]

  • XO/1st Battalion CO: Lt. Colonel Luigi Froeze
  • 2nd Battalion CO: Major Geraldine Tolly
  • 3rd Battalion CO: : Major Trey Sun Lok

Narhal's Flock (1 Wing/Veteran/Reliable)[13]

  • CO: Maj. Jessica Luch[13]

3071[edit]

Narhal's Raiders (1 Regiment)[14]

3085[edit]

Narhal's Raiders (Regiment/Veteran/Reliable)[15]

3145[edit]

Narhal's Raiders (Veteran/Reliable)[19]

Color Scheme and Unit Insignia[edit]

Narhal's Raiders use a standardized brown and green camouflage pattern that is only changed when it significantly clashes with their operating environment. They use the stylized skull of a Narhal Rover against a blue disc outline in white for their emblem.[12]

Notes[edit]

  • House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth) states a fleeing Marik regiment combined with a RWR regiment in 2899. This date cannot be correct given the other information in the unit profile, and First Succession War (sourcebook) states that an SLDF and RWR unit merged in 2799, not Marik and RWR. Conflicting information found in First Succession War (sourcebook) supersedes the previous source, as confirmed by Line Developer, Ray Arrastia (as Adrian Gideon).

Gallery[edit]

References[edit]

  1. 1.0 1.1 First Succession War (sourcebook), p. 35
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 First Succession War, p. 136, "Capellan Confederation Armed Forces (CCAF)"
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth), p. 65
  4. Second Succession War, p. 96, "Capellan Confederation Armed Forces"
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth), p. 119
  6. The Fox's Teeth: Exploits of McKinnon's Raiders, pp. 22-23
  7. The Fourth Succession War Scenarios Volume One, p. 26
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 1, p. 45, "Operation GOTTERDAMMERUNG"
  9. 9.0 9.1 Rhonda's Irregulars, pp. 34-35, "Tanks A Lot"
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 Historical: War of 3039, p. 141
  11. Era Report: 3052, p. 59, "400th Assault Cluster (The Diamondbacks)"
  12. 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 12.5 Field Manual: Mercenaries, p. 77, "Narhal's Raiders"
  13. 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 13.5 13.6 13.7 13.8 Field Manual: MErcenaries (Revised), p. 92, "Narhal's Raiders"
  14. 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 14.5 14.6 14.7 Mercenaries Supplemental Update, p. 91, "Narhal's Raiders"
  15. 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 Field Manual: 3085, p. 160, "Notable Mercenary Forces"
  16. Field Manual: 3145, p. 33, "Laurel's Legion"
  17. Dominions Divided, p. 95, "Narhal's Raiders"
  18. 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 Objective Raids, p. 22
  19. 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 Field Manual: 3145, p. 182, "Notable Mercenary Forces - Federated Suns"
  20. 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 Second Succession War, p. 96, "Lyran Commonwealth Armed Forces"
  21. 21.0 21.1 NAIS Fourth Succession War Military Atlas, Volume 1, p. 48, "Wheel"
  22. 22.0 22.1 22.2 22.3 22.4 22.5 20 Year Update, p. 26
  23. 23.0 23.1 23.2 Field Manual: Mercenaries, p. 106

Bibliography[edit]