Red Lancers

(Redirected from The Blood Brigade)
Capellanhussarsredlancers.png
Red Lancers
Formed 2452
Nickname The Red Heart Guard
Affiliation Capellan Confederation
Parent Command Capellan Hussars


History[edit]

Formation[edit]

Originally raised in 2355 as the Second Hexare Lancers, and later renamed the Red Lancers after destruction of a rebellious unit Merik's Grenadiers in 2451-2452, a rogue Capellan Hussars unit that had assassinated Chancellor Duncan Liao in 2452.[1][2]

During the Reunification War the Red Lancers made several deep strikes against the Federated Suns and Free Worlds League. They also spent two years on Andurien to show the Chancellor's interest in interstellar matters.[3]

Succession Wars[edit]

First Succession War[edit]

In 2787, the Chancellor Barbara Liao assigned the Red Lancers to Task Force Devlin, a multiservice expeditionary force tasked to gain worlds for House Liao.

The Battle of Calloway VI[edit]

In March of 2789, the Task Force Devlin had jumped to Calloway VI. Prior to the invasion being carried out, traitors among the Task Force feeling guilty over the loss of life caused by Task Force's action on New Delos leaked to House Marik the operation plans for Liao's attack on Calloway VI. Task Force Devlin was meet by a First Oriente Provincial Squadron on their arrival at Calloway system. Despite the Oriente Squadron's surprise attack and destruction of a regiment's worth of 'Mechs and aerospace assets, the Lancers along with other ground forces burned to the planet. Barbara Liao led the regiments to domination of the planet. Joining other four surviving regiments, the Marik defenders had mustered five regiments and had weeks to fortify their positions. However, due to the presence of the Chancellor leading the Lancers into battle, reserves of troops used up every time the Marik forces broke through their battle lines and threaten her. Eventually, after 10 days of battle, Chancellor admitted defeat and ordered Liao forces to withdraw as attrition depleted her forces. By this time, the Red Lancers had been depleted to a third of the fighting strength remained as they tried to provide cover for Chancellor to withdraw from the planet. In the aftermath of the following destruction of Task Force Devlin, the Red Lancers were among the three regiments to have survive the campaign.[4]

During Sandol Quinn Regency, the young Ilsa Liao completed a two-month Lance-command stint in the Red Lancers on Sian.[5]

Second Succession War - The Red Heart Guard[edit]

Recognizing as the Second Succession War began in earnest in 2828 that the depleted CCAF could not hope to fend off simultaneous attacks from both the Free Worlds League and Federated Suns, in a desperate gamble Chancellor Ilsa Liao stripped the League border of its best troops and personally lead the Red Lancers supported by elements of the Prefectorate Guard to strike the important Federated Suns staging world of Orbisonia to try and delay the Davion advance. While Ilsa's troops had a considerable weight advantage, their ranks consisting primarily of Warhammer and Marauder heavy 'Mechs, the defending units of the Avalon Hussars were much more experienced and managed to outmaneuver and outsmart the Capellans thanks to the heavy use of light reconnaissance and scout assets.[6][7][2] However another factor was the arrival of the Davion Assault Guards.[8]

By the fourth day of the campaign the Capellan forces were in full retreat, with Ilsa leading the rear-guard forces. Unbeknownst to the Capellan forces, the Federated Suns troops had identified that Ilsa was leading the rear-guard and launched an aimed strike at her forces. At one point the Red Lancers used chemical weapons to disengage from the 14th Avalon Hussars. This infuriated the Hussars, inspiring them to fanatical attacks.[8] During the final rear-guard action that saved the remains of the Capellan forces, Ilsa Liao was killed in action, becoming the first Capellan Chancellor to die on the battlefield. The Red Lancers would thereafter adopt the nickname of the "The Red Heart Guard" in commemoration of their fallen commander.[9][6][7][2][8]

Later there were sent as reinforcements to Tikonov to repulse the Davion invaders in 2832.[2]

On Spica, the command destroyed a taskforce of Davion mercenaries Gunther's Grenadiers, Deidre's Destroyers, and Brighton's Irregulars.[2]

The Lancers forestalled a Capellan Civil War in 2989 by throwing their support behind Maximilian Liao.[1][2][10]

Third Succession War[edit]

In the closing years of the Third Succession War, 3026, Duke Michael Hasek-Davion dispatched the 1st Kestrel Grenadiers to St. Ives for a reconnaissance in force. Initially opposed by the First St. Ives Lancers the Lancers, covertly fielding the new electronic warfare equipped RVN-1X Ravens and CTF-0X Cataphracts, soon engaged the Grenadiers as well. With the combination of numbers, surprise, and advanced equipment the Grenadiers were nearly destroyed.[11][12]

Fourth Succession War[edit]

Despite being stationed on Sian during the Fourth Succession War, the Red Lancers did not take part in the defense against the raid of the 1st Kathil Uhlans on the 24th of October, 3029, as only 'Mechs of Warrior House Imarra stood at the spaceport as the honor guard for what they believed were the victorious returning 4th Tau Ceti Rangers.[citation needed]

Andurien/Canopus Invasion[edit]


War of 3039[edit]


Operation GUERRERO[edit]

In 3059 the Red Lancers and Warrior House Dai Da Chi tested the Duan Gung BattleMech.[13]

Operation BULLDOG[edit]

In 3060, they represented the Capellan Confederation in the Great Refusal. A company of Lancers faced a Binary from Clan Fire Mandrill. Their commander recognized the clanners were divided in several Kindraas, so they kept a Star at bay while they pummel the other, and later turned against the first one. The surviving Mandrills soon surrended.[14]

Xin Sheng Campaign[edit]

The Red Heart Guard defended Chancellor Liao against two assassination attempts in 3063 and a third attempt in 3066.[15]

The Red Lancers would be the Confederation's participating unit in the Second Star League's attempt to revive the Martial Olympiad, ultimately winning the Olympiad held on Tukayyid in 3067.[16]

Jihad[edit]

Located on Sian when the Word of Blake sent two divisions to attack the world, the Red Lancers forced the 17th and 24th Divisions to a standstill. This allowed the Blackwind Lancers to arrive and shatter the Blakist commands. The Blakist forces withdrew in disarray.[17] During the second battle of Sian, the Red Lancers lost most of their command structure to a Blakist headhunter attack; they finished the battle with members of the Death Commandos filling out their command structure. By the time the Blakists were driven off Sian the Red Lancers were reduced to half their nominal strength.[18]

The Red Lancers accompanied Magestrix Naomi Centrella-Liao back to the Magistracy of Canopus in 3075, taking part in the campaign to liberate the Magistracy capital world of Canopus.[19] When Naomi returned to the Capellan Confederation in December 3075 she left the Red Lancers on Canopus to reinforce the surviving planetary defenses.[20][21][22]

The unit was still in Canopus in 3079.[23]

Republic Era[edit]

The Red Lancers were assigned to land on Liao in 3084, and several other commands were assigned to join with them. These forces were intended to attack into the former Word of Blake Protectorate, but a combined force of the RAF's Stone's Brigade and Hastati Sentinels shattered the force and prevented offensive operations.[24] The conflict cost the command half of their troops, including their commanding officer.[25]

With Naomi Centrella-Liao's daughter named after the Red Lancer's legendary commander, the unit named the Ilsa an honorary sang-shao in the unit in 3084. The Lancers staged a full military parade on her sixteenth birthday, posters of the young Ilsa posing with several of the Red Heart Guards atop the canopy of a Men Shen OmniMech widely distributed across both the Confederation and Magistracy in its wake.[25]

During the Victoria War the Red Lancers took Shuen Wan from the Oriente Protectorate before moving to assault Ipswich. Supported by Roman's Mounted Fusiliers they faced the 5th Oriente Hussars and 6th Oriente Hussars.[26][27] After forcing the Oriente forces off-world, they pursued them to their staging area on Shuen Wan. During this assault a thin line of Hussars held off the Red Lancers long enough for the commands to evacuate to Anegasaki and destroy Oriente intelligence sources. The assault on Shuen Wan and Pella II were led by Daoshen Liao.[28] The Red Lancers and Roman's Mounted Fusiliers then attacked Ipswich, but previous losses allowed the Hussars to force the Capellan units back to Shen Wan.[29] By the end of the Victoria War, the Lancers had lost approximately 30% of their force.[30]

Dark Age[edit]

In January 3113 the Red Lancers and Death Commandos were stationed on Sakhalin awaiting the arrival of Kai Allard-Liao.[31][32] The Red Lancers faced the V Hastati Sentinels while a company of Death Commandos faced Kai Allard-Liao. After Kai was killed, the V Hastati started to break, but were reinforced by Stone's Lament. The Red Lancers and Death Commandos retreated off-world, having accomplished their objective by killing Kai Allard-Liao.[33]

The Red Lancers and Death Commandos then joined Chancellor Sun-Tzu Liao on Liao. They reinforced the Dynasty Guards and faced off against the Amaterasu and IX Hastati Sentinels. In the middle of the fighting, the Chancellor executed a combat drop in an Emperor BattleMech and landed in the middle of the Republic forces. The Chancellor quickly killed several light 'Mechs, but the Emperor was promptly crippled by the elite Amaterasu. The Red Lancers saw this and entered a fury, inflicting so much damage on the Republic forces that they had to retreat.[34][35]

By May 3113 the Red Lancers, Dynasty Guards, and Death Commandos had fallen back to the city of Chang-an. The IX Hastati, Amaterasu had been reinforced by Stone's Brigade, slowly pushing the Capellans back. After entering Chang-an, the Capellans prepared for a last stand. However, on 2 June, the CCAF and RAF forces received word of the Sarna Armistice, which halted the conflict.[36][37]

Following the Blackout the Red Lancers engaged in combat operations only once. During Operation CELESTIAL REWARD in 3145 the Red Lancers drove the First Federated Suns Armored Cavalry off Almach. Having demonstrated their prowess and assisted the CCAF's operational timetable, the Lancers afterwards returned to Sian.[38][39][40]

After Operation BÀOYÌNG the Red Lancers transferred to Liao early in 3150, accompanying the Chancellor, his top advisors, and the Death Commandos in preparation for a renewed Capellan drive on Terra.[41]

Officers[edit]

Rank Name Command
Commanding Officers of the Red Lancers
Colonel Nikolai Yurchenko 2828[42]
Colonel Judith Abermarle 3025[2]
Colonel Andre Elias 3050-3054[43][44]
Sang-shao Siona Aterade [1]
Sang-shao An Shennu 3062-3070[1][45][46]
Sang-shao William Le Marchant 3085 - 3111[47][48]
Sang-shao Cao Culverton 3145-3151[49][50]

Other Unit Officers[edit]

Tactics[edit]

The Lancers use divide-and-conquer tactics, splitting an enemy force in two. One tactic involves pinning an enemy unit between heavy 'Mechs and lighter, jump-capable units.[1]

Composition History[edit]

2765[edit]

Red Lancers (Regiment/Elite/Fanatical)[52]

Note: At this point in time the regiment was based on Sian.[52]

2786–2821[edit]

Red Lancers (Regiment/Elite/Fanatical)[53]

Note: At this point in time the Lancers were a heavy-weight regiment operating at full strength and were based on Sian.[53] In 2821 the unit was operating at just below half-strength and were based on Propus.[53]

2830[edit]

Red Lancers (Regiment/Elite/Fanatical)[54]

Note: At this point in time the assault-weight unit was stationed on Gorki with an operational readiness of 80 percent.[54]

2864[edit]

Red Lancers (Regiment/Elite/Fanatical)[54]

Note: At this point in time assault-weight unit was stationed on Sian with an operational readiness of 39 percent.[54]

3025[edit]

Red Lancers (Regiment/Elite/Fanatical)[2]

  • CO: Colonel Judith Abermarle

Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on Sian.[55]

3028[edit]

Red Lancers (Regiment/Elite/Fanatical)[56]

Note: At this point in time the command was stationed on Sian.[56]

3050[edit]

Red Lancers (Regiment/Elite/Fanatical)[43]

Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on Sian.[43]

3054[edit]

Red Lancers (Elite/Fanatical)[44]

  • CO: Colonel Andre Elias

3063[edit]

Red Lancers (1 Regiment/Elite/Fanatical)[1]

  • CO: Sang-shao An Shennu
Note: Includes 2 Augmented Lances 'Mechs in second Battalion. The combination of Clan 'Mechs and Inner Sphere vehicles has led to heavy losses for the enemies of the CCAF.[1]

4th Sian Defender Wing (1 Wing (Military Unit)/Veteran/Fanatical)[1]

The Blood Brigade (1 Battalion/Regular/Fanatical)[1]

Note: The unit includes two lances of heavy tanks (Ontos), which are supporting the Regulators during combat.

Red Lancers Infantry (1 Reinforced Regiment/Veteran/Fanatical)[1]

Note: Includes two platoons of battle armor)[1]

3067[edit]

Red Lancers (1 Regiment/Elite/Fanatical)[45]

  • CO: Sang-shao An Shennu
Note: The Lancers was at full strength at this point in time, with nearly half of the unit equipment featuring advanced technology. Furthermore, the regiment includes one company of Clan 'Mechs, twenty percent of which were OmniMechs.[45]

4th Sian Defender Wing (1 Wing (Military Unit)/Veteran/Fanatical)[1][45]

Note: The wing was nearly at full strength at this point in time, with over forthy percent of the unit's equipment featuring advanced technology.[45]

The Blood Brigade (1 Battalion/Regular/Fanatical)[45]

Note: The Brigade was at full strength at this time, with more than half of the unit's equipment featuring advanced technology.[45]

Red Lancers Infantry (1 Reinforced Regiment/Veteran/Fanatical)[1][45]

3079[edit]

Red Lancers (Regiment/Elite/Fanatical)[57]

Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on Canopus.[57]

3085[edit]

Red Lancers (Elite/Fanatical)[47]

  • CO: Sang-shao William Le Marchant[58]

4th Sian Defense Wing (Wing/Elite/Fanatical)[47]

The Blood Brigade (2 Battalions/Veteran/Fanatical)[47]

Red Lancers Infantry (4 Battalions/Veteran/Fanatical)[47]

3145[edit]

Red Lancers (Elite/Fanatical)[49]

  • CO: Sang-shao Cao Culverton

4th Sian Defense Wing (Elite/Fanatical)[49]

The Blood Brigade (Elite/Fanatical)[49]

Red Lancers Infantry (4 Battalions/Elite/Fanatical)[49]

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 1.11 1.12 Field Manual: Capellan Confederation, p. 53: "Red Lancers Unit Profile"
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 House Liao (The Capellan Confederation), p. 77: "Red Lancers"
  3. Historical: Reunification War, p. 34: Red Lancers
  4. First Succession War, pp. 58–59: "Debacle of Calloway - Red Lancer's actions during Calloway VI battle.
  5. Handbook: House Liao, p. 28: "Sandol Quinn - Ilsa the Peacemaker - Debacle at Chesterton"
  6. 6.0 6.1 House Liao (The Capellan Confederation), p. 47: "The Succession Wars - Second Succession War"
  7. 7.0 7.1 Handbook: House Liao, p. 29: "The Red Heart Guard"
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 Turning Points: Orbisonia, p. 7
  9. Technical Readout: 3075, p. 220: "Darter Scout Car"
  10. Era Report: 3052, p. 37: Red Lancers
  11. Experimental Technical Readout: Succession Wars, Volume 1, p. 6
  12. BattleTech: Inner Sphere Direct Fire Lance: "Charlotte Chan"
  13. Technical Readout: 3060, p. 76
  14. Twilight of the Clans, p. 13
  15. Field Manual: Updates, p. 20: "Red Lancers Profile"
  16. Field Manual: Updates, p. 94: "Star League Defense Force - Martial Olympiad"
  17. Blake Ascending, pp. 271–272; Jihad Hot Spots: 3070, pp. 111–112
  18. Jihad Turning Points: Sian, p. 7
  19. Jihad Hot Spots: 3076, p. 54
  20. Jihad Hot Spots: 3076, p. 55
  21. Jihad Hot Spots: Terra, p. 19: "Timeline of the Jihad"
  22. Jihad: Final Reckoning, p. 55: "The Jihad in Review"
  23. Field Report: CCAF, p. 8: "Regimental Status"
  24. Field Manual: 3085, p. 19
  25. 25.0 25.1 Field Manual: 3085, p. 23: "Capellan Confederation - Capellan Hussars - Red Lancers"
  26. Technical Readout: 3145 Free Worlds League, p. 44
  27. Historical: Wars of the Republic Era, p. 57: Oriente Overwhelmed
  28. Historical: Wars of the Republic Era, p. 60
  29. Historical: Wars of the Republic Era, p. 61
  30. Historical: Wars of the Republic Era, p. 65
  31. Historical: Wars of the Republic Era, p. 80
  32. Operational Turning Points: Capellan Crusades, pp. 9, 25
  33. Historical: Wars of the Republic Era, p. 82
  34. Historical: Wars of the Republic Era, p. 83
  35. Operational Turning Points: Capellan Crusades, pp. 27–28
  36. Historical: Wars of the Republic Era, p. 85
  37. Operational Turning Points: Capellan Crusades, pp. 10, 31
  38. Technical Readout: 3145 Capellan Confederation, p. 22
  39. Technical Readout: 3145 Federated Suns, pp. 42, 52
  40. Field Manual: 3145, p. 30: "Capellan Hussars - Red Lancers"
  41. Shattered Fortress, p. 79
  42. Historical Turning Points: Orbisonia, p. 9
  43. 43.0 43.1 43.2 20 Year Update, p. 62: "CCAF Deployment Table"
  44. 44.0 44.1 Objective Raids, p. 41: "CCAF Deployment Table - 3054"
  45. 45.00 45.01 45.02 45.03 45.04 45.05 45.06 45.07 45.08 45.09 45.10 Field Manual: Updates, p. 32: "CCAF Deployment Table - 3067"
  46. Jihad Turning Points: Sian, p. 7
  47. 47.0 47.1 47.2 47.3 47.4 Field Manual: 3085, p. 33: "CCAF Deployment Table - 3085"
  48. Operational Turning Points: Capellan Crusades, p. 13: "Combatants"
  49. 49.0 49.1 49.2 49.3 49.4 Field Manual: 3145, p. 45: "CCAF Deployment Table - 3145"
  50. IlClan, p. 119
  51. Technical Readout: 3075, p. 228
  52. 52.0 52.1 Field Report 2765: CCAF, p. 7
  53. 53.0 53.1 53.2 First Succession War, p. 135: "Capellan Confederation Armed Forces (CCAF)"
  54. 54.0 54.1 54.2 54.3 Second Succession War, p. 95
  55. House Liao (The Capellan Confederation), p. 105
  56. 56.0 56.1 Historical: Brush Wars, p. 87
  57. 57.0 57.1 Field Report: CCAF, p. 8
  58. Operational Turning Points: Capellan Crusades, p. 13

Bibliography[edit]