19th Division (Word of Blake)

Unit Brief

The 19th Division is a Veteran "hidden" Word of Blake Militia unit that was under wraps until the they were revealed a year after the Jihad war broke out. The unit was known for operation in both the Capellan and later Draconis Combine Theaters during later 3060s & early 3070s.

History

Capellan Theater

The 19th Division first appear in combat in support of the Capellan Confederation's military counter-assault operation called Operation: Thunderstrike in 3069. The unit took the world of Algot in blitzkrieg assault using its Aerospace assets in concert with deployment of chemical weapons. The Aerospace forces firebombed AFFS barracks while the chemical weapons were used against civilian population centers. This was to crush resistance firmly due to the Division's limited numbers on world. Only three Level III formations were reported to being used in attack that secured the planet.

Two months later, two Level III formation assaulted the world of Yangtze. The small force quickly achieved victory, however resistance to their presence was almost immediate. The unit with no reinforcements available used extreme methods to put down the resistance. The WoB force struck several dams near large populated areas and flooded the regions. Some of the unrest was put down as well as local infrustructure crippled.

Both worlds became too rebellious for either invasion force to handle. By 3071, both invasion forces withdrew from both worlds.

Draconis Theater

The Division was assigned to begin harass the Draconis Combine, through series of supply depot raids. The unit hit approximately 15 worlds over course of three years, from Ashio and Shinonoi to Matsuida and An Ting. The unit narrowing its targets to supply and fuel deports, they avoiding combat with local defenders. These raids cost the Combine large amounts of Ryu (money) for repairs. The Combine forces were frustrated with the Division's activities and were not able hunt them down.

The Division used Dieron as its home base during the raids, but only kept two Level IIs on world at any time. To fool intelligence agencies, these Level IIs were rotated through a series of locations on the world. In 3076 the entire division returned to Dieron, using the supplies and war prizes they captured in their raids to build their forces. The 19th Division also oversaw most of the defense of Dieron when the Ghost Bears and Combine attacked. During their defense the Division destroyed eighty percent of the Luthien Armor Works facility on Dieron with buried nuclear warheads.

Officers

The commanding officer of the 19th Division while it was on Dieron was Precentor XI Rachel Eager.

Tactics

The unit specializes in quick-strikes, and raiding. The unit deploys light Combined-Arms force which are mixed down to the Level II formations. Typically, two light or medium WoB design BattleMechs are used, while three units are typically salvaged DCMS light or medium size vehicles, and one unit is either Battle Armor or Light AeroSpace Fighter.

Composition

3069

• 5 Level III Formation reported.

Game Notes

The Vehicles of the 19th gains -1 to gunnery and piloting when facing DCMS or AFFS affiliated unit. All non-BattleMech related equipment is rolled from the Draconis Combine Random-Rolling Taple.

Bibliography

• Jihad Secrets: The Blake Documents
• Jihad Turning Points: Dieron