3rd Royal Guards

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Unit Description

The 3rd Royal Guards was a prestigious military command for the Lyran Commonwealth, Federated Commonwealth, and the Lyran Alliance. The command by 3028, upgraded into a Regimental Combat Team. The unit was unique due its being only active Lyran Royal Guard unit not assigned to safeguard Tharkad.

History

The Succession Wars

The 3rd Royals were assigned to Coventry during early Succession Wars.

Operation Freedom

During the early Third Succession War, the Archon Eric Steiner launched his military campaign to retake worlds lost to the Draconis Combine in February 2913.

Archon Eric Steiner personally took command of the 3rd Royal Guards on Freedom, one of the first target worlds of Operation Freedom.

Through skillfull maneuvering and strong attacks, the 3rd Royals pushed two battalions of the elite 6th Sword of Light into a seacliff valley, which was shaped of a horseshoe. The 3rd Royals immediately blocked the valley's only entry bevor the Kurita-forces even noticed their despaired situation. The Guards' artillery units pounded into the valley untill the barrels of the Long Tom and Sniper artillery glowed from overuse. The three day bombardment left the two bataillons of the 6th Sword of Light all but destroyed. The Archon lead his forces personally into the now moon crated valley to confirm the destruction of Kurita forces. However, when he entered the valley, the Archon's Zeus stumbled on vibramines, which destroyed his 'Mech, killing him.[1]

Conflicts on Summer & Hesperus

In 3005, the elements of the 3rd Royals fought off an attack on the residence of the Duke of Summer on Summer, which was conducted by House Kurita forces. They found, that the Duke had been killed and his heir, Aldo Lestrade, whab been injured during the fighting.[2]

In 3019, the unit was dispatched to Hesperus II to defend the world against the invading Wolf's Dragoons mercenaries in service of House Marik. The defending Lyran units finally stopped the elite mercenary brigade in their tracks, though the Dragoons came very close to their objective.[3][4]

Operation Gotterdammerung

The unit was deployed to Port Moseby prior the Fourth Succession War. During the 4th Succession War, the unit invaded Buckminster.

Buckminster

In August 3028, 3rd Royal Guards and 39 other regiments arrived in Buckmister system, where they encountered Kurita AeroSpace forces. The Royal's massive RCT landed on the Lexham Island just off the coast of continent of Sanjusendo. From the large island, Lt. General Steiner deployed the 1st Provisional Lyran Water Navy which provided escort for Royals and their other regiment in two amphibious assaults it conducted on Sanjusendo.

While some of Royal's infantry and tank regiments assaulted westerly Yeloff Peninsula to draw way some of the Kurita forces, the Royal Guard's 'Mechs walked shallow seabed assault Coloa Peninsula to the north.

The after taking the undefended peninsula, the 3rd Royals split into two sub-regiments proceeded to north Cord Mountains. The unit with its supporting regiments fended off ambushes as they moved to the city of Pontiac.

At the city, General Steiner detached Heavy 'Mech company with 14 other conventional regiments to take Pontiac while main body of his invasion force proceeded further into the continent. Pontiac's defending forces consisting of Heavy 'Mech company from 2nd Sword of Light and trio of both tanks and infantry fended off Royals' attempt to subdue the city. The defender's artillery unit, proved to accurate to allow easy battle. To put down the artillery, commanders called in Royal's Aerospace fighters’ strike against Kurita’s guns turn the tide for Lyran forces.

By October, Royal RCT's had made it way over the plains of Sanjusendo to mountains of Sunder's Pass and Greenson Pass. The 2nd Sword of Light's commanding officer, General Goshi Tengwan, was no longer hesitant on where invasion force was going to go, deployed his forces in the mountains. This presented the 3rd Royal RCT serious challenge of the campaign. Lt. General Steiner fearing prolonged fight in the mountains would allow for Kurita forces to arrive, he dispatched call to have the Elvidner deployed to Buckminster. The Elvidner, a special DropShip force, consisting of Fortress Class vessels, were deployed in the mountains where they used their special mounted Long Tom artillery guns bombard enemy forces. However, many of the Kurita less experienced militia forces were sent into panic as artillery of the Dropships begun fall. This even caused many of General Tengwan's veteran units to bolt as Lyran ground forces begun press the attack. Battles of the Passes proved to victory for the Royals, with Kurita survivors falling back to planet's capital, Buckminster City.

Week after the battles concluded, the 6th Arkab Legion dropped on planet to reinforce the beleaguered Kurita forces. Without additional reinforcements, Roman Steiner, had to conduct delaying tactics using his Lightning Companies, hovercraft units, and the Elvidner. On December 2nd, 20th Arcturan Guards, arrive on planet use their heavier BattleMechs to turn tied battle for Lyran forces favor. The Royals and Arcturans cut off the lighter Arkab Legion forces in their attempt to link up with forces held up in Buckminster City forcing them retreat to north. During fighting with the 6th Arkab, General Tengwan, ordered construction of fortification in defense of the city and had evacuated important personnel and documents via Aerospace craft.

Taking advantage of the situation, the 3rd Royals Aerospace Fighters conduct sorties over the city where they bombed its defenders. In addition to the 1st Provisional Lyran Water Navy's arrival to help complete the blockading of the city later in month.[5]

The siege of the city had gone to last four months. In June 3029, Lt. General Steiner, ordering the assault of the city. Steiner feeling that 2nd Sword and its other forces had was low enough on supplies to allow for improved chances for victory.

The 3rd Royals enter the city first, with 20th Arcturans and other regiments behind them. However, in order commit enough forces to the attack, Steiner leaves light screen force to keep eye on Legion to the north. As the Royals pushed into city itself, they were ambushed by infantry forces hidden in the buildings of the city. The Kurita forces took advantage of 'Mechs lack maneuvering in tight city quarters. This slowed down the Royals greatly, and Legion launches a break out once Lyran turn their backs on them. The Royals were force turn back some of its forces to assist Arcturans whose rear-operating areas had came under attack by the Legion. This signal attack by 2nd Sword's 'Mech forces and in turn route remaining Royal units in the city. Three days of fighting forced the Royals and its other allied units to high ground. With no hope now to take the city, General Steiner order withdrawal of Lyran forces from the planet.[6]

War of 3039

During the War of 3039, the unit was moved to Freedom to provide defense during the conflict.[7]

Conflict on Northwind

In 3057, the 3rd Royals are thrown into conflict with the Northwind Highlanders by their commander, Marshal Bradford. In the course of the fighting to keep Northwind as part of the Federated Commonwealth, they are destroyed. Most of the troops from the Royals are repatriated and ultimately leave the Commonwealth for the newly formed Lyran Alliance. There they form the core of new 3rd Royal Guards by order of Archon Katherine Steiner-Davion.[8]

Operation Bulldog

The unit was partially rebuilt by the time it was sent to partipate in 2nd Star League's Operation Bulldog in 3058. The unit was teamed with 11th Alshain Avengers[9] and ComStar forces to retake Avon. In the battle with Clan Smoke Jaguar's 1st Jaguar Guards and Beta Galaxy's Command Trinary off planet, Royal units mistaken Clan Nova Cat forces for Jaguars. This nearly caused hostiles to breakout between two allied forces. The timely intervention of the ComGuard 198th Division[10] commander prevented outright fighting between Clan allies and 3rd Royals.[11]

Post-Clan Invasion Years

After Bulldog, the 3rd Royals are brought up to full capacity. However, the unit receives criticism from the SLDF for its performance on Avon, although the LAAF High Command ignores the criticism.

Officers

Tactics

The unit utilizes innovative and unorthoadox tactics to keep opposition forces off guard. Its also uses its Aerospace forces

Composition History

3025

3028

  • 3rd Royal Guards RCT[14] - Elite skilled
    • 4 Battalions (not including Support Battalion Headquarters unit.)

3050

  • 3rd Royal Guards RCT - Elite Skilled

3062

  • 3rd Royal Guards RCT - CO: Leutnant-General Kathy Parks
    • 3rd Royal Guard (BattleMech Regiment) - Veteran Skilled
  • 3rd Royal Guards Aerospace Brigade - CO: Kaptain Noelle Millward
    • 17th Tharkan Aerospace Wing
    • 101st Tharkan Aerospace Wing
    • 31st Royal Guard Wing
    • 49th Royal Guard Wing
  • 3rd Royal Guards Armor Brigade - CO: Colonel Abdul Kalam
    • 6th Royal PR - CO: Col. Michael Peake
    • 4th Royal Tharkad LT - CO: Col. Tomoko Mendez
    • 9th Port Moresby LT - CO: Col. Abraham Ju'Pierre
  • 3rd Royal Guards Infantry Brigade - CO: Colonel Fuchsia Ball
    • 8th Royal Tharkad LI(R) - CO: Col. Peter Sanders
    • 9th Royal Tharkad LI(R) - CO: Col. Alice Rossini
    • 6th Royal Tharkad MRT - CO: Col. Jacqueline D'Herve
    • 19th Port Moresby JR - CO: Col. Rei Sanchez

Notes

Game Notes

In Field Manual: Lyran Alliance the unit is receives A Rate Equipment and all units are rated at the veteran skilled level.

Aerospace pilots receive -1 to all their piloting rolls when conducting special atmospheric special maneuvers.

The 3rd Royals while using Force Specific rules for scenarios gains a +1 inititive bonus for every four units that do not move onto the map at the start of scenario. At end of each turn, the controlling player rolls 2D6. At result of equal or lower than turn that is currently in play, the withheld 'Mech may enter map from the controlling player's home map edge.[15]

References

  1. House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth), p. 71 - "The Cost of Freedom" - Third Royals exploits during invasion of Kurita controlled world of Freedom.
  2. House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth), p. 155 - "Aldos Lestrade IV profile" - 3rd Royals help fight off battle on Summer.
  3. House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth), p. 82 - "Hesperus Revisited" - Some details Dragoon's invasion of Hesperus.
  4. Field Manual: Lyran Alliance, p. 98 - "3rd Royal Guards" - Unit history indicates it partipation in 13th Battle of Hesperus.
  5. NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 1, pp. 52-55 - "Buckminster" - "3rd Royals as RCT invade Kurita world of Buckminster".
  6. NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 2, pp. 72-73 - "Lyran withdraw from Buckminster after the 3rd Royals are routed from the capital".
  7. Historical: War of 3039, p. 138 - "Deployment Table" - Unit was moved to Freedom in 3038 prior to war.
  8. Field Manual: Lyran Alliance, p. 98 - "3rd Royal Guard brief history".
  9. The Dragon Roars, p. 10 - "Operation Bulldog DCMS deployment table" - 11th Avengers identified as part of the DCMS's forces on planet.
  10. The Dragon Roars, p. 11 - "Deployment table" - Precentor Winston Quiller's unit idenified in as being deployed to Avon.
  11. Field Manual: Lyran Alliance, p. 98 - "Royal blunders nearly cause battle between allied SLDF units".
  12. House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth), p. 121 - "Unit Deployment Table" - 3rd Royal Guards's commanding officer noted.
  13. 20 Year Update, p. 26 - "Federated Commonwealth Unit Deployment Tables" - Ryde Theater - 3rd Royal Guards RCT status and commanding officer listed in 3050.
  14. NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 1, p. 125 - "3rd Royal Guards" - Breakdown of the RCT during Buckminster campaign.
  15. Field Manual: Lyran Alliance, p. 134 - "Force Specific Rules" - 3rd Royals Guards special rules.

Bibliography