4th Deneb Light Cavalry

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Template:InfoBoxStateUnit The Fourth Deneb Light Cavalry was formed from members of the SLDF who chose to remain in the Inner Sphere instead of participating in Operation Exodus.

History

Star League Era

The unit was originally a Rapid Deployment Mixed Arm Force (RDMAF) of the Star League Defense Force, and officially considered a Special Operations Unit equipped with Exterminator BattleMechs and Nighthawk infantry suits. Their headquarters was on the planet of Deneb Kaitos. After Kerensky's Exodus only one of the RDMAF units remained in the Inner Sphere, the Fourth.[1] As part of the Thirteenth Royal French Demi-Brigade[2] within LVI Corps, one of three Corps that formed the Nineteenth Army, the SLDF personnel recruited by the Armed Forces of the Federated Suns to form the Fourth, Fifth and Eighth Deneb Light Cavalry could all trace the heritage of their unit back to the ancient French Foreign Legion on Terra. The AFFS recruited the Thirteenth in 2782, making it one of the first SLDF formations to be recruited as the Terran Hegemony collapsed.[2][3]

First Succession War

During the First Succession War the Fourth Deneb Light Cavalry reinforced the Forty-second Avalon Hussars on Quentin. The two AFFS regiments were able to force the Second Legion of Vega to withdraw, but these events were quickly overshadowed by the Kentares Massacre.[4]

Third Succession War

In 3002 the Fourth Deneb Light Cavalry fought in the Second Battle of Cylene II.[5]

The Fourth also participated in the assault of New Aragon in 3008, attached to Wolf's Dragoons. During the landing, they took heavy damage from Capellan Transgressor aerospace fighters and as a result most of their BattleMechs made rough landings. It took a week for them to recover.[6]

The homeworld of the 4th Deneb Light Cavalry in 3025 was Dalkeith.

4th Succession War

Aldebaran

During Operation Rat a taskforce combined from the 4th Deneb Light Cavalry, the 4th Davion Guards and the merc Redfield Renegades invade Aldebaran. The Davion forces faced the elite Warrior House Ijori and 16 supporting conventional regiments. The invaders split their force in two equal parts. The first group consists of the 4th Davion Guards which hunted the 1st Battalion of the CCAF house. The battalion retreat offworld through hidden DropShips on the ground. The Second Battalion make the life for the 4th Deneb difficult and also the Renegades. The 2nd Battalion slipped into the camp of the enemy. There they created chaos. Only the combined might of the mercs and four conventional regiments could crush the elite force. The 4th Davion Guards secured the planet until December, because the 4th Deneb supported the operations on Zurich.[7][8]

War of 3039

In preparation for the War of 3039 the Fourth Deneb Light Cavalry RCT was assigned to the Lyran Commonwealth world of Freedom. They didn't see any action in this fight.[9]

Clan Invasion

The Fourth DLC didn't face the Clans during their invasion but they were assigned to raid up and down the Jade Falcon border after the Truce of Tukayyid. After raiding for several years they took up station on Dalkeith.[10]

FedCom Civil War

During the FedCom Civil War the Fourth Deneb Light Cavalry tried to maintain a neutral stance, guarding Dalkeith against Clan or Draconis Combine attacks.[11] The LAAF High Command sent the 13th Donegal Guards to take control of Dalkeith's warehouses and facilities for use by troops loyal to Katherine Steiner-Davion. The Fourth Deneb Light Cavalry countered by claiming the materials should be used to defend against an exterior threat. The 13th rejected this view, and began fighting with the 4th Deneb Light Cavalry. Using their high speed and experience in mobile warfare, tactics that were the exact opposite of the 13th Donegal's preference for defensive actions, the 4th DLC inflicted serious losses on the Lyran unit.[12] The 4th used their oversized AeroSpace Fighter contingent to destroy the 13th's fighter wing, and then pounded the 13th's prepared positions. The 4th's ground forces would hit the 13th and then fade away.[13] The LAAF High Command sent the 3rd Royal Guards to assist the 13th Donegal Guards. The Royal Guards offset the 4th's AeroSpace superiority, and their experience with headhunting forced the 4th Deneb to constantly move their repair and command facilities. The 4th was considering leaving Dalkeith when the pro-Victor 4th Davion Guards arrived. The two units began to stage small hit and run attacks on the Lyran units, slowly reducing their numbers.[14]

Shortly after this the 5th Alliance Guards arrived on Dalkeith, changing the balance of power again. The Davion Guards and DLC withdrew through a mountain range, leaving a series of guard forces behind to hold strategic passes. These guard forces delayed the Lyran units for five weeks. When two battalions of Lyran forces finally made it through the passes, they were mauled by the 4th Deneb Light Cavalry. Only a company of those two battalions made it back to friendly lines.[15] The DLC and Davion Guards kept harassing the Lyran troops, making it impossible for their reconnaissance to function. After several weeks however, it became clear that the bulk of the 4th DLC and the Davion Guards had relocated across a sea to another continent.

While the Lyran troops had been playing hide and seek in the plains behind the mountain passes, the 4th Deneb Light Cavalry and 4th Davion Guards created a series of defensive lines on their new home. The 3rd Royal Guards, pursuing a company of the 4th DLC, walked right into a minefield. While the DLC 'Mechs sniped at the Royal Guards the 4th Davion Guards artillery fired more FASCAM rounds behind them, sealing the Royals in a minefield. The DLC 'Mechs withdrew, leaving the Royals to suffer serious losses at the hands of the Guard's artillery, which was now firing conventional rounds directly into the minefield.[16]

A few weeks later the Lyran forces finally received the stand-up fight they wanted all along. They pushed through 25 kilometers of minefields and gun emplacements to face the Federated troops. Unfortunately they were battered and when the 4th DLC attacked their flanks they broke. The 4th DLC continued the pursuit for sixteen hours, running down the Lyrans whenever they could. The Lyran commander wanted the DLC to do this, as they were being damaged and expending ammunition in the process. Eventually the 4th Deneb Light Cavalry was damaged and overextended, and the Lyran commander called for his surprise: The 26th Lyran Guards, who were waiting in orbit. The 26th dropped directly onto the 4th Deneb Light Cavalry's positions, inflicting massive losses on them, while the original Lyran force turned and fought the Deneb Light Cavalry. Though the 26th lost four companies the 4th DLC couldn't escape the hammer and anvil of the two Lyran forces. Only a single combined arms battalion made it clear, with the rest of the Deneb Light Cavalry destroyed or surrendered.[17]

Jihad

The Fourth Deneb Light Cavalry was to be rebuilt in recognition for its long service to the Federated Suns.[18] The new Fourth DLC was based on Deneb Kaitos and was still seriously understrength when the Jihad started.[19]

The Fourth was nearly destroyed when the Word of Blake attacked Deneb Kaitos. In fact the Opacus Venatori effectively destroyed the unit as a combat force on that world.[20] The survivors went on to found a resistance movement that harassed the Blakists for the next ten years. The surviving members of the Fourth were integrated into the Eighth Deneb Light Cavalry and then the Eighth split into two units: The new Fourth DLC and the Eighth DLC. The Fourth DLC had announced its intentions to remain on Deneb Kaitos, even if the world is ceded to the Republic of the Sphere.[21]

After the formation of The Republic of the Sphere the AFFS "gifted" the Republic Armed Forces with the Fourth Deneb Light Cavalry.[22] As the unit was so heavily damaged it was used to form the core of the Deneb Kaitos' militia unit.[23]

Officers

Rank Name Command
Commanding Officers of the 4th Deneb Light Cavalry
Marshal Vernon Fredricks 3025 - 3028[24][7]
Leutnant-General Fran Vidal 3062[10]
Major General Andrew Terlecki III 3062[25]
Commanding Officers of the Deneb Kaitos Militia (Republic of the Sphere)

Notes

  • When Leutnant-General Fran Vidal was killed on Dalkieth, she was replaced by Major General Andrew Terlecki III.[25]
  • When the unit became trapped on Deneb Kaitos for a decade by the Blakists, General Terlecki was reinstated to brigade command by the 8th's commander once the General was known to be alive.[21]

Tactics

Like many units composed of lighter 'Mechs, the Fourth Deneb Light Cavalry used speed to outmaneuver a foe. Under Lieutenant General Vidal the Fourth was skilled at coordinating widely dispersed elements to maximize their effects on enemy forces[10]. How well the rebuilt Fourth DLC during the Jihad could replicate these tactics is unknown.

After the Blakist occupation, the surviving members of the Fourth became skilled in guerrilla warfare techniques.[21]

Composition History

Star League

The RDMAF included six Wings of Aerospace Fighters:[1]

  • 3512th Aerospace Wing
  • 644th Independent Wing
  • 645th Independent Wing
  • 646th Independent Wing
  • 2193rd Royal Attack Wing
  • 2204th Air Wing

2786

Fourth Deneb Light Cavalry (Regular/Reliable)[26]

- At this point in time the Guards were a medium-weight regiment stationed on Ronel and were operating at full strength.[26]

2821

Fourth Deneb Light Cavalry (Regular/Reliable)[26]

- At this point in time the Guards were a medium-weight regiment stationed on Robinson and had been reduced to just over one third of full strength.[26]

2830

4th Deneb Light Cavalry (Regiment/Regular/Reliable) [27]

Note: At this point in time the medium-weight unit was stationed on Robinson with an operational readiness of 101 percent. [27]

2864

4th Deneb Light Cavalry (Regiment/Regular/Reliable) [27]

Note: At this point in time the medium-weight unit was stationed on Udibi with an operational readiness of 29 percent. [27]

3025

Fourth Deneb Light Cavalry RCT (Regiment/Veteran/Reliable)[24]

  • CO: Marshal Vernon Fredricks [24]
Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on Harrow's Sun. [24]

3028

Fourth Deneb Light Cavalry (Veteran/Reliable)[7]

  • CO: Marshal Vernon Fredricks

3040

Fourth Deneb Light Cavalry RCT (Regiment/Regular/Reliable)[28]

Note: At this point in time the command was stationed on Dalkeith. [28]

3050

4th Deneb Light Cavalry RCT (Regiment/Regular/Reliable) [29]

Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on Dalkeith. [29]

3062

Fourth Deneb Light Cavalry (1 Regiment/Regular/Reliable)[10]

Fourth Deneb Light Cavalry Aerospace Brigade (6 Wings)[10]

  • CO: Leutnant-Kommodore Pablo Escobedo
    • 3512th Aerospace Wing
    • 644th Independent Wing
    • 645th Independent Wing
    • 646th Independent Wing
    • 2193rd Royal Attack Wing
    • 2204th Air Wing

Fourth Deneb Light Cavalry Armor Brigade (2 Regiments/Veteran/Reliable)[10]

  • CO: Colonel Santiago Nunez
  • 4898th Royal Cavalry Regiment: Colonel Santiago Nunez
  • 714th Light Armor Regiment: Leutnant-Colonel Del Bodziller

- The 4898th fields nearly two full companies of Plainsman hovercraft.

Fourth Deneb Light Cavalry Infantry Brigade (2 Regiment/Regular/Unreliable)[10]

  • CO: Leutnant General Tracy Mokhtaruddin
    • Aide: Kommandant Barry Seles
  • 223rd Jump Regiment: Leutnant-Colonel Clarise Arn
  • 224th Royal Jump Regiment: Colonel Sarah Colletto

3079

The Jihad wasn't kind to the Fourth DLC. The only reason they were at fifteen percent of their pre-Jihad strength was the presence of soldiers who were transferred in from the Eighth DLC.[21]

Notes

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Field Manual: Federated Suns, p. 84
  2. 2.0 2.1 First Succession War, p. 33, "Those Left Behind"
  3. Field Manual: SLDF, p. 223, "LVI Corps"
  4. Technical Readout: 3025 Revised, p. 30
  5. Technical Readout: 3025 Revised, p. 16
  6. Wolf's Dragoons (sourcebook), pp. 11-12
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 1, p. 15
  8. The Fourth Succession War Scenarios Volume One, p. 42
  9. Historical: War of 3039, p. 136
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 10.6 Field Manual: Federated Suns, p. 85, "4th Deneb Light Cavalry"
  11. FedCom Civil War (sourcebook), p. 85
  12. FedCom Civil War (sourcebook), p. 86
  13. FedCom Civil War (sourcebook), p. 100
  14. FedCom Civil War (sourcebook), p. 101
  15. FedCom Civil War (sourcebook), p. 129
  16. FedCom Civil War (sourcebook), p. 145
  17. FedCom Civil War (sourcebook), p. 163
  18. Field Manual: Updates, p. 130
  19. Field Manual: Updates, p. 140, "Addicks PDZ"
  20. Turning Points: Arcturus, p. 10
  21. 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 Field Report: AFFS, p. 13
  22. Field Manual: 3085, p. 167
  23. Field Manual: 3085, p. 183
  24. 24.0 24.1 24.2 24.3 House Davion (The Federated Suns), p. 136 (pdf version), "Raman PDZ"
  25. 25.0 25.1 Field Manual: Updates, p. 140, "Addicks PDZ"
  26. 26.0 26.1 26.2 26.3 First Succession War, p. 134, "Armed Forces of the Federated Suns (AFFS)"
  27. 27.0 27.1 27.2 27.3 ’’ Second Succession War’’, p. 95
  28. 28.0 28.1 Historical: War of 3039, p.136
  29. 29.0 29.1 20-Year Update, p. 26

Bibliography