6th Crucis Lancers

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History

Formation

The Sixth Crucis Lancers were formed during the First Succession War, one of two Crucis Lancer regiments to form during the War - the other being the Eighth.[1]

Fourth Succession War

The homeworld of the Sixth Crucis Lancers was Langhorne. In the Fourth Succession War the Sixth Crucis Lancers attacked Tikonov with the other Crucis Lancer RCTs. There they faced elements of Stapleton's Iron Hand.[2] After that attack, they moved on to take Jonathan and Foot Fall.[3] The fifth wave of AFFS invasion into the Capellan Confederation saw the Sixth Crucis Lancers attacking Mandate[4], and in the sixth wave of attacks they secured the Heligoland system for the Federated Suns.[5] After the Fourth Succession War, the 6th was attacked several times by Capellan terrorists.

Mandate

Following the lull in major offensives in early 3029, a number of new offensives began as the Fourth Succession War entered its second year. The AFFS forces on the Capellan front such as the Lancers did their best to rest and resupply during the lull, anticipating a return to combat operations; orders for the fifth wave of Operation RAT were received in late April, and large-scale invasions of the Capellan Confederation began again.[6] Stripped of JumpShips to form a command chain for Operation INTRUDERS COMMUNION, few of the front-line forces within the Sarna Commonality were able to respond to the fresh wave of attacks.[7] Despite the lack of front-line units on Mandate, the Capellan Operations Command of the AFFS was deeply concerned about the invasion of the planet; Mandate had provided more personnel to the Capellan Warrior Houses than any other Confederation world, and the population of the planet were known to be tough individuals as a result of the combination of Capellan society and Mandate's harsh environment.[8]

The COC's concerns proved to be well-founded; when the Sixth invaded Mandate, they faced propeller aircraft making ramming attacks against landing DropShips and dropping 'Mechs, as well as suicide bombers on the ground, as the civilian population fought back against the invaders. In what proved an emotionally-sapping campaign, the militia and volunteer regiments defending Mandate proceeded to use similar tactics, but on a much larger scale. In addition to the suicide attacks the various regiments of the RCT found themselves subject to constant sniper attacks, mass charges by militia units and the contamination of water sources. By the time the Lancers had reached the outskirts of Glory of Liao, the planetary capital city, the troops were already emotionally exhausted from having to kill old men, women and children as the fanatical defenders attempted to oust them.[8]

The first elements of the RCT to reach Glory of Liao were a medium 'Mech company, a company of light armor, and two battalions of infantry - one being laser grenadiers, the other helicopter-equipped jump troops. The defenders had concealed themselves in ground positions, and emerged en masse - three companies of Capellan tanks, two battalions of militia infantry and a regiment of civilian volunteers. The volunteers proceeded to rush the Lancers line with improvised weapons and basic firearms, while the militia tanks and soldiers used them as human shields to conceal their advance. The Lancers' efforts to target just the militia elements gave the attackers more time, and despite horrendous casualties the third wave of attackers breached the Lancers' infantry lines. It was only the sudden appearance of two Lancer Firestarters that allowed the Lancers to plug the gap in the line, by which time they'd already lost three platoons of infantry and a tank, as well as one of the two Firestarters.[8]

Barely pausing, the defenders attacked again, and were on the verge of overwhelming the Lancer lines when the Third McHenry Jump Regiment arrived, deploying by helicopter into the middle of the attacking troops; with those members of the Third who survived the drop grouping up back-to-back to try and hold, the Mandate volunteer formation finally broke, exposing the militia elements. Despite strafing runs from helicopters and the the second Firestarter sacrificing itself, the militia nearly overwhelmed the Lancers. The arrival of two more lances of Lancer 'Mechs tipped the battle in favour of the AFFS troops, but the militia tanks continued to fight until they were all destroyed. The battle proved such a horrific bloodbath that, faced with the prospect of another round of similarly huge and senseless losses defending the capital, the people of Mandate surrendered.[8]

Heligoland

Defending Heligoland when the Sixth Crucis Lancers landed were Kingston's Legionnaires, a medium-weight 'Mech regiment. Rather than assaulting the Lancers' drop zones, the Legionnaires assumed defensive positions in the hills around the planetary capital city, Helio. This presented Marshal Orval Gossiage with a problem, as assaulting a strong enemy in a well-chosen defensive position was a recipe for casualties. When Gossiage's reconnaissance teams confirmed that Helio's only source of water was a reservoir located more than fifty kilometers away, Gossiage ordered the Lancers to capture the reservoir, cut off the water supply to Helio, and wait. Two weeks later, Colonel Martha Mathias of the Legionnaires had no choice but to attack, only for the Legionnaires to be mauled by the Lancers.[9]

Faced with a losing prospect Mathais contacted Gossiage with an offer to withdraw the Legionnaires and the planetary militia off-world, provided a number of set conditions were met. Those conditions revolved primarily around ensuring that the local population were treated fairly, but also included the demand that the Legionnaires and their families be transported to Minnacora, a nearby system still in Capellan hands. Knowing that he was placing his transport ships at risk, Gossiage decided to agree to the terms, and dispatched four DropShips and his two smallest JumpShips to transport the Capellan forces away. Everything went well, and Gossiage's role in preventing further bloodshed on Heligoland was noted by the AFFS, but he was also warned for risking the ships and the lives of their crews.[9]

War of 3039


Clan Invasion


Operation Guerrero

In early 3057, the unit was stationed on Valexa in the Capellan March. There they were attacked by bandits masquerading as the Knights of the Inner Sphere. They took significant losses during the raid. [10]

Operation Bulldog


Civil War

At the start of the FedCom Civil War they faced the 11th Arcturan Guards on Virtue. They inflicted serious casualties on the Guards and forced them to withdraw.[11] Soon thereafter they joined up with Victor Steiner-Davion. He assigned them to attack Alarion with the Thirty-ninth Avalon Hussars. The two RCT's landed and faced no opposition. The Sixth then withdrew, leaving the Thirty-ninth Avalon Hussars to garrison the world.[12] They hit York with the Prince's Men and the Outland Legion. The Sixth moved to engage the Alarion APM and Carlisle APM while the other two units secured the rear areas. Once committed, the Eleventh Arcturan Guards dropped between the Lancers and the other two pro-Victor units. The Sixth staged a fighting withdrawal to a rendezvous point 500 kilometers away. A battalion of Lancer infantry was captured, while the destruction of two DropShips cost them a company of armor and 'Mechs.[13]

They assaulted Tikonov and were almost trapped there. Fortunately, they were successful and went to New Avalon with Victor. The fighting on New Avalon was considerably more difficult, and the Sixth was reduced to about half their pre-Civil War strength. Exacerbating their problems rebuilding was the resignation of most of their officers after the fighting ended.[14]

Jihad

On the 20th of April 3069 the Lancer's Aerospace brigade was wiped out by Word of Blake forces in orbit above Galax.[15] The Blakists secretly delivered a bio-agent that destroyed all life on the planet.[16][17] The Sixth were forced to quarantine the dying world, preventing anyone from leaving. This duty, which stretched on for five years, took its toll on the soldiers of the Sixth. Approximately half the troops who survived the Civil War and the bio-weapon attacks committed suicide. In late 3075 the remaining soldiers were reassigned to the Seventh Crucis Lancers and the Sixth Lancers were deactivated.[18] These troops were initially welcomed by the Seventh Lancers, but the survivors of the Sixth were so psychologically damaged that suicide became commonplace and began to affect the Seventh's morale.[19]

Officers

Rank Name Command
Commanding Officers of the 6th Crucis Lancers
Marshal Orval Gossiage 3025[20][21]
Colonel Patricia Vineman 3062[22]

Tactics

They had much experience in urban warfare.[22]

Composition History

2821

Sixth Crucis Lancers (Regiment/Green/Questionable)[1]

- At this point in time the Lancers were a light-weight regiment stationed on Choudrant and had been reduced to just under half-strength.[1]

2830

Sixth Crucis Lancers (Regiment/Green/Questionable)[23]

- At this point in time the Lancers were a light-weight regiment and had rebuilt to almost full strength. The Lancers were stationed on [[Harrow's Sun].[23]

2864

Sixth Crucis Lancers (Regiment/Green/Questionable)[23]

- At this point in time the Lancers were a light-weight regiment stationed on DeWitt, and had been reduced to just over a battalion in strength.[23]

3025

Sixth Crucis Lancers RCT (Regiment/Veteran/Reliable)[21]

  • CO: Marshal Orval Gossiage [21]
Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on Moravian.[21]

3040

Sixth Crucis Lancers RCT (Regiment/Veteran/Reliable)[24]

Note: At this point in time the command was stationed on Loburg. [24]

3050

Sixth Crucis Lancers RCT (Regiment/Veteran/Reliable) [25]

Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on Langhorne. [25]

3054

Sixth Crucis Lancers RCT (Veteran/Reliable)[26]

  • CO: Hauptmann General Patricia Vineman[26]

3062

Sixth Crucis Lancers (1 Regiment/Veteran/Reliable)[22]

  • CO: Colonel Patricia Vineman
    • Aide:

- Mostly light and medium 'Mechss, only one Companies of heavy's

Sixth Crucis Lancers Aerospace Brigade[22]

  • CO: Lieutenant-Kaptain Deuce MacAdams
  • Eleventh Crucis Lancers Aero Wing
  • Twelfth Crucis Lancers Aero Wing

Sixth Crucis Lancers Armor Brigade (2 Regiments/Regular/Unreliable)[22]

  • Colonel: Emmanuel O'Shea
    • Aide:
  • Sixteenth Crucis Lancers Armored Regiment - Colonel: Dick Ziogas
  • Eighteenth Crucis Lancers Armored Regiment - Colonel: Pinnard Smith
  • Sixth Crucis Lancers Artillery Battalion - Lieutenant-Colonel Craig Mackie

- The Sixteenth and Eighteenth fielded a mix of heavy tanks and light armored vehicles

Sixth Crucis Lancers Infantry Brigade (7 Regiments/Veteran/Reliable)[22]

  • CO: Colonel Ilena Soden
    • Aide:
  • Eleventh Crucis Lancers Infantry Regiment - Colonel: Caridad Hasek-Goros
  • Twelfth Crucis Lancers Infantry Regiment - Lieutenant Colonel Peng Popovic
  • Eleventh Crucis Lancers Mechanized Infantry Regiment - Colonel Omar Herzog
  • Twelfth Crucis Lancers Mechanized Infantry Regiment - Colonel Dana Miguel De Jesus
  • Sixth Crucis Lancers Jump Infantry Regiment - Colonel Sam Worthington
  • Gambier Lancers Jump Infantry - Hauptmann-Kommandant Calypso Kaegi
  • First Langhorne Military Police Regiment - Colonel Jessup Wilmer

- Seven Battalions of military police

Notes

There is a religious holiday on Tsamma. It is tradition to decorate the Mechs of the Sixth Crucis Lancers with flowers on that day, gaining them the unofficial nickname Flower Lancers.[22]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named FSWp134
  2. ↑ The Fourth Succession War Scenarios Volume One, p. 17
  3. ↑ NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 1, p. 11
  4. ↑ NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 2, p. 38
  5. ↑ NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 2, p. 52
  6. ↑ NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 2, p. 38, "Capellan Front"
  7. ↑ NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 2, p. 38, "Fifth Wave"
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 2, p. 38, "Mandate"
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 2, p. 52, "Heligoland"
  10. ↑ Star Lord, pp.??[citation needed]
  11. ↑ FedCom Civil War (sourcebook), p. 88
  12. ↑ FedCom Civil War (sourcebook), p. 100
  13. ↑ FedCom Civil War (sourcebook), p. 103
  14. ↑ Field Manual: Updates, p. 128
  15. ↑ Jihad Hot Spots: 3070, p. 43 - Galax Assaulted - 6th's Aerospace Brigade is wiped out.
  16. ↑ Jihad Hot Spots: 3070, p. 44 - "Travel advisory: Galax"
  17. ↑ Jihad Hot Spots: 3070, p. 63 - "Galax Dying"
  18. ↑ Masters and Minions: The StarCorps Dossiers, p. 46
  19. ↑ Field Report: AFFS, p. 11
  20. ↑ NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 1, p. 110
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 House Davion (The Federated Suns), p. 137 (pdf version), "Federated Suns Deployment Table"
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 22.3 22.4 22.5 22.6 Field Manual: Federated Suns, p. 72, "6th Crucis Lancers Unit Profile"
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 23.3 'Sixth succession War, p. 94, "Armed Forces of the Federated Suns (AFFS)"
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 Historical: War of 3039, p.136
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 20-Year Update, p. 28
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 Objective Raids, p. 20

Bibliography

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