Editing 79th Division (ComStar)

{{infoBoxMilitaryCommand
| image          = 
| Designation    = 79th Division [[Level IV|IV-zeta]]
| formed         = [[thirty-first century|Early thirty-first century]]
| Disbanded      = 
| Previous Designation = 
| Nickname       = Straight Words (3050)<br>The Steel Snake Charmers (3062)
| Affiliation    = [[ComStar]]
| Parent Command = [[4th Army (ComStar)|4th Army]] 
| Sub-Command    = 
}}

Having faced [[Clan Diamond Shark|Clans Diamond Shark]], [[Clan Steel Viper|Steel Viper]] and [[Clan Smoke Jaguar|Smoke Jaguar]], the '''79th Division''' is considered among the most experienced units in the [[Com Guards]].

==History==
Immediately prior to the [[Clan Invasion]] the regular ranked 79 Division, then a epsilon-based formation referred to by the nickname of ''Straight Words'', was assigned to the [[8th Army (ComStar)|8th Army]], and was headquartered on the [[Federated Commonwealth]] world of [[Zdice]].<ref name=20YU-71>''20 Year Update'', p. 71</ref> It was noted as having a large concentration of MCY-97 ''[[Mercury (BattleMech)|Mercury]]'' BattleMechs.<ref>''Technical Readout: 3050'', p. 56</ref><ref>''Technical Readout: 3050 Revised '', p. 50</ref>


===Battle of Tukayyid===
During the [[Battle of Tukayyid (3052)|Battle of Tukayyid]], the 79th Division along with others units of 8th Army were deployed to the Kozice Valley.
Among the fighting against the [[Clan Diamond Shark|Clan Diamond Sharks]], the unit was noted in its action against the Clan's [[Omega Galaxy (Clan Diamond Shark)|Omega Galaxy]] where it engaged suicidal freebirth warriors to the death.<ref>''Tukayyid (scenario pack)'', pp. 69, 76-77: Omega's Last Stand - the 79th Division featured as part of fight against Omega Galaxy's 3rd Shark Regulars.</ref> Elements of the 79th would also engage in battle against [[Clan Steel Viper]].<ref name=FMCS-27>''Field Manual: ComStar'', p. 27: "4th Army V-Iota: The Defenders of Honor"</ref>

===After ComStar Schism and Operation BULLDOG===
Savaged by the Diamond Sharks and Steel Vipers during the fighting on [[Tukayyid]], like many Com Guard Divisions the now elite rated 79th Division chose a new nickname, calling itself ''The Steel-Snake Charmers''. Rebuilt as a IV-zeta formation, the 79th transferred its headquarters to the [[Sarna March]] world of [[St. Andre]],<ref name=CS-85>''ComStar'', p. 85: "4th Army V-iota (The Defenders of Honor, Byrant Theater, from 4 to 5 on the "Inner Sphere Clock")"</ref>

The 79th's elite standing earned them a place in the Com Guard contingent that took part in [[Operation BULLDOG]], launching from [[Kilmarnock]] and traveling to the [[Clan Nova Cat]] enclave of jointly held world of [[Caripare]] during the first wave. After the [[5th Nova Cat Regulars (Clan Nova Cat)|Fifth Nova Cat Regulars]] joined the [[SLDF]] upon their defeat at the hands of the [[1st Shin Legion]], the 79th joined them and the [[1st Fusiliers of Oriente]], [[1st St. Ives Lancers]] in attacking the [[2nd Jaguar Guards (Clan Smoke Jaguar)|2nd Jaguar Guards]] during Bulldog's second wave,<ref name=TDR-10>''The Dragon Roars'', pp. 10–11: "Unit Summaries - Operation Bulldog"</ref> inflicting heavy losses before the Jaguars withdrew.<ref name=TDR-24>''The Dragon Roars'', p. 24: "Wave Two: Driving Forward"</ref>

As part of the third wave, the 79th Division then joined the [[6th Lyran Guards]], [[Ryuken-go]] and [[1st McCarron's Armored Cavalry]] in assaulting [[Garstedt]],<ref name=TDR-10/> defended by [[Nu Galaxy (Clan Smoke Jaguar)|Nu Galaxy's]] [[143rd Garrison (Clan Smoke Jaguar)|143rd Garrison Cluster]] and [[Psi Galaxy (Clan Smoke Jaguar)|Psi Galaxy's]] [[17th Jaguar Regulars (Clan Smoke Jaguar)|17th Jaguar Regulars]]. While both were second line [[cluster]]s, the Jaguars proved tougher than expected, with [[Trinary]] Echo of the 17th Regulars holding back the entire SLDF assault force in the Numberg Canyon for more than four hours, allowing the bulk of Smoke Jaguars to flee to the [[Clan Homeworlds]].<ref name=TDR-44>''The Dragon Roars'', p. 44: "Wave Three: Bringing Down the Jaguar"</ref><ref name=TDR-48>''The Dragon Roars'', pp. 48–49: "Scenario 10: 300 Spartans"</ref>

In the fourth and final wave of Operation BULLDOG, the 79th Division traveled with the 6th Lyran to link up with the [[4th Wolf Guards (Clan Wolf-in-Exile)|4th Wolf Guards Cluster]] in the capture of [[Savinsville]]. With the withdrawal of Clan Smoke Jaguar from the [[Inner Sphere]] and with no hope of rescue, [[Kappa Galaxy (Clan Smoke Jaguar)|Kappa Galaxy's]] [[3rd Provisional Garrison Cluster (Clan Smoke Jaguar)|3rd Provisional Garrison Cluster]] only fought long enough to satify its honor before negotiating a [[Trial of Possession]] to be captured by [[Clan Wolf-in-Exile]]'s 4th Wolf Guards Cluster.<ref name=TDR-10/><ref name=TDR-52>''The Dragon Roars'', p. 52: "Wave Four: Clean-Up"</ref>

===Chao March===
Returning to station on and around St. Andre, the 79th's success during BULLDOG only enhanced their morale and ego, with a number of [[Level III]] commanders openly questioning the return to peacekeeping in the [[Chaos March]]. The 79th's ego was tempered somewhat by the unwelcoming attitude of the [[Capellan Confederation]] as [[CCAF]] regained more and more worlds in the March, though [[ROM]] couldn't determine if this was due to [[Chancellor]] [[Sun-Tzu Liao]]s antipathy with [[Precentor Martial of ComStar|Precentor Martial]] [[Victor Steiner-Davion]] or the increasing influence of the [[Word of Blake]] in the region.<ref name=FMCS-27/><ref>''Field Manual: Updates'', p. 85: 4th Army V-Iota - 79th disputes with CCAF result in supplies being cut off.</ref>

===Jihad===
Transferred into the [[1st Army (ComStar)|1st Army]] after the late-[[Jihad]] condensing of the Com Guard armies, the 79th reinforced the [[103rd Division (ComStar)|103rd Division]] and the [[1st Skye Jaegers]] on [[Galatea]], driving the Word of Blake's [[11th Division (Word of Blake)|11th Division]] off-world after a slow and grinding campaign.<ref name=JHS3076-47>''Jihad Hot Spots: 3076'', p. 47</ref>

In [[3074]] the Seventy-ninth Division faced [[Word of Blake]] troops on [[Hesperus II]]. They were able to smash through the [[2nd Division (Word of Blake)|Blakist Second Division's]] defenses around the [[Defiance Industries]] complex.<ref>''Jihad Turning Points: Hesperus II'', pp. 5, 17</ref>

In November [[3075]], a combined [[Com Guard]]–LCAF force assaulted [[Galatea]], intent on liberating the Mercenary's Star from [[Word of Blake]]. The coalition faced off against the Blakist [[11th Division (Word of Blake)|Eleventh Division]] with mercenary support. After a headhunter unit killed the ComStar commander, his successor [[Precentor]] [[Louisa Draga]] appealed for assistance. [[Morgan Kell]] sent the Knights and [[Tooth of Ymir]], who arrived just as 3075 drew to a close. Draga used her own Com Guard forces, augmented by the mercenaries, to directly assault the largest Word contingent. The defenses around Pygmalion held for three days, after which the remaining Blakist forces retreated off-world.<ref name=JHSp3076>''Jihad Hot Spots: 3076'', p. 63, "Galatea Secured"</ref>

==Officers==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! scope="col" width="220" style="background: #dedede;" | Rank
! scope="col" width="220" style="background: #dedede;" | Name
! scope="col" width="220" style="background: #dedede;" | Command
|-
| colspan="4" style="background: #efefef;" | '''Commanding Officers of the 79th Division'''
|-
| [[Precentor]] IV||[[Adren Smeland]]||[[3050]]<ref>''20 Year Update'', p. 71: Unit commanding officer as of 3050 noted.</ref>
|-
| Precentor XVII||[[Louisa Draga]]||[[3055]] at least [[3075]]<ref name=CS-85/><ref name=FMCS-27/><ref name=FMU-98>''Field Manual: Updates'', p. 98: "4th Army V-Iota - (The Defenders of Honor)"</ref><ref name=JHSp3076/>
|-
|}

==Tactic==
The 79th Division is able to use small unit with great effect.<ref>''Field Manual: Comstar'', p. 137</ref>

==Composition History==
===3050===
'''79th Division''' (Division/Regular)<ref name=20yup71>''20 Year Update'', p. 71</ref>
: Note: At this point in time the 79th Division was stationed on Zdice.<ref name=20yup71/>

===3055===
'''79th Division''' (Division/Regular)<ref name=CSSp85">''ComStar'' (sourcebook), p. 85</ref>
: CO: Precentor V Louisa Draga.<ref name=CSSp85"/>
: Note: At this point in time the 79th Division was stationed on [[St. Andre]].<ref name=CSSp85"/>

===3062===
'''79th Division''' (The Steel Snake Charmers IV-zeta)
: CO: Precentor XII Louisa Draga<ref name=FMCS-27/>
* The Fang Pullers III-delta - CO: Demi-Precentor X [[Ping Hu]]
* Beyond Belief III-zeta - CO: Demi-Precentor VII [[Jerry Krug]]
* Evident Glory III-epsilon - CO: Demi-Precentor II [[Brenda Wright]]
* The Bridgeburners III-zeta - CO: Demi-Precentor X [[Clemens Goldader]]
* Leap of Faith III-theta - CO: Demi-Precentor IX [[John Fishbein]]
* Starlight Warriors III-eta - CO: Demi-Precentor VIII [[Malik Park]]

===3067===
'''79th Division''' (The Steel Snake Charmers IV-zeta)
: CO: Precentor XVII Louisa Draga.<ref name=FMU-98/>

==Game Rules==
<div class="gamerules">
=== 3074 ===
During the [[Jihad]] the Seventy-ninth may make use of the [[Overrun Combat]] special ability.<ref name=jhsh2p8>''Jihad Turning Points: Hesperus II'', p. 8: "First Army [ComStar] (November 3074–December 3074)"</ref>
</div>

==References==
<references />

==Bibliography==
* ''[[20 Year Update]]''
* ''[[ComStar (sourcebook)]]''
* ''[[The Dragon Roars]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: ComStar]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: Updates]]''
* ''[[Jihad Hot Spots: 3076]]''
* ''[[Jihad Turning Points: Hesperus II]]''
* ''[[Technical Readout: 3050]]''
* ''[[Technical Readout: 3050 Revised]]''
* ''[[Tukayyid (scenario pack)]]''


[[Category:ComStar Division Commands|Division, 079th]]