7th Lyran Regulars

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The 7th Lyran Regulars, known as the "New Delhi Lancers" [1] (and later "The Fighting Seventh" [2]) was a BattleMech regiment in service to House Steiner. It has spent most of its existence based on its homeworld of Loric.

History

Disbandment

The regiments of the Lyran Regulars were prone to being disbanded and reactivated as needed; each time a regiment was reactivated, it would be populated with a mix of re-enlisted veterans and fresh recruits, before being assigned to a garrison posting to free up a line regiment for active service. During peacetime, the Regulars would then disband down to a much smaller size as a brigade, awaiting the next time they would be called on. The 7th Lyran Regulars are known to have been disbanded in 2762, with those personnel continuing to remain in the LCAF merging into a sister regiment, the 10th Lyran Regulars.[3]

Reactivation

The 7th Lyran Regulars were hastily organized during the early days of the First Succession War, [2] most likely made up from former Star League Defense Force and mercenary troops. They would become a well-equipped veteran unit, spearheading several assaults against the Free Worlds League throughout the First and Second Succession War. [2]

Tough times

At the beginning of the Third Succession War, following the assassination attempt on Archon Elizabeth Steiner, they were part of an LCAF taskforce sent to strike deep into the Free Worlds League. On Merak, they encountered overwhelming resistance. Cut off from their supply lines, they were eventually forced to surrender. The survivors were repatriated and the unit was partially rebuilt, merging with survivors of the 13th and 22nd Lyran Regulars. Nevertheless, they were still well under-strength, and never regained their former glory. Over the coming decades and centuries, a great deal changed, but the 7th Regulars remained a second-line training cadre, confined to garrison duty on their homeworld of Loric. They were typically sent unproven warriors and second-hand equipment. [2]

As of 3025, the 7th Regulars were still based on Loric. [4]

As of early 3050, the 7th Regulars were once again based on Loric, which was now part of the Tamarind March of the Federated Commonwealth. [5] They did not fight during the Clan Invasion, and as of 3054, they were still based on Loric. [6]

At the start of 3062, now part of the Lyran Alliance Armed Forces, they were still based on Loric. [7]

In mid-3062, the unit's fortunes seemed to change with the arrival of their new commanding officer, Colonel Mike "Big Moose" O'Heron. O'Heron dedicated himself to improving the Regulars, increasing the unit's training regimen and soliciting the LAAF Quartermaster Corps for improved equipment and supplies. When the Quartermaster denied his request, he directly petitioned Archon Katherine Steiner-Davion for assistance, promising to mold the 7th Regulars into a veteran unit in her service. The Archon granted his request, and the Regulars began to receive new top-of-the-line BattleMechs and equipment. For their part, the officers and troops of the regiment developed a new unit insignia in honor of their commander, the lowered head and antlers of a moose set atop the number seven. [2]

FedCom Civil War

The 7th Regulars were inevitably drawn into the FedCom Civil War, which broke out at the end of 3062. During the war's second wave, they were moved to the critical world of Bolan, [8] but would see no fighting there as the 2nd Crucis Lancers had already withdrawn from the planet. [9]

In the Summer of 3065, Margrave Richard Steiner succeeded in ordering the 1st Bolan Jaegers and the 7th Regulars to Cavanaugh II to crush the pro-Victor 10th Lyran Regulars. The 10th's strong defensive position and knowledge of the local terrain combined with Richard Steiner's gross mishandling of the situation turned what might have been a quick battle into a major campaign. Soon, elements of ComStar's 182nd Division joined with the allies after Steiner ordered them attacked.[10]

In May of 3066, the battle for Cavanaugh II was still ongoing, and going poorly for the 7th Regulars. The Allies had managed to goad the Regulars into a series of ill-advised attacks on their reinforced positions, inflicting significant losses on the 7th. Later the Penobscot CTM joined on Richard's side and the 42nd Avalon Hussars joining with the forces opposed to him. When Steiner began micromanaging the CTM in their battle with the Hussars, they were defeated and forced to withdraw. [11]

By September, the Regulars had suffered severe losses, and the Allies had the advantage of air-power and numbers. When Colonel O'Heron was killed in the fighting, his daughter, Kommandant Megan O'Heron, took command. Realizing the situation was dire, O'Heron, with a force consisting of roughly a battalion, requested to Margrave Steiner that her Regulars' role in his defense plans be reduced to take into account their diminished numbers. Steiner flatly refused, and the situation of the Regulars continued to worsen. When Megan O'Heron finally advocated coming to terms with the Allies, Margrave Steiner had her promptly executed. Intended as an object lesson, it instead drove many of his remaining troops to defect. By February 3067, the allies were ready to crush Margrave Steiner's force, liberating the capital. By now, most of the Loyalists were completely demoralized, having been ordered to fight to the death, most quickly surrendered. Steiner himself, however, evacuated before he could be captured, fleeing the planet on a DropShip. [12]

Overall, the 7th Lyran Regulars took approximately 60 percent casualties and lost their leadership before surrendering.[8] After the civil war ended in 3067, they were still based on Cavanaugh II. Several officers were court-martialed for leading the insurrection, but most of the Regulars were exonerated. They were still listed as a viable unit at this point.[13]

Jihad

In March 3068, during the Jihad, Lyran forces loyal to the Isle of Skye and to Duke Robert Kelswa-Steiner launched attacks on the Free Worlds League, quickly conquering the worlds of Megrez, Cascade and Togwotee. It was believed these attacks were launched from Ford and Loric, and it was suggested the Seventh and Tenth Lyran Regulars on Cavanaugh II might soon take part in future attacks.[14]

In September of 3068, Cavanaugh II was assaulted during a counter-attack by the Free Worlds League Military, particularly forces under the command of Jeremy Brett. [15] Fighting on Cavanaugh was still ongoing in late 3069. [16] The 7th Regulars were destroyed in this action by the 2nd Knights of the Inner Sphere.[17]

Officers

Rank Name Command
Commanding Officers of the 7th Lyran Regulars
Frederick Steiner
was once the commander of the 7th Lyran Regulars, decades before he would become Anastasius Focht, Precentor Martial of the ComGuard. He left the Regulars to take command of the more prestigious 10th Lyran Guards.[18]
Template:LyranRankInline Derrick Schmitz.[4] 3025
Template:LyranRankInline Clair Hamilton.[5] Hamilton remained commander through 3054 [6] and to the start of 3062.[7] 3050
Template:LyranRankInline Mike "Big Moose" O'Heron [2]
He notably assigned his daughter, Megan "Little Moose" O'Heron to command the unit's third battalion. The younger O'Heron reportedly became the unit's unofficial morale officer.[2] 		mid 3062
Template:LyranRankInline Megan O'Heron took command of the Regulars after the death of her father. It is unclear who eventually took command after she was executed.[13]

Tactics

Prior to the arrival of Colonel O'Heron, the 7th Regulars were barely capable of putting up a static defense. They vastly improved their abilities in the relatively short time he had command, particularly in acting as highly mobile cavalry.[2]

Composition History

2786 - 2821

7th Lyran Regulars (Regiment/Green/Questionable) [19]

Note: At this point in time the light-weight unit was stationed on Inarcs. In 2821 the command was reduced to 56 percent of its strength and was deployed on Inarcs. [19]

2830

7th Lyran Regulars (Regiment/Green/Reliable) [20]

Note: At this point in time the light-weight unit was stationed on Inarcs with an operational readiness of 117 percent. [20]

2864

7th Lyran Regulars (Regiment/Regular/Fanatical) [20]

Note: At this point in time the light-weight unit was stationed on Inarcs with an operational readiness of 90 percent. [20]

3025

7th Lyran Regulars (Green/Reliable)[4]
CO: Colonel Derrek Schmitz

3040

7th Lyran Regulars (Green/Reliable)[21]

3050

7th Lyran Regulars (Regiment/Green/Reliable) [22]

Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on Loric. [22]

3054

7th Lyran Regulars (Green/Reliable) [23]
CO: Leutnant General Clair Hamilton

3062

7th Lyran Regulars (1 Regiment/Green/Reliable) [2]
CO: Colonel Mike O'Heron

References

  1. ↑ House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth) p. 77
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 Field Manual: Lyran Alliance p. 89
  3. ↑ Field Report 2765: LCAF, p. 15, "Lyran Regulars"
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth) p. 119
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 20 Year Update p. 27
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Objective Raids p. 20
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Shattered Sphere p. 51
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 FedCom Civil War (sourcebook) p. 183
  9. ↑ FedCom Civil War (sourcebook) pp. 84-85
  10. ↑ FedCom Civil War (sourcebook) pp. 144-145
  11. ↑ FedCom Civil War (sourcebook) pp. 161-162
  12. ↑ FedCom Civil War (sourcebook) pp. 174-175
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Field Manual: Updates p. 179
  14. ↑ Dawn of the Jihad p. 77
  15. ↑ Jihad Hot Spots: 3070 p. 19
  16. ↑ Jihad Hot Spots: 3070 p. 72
  17. ↑ Field Report: LAAF, p. 13
  18. ↑ House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth) p. 154
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 ’’ First Succession War’’, p. 139
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 ’’ Second Succession War’’, p. 99
  21. ↑ Historical: War of 3039 , p. 137
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 20-Year Update, p. 27
  23. ↑ Objective Raids, p. 20

Bibliography

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