8th Donegal Guards

History

Succession Wars

In 2895, Archon Elizabeth Steiner send the Eighth Donegal to Skye, with Narhal Raiders, and 12 armor and infantry regiments. They were to form core defense to assist the 17th Skye Rangers against in pending invasion from House Kurita. The Eighth, along with other forces that were sent, fought a 13 month battle for the planet. The battle was a success for the Lyran forces, but use of nuclear weapons after the return to using the Ares treaty tarnished the victory.

By 3025, the unit became homebased on world of Severn.

Clan Invasion Era

Prior to the invasion of the Clans, the Eighth was station in Davion side of the Federated Commonwealth. In the Capellan March region as part of the Alcyone Command on the world of Monhegan in 3050.

FedCom Civil War

Battle of Kathil

After Victor Steiner-Davion put call to arms, the Loyalist leaning 8th Donegal Guards was preparing to assist fellow loyalist units on Alcyone. However, they received orders from the Archon-Princess to reinforce the battered & near-depleted 8th Federated Commonwealth RCT on Kathil. On February 3063, the 8th Donegal, backed up by two free Aerospace Wings and free armored brigade from Gallitzin. However, not all of the Aerospace Wing assets had arrive, were unable to firmly secure aerospace superiority over the against the Kathil CMM & 1st Capellan Dragoons. The 8th's Aerospace forces fought a aerospace battle against General Sampreis's aerospace assets. They managed to successful in landing his forces three separate locations on planet. After its landing, the 8th Donegal fight its way to the planetary capital of District City. The attack was to help the 8th to link up with the battered 8th FedCom at the city.

The 8th Donegal combined with the 8th FedCom to push back the Allied forces through District City to secure a secondary GM Plant in nearby city of Radcliffe. The Kathil CMM counter-attacked by hitting loyalist's holdings, causing the 8th Donegal's attack to lessen. Unfortunately, the raids slowed the 8th Donegal's efforts enough for allies’ Sixth Syrtis Fusiliers RCT land on 18th to reinforce the allied units. Four days later, Marshal Nathaniel Hasek arrived quietly, taking command of ally’s efforts on planet.

On the 2nd March, the 8th Donegal and its ally vacated its positions they had gained in District City and GM Plant to go on the offensive against CMM. However, the Mud Wrestlers as 8th is sometimes is known by began to be bogged down by winter weather hitting the southern hemisphere of Kathil. The allies began pound on the 8th FedCom ally to the north, while Guard units were stuck in fowl weather. It was not until May the Eighth was able to organized strikes against Marshal Hasek's task-force, hitting the Kathil CMM yet again in District City. With coordination of the 8th FedCom, the unit conducted a three week campaign against the CMM, where they shattered militia unit. Despite efforts of Marshal Hasek taking vital a aerospace base and nearby city. Situation changed when allied force in the form of the 5th Davion Guards RCT in late July.

The 8th Donegal in January 3064 attempted to conduct a flank rear-flanking on continent of Furillo. However, they were stopped by the actions 1st Capellans. The unit was split in two by the attack and became isolated in Woodbine city region. General Pashik, instructed his forces to destroy series of dams that stopped the 1st Caps from taking further actions on them in February.

In late March, the 8th FedCom's Commander, General Weintraub, was killed in action. However, his final orders sealed fate of the 1st Capellan Dragoons. General order remaining troops to converge on his position attack 1st Capellans, despite his headquarters were overwhelmed by 5th Davion Guards, leaving 8th Donegal's commander leading loyalist officer on planet.

In July 3064, loyalist reinforcements arrived in the form of the 2nd Chisholm's Raiders, backed up by a naval squadron of assault DropShips. Despite Allied naval blockade consisting of two Avalon Cruisers, Hanse Davion and Andrew Davion, a large portion of loyalist unit made planetfall to assist General Pashik's dire situation. The arrival of the Raiders changed situation for the Loyalist forces. They immediately assaulted the GM Plant near District City after their landing, then later worked retake the city itself from the allies. Drawing enemy forces away from Woodbine, the 8th Donegal broke out allies defensive lines attempt to link up with the General Helen Eisener and her RCT in District City. Marshal Hasek, forced into action moved secure cities of Carter City and Burlington. By September, the Eighth Donegal managed to linkup with the 2nd Chishom. This is after they devastating Marshal Hasek's forces in city of Greenhaven with artillery and missile bombardment. With destruction of allied forces in Greenhaven, the two loyalist forces retired from the field to District City.

January 2nd, 3065, combined-arms brigade of the 8th Donegal slammed into the 5th Davion Guard's string of artillery firebases. Over course of week, brigade consisting of newly built 'Mechs and tanks of scattered the 5th Davion from the bases. Combined with 2nd Chishom's Raiders, the Eighth drilled into a single brigade of the 5th Davion. Combined loyalist force pushed them from Tormad Valley and it firebase. General Pashik then had his forces form defensive line around new string of fire bases his forces had seized. All forces exhausted, three week seize fire was established.

On the 8th of March, proved to be the turning point for the Eighth. As the allied reinforcement arrived in the form of First Federated Suns Armored Cavalry RCT arrived in orbit, dropped on 8th Donegal's rear lines. This lead to allied units, striking the weaken RCT's frontlines at the same time. The 8th Donegal folded in at end of May, with prior to capture it commanding officer.

Jihad

The 8th Donegal Guards, find themselves facing three different Capellan Confederation regiments part of a Operation: Thunderstrike's Task Force Shen Lung in May of 3069. The overwhelm by the massive military power and still reeling from the damage done from the FedCom Civil War, the unit is destroyed.

Officers

As of 3050, the Commanding Officer was Marshal Isador Bertini.

As of 3062, the Commanding Officer was Hauptmann General Tadeusz Pashik, a native of Wei.

Composition

3062

'Mech Regiment

• 8th Donegal Guards

8th Donegal Guards Aerospace Brigade

• 14th Donegal Guards Wing
• 62nd Donegal Guards Wing

8th Donegal Guards Armor Brigade

• 367th Donegal Armored Cavalry (Regiment)
• 42nd Donegal Heavy Armor (Regiment)
• 47th Loxley Light Tank

8th Donegal Guards Infantry Brigade

• 17th Moneghan Infantry Regiment
• 194th Donegal Heavy Infantry (Regiment)
• 22nd Lyndon Motorized Regiment
• 331st Donegal Mechanized Rifles
• 311th Donegal Jump Regiment (includes two Platoons of Fenrir Battle Armor)

Notes

The officers of the Eight are explicitly forbidden to wear service braids with their dress uniforms, as a result of the unit's alleged involvement in atrocities on Skye in 2895.

References

• House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth)
• 20 Year Update
• Field Manual: Lyran Alliance
• FedCom Civil War (sourcebook)
• Field Manual: Updates
• Jihad Secrets: The Blake Documents