Lyran Alliance Armed Forces

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The Lyran Alliance Armed Forces, also known by the unfortunately acronym of LAAF, is the military arm of the Lyran Alliance. Formed from Armed Forces of the Federated Commonwealth's Lyran State Command, the LAAF promotes a return to the military and tactical style of the Lyran Commonwealth Armed Forces.

Contents

Command Structure


Units of the Lyran Alliance Armed Forces

The bulk of the LAAF TOE consists of pre-existing LCAF units who returned home upon the break-away of the Alliance from the Federated Commonwealth, though a small number of new and renamed formations exist. Only BattleMech or mixed units are listed below - associated conventional assets are considered attached to these commands for convenience.

Active Corps

These brigades are active as of 3079.[1]

Alliance Guards

50x50px
Main article: Alliance Guards

To help promote nationalist feelings in the newly formed Lyran Alliance, those Federated Commonwealth Corps RCTs stationed in the Lyran half of that former state were renamed under the banner of the Alliance Guards.


Alliance Jaegers

Insignia of the Alliance Jaegers
Main article: Alliance Jaegers

Founded in the wake of the formation of the Lyran Alliance, the Alliance Jaegers were an effort to boost Lyran nationalism, with a Jaeger unit for each Alliance province.[2]


Arcturan Guards

Insignia of the Arcturan Guards
Main article: Arcturan Guards

The Arcturan Guards were the first Lyran national unit mustered to defend the nascent Lyran Commonwealth.


Donegal Guards

Insignia of the Donegal Guards
Main article: Donegal Guards
Brigade Insignia of the Donegal Guards
Donegal Guards
Formed 2315–2340
Nickname Tuatha Dé Danann
Affiliation Lyran Commonwealth;
Protectorate of Donegal (prior to 2341)
Parent Command LCAF

The Donegal Guards began their existence as the military force for the Protectorate of Donegal. Even after the formation of the Lyran Commonwealth, the Donegal Guards remain one of the nation's military cornerstones. They have been well supplied and equipped throughout their history, as the Donegal Province was spared the worst of the damage in the Succession Wars. The Donegal Guards are noted for their dogged determination, with their inclusion in a campaign being seen as a sign of the High Command's resolve.[3] At its zenith, the start of the First Succession War, the brigade numbered 20 BattleMech regiments and an additional 80 regiments of conventional forces.[4]

History

The brigade's roots begin with Seth Marsden's Donegal Freights and Goods. By 2310, Marsden was already employing mercenaries to protect his trade convoys, and that need for protection transformed into a need for a standing army when Marsden's company became an interstellar government.[5] During their early years, one of the Donegals' greatest challenges was spreading out their relatively small numbers to cover dozens of star systems and huge tracts of uninhabited land.[6] Since that time, the units fought with a solid reputation against the enemies of the Commonwealth with great success. The units are characterized by loyalty to the Archon, the Protectorate and the Commonwealth, even when stationed far from home.[3] The regiments of the Donegal Guards were originally all named for famed regiments from Terra that shared the predominantly Irish heritage of the Protectorate, although this tradition would fade with time.[7]

Star League Era

The most loyal of the regional brigades, the Donegal Guards continued to join with the various state brigades of the Lyran Commonwealth Armed Forces in support of the Commonwealth and the Archon. The Donegal Guards lost half a dozen regiments in the brutal fighting of the closing years of the Age of War prior to the formation of the Star League, but throughout the Star League era the Guards enjoyed access to the best equipment outside of the Royal Guards brigade. The Donegal Guards remained the formation of choice to conduct those offensive operations too large for the smaller Royal Guards brigade to handle alone, and the Guards attracted officers who sought to advance via their leadership and grasp of strategic skills, rather than through politics and favoritism. It was during the Star League era that the shift in unit traditions away from favoring or honoring those units associated with Ireland became distinctly noticeable among some regiments. By 2765 the Guards were eleven regiments strong.[7]

The Donegal Guards grew in strength during the lead-up to the First Succession War, and by 2786 mustered seventeen full 'Mech regiments. Two of these, the Fifth and Fourteenth Donegal Guards were former Star League Defense Force units, whilst the Ninth, Thirteenth, Fifteenth and Sixteenth Donegal Guards were reactivated regiments. During the First Succession War three new regiments of Guards - the Eighteenth, Nineteenth and Twentieth Donegal Guards were founded.[8]

Clan Invasion

The leaders of the Federated Commonwealth assigned the future Archon-Prince Victor Steiner-Davion to the Twelfth Donegal Guards as his first posting following graduation from The Nagelring. This honor proved to be fleeting, however, as the unit was destroyed by Clan Jade Falcon in an attempt to capture the young Prince on Trellwan.[9] The Tenth Donegal Guards, once celebrated as the peak of martial skill for the brigade, suffered a punishing loss to Clan Wolf on Chateau[10] before surrendering to the Falcons on Zoetermeer rather than face the threat of orbital bombardment.[3]

The Thirteenth Donegal Guards were given the task of the first Inner Sphere raid on a Clan-held world. In 3053, the Thirteenth's recon elements were sent to attack La Grave and able to escape intact. While unsuccessful, the raid did show that the Inner Sphere could maintain pressure on the Clans, a type of warfare the Falcons were unused to.[11]

The Second and Third Guards were selected to participate in Operation BULLDOG as part of the Second Star League Defense Force. The Second made history as the first Lyran unit welcomed onto Luthien, where they garrisoned the Combine capital before hunting down Jaguar stragglers,[5] while the Third joined the Second Genyosha and First St. Ives Lancers under Kai Allard Liao to battle the Seventh Jaguar Dragoons on Tarazed. Though successful, the Third suffered a higher than expected level of casualties and was pulled back for the remainder of the campaign.[12]

FedCom Civil War

Other than the Seventeenth, the whole brigade sided with Katherine Steiner-Davion and five regiments were destroyed in the conflict.[13] Note that FM:Updates isn't very clear on which regiments were destroyed. Based on the fact that they were all listed as being at 5-20% of their pre–Civil War strength, possible candidates are:

Jihad

As of mid-Jihad, the Second and the Seventh were the only active regiments.[17] The Fourth Donegal Guards were destroyed in the Capellan Confederation attack on New Syrtis, the Fifth Donegal Guards were destroyed by the Blakists on New Avalon and the few survivors were drafted into other units. The Word destroyed the Eighth Guards on Kathil and the Third Guards on Donegal as well as the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Donegal Guards. The survivors from the Third were rolled into the Second Guards while the surviving members of the Sixth reinforced the Seventh Guards. The Eleventh and Seventeenth Guards were destroyed by the Free Worlds League Military during Operation Broken Fist.[18]

While the Second only conducted diversionary raids into the Blakist Protectorate prior to Stone's Coalition invading, the Seventh was included in the plans for Operation SCOUR.[18] Prior to the invasion of Terra, the Earthquakers were posted alongside the Sixth Pesht Regulars on Lyons, where long-simmering tensions erupted into open combat between the two units on 12 December 3076. Fighting continued until General Belle Lee interceded in January 3077, separating both parties and ordering them off-world.[19] Despite this, the Seventh participated in attacks on ROM headquarters on Mars as well as Sandhurst.[20]

Following the Jihad, the LCAF rebuilt a substantial number of regiments within the Donegal Guards, reactivating the Fourth, Eighth and Eleventh regiments by 3085.[21] The rebuilding efforts were in large part due to Hauptmann-General Sarah Steiner, who fought off efforts to have the brigade disbanded. While Sarah's efforts were limited, in that the Fourth, Eighth and Eleventh were all reactivated as Light Combat Teams rather than the RCTs of the past, it was a notable success. Archon Adam Steiner was criticized for not rebuilding the Fourteenth as a priority, but as many would have criticized him for rebuilding his former command had he chosen differently. The rebuilding efforts devoted to the Donegal Guards by the LCAF went down very well with the Guards, which continued to display fanatical levels of loyalty to the Commonwealth. There were concerns that the brigade needed more time to train and rebuild, but the diminished size of the LCAF meant that the Guards were back on the frontlines sooner than anticipated; while it was considered that this was placing additional stress on the Guards, the Guards themselves viewed this as a mark of respect towards them.[22]

Each of the three reactivated commands were established via differing routes. The Fourth was rebuilt primarily using survivors from the Fourth who had been captured on New Syrtis and spent most of the Jihad in Capellan prison camps. The Eighth was raised on Donegal using new recruits, while the Eleventh was rebuilt by incorporating an irregular unit, the Blackjacks, into the LCAF and constructing the new regiment around them. Between the reactivation of the regiments and 3085, the brigade saw combat on numerous fronts - the Second was kept occupied dealing with training raids launched by Clan Jade Falcon, as were the Fourth, who repulsed a determined attack on Yeguas, and the Eleventh was responsible for recapturing Graceland. While there was some discontent on the part of the Seventh on being kept on light duties and cadre work, they were responsible for training both the Eighth Donegal Guards[22] and the First Donegal Jaegers, something Colonel Bamin Taylor of the Jaegers directly credit as being responsible his regiment becoming the highest-performing unit within the Lyran Reserves.[23]

Dark Age

In the years after the Jihad, the Donegal Guards continued to rebuild, coming close to regaining their number prior to the FedCom Civil War. But this did not last. During fighting along the Free Worlds League and Wolf Empire borders, half the Donegal Guard's 'Mech regiments were destroyed. A brigade that once had ten 'Mech regiments, seven of which led Regimental Combat Teams became a unit with a single RCT and four 'Mech regiments. The political upheaval of the 3140s also left the brigade divided politically. Both the Second and Fourth Guards were declared rogue by Archon Vedet Brewer during his brief time in power, but pledged their loyalty to Archon Trillian Steiner, while the Seventeenth fanatically backed Duke Brewer and was kept under the watchful eye of the Third Royal Guards and the LIC after his ouster.[24]

Officers

Rank Name Command
Commanding Officers of the Donegal Guards
Geoffry Berg
General Kathleen Heany 3058[25]
General Caesar Steiner April 3067 - February 3068
Hauptmann-General Sarah Steiner February 3068 - 3085[26][27]

Tactics

Different per Unit.

Units of the Donegal Guards

Notes

Color Scheme and Unit Insignia

The Donegal Guards paint their BattleMechs and Combat Vehicles blue-gray.

References

  1. ↑ Field Report: LAAF, pages 8-17
  2. ↑ Field Manual: Lyran Alliance, p. 48
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Field Manual: Lyran Alliance, p. 62
  4. ↑ First Succession War, p. 139
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Field Manual: Lyran Alliance, p. 63
  6. ↑ Era Report: 2750, p. 52
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Field Report 2765: LCAF, pp. 10–11: "Donegal Guards"
  8. ↑ First Succession War, p. 139: "Lyran Commonwealth Armed Forces (LCAF)"
  9. ↑ Jade Falcon Sourcebook, p. 26: "Trell I"
  10. ↑ Wolf Clan Sourcebook, p. 59
  11. ↑ Jade Falcon Sourcebook, p. 33
  12. ↑ Field Manual: Lyran Alliance, p. 64
  13. ↑ Field Manual: Updates, p. 169
  14. ↑ FedCom Civil War, pp. 182–183
  15. ↑ FedCom Civil War, p. 185
  16. ↑ Field Manual: Updates, pp. 177–179
  17. ↑ Masters and Minions: The StarCorps Dossiers, p. 98
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 18.4 18.5 Field Report: LAAF, p. 11
  19. ↑ Jihad Hot Spots: Terra, p. 20
  20. ↑ Jihad Hot Spots: Terra, p. 96
  21. ↑ Field Manual: 3085, p. 95: "The Einherjar"
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 Field Manual: 3085, p. 100: "Donegal Guards"
  23. ↑ Field Manual: 3085, p. 103: "Lyran Reserves"
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 Field Manual: 3145, p. 127
  25. ↑ Field Manual: Lyran Alliance, p. 62: "Commanding Officer", Steiner is rescued and rejoins the Donegal Guards
  26. ↑ Field Report: LAAF, p. 11: "Donegal Guards", Sarah Steiner commands the Donegal Guards after the Jihad
  27. ↑ Field Manual: 3085, p. 100: "Donegal Guards", Sarah Steiner's command of the Donegal Guards in 3085
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 28.2 Second Succession War, p. 99
  29. ↑ Jihad Turning Points: New Avalon

Bibliography

Lyran Guards

Insignia of the Lyran Guards
Main article: Lyran Guards
Brigade Insignia of the Lyran Guards
Lyran Guards
Formed 2341
Nickname The Iron Fist[1]
Affiliation Lyran Commonwealth
Parent Command LCAF
Sub-Command(s) First Lyran Guards Division

Second Lyran Guards Division

Third Lyran Guards Division

Fourth Lyran Guards Division

Fifth Lyran Guards Division

Sixth Lyran Guards Division

The Lyran Guards were the second Lyran brigade mustered after the formation of the Lyran Commonwealth. Unlike the Arcturan Guards, the Lyran Guards recruited its soldiers from across the Commonwealth, and, second only to the Royal Guards, is the most prestigious commission in the Lyran Commonwealth Armed Forces. At its zenith prior to the Succession Wars, the Lyran Guards were so large that the brigade needed to be split into six subdivisions, each with its own officer to report to the brigade commander.[2]

History

Formation

Formed as a result of the creation of the Commonwealth as a bond of the three founding states. Since their founding, the regiments of this brigade have fought in nearly every offensive or defensive engagement and secured many victories.[3]

Star League Era

In contrast to their Succession War-era prestige, the Lyran Guards were called the "working stiffs of the LCAF" by the Terran Hegemony. They were characterized as professional, generally apolitical troops who the LCAF could count on to provide garrison duty. In this way, the Lyran Guards of the Star League era were more similar to the position the Lyran Regulars would come to occupy than the fame they later enjoyed.[4]

During the Star League Era the Lyran Guards were the largest brigade in LCAF, so large that the Guards added an additional officer between the regiment and brigade level, with a Divisional Commander overseeing ten Lyran Guards regiments and reporting to the Brigade's overall commander. In practice this number includes inactive or disbanded regiments so most Divisional Commanders only oversaw five or six active regiments. Numbering as high as six, as of 2765 five Lyran Guards Divisions remained active, ranging from the ten full regiments of the First Lyran Guards Division, a force larger than most Star League Defense Force brigades, to the mere four of the Second Lyran Guards Division.[2]

During the Amaris Civil War the Lyran Guards grew substantially, with a number of regiments being reactivated; by 2786 the brigade was thirty-five regiments strong;[5] two of the reactivated commands, the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Lyran Guards were effectively former SLDF units, having been recruited from personnel the Eighteenth Infantry Division and 368th BattleMech Division.[6] In addition to these two regiments, the Lyran Guards had reactivated the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Lyran Guards, and during the First Succession War the Guards also reactivated the Eleventh and Thirteenth Lyran Guards. The First Succession Wars took a heavy toll on the Lyran Guards, however; in addition to the losses taken to individual units, the Second, Fifth and Fifty-fourth Lyran Guards were wiped out completely.[5]

FedCom Civil War

The component regiments of the Lyran Guards fought for all sides of the FedCom Civil War. The 3rd, 5th, 6th, 24th and 26th Lyran Guard fought for Katherine Steiner-Davion while the 10th sided with her brother Victor. The 14th and 32nd fought for Free Skye in their attempt to seize Hesperus II while the 15th and 36th helped hold the world for the Lyrans.[7]

The Jihad

By 3085 the losses sustained by the Lyran Guards regiments hadn't been replaced. While the Lyran Guards were the only LCAF brigade capable of fielding multiple full RCTs,[3] the rest of the brigade was based on the new Light Combat Team model. Though the Guards saw the need for this immediately after the end of the Jihad, many members of the Guards were sure the LCAF could rebuild missing Guard units or at least expand the existing units. With other brigades being rebuilt and receiving the best academy graduates and machines, the Lyran Guards grew envious of their countrymen.[8]

The Dark Age

Prior to 3145 the Lyran Guards had been rebuilt, and even expanded to RCTs in several cases. The invasion by Clan Wolf resulted in the destruction of two RCTs and the disbanding of two more to make up losses in other Lyran Guard units. As of 3145 there were three RCTs and two independent 'Mech regiments in the Guards brigade.[9]

Officers

Rank Name Command
Commanding Officers of the Lyran Guards
Hauptmann-General Kathleen Heany 3039[10]
General Ivan Steiner 3057

Tactics

Different per Unit.

Units of the Lyran Guards

Divisions
Regiments

Notes

  • The First Lyran Guards was destroyed on Orkney by Clan Jade Falcon.[11]
  • The Second Lyran Guards was destroyed in 2789.[12]
  • The Fourth Lyran Guards was destroyed by Clan Wolf in the 3140s. The survivors were absorbed into the Sixteenth Lyran Regulars.[13]
  • The Sixth Lyran Guards was destroyed by Clan Wolf during the Jihad.[14] Later rebuilt, they were destroyed by Clan Wolf and absorbed into the Eighth Guards.[15]
  • The Seventh Lyran Guards was destroyed by Clan Wolf in the 3140s. The survivors were absorbed into the Sixteenth Lyran Regulars.[13]
  • The Tenth Lyran Guards merged with the First Davion Guards in February 3068.[16] They were rebuilt in the Dark Age and destroyed by Clan Wolf.[17]
  • The Thirteenth Lyran Guards defected and was destroyed in 3057.[18]
  • The Fourteenth Lyran Guards were disbanded during the Dark Age to reinforce other units.[19]
  • The Fifteenth Lyran Guards was destroyed defending Hesperus II during the early Jihad.[14]
  • The Nineteenth Lyran Guards was destroyed on Jabuka by Clan Steel Viper.[20]
  • The Twenty-fourth Lyran Guards was dissolved in the Dark Age to shore up units who were badly damaged fighting Clan Wolf.[21]
  • The Twenty-sixth Lyran Guards was destroyed by Clan Jade Falcon in 3070.[14]
  • The Thirtieth Lyran Guards deserted in the Chaos March.[22]
  • The Thirty-second Lyran Guards suffered heavy casualties fighting Clan Wolf in the Dark Age and disbanded. Its survivors were spread among other Lyran Guards.[23]
  • The Thirty-sixth Lyran Guards was destroyed by the Knights of the Inner Sphere in the early days of the Jihad.[14]
  • The Ninth, Sixteenth, Seventeenth, Eighteenth, Twentieth, Twenty-first, Twenty-third, Thirty-third, Fortieth, Forty-third, Forty-fourth and Forty-fifth Lyran Guards were destroyed in the Second Succession War.[24]

Color Scheme and Unit Insignia

The Lyran Guards paint their machines in Lyran blue and white.

  • Insignia of the Lyran Guards Brigade

  • 2nd Lyran Guards Insignia

  • 3rd Lyran Guards Insignia

  • 5th Lyran Guards Insignia

  • 6th Lyran Guards Insignia

  • 8th Lyran Guards Insignia

  • 10th Lyran Guards Insignia

  • 11th Lyran Guards Insignia

  • 14th Lyran Guards Insignia

  • 15th Lyran Guards Insignia

  • 24th Lyran Guards Insignia

  • 26th Lyran Guards Insignia

  • 32nd Lyran Guards Insignia

  • 36th Lyran Guards Insignia

References

  1. ↑ Field Manual: Lyran Alliance, p. 75
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Field Report 2765: LCAF, p. 13: "Lyran Guards"
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Field Report: LCAF, p. 12
  4. ↑ Field Report 2765: LCAF, p. 14: "Lyran Guards"
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 First Succession War, p. 139: "Lyran Commonwealth Armed Forces (LCAF)"
  6. ↑ First Succession War, p. 33: "Those Left Behind (Continued)"
  7. ↑ FedCom Civil War, p. 83
  8. ↑ Field Manual: 3085, p. 101
  9. ↑ Field Manual: 3145, p. 126
  10. ↑ Technical Readout: 3039, p. 168: "AS7-D Atlas"
  11. ↑ Field Manual: Lyran Alliance, p. 74
  12. ↑ First Succession War, p. 139
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Field Manual: 3145, p. 129
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 Field Report: LAAF, p. 12
  15. ↑ Field Manual: 3145, p. 126
  16. ↑ Jihad Turning Points: New Avalon, p. 5
  17. ↑ Field Manual: 3145, p. 126
  18. ↑ Ask The Writer post
  19. ↑ Field Manual: 3145, p. 126
  20. ↑ Field Manual: Lyran Alliance, p. 74
  21. ↑ Field Manual: 3145, p. 126
  22. ↑ Field Manual: Lyran Alliance, p. 74
  23. ↑ Field Manual: 3145, p. 126
  24. ↑ Second Succession War, p. 99

Bibliography

Lyran Regulars

Insignia of the Lyran Regulars
Main article: Lyran Regulars
Insignia of the Lyran Regulars
Lyran Regulars
Nickname The Crucible
Affiliation Lyran Commonwealth
Parent Command LCAF

Originally a Lyran national brigade that was only considered semipermanent, the Lyran Regulars frequently waxed and waned in size depending on the needs of the military. When the LCAF needed to move more capable units into combat positions, the Regulars would swell with a mix of reenlisting veterans and soldiers rushed through incomplete training.[1] The Lyran Regulars see themselves as the backbone of the LCAF, providing a capable, no-frills combat force that's more interested in getting the job done than playing the political games so common in the LCAF's upper echelons. Because of this, the Regulars have historically lacked patronage. This, combined with their emphasis on tactics considered "unorthodox" within the LAAF, has generally kept them on the low end of the supply chain and often assigned missions seen as hopeless or somehow below more prestigious brigades.[2]

History

First Succession War

As the House militaries grew in the last years of the Star League, the Regulars became a permanent part of the LCAF. In the rush to build up forces following Operation CHIEFTAIN and the collapse of the Star league, the Regulars were bolstered by a mix of mercenaries as well as former members of the SLDF and Rim Worlds Republic military. Consequently, they were regarded dubiously by the high command, who doubted their loyalty.[2] The unit expanded massively prior to the outbreak of the First Succession War, going from five regiments in 2765 to 22 at the outbreak of the war.[3]

Unlike their prior role as a defensive force, the Lyran Regulars were heavily involved in offensive operations at the start of the war, especially Operation ELBOW JOINT, the campaign in the Bolan Thumb.[4] They played a major part in the campaign for Bella I, when the Twelfth and Fourteenth Lyran Regulars attacked the world under the command of Colonel Raymond Hempsted, former commander of the Stealths, and his aide, Leutnant-Colonel Marcus Steiner, the Archon-Designate.[5] Throughout the war the brigade secured a number of impressive victories, earning them more of a positive reputation amongst the rest of the Lyran Armed Forces and were reluctantly accepted as being worthy of their status.[citation needed]

Second Succession War

The Regulars played host to two notable leaders in this time: Hendrik Grimm and Henry DeCalidore. Grimm was once a rising star in the LCAF, but his behavior became increasingly unstable. While his ties to House Steiner saved him from a court martial, they could not save his career, and he went from a battalion commander in the prestigious Third Lyran Guards to commanding the Sixth Lyran Regulars. Though the posting on Graham IV was considered "safe," a Marik force slipped over the border and attacked the world. Grimm believed the Archon had abandoned him and decided to lead his unit into piracy. After adding defectors from the damaged Fifth Lyran Regulars, the unit disappeared into the Periphery, and was used by Grimm to set himself up as king of the Oberon Confederation.

Henry DeCalidore, on the other hand, was given his post as a reward. A former Speaker of the Assembly for the Estates General and member of the Triumvirate Regency, DeCalidore was the architect of the plan to reactivate the LCS Invincible to save Hesperus II from a Draconis Combine attack. Consequently, he now fancied himself a military genius. Rather than deal with his self-aggrandizing behavior and strategic meddling, the new Archon Elizabeth Steiner mustered the Twenty-third Lyran Regulars and placed them under his command. Colonel DeCalidore was killed in action on Sakhalin in 2860 fighting against a Draconis Combine raid, though his unit was successful in blunting the DCMS attack.[6]

As with many brigades in the LCAF, the Lyran Regulars' casualties began to mount in earnest during the war and the number of active regiments within the unit began to decline. 10 of the 23 regiments were lost by 2864, either to defection or to combat losses.

Jihad

After the Jihad ended, most of the Lyran Regulars' units had more troops available than any other Lyran command, but these troops suffered from very low morale. This stemmed from their extremely high losses at the beginning of the Jihad, where the unit lost three regiments outright and suffered heavy casualties throughout the surviving units. Their fading morale was exacerbated by LCAF High Command leaving them in garrison, as they were seen as reliable defensive units, and they were forced to stand by while other Lyran units fought in all the major battles. The combination of older veterans coping with losses, inexperienced rookies being pumped into the brigade to replace them, and both types of MechWarrior eager to but disallowed from participating in the fighting, took such a toll that they were considered in 3079 as having the worst morale of any brigade in the LCAF. In an unusual twist for the brigade, the Fifteenth Lyran Regulars became the top choice of assignment for new graduates, likely due to that unit's service as the primary garrison force for Melissia and, as the Royal Court took up residence there during the Word of Blake's occupation of Tharkad, the opportunity to rub shoulders with nobility and people of importance.[7]

Dark Age

Their history as a defensive command was changed in Operation HAMMERFALL. The entire Regulars brigade was used during that attack, and though they initially were successful, the tides of war turned against them. The brigade lost four Lyran Regulars regiments to combat, and the rest of the Regulars were heavily damaged.[8]

Officers

Rank Name Command
Commanding Officers of the Lyran Regulars
Hauptmann-General Tellam Stellwar approx. 3039 - 3067
Leutnant-General Virginie Heuttel 3067

Tactics

Different per Unit.

Composition History

3062 - 9 commands[9]

Units of the Lyran Regulars

Notes

Color Schemes and Unit Insignia

The Lyran Regulars paint their equipment "drab green" (mottled between olive and pine green), with tan or khaki highlights.[2]

‎

  • Insignia of the Lyran Regulars Brigade

  • 3rd Lyran Regulars Insignia

  • 4th Lyran Regulars Insignia

  • 5th Lyran Regulars Insignia

  • 7th Lyran Regulars Insignia

  • 8th Lyran Regulars Insignia

  • 9th Lyran Regulars Insignia

  • 10th Lyran Regulars Insignia

  • 11th Lyran Regulars Insignia

  • 15th Lyran Regulars Insignia

References

  1. ↑ Field Report 2765: LCAF, p. 15
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Field Manual: Lyran Alliance, p. 85
  3. ↑ First Succession War, p. 139
  4. ↑ First Succession War, pp. 70–71
  5. ↑ First Succession War, p. 75: "Humiliation Avenged"
  6. ↑ Second Succession War, p. 71: "The Second Succession War (2825-2863) - Running on empty (2850-2860) - Regency and Revenge"
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Field Report: LAAF, p. 13
  8. ↑ Field Manual: 3145, p. 128
  9. ↑ Field Manual: Lyran Alliance, pp. 124–125: "Alliance Guards Profile"
  10. ↑ Jihad Hot Spots: 3070, pp. 16–17
  11. ↑ Field Manual: Updates, p. 171
  12. ↑ Field Manual: Mercenaries, Revised, p. 90
  13. ↑ Second Succession War, pp. 76: "Lyran Commonwealth Armed Forces (LCAF)"

Bibliography

Royal Guards

Insignia of the Royal Guards
Main article: Royal Guards
Brigade Insignia of the Royal Guards
Royal Guards
Nickname Lyran Pride
Affiliation Lyran Commonwealth
Parent Command LCAF/LAAF

The Lyran Royal Guards are the best equipped and most prestigious brigade within the LAAF, but mostly serve as the protectors of the Lyran government. Each unit within the Royal Guards recruits, by invitation only, from soldiers of a particular parent state, meaning that each of the Royal Guards regiments represents the pinnacle of military prowess for either the Protectorate of Donegal, the Federation of Skye, or the Tamar Pact. The Royal Guards are also tasked with the protection of the Archon or Archon-Designate, and the Triad. In fact, the BattleMechs that stand constant garrison over the Lyran throne room are typically elements of the 1st Royal Guards.

History

The unit was long held to be the best of the best of the LCAF. Their warriors were highly skilled and motivated, and loyal to the Archon. Soldiers who tended to "buck the system" were barred from the Royal Guards to maintain their professionalism.[2]

Age of War Era

The Estates-General prepared a public demand that Katherine Steiner, the third Archon of the Lyran Commonwealth, step down. She moved to prevent its release and send armed members of the Royal Guard into Government House allegedly to protect the Representatives from the wrath of her subjects should they learn of the demand.[3] On 13 October 2471, in a double wedding with his brother Archon Michael Steiner, Steven Steiner married Colonel Margaret Olson of the First Royal Guards Armor Brigade.[4] Following a 2528 assassination attempt on Archon Craig Steiner the throne room was closed for construction. The changes were revealed 23 October 2529 for Craig's Steiner's birthday; the room had been enlarged and strengthened to allow two BattleMechs to flank the throne.[5]

see also: Guardian Duty

Star League Era

In 2581, the Lyran Expeditionary Force joined the SLDF and the Free Worlds League in Operation MAILED FIST. Archon Viola Steiner-Dinesen personally led the Lyran regiments at the head of the 4th Royal Guards. Believing that the war would last five years, she left her son Kevin Steiner-Dinesen to act in her stead. Ten years into the war, desertion from LCAF ranks had become a serious problem at the front, while back home domestic unrest and opposition to the war was rising. Then in 2591 the Estates-General announced that Archon-Designate Kevin Steiner-Dinesen had been kidnapped, the members of the Steering Committee would take charge of the Commonwealth until the Archon returned, and that the Estates General would vote on Lyran secession from the Star League.[6]

Katherine learned of all this while in the field, including (false) rumors that the Duke of Tamar and the Duke of Skye were responsible for her son's disappearance. She led a company of the Royal Guards to a camp of the Twenty-fifth Skye Rangers and the Tamar Tigers, attacking them in a rage. She lost an arm from her 'Mech as well as one of her own arms, and lay comatose after the battle. 117 members of the Tigers and Rangers died.[7]

When the Archon awoke, she learned that Tamar and Skye were innocent of Kevin's kidnapping. She requested leave from the SLDF to return home, which was granted.[7] On 15 January 2592, the Estates-General gathered for a vote on secession. The Royal Guards arrived and, with LIC support, took much of the Steering Committee into custody and found Kevin Dinesen bound and gagged in a closet. The Archon's DropShip landed in front of Government House as Kevin was being brought from the building. When Henry Gram, leader of the kidnappers, was brought out, she moved toward him and crushed him beneath her 'Mechs foot.[7]

Leaving Kevin in charge of the throne again, she returned to the front at the head of the Fourth Royal Guards. She took a mortal wound on 24 March 2595, though she did not pass until 28 April of that year, a day after returning to Tharkad.[8]

Succession Wars Era

First Succession War

Archon Jennifer Steiner personally led the Fourth Royal Guards in their assault of Styx.[9] On 4 January 2791, she was killed by a booby-trapped door at the chemical factories of New Eslow.[10]

Second Succession War

When the DCMS invaded New Caledonia in 2841, the Fourth Royal Guards were garrisoning the world. The battle lasted seven years, despite repeated pleas for aid that were ignored by Archon Claudius Steiner. Finally, the Fourth was destroyed, and the commanding officer and his brother were deceived into fighting a battle against each other in unarmed Thunderbolts, resulting in both of their deaths. Evidence of this was sent to the Archon, who then ordered Operation PRAYING MANTIS into motion.[11][12] When the List of Honored Missing became a Lyran tradition, the Fourth was also added to its roll.[13]

Third Succession War

Archon Eric Steiner led the Third Royal Guards on Freedom. Trapping two battalions of the Sixth Sword of Light in a dead-end valley, the Guards bombarded them with artillery and air support for three days before advancing into the valley and destroying the Kuritans. A freak accident involving two vibra-bombs killed the Archon.[14][15]

In 2980, Alessandro Steiner was a distinguished battalion commander in the Second Royal Guards when his father's death elevated him to the Archonship.[16] Then-Archon-Designate Katrina Steiner spent three years commanding the Second Royal Guards.[17]

In 3005, a company of the 3rd Royal Guards drove off Kuritans attacking the House Lestrade estate on Summer, but not before the Duke of Summer was killed and his heir Aldo Lestrade gravely wounded. Aldo accused the Guards of deliberate laxness in their defense of Summer, laying the blame for his father's death at their feet. This fed into a separatist movement led by the new Duke.[18]

Civil War Era

During the FedCom Civil War, the Royal Guards were loyal to Archon Katherine Steiner-Davion. By the end of the conflict, all three regiments were all but destroyed, though they were not stricken from the rolls.[19]

Jihad Era

During the Word of Blake's assault on Tharkad, the Royal Guards were largely destroyed. The Royal Guards ceased operating as regiments and instead broke into smaller formations and waged a guerrilla war against the Blakists. The Archon referred to anyone who fought alongside him as a Royal Guard. Once the Blakists were pushed off Tharkad, the Royal Guard regiments were rebuilt quickly by transferring in troops from other commands. Even with these transfers, it will be several years before the Royal Guards are back to full strength.[20]

Officers

Rank Name Command
Commanding Officers of the Royal Guards

Tactics

Different per Unit.

Composition History

3062 - 3 commands[21]

Guardian Duty

Perhaps the most well known and exclusive assignment of the Royal Guards is to guard the throne at the Royal Court on Tharkad, a duty that began on October 23, 2529. The Guardians are usually two Griffins but that is not always the case.[5]

2812

In retaliation for the thrashing the Stealths gave to Free Worlds League forces on Poulsbo an assassin was sent after Archon Richard Steiner. On 3 August 2812 Richard Perkins fired a laser pistol at the Archon but the vigilant Royal Guardsman was able to block it with his Griffin's hand.[10]

3056

With the formation of the Federated Commonwealth the throne room was altered slightly. Thrones for the Federated Suns and the Lyran Commonwealth were placed on a five step-high dias. Later a third throne for the Federated Commonwealth was set in the center.[22][23][24]

3057

  • Behind the left hand (Federated Commonwealth) throne, a Marauder now painted in Steiner blue.[24]
  • Behind the right hand (Lyran Commonwealth) throne, Galen Cox's Crusader, painted in Kell Hounds colors with black mourning garlands around the wrists.[24]

3062

Katherine Steiner-Davion's throne was guarded by a pair of Hauptmann OmniMechs as a celebration of Lyran technological advances.[25]

3067

Peter Steiner-Davion returned the Griffin to its traditional place on Guardian Duty; he used the new GRF-6S model from Project Phoenix in this role. By this point, the throne room had been returned to its single-throne configuration of the pre-FedCom era.[26]

3140–3141

3143

During Vedet Brewer's short reign:

3145

Units of the Royal Guards

Honorary Units

Color Scheme and Insignia

The Royal Guards paint their machines a base of Lyran blue, with gold painted on the left and right side. Additionally, weapon barrels are painted gold, as are hatches and sensors.[35]

The ceremonial uniform of the Royal Guards is white.[36][37]

  • Brigade Insignia of the Royal Guards

  • 1st Royal Guards Insignia

  • 2nd Royal Guards Insignia

  • 3rd Royal Guards Insignia

  • 4th Royal Guards Insignia

References

  1. ↑ FM update p.170
  2. ↑ Field Report 2765: LCAF, p. 17
  3. ↑ House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth), p. 17
  4. ↑ Handbook: House Steiner, p. 21: sidebar
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth), p. 28
  6. ↑ House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth), p. 32
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth), p. 33
  8. ↑ Handbook: House Steiner, p. 28
  9. ↑ House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth), p. 48
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth), p. 49
  11. ↑ House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth), pp. 58–59: NOTE: in HSTLC the world is listed as Caledonia, which is a distinct world from New Caledonia. More recent source used for planet name.
  12. ↑ Handbook: House Steiner, p. 41
  13. ↑ House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth), p. 62
  14. ↑ House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth), p. 69
  15. ↑ Handbook: House Steiner, p. 49
  16. ↑ House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth), p. 75
  17. ↑ House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth), p. 149
  18. ↑ House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth), p. 153
  19. ↑ Handbook: House Steiner, p. 108
  20. ↑ Field Report: LAAF, p. 14
  21. ↑ Field Manual: Lyran Alliance, p. 125: "Alliance Guards Profile"
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 Assumption of Risk, ch. 17
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 Blood of Heroes, ch. 4
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 Bred for War, ch. 9
  25. ↑ Field Manual: Lyran Alliance, p. 96
  26. ↑ Handbook: House Steiner, color plate 1
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 A Bonfire of Worlds, ch. 10
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 A Bonfire of Worlds, ch. 11
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 A Bonfire of Worlds, ch. 15
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 30.2 30.3 Field Manual: 3145, p. 124: "Royal Guards"
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 31.2 House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth), p. 61
  32. ↑ Second Succession War, p. 56
  33. ↑ House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth), p. 87
  34. ↑ Technical Readout: Irregulars, p. 4: "Sturmvogel Maritime Patrol WiGE"
  35. ↑ FM: Lyran Alliance, pg.95
  36. ↑ House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth), p. 110
  37. ↑ Handbook: House Steiner, p. 111

Bibliography

Skye Rangers

Insignia of the Skye Rangers
Main article: Skye Rangers

Originally the army of the Federation of Skye, where the Skye Rangers were once synonymous with courage and resolution. Lately, many in the LCAF and LAAF see them as divisive for their ties to the Free Skye movement. The Skye Rangers have maintained close ties to its parent state, recruiting almost exclusively from the Federation, with many Sanglamore graduates heading to fill billets in the brigade. As such, the unit frequently sides with the leader of the Skye region, not the Archon.[1]


Training Units

Main article: Buena War College Training Battalion
Main article: Royal New Capetown Training Battalion
Main article: Pandora Training Battalion

Regional Militias

All Militias use pale blue with region-specific highlights. Derived from the March Militia system used during the time of the Federated Commonwealth, these RCTs are drawn from the best of the militia troops from each world in their province or theater.

Province Militias

The Province Militias are the interior garrison forces of the LAAF. They take their name from the name of the Province's capital world.

Main article: Alarion Province Militia

The Alarion Province Militia (APM) is the regional militia command unit for the Alarion Province of the Lyran Alliance.

Main article: Coventry Province Militia

The Coventry Province Militia serves as the militia force for the Coventry Province.

Main article: Bolan Province Militia
Bolan Province Militia
Affiliation Lyran Commonwealth
Parent Command LAAF

The Bolan Province Militia serves as the militia force for the Bolan Province.


History

Officers

Rank Name Command
Commanding Officers of the Bolan Province Militia
Hauptmann-General Mitchell Henders 3062 - 3067[2][3]
Hauptmann-General Jean Andrews 3085[4]

Other Officers

Tactics

Unknown.

Color Scheme

The Bolan Province Militia use pale blue with purple and blue highlights to their equipment.[5]

Composition History

References

  1. ↑ Field Manual: Lyran Alliance, p. 90
  2. ↑ Field Manual: Lyran Alliance, p. 108
  3. ↑ Field Manual: Updates, p. 179
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Field Manual: 3085, p. 108: "Lyran Commonwealth Armed Forces Deployment Table"
  5. ↑ FM: Lyran Alliance, page 108
  6. ↑ Rolling Thunder (Sourcebook), p. 42, "Alas, Poor Loric"
  7. ↑ Field Manual: 3145, p. 133

Bibliography

Main article: Skye Province Militia

The Skye Province Militia serves as the militia force for the Skye Province.

Main article: Donegal Province Militia

The Donegal Province Militia serves as the militia force for the Donegal Province. It currently lacks BattleMech regiments.


Theater Militias

The Theater Militias are militia units used to provide border defenses. Like the Province Militias, they take their name from the capital world of the theater that they're responsible for protecting.

Main article: Timbuktu Theater Militia

The Timbuktu Theater Militia serves as the militia force for the Timbuktu Theater.

Main article: Melissia Theater Militia

The Melissia Theater Militia serves as the militia force for the Melissia Theater.

Main article: Cavanaugh Theater Militia

The Cavanaugh Theater Militia serves as the militia force for the Cavanaugh Theater.

Main article: Freedom Theater Militia

The Freedom Theater Militia serves as the militia force for the Freedom Theater.

Main article: Arc-Royal Theater Militia

The Arc-Royal Theater Militia serves as the militia force for the Arc-Royal Theater. It was formed from the Pandora Theater Militia after Pandora was lost.


Former Brigades

Tikonov Republican Guard

Insignia of the Tikonov Republican Guard
Main article: Tikonov Republican Guards
Insignia of the Tikonov Republican Guard
Tikonov Republican Guards
Formed 3029
Disbanded 3067
Nickname "The Republicans"
Affiliation Lyran Alliance
Federated Commonwealth (previous)
Tikonov Free Republic (previous)
Parent Command LCAF
AFFC (previous)
Tikonov Free Republic Army (previous)

History

Formed from the remnants of the CCAF stationed within the former Tikonov Commonality, the Tikonov Republican Guard was the garrison of the Tikonov Free Republic. When the TFR joined the Federated Commonwealth after the assassination of Lord Pavel Ridzik, the Republican Guard units were absorbed into the AFFC as part of the LCAF, wary of their longtime enemies in House Davion.[1]

At their height, the Tikonov Republican Guards consisted of five regiments. One regiment was destroyed during Operation Guerrero, while another deserted. The remaining three regiments were destroyed in the FedCom Civil War.

After Gray Monday the CCAF took several prefectures from the Republic of the Sphere. These worlds were part of the old Tikonov Commonality and the units raised here were designated the Tikonov Guards.[2]

Officers

Rank Name Command
Commanding Officers of the Tikonov Republican Guards

Tactics

Different per Unit.

Composition History

3062 - 3 commands [3]

Units of the Tikonov Republican Guards

The Tiknonov Republican Guard consisted of five regiments:

Notes

  • The 1st Republican Guards was destroyed during FedCom Civil War.
  • The 2nd Republican Guards was destroyed during FedCom Civil War.
  • The 3rd Republican Guards was destroyed during FedCom Civil War.
  • The 4th Republican Guards deserted during Operation Guerrero.
  • The 5th Republican Guards was destroyed during Operation Guerrero.

Color Scheme and Unit Insignia

The Guards units use a red and black paint scheme.

  • Brigade Insignia of the Republican Guards

  • 1st Republican Insignia

  • 2nd Republican Insignia

  • 3rd Republican Insignia

  • 4th Republican Insignia

References

  1. ↑ Field Manual: Lyran Alliance, p. 104
  2. ↑ Field Manual: 3145, p. 38
  3. ↑ Field Manual: Lyran Alliance, p. 125, "Alliance Guards Profile"

Bibliography

Winfield's Brigade

Main article: Winfield's Brigade
Winfieldregiment.jpg
Winfield's Regiment
Formed 2992
Previous Designation(s) Winfield's Brigade
Affiliation Lyran Commonwealth
Parent Command LCAF

Winfield's Brigade was designed by House Steiner as a mixed-weapon line unit, later re-forming as a mercenary command.

History

Origin as Winfield Guard

The Winfield Guards were created by Alessandro Steiner as a mixed weapon unit in 2992. The 'Mechs of the Winfield Guards were usually of medium weight and high mobility. They were patterned after the Eridani Light Horse and one of the most famed Lyran units, The Stealths. In fact, the unit’s CO was a descendant of the former commander of The Stealths. The Guards quickly became one of the finest Lyran units, but they were decimated during the fierce fighting on the planet of Sevren due to severe intelligence failures in 3011. Though the Second Donegal Guards arrived to reinforce the unit, the 2nd Guards didn't know the local terrain. Two scouts from the Brigade offered to lead the Guards into position even though they were wounded and in seriously damaged 'Mechs. To honor these scouts, the scouts of Winfield's Brigade wear the tartan of the Second Donegal Guards as a lapel device.[1]

The unit was reorganized into a two-battalion-sized force and renamed to Winfield’s Brigade. Winfield’s Brigade was once more deployed to Sevren alongside with the 30th Lyran Guards and Hansen's Roughriders. The invasion succeeded in 3024, mostly because of the hard-striking Winfield’s Brigade.[2][3] The battle for Sevren saw a company from Winfield's Brigade fend off attacks from two lances of MechBuster aircraft before pushing forward to secure a strategically significant bridge, cutting off a battalion of forces from the Dieron Regulars from reinforcements. This in turn allowed the 30th Lyran Guards to assault the isolated Dieron Regulars in force; the company from Winfield's Brigade lost a total of eight 'Mechs destroyed or immobilized in exchange for one downed MechBuster in the push to capture the bridge, although the airfield from which the MechBusters were operating was identified and captured during their attack on Winfield's Brigade.[4]

Winfield's Brigade performed an important role during the so-called "witch-hunts" of Gypsum and Baker 3, an innovation of Archon Katrina Steiner. The top-heavy units of the LCAF had to hunt down the "witch", a highly mobile opfor unit, which was usually displayed by Winfield's Brigade or the mercenary unit Mobile Fire.

Fourth Succession War

During the Fourth Succession War, the Tyr Regiment, the 4th Donegal Guards, the 3rd Lyran Regulars and Winfield`s Brigade were assigned to liberate the prefecture capital of Kirchbach. The defending DCMS units, the 5th Amphigean Light Assault Group, Helmut's Hermits and the 17th Rasalhague Regulars, were forced to retreat off-world soon after the first engagement.[5] Hereupon, Winfield's Brigade was assigned to invade the world of Liezen, which was garrisoned by a veteran Combine 'Mech regiment, the 1st Altenmarkt Militia. Winfield's Brigade quickly seized control of the capital and other major cities. However, the larger Altenmarkt Militia regiment faded away and staged a guerrilla war. Unfortunately, Winfield's Brigade lacked the manpower to garrison the cities and to hunt down the 1st Altenmarkt Militia at the same time. Thus, the Brigade was reinforced by the 4th Donegal Guards. Shortly afterwards, the Altenmarkt Militia had to retreat and Liezen was ultimately considered secured.[6]

Clan Invasion

Deployed on their homeworld of Winfield during the opening stages of Operation REVIVAL, Winfield's Regiment was attacked by Clan Jade Falcon[3][7] in March 3050.[8] Fortunately, the Jade Falcons underestimated the capabilities of Winfield's Regiment and the Lyran unit almost overran the landing zone of the Jade Falcon's Fifth Battle Cluster. However, they had to retreat from Winfield after the Jade Falcons deployed a massive force of Clan Elementals, which were completely unknown to the Inner Sphere at the time. As skilled as Winfield's troops were, the Jade Falcon 612th Assault Cluster were too strong for them, with just two battalions mainly consisting of light armor and infantry managing to escape after the battle in the Territe Valley.[8] Before they retreated offworld in orderly fashion, they prepared the Winfield Militia to stage a guerrilla war.[3][7]

In late 3051 or early 3052 General Winfield persuaded Marshal Bob Bryant to allow him to raid Winfield, despite Bryant's misgivings. Although Winfield was primarily concerned with rescuing those prisoners still interned by the Jade Falcons, his justification for the raid was to target the Kerensky Munitions and Armaments factory that the Falcons had constructed by refitting the old Fairfield Munitions plant, and which if allowed to remain operational would allow them to not only support strikes into the Coventry Operational Area but also to starve out those still fighting in the Blackjack Operational Area. Although Bryant allowed the strike to go ahead, despite Winfield being deep inside the Jade Falcon Occupation Zone, he made it abundantly clear that any political repercussions from the strike would fall squarely on Winfield.[8]

Winfield's forces arrived in the Winfield system in February 3052 via a pirate point, and Winfield immediately issued a batchall against the defending forces, which were drawn from Epsilon Galaxy. The Jade Falcons responded by bidding the 101st Defense Cluster, which was a Cluster largely equipped with medium OmniMechs. Winfield had every intention of deceiving the Falcon forces, and began by sending his infantry along his south flank and used his light armor forces to probe the center and north flanks of the Falcon forces. Winfield successfully lured the 101st into charging for his heavy 'Mechs. Winfield then retreated his forces steadily northwards with the 101st in pursuit, leaving just a few Elementals guarding the munitions factory.[8]

Winfield's infantry forces successfully crossed the Harrison River and infiltrated the munitions factory without being detected by the bulk of the 101st; the remaining Elementals attempted to engage the infantry, but by the time they attacked the infantry had already planted explosives. When the facility exploded the forces from the 101st pursuing Winfield's 'Mech forces turned to fight around the burning factory, allowing Winfield to strike at the prison and free the prisoners held there. The battle had lasted some twenty hours in total and was a stunning success for Winfield and his troops.[8]

The survivors of Winfield's Regiment faced the Fourth Falcon Velites on Butler shortly after. Vastly outnumbered, Leftenant General Davis Winfield decided to challenge the Falcon CO in single combat. He managed to gain the upper hand against his opponent, Star Colonel Evak Mattlov, until a lucky hit destroyed his 'Mech's gyro and he fell unconscious. Enraged, the rest of Winfield's Regiment attacked the Falcon force in a suicidal charge, which left the regiment all but destroyed.[3][7]

Reformation as Mercenaries

The survivors formed the core for a mercenary group named Winfield's Regiment. During the Refusal War between Clan Wolf and Clan Jade Falcon, Colonel Jeremiah Winfield conducted a small border raid against the world of Butler, which ultimately failed. As a consequence the unit left LAAF service and after a short time operating in the Chaos March they signed on to work for the Marian Hegemony in 3065. There the mercenaries defended against the Circinus Federation's counterinvasion.[3]

In Service of the Hegemony in the Jihad

During the next few years, the regiment trained with the IV Legio in antiriot methods and other law enforcement tactics. In 3068, the Marian high command ordered the mercenaries to find and destroy the base of the Circinus Black Warriors. Colonel Winfield detailed two battalion-size task forces, with the third remaining behind as backup at Maximillian.

In 3069 on Corpus Mortuum, they captured a fugitive band of pirates who told them about massive Word of Blake bases in the Federation. Colonel Winfield saw this as a chance to acquire the necessary equipment for his long-term goal of liberating his homeworld from the Clans. On Circinus the mercenaries lost two full battalions to the Word of Blake. The third battalion was then attacked after their identity was somehow leaked.

The regiment was a shadow of its former self after the horrific events on Blantleff. The Caesar of the Marian Hegemony began citing the unit as being in possible breach of contract due to its pathetic fighting condition. The Hegemony forbade the regiment from recruiting from Hegemony citizens, however some Palatinate rebels joined the unit.[9] Major Evan Burton, the former Third Battalion Commander of the Regiment was the last surviving ranking officer after the Regiment's failed raid.

Officers

Rank Name Command
Commanding Officers of Winfield Guard
Commanding Officers of Winfield's Brigade
Colonel Davis Winfield 3025 - 3050[10][3][7]
Commanding Officers of Winfield's Regiment
Colonel Jeremiah Winfield 3050 - 3069[3][9]
Major Evan Burton 3069[9]
Colonel Hui Winfield 3145[11]

Tactics

The unit specialized in harassing and cavalry tactics. It also made use of ambushes and flanking maneuvers.

Support

The technical staff can perform most of the unit's normal repairs. The unit possesses a Star Lord-class JumpShip (the Hartford) and two Overlord-class DropShips to transport the entire command. The Hartford's KF Drive was shattered from overuse after arriving back on Blantleff in 3069.

Composition History

2992

Winfield Guards (2 Regiments/Elite/Reliable)[12]

3011

Winfield's Guards (2 Regiments)[1]

3025

Winfield’s Brigade (2 Battalions/Elite/Reliable)[12][10]

Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on Winfield.

3040

Winfield's Brigade (2 Battalions/Elite/Reliable)[13]

Note: At this point in time the command was stationed on Winfield.[13]

3050

Winfield's Regiment (1 Regiment/Elite/Reliable)[14][15]

Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on Winfield[15]

3067

Winfield’s Regiment (1 Regiment/Regular/Reliable)[3]

  • 1st Battalion/CO: Colonel Jeremiah Winfield
  • 2nd Battalion/XO: Lieutenant Colonel Freda Foh Shen
  • 3rd Battalion: Kommandant Evan Burton

Lighting Strike (1 Wing/Veteran/Reliable)

  • Wing Commander: Major Marina De Vega

3071

Winfield’s Regiment (1 BattleMech Battalion)

  • CO: Major Evan Burton[9]
    • Note: Unit had only 3 aerospace fighters remaining of its Aerospace Wing after the raid on Circinus.

3085

Winfield's Regiment (Regular/Questionable)[18]

  • CO: Colonel Jeremiah Winfield
  • At this point the unit was at 60% strength

3145

Winfield's Regiment (Regular/Questionable)[11]

  • CO: Colonel Hul Winfield
  • At this point the unit was at 60% strength and stationed on Suetonius

Unit Scheme

The Winfield Regiment use green and black for their color scheme, harkening back to their days as the Winfield's Brigade.[3]

Uniforms

The center panel of the helmets issued to infantry units attached to Winfield's Brigade is painted yellow to differentiate them from infantry units in other Lyran brigades.[19]

Notes

  • During the battle on Winfield the Winfield Brigade forces that attacked the Kerensky Munitions and Armaments plant consisted of Winfield's Regiment, Third Battalion, First Company (Revenge Inc.), First Platoon (The Coffin Makers).[8]
  • The Jade Falcon forces defending the armaments plant on Winfield were the 101st Defense Cluster's First Military Police Trinary, Fifth Elemental Garrison Guards, Fourth and Fifth Points.[8]
  • The unit's name is misspelled as Winfeld's Regiment in Field Manual: 3145.[11]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Technical Readout: 3025 Revised, p. 14
  2. ↑ House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth), p. 81: Current Events - Winfield (Guards) Regiment/Brigade information
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 Field Manual: Mercenaries Revised, p. 111: "Winfield's Regiment"
  4. ↑ Technical Readout: 3026, Revised Edition, p. 50: "MechBuster"
  5. ↑ NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 1, p. ?[citation needed]
  6. ↑ NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 2, p. ?[citation needed]
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Jade Falcon Sourcebook, pp. 37–38
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6 ClanTroops, pp. 47–49: "Retribution"
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 Mercenaries: Update, p. 119: "Winfield's Regiment"
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth), p. 116: Unit Deployment Table
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Field Manual: 3145, p. 182
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth), p. 81: Current Events - Winfield (Guards) Regiment/Brigade information
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Historical: War of 3039, p. 138
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Jade Falcon Sourcebook, pp. 37–38: First and second waves
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 20 Year Update, p. 19
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 The Field Is Lost, p. 5 (BattleCorps PDF version)
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 The Field Is Lost, p. 6 (BattleCorps PDF version)
  18. ↑ Field Manual: 3085, p. 161
  19. ↑ House Steiner: The Lyran Commonwealth, p. 112

Bibliography

Tamar Cavaliers

insignia of Tamar Cavaliers
Main article: Tamar Cavaliers
Insignia of the Tamar Cavaliers
Tamar Cavaliers
Formed 3058
Disbanded prior to 3133
Nickname The Archers
Affiliation Lyran Commonwealth
Parent Command Skye Rangers, later Lyran Reserves

The Tamar Cavaliers were a relatively new unit, constituted in 3058. Duke Robert Kelswa-Steiner raised the unit from his own fortune, with the mandate of liberating Tamar Pact worlds from The Clans. The Cavaliers use a red and silver paint scheme.[1]

They were rebuilt following a disastrous defeat in 3070, but were destroyed again in the early thirty-second century; as of 3145 the unit does not exist anymore.

History

The Tamar Cavaliers were formed by Duke Kelswa-Steiner as part of his Kelswa House Guard. They became an official unit in 3058, giving direct control over it to the newly formed LAAF High Command. The unit's loyalties were more to the Duke than to the Archon.

During the FedCom Civil War, the unit was integrated into the Skye Rangers brigade. This act put the unit more directly in command of Skye's authority. However, due to its loyalty to the former Tamar Pact, the unit could be relied on to remain on the Clan Jade Falcon border to defend what is left of their homeland. To the frustration of its commander, the command could not be part of Operation Audacity in 3063.[1][2]

Thanks to the influence of Duke Robert Kelswa-Steiner, the Cavaliers received multiple Union-X DropShips from Shipil Company.[3]

As of 3067 the unit was based on the Lyran world of Tomans.[4]

During the chaos of the Jihad the Sixth Lyran Guards (which had been deprived of their transport) along with the Tamar Cavaliers faced off against Clan Wolf forces on Tomans in 3070 until they were too heavily damaged. The few survivors surrendered.[5]

The unit was later rebuilt as part of the Lyran Reserves. All military units built by Lyran nobles after the Jihad (like the Tamar Cavaliers) report to the LCAF High Command through the Lyran Reserves brigade. The rebuilt Tamar Cavaliers are split nearly evenly between new academy graduates and combat veterans. The Cavaliers run their troops through a two year cadre training course before transferring them to other commands.[6] In 3085 they were the garrison unit for Bountiful Harvest, ready to repel Clan Jade Falcon troops.[7]

At some point early in the thirty-second century, implicitly prior to 3133, the Tamar Cavaliers were reportedly destroyed over the course of several tit-for-tat raids on the Clan border.[8] The unit does not exist anymore as of 3145.

Officers

Rank Name Command
Commanding Officers of the Tamar Cavaliers
Colonel Anthony G. Liddle 3062 - 3067[1][4]
Colonel Lenna Kelswa 3085[7]

Tactics

Unknown.

Composition History

3062-3067

Tamar Cavaliers (Regiment/Regular/Fanatical)[1][4]

343rd Tamar Heavy Armor (Regiment/Regular/Questionable)[1][4]

3085

Tamar Cavaliers (Green/Reliable)[7]

Tamar Cavaliers Air (Wing/Green/Reliable)[7]

Gallery

  • Banshee in Tamar Cavaliers livery

‎

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Field Manual: Lyran Alliance, p. 103: "Tamar Cavaliers Unit Profile"
  2. ↑ Field Manual: Updates, p. 173: "Tamar Cavaliers"
  3. ↑ Technical Readout: 3067, p. 176
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Field Manual: Updates, p. 178: "LAAF Deployment Table - 3067"
  5. ↑ Field Report: LAAF, p. 12
  6. ↑ Field Manual: 3085, p. 103
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Field Manual: 3085, p. 109: "LAAF Deployment Table - 3085"
  8. ↑ Field Manual: 3145, p. 130

Bibliography

Tamar March Militia

Main article: Tamar March Militia

During Operation REVIVAL the Clans destroyed most of the Tamar March Militia (Often abbreviated TMM) units. With the loss of much of the Tamar Province to Clan Wolf and the destruction of the Federated Commonwealth, these units weren't reconstituted. Instead their equipment and troops were used to build up the Freedom Theater Militia and Arc-Royal Theater Militia.


Pandora Theater Militia

Main article: Pandora Theater Militia

The Arc-Royal Theater Militia serves as the militia force for the Arc-Royal Theater. It was formed from the Pandora Theater Militia after Pandora was lost.


Military Academies


The military academies of the Lyran Alliance in 3067 were:

Former ones were:

Training Cadres

Military Ranks

Most of the ranks of the LAAF are based on those of the Lyran Commonwealth Armed Forces. There have been some slight changes to insignia, but the titles of the ranks remain the same.

LAAF/LCAF Military Rank Insignia

LAAF Military Rank Insignia
Rank Post-FC Insignia Pre-FC Insignia
Private PrivateLAAF.png
Private, First Class PrivateFirstClassLAAF.png
Corporal CorporalLAAF.png
Senior Corporal SeniorCorporalLAAF.png
Sergeant SergeantLAAF.png
Staff Sergeant StaffSergeantLAAF.png
Sergeant Major SergeantMajorLAAF.png
Staff Sergeant Major StaffSergeantMajorLAAF.png
Senior Sergeant Major SeniorSergeantMajor.png
Warrant Officer WarrantOfficerLAAF.png
Warrant Officer First Class WarrantOfficerFirstClassLAAF.png
Senior Warrant Officer SeniorWarrantOfficerLAAF.png
Chief Warrant Officer ChiefWarrantOfficerLAAF.png
Cadet Cadet-LAAF.png
Leutnant LeutnantLAAF.png
First Leutnant FirstLeutnantLAAF.png
Hauptmann Hauptmann.png
Kommandant KommandantLAAF.png
Hauptmann-Kommandant HauptmannKommandant.png
Leutnant-Colonel
Leutnant-Kaptain 		LeutnantColonelLAAF.png
Colonel
Kaptain 		ColonelLAAF.png
Leutnant-General
Leutnant-Kommodore 		LeutnantGeneralLAAF.png
Hauptmann-General
Kommodore 		HauptmannGeneralLAAF.png
Kommandant-General
Hauptmann-Kommodore 		KommandantGeneralLAAF.png
General
Admiral 		GeneralLAAF.png
General of the Armies
Fleet Admiral 		GeneralOfArmiesLAAF.png

Lyran Alliance Standard Nomenclature

This of the LAAF's listing for Tank/Combat Vehicles and Infantry regiments. The lists shows the initials that they use to identify the type of formation they represent. Example: 8th Royal Tharkad LI(R). Which the LI(R) which means 8th Royal Tharkad Light Infantry (Regiment).[1]

Vehicle Type Formations

  • AB - Artillery Battalion
  • ABY - Artillery Battery
  • AG - Artillery Group
  • ATR - Artillery Regiment
  • AC(R) - Armored Cavalry (Regiment)
  • AG - Armored Grenadiers
  • AR - Armor Regiment
  • ARR - Armored Regiment
  • CR - Cavalry Regiment
  • CA - Combat Auxiliary
  • HA(R) - Heavy Armor (Regiment)
  • HAY - Heavy Artillery
  • LA(R) - Light Armor (Regiment)
  • LT - Light Tank
  • MG - Mounted Grenadiers
  • PR - Panzer Regiment
  • RR - Recon Regiment
  • SR - Scout Regiment
  • TR - Tank Regiment

Infantry Type Formations

  • AI - Armored Infantry
  • BAB - Battle Armor Battalion
  • CMR - Commando Regiment
  • FR - Front Recon
  • HI(R) - Heavy Infantry (Regiment)
  • IR - Infantry Regiment
  • JI(R) - Jump Infantry (Regiment)
  • JR - Jump Regiment
  • LI(R) - Light Infantry (Regiment)
  • MPR - Military Police Regiment
  • MDR - Mounted Rifles
  • MI(R) - Mechanized Infantry (Regiment)
  • MR - Mechanized Rifles
  • MRT - Mechanized Regiment
  • MTR - Motorized Regiment

References

  1. ↑ Field Manual: Lyran Alliance page 43 - Standard LAAF Nonmenclature.

Bibliography

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