New Avalon Crucis March Militia

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New Avalon Crucis March Militia
Formed 2754[1]
Nickname "The Little Foxes"[2]
Affiliation Federated Suns
Parent Command Crucis March Militia

History[edit]

Formation[edit]

In common with the other March Militias found across the Federated Suns, the New Avalon Crucis March Militia or New Avalon CrMM was formed in 2754 as a result of the Preparedness Act enacted by First Prince Richard Davion in 2735.[3] Richard established a formal training program aimed at increasing the general readiness level of the Armed Forces of the Federated Suns reserve forces and formalized the structure of the March Militias, bringing the planetary militias into a common structure.[1]

Richard established a system whereby each of the Marches within the Federated Suns conducted internal wargames every two years, with those wargames being inspired by the Martial Olympiad conducted by the Star League Defense Force every four years. Each March Militia was formed as an ad hoc brigade drawing on the winners from each planetary militia across each Combat Region. These ad hoc brigades then competed against each other at a March level to earn the title of "Best Prepared" March Militia within each of the three Marches.[1]

The wargames proved to be very popular and by 2750 the prestige that was associated with the "Best Prepared" title inspired troops in every combat region to give their best effort, with some commands making plans years in advance to try and ensure that they were ready. After the close of the 2754 games First Prince John Davion activated all of the combat region commands as federal troops and formed them into the March Militias; while this move was controversial and provoked a flurry of judicial cases opposing the creation of the commands, it also added twenty BattleMech-equipped combat commands to the AFFS in a single stroke. Many of the planets that provided troops for the games were resentful of having their best militia troops pressed into federal service, and it would be 2763 before the last of the cases worked its way through the courts. With the final ruling going in favor of Prince John, he then moved to allay many of the fears expressed by the planets involved by laying down specific instructions that the March Militias wouldn't be deployed outside their home combat regions except under a small number of very rare and clearly-defined exceptions.[1]

Like the other Crucis March Militias the New Avalon CrMM was well-equipped, much more so than the average Capellan March Militia or Draconis March Militia - to the extent that the New Avalon CrMM earned the unofficial nickname "Sixth Davion Guard" - and soon established a constant training regimen. The New Avalon CrMM was highly active, leading to a readiness level greater than might have been expected of a militia formation, and acted as a mobile reserve for the New Avalon Combat Region and a staging ground through which planetary militia soldiers could move on into the AFFS, while retiring AFFS personnel moved into the March Militia to pass on their knowledge and experience.[1] The New Avalon CrMM was one of ten March Militia brigades founded within the Crucis March in 2754, with the other nine being the Anjin Muerto, Bastian, Broken Wheel, Islamabad, Kestrel, Malagrotta, Marlette, Point Barrow and Tsamma Crucis March Militias.[4]

Fourth Succession War[edit]

The New Avalon Crucis March Militia did deploy to New Aragon during the Fourth Succession War, but this was a rare exception to their usual ceremonial duties.[5] They defended a supply depot from the 1st Chesterton Voltigeurs.[2]

FedCom Civil War[edit]

During the FedCom Civil War they proclaimed their loyalty to Katherine Steiner-Davion and engaged forces loyal to her brother.[6] These forces were the 1st Davion Guards[7] , and the fighting effectively destroyed the New Avalon CrMM.[8]

The Dark Age[edit]

The New Avalon CrMM was rebuilt in 3082. They spent the next three years training against units of the Davion Brigade of Guards. Though structured as a Light Combat Team, the unit was oversized. Each 'Mech company had four lances, the armor and cavalry regiments each had four battalions, and the unit had a regiment of attack and reconnaissance VTOLs in addition to the transport assets used by a reinforced battle armor regiment. Like all post-Jihad Crucis March Militia units, they have a company of IndustrialMechs and combat engineers to work on civil engineering projects.[9] They were stationed on New Avalon in 3085.[10]

They remained on New Avalon in 3145, but subcommands from the unit were frequently attached to other front-line forces to maintain their skills. As a result, the New Avalon Crucis March Militia was unofficially referred to as the "Fifth Davion Guards".[11]

Alongside the Davion Assault Guards and 1st Avalon Hussars, they faced the 5th Sword of Light, 2nd Genyosha, and Ryuken-hachi as well as three detachments of Wolf's Dragoons in 3146.[12] They were reinforced by the 2nd Robinson Rangers, but renewed offensives by Wolf's Dragoons forced all the commands to leave New Avalon in October 3146.[13]

After withdrawing from New Avalon, the New Avalon Crucis March Militia retreated to Remagen. The New Avalon CrMM was left here to rebuild after taking many casualties on New Avalon.[14]

Officers[edit]

Rank Name Command
Commanding Officers of the New Avalon Crucis March Militia
Major General Edward Valos 3025[15]
Leftenant General Carl Gustafson 3050[16]
Leftenant General Russel Payne 3054 - 3062[17][5]
Major General Germaine Hoover 3085[10]
Major General Geraldine Hoover 3145[18]

Tactics[edit]

The unit is skilled in urban fighting.[5]

Composition History[edit]

2765[edit]

New Avalon Crucis March Militia (Regiment/Veteran/Fanatical)[4]

- One BattleMech regiment[1]
- Two armor regiments[1]
- Three infantry regiments[1]
- One mobile artillery battalion[1]
- Two aerospace wings, each of eighteen aerospace fighters[1]
- The New Avalon CrMM was stationed on New Avalon at this point in time.[4][19]

2786 - 2821[edit]

New Avalon Crucis March Militia (Regiment/Veteran/Fanatical)[20]

- At this point in time the Militia was a heavy-weight unit operating at full regimental strength, and was based on New Avalon.[20]In 2821 the unit was operating at one-third of full strength.[20]

2830[edit]

New Avalon CrMM (Regiment/Veteran/Fanatical)[21]

Note: At this point in time the heavy-weight unit was stationed on New Avalon with an operational readiness of 101 percent.[21]

2864[edit]

New Avalon CrMM (Regiment/Veteran/Fanatical)[21]

Note: At this point in time the assault-weight unit was stationed on New Avalon with an operational readiness of 49 percent.[21]

3025[edit]

New Avalon Crucis March Militia (Regiment/Regular/Reliable)[15]

  • CO: Major General Edward Valos[15]
Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on New Avalon.[15]

3040[edit]

New Avalon CrMM (Regiment/Regular/Reliable)[22]

Note: At this point in time the command was stationed on New Avalon.[22]

3050[edit]

New Avalon Crucis March Militia (Regiment/Regular/Reliable)[23]

  • CO: Leftenant General Carl Gustafson[23]
Note: At this point in time the command was stationed on New Avalon.[23]

3054[edit]

New Avalon Crucis March Militia (Regiment/Regular/Reliable)[24]

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

3062[edit]

New Avalon Crucis March Militia (1 Regiment/Regular/Reliable)[5]

  • CO: Leftenant General Russel Payne

New Avalon CrMM Aerospace Wing (1 Wing/Regular/Reliable)[5]

New Avalon CrMM Armor Brigade (2 Regiments/Regular/Reliable)[5]

New Avalon CrMM Infantry Brigade (5 Regiments/Regular/Reliable)[5]

3085[edit]

New Avalon CrMM LCT (Veteran/Reliable)[10]

New Avalon CrMM Aerospace Brigade (Regular/Reliable)[10]

New Avalon CrMM Armor Brigade (Veteran/Fanatical)[10]

New Avalon CrMM Infantry Brigade (Veteran/Fanatical)[10]

3145[edit]

New Avalon CrMM (1 Battalion/Veteran/Fanatical)[18]

  • CO: Major General Geraldine Hoover

New Avalon CrMM Aerospace Wing (Veteran/Fanatical)[18]

New Avalon CrMM Armor Brigade (Elite/Fanatical)[18]

New Avalon CrMM Infantry Brigade (Regular/Fanatical)[18]

Notes[edit]

  • Field Report 2765: AFFS attributes the Preparedness Act of 2735 to both Richard Davion[3] and Roger Davion.[1] Because other sources indicate that Richard Davion was First Prince in 2735, and that Roger Davion died in 2703, the latter attribution is probably an error.
  • The New Avalon CMM deploys a combined-arms Battalion at the NAIS as a security force.[5]

References[edit]

  1. 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 Field Report 2765: AFFS, p. 21: "Federated Suns March Militias"
  2. 2.0 2.1 NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 1, p. 97
  3. 3.0 3.1 Field Report 2765: AFFS, p. 3: "Strategic Update"
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 Field Report 2765: AFFS, p. 22: "Regimental Status"
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 Field Manual: Federated Suns, p. 117: "Militia Profile"
  6. Field Manual: Updates, p. 134: "Crucis March Militia"
  7. FedCom Civil War, p. 60
  8. FedCom Civil War, p. 77
  9. Field Manual: 3085, p. 65
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 Field Manual: 3085, p. 71: "AFFS Deployment Table - 3085"
  11. Field Manual: 3145, p. 82
  12. Shattered Fortress, p. 28
  13. Shattered Fortress, p. 29
  14. Shattered Fortress, p. 32
  15. 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 House Davion (The Federated Suns), p. 138 (PDF version): "New Avalon Combat Region"
  16. 20 Year Update, p. 22: "AFFC Deployment Table - 3050"
  17. Objective Raids, p. 15: "AFFC Deployment Table - 3054"
  18. 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 18.4 Field Manual: 3145, p. 91: "Armed Forces of the Federated Suns"
  19. Field Report 2765: AFFS, p. 29: "Armed Forces Federated Suns Deployment Map 2765"
  20. 20.0 20.1 20.2 First Succession War, p. 134: "Armed Forces of the Federated Suns (AFFS)"
  21. 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 Second Succession War, p. 95
  22. 22.0 22.1 Historical: War of 3039, p. 136
  23. 23.0 23.1 23.2 20 Year Update, p. 22
  24. 24.0 24.1 24.2 Objective Raids, p. 15

Bibliography[edit]