12th Atrean Dragoons

Insignia of the 12th Atrean Dragoons
Twelfth Atrean Dragoons
Formed Age of War
Nickname The White Sabers
12th White Sabers Legion
Affiliation Free Worlds League
Parent Command Atrean Dragoons


Also referred to as The White Sabers, the Twelfth White Sabers and the Twelfth White Saber Legion, the 12th Atrean Dragoons is a line regiment in the Free Worlds League's Atrean Dragoons brigade.

A significant portion of the unit went rogue and formed Hansen's Roughriders after backing Anton Marik's failed revolt, but the 12th Atrean Dragoons were later reconstituted from a small group of loyal members who had not joined the rebellion.

History[edit]

Early Years[edit]

The Twelfth Atrean Dragoons were originally a part of the armed forces of the Marik Commonwealth, with the brigade being founded during the early days of the Free Worlds League. The Atrean Dragoons would continue to serve as the provincial forces of the Marik Commonwealth until the League had expanded to the point that the forces of the Free Worlds Guards were insufficient to garrison the League's borders; when that point was reached, the League Parliament applied pressure to the Marik Commonwealth to loan a portion of the Dragoons to the League to for the purposes of federal defense.[1]

Age of War[edit]

The relationship between the Atrean Dragoons and the Free Worlds League Military was formalized in 2528, when Captain-General Albert Marik made the loan permanent in response to the eruption of the Second Andurien War between the Free Worlds League and the Capellan Confederation. Albert Marik attached a single stipulation to the formal transfer; the Twelfth and the other regiments of the Dragoons were required to honor their roots in the Marik Commonwealth by continuing the tradition of recruiting graduates from the military academies on Atreus.[1]

The Star League[edit]

While the Twelfth remained federal troops the entire brigade was loyal to the office of the Captain-General, allowing whichever member of House Marik was holding the office at the time to employ the Dragoons for his or her own purposes. These purposes - officially all undertaken in the interest of federal security, but often either of a federal or personal nature - included those that might have caused other federal units to hesitate, and with the increased tension between the Free Worlds League and the Star League following the Marik Civil War Captain-General Ewan Marik wasn't above using the Dragoons as a martial extension of his belligerent and antagonistic policies towards the Lyran Commonwealth. Ewan Marik's son, Captain-General Kenyon Marik, continued to use the Atrean Dragoons to make life difficult for Star League Defense Force garrisons in the Free Worlds League.[1]

Succession Wars[edit]

In 2961, while the Twelfth Atrean Dragoons were under the command of Major-General Gerhard Hansen, a Federated Suns line regiment under one Colonel Ludwig Hansen, a distant relative of Gerhardt Hansen, abandoned the Federated Suns and ended up joining the Twelfth Atrean Dragoons.[2]

Anton's Revolt[edit]

In 3014 the Twelfth Atrean Dragoons under Colonel Francis Ferdinand supported Duke Anton Marik in his revolt against his brother, incumbent Captain-General Janos Marik.[3]

Though the unit as a whole declared in favor of Duke Anton, several high-ranking officers including battalion commanders did not. Despite being slightly understrength as a consequence, the Twelfth secured McKenna and Semenyih,[4] but when the Twelfth attacked the Eleventh Atrean Dragoons on Matheran they were slow to take advantage of the Eleventh's inexperience. This led to a months-long game of cat and mouse between the two Atrean Dragoons regiments that stopped only when Smithson's Chinese Bandits arrived to reinforce the Eleventh. The Bandits inflicted serious damage on the 12th, forcing them to break off their attacks. In exchange, the Twelfth had reduced the Eleventh Atrean Dragoons to half-strength.[4]

Shortly after Smithson's Chinese Bandits arrived, Anton Marik reassigned Wolf's Dragoons' Beta and Gamma regiments to reinforce the Twelfth Atrean Dragoons.[5] The Twelfth, reinforced by Wolf's forces, smashed the Eleventh Atrean Dragoons. Smithson's Chinese Bandits withdrew from the conflict on Matheran and went to Carbonis.[5]

(Unit CO Francis Ferdinand was last mentioned by name during the fighting on Matheran, and Gerhard Hansen is consistently named as the man who led the unit in the uprising[6] and who would later forge them into a mercenary unit. This seems to suggest Ferdinand was killed or wounded on Matheran, and succeeded by Hansen.)

Along with Beta and Gamma regiments and the Third Ducal Guard, the Twelfth Atrean Dragoons were assigned to Operation Condor, Anton's attack on Calloway VI which Janos Marik was using as a staging area for his push into the rebel areas. Anton was unaware that the world already held five 'Mech regiments. The Twelfth Atrean Dragoons' Union-class DropShip Laureles' Pride was lost, which cost them an entire company.[7] The Twelfth Atrean and Ducal Guards suffered heavy losses in the fighting on the ground. Cut off from Wolf's Dragoons, they were eventually surrounded by the First and Second Oriente Hussars and forced to surrender in November 3014.[7]

Following the failed revolt in which they had fought for the wrong side, the Twelfth Atrean Dragoons subsequently turned their backs on the Free Worlds League together with elements from the First Atrean Dragoons heavy regiment, a similarly frustrated loyalist unit that had been decimated on Sophie's World, and possibly other disenchanted Marik forces.[8] Following a final battle on Ilion V, an abandoned Free Worlds League planet in what was now Lyran Commonwealth space, they went into exile under the command of Gerhard Hansen, an influential Marik officer,[8] and re-formed as the mercenary regiment Hansen's Roughriders.[9] It remains unclear if they fought Marik or Steiner forces on Ilion V, or possibly among themselves. The fate of Colonel Francis Ferdinand is also unknown.

Post–Civil War[edit]

After the Marik Civil War ended, the Twelfth Atrean Dragoons were reconstituted by Janos Marik from those MechWarriors who had refused to side with the rebels. Julian Langsdorf was installed as regimental colonel for his personal loyalty to Janos Marik.[10]

As of 3025, the Twelfth Atrean Dragoons were a fanatically loyal heavy 'Mech regiment, stationed on Vanra.[11] By 3026 they were described as "an understrength regimental assault group" and assigned to garrison Thermopolis.[12]

Helm Campaign[edit]

In early March 3028[12][13] the Twelfth White Sabers were ordered to Helm to deal with an ostensibly rogue mercenary unit—the Gray Death Legion.

Fed with false information about the Legion's alleged misdeeds, Colonel Langsdorf occupied the planetary capital and starport, crushed the Gray Death Legion's local forces and overran their stronghold. In this, his unit had support from the 5th Marik Guards which were also under Langsdorf's command. The on-planet forces were described as "two depleted regiments" and "an understrength battalion".[14] The on-planet 'Mech forces of the Twelfth appear to have been a single company, augmented by attached forces from the Fifth Marik Guards (Hammerstrike Company, eleven light 'Mechs which were all destroyed during the Helm campaign) plus unspecified conventional forces.

At the height of the final battle against the entrenched Gray Death Legion on 1 April 3028, Langsdorf learned that the charges against his opponents were false, confirming a gut feeling he had had for some time. Langsdorf ordered his battered troops to withdraw. Consequentially, the Gray Death Legion was able to secure a copy of the Helm Memory Core.

Andurien Secession[edit]

In 3033 the Twelfth Atrean Dragoons faced off against the Fifth Defenders of Andurien on Scarborough in what was called the Battle of Scarborough.[15] Both sides sustained heavy casualties, and the Twelfth was recalled to Vanra to rebuild.[16] The damage they sustained kept them out of the rest of the Andurien Secession.

Operation GUERRERO[edit]

During Operation GUERRERO the Twelfth attacked Marcus alongside the Fifth Marik Militia and the Seventh Free Worlds Legionnaires. The Twelfth FedCom RCT's 'Mech regiment attacked the Seventh Legionnaires to provide time for their supporting units to escape. The Twelfth Dragoons and Fifth Militia encircled the Twelfth FedCom's 'Mechs and destroyed them.[citation needed]

Jihad[edit]

Prior to the Jihad, the Twelfth Atrean Dragoons were known for their loyalty to Alys Rousset-Marik. In fact, they served as the focus of much of the anti-Thomas Marik sentiment in the Free Worlds League.[17] After the Free Worlds League was disbanded, the Twelfth Dragoons were the second unit to pledge their loyalty to Alys Rousset-Marik.[18]

During the Jihad, the Twelfth (along with the Seventh Donegal Guards, Devil's Brigade and Clan Hell's Horses Eleventh Mechanized Cavalry) attacked Hsien. While on that world they fought both the Word of Blake's Protectorate Militia units and the Fourth McCarron's Armored Cavalry and Fourth Tau Ceti Rangers.[19] Later news reports indicated that the Coalition forces were defending themselves from a strike by the CCAF forces. The Coalition leader was able to defuse the situation and convince the Capellan troops to focus on the Word of Blake forces.[20]

In late 3077 the Twelfth fought Wannamaker's Widowmakers on Outreach. This battle was the first time the Kopis battle armor was used in combat.[21]

Once the Twelfth reached Terra it served under Alys Rousset-Marik in the attack on Sandhurst. This task group consisted of the units involved in the Hsien assault, but the 11th Mechanized Cavalry was replaced by ComStar's Fifth Army.[22] After a month of fighting, facing more than a dozen different Blakist formations, Sandhurst fell to the Coalition forces.[23]

After the Jihad ended, the survivors of the 12th Atrean Dragoons were moved to Rochelle to rebuild.[18]

Officers[edit]

Rank Name Command
Commanding Officers of the 12th Atrean Dragoons
Colonel Francis Ferdinand 3014
Gerhardt Hansen 3014
Colonel Julian Langsdorf 3025[24]
Colonel Kelian Brackey 3050 - 3081[25][26][27]

Tactics[edit]

In 3059 the Twelfth Atrean Dragoons specialized in raiding enemy systems.[26]

Composition History[edit]

2765[edit]

Twelfth Atrean Dragoons (Regiment/Regular/Fanatical)[28]

- At this point in time the Twelfth was stationed on Jardine.[1]

2786 - 2821[edit]

12th Atrean Dragoons (Regiment/Regular/Fanatical)[29]

Note: At this point in time the medium-weight unit was stationed on Jardine. In 2821 the command was reduced to 47 of its strength and was deployed at Alula Borealis.[29]

2830[edit]

12th Atrean Dragoons (Regiment/Regular/Fanatical)[30]

Note: At this point in time the heavy-weight unit was stationed on Alula Borealis with an operational readiness of 104 percent.[30]

2864[edit]

12th Atrean Dragoons (Regiment/Regular/Fanatical)[30]

Note: At this point in time the heavy-weight unit was stationed on Alula Borealis with an operational readiness of 77 percent.[30]

3025[edit]

Twelfth Atrean Dragoons (Veteran/Fanatical)[24]

  • CO: Colonel Julian Langsdorf

3028[edit]

12th Atrean Dragoons (Regiment\Green\Fanatical)[31]

Note: At this point in time the command was stationed on Matheran.[31]

3050[edit]

Twelfth Atrean Dragoons (Regiment/Veteran/Fanatical)[25]

  • CO: Colonel Kelian Brackey[25]
Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on Vanra.[25]

3059[edit]

Twelfth Atrean Dragoons (1 Regiment/Regular/Fanatical)[26]

- The Twelfth is a heavy 'Mech regiment

Twelfth Dragoon Air Wing (1 Wing/Regular/Fanatical)[26]

Second Marcus Heavy Armor (1 Regiment/Green/Reliable)[26]

392nd Free Worlds League Infantry Brigade (2 Regiments/Regular/Reliable)[26]

3079[edit]

Twelfth Atrean Dragoons (Regiment/Veteran/Fanatical)[32]

Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on Rochelle.[32] The Twelfth Atrean Dragoons fought hard against the Word of Blake. After the Jihad ended, the unit was at forty percent of its pre-Jihad strength.[18]

Regimental 'Mech Paint Scheme[edit]

References[edit]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Field Report 2765: FWLM, p. 9: "Atrean Dragoons"
  2. Field Manual: Mercenaries, p. 59
  3. Historical: Brush Wars, p. 18
  4. 4.0 4.1 Historical: Brush Wars, p. 23
  5. 5.0 5.1 Historical: Brush Wars, p. 26
  6. MechWarrior (1st Ed.), p. 117
  7. 7.0 7.1 Historical: Brush Wars, p. 29
  8. 8.0 8.1 Jihad Secrets: The Blake Documents, p. 79
  9. BattleTech 2nd Ed. rulebook, Hansen's Roughriders infobox
  10. House Marik (The Free Worlds League), p. 90
  11. House Marik (The Free Worlds League), p. 108
  12. 12.0 12.1 The Price of Glory, p. 56
  13. Gray Death Legion, p. 33: establishes the Gray Death Legion made landfall on Helm on or around 24 March 3028; Langsdorf was assigned to the mission less than two weeks earlier according to The Price of Glory, p. 56
  14. The Price of Glory, p. 68
  15. Eagles Over Scarborough
  16. Historical: Brush Wars, p. 65
  17. Field Manual: Updates, p. 147
  18. 18.0 18.1 18.2 Field Report: FWLM, p. 14
  19. Jihad Hot Spots: Terra, p. 75: "Invaders at Hsien"
  20. Jihad Hot Spots: Terra, pp. 78–79
  21. Technical Readout: 3085, p. 12
  22. Jihad Hot Spots: Terra, p. 96
  23. Jihad Hot Spots: Terra, p. 108
  24. 24.0 24.1 House Marik (The Free Worlds League), p. 108: "FWL Deployment Table"
  25. 25.0 25.1 25.2 25.3 20 Year Update, p. 56: "FWLM Deployment Table"
  26. 26.0 26.1 26.2 26.3 26.4 26.5 Field Manual: Free Worlds League, p. 52: "12th Atrean Dragoons Unit Profile"
  27. Field Manual: Updates, p. 159
  28. Field Report 2765: FWLM, p. 9: "Regimental Status"
  29. 29.0 29.1 First Succession War, p. 138
  30. 30.0 30.1 30.2 30.3 Second Succession War, p. 98
  31. 31.0 31.1 Historical: Brush Wars, p. 86
  32. 32.0 32.1 Field Report: FWLM, p. 14

Bibliography[edit]