1st Crucis Lancers

Crucis Lancers 1st logo.png
First Crucis Lancers RCT
Formed 2782[1]
Nickname New Avalon Lancers
Affiliation Federated Suns
Parent Command Crucis Lancers

The homeworld of the First Crucis Lancers was Bastrop. Prior to the Fourth Succession War, they were stationed on Tancredi IV.[2]

History[edit]

Formation[edit]

The First Crucis Lancers were originally a Star League Defense Force regiment within the 159th BattleMech Division, part of XXIX Corps within the SLDF Second Army. Designated as the 1008th Heavy Assault Regiment, the 1008th survived the Periphery Uprising and the Hegemony Campaign, and was recruited by the armed Forces of the Federated Suns in 2782; the AFFS redesignated the 1008th as the First Crucis Lancers. The First Crucis Lancers were joined by a second regiment a year later - the Ninety-first Heavy Assault Regiment, which the AFFS designated as the Second Crucis Lancers, and in 2784 a third Crucis Lancers regiment was founded by recruiting SLDF personnel, the Seventh Crucis Lancers, when the Federated Suns managed to recruit a battalion of troops from the 142nd Battle Regiment.[1]

Third Succession War[edit]

While between contracts and badly in need of spare parts, the Twelfth Star Guards landed undetected on Talon to regroup and assess the damage they had taken. Unknown to the Guards, they had landed 600 kilometers from an encampment that two companies from the First Crucis Lancers that had arrived just two weeks earlier to train in the planet's polar regions. Two weeks after the Guards landing, a Crucis recon lance containing a couple Ostsols spotted a group of unidentified 'Mechs and though they were part of the training. Unfortunately it was a Guards lance and when the Lancers discovered this was too late and the battle was going against the Lancers. The Lancers lance commander used his Ostroc to assault a Guards Archer and after and intense fight felled it. That destroyed the Guards morale and they routed, retreating to their encampment now aware they were not alone on the planet.[3]

Fourth Succession War[edit]

In the Fourth Succession War, the First Crucis Lancers attacked Tikonov alongside the other members of the Crucis Lancers brigade. After taking Tikonov, they moved on to attack Achernar and Bharat.[4]

War of 3039[edit]

During the War of 3039, the First Crucis Lancers and 1st Albion Training Cadre attacked the world of Capra. They quickly took the system.[5] Leaving a battalion of 'Mechs from each unit behind to garrison Capra, General Yuu (the AFFS commander), left the system to attack Beta Mensae V. Due to a communications error, they never hit that world. Instead they were redirected to Kaznejoy to distract Draconis Combine forces.[6] There they skirmished with the 17th Galedon Regulars for two weeks, ultimately killing the 17th's commander. The 17th's commander also served as the commander of the Kaznejoy Prefecture, which delayed DCMS reinforcements to Capra.[7]

On Capra, the 'Mech battalion from the Crucis Lancers joined up with a regiment of tanks from the same unit. The armor commander assumed overall command of the AFFS forces on world. The 3rd Proserpina Hussars and 5th Galedon Regulars landed on Capra, but the AFFS forces had captured their JumpShips.[8] The Lancers heavy tanks punched a hole through the Proserpina Hussars, and the Lancer 'Mechs quickly attacked the Kurita unit's rear areas. Unable to respond effectively, the Proserpina Hussars lost at least a battalion of 'Mechs and their command cohesion. With the Hussars in disarray, the Lancers turned to face the 5th Galedon Regulars. By maintaining the initiative and refusing to battle on the Draconians' terms, the Lancers unit was able to destroy or capture at least a third of the Draconis Combine's armor and 'Mechs. They also captured the battle standard of the Fifth Galedon Regulars.[9]

Clan Invasion[edit]

The First Lancers didn't make it to the Clan Front until the later stages of the Clan Invasion. They remained on station there until the formation of the Lyran Alliance, when Katherine Steiner-Davion ordered all Federated Suns units out of her realm.[10] After they returned home, the First Lancers took up station in the Draconis March.

Operation Bulldog[edit]

The First Crucis Lancers didn't participate in Operation Bulldog.[11]

Civil War[edit]

During the FedCom Civil War the 1st Crucis Lancers were loyal to Victor Steiner-Davion, and took Kilbourne and Woodbine before landing on Tsamma. Their luck changed there, being bogged down on Tsamma for two years of combat. The 3rd Crucis Lancers arrived and assisted the 1st in taking Tsamma. The 1st and 3rd then went to New Avalon to attack forces loyal to Katherine Steiner-Davion. After landing on the world, the 1st Crucis and Davion Assault Guards were heavily damaged by the 10th Deneb Light Cavalry and rotated off the front lines. The two units were formed into a single brigade under the command of Marshal Stephan Cooper, commander of the Assault Guards.[12] After the New Avalon attacks, the 1st Crucis Lancers were at approximately one-half their listed strength.[13] They were based on their new homeworld of Nanking.[14]

Jihad[edit]

When the Word of Blake landed on Nanking, the First Crucis Lancers resisted them, along with the conventional assets of the 1st Federated Suns Lancers. Unable to contact the AFFS High Command the First Lancers went on the offensive. From 3069 to 3077 the First raided the Word of Blake Protectorate dozens of times. They also moved their baseworld several times in order to avoid retaliatory strikes.[15]

In early 3077 the First Lancers, Skye Guards, and 7th Free Worlds Legionnaires landed on Cor Caroli and routed the Word of Blake forces on that world.[16] During the Coalition's invasion of Terra the First Lancers attacked Tokyo, fighting alongside the 2nd Genyosha and 23rd Arcturan Guards.[17] They faced no significant opposition,[18] which allowed them to act as a ready-reserve force for the Coalition.

After returning to the Federated Suns after the Jihad ended, the First Crucis Lancers were assigned to garrison Weekapaug. There they received their first replacement soldiers and equipment.[15] By 3085 the First had largely rebuilt, with many of its machines less than fifteen years old. From their base on Weekapaug they sent out several smaller forces in response to various raids by "bandit forces".[19]

Dark Age[edit]

The First Crucis Lancers were stationed on Layover in 3145. There they acted as the defense for Kallon Industries factories, and assisted the Layover National Guard by performing training missions and cadre duty. The Quikscell plants on Layover were used to arm the National Guard force, but the Crucis Lancers were still critically low on BattleMech parts. Things were so bad that the First's command lance was sidelined so the 'Mechs could be stripped down for parts.[20]

Officers[edit]

Rank Name Command
Commanding Officers of the 1st Crucis Lancers
Marshal George Powell 3025[2]
General Goran Yuu 3039[21]
Hauptmann General Ivor Wasjinji 3050 - 3054[22][23]
Marshal Mordecai Rand-Davion 3062[10]
General Ryan Davion-Cole 3079[14][15]
General Kathyrn Louise Murphy 3085[24]
General Thaddeus Varnay 3145[25]

Tactics[edit]

The First Crucis Lancers are one of the most skilled units in the AFFS. They're capable of fighting in nearly any terrain at any time.[10]

Composition History[edit]

2786–2821[edit]

First Crucis Lancers (Regiment/Veteran/Reliable)[26]

Note: At this point in time the Lancers were a light-weight regiment stationed on Markesan and were operating at full strength.[26] In 2821 the unit was stationed on Waycross and had been reduced to just a single battalion in strength.[26]

2830[edit]

First Crucis Lancers (Regiment/Veteran/Reliable)[27]

Note: At this point in time the Lancers were a light-weight regiment and had rebuilt to just over half-strength. The Lancers were stationed on Waycross.[27]

2864[edit]

First Crucis Lancers (Regiment/Elite/Reliable)[27]

Note: At this point in time the Lancers were a light-weight regiment stationed on Exeter, and had been reduced to less than a fifth of full strength.[27]

3025[edit]

First Crucis Lancers RCT (Regiment/Veteran/Fanatical)[2]

  • CO: Marshal George Powell[2]
Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on Tancredi IV.[2]

3040[edit]

First Crucis Lancers RCT (Regiment/Regular/Fanatical)[28]

Note: At this point in time the command was stationed on Tancredi IV.[28]

3050[edit]

1st Crucis Lancers RCT (Regiment/Regular/Fanatical)[29]

  • CO: Hauptmann General Ivor Wasjinji[29]
Note: At this point in time the command was stationed on Tancredi IV.[29]

3054[edit]

1st Crucis Lancers RCT (Regiment/Regular/Fanatical)[23]

  • CO: Hauptmann General Ivor Wasjinji[23]
Note: At this point in time the command was stationed on Ballynure.[23]

3062[edit]

First Crucis Lancers (Regiment/Regular/Fanatical)[10]

  • CO: Marshal Mordecai Rand-Davion
Note: Mostly new, heavy BattleMechs:
First Crucis Lancers Aerospace Brigade (3 Wings)[10]
  • CO: Vice Admiral Ho Van Luu
  • First Crucis Lancers Aerospace Wing
  • Second Crucis Lancers Aerospace Wing
  • 315th Federation Independent Air Wing
First Crucis Lancers Armor Brigade (4 Regiments/Regular/Reliable)[10]
Note: Equipped with fast armor and hovercraft vehicles, and a regiment of heavy artillery.
First Crucis Lancers Infantry Brigade (8 Regiments/Veteran/Fanatical)[10]
Note: Each regiment has his own transport assets and the Argyle's includes a Battalion of VTOLs.

3067[edit]

First Crucis Lancers (1 Regiment/Elite/Reliable)[14]

  • CO: General Ryan Davion-Cole
First Crucis Lancers Aerospace Brigade (Veteran/Fanatical)[14]
First Crucis Lancers Armor Brigade (Elite/Fanatical)[14]
First Crucis Lancers Infantry Brigade (Regular/Reliable)[14]
  • CO: Leftenant General Lucifer Roussa

3079[edit]

First Crucis Lancers (Regiment/Regular/Fanatical)[30]

Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on Weekapaug.[30] The First Lancers sustained heavy casualties during the Jihad. The influx of new recruits reduced their experience level from Veteran to Regular. Though they're supposed to be rebuilt to full RCT strength, in 3079 they had been reduced to 55% of their pre-Jihad strength.[15]

3085[edit]

First Crucis Lancers RCT (Regular/Fanatical)[24]

  • CO: General Kathyrn Louise Murphy
First Crucis Lancers Aerospace Brigade (Green/Reliable)[24]
First Crucis Lancers Armor Brigade (Regular/Reliable)[24]
First Crucis Lancers Infantry Brigade (Green/Reliable)[24]

3145[edit]

First Crucis Lancers RCT (Regular/Fanatical)[25]

  • CO: General Thaddeus Varnay
First Crucis Lancers Aerospace Brigade (Regular/Reliable)[25]
First Crucis Lancers Armor Brigade (Veteran/Fanatical)[25]
First Crucis Lancers Infantry Brigade (Regular/Reliable)[25]

Colors and Uniforms[edit]

  • JagerMech III in parade colors of the 1st Crucis Lancers

  • 1st Crucis Lancers officer uniform

References[edit]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 First Succession War, p. 33: "Those Left Behind (Continued)"
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 House Davion (The Federated Suns), p. 136 (PDF version): "Bryceland PDZ"
  3. ↑ Technical Readout: 3025, p. 78 "Ostsol"
  4. ↑ NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 1, p. 11
  5. ↑ Historical: War of 3039, p. 54
  6. ↑ Historical: War of 3039, p. 111
  7. ↑ Historical: War of 3039, p. 113
  8. ↑ Historical: War of 3039, p. 106
  9. ↑ Historical: War of 3039, p. 107
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 10.6 Field Manual: Federated Suns, p. 67: "1st Crucis Lancers Unit Profile"
  11. ↑ Not listed in The Dragon Roars, pp. 10–13
  12. ↑ FedCom Civil War, p. 170
  13. ↑ Field Manual: Updates, p. 128
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 14.5 Field Manual: Updates, p. 137: "AFFS Deployment Table - 3067"
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 Field Report: AFFS, p. 11
  16. ↑ Jihad Hot Spots: Terra, p. 25
  17. ↑ Jihad Hot Spots: Terra, p. 96
  18. ↑ Jihad Hot Spots: Terra, p. 104
  19. ↑ Field Manual: 3085, p. 59
  20. ↑ Field Manual: 3145, p. 76
  21. ↑ Historical: War of 3039, p. 54
  22. ↑ 20 Year Update, p. 20: "AFFC Deployment Table - 3050"
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 23.3 Objective Raids, p. 22: "AFFC Deployment Table - 3054"
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 24.3 24.4 Field Manual: 3085, p. 70: "AFFS Deployment Table - 3085"
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 25.3 25.4 Field Manual: 3145, p. 91: "Armed Forces of the Federated Suns"
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 26.2 First Succession War, p. 134: "Armed Forces of the Federated Suns (AFFS)"
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 27.2 27.3 Second Succession War, p. 94: "Armed Forces of the Federated Suns (AFFS)"
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 Historical: War of 3039, p. 136
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 20 Year Update, p. 20
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 Field Report: AFFS, p. 11

Bibliography[edit]

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