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3rd Royal Guards

Royalguards3rd.png
Third Royal Guards
Nickname The Pride of Tamar[1]
Affiliation Lyran Commonwealth
Parent Command Royal Guards

The Third Royal Guards were a prestigious military command for the Lyran Commonwealth, Federated Commonwealth, and the Lyran Alliance. By 3028, the command was upgraded into a Regimental Combat Team. The unit was unique due its being the only active Lyran Royal Guard unit not assigned to safeguard Tharkad, used as the Lyran high command's "go anywhere" troubleshooter unit.[2]

History[edit]

In 2765, the LCAF High Command stationed the Third Royal Guards on Donegal, away from the Draconis Combine border. The regiment had had several "miscommunications" with the DCMS that caused tensions between the two realms to rise. By relocating them away from the border, the hope was that the situation would calm down. To coincide with the regiment's practice of using sword fighting as group calisthenics, the unit's commander asked the High Command to look into using melee weapons on their BattleMechs. These requests were denied as the High Command felt that physical attacks would become obsolete.[3]

The Succession Wars[edit]

The Third Royals were assigned to Coventry during the early Succession Wars.[citation needed]

Operation FREEDOM[edit]

During the early Third Succession War, the Archon Eric Steiner launched his military campaign to retake worlds lost to the Draconis Combine in February 2913.

Archon Eric Steiner personally took command of the Third Royal Guards on Freedom, one of the first target worlds of Operation FREEDOM.

Through skillful maneuvering and strong attacks, the Third Royals pushed two battalions of the elite Sixth Sword of Light into a sea cliff valley, which was shaped of a horseshoe. The Third Royals immediately blocked the valley's only entry before the Kurita forces even noticed their desperate situation. The Guards' artillery units pounded into the valley until the barrels of the Long Tom and Sniper artillery glowed from overuse. The three day bombardment left the two battalions of the Sixth Sword of Light all but destroyed. The Archon led his forces personally into the now moon crated valley to confirm the destruction of Kurita forces. However, when he entered the valley, the Archon's Zeus stumbled on vibromines, which destroyed his 'Mech, killing him.[4][5]

In 2995, Alonzo Barrett, a member of the Third Royal Guards, resigned to form a mercenary command that would become known as the unit Barrett's Fusiliers.[6]

Conflicts on Summer and Hesperus[edit]

In 3005, the elements of the Third Royals fought off an attack on the residence of the Duke of Summer on Summer, which was conducted by Draconis Combine forces. They found, that the Duke had been killed and his heir, Aldo Lestrade IV, who had been injured during the fighting.[7]

In 3019, the unit was dispatched to Hesperus II to defend the world against the invading Wolf's Dragoons mercenaries in service of House Marik. The defending Lyran units finally stopped the elite mercenary brigade in their tracks, though the Dragoons came very close to their objective.[8][9][10]

Operation GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG[edit]

The unit was deployed to Port Moseby prior the Fourth Succession War. During the war, the unit invaded Buckminster.

In August 3028, Third Royal Guards and 39 other regiments arrived in Buckminster system, where they encountered Kurita aerospace forces. The Royals' massive RCT landed on Lexham Island just off the coast of continent of Sanjusendo. From the large island, Lt. General Steiner deployed the 1st Provisional Lyran Water Navy which provided escort for Royals and their other regiment in two amphibious assaults it conducted on Sanjusendo.

While some of the Royals' infantry and tank regiments assaulted westerly Yeloff Peninsula to draw way some of the Kurita forces, the Royal Guards' 'Mechs walked across shallow seabed to assault Coloa Peninsula to the north.

After taking the undefended peninsula, the 3rd Royals split into two columns and proceeded north to the Cord Mountains. The unit with its supporting regiments fended off ambushes as they moved to the city of Pontiac.

At the city, General Steiner detached a heavy 'Mech company with 14 other conventional regiments to take Pontiac while the main body of his invasion force proceeded further into the continent. Pontiac's defending forces consisting of a heavy 'Mech company from the Second Sword of Light and a trio each of tanks and infantry fended off the Royals' attempt to subdue the city. The defenders' artillery unit proved too accurate to allow an easy battle. To put down the artillery, the Royals' commanders called in an aerospace fighter strike against the Kuritans' guns to turn the tide for Lyran forces.

By October, the Royals RCT had made it way over the plains of Sanjusendo to mountains of Sunder's Pass and Greenson Pass. The Second Sword of Light's commanding officer, General Goshi Tengwan, was no longer hesitant on where invasion force was going to go, deployed his forces in the mountains. This presented the Third Royal RCT serious challenge of the campaign. Lt. General Steiner fearing prolonged fight in the mountains would allow for Kurita forces to arrive, he dispatched call to have the Elvidner deployed to Buckminster. The Elvidner, a special DropShip force, consisting of Fortress Class vessels, were deployed in the mountains where they used their special mounted Long Tom artillery guns bombard enemy forces. However, many of the Kurita less experienced militia forces were sent into panic as artillery of the DropShips begun fall. This even caused many of General Tengwan's veteran units to bolt as Lyran ground forces begun press the attack. Battles of the Passes proved to victory for the Royals, with Kurita survivors falling back to the planet's capital, Buckminster City.

A week after the battles concluded, the Sixth Arkab Legion dropped on planet to reinforce the beleaguered Kurita forces. Without additional reinforcements, Roman Steiner, had to conduct delaying tactics using his Lightning Companies, hovercraft units, and the Elvidner. On December 2nd, the Twentieth Arcturan Guards arrived on planet using their heavier BattleMechs to turn tide battle in the Lyrans' favor. The Royals and Arcturans cut off the lighter Arkab Legion forces in their attempt to link up with forces held up in Buckminster City forcing them retreat to north. During fighting with the 6th Arkab, General Tengwan, ordered construction of fortification in defense of the city and had evacuated important personnel and documents via aerospace craft.

Taking advantage of the situation, the Third Royals aerospace fighters conducted sorties over the city where they bombed its defenders. In addition to the 1st Provisional Lyran Water Navy's arrival helped complete the blockade of the city later in month.[11]

The siege of the city lasted four months. In June 3029, Lt. General Steiner, ordered the assault, feeling that Second Sword and its other forces were low enough on supplies to allow for improved chances for victory.

The Third Royals enter the city first, with Twentieth Arcturans and other regiments behind them. However, in order commit enough forces to the attack, Steiner left light screen force to keep eye on Legion to the north. As the Royals pushed into city itself, they were ambushed by infantry forces hidden in the buildings of the city. The Kurita forces took advantage of 'Mechs lack maneuvering in tight city quarters. This slowed down the Royals greatly, and Legion launches a breakout once Lyran turn their backs on them. The Royals were force turn back some of its forces to assist Arcturans whose rear operating areas had come under attack by the Legion. This signal attack by 2nd Sword's 'Mech forces and in turn routed remaining Royal units in the city. Three days of fighting forced the Royals and its other allied units to high ground. With no hope now to take the city, General Steiner ordered the withdrawal of Lyran forces from the planet.[12]

War of 3039[edit]

During the War of 3039, the unit was moved to Freedom to provide defense during the conflict.[13]

Conflict on Northwind[edit]

In 3057, the 3rd Royals were thrown into conflict with the Northwind Highlanders by their commander, Marshal Bradford. Despite their skill, in the course of the fighting to keep Northwind as part of the Federated Commonwealth, the unit were all but destroyed by the angry Highlanders. Most of the troops from the Royals were repatriated and ultimately left the Commonwealth for the newly formed Lyran Alliance. There they form the core of new 3rd Royal Guards by order of Archon Katherine Steiner-Davion.[14][2]

Operation Bulldog[edit]

The unit was partially rebuilt by the time it was sent to participate in 2nd Star League's Operation Bulldog in 3058. The unit was teamed with 11th Alshain Avengers[15] and ComStar forces to retake Avon. In the battle with Clan Smoke Jaguar's 1st Jaguar Guards and Beta Galaxy's Command Trinary off-planet, elements of the 3rd mistook Clan Nova Cat forces for Jaguars, destroying several small units. This nearly caused hostilities to breakout between the two allied forces. Only the timely intervention of the Com Guard 198th Division[16] commander prevented outright fighting between Clan allies and the 3rd Royals. After Bulldog's conclusion the unit received heavy criticism from the SLDF for its performance on Avon, which thanks to deteriorating relations between the Alliance and the SLDF, the LAAF High Command largely chose to ignore.[17][2]

FedCom Civil War[edit]

After Bulldog, the newly rebuilding 3rd Royals were deployed to Port Moseby, close to the disputed Lyons Thumb. Given the unit's overzealous and aggressive nature, many expected them to blunder into conflict against the Draconis Combine elements in the Thumb, only for tensions between the Katherine and Victor Steiner-Davion to erupt into the FedCom Civil War first.[2][17]

Relocating from Port Moseby to Dalkeith, the 3rd Royal Guards arrived to reinforce the 13th Donegal Guards as they faced the 4th Deneb Light Cavalry.[18] After the 4th DLC was reinforced by the 4th Davion Guards the two Federated Suns units drew the LAAF forces on a chase across the continent of Dalkeith. The 3rd overran a small Allied delaying force at Point du Raz, only to discover that the AFFS units had withdrawn to another continent.[19] Pursuing the pro-Victor forces, they were joined by the 5th Alliance Guards. The 3rd Royals feinted towards the 4th DLC position, while the 5th Alliance Guards hit the Allied units. However, the DLC used the time to set up a large minefield via artillery. When the 3rd Royal Guard units tried to extract themselves from the minefields, artillery from the Federated Suns units pounded down on them. By the time the 3rd Royals were out of the trap, they had lost a quarter of their strength.[20] After regrouping for a few days, the 3rd Royals prepared to assault the lines of the 4th Davion Guards. They were completely unprepared for the 4th Davion Guards to launch their own attack, and the Royal Guards collapsed. Despite losing unit cohesion, the skilled warriors of the 3rd inflicted much more damage than they received, destroying the 4th Davion Guards.[21]

Remaining stationed on Dalkeith, the survivors of the 3rd rebuilt their unit yet again, but bitterness at the unit's isolated posting preventing them from accessing the largess provided to the other equally battered Royal Guard units raised questions to its loyalty to new Archon Peter Steiner-Davion.[22]

Jihad[edit]

Compared to the intense involvement of the 1st and 2nd Royal Guards during the Word of Blake occupation of Tharkad during the Jihad, the still recovering 3rd played at best a supporting role and was deployed a reserve force for many combat operations in the Lyran realm. Eventually falling back to the recently recaptured Coventry to rebuild. A full battalion from the Qanatir MTM was transferred into the 3rd to help recover from its losses, much to the resentment of its older and more established troops. Even with this addition, by 3079 the unit was only at half strength.[23]

In 3085, the unit had two BattleMech battalions and the full complement of supporting forces that formed a Regimental Combat Team. The friction that existed between the newly transferred members and the old hands passed, leaving the 3rd in good shape on Tharkad to rebuild.[24]

Dark Age[edit]

The 3rd Royal Guard was stationed on Sargasso when the Jade Falcons jumped over the Commonwealth border. The 3rd fought a multiplanet withdrawal towards Tharkad, fighting the Clan all the way. When they arrived on Tharkad in 3142 they were at just over twenty percent of their nominal strength. Archon Trillian ordered the unit to travel to Hesperus II to put up a strong show of force that fooled Clan Jade Falcon and Clan Hell's Horses into thinking that the world was heavily defended.[25] Their presence was a gambit to keep the two Clans on the world until forces from Clan Wolf arrived and savaged both the Falcons and the Horses. The 3rd then took up a garrison on Donegal, with selected elements of the Third forming part of the garrison on Tharkad.[26]

Officers[edit]

Rank Name Command
Commanding Officers of the 3rd Royal Guards
Colonel Yuri Edwards-Maison 2765[3]
Leutnant-General Roman Steiner 3025[27]
Marshal Harrison Bradford 3050 - 3057[28][29]
Leutnant-General Kathry Parks 3057 - 3085[17][30][31]
Hauptmann General Angela Barns 3145[32]

Tactics[edit]

The unit utilizes innovative and unorthodox tactics to keep opposition forces off guard. It also uses its aerospace forces

Composition History[edit]

2765[edit]

3rd Royal Guards (Regiment/Elite/Fanatical)[33]

Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on Donegal.[33]

2786–2821[edit]

3rd Royal Guards (Regiment/Elite/Fanatical)[34]

Note: At this point in time the heavy-weight unit was stationed on Donegal. In 2821 the command was reduced to 42 percent of its strength and was deployed on Donegal.[34]

2830[edit]

3rd Royal Guards (Regiment/Elite/Fanatical)[35]

Note: At this point in time the assault-weight unit was stationed on Donegal with an operational readiness of 88 percent.[35]

2864[edit]

3rd Royal Guards (Regiment/Elite/Fanatical)[35]

Note: At this point in time the assault-weight unit was stationed on Lyons with an operational readiness of 13 percent.[35]

3025[edit]

3rd Royal Guards (Regiment/Elite/Fanatical)[27]

  • CO: Leutnant General Roman Steiner
Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on Coventry.

3028[edit]

3rd Royal Guards RCT (4 Battalions/Elite) (not including Support Battalion Headquarters unit)[36]

3040[edit]

3rd Royal Guards RCT (Regiment/Elite/Fanatical)[37]

Note: At this point in time the command was stationed on Port Moseby.[37]

3050[edit]

3rd Royal Guards RCT (Regiment/Elite/Fanatical)[38]

  • CO: Marshal Harrison Bradford[38]
Note: At this point in time the command was stationed on Port Moseby.[38]

3054[edit]

3rd Royal Guards RCT (Regiment/Elite/Fanatical)[39]

  • CO: Marshal Harrison Bradford[39]
Note: At this point in time the command was stationed on Port Moseby.[39]

3062-3067[edit]

3rd Royal Guards RCT (BattleMech Regiment/Veteran/Fanatical)[17][30]
CO: Leutnant General Kathry Parks
Aide: Hauptmann Kommandant Johnson Higgins

3rd Royal Guards Aerospace Brigade[17][30]
CO: Kaptain Noëlle Millward
- 17th Tharkan Aerospace
- 101st Tharkan Aerospace Wing
- 31st Royal Guard Wing
- 49th Royal Guard Wing

3rd Royal Guards Armor Brigade (3 Regiments/Veteran/Fanatical)[17][30]
CO: Colonel Abdul Kalam
Aide: Leutnant Colonel Shuen-Kai Pang
- 6th Royal PR - CO: Colonel Michael Peake
- 4th Royal Tharkad LT - CO: Colonel Tomoko Mendez
- *9th Port Moresby LT - CO: Colonel Abraham Ju'Pierre

3rd Royal Guards Infantry Brigade (4 Regiments/Veteran/Fanatical)[17][30]
CO: Colonel Fuchsia Ball
Aide: Leutnant Colonel Chuck Zeus
- 8th Royal Tharkad LI(R) - CO: Colonel Peter Sanders
- 9th Royal Tharkad LI(R) - CO: Colonel Alice Rossini
- 6th Royal Tharkad MRT - CO: Colonel Jacqueline D'Herve
- 19th Port Moresby JR - CO: Colonel Rei Sanchez

3079[edit]

Third Royal Guards (Regiment/Veteran/Fanatical)[40]

Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on Coventry.[40]

3085[edit]

3rd Royal Guards RCT (Veteran/Fanatical)[31]
CO: Leutnant General Kathry Parks

3rd Royal Aerospace (Veteran/Fanatical)[31]
CO: Kaptain Thomas Wiegand

3rd Royal Armor Brigade (Veteran/Fanatical)[31]
CO: Colonel Humbert Suaird

3rd Royal Infantry Brigade (Elite/Fanatical)[31]
CO: Colonel Karpos Regenbogen

3145[edit]

3rd Royal Guards RCT (Veteran/Fanatical)[32]
CO: Hauptmann General Angela Barns

3rd Royal Aerospace (Veteran/Fanatical)[32]
CO: Kommandant Anna Bell

3rd Royal Armor Brigade (Regular/Fanatical)[32]
CO: Colonel Anthony Howard

3rd Royal Infantry Brigade (Veteran/Reliable)[32]
CO: Colonel Joshua Garcia

References[edit]

  1. House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth), p. 71: "Regimental Nicknames"
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Era Report: 3062, p. 34: "Third Royal Guards RCT (The Pride of Tamar)"
  3. 3.0 3.1 Field Report 2765: LCAF, p. 17
  4. House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth), p. 71: "The Cost of Freedom" - Third Royals exploits during invasion of Kurita controlled world of Freedom
  5. FedCom Civil War, p. 198
  6. Field Manual: Mercenaries, Revised, p. 42: "Barrett's Fusiliers: The Light Musketeers"
  7. House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth), p. 155: "Aldo Lestrade IV profile" - Third Royals help fight off battle on Summer
  8. Wolf's Dragoons, p. 24
  9. House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth), p. 82: "Hesperus Revisited" - Some details of the Dragoons' invasion of Hesperus
  10. Field Manual: Lyran Alliance, p. 98: "3rd Royal Guards" - Unit history indicates it participation in 13th Battle of Hesperus
  11. NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 1, pp. 52–55: "Buckminster" - "3rd Royals as RCT invade Kurita world of Buckminster"
  12. NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 2, pp. 72–73: "Lyran withdraw from Buckminster after the 3rd Royals are routed from the capital"
  13. Historical: War of 3039, p. 138: "Deployment Table" - Unit was moved to Freedom in 3038 prior to war
  14. Field Manual: Lyran Alliance, p. 98: "3rd Royal Guard brief history"
  15. The Dragon Roars, p. 10: "Operation Bulldog DCMS deployment table" - 11th Avengers identified as part of the DCMS' forces on planet
  16. The Dragon Roars, p. 11: "Deployment table" - Precentor Winston Quiller's unit identified in as being deployed to Avon
  17. 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 17.4 17.5 17.6 Field Manual: Lyran Alliance, p. 98: "Royal blunders nearly cause battle between allied SLDF units"
  18. FedCom Civil War, p. 101
  19. FedCom Civil War, p. 129
  20. FedCom Civil War, p. 145
  21. FedCom Civil War, p. 175
  22. Field Manual: Updates, p. 172: "Third Royal Guard RCT"
  23. Field Report: LAAF, p. 14: "Royal Guard"
  24. Field Manual: 3085, p. 104
  25. Technical Readout: 3145 Lyran Commonwealth, p. 8
  26. Field Manual: 3145, p. 124
  27. 27.0 27.1 House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth), p. 121: "Unit Deployment Table" - 3rd Royal Guards' commanding officer noted
  28. 20 Year Update, p. 26: "AFFC Deployment Tables - 3050" - Ryde Theater - 3rd Royal Guards RCT status and commanding officer listed in 3050
  29. Objective Raids, p. 18: "AFFC Deployment Table - 3054"
  30. 30.0 30.1 30.2 30.3 30.4 Field Manual: Updates, p. 177: "LAAF Deployment Table - 3067"
  31. 31.0 31.1 31.2 31.3 31.4 Field Manual: 3085, p. 108: "LAAF Deployment Table - 3085"
  32. 32.0 32.1 32.2 32.3 32.4 Field Manual: 3145, p. 133: "Lyran Commonwealth Armed Forces - Donegal Province"
  33. 33.0 33.1 Field Report 2765: LCAF, p. 17
  34. 34.0 34.1 First Succession War, p. 139
  35. 35.0 35.1 35.2 35.3 Second Succession War, p. 99
  36. NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 1, p. 125: "3rd Royal Guards" - Breakdown of the RCT during Buckminster campaign
  37. 37.0 37.1 Historical: War of 3039, p. 138
  38. 38.0 38.1 38.2 20 Year Update, p. 26
  39. 39.0 39.1 39.2 Objective Raids, p. 18
  40. 40.0 40.1 Field Report: FWLM, p. 14

Bibliography[edit]