5th Crucis Lancers

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Fifth Crucis Lancers
Formed 2765-2785[1][2]
Nickname Remagen Lancers
Affiliation AFFS
Parent Command Crucis Lancers

The Fifth Crucis Lancers were formed form SLDF veterans who remained in the Inner Sphere.

History[edit]

First Succession War[edit]

The Capellan Confederation launched a campaign to capture Chesterton during the First Succession War, while the Federated Suns was being trampled roughshod by the Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery. Chancellor Ilsa Liao offered to withdraw her claim to the title of First Lord of the Star League and to instead support Paul Davion's claim if the Federated Suns would return Chesterton to the Confederation.[3] Paul's response was to reject the proposal and dispatch the Third and Fifth Crucis Lancers to assault Ulan Batar and Farwell, igniting two years of active warfare throughout the Chesterton region.[4]

The Fifth was stationed on Chesterton in 2812 with sister unit the Third Crucis Lancers and Belinda's Irregulars. They were warned of an incoming Capellan invasion, so moved to the disclosed location to await their arrival. Once the Capellan task force consisting of the First and Second Ariana Fusiliers, Vincent's Commandos, and Cochraine's Goliaths landed, the Fifth and other Davion units sprang their trap. The resulting trap became a brutal battle which destroyed over 130 BattleMechs and the Goliaths.[5]

Third Succession War[edit]

The Fifth's 'Mech regiment was destroyed in 3021. The Fifth was left on the Regimental rolls of the AFFS and assigned three additional armored regiments to make up for the lack of 'Mechs. The Fifth was surprised to discover that they were very effective in this configuration.[6]

Fourth Succession War[edit]

In the Fourth Succession War the Fifth Crucis Lancers attacked Tikonov with the other Crucis Lancer RCTs. After taking that world, they moved to secure both Jonathan and Foot Fall.[7] In the fifth and sixth waves of Operation RAT, the Fifth attacked Menkib, where they easily defeated the handful of poorly-trained reservist and volunteers that the CCAF had left to defend the planet.[8][9] After securing Menkib, the Fifth attacked Sakhalin[10]. Initially believing that the world was guarded only by planetary militia, the Fifth was stunned when they came under attack by First Battalion of Kamakura's Hussars. The Hussars lived up to their reputation for a lack of battlefield discipline by launching a rash, almost suicidal attack against the Fifth's as they made planetfall. By breaking into lances and dispersing when they met heavy resistance, the Hussars were able to inflict damage and retreat while the Fifth Crucis concentrated on securing their drop zones. The Hussars then fought for three weeks before enough damage was inflicted on them to convince them to abandon their hit-and-run attacks and flee Sakhalin.[11]

War of 3039[edit]

With the formal merging of Lyran and Davion states, the AFFC recreated and resurrected the 'Mech regiment in 3042.[12]

Clan Invasion[edit]

Operation Guerrero[edit]

After the 3057 Liao-Marik Offensive that shattered the Sarna March, the unit was left to attempt to hunt down and kill the Capellan backed Zhanzheng de Guang terrorist group that help trigger the war. The Fifth trying to make up for its disgrace of not able to fight off multinational incursion, felt hunting down the terrorist and CCAF force assisting them would make up the difference. The unit had bounced between nine worlds in its four year struggle against the Zhanzheng de Guang, wiping most of them out by 3062. These actions tied up Capellan forces, preventing them from participating in Capellan-St. Ives War.[12] During its campaigns in what became the Chaos March, the two of its battalions were lost in the Kuriak Mountains of Demeter. The 2nd and 3rd Battalions during their training mission ran afoul of Capellan Thuggees after the Regiment's scout force found their 'Mech intact and mass grave.

Operation Bulldog[edit]

The Fifth Crucis Lancers were not one of the units that participated in Operation Bulldog.[13]

Civil War[edit]

After extracting from the March General Richardson, the unit's commander of fifteen years, was cited for actions taken during the early 3060s in Capellan territory. The General's mental fitness reports showed indicators of paranoid bevahior and that he was possibly developing schizophrenia. The commanding officer's mental health bled over into the Fifth's general attitudes, and the unit became more wary toward units who expressed loyalty to Katherine Steiner-Davion, such as the Fifteenth Deneb Light Cavalry. The Fifth Crucis later engaged the Fifteenth DLC on Demeter and kept them under intense pressure until the Loyalist unit was forced to withdraw from that world.[14] The Fifth followed the fleeing regiment to Algol where they cut off their retreat and kept them from linking up with Tikonov Republican Guards forces their. The Fifth's air wing inflicted significant damage on the two Republican Guards regiments while maintaining this blockade.[15][16] The Fifth Crucis eventually succeeded in driving the Fifteenth DLC off of Algol, and at last relinquished their pursuit, redeploying to Marlette. There they faced units of the Marlette Crucis March Militia garrisoning the Jedda Military Complex and launched a strike against them, hoping to gain a foothold. Several Lancer units did get through, but were cut eventually cut off from reinforcements by Loyalist forces.[17]

While attempting to resolve this tactical problem, General Richardson was killed when elements of the Fifth Lyran Regulars landed behind his lines and directly attacked his command post.[18] The Lyran Regulars were then able to use the resulting chaos to drive through the Fifth Crucis' lines and link up with the Marlette CMM. Both units then evacuated the area to regroup. Once the Fifth restored their command integrity, they bottled up the Loyalist forces.[19] A few months later, Victor Steiner-Davion arrived on Marlette with additional forces and the Loyalist units surrendered. The Fifth Crucis Lancers prepared to join the fight on New Avalon but missed the actual fighting, arriving in time to help with efforts to secure the world.[20]

Jihad[edit]

The Fifth Crucis Lancers were stationed on Carmacks at the start of the Jihad.[21] As part of Operation SOVEREIGN JUSTICE the Fifth Crucis Lancers seized Capricorn III in July, 3068. A month later the Fifth took Aldertaine in the next wave of attacks.[22] After holding the world for three months the 5th McCarron's Armored Cavalry regiment drove the Lancers off the world to St. Ives.[23]

As part of Operation SCOUR's Federated Suns group, the Fifth partnered with the 15th Arcturan Guards in an attack on Demeter. There they attempted to take the Vicore Industries factory, but were repulsed by the Protectorate Militia units and two Level IIIs from the 9th Division, Measure of Trust and Call to the Faithful. An orbital drop by the 3rd Free Worlds Legionnaires reinforced the Coalition forces and pushed the Blakist defenders back. Three weeks later the Lancers and other Coalition forces had taken control of the world, but only after bloody hand-to-hand fighting and several orbital bombardments; the 5th Crucis lancers worked alongside the 15th Arcturan Guards to clear New Demeter City, while the 3rd Free Worlds Legionnaires faced the 9th Division forces at the Vicore Industries plant until it and the Blakists were destroyed by the orbital bombardment.[24]

Following the Demeter campaign the 5th and the other elements of Group I were assigned to the liberation of Towne in March/April 3077. Information had been obtained by the Fox's Teeth indicating that the Word of Blake had developed and extensive fortified a facility on Towne for refitting and possibly manufacturing DropShips. The Blakist facility was located deep within a mountain range on the continent of Howell, and was protected by formidable defenses, including capital missile launchers. This became the site of the fiercest struggle during the campaign to liberate Towne, with the Blakists nearly defeating the combined forces of Group I. The defenses proved to be almost as tough as one of the Castle Brian complexes created during the era of the Star League, and drove the coalition troops to desperate measures; Princess Regent Yvonne Steiner-Davion personally authorized the use of orbital bombardment to crack the fortifications, and the Fox-class WarShip FSS Indefatigable moved in response.[25]

As the Indefatigable moved towards Towne, it triggered another layer of defenses in the system that the various DropShips of Group I had failed to trigger; even as the Fox's Teeth were making a dangerous raid on the surface of the planet to disable the capital missile launchers there, hidden missile launchers within the system targeted the Indefatigable. Launch platforms disguised as ore processing stations within the Towne asteroid belt launched dozens of missiles, inflicting heavy damage on the Indefatigable and nearly stymied the liberation effort. As it was, the Indefatigable managed to make it to orbit and bombard the Blakists defenses, allowing Group I to take the planet. The campaign took four weeks from start to finish, and while the 15th Arcturan Guards were ready to deploy on their next operation on the 22nd of April, the other elements of Group I would continue to rebuild on Towne for some time.[25]

Following the campaigns for Demeter and Towne, in late 3077 Major General Walter White-Davion and the 5th Crucis Lancers were given responsibility for taking the occupied world of Ingress, working alongside the Fox's Teeth and their new commander, David McKinnon. The Fox's Teeth would play a significant role in ensuring that the campaign for Ingress was short and relatively bloodless.[26]

Later they would attack Indicass.[27]

During the assault on Terra, the Fifth Crucis Lancers, Iron Guard, and 20th Marik Militia attacked Rio de Janeiro.[28] This assault drop allowed the Coalition to capture the largest TerraSec supply depot as well as the three largest factories in the Amazon region. Their rapid advance quickly stalled against the SDS command center. The defenders were able to hold the Fifth at bay for three weeks, but a team of battle armor from the Fifth Lancers and Twentieth Marik Militia was able to infiltrate the fortress and destroy the power plant. This in turn took the SDS offline, and allowed the Coalition troops to land unmolested.[29]

After liberating Terra, the Fifth Crucis Lancers received orders to garrison New Hessen.[30]

Dark Age[edit]

In 3145 the Fifth was stationed on Taygeta. While there the world was attacked by Sung's Rangers and the 3rd McCarron's Armored Cavalry. The Fifth and the Ridgebrook CMM opposed the landing. The fighting was brutal and the Capellans lost a third of their forces, but the Lancers and Militia lost half their forces.[31]

The Fifth found itself in an unusual situation: It had plenty of spare parts for its conventional forces and could even deploy an extra battalion of Pegasus hovertanks, but its 'Mech unit lacked sufficient spares to keep a full 'Mech regiment in service. As a response, the Fifth permanently separated a battalion of 'Mechs into separate formations integrated into partner organizations composed of battle armor and vehicles. This means the Fifth Crucis Lancers of 3145 were organized into a formation that looked more like the Ceti Hussars than the Lancers.[32] The Fifth was based on Johnsondale in 3145.[33]

In 3146 the Fifth was on Marlette when CCAF raiders landed. Supported by the 1st Kestrel Grenadiers, Task Force Panoply, and elements of Clan Sea Fox, the Fifth held their positions against the 2nd McCarron's Armored Cavalry. Faced with overwhelming numbers, Sang-shao Shaiming Tao (commander of the Second MAC) called down orbital fire on the Fifth's positions. This decimated the Fifth and routed them from the field. On September 29, the CCAF forces withdrew from the world under a ceasefire agreement after fighting for six weeks.[34]

March 3147 saw the Fifth Crucis Lancers placed in command of Task Force CERBERUS after refitting at Goshen. Task Force CERBERUS consisted largely of the Fifth and several mercenary commands. The Task Force jumped to Axton, where the Tiger Hunt mercenary unit attempted to join up with Capellan sympathizers on the world. Unfortunately Tiger Hunt didn't realize that they were on Axton; They thought CERBERUS was going to Acala. The Fifth's commander assigned the First Davion Auxiliary to hunt down the mercenary unit. The unit was destroyed shortly thereafter by planetary militia.[35]

Splitting Task Force CEREBUS into smaller task forces found the Fifth at the head of Task Force Orthus. This assault landed on Beenleigh, where the mercenaries of Fortune Baker cleared the way to Queensland, the capital city. The Harloc Raiders quickly counterattacked Fortune Baker, but the Fifth Crucis Lancers hit the Raiders from the rear and forced them to disengage. It took several more weeks, but the Raiders hit and run operations were not enough to dislodge the AFFS. As the DropShips of Task Force Orthus left the world to rejoin their JumpShips, the Harloc Raider's aerospace command destroyed two of the Fifth Crucis Lancer's DropShips.

A week later Task Force Orthus landed on Jaipur and was immediately attacked by Lockhardt's Ironsides. The quick attack forced the DropShips to leave immediately after delivering their cargo. The Fifth and Fortune Baker were constantly on the move, looking for a new place to link up with their aerospace units. The Ironsides used this to their advantage and destroyed several company-sized units when they stopped to rest. The Task Force was able to establish a new landing zone and the DropShips landed. As soon as this happened, Lockhardt's Iron Flight swooped in and destroyed half the already damaged DropShips. This forced the Fifth and Fortune Baker into a defensive formation they would hold until December.[36]

In December 3148 Task Force Orthus joined the other task forces on Taygeta to refit and resupply. From there they jumped to New Syrtis. The Fifth led the charge to Saso, New Syrtis' capital. They encountered picket units from Warrior House Hiritsu, 1st McCarron's Armored Cavalry, 4th McCarron's Armored Cavalry, Warrior House Kamata, and the Dynasty Guard. The Fifth Lancers and First Davion Auxiliary were assigned to capture the Hasek family's estate. They forced the Dynasty Guards to evacuate the mansion, but the Dynasty Guard leveled it with artillery strikes. The Fifth learned of traitors in Fortune Charlie that attacked Julian Davion, and rushed to his aid. They were able to catch the 4th MAC and Fortune Charlie in a pincer movement, forcing them to retreat.[37]

The Fifth served as part of the New Syrtis garrison. They were in disarray thanks to the efforts of Capellan sympathizers. This included two toxic gas attacks like those seen in Black May. Barracked near Saso spaceport in August 3149, the Fifth came under attack by an unknown Capellan unit. Initially thought to be the Death Commandos, this unit instead used red trim and had a picture of Kali on their 'Mechs. The Fifth tried to hold them back, but their lack of coordination allowed the Commandos to rip through their ranks. The 1st Davion Guards arrived to reinforce the Fifth.[38]

Officers[edit]

Rank Name Command
Commanding Officers of the 5th Crucis Lancers
Marshal Mathew Agerstand 3025[39]
Hauptmann General Olaf Richardson 3050[12]
General Olaf Richardson 3062[40]
Marshal Meshach Felsner 3067 - 3085[41][21]
Major-General Walter White-Davion During the Jihad[26][42]
Admiral Ryan Davion-Coles III 3145-3147[33]

Other Unit Members[edit]

Tactics[edit]

The unit's individual formations are trained in independent actions. They are aggressive in defense and offensive, never staying one place for long.[12]

Composition History[edit]

2786 - 2821[edit]

Fifth Crucis Lancers (Regiment/Green/Questionable)[48]

Note: At this point in time the Lancers were a medium-weight regiment stationed on Remagen and were operating at full strength.[48]In 2821 the unit was stationed on Goderich and had been reduced to just over a battalion in strength.[48]

2830[edit]

Fifth Crucis Lancers (Regiment/Regular/Questionable)[49]

Note: At this point in time the Lancers were a medium-weight regiment and had rebuilt to roughly three-quarters of full strength. The Lancers were stationed on Goderich.[49]

2864[edit]

Fifth Crucis Lancers (Regiment/Regular/Questionable)[49]

Note: At this point in time the Lancers were a heavy-weight regiment stationed on Quentin, and had been reduced to just under a battalion in size.[49]

3025[edit]

Fifth Crucis Lancers RCT (Regiment/Veteran/Fanatical)[39]

  • CO: Marshal Mathew Agerstand[39]
Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on Kathil.[39]

3040[edit]

Fifth Crucis Lancers RCT (Regiment/Veteran/Fanatical)[50]

Note: At this point in time the command was stationed on Kathil.[50]

3050[edit]

5th Crucis Lancers RCT (Regiment/Veteran/Fanatical)[51]

Note: At this point in time the command was stationed on Shensi.[51]

3054[edit]

5th crucis Lancers RCT (Regiment/Veteran/Fanatical)[41]

  • CO: Hauptmann General Olaf Richardson[41]
Note: At this point in time the command was stationed on Shengsi.[41]

3062[edit]

Fifth Crucis Lancers (2 Battalions/Veteran/Fanatical)[12]

  • CO: General Olaf Richardson
Fifth Crucis Lancers Aerospace Brigade (2 Wings)[12]
Fifth Crucis Lancers Armor Brigade (6 Regiments/Elite/Fanatical)[12]
Fifth Crucis Lancers Infantry Brigade (6 Regiments/Veteran/Fanatical)[12]
  • Ninth Crucis Lancers Infantry Regiment - Leftenant General Andrei Gorobtsov
  • Tenth Crucis Lancers Infantry Regiment - Colonel Quan-Lu D'Aquisto
  • Ninth Crucis Lancers Mechanized Infantry Regiment - Colonel Craig Peterson
  • Tenth Crucis Lancers Mechanized Infantry Regiment - Colonel Babette Kiska
  • Fifth Crucis Lancers Jump Infantry Regiment - Colonel Halstead Sharpe
  • Ninety-eighth Crucis Jump Infantry - Colonel Ping Tam

3067[edit]

Fifth Crucis Lancers RCT (Elite/Fanatical)[21]

  • CO: Marshal Meshach Felsner
Fifth Crucis Lancers Aerospace Brigade (Elite/Reliable)[21]
Fifth Crucis Lancers Armor Brigade (Elite/Fanatical)[21]
Fifth Crucis Lancers Infantry Brigade (Veteran/Reliable)[21]
  • CO: Major General Halstead Sharpe

3079[edit]

Fifth Crucis Lancers (Regiment/Elite/Fanatical)[52]

Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on New Hessen.[52] The Fifth Lancers lost nearly a third of their troops, barely reaching seventy percent of their pre-Jihad strength. By reassigning them to New Hessen the High Command hopes they can rebuild.:[30]

3085[edit]

Fifth Crucis Lancers RCT (Elite/Fanatical)[42]

  • CO: General Mesach Felsner
Fifth Crucis Lancers Aerospace Brigade (Elite/Reliable)[42]
Fifth Crucis Lancers Armor Brigade (Elite/Fanatical)[42]
Fifth Crucis Lancers Infantry Brigade (Veteran/Reliable)[42]

3145[edit]

Fifth Crucis Lancers RCT (Elite/Fanatical)[33]

  • CO: Admiral Ryan Davion-Coles III
Fifth Crucis Lancers Aerospace Brigade (Elite/Fanatical)[33]
Fifth Crucis Lancers Armor Brigade (Veteran/Fanatical)[33]
Fifth Crucis Lancers Infantry Brigade (Elite/Fanatical)[33]

Notes[edit]

The Crucis Lancers brigade appears to have been created with the formation of the First Crucis Lancers in 2782, as the brigade didn't exist in 2765.[1] The Second Crucis Lancers were founded in 2783,[2] and the Seventh in 2784,[2] while the Third, Fourth and Fifth had been formed by 2786, although the Sixth and Eighth Crucis Lancers were formed during the First Succession War,[48] indicating that the brigade commands weren't founded in strictly numerical order. A founding date range of 2765-2785 has therefore been given for the Third, to take into account that latest date in which the Third hadn't been founded and the earliest date by which they were definitely known to exist as a command.

References[edit]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Field report 2765: AFFS
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 First Succession War, p. 33: "Those Left Behind (Continued)"
  3. ↑ Handbook: House Liao, p. 29: "Ilsa Liao and Chesterton - A Gamble"
  4. ↑ First Succession War, p. 93: "Far Enough: The Confederation-Suns Front"
  5. ↑ House Liao (The Capellan Confederation), p. 47: "A Proffered Hand" - Units fighting for Chesterton are named and its results.
  6. ↑ House Davion (The Federated Suns), p. 142: "Fifth Crucis Lancers: The Remagen Lancers" unit description
  7. ↑ NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 1, p. 11
  8. ↑ NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 2, p. 38
  9. ↑ NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 2, p. 38: "Fifth Wave"
  10. ↑ NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 2, p. 54
  11. ↑ NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 2, p. 54: "Sakhalin"
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 12.5 12.6 12.7 Field Manual: Federated Suns, p. 71: "5th Crucis Lancers Unit Profile"
  13. ↑ The Dragon Roars, pp. 10–13
  14. ↑ FedCom Civil War, p. 31
  15. ↑ FedCom Civil War, p. 54
  16. ↑ FedCom Civil War, pp. 80–81
  17. ↑ FedCom Civil War, pp. 124–125
  18. ↑ FedCom Civil War, p. 140
  19. ↑ FedCom Civil War, p. 155
  20. ↑ FedCom Civil War, p. 172
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 21.4 21.5 Field Manual: Updates, p. 138: "AFFS Deployment Table - 3067"
  22. ↑ Jihad Secrets: The Blake Documents, p. 17
  23. ↑ Jihad Hot Spots: 3070, p. 25
  24. ↑ Jihad Hot Spots: Terra, p. 36: "Tragedy On Demeter"
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 Jihad Hot Spots: Terra, p. 37: "The Tale Of Towne"
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 Jihad Hot Spots: Terra, pp. 39–40: "Ingress, Fletcher Fall"
  27. ↑ Jihad Hot Spots: Terra, p. 40
  28. ↑ Jihad Hot Spots: Terra, p. 96
  29. ↑ Jihad Hot Spots: Terra, p. 105: "Rio Goes Dark"
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 Field Report: AFFS, p. 11
  31. ↑ Technical Readout: 3145 Capellan Confederation, p. 40
  32. ↑ Field Manual: 3145, p. 76
  33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 33.2 33.3 33.4 33.5 Field Manual: 3145, p. 90: "Armed Forces of the Federated Suns"
  34. ↑ Shattered Fortress, p. 23
  35. ↑ Shattered Fortress, p. 32
  36. ↑ Shattered Fortress, p. 40
  37. ↑ Shattered Fortress, p. 41
  38. ↑ Shattered Fortress, pp. 55–56
  39. ↑ 39.0 39.1 39.2 39.3 House Davion (The Federated Suns), p. 137 (PDF edition): "Kathil PDZ"
  40. ↑ 20 Year Update, p. 24: "AFFC Deployment Table - 3050"
  41. ↑ 41.0 41.1 41.2 41.3 Objective Raids, p. 17: "AFFC Deployment Table - 3054"
  42. ↑ 42.0 42.1 42.2 42.3 42.4 Field Manual: 3085, p. 70: "AFFS Deployment Table - 3085"
  43. ↑ Force Manual: Davion, p. 114: "RFL-3N Rifleman"
  44. ↑ Technical Readout: 3025, p. 86
  45. ↑ Force Manual: Davion, p. 37: "Fifth Crucis Lancers RCT"
  46. ↑ Recognition Guide: ilClan, vol. 2, p. 13: "Bushwacker"
  47. ↑ Technical Readout: 3150, p. 68: "Sortek Assault Craft"
  48. ↑ 48.0 48.1 48.2 48.3 First Succession War, p. 134: "Armed Forces of the Federated Suns (AFFS)"
  49. ↑ 49.0 49.1 49.2 49.3 Second Succession War, p. 94: "Armed Forces of the Federated Suns (AFFS)"
  50. ↑ 50.0 50.1 Historical: War of 3039, p. 136
  51. ↑ 51.0 51.1 51.2 20 Year Update, p. 24
  52. ↑ 52.0 52.1 Field Report: AFFS, p. 11

Bibliography[edit]

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