8th Crucis Lancers

Crucis Lancers 8th logo.png
Eighth Crucis Lancers
Formed First Succession War[1]
Nickname Islamabad Sluggers,[2] Islamabad Lancers
Affiliation Federated Suns
Parent Command Crucis Lancers

History[edit]

The homeworld of the Eighth Crucis Lancers is Mara. They've spent most of their time in the Draconis March, and have developed a deep dislike for the Draconis Combine.[3] In 3025 their homeworld was New Rhodes III.[4]

Formation[edit]

The Eighth Crucis Lancers were one of two Crucis Lancers commands to form during the First Succession War, the other being the Sixth.[1]

Interwar Period[edit]

Operation CELT[edit]

The 8th was forward deployed to Tawas in 2828 from their base on Markesan in support of Operation DAO, which intended to launch in February of 2829, but had been pushed back to April, then August and eventually cancelled.[5][6] The Ninth Tikonov Lancers conducted a disorganized landing on Tawas on June 2nd and scattered due to a combination of navigational errors and poor weather. The 8th Crucis should have been able to readily dispatch the isolated units of the 9th Tikonov, but their timid response allowed the veteran Capellan troops valuable time to recover and regain the initiative. The 9th Lancers drove the 8th Crucis back in a striking series engagements, piecemealing and mercilessly crushing Davion formations at the company level, compelling them to abandon both military bases and major population centers. The 8th's commander, Colonel Kit Dubonet, realized that his regiment would soon be completely routed and forced to abandon Tawas. Having neither nuclear weapons nor miracles on hand, he ordered the regiment's limited stockpile of chemical weapons be employed in a single strike against the Tikonov Lancers' HQ in capital city of Sandusky, dismissing the thousands of expected civilian deaths as "collateral damage". Fortunately for the citizens of Sandusky, Colonel Dubonet's strike was preempted by the death of Chancellor Ilsa Liao on Orbisonia on June 23rd, the arrival of the Twelfth Syrtis Fusiliers, and the withdrawal of the 7th Tikonov Lancers. The dimwitted Dubonet was sacked for his bungled defense and reckless planning and reassigned to the staff of the new Duke of New Syrtis, Damien Hasek, which the simpleton regarded as a promotion.[7]

Operation SUN[edit]

In November of 2829, the 8th Crucis Lancers were dispatched by order of DukeHasek to Mira to relieve the Bloody Suns mercenary regiment and conduct reprisals against the Third Chesterton Cavalry which had decimated the Bloody Suns in a chemical attack. The relief forces air-dropped a nuclear bomb on the Cavalry's command post followed by the landing of the 8th Crucis in support of the Suns, giving no quarter, utterly destroying the surviving elements of the 3rd Chesterton.[8]

Second Succession War[edit]

The 8th Crucis Lancers garrisoned the Capellan March world of Mira for the duration of the Second Succession War.[9]

Fourth Succession War[edit]

In the Fourth Succession War the 8th Crucis Lancers attacked Tikonov with the other Crucis Lancer RCTs. Unlike the other Crucis Lancer RCTs, they remained on Tikonov to garrison the world.[10] During the initial assault on Tikograd, the planetary capital, elements of the first battalion skirmished with elements of Hamilton's Highlanders that were led by Colonel Pavel Ridzik.[11]

War of 3039[edit]

In the War of 3039, the 8th Lancers attacked Biham, supported by Laurel's Legion.[12] Local companies on-world cooperated with the invading Lancers, leading to a smooth transfer of power. The 8th's CO, Marshal Charles Swaine, was a charismatic leader who left most of the existing government in place.[13] The ISF targeted the Marshal for death, thinking that his removal would lead to increased resistance. Shortly after a mortar attack on the Marshal, the 5th Ghost and 6th Ghost arrived on Biham. The Ghost regiments dispatched company sized forces to raid many targets. The 8th Lancers were unable to effectively counter these attacks because their command staff was either dead or in the hospital. In addition, the acting commander of the 8th Lancers spurned offers of support from Laurel's Legion, leading to increased friction between the AFFS units. Shortly after this the Legion disregarded the orders of the Lancer's CO and attacked the Ghost Regiments' rear areas leaving them vulnerable to the Lancers, but the Lancers failed to capitalize on this situation. The Legion had to withdraw, and the Lancers soon followed.[14]

The 8th Lancers then attacked Murchison, successfully taking the world for the nascent Federated Commonwealth.[15]

FedCom Civil War[edit]

During the Federated Suns attack into the Draconis Combine the 8th Lancers attacked Proserpina, supported by the 1st Robinson Rangers and the Robinson Battle Academy Training Battalion. They destroyed the 9th Benjamin Regulars.[16] After taking the Bulldog Enterprises production plant and assisting in humanitarian aid efforts after the complete destruction of a neighborhood, the 8th was awarded a Dragonslayer Ribbon and the Draconis March Meritorious Unit Citation.[17] The Combine sent a task force of the 1st Sword of Light and 1st Ghost regiments, commanded by Sho-sho Shin Yodama, to drive the Lancers from the world.[18] The Lancers had built several fortifications that made them nearly impossible for the DCMS forces to dislodge. Only the arrival of the 46th Dieron Regulars[19] and 12th Dieron Regulars[20] and their destruction of three of the Lancers' four armored regiments allowed the Combine forces to force the Lancers to surrender.[21] They were effectively destroyed in the Combine counterattack, and the survivors of the unit were transferred to other Crucis Lancer regiments to help them rebuild.[22]

Jihad[edit]

Dark Age[edit]

The Eighth Crucis Lancers, along with the 3rd Federated Suns Lancers and 4th Federated Suns Lancers LCTs, defended Tikonov from a CCAF assault in 3145. The Capellan forces consisted of the Death Commandos, 2nd McCarron's Armored Cavalry, Warrior House Dai Da Chi, the 8th Capellan Reserve Cavalry, and the Marshals of Tikonov.[23]

Officers[edit]

Rank Name Command
Commanding Officers of the 8th Crucis Lancers
Colonel Kit Dubonet 2828 sacked for incompetence[7]
Marshal Neale Wargo 3025[24][4]
Hauptmann General Charles Swaine 3039 - 3050[25]
Colonel Michael Tigh 3039[26]
Hauptmann General Jeremiah Marshall 3062 - 3066 at least[3][2]
Marshal Phillip Rahm 3145[27]

Other Officers[edit]

Tactics[edit]

The unit uses its complement of heavy 'Mechs and vehicles to their fullest potential. Few enemy units could stand against such odds. Even in 3025 the Eighth was known for using heavy BattleMechs, armor, and its infantry regiments were staffed by soldiers carrying the heaviest weapons they could manage.[30]

Composition History[edit]

2821[edit]

Eighth Crucis Lancers (Regiment/Green/Questionable)[1]

Note: At this point in time the Lancers were a light-weight regiment stationed on Markesan and had been reduced to just over half-strength.[1]

2830[edit]

Eighth Crucis Lancers (Regiment/Green/Questionable)[9]

Note: At this point in time the Lancers were a medium-weight regiment and had rebuilt to just over four-fifths of full strength. The Lancers were stationed on Mira.[9]

2864[edit]

Eighth Crucis Lancers (Regiment/Green/Questionable)[9]

Note: At this point in time the Lancers were a heavy-weight regiment stationed on Mira, and had been reduced to just over a battalion in strength.[9]

3025[edit]

Eighth Crucis Lancers RCT (Regiment/Regular/Reliable)[4]

  • CO: Marshal Neale Wargo [4]
Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on New Rhodes III. [4]

3040[edit]

Eighth Crucis Lancers RCT (Regiment/Regular/Reliable)[31]

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

3050[edit]

Eighth Crucis Lancers (Regiment/Regular/Reliable) [25]

Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on Mara. [25]

3062[edit]

Eighth Crucis Lancers (1 Reinforced Regiment/Regular/Reliable)[3]

Note: Four Battalions of Heavy and Assault BattleMechs
Eighth Crucis Lancers Aerospace Brigade (2 Wings)[3]
Eighth Crucis Lancers Armor Brigade (4 Regiments/Green/Unreliable)[3]
  • Twenty-second Crucis Lancers Armored Regiment - Leftenant General Penny Montgomery
  • Twenty-third Crucis Lancers Armored Regiment - Leftenant General Munish Clark
  • Twenty-fourth Crucis Lancers Armored Regiment - Leftenant General Do Sy Truscott
  • 144th Federation Cavalry Regiment - Leftenant General Reva McCreery
  • Eighth Crucis Lancers Artillery Battalion - Kommandant Cassandra Bradley
  • 1943rd F-C Artillery Battalion - Kommandant Nathan Devers
Eighth Crucis Lancers Infantry Brigade (5 Regiments/Regular/Reliable)[3]
  • Fifteenth Crucis Lancers Infantry Regiment - Leftenant General Cerise Hodges
  • Sixteenth Crucis Lancers Infantry Regiment - Kommandant Phillipe Simpson
  • Fifteenth Crucis Lancers Mechanized Infantry Regiment - Leftenant General Chui Patton
  • Sixteenth Crucis Lancers Mechanized Infantry Regiment - Leftenant General Jim Patch
  • Eighth Crucis Lancers Jump Infantry Regiment - Leftenant General Guillaume de Lattre
Note: Each conventional regiment fields its own transportation and a large number of towed weapons

3066[edit]

Note: Fourth Battalion consisted entirely of Longbows and Salamanders, and Jeremiah Marshall piloted a Devastator.[2]

References[edit]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 First Succession War, p. 134, "Armed Forces of the Federated Suns (AFFS)"
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Marsh Owl
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Field Manual: Federated Suns, p. 74, "8th Crucis Lancers Unit Profile"
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 House Davion (The Federated Suns), p. 136 (PDF version), "Federated Suns Deployment Table - 3025"
  5. ↑ Second Succession War (sourcebook), p. 23: "The Suns-Confederation Front"
  6. ↑ Second Succession War (sourcebook), p. 24: "The Suns-Confederation Front"
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Second Succession War, p. 25: "The Suns-Confederation Front"
  8. ↑ Second Succession War (sourcebook), p. 28: "The Suns-Confederation Front"
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 Second Succession War, p. 94, "Armed Forces of the Federated Suns (AFFS)"
  10. ↑ NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 1, p. 11
  11. ↑ The Fourth Succession War Scenarios Volume One, pp. 12-13
  12. ↑ Historical: War of 3039, p. 36
  13. ↑ Historical: War of 3039, p. 80
  14. ↑ Historical: War of 3039, p. 82
  15. ↑ Historical: War of 3039, pp. 99-100
  16. ↑ Field Manual: Updates, p. 106
  17. ↑ FedCom Civil War (sourcebook), pp. 47-48
  18. ↑ FedCom Civil War (sourcebook), p. 134
  19. ↑ FedCom Civil War (sourcebook), p. 150
  20. ↑ FedCom Civil War (sourcebook), p. 165
  21. ↑ FedCom Civil War (sourcebook), p. 165
  22. ↑ Field Manual: Updates, p. 128
  23. ↑ Era Report: 3145, p. 161
  24. ↑ NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 1, p. 111
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 25.3 20 Year Update, p. 19, "AFFC Deployment Table - 3050"
  26. ↑ Historical: War of 3039, pp. 80–82: "Wave Two and Counterattack - Biham"
  27. ↑ Field Manual: 3145, p. 92
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 Technical Readout: 3058 Upgrade, p. 68: "GAL-102 Galleon Light Tank - Notable Crews"
  29. ↑ Era Report: 3145, p. 5
  30. ↑ House Davion (The Federated Suns), p. 143
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 Historical: War of 3039, p.136

Bibliography[edit]

Retrieved from "https://www.sarna.net/wiki/index.php?title=8th_Crucis_Lancers&oldid=1087552"