Juggernaut (Free Worlds League)

Thejuggernaut.jpg
Juggernaut
Formed 2509
Affiliation Free Worlds League
Parent Command Stewart Dragoons


History[edit]

Formation[edit]

Juggernaut was raised in 2509, more than two hundred years after the Stewart Commonality had been forcibly incorporated into the nascent Free Worlds League, and Juggernaut became the primary assault force of the Stewart Dragoons. It was almost twenty years before Juggernaut fought its first major battle, helping to repulse Capellan Chancellor Kalvin Liao's invasion of the Duchy of Andurien in 2528. The invasion was a three-year war that turned much of the space between the Magistracy of Canopus and the Duchy of Oriente into a war zone, with lines of battle shifting constantly. Despite frequently being heavily outnumbered Juggernaut proved capable of holding its own and winning a surprising number of engagements against the CCAF. It was this war that came to typify the Juggernaut's performance and achievements, tenaciously pulling victory from the jaws of defeat by making the best use of dwindling resources.[1]

Reunification War[edit]

The Juggernaut regiment was the only regiment from the Stewart Dragoons to fight during the Reunification War; they formed a part of the 1st Marik Auxiliary Corps commanded by General Ian Marik as a part of the SLDF Task Force Canopus. Juggernaut fought on seven different worlds across the Magistracy, often fighting alongside the 2nd Oriente Hussars, and began the war stationed next to the Hussars on Granera.[2][3][4]

Umka[edit]

The invasion of Umka by the VII Corps 56th Brigade was the second combat action of the war against the Magistracy and began in August 2577. The 56th Brigade were assigned both Juggernaut and the 3rd Regulan Hussars as auxiliaries, with the 63rd Royal Brigade providing support. Despite outnumbering the defending garrison by a considerable margin, the strike force was forced to fight a three-month campaign as the defenders refused to surrender. The bulk of the defending force consisted of two battalions of troops from the 1st Canopian Light Horse, but even when these two battalions had been forced off-world the local irregulars continued to fight. The 56th held the main industrial complexes and settlements on Umka easily, but as Umka was a water-rich world where the bulk of the landmasses were island chains the local garrison simply switched to guerrilla warfare, relocating rapidly from and around islands and archipelagos and forcing the Task Force troops to winkle out numerous small camps and groups across the world.[3][5]

Payvand[edit]

In 2578 Juggernaut was assigned to the operation against Payvand. One of three former Free Worlds League worlds which had defected to the Magistracy in the 2550s, Payvand was a heavily industrialized world even at the time of the Reunification War, and when the SLDF task force invaded in July there was a significant level of resistance despite the lack of Magistracy Armed Forces units on the world. Although four regiments from the FWLM had been assigned to the invasion of Payvand - the 2nd Oriente Hussars, the 4th and 5th Marik Militia and Juggernaut, the Marik forces didn't get to make a major contribution. All four were 'Mech formations, assigned alongside the 35th Royal CAAN Marine Regiment to support the VII Corps' 57th Brigade, and the level of resistance was such that the 57th was forced to occupy both the city of New Barcelona and the PayMax Industrialplex, one of the very few occasions in the Magistracy campaign where the terms of the Ares Conventions were breached. Despite the need to operate in urban areas because of the local resistance, the Captain-General ordered that 'Mech troops must not operate in urban areas on Payvand, leaving the 57th Brigade's infantry regiments to clear buildings, stage riot control operations and deal with the urban guerrilla resistance. Although Payvand was declared to have been pacified by late November 2578 and the planetary governor had already begun the process of requesting readmission to the Free Worlds League, resistance to the SLDF garrison would rumble on until 2580.[6]

Gallis[edit]

The MAF had managed to surprise and outfox the SLDF task force several times in the opening years of the war, and as a result the SLDF timetable slowed as Captain-General Marion Marik built up her forces for the next major invasions. In addition to refitting and rearming VII Corps and the FWLM regiments acting in support, Marik targeted two worlds each year for invasion, consolidating gains as part of a slow encirclement of the Magistracy capital world of Canopus IV. The Hussars were involved in one of these four campaigns; in January 2580, the SLDF 59th Brigade landed on Gallis alongside Juggernaut and the 2nd Oriente Hussars, clashing with the 3rd Canopian Light Horse and Buquoy's Bandits. The Bandits were the personal command of the MAF commander, Colonel Adam Buquoy, and in what would be the standard pattern of warfare for the MAF when defending worlds during 2580-2581, the two Canopian regiments did their best to sting the invading regiments before retreating ahead of any effective retaliation, saving their strength for later battles.[3][7][8]

Lindenmarle[edit]

In 2582 the SLDF began to pick up the pace of the war, adopting MAF tactics and launching a series of raids as well as a new wave of planetary invasions. The world of Lindenmarle was guarded by two of the elite Chasseurs á Cheval regiments, the 1st and 2nd Canopian Light Horse; the task force deployed the 56th Brigade, Juggernaut and the Hussars to take control of the world in July, and while the Light Horse regiments weren't destroyed they were forced to retreat, conceding the planet to the SLDF. The campaign on Lindenmarle was the last campaign of the war that Juggernaut fought alongside the Hussars.[3][9][7]

Tarol IV[edit]

The last campaign of the war that Juggernaut would fight alongside the 56th Brigade, the invasion of Tarol IV in 2584was almost anticlimactic compared the intense fighting that the 56th had seen on Marantha earlier in the year. Juggernaut landed on Tarol IV late in the year alongside the 56th Brigade but found that the world was defended by militia forces without support from any of the surviving MAF line regiments, and took the world quickly after just token resistance from the defenders.[4][7][10]

Palladix[edit]

Palladix was Juggernaut's final campaign of the war, and one of only two planetary conquests undertaken by VII Corps in 2586. Two Chasseurs á Cheval regiments were on Palladix when Juggernaut landed alongside the 55th Brigade; the 4th Canopian Light Horse had retreated to Palladix after the fall of Candiear the year before, and had been joined by the 1st Canopian Light Horse. The two Canopian regiments represented a third of the surviving MAF line forces by this point of the war, and Palladix represented a last stand for both regiments; rather than retreat any further, the two Light Horse regiments fought tenaciously and bitterly until they'd been defeated - and in the case of the 4th, effectively destroyed as a fighting formation.[10]

Anton's Revolt[edit]

The unit developed a fierce reputation for winning numerous engagements against superior odds, a reputation that stuck with the regiment throughout the Marik Civil War and beyond; siding with Captain-General Janos Marik, Juggernaut began the civil war by being attacked rebel troops on Asellus Borealis.[11] Despite heavy casualties Juggernaut held out, denying the world to the rebel forces long enough for more Loyalist troops to arrive and secure the world in Janos' name. The Captain-General acknowledged Juggernaut's efforts by not only awarding numerous decorations to the unit but also by ensuring that Juggernaut's reconstruction was funded. In 3016, with the Civil War over Janos Marik used Juggernaut to intimidate the Magistracy, deploying Juggernaut to Payvand - a world Juggernaut had helped bring back into the League fold in the Reunification War - where the fearsome reputation the regiment had earned persuaded the Canopians that military adventurism into the League wasn't a good idea.[1]

Andurien Secession[edit]

Juggernaut spent 3034 on Vakarel and 3035 on Granera.[12]

Operation Bulldog[edit]

While Juggernaut didn't take part in Operation BULLDOG, the regiment was far from idle. Newly equipped with updated equipment including a number of new BattleMech designs, Juggernaut was given the opportunity to engage in some hands-on training by deploying to the Periphery world of Astrokaszy. Raiders from the Idrisid Caliphate had been attacking League worlds on the border; Juggernaut demonstrated the League's displeasure by deploying a battalion of forces with their new equipment, inflicting serious damage on the Caliphate's military for little or no loss in return. Although Juggernaut hadn't faced a regular military unit since the Civil War, the battle on Astrokaszy demonstrated that Juggernaut had ably translated its ability to lead assault operations into an ability to conduct shock raids that are devastating for the less well-trained and equipped Periphery pirates to face.[1]

The unit was stationed on Payvand in 3067.[13]

Jihad[edit]

During the assault on Terra Juggernaut teamed with the 30th Marik Militia and 6th Benjamin Regulars to assault Babylon.[14] They later moved to support the assault on Cairo, where they were wiped out by chemical weapons.[15]

Officers[edit]

Rank Name Command
Commanding Officers of Juggernaut
Colonel Inga Bjornnson 3025[16]
Colonel Leonard Stewart 3050 - 3059[17][1]
Colonel Kelly Stewart 3061[18]

Tactics[edit]

The command used an aggressive fighting style. They would begin a series of company-sized assaults against their opponents. After several waves of attacks, few enemy units are operational.[1] They continued to use the high-speed heavy firepower shock tactics in 3067.[18]

Composition History[edit]

2765[edit]

Juggernaut (Regiment/Regular/Reliable)[19]

- At this point in time the Juggernaut were stationed on Helm.[19]

2786–2821[edit]

Juggernaut (Regiment/Regular/Reliable)[20]

Note: At this point in time the assault-weight unit was stationed on Helm. In 2821 the command was reduced to 34 of its strength and was deployed at Myrvoll.[20]

2830[edit]

Juggernaut (Regiment/Regular/Reliable)[21]

Note: At this point in time the heavy-weight unit was stationed on Myrvoll with an operational readiness of 63 percent.[21]

2864[edit]

Juggernaut (Regiment/Regular/Reliable)[21]

Note: At this point in time the heavy-weight unit was stationed on Adhafera with an operational readiness of 53 percent.[21]

3025[edit]

Juggernaut (Regular/Reliable)[16]

  • CO: Colonel Inga Bjornnson

3028[edit]

Juggernaut (Regiment/Regular/Reliable)[22]

Note: At this point in time the command was stationed on Payvand.[22]

3050[edit]

Juggernaut (Regiment/Regular/Reliable)[17]

Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on Payvand.[17]

3059[edit]

Juggernaut (1 Regiment/Regular/Reliable)[1]

Yamada's Sharks (1 reinforced Wing/Veteran/Reliable)[1]

Payvand Hoplites (1 Regiment/Veteran/Reliable)[1]

26th Regulan Mechanized Infantry (1 Regiment/Green/Questionable)[1]

References[edit]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Field Manual: Free Worlds League, p. 100: "Juggernaut (FWL) Unit Profile"
  2. Historical: Reunification War, p. 95: "SLDF Task Force Canopus"
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Historical: Reunification War, p. 148: "Magistracy of Canopus Front (Jump-Off - 2582)"
  4. 4.0 4.1 Historical: Reunification War, p. 149: "Magistracy of Canopus Front (2583-2588)"
  5. Historical: Reunification War, p. 97: "Umka (August-October 2577)"
  6. Historical: Reunification War, p. 100: "Ruschegg, Payvand and Scheuerheck (July-December 2578)"
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 Historical: Reunification War, p. 150: "Magistracy of Canopus Front (Jump-Off-2582)"
  8. Historical: Reunification War, p. 101: "Gallis, Aspropirgos, Fanardir and Borgan's Rift (January 2580-October 2581)"
  9. Historical: Reunification War, p. 101: "Reversals (2582-2583)"
  10. 10.0 10.1 Historical: Reunification War, p. 105: "Mopping Up (2584-2588)"
  11. Historical: Brush Wars, p. 24
  12. Historical: Brush Wars, p. 86
  13. Field Manual: Updates, p. 162
  14. Jihad Hot Spots: Terra, p. 96
  15. Field Report: FWLM, p. 13
  16. 16.0 16.1 House Marik (The Free Worlds League), p. 109: "FWL Deployment Table"
  17. 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 20 Year Update, p. 57: "FWLM Deployment Table"
  18. 18.0 18.1 Field Manual: Updates, p. 156
  19. 19.0 19.1 Field Report 2765: FWLM, p. 18: "Regimental Status"
  20. 20.0 20.1 First Succession War, p. 138
  21. 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 Second Succession War, p. 98
  22. 22.0 22.1 Historical: Brush Wars, p. 86

Bibliography[edit]