Second Star League Defense Force

The Second Star League Defense Force was formed along with the Second Star League in late 3058 at the First Whitting Conference, to combat the threat of the Clans to the Inner Sphere. With units drawn from all across the Inner Sphere, the second SLDF achieved stunning success in destroying Clan Smoke Jaguar in Operation BULLDOG and Operation SERPENT, and in ending any continuation of the Clan Invasion in the Great Refusal. Unfortunately it also became caught up in the political fighting between the varous member states of the new Star League, ending up at different times on both sides of the Capellan-St. Ives War. Though its intentions were noble, the second SLDF did not survive long, being dissolved along with the Star League at the Fourth Whitting Conference in December 3067.

Structure[edit]

The commander-in-chief of the SLDF was the Commanding General, who was answerable to the First Lord and the Council of Lords. The goal was for the Commanding General to be chosen from among the SLDF's own officer corps, though this was not expected until 3070, requiring that they be chosen from among the member state's own militaries. The Commanding General was assisted by an advisory staff based on Tukayyid, with each member state contributing one adviser subject to the Commanding General's or First Lord's approval. The regard these postings were given varied greatly, with Katherine Steiner-Davion famously using the post as a way to isolate political enemies Ardan Sortek and Caesar Steiner while the Free Rasalhague Republic dispatched General Margrethe Minuit, one of Christian Mansdottir's closest allies.

Headed by a Chief of Staff, who was a full-time SLDF officer, the staff provided both tactical and strategic insight and acted as liaisons with their parent military organizations. When the SLDF was fully matured it was expected for the Commanding General and their staff to issue orders to theater commanders, to be passed on to the relevant army commanders, though in practice the Commanding General simply issued ordered directly to regimental or task force commanders personally.[1]

Organization[edit]

Though the ultimate goal of the Second Star League was to create a wholly independent SLDF, due to the small number of so called "core" units, the organization relied heavily upon preexisting units from each member state. The First Lord or Commanding General could request either a general number of troops or a specific military unit, with the member state free to reject such requests. Such units were donated for fixed periods of service, generally six to nine months but longer with member state approval. Allied units were answerable to the Commanding General and the Star League Articles of War during their period, though they could lodge a complaint if they believed they were being mistreated. Allied units could also be summarily dismissed from service by the Commanding General on their own authority, though the member state could protest such dismissal if they believed it put the unit's welfare in jeopardy.[1]

Second SLDF Roster[edit]

Eridani Light Horse
Eridani Light Horse logo 3062.jpg
As a surviving remnant of first SLDF renowned for maintaining the traditions and history of the original, one of their first acts of the Second Star League was to offer the Eridani Light Horse mercenary unit a place in the new SLDF. The ELH accepted, and made its headquarters in Fort Dieron. In addition, the commanding officer of the ELH was promoted from Brevet General to Lieutenant General.[2]
Royal Black Watch
Royal Black Watch Regiment.jpg
Born of a centuries-old secret society within the Northwind Highlanders devoted to maintaining the traditions of the original Royal Black Watch Regiment destroyed in the Amaris Coup, the new Royal Black Watch again serves as the personal bodyguard of the First Lord.[3]
1st Royal BattleMech Regiment
Task Force Serpent emblem (2).jpg
The first entirely new unit commissioned by the Second SLDF, the 1st Royal BattleMech Regiment was formed by Andrew Redburn from the survivors of many of the commands that were destroyed as a part of Task Force Serpent's assault on Huntress. Most of these troops came from the 1st Kathil Uhlans.[4]
Clan Nova Cat
SLDFClanNovaCat.jpg
Pledging their allegiance to the reborn Star League, the Abjured Clan Nova Cat was still a force to be reckoned with, contributing both elite troops and the bulk of their WarShip fleet to the defense of the League. While theoretically the entire Nova Cat touman fell under the control of the SLDF, per their agreement with the Draconis Combine a full third had to be retained within the Combine's borders for the defense of the Cat's Irece Prefecture. [5]

Military Academies[edit]

The second SLDF had limited avenues to recruit and train soldiers during its lifetime. One was to acquire from existing units, whether among the Great Houses or mercenary units, though neither appreciated such "poaching" from their ranks. A more ready and willing source was from among the Dispossessed, though many would require additional training to get their skills up to par. The SLDF was also able to secure a number of reserved spots at several prominent House academies, principally NAIS, The Nagelring and the Sun Zhang MechWarrior Academy, though the number of recruits acquired this way was small. Lastly the SLDF opened up its own academy, the Focht War College, though its first recruits would not be ready to graduate until 3062.[6]

Uniforms[edit]

The second SLDF adopted wholesale the uniforms of the original Star League Defense Force, with minor variations on account of Lostech. Most MechWarriors made due with standard Cooling Vest and Neurohelmets, though thanks to ComStar they began to wear Cooling Suits. Likewise aerospace pilots did not have the same advanced neurohelmet and Exoskeleton as their ancestors, with infantry and vehicle crews likewise equipped with more limited equipment.[7] Once they had been seconded to the SLDF, allied units had the right to wear SLDF uniforms, though more often they retained their standard uniforms with the Cameron Star added on and blue armbands worn on their sleeves.[1]

Ranks[edit]

SLDF Military Rank Insignia
Ground Insignia Naval
Recruit - Spaceman Recruit
Private SLDF-Private.png Spaceman
Corporal SLDF-Corporal-1stSL.png Petty Officer
Sergeant SLDF-Sergeant-1stSL.png Chief Petty Officer
Master Sergeant SLDF-MasterSergeant-1stSL.png Master Chief Petty Officer
Warrant Officer SLDF-WarrantOfficer.png Warrant Officer
Lieutenant (JG/SG) SLDF-Lieutenant.png Lieutenant
Captain SLDF-Captain-1stSL.png Commander
Major SLDF-Major-1stSL.png Captain
Colonel SLDF-Colonel.png Commodore
Lieutenant General SLDF-LieutenantGeneral.png Rear Admiral
Major General SLDF-MajorGeneral.png Vice Admiral
General SLDF-General.png Admiral
Commanding General SLDF-CommandingGeneral.png Commanding Admiral

References[edit]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Field Manual: ComStar, pp. 75–76
  2. Field Manual: ComStar, pp. 84–89: "Eridani Light Horse"
  3. Field Manual: ComStar, pp. 97–98: "Royal Black Watch Regiment"
  4. Field Manual: ComStar, p. 101: "1st Royal BattleMech Regiment (Morgan's Lion)"
  5. Field Manual: ComStar, pp. 75–76: "The Star League Defense Force"
  6. Field Manual: ComStar, p. 78
  7. Field Manual: ComStar, p. 83

Bibliography[edit]