71st Light Horse Regiment

Insignia of the Eridani Light Horse
71st Light Horse Regiment
Nickname White Horse Regiment
Affiliation Mercenary
Star League
Parent Command Eridani Light Horse
Third Regimental Combat Team


The Seventy-first Light Horse Regiment was a part of the original Star League Defense Force. In modern times the unit is part of the famed Eridani Light Horse Mercenary unit.

History[edit]

In 2764, the unit was assigned, as a part of the Third Regimental Combat Team, XI Corps, Sixteenth Army, to District 3 of the Draconis Combine Military Region, and then transferred to an undisclosed district within the Periphery by 2765.[1][2] The Seventy-first survived the Periphery Uprising and the Hegemony Campaign.[1]

War of 3039[edit]

In the War of 3039 the Seventy-first Light Horse was mistakenly left behind on Fellanin II. They faced the Second Arkab Legion and the remnants of the Fourth Proserpina Hussars.[3]

The Clan Invasion[edit]

The AFFC High Command posted the Seventy-first to Kikuyu, directly in the Clan Jade Falcon invasion corridor. The Falcons attacked the world with two Clusters in July 3053, destroying the Seventy-first Light Horse. The 151st and 21st Regiments set about rebuilding their sister unit once again. The rebuilding process ended in 3055, and the newly reactivated Seventy-first Light Horse Regiment repulsed every subsequent Jade Falcon attack. After facing the Clans for three years, the Seventy-first's experience was put to good use as part of the coalition force that liberated Coventry from the Jade Falcons in 3058.[4]

Trials of Possession[edit]

At the outbreak of the Jihad, the Seventy-first Light Horse Regiment had taken station at Huntress, being cut off and alone in the Clan Homeworlds, and faced Trials of Possession from many Clans. One of the Trials that Colonel Sandra Barclay received was a challenge from the Clan Goliath Scorpion commander on Huntress for the Lootera complex and all the troops stationed there. Unlike the previous trials the Seventy-first fought, this time they were defeated.[5] The majority of the survivors were taken as abtakha and formed the basis of two new light clusters along with a scattering of Clan Seekers. The remaining personnel of the Seventy-first, primarily the command staff and most talented MechWarriors, were scattered throughout Clan Goliath Scorpion primarily, with a few taken as isorla by other Clans.[6] By the eve of the Hanseatic Crusade in 3141, the Seventy-first Scorpion Uhlans Cluster within Tau Galaxy would be the home of the surviving descendants of the absorbed Eridani Light Horse personnel after the Wars of Reaving and the Clan's Abjuration.[7]

Dark Age Era[edit]

A group of veterans and trainees left behind in Federated Suns space, led by Colonel Richard Donovan, began rebuilding the unit, recreating the Eleventh Recon Battalion. Dubbed the Strays due to the lack of financial support, their rebuilding was slow, but by 3151, now led by Colonel Amelia Donovan, they had reached battalion size and were highly professional and elite.[8]

IlClan Era[edit]

On 3151, the Eleventh Recon Battalion, then stationed on Mirach and led by Colonel Amelia Donovan and became a became the heart of a reunified Eridani Light Horse.[9]

Officers[edit]

Rank Name Command
Commanding Officers of the 71st Light Horse Regiment
Colonel Jessica Coolidge 2999[10]
Colonel William Erik Peterson 3012 - 3039[11]
Colonel Sandra Barclay 3058 - 3068[12][6]

Other Unit Officers[edit]

Tactics[edit]

Unknown.

Composition History[edit]

2771[edit]

71st Light Horse Regiment (White Horse Regiment)

As an SLDF Light Horse regiment the Seventy-first would have been composed of light to medium vehicles backed up by at least two Recon companies composed of 'Mechs designed for information gathering in addition to any regular 'Mechs within the regiment.[15]

2786[edit]

71st Light Horse Regiment (Regiment/Regular/Reliable)[16]

During the Beginning of the First Succession War the unit was at 100% strength. The medium-weight unit was stationed on Trondheim, under contract to the DCMS.[16]

2830[edit]

71st Light Horse (Regiment/Regular/Reliable) [17]

Note: At this point in time the medium-weight unit was stationed on Rochers with an operational readiness of 109 percent. [17]

2864[edit]

71st Light Horse (Regiment/Regular/Reliable) [17]

Note: At this point in time the heavy-weight unit was stationed on Tamarind with an operational readiness of 45 percent. [17]

3025[edit]

71st Light Horse Regiment (White Horse Regiment) (Regiment/Veteran/Reliable) [18]

  • CO/Regimental Command Company: Colonel William Erik Petersen[11][19]
Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on Colchester. [18]
Regiment TO&E
HQ Company (Petersen's Own)[19][20]
11th Recon Battalion (Alley Cats)[19][21][20]
3rd Recon Company (Slashers)
10th Recon Company (Wagner's Company)
11th Recon Company (Macomber's Unicorns)
17th Recon Battalion (Screaming Eagles)[22][20]
14th Recon Company
16th Recon Company (Haynes' Chargers)
  • CO/Company Command Lance: Captain Chris Haynes
  • Command Lance: 2 Wolverines, Clint, Vulcan,
  • Strike Lance: Spider, Firestarter, Griffin, Wasp, 2 Galleons
  • Air Lance: 2 Corsairs
  • Recon Lance: Swiftwind, Locust, Packrat, Jump Infantry Squad (Rifle)
101st Air Cavalry (McCauley's High Flyers)
82nd Heavy Cavalry Battalion (Kerensky's Favorite)[23][20]
41st Support Company (Ass Extractors)
81st Tank Company (Weldman's Wildmen)
12th Motorized Infantry Company (Kingpins)
  • CO: Captain Mison Templer
  • Alpha Platoon: 4 Motorized Infantry squads (Laser)
  • Bravo Platoon: 4 Motorized Infantry squads (Laser)
  • Charlie Platoon: 4 Motorized Infantry squads (Laser)
  • Delta Platoon: 4 Motorized Infantry squads (Laser)
4th Heavy Assault Company (Oliphant's Elephants)
  • CO/Company Command Lance: Captain Greg Oliphant
  • Command Lance: Banshee, Stalker, Warhammer, Awesome
  • Strike Lance: Marauder, 2 Archers, Grasshopper
  • Recon Lance: Thunderbolt, Warhammer, Dervish, Phoenix Hawk
  • Air Lance: 2 Sholagars
6th Heavy Assault Company (Reinbold's Rainbows)
  • CO/Company Command Lance: Captain Susan Reinbold
  • Command Lance: Cyclops, 2 Orions, Crusader
  • Strike Lance: Catapult, Awesome, Warhammer, Archer
  • Recon Lance: Wolverine, Marauder, Griffin, Enforcer
  • Air Lance: 2 Eagles
Note: at this point in time, the unit was stationed on Colchester.[20]

3040[edit]

71st Light Horse Regiment (Regiment/Veteran/Reliable)[24]

Note: At this point in time the command was stationed on Saiph.[24]

3050[edit]

71st Light Horse (Regiment/Veteran/Reliable) [25]

  • CO: Colonel Cleveland Alfieri [25]
Note: At this point in time the command was stationed on Saiph. [25]

3060[edit]

71st Light Horse Regiment (White Horse Regiment) (Reinforced Regiment/Regular)[26][27]

  • Command Lance[27]
  • Security Lance[27]
  • Artillery Lance[27]
  • 1st Motorized Infantry Platoon[27]
  • 2nd Motorized Infantry Platoon[27]
11th Recon Battalion[26][27]
3rd Recon Company[27]
10th Recon Company[27]
11th Recon Company[32]
17th Recon Battalion[26][32]
14th Recon Company[33][32]
16th Recon Company[32]
101st Air Cavalry[32]
82nd Heavy Cavalry Battalion[26][32]
81st Tank Company[32]
12th Motorized Infantry Company (Kingpins)[34][32]
1st Wing[35]
Note: The 82nd Heavy Cavalry Battalion's 41st Support, 4th Heavy Assault, and 6th Heavy Assault Companies did not take part in Operation SERPENT because they were still rebuilding on Dieron.[36]

3062[edit]

71st Light Horse Regiment (White Horse Regiment) (Understrength Regiment/Regular/Reliable)[37]

  • 11th Recon Battalion[37]
  • 82nd Heavy Cavalry Battalion[37]
  • 17th Recon Battalion[37]
Note: At this point in time the command was stationed on Dieron.[38]

3067[edit]

71st Light Horse Regiment (White Horse Regiment) (Regiment/Veteran/Reliable)[39]

  • CO: Colonel Sandra Barclay[39]
Note: At this point in time the command was stationed on Huntress.[39]

3151[edit]

11th Recon Battalion (Battalion) - two companies of BattleMechs and an armor company with full support.[8]

  • CO: Colonel Amelia Donovan.[8]

Gallery[edit]

References[edit]

  1. 1.0 1.1 The Star League, p. 149, "Sixteenth Army"
  2. Field Manual: SLDF, p. 190
  3. Technical Readout: 3039, p. 295
  4. Field Manual: ComStar, p. 88
  5. Blake Ascending, p. 288
  6. 6.0 6.1 Wars of Reaving, p. 191-192, "Ariel Suvorov"
  7. Operational Turning Points: Hanseatic Crusade, pp. 20–22: Combatants
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 Shrapnel, Issue #1, pp. 123–126: Unit Digest: Eridani Light Horse 11th Recon Battalion
  9. Strong as Steel, No Greater Honor p. 297-298
  10. The Hand that Feeds
  11. 11.0 11.1 Mercenary's Handbook p.72
  12. Sword and Fire, p. 59, "Mentioned Barcley as being commander of 71st and having TDS"
  13. 13.0 13.1 The Battle of Coventry, p. 53
  14. 14.0 14.1 14.2 The Battle of Coventry, p. 55
  15. The Star League, p. 133
  16. 16.0 16.1 Field Manual: SLDF, p. 138
  17. 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 Second Succession War, p. 98
  18. 18.0 18.1 House Davion (The Federated Suns), p. 136, "Federated Suns Deployment Table"
  19. 19.0 19.1 19.2 Mercenary's Handbook, p. 74: "Personnel Roster"
  20. 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 20.4 House Davion (The Federated Suns), p. 138
  21. Mercenary's Handbook, pp. 74–75: "Personnel Roster"
  22. Mercenary's Handbook, pp. 75–76: "Personnel Roster"
  23. Mercenary's Handbook, pp. 76–77: "Personnel Roster"
  24. 24.0 24.1 Historical: War of 3039, p. 140
  25. 25.0 25.1 25.2 20 Year Update, p. 24
  26. 26.0 26.1 26.2 26.3 Twilight of the Clans, p. 44: "Conquest of Huntress: Attacker" sidebar
  27. 27.00 27.01 27.02 27.03 27.04 27.05 27.06 27.07 27.08 27.09 27.10 27.11 27.12 27.13 27.14 27.15 27.16 27.17 Twilight of the Clans, p. 53: "BattleForce Roster List: Eridani Light Horse"
  28. The Hunters, ch. 3
  29. The Hunters, ch. 14
  30. Shadows of War, ch. 18
  31. The Hunters, ch. 11
  32. 32.00 32.01 32.02 32.03 32.04 32.05 32.06 32.07 32.08 32.09 32.10 32.11 32.12 32.13 32.14 32.15 32.16 32.17 32.18 32.19 32.20 32.21 32.22 32.23 32.24 32.25 32.26 32.27 32.28 32.29 32.30 32.31 Twilight of the Clans, p. 54: "BattleForce Roster List: Eridani Light Horse"
  33. 33.0 33.1 33.2 33.3 33.4 Twilight of the Clans, p. 22: "Scenario 3: Strike at the Heart"
  34. 34.0 34.1 The Hunters, ch. 10
  35. Twilight of the Clans, p. 45: "Conquest of Huntress: Attacker" sidebar
  36. No Dust, No Wear
  37. 37.0 37.1 37.2 37.3 37.4 37.5 37.6 37.7 37.8 Field Manual: ComStar, p. 93: "71st Light Horse Regiment"
  38. Field Manual: ComStar, p. 127: "Table of Organization and Equipment: Star League Defense Force"
  39. 39.0 39.1 39.2 Field Manual: Updates, p. 100: "Star League Defense Force Deployment Table"

Bibliography[edit]