11th Mechanized Cavalry (Clan Hell's Horses)

Mechanized Cavalry 11th (Clan Hell's Horses).png
Eleventh Mechanized Cavalry Cluster
Nickname "Blackhorse Cluster"
Affiliation Clan Hell's Horses
Parent Command Alpha Galaxy

Unit Brief[edit]

The Eleventh Mechanized Cavalry Cluster was a combined arms military formation of Clan Hell's Horses. The unit is one of the Horses' more successful combat forces.

Unit Insignia[edit]

The Cavalry's insignia matches Alpha Galaxy's horse crest but in the color black. Furthermore, the Cluster's insignia shares similarities to the crest that once used by the SLDF's 11th Mechanized Infantry Division.[1]

History[edit]

Golden Century Era[edit]

Trials for Battle Armor Technology[edit]

The 11th Mechanized Cavalry was assigned to fight set of Trials of Possession against Clan Wolf forces on Tiber in 2886. The Cavalry fought for rights for newly developed Battle Armor technology which was soon developed by Wolves. Their actions paved the way for modern Elemental Battle Armor be introduced to the Clans.[2]

Assault on Kindraa Smythe-Jewel[edit]

In 2872, the 11th Mechanized became part of an inter-Clan task force with Clan Coyote to destroy Clan Fire Mandrill's dishonorable Kindraa Smythe-Jewel in 2872. The Cavalry was deployed with the 666th Assault Cluster to hit the Kindraa's enclaves on Foster. Initially the unit's aerospace fighters and DropShips joined other allied Clan forces, and engaged and dispatched the Kindraa's naval assets.

On the ground the Cluster along with other Clan Hell's Horses and Coyotes units engaged Smythe-Jewel's forces in a 26 hour battle. The 11th Cavalry, and its sister forces, used its vehicles and BattleMechs speed advantage and was able to position themselves to strike into the Kindraa's exposed flank. They engaged and fought the renegade Mandrills in battle, giving no quarter.

The 11th Cavalry's actions in the destruction against the Kindraa helped yield the Clan's first examples of OmniMechs which allowed the Horses to develop versions these 'Mechs.[3]

The Eleventh represented the Hell's Horses in the Trials prior to Operation REVIVAL. They were defeated by both Clan Ghost Bear and Clan Diamond Shark.[4]

In 3067 the 11th is stationed on Niles.[5]

Jihad[edit]

The Eleventh Cavalry served with distinction in the Free Worlds League under Alys Rousset-Marik's command.[6] They invaded Hsien along with the 12th Atrean Dragoons, 7th Donegal Guards, and the Devil's Brigade. On Hsien they faced not only the Hsien Protectorate Militia and the Hsien Hotheads, but also the CCAF's 4th McCarron's Armored Cavalry and 4th Tau Ceti Rangers. Though they were able to coordinate their efforts against the Blakist troops, the Horses never got along with the CCAF troops.[7]

During the liberation of Terra the Eleventh landed on Mars alongside the 7th Donegal Guards, Stone's Liberators, and the Alpha Galaxies of Clan Nova Cat and Clan Wolf-in-Exile.[8] They were present for the surrender of Mars to General Andrew Redburn.[9] After the liberation of Terra the Eleventh was slightly under half-strength.[10]

Dark Age[edit]

After returning to the Hell's Horses Occupation Zone the Eleventh was stationed on Csesztreg in 3085. At this point the Cluster had been brought to over half-strength and 84% of the unit was equipped with OmniMechs.[11]

By 3145 the Eleventh had been transferred to Chateau and stood at four-fifths strength with just under half of its command equipped with Omnis.[12]

Officers[edit]

Rank Name Command
Commanding Officers of the 11th Mechanized Cavalry
Star Colonel James Cobb Operation REVIVAL - 3059[1][13]
Star Colonel John Lassenerra 3067[5]
Star Colonel Yusuf Ben-Shimon 3085[11]
Star Colonel Susannah Hawker 3145[12] - at least 3150[14]

Tactics[edit]

The Eleventh was a strong believer in combined arms tactics. Often they were deployed so that OmniMechs, Elementals, and combat vehicles made up a third of their deployment.[13]

Composition History[edit]

3059[edit]

11th Mechanized Cavalry (5 Trinaries/Elite/Fanatical)[1]

  • CO: Star Colonel James Cobb

3067[edit]

11th Mechanized Cavalry (Elite/Reliable)[5]

  • CO: Star Colonel John Lassenerra

3079[edit]

11th Mechanized Cavalry (Elite/Reliable)[10]

3085[edit]

11th Mechanized Cavalry (Elite/Reliable)[11]

  • CO: Star Colonel Yusuf Ben-Shimon

3145[edit]

11th Mechanized Cavalry (Veteran/Reliable)[12]

  • CO: Star Colonel Susannah Hawker

3150[edit]

11th Mechanized Cavalry[14]

Notes[edit]

Game Notes[edit]

When using scenario special rules or Force Specific Rules, the 11th Mechanized gain's its parent Galaxy's Overrun Combat ability. The 11th's unique rule entails the following; when rolling up 11th Mechanized units, the controlling player must subtract 2 from the die roll results when using the random Star and Binary/Trinary weight classes. Warriors of the Cluster receive a have −1 penalty for target movement. When using MW3 RPG rules, player characters who are part of the unit receive a −1 modifier to social skill rolls due to their Cluster's status being a highly honor posting among the Clans.[15]

During the REVIVAL Trials, the Eleventh reduces the target movement modifier by 1. To represent combined arms nature of the force, OmniMechs, combat vehicles, and Elementals each form one third of the force.[13]

References[edit]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Field Manual: Crusader Clans, p. 65 - 11th Mechanized Cavalry Cluster - unit insignia reimagining of old SLDF 11th Mechanized's emblem.
  2. Field Manual: Crusader Clans, p. 54 Golden Century - the 11th Mechanized takes part of in technology-exchange trials that led to formulation of the modern Clan Elemental Battle Armor squads.
  3. Field Manual: Crusader Clans, pp. 54–56: Hell's Fury - 11th Mechanized's takes part of the destruction of dishonorable Fire Mandrill Kindraa and helps horses gain access to OmniMech technology.
  4. Operational Turning Points: REVIVAL Trials, p. 15
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 Field Manual: Updates, p. 71: "Crusader Clans Deployment Table"
  6. Jihad Hot Spots: Terra, p. 45
  7. Jihad Hot Spots: Terra, p. 78
  8. Jihad Hot Spots: Terra, p. 96
  9. Jihad Hot Spots: Terra, p. 134
  10. 10.0 10.1 Field Report: Clans, p. 13
  11. 11.0 11.1 11.2 Field Manual: 3085, p. 124
  12. 12.0 12.1 12.2 Field Manual: 3145, p. 167
  13. 13.0 13.1 13.2 Operational Turning Points: REVIVAL Trials, p. 20
  14. 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 Tamar Rising, p. 41
  15. Field Manual: Crusader Clans, p. 175 Alpha Galaxy / 11th Mechanized - Clusters benefits in combat and in roleplaying games.

Bibliography[edit]