2nd Royal Guards

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The 2nd Royal Guards were an elite military formation in service to the Lyran Commonwealth and Lyran Alliance, as well as the united Federated Commonwealth during its brief existence. Usually based on the capital of Tharkad, the 2nd Royal Guards were often assigned to the less-glamorous assignments as opposed to the First Royal Guards, such as protecting Tharkad's military industries and coordinating with planetary militia units. Although rarely seeing significant combat, the 2nd were able to maintain a high experience level through the regular rotation of veteran officers and soldiers into and out of its ranks, with the exception of top commanders. [1]

History

Historically, the 2nd Royal Guards drew its soldiers from the Federation of Skye region. Despite the political difficulties of that region, the 2nd has been regarded as fanatical as the other Royal Guard commands to the Lyran state. During and after the Federated Commonwealth era, this policy was relaxed. [2]

Star League Era

The 2nd Royal Guards were one of the many Lyran Commonwealth Armed Forces units revealed to have extensive ties to criminal cartels during Operation CATALOG, with the regiment's executive officer, his lance mates and half the unit's regimental supply officers all arrested or dishonorably cashiered. Aside from the blow to the regiment's prestige, the unit's readiness was below par thanks to the large influx of new recruits and abrupt promotions in the wake of CATALOG, additionally hampered by the LCAF's efforts to ensure the loyalty of the newcomers to Commonwealth as a whole and House Steiner ahead of Skye.[3]

As of 2765, the Second was stationed alongside the First Royal Guards on Tharkad.[3]

Third Succession War

Prior to Archon Giovanni Steiner's death in 2980, his son, Alessandro Steiner, was a battalion commander with the unit. [4]

In 3001, Katrina Steiner, Alessandro's niece, was transferred in to command the 2nd Royal Guards. She commanded the regiment for three years before she was transferred to the Strategies and Tactics Division. [5] [6]

Edward Regis, who would eventually become General of the Armies under now-Archon Katrina Steiner, once commanded the 2nd Royal Guards, during which time he was awarded the McKennsy Hammer for his leadership of the unit. [7]

The unit defeated House Davion's 3rd Ceti Hussars in a mock battle during Operation Thor in 3027.[8]

As of 3025, the 2nd Royal Guards were based on Tharkad. [9]

Fourth Succession War

The 2nd Royal Guards spent the entire Fourth Succession War protecting Tharkad, even as the 1st Royal Guards were temporarily relocated to Skye. [10]

War of 3039

The Federated Commonwealth raised the 2nd Royal Guards to Regimental Combat Team level, permanently attaching brigades of armor and infantry as well as Aerospace assets. During the War of 3039, they remained on Tharkad with the 1st Guards. [11]

Clan Invasion and Lyran Alliance

As of 3050, the 2nd Royal Guards were based on the Lyran capital of Tharkad. [12] They remained on Tharkad through 3054, though by then, their quality level had improved to veteran. [13] The unit seemed to experience no reservations in transferring their loyalty from Archon-Prince Victor Steiner-Davion to Archon Katherine Steiner-Davion and the Lyran Alliance Armed Forces.

FedCom Civil War

The Second Royal Guards saw very little action in the early stages of the FedCom Civil War, instead forming an armed camp on Tharkad along with the First Guards and the ComGuards' 66th Division.

In August 3066, when Morgan Kell and Peter Steiner-Davion arrived in-system with a pan-Lyran invasion force to stake Peter's claim to the throne, the Loyalists would be joined by the by the battle-tested 11th Arcturan Guards and the 1st Alarion Jaegers. The invaders neutralized the defenders WarShip defenses and landed their ground forces, including the First Kell Hounds, the Twentieth Arcturan Guards, the 1894th Light Horse Regiment and 21st Rim Worlds from the Blue Star Irregulars, the Golden Keshik and Fourth Wolf Guards from Clan Wolf-in-Exile. The 2nd engaged the Wolves in the Methow Valley. Despite outnumbering the Clan warriors, the 2nd pursued Khan Phelan Kell who led his warriors into Stahlwurzel Forest, where the Wolves spent a week brutally mauling the Loyalists. The 2nd fell back to Tharkad City. [14]

Both sides were reinforced before the campaign reached its conclusion. The 4th Skye Rangers, after the failure of the 3rd Skye Rebellion, joined the Allies while the 24th Lyran Guards arrived to aid the Loyalists. The 2nd was held back in Tharkad City when Nondi Steiner attempted to take the offensive against the Allies, and when the Loyalists began collapsing, Nondi attempted to hold out with the Second, engaged in street-to-street fighting in the capital city itself. Vastly outnumbered, the 2nd refused to surrender, and was effectively destroyed as a combat effective unit. Nondi Steiner herself was killed on 2 April, 3067.[14][15]

Archon Peter refused to disband either Royal Guard commands, instead beginning a crash rebuilding program. Despite this, some of the survivors continued to resent owing fealty to Peter, who had shattered them months earlier. Many of its members chose to resign. [16] By the beginning of August, the Second had been rebuilt to only 20 percent strength overall, with barely a company of 'Mechs. [16] [17]

Jihad

When the Word of Blake attacked Tharkad after the Fourth Whitting Conference, many of the Lyran units on planet were shattered by the orbital bombardment. Archon Peter merged the survivors of both Royal Guards into a single command, and they defended him throughout the campaign. Suffering severe losses over the course of years of guerilla fighting, the Royal Guards were constantly reinforced by soldiers from other commands on planet who the Archon transferred in, refusing to disband his illustrious unit. Despite being reduced to less than a ghost of their prior selves, the Guards did successfully protect the Archon from death or capture. [18] In the aftermath of the fighting on Tharkad, the Second essentially existed only on paper, composed of a single lance of the best MechWarriors that defended the capital. By September 3079, they were still at only five percent strength, even while their sister unit, the First, was rebuilt by absorbing militia units. [19]

By 3085, the 2nd had grown. The LCAF High Command forwarded many elite soldiers to the unit for consideration. These soldiers then took a series of tests to see if they had what the Second Guards were looking for. Anyone who failed these tests didn't make it into the unit. The 4th Royal Guards performed the same tests, but out of respect for the 2nd's history, the 4th didn't recruit many soldiers from Skye. Instead they went to the 2nd for their evaluations.[20] Even with these high standards, the Second had managed to rebuild to over a third of its nominal strength.[21]

Unlike previous iterations of the 2nd Royal Guards, the Pride of Skye of 3085 is expected to perform more than ceremonial duties. To prepare to join their sister units in the field, the 2nd trains against the 4th Royal Guards.[20]

Dark Age

In 3143 Clan Wolf invaded Tharkad. The 2nd Royal Guards defended the Nagelring from the Wolves, but lost two companies of machines.[22] In addition to the Nagelring fight, they also defended Tharkad City. After the fighting on Tharkad the unit was reduced to fifty percent of its nominal strength. With the creation of the Wolf Empire so near Tharkad, the LCAF High Command left the 2nd to reinforce the 1st Royal Guards on Tharkad.[23]

Officers

Rank Name Time Period in Command
Commanding Officers of the 2nd Royal Guards
Katrina Steiner 3001 - 3004[5]
Hermann Steiner 3007[24]
General of the Armies Edward Regis 3025[7]
Leutnant-General Christopher Malvin
Marshal Richard Regis II
Marshal Richard de Gambier 3055
Leutnant-General Luke Patterson 3085[21]
Hauptmann General Judith Kelly 3145[25]
General of the Armies Roderick Steiner 3148[26]

Tactics

The 2nd Royal Guards specializes in defensive operations, both mobile and static. Their Engineering battalion includes several IndustrialMechs and vehicles skilled at creating defensive emplacements. [27]

Composition History

2765

2nd Royal Guards (Regiment/Veteran/Fanatical)[3]

Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on Tharkad.

2786 - 2821

2nd Royal Guards (Regiment/Elite/f) [28]

Note: At this point in time the heavy-weight unit was stationed on Tharkad. In 2821 the command was reduced to 57 percent of its strength and was deployed on Tharkad. [28]

2830

2nd Royal Guards (Regiment/Elite/Fanatical) [29]

Note: At this point in time the heavy-weight unit was stationed on Tharkad with an operational readiness of 97 percent. [29]

2864

2nd Royal Guards (Regiment/Veteran/Fanatical) [29]

Note: At this point in time the assault-weight unit was stationed on Tharkad with an operational readiness of 39 percent. [29]

3025

2nd Royal Guards (Regiment/Regular/Fanatical) [9]

  • CO: Leutnant General Christopher Malvin [9]
Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on Tharkad.

3040

2nd Royal Guards RCT (Regiment/Regular/Fanatical)[11]

Note: At this point in time the command was stationed on Tharkad. [11]

3050

2nd Royal Guards RCT (Regiment/Regular/Fanatical) [30]

  • CO: Marshal Richard Regis II [30]
Note: At this point in time the command was stationed on Tharkad. [30]

3054

2nd Royal Guards RCT (Regiment/Veteran/Fanatical) [31]

  • CO: Marshal Richard Regis II [31]
Note: At this point in time the command was stationed on Tharkad. [31]

3062

2nd Royal Guards (Regiment/Veteran/Fanatical)[1]
CO: Leutnant General Richard Regis II
Aide: Colonel John Lovgren

2nd Royal Guards Aerospace Brigade[1]
CO: Colonel Saffron Olivery

  • 3rd Royal Guards Wing
  • 4th Royal Guards Wing

2nd Royal Guards Armor Brigade (3 Regiments/Veteran/Fanatical)[1]
CO: Colonel Leo Mitchell-Heggs
Aide: Leutnant Colonel Ruby Bass
- 3rd Royal Tharkad Panzer Regiment - CO: Colonel Haikel Mertl
- 4th Royal Tharkad Panzer Regiment - CO: Colonel Owen Frear
- 1st Royal Tharkad Armored Cavalry Regiment - CO: Colonel Lindsey Holby

Second Royal Guards Infantry Brigade (5 Regiments/Veteran/Fanatical)[1]
CO: Colonel Anfa Shou
Aide: Leutnant Colonel Victor Duong-Cheng
- 5th Royal Tharkad Light Infantry Regiment - CO: Colonel Victoria Jordan
- 6th Royal Tharkad Light Infantry Regiment - CO: Colonel Anton Merrick
- 3rd Royal Tharkad Mechanized Regiment - CO: Colonel Nick Meyer
- 4th Royal Tharkad Mechanized Regiment - CO: Colonel Edwin Chan
- 1st Royal Tharkad Jump Regiment - CO: Colonel Ewan Lindstrom

3067

2nd Royal Guards (Veteran/Fanatical)[16]
CO: Leutnant General Richard Regis II

2nd Royal Guards Aerospace Brigade[16]
CO: Kaptain Saffron Olivery

2nd Royal Guards Armor Brigade[16]
CO: Colonel Leo Mitchell-Heggs

2nd Royal Guards Infantry Brigade[16]
CO: Colonel Anfa Shou

3079

2nd Royal Guards (Lance/Elite/Fanatical) [19]

3085

2nd Royal Guards RCT (Elite/Fanatical)[21]
CO: Leutnant General Luke Patterson

2nd Royal Aerospace (Elite/Fanatical)[21]
CO: Kaptain Thad Travieso

2nd Royal Armor Brigade (Veteran/Fanatical)[21]
CO: Colonel Theodar Brooks

2nd Royal Infantry Brigade (Elite/Fanatical)[21]
CO: Colonel Antono Stenet

3145

2nd Royal Guards RCT (Elite/Fanatical)[25]
CO: Hauptmann General Judith Kelly

2ndRoyal Aerospace (Elite/Fanatical)[25]
CO: Kaptain Alice Walker

2nd Royal Armor Brigade (Elite/Fanatical)[25]
CO: Colonel Lawrenche Mitchell

2nd Royal Infantry Brigade (Elite/Fanatical)[25]
CO: Colonel Keith Williams

Notes

  • The insignia of the 2nd Royal Guards is a kicking donkey against the blue shield of the Royal Guard bridge. [1]

Game Rules

The 2nd possess the 'banking initiative' special ability, and gain a +1 initiative bonus when acting as the defender. If acting as the defender in a non-chase situation, 50 percent of all units may begin in improved positions. [32]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Field Manual: Lyran Alliance p. 97, 2nd Royal Guards RCT: The Pride of Skye
  2. Field Manual: Lyran Alliance p. 95, Royal Guards: Lyran Pride
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Field Report 2765: LCAF, p. 17, "Royal Guards" - Regimental Status
  4. House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth) p. 77, Alessandro Steiner
  5. 5.0 5.1 House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth) p. 151, Katrina Steiner: Brief Personal History
  6. Historical: War of 3039 p. 17, Katrina Steiner
  7. 7.0 7.1 House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth) p. 90, Edward Regis
  8. NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 1, p. 8 "Operations Galahad and Thor"
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth) p. 121, Deployment Table
  10. NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 1 p. 45, Operation Götterdämmerung
  11. 11.0 11.1 11.2 Historical: War of 3039 p. 138, Deployment Table
  12. 20 Year Update p. 29, Deployment Table
  13. Objective Raids, p. 21, Deployment Table
  14. 14.0 14.1 FedCom Civil War (sourcebook) pp. 175-177, Tharkad
  15. Endgame, p. 235
  16. 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 16.4 16.5 Field Manual: Updates p. 172, Second Royal Guard
  17. Field Manual: Updates p. 178, Lyran Alliance Armed Forces Deployment Table: Donegal Province
  18. Jihad Turning Points: Tharkad p. 6, Combatants
  19. 19.0 19.1 Field Report: LAAF p. 14, Royal Guards
  20. 20.0 20.1 Field Manual: 3085, p. 104
  21. 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 21.4 21.5 Field Manual: 3085, p. 108, "LAAF Deployment Table - 3085"
  22. Technical Readout: 3145 The Clans, p. 52
  23. Field Manual: 3145, p. 124
  24. Warrior: Riposte, p. 46, Hermann Steiner commanded the Second Royal Guards before retiring
  25. 25.0 25.1 25.2 25.3 25.4 Field Manual: 3145, p. 133, "Lyran Commonwealth Armed Forces - Donegal Province"
  26. The Anvil, Ch. 2
  27. Field Manual: Lyran Alliance p. 97, 2nd Royal Guards RCT: The Pride of Skye, Tactics
  28. 28.0 28.1 ’’ First Succession War’’, p. 139
  29. 29.0 29.1 29.2 29.3 ’’ Second Succession War’’, p. 99
  30. 30.0 30.1 30.2 20 Year Update, p. 29
  31. 31.0 31.1 31.2 Objective Raids, p. 21
  32. Field Manual: Lyran Alliance p. 134, Royal Guards: 2nd Royal

Bibliography