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2nd St. Ives Lancers

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Regarded as the Armored Cavalry's workhorse unit for most of its history, the 2nd St. Ives Lancers are renowned for their bravery in the face of superior numbers.

History

Formation to Star League era

Formed at the same time as the prestigious showpiece 1st St. Ives Lancers, the Second saw extensive action in the defense of the St. Ives Mercantile Association and along the Capellan Confederation's southern quarter, fending off pirates while also engaging in occasional rear-area raids against House Marik. [1]

Like all the Lancer units, for much of its history a large proportion of the Second's troops were either of minor noble lineage or well-connected with St. Ives's major business interests, facts that ensured the unit wanted for nothing with regards material and supplies. Those who assumed the Second's troops were weak-willed and spoiled brats that could barely fight quickly learned otherwise, with a Lorix Order-inspired devotion to chivalric duty, deep pride in their abilities and regular public training duels ensure the Second St. Ives Lancers kept their skills honed to a fine edge. The Second generally drew the youngest and brashest duellists among the Lancers, a fact that also ensured it was among the Armored Cavalry's primary offensive units. Using the nickname of The Ivory Stallions as of 2765, at that time the Second St. Ives Lancers were stationed on the St. Ives Commonality world of Knutdor. [2]

Early Succession Wars

Toward the end of the Third Succession War, the Lancers defended Verlo in 2970 against the Federated Suns's Syrtis Fusiliers and captured the Gordon's Highland Light mercenary unit during a recon raid on Pinard in 3002, adding twelve rare Panthers to the Lancers' 2nd Battalion.[1]

The Second were stationed on Kittery when the world was targeted for conquest by the Federated Suns in 3005. Unwilling to lose the Second against a larger Davion invasion force, the Capellan Confederation Armed Forces chose to pull back the line of "Elastic Defense" to Vestallas and Taga and ordered the Lancers to withdraw. Confronted with Armed Forces of the Federated Suns seeking to destroy the unit, the Lancer's withdrawal seemed doomed until the planet's milita stepped forward to delay the Davion forces and allow the Second to escape. [3]

In 3010 the Lancers defended the important agricultural world of St. Loris against two of the elite Ceti Hussars. While inflicting heavy damage on the Davion raiders and being decorated by Chancellor Maximilian Liao, the Lancers felt their defeat deeply. As of 3025, the Lancers three battalions were split up, defending St. Ives, Maladar and St. Loris respectively.[4]

Fourth Succession War to Clan Invasion

During the Fourth Succession War, the complete Second was stationed on St. Ives along side the First Lancers, surviving the conflict intact it defected to the newly formed St. Ives Compact. [5]

The Second was reconfigured after the Fourth Succession War into brigade size. As of 3054 the Second Lancers were stationed alongside the First Lancers on the Compact capital of St. Ives, but in the wake of the Clan Invasion were redeployed to the Compact world of Teng, remaining there as of 3054. [6] [7]

Operation Bulldog

The 1st Battalion of the Second Lancers was the Compact's contribution to Task Force Serpent, the reborn Star League's assault on the Clan Smoke Jaguar homeworld of Huntress, after it was deemed more important to keep their first choice, the 1st St. Ives Lancers and its commander Kai Allard-Liao, visible in the Inner Sphere.[8]

During the initial assault on Huntress, the Lancers were assigned to take a Clan Smoke Jaguar training base on the continent of Abysmal with the 4th Drakons, both units eliminating the scant resistance at the almost deserted base with minimal losses. [9]

In preparation for the Smoke Jaguar counter-assault, General Ariana Winston assigned the Second Lancers to the northern army tasked with protecting the Smoke Jaguar genetics repository and Mount Szabo, two sites sacred to the Jaguars, along side the Eridani Light Horse and 2nd Com Guard Division. Assigned to defend the SLDF headquarters and form a ready reserve, the Lancers came under attack by a Jaguar flanking action when Clan forces withdrawing from the Com Guards stumbled directly into their positions, triggering a collapse which allowed the enemy to regain control of the capital Lootera.[10] Along with the rest of the northern army, the Lancers was pressed back into the Jaguar's Fang mountains, reduced to a sole functioning BattleMech after an Clan assault on raid on their base camp before the final battle when the Victor Steiner-Davion led relief force arrived to carry the day. [11]

Xin Sheng Campaign

Back in the Inner Sphere as hostilities between the Confederation and Compact increased in 3061, the bulk of the Lancers formed the SIMC mobile reserve, broken into task forces to act as reinforcements as needed. As losses mounted, the Second took on the critical role of delivering supplies and equipment to fellow Compact units in hostile battles across the front. While the Compact ultimately fell, the Second Lancers were credited as the reason the defeated nation lasted as long as it did.[12]

Like many former Compact units, but. Now stationed on Teng, between receiving advanced graduation of cadets from the St. Ives Academy Training Group, survivors from the shattered St. Ives Cheveau Legers and shipment of equipment built on St. Ives, Indicass and Warlock, the Second Lancers have completed rebuilding from the losses suffered in Clan space and against the Confederation, even adding a much needed third regiment to its armored command. [13]

Jihad

The Second St. Ives Lancers participated in Operation THUNDERSTRIKE, the Capellan Confederation's response to the Capellan March invasion of their land. They landed on New Syrtis and fought the Vanguard Legion and the 3rd Ceti Hussars. They were on St. Ives when the Word of Blake struck, and sustained heavy losses. The Blakist's strike destroyed nearly eighty percent of the regiment.[14]

In 3085 they were stationed on St. Ives.[15]

Officers

As of 3025, the commanding officer was Colonel Ranadolph Fletcher.[1]

As of 3050 to 3054 the commanding officer was Colonel Timothy Bairn.[6] [7]

As of 3063 to 3067 the commanding officer was Sang-shao Lucas Tolek, who replaced the retiring Timothy Bairn for health reasons.[16][17]

As of 3085 the commanding officer was Sang-shao Justin Chung.[15]

Tactics

The Second's component units operate equally well together or independently, a tactic which often fatally surprises a foe unaware of their true strength.[16]

Composition History

2765

2nd St. Ives Lancers (Veteran/Reliable)[2]

3025

2nd St. Ives Lancers (3 Battalions)[1]

  • CO: Colonel Ranadolph Fletcher
  • 1st Battalion: Major Andrew Ling
  • 2nd Battalion: Major Holly Firsten
  • 3rd Battalion: Major Timothy Bairn

3050-3054

2nd St. Ives Lancers (Regular/Reliable)[6][7]

  • Colonel Timothy Bairn.

3063

2nd St. Ives Lancers (1 Regiment/Elite/Questionable (Fanatical))[16]

  • CO: Sang-shao Lucas Tolek
  • 2nd Battalion: Sao-shao Julius Scavros
  • 3rd Battalion: Sao-shao

- At approximately seventy percent strength

2nd Air Lancers (1 Wing/Elite/Questionable (Fanatical))[16]

2nd Lancers Armored Command (2 Battalion's/Veteran/Questionable (Reliable))[16]

  • 18th Armored Lancers - Armor Commander: Sao-shao Caton Lee
  • 76th Armored Lancers - Armor Command: Zhong-shao Sascha Borczynski

13th Armored Grenadiers (2 Battalions/Veteran/Questionable (Reliable))[16]

  • Troop Commander: Kyoko McAffee

3067

2nd St. Ives Lancers (Elite/Questionable)[17]

  • CO: Sang-shao Lucas Tolek

2nd Air Lancers (Wing/Elite/Questionable)[17]

  • CO: Sao-shao Draven Poulson

2nd Lancers Armor (Brigade/Veteran/Questionable)[17]

  • CO: Zhong-shao Caton Lee

13th Armored Grenadiers (Regiment/Veteran/Questionable)[17]

  • CO: Zhong-shao Kyoko MacAffee

3085

2nd St Ives Lancers (Elite/Fanatical)[15]

  • CO: Sang-shao Justin Chung

2nd Air Lancers (Wing/Elite/Fanatical)[15]

  • CO: Sao-shao Adam Hunwicks

2nd Lancers Armor (Brigade/Veteran/Fanatical)[15]

  • CO: Zhong-shao Susumu Kondo

13th Armored Grenadiers (Regiment/Veteran/Fanatical)[15]

  • CO: Zhong-shao Renata Greco

Insignia

The insignia of the St. Ives Armored Cavalry is an orange sunburst set against an inverted blue double pyramid, with the Cavalry paint scheme a standard gray-tinted green, the Second Lancers highlighting this with jade. The insigina of the Second shows two rearing horses on a green field facing each other, wearing ivory crowns.

Notes

With re-integration of the Compact into the Confederation, the Cavalry proudly wear the St. Ives Commonality crest prominently displayed on their uniforms and machines.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 House Liao (Capellan Confederation), p. 88, "2nd St. Ives Lancers"
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Field Report 2765: CCAF, p. 14 "St. Ives Armored Cavlary"
  3. ↑ Technical Readout: 3039, p. 42 "Hunter Light Support Tank"
  4. ↑ House Liao (The Capellan Confederation), p. 105, "Deployment Table - 3025"
  5. ↑ NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Vol 1, p. 102
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 20-Year Update, p. 29 "Armed Forces of the Federated Commonwealth (Deployment as of 3050) - St. Ives Compact"
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Objective Raids, p. 43, "St. Ives Miliatry Forces - 3054"
  8. ↑ Twilight of the Clans, p. 9
  9. ↑ Twilight of the Clans, p. 11
  10. ↑ Twilight of the Clans, p. 12,34
  11. ↑ Twilight of the Clans, p. 13
  12. ↑ Field Manual: Capellan Confederation, p. 83
  13. ↑ Field Manual: Update, p. 29, "2nd St. Ives Lancers Unit"
  14. ↑ Field Report: CCAF, p. 18
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 15.5 Field Manual: 3085, p. 34, "CCAF Deployment Table - 3085"
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 16.4 16.5 Field Manual: Capellan Confederation, p. 105, "2nd St. Ives Lancers Unit Profile"
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 17.4 Field Manual: Updates, p. 34, "CCAF Deployment Table - 3067"

Bibliography

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