5th Lyran Regulars

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Unit Description

The Fifth Lyran Regulars were a Lyran Commonwealth BattleMech regiment.

History

Formation

The Fifth Regulars were originally formed from the mercenary group the Ferris Wolverines that were forced by ComStar into service with then Lyran Commonwealth because of a contract dispute. [1]

The Succession Wars

In early 2840, deserters from the shattered Fifth joined the mutinous Sixth Lyran Regulars under Colonel Hendrik Grimm as they made their way into the Periphery.[2] Grimm's combined unit, subsequently misreported in at least one source as the Sixty-fifth Lyran Regulars, eventually settled Oberon VI and founded the Oberon Confederation.[3]

The unit was not activated to participate in the Commonwealth's efforts in the Fourth Succession War, where it remained stationed at it garrison station on Thorin.[4]

Skye Crisis & formation of Free Rasalhague Republic

After the Fourth Succession War, the unit was stationed in the Skye Federation region. The Fifth Regulars, which had questionable loyalty to begin with, became influenced by the Free Skye secession movement in the early part of the 31stt Century.

In 3034, Skye's secession tensions broke out into open rebellion. The Regulars were among the units trying to put down the revolt, however trouble broke out when allied units from the Federated Suns arrived to assist in putting down the revolt. The Regulars, among other Lyran units in the region, opened fire on their allies and the revolt threatened to escalate into full-blown civil war. After Lyran leaders defused the crisis, the Regulars' personnel were scattered across the Lyran Commonwealth and the unit, now posted to the Sarna March, was restaffed with fanatically loyal soldiers.[5]

The War of 3039 and the 3040s

In May 3039, the Draconis Combine's Ryuken-san landed on Procyon as part of Theodore Kurita's counter-invasion response to the War of 3039. A few weeks later the Regulars arrived to repulse the invasion. The Regulars were badly handled by the elite Ryuken-san, where they lost an entire BattleMech battalion to the Combine forces outside of the town of Kreigen. The Combine's commander, Tai-sa Kansa, had decided to invade because he was looking for a worthy fight. By the 24th of the month, the Combine forces withdrew from the planet when its sister unit, the Ryuken-ni, had arrived in system. [6]

During the 3040s, the unit conducted number of raids against Free Worlds League.[5]

FedCom Break up and the Joining the Lyran Alliance

During early 3050s, the unit had not been used in the Clan Invasion, remained its base in Sarna March. Where its 'Mech battalions were spread out between two worlds to garrison, Tall Trees and Saiph.[7]

By 3057, the unit withdrew from the FedCom, for the newly formed Lyran Alliance. As the unit withdrew from the FedCom, it clashed with Davion Assault Guard RCT. Once reporting in with the Lyran High Command, the unit was assigned to the world of Freedom.[5] The 3rd Battalion of the Fifth Lyran Regulars had been on loan to the Capellan Confederation at this point, and the surviving elements of the 3rd Battalion were abandoned by the remainder of the RCT when it withdrew. Abandoned and left for dead, the Hauptmann in charge of one of the companies, Daniel Grover, would subsequently take his company and use it as the nucleus around which he built a new mercenary unit, the Broadstreet Bullies.[8]

As SLDF Peacekeepers in St. Ives Compact

In 3060, the unit was assign work as a peacekeeper in St. Ives Compact under the part-partnership of the 2nd Star League's SLDF. The unit was assigned by First Lord Sun-Tzu Liao to Nashuar, where it was to keep Compact forces from getting in combat. The unit became entangled in hostilities with FedCom garrison force, the Compact affiliated, 7th Federated Commonwealth RCT. The FedCom unit had seen 5th as invasion force and part of problems that Commonwealth was suffering from since '57. Regulars were boxed into its landing zone, by the 7th FedCom and its allies, Nashuar Home Guard. Open hostilities did not breakout until January 3061, when Sun-Tzu Liao order Compact armed force to be placed under martial law. Having been hedged in its landing zone in the city of Grianet, Regulars decided to move out. The unit in a lightning move, passed through the city and out the nearby Salt River Canyon. The Regular's skirmishes with the 7th FedCom, battle were brutal.[9] The private war with the Davion unit ended all-out battle in Khington Foot hills which left few survivors. The unit was ultimately withdrawn from planet in April 3061, back to Freedom to rebuild.[5][10]

Shortly before 3062, the unit conducted an unsuccessful raid of the Clan Jade Falcon Occupation Zone, where the unit's intelligence of the garrison strength of the target proved to be damaging.[5]

FedCom Civil War

Yed Posterior

In the FedCom Civil War, the unit was not deployed from Freedom until 3063, where it was deployed to Yed Posterior in hopes to win glory in destroyed badly mauled Davion affiliate unit retreating.

As the Regulars approached the planet, they initially discovered that the 4th Davion Guards' fleet assets were still numerous, suggesting large force was on the ground. However, ignoring these telling signs, Colonel Castro landed her force. The Regular's recon flights to recon the Guards were shot down, and had sent messages they wish be left alone as they withdrew to their space in the FedCom.

Ignoring these messages, Colonel Castro order the Regulars into all-out offensive against the Guards. Conducting her combat operation on New Years Eve, what they believed as the Headquarters of the Guard's RCT with its two reinforced Battalions of 'Mechs, armor regiments and its Air Wing. However, they had struck the RCT's second headquarter battalion, began to notice RCT's overwhelming numbers, including regiment full of Armor Tanks. As attack continued, 2nd 'Mech Battalion with additional Armor regiment and supported by Battle Armor infantry arrived in their flank, it became clear that Regular's intelligence failed them yet again. Seeing no way to succeed, Castro orders Regulars to retreat. The Guard's RCT forces ravage retreating Regulars, specifically using their Doppelganger Company of Clan OmniMechs to great effect. Castro only managed to get Battalion of her 'Mech forces off planet. The 14th Freedom Reserve Aerospace Fighter Wing almost complete shot down by Guard's two Aerospace Wings.[11]

Freedom

After returning to Freedom in 3064, the unit came under attack from forces of the Free Skye Revolt. Two militia forces, the Accrington FTM and the Alexandria FTM, arrived on planet uncontested by the Regulars in July 3065. After the two militia forces landed on Freedom's continent of Republic, the Regulars assaulted the Accrington FTM's position. The Regulars wrought havoc against the green Militia's defenses destroying its armor and three of its infantry regiments. The Militia's BattleMech forces counter-attacked, managed to fend off the Regulars who retreated to the planetary capital of Jefferson City.

The Regulars fortified its position with Planetary Militia to defend the Freedom Theater's Command Center. However, instead of daring to assault the Regulars directly, the Free Skye rebels opted to starve out the Regulars and their target, Margrave James Ellis. As the Regulars stayed secured in Jefferson, the two Free Skye controlled Militias took de facto control of the planet. As the months passed, the siege on the city caused the Planetary Militia to abandon Jefferson City, leaving the Regulars to hold up its defenses.

The siege lasted up until February 3066, when Free Skye General Maria Esteban arrived to take command of the situation. The Margrave communicated with General Esteban for ceasefire; this tipped off the general that the Regulars were on the verge of folding due to starvation. The two Militias easily overran the Fifth Regulars' positions and destroyed them.[12][13]

Jihad

One of the many Lyran units destroyed during the Word of Blake Jihad, despite having long shaken off it disloyalty to the Lyran throne, the Fifth was not among the units reconstituted after that conflict concluded.[14]

Reformation and Operation HAMMERFALL

The now renamed LCAF would ultimately reform the Fifth Lyran Regulars at the urging of Archon Andrew Steiner in 3122. Despite the former unit's loyalty to Tharkad over Skye, Andrew reformed the unit primarily for its ties to the old Isle of Skye, intending it as provocative message to Devlin Stone and the Republic of the Sphere. Intensively distrustful of Stone and his Republic, Andrew ensured the new Fifth was heavily staffed with Skye partisans who were all eager to reclaim the "stolen" Skye Province and return it to Lyran control. The reformed quickly attained a reputation as staunch defenders of the honor and pride of the Commonwealth and of Skye.[14]

The Fifth would take part in Operation HAMMERFALL, participating in the early stages of the invasion on Niihau and Millungera. On the latter world, the unit would come into conflict with Roderick Frost's Broken Swords battalion, the Fifth feeling unfairly blamed for the resulting brawl. This brawl and the Fifth's CO open disdain for "Stone-lover" Trillian Steiner resulted in the unit being relegated to garrison duty on Niihau and Millungera for the remainder of the invasion.[14]

The Fifth Lyran Regulars would be ejected from both worlds a few years later, losing Niihau to the formation of the Wolf Empire and Millungera to the reborn Free Worlds League. [14]

The Fifth Regulars also participated in the defense of Smolnik from elements of the Wolf Empire's Beta Galaxy.[15]

In 3145 the Fifth Regulars lost four of six companies on Loxley, defending that world from Clan Jade Falcon forces. Despite their heavy losses, they were able to secure the world for the Commonwealth.[16] The other six companies of the Fifth were garrisoning Ellengurg, and unable to participate in the fighting on Loxley.

Officers

Rank Name Command
Commanding Officers of Ferris Wolverines
Commanding Officers of the 5th Lyran Regulars
Colonel Gustav von Buren 3025[17]
Leutnant-General Jeannine Castro 3050 to 3054[18][19][5]
General Stephen Harper 3122[14]
Leutnant-General Roy Adams 3145[20]

Tactics

By 3062, the regiment relies on its highly skilled Intelligence Department to allow it respond to enemy movement. However, its over reliance on the Intelligence section cause blindly lead to disaster.[5]

Composition History

2786 - 2821

5th Lyran Regulars (Regiment/Regular/Questionable) [21]

Note: At this point in time the mediummedium-weight unit was stationed on Timbuktu. In 2821 the command was reduced to 53 percent of its strength and was deployed on Timbuktu. [21]

2830

5th Lyran Regulars (Regiment/Regular/Questionable) [22]

Note: At this point in time the assault-weight unit was stationed on Timbuktu with an operational readiness of 109 percent. [22]The united defected during the war. [22]

3025

5th Lyran Regulars (Regiment/Regular/Questionable) [23]

  • CO: Gustav von Buren
Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on Thorin. [23]

3040

5th Lyran Regulars (Regiment/Regular/Reliable)[24]

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

3050

5th Lyran Regulars (Regiment/Regular/Reliable) [25]

  • CO: Leftenant General Jeannine Castro [25]
Note: At this point in time the command was stationed on Towne. [25]

3054

5th Lyran Regulars (Regiment/Regular/Reliable) [26]

  • CO: Leftenant General Jeannine Castro [26]
Note: At this point in time the command was stationed on Saiph and Tall Trees. [26]

3062

5th Lyran Regulars (Regiment/Veteran/Fanatical)[5]
CO: Colonel Jeanine Castro

- Note: The Command Company consists of solely of OmniMechs, with Colonel Castro utilizing a Hauptmann Assault OmniMech.

14th Freedom Reserve Fighter Wing (Aerospace Fighter Wing/Green/Reliable)[5]
CO: Template:LyranRankInline Louis Chandresekhar

-Note: Unit is former reserve unit, which now permanently active and attached to the Fifth Lyran Regulars.[5]

3122

5th Lyran Regulars[14]
CO: General Stephen Harper

3145

5th Lyran Regulars (Veteran/Fanatical)[20]
CO: Leutnant General Roy Adams

11th Loxley Armor (Regular/Reliable)[20]
CO: Colonel Andrew Reed

5th Lyran Infantry Brigade (Veteran/Reliable)[20]
CO: Colonel Justin Collins

Notes

The unit's origins as mercenary does not stipulate when it was a mercenary unit, its also not clear if the unit's nickname from the House book is in fact is original name.[27]

In the Field Manual: Lyran Alliance, the officer section notes that commanding officer Colonel Jeanine Castro had relieved Leftenant General Maurice Cobin in late 3054. However, in 20 Year Update, Leftenant General Jeannine Castro was listed as the unit's commanding officer as of 3050. It unclear and when Jeannine is same person or relative of Jeanine or is the same person.[28]

Game Notes

When using Force Specific Rules for the original Fifth Lyran Regulars, the unit receives the following abilities. Before game play begins, the controlling player will roll 2D6. On the result of 4-10, the the player receives no benefits. With the result of a 11 or 12, the unit receives a +2 to its Initiative through entire game. However, should player roll 2 or a 3, the unit will penalized -1 initiative and opposing player will get choose any maps if the scenario calls for random generated maps. The unit is equipped with B Rated equipment.[29]

Dark Age

While relatively unseasoned in real combat, the reborn Fifth are fueled by their hatred for the Republic, gaining the Overrun Combat special ability when facing RAF troops. [30]

References

  1. House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth), p. 77 Regiment Nicknames - Nickname of the Fifth eludes to its actual origin, but not when.
  2. Second Succession War, p. 50
  3. The Periphery, p. 143, "Oberon Confederation"
  4. NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 1, p. 44 - 5th Lyran Regulars noted as not being used in 4th Succession War.
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 5.8 5.9 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named FMLAp88
  6. Historical: War of 3039, p. 63 Procyon - 5th Lyran Regulars' clash with the Ryuken-san.
  7. Objective Raids, p. 17 Sarna March/Terra Firma Operations Area - 5th Lyran Regulars garrison posts in 3054 noted.
  8. Mercenaries Supplemental II, p. 26, "Broadstreet Bullies: Orange Crush"
  9. FedCom Civil War Sourcebook, p. 19-20 Nashuar - 5th Regulars' actions with 7th FedCom illustrated as precursor to the Civil War that was to come.
  10. Field Manual: Federated Suns, p. 95 7th FedCom RCT - 7th FedCom in fluff shows to be the aggressor in private war on Nashuar and noted location for its massive battle.
  11. FedCom Civil War (sourcebook), p. 88-89 Yed Posterior - Fifth Lyran Regulars try to snap some glory in what they believe is a easy kill, but it not.
  12. FedCom Civil War (sourcebook), pp. 146, 163, 183 Freedom - 5th Regulars' fight against the Free Skye and its destruction. Deployment table shows the unit destroyed in Wave 6 of the Civil War.
  13. Field Manual: Update, p. 171 Lyran Regulars - Unit's destruction noted.
  14. 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 14.5 Era Report: 3145, p. 58 "Factions - Lyran Commonwealth - Fifth Lyran Regulars"
  15. Technical Readout: 3145 Lyran Commonwealth, p. 16
  16. Field Manual: 3145, p. 128
  17. House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth), p. 119
  18. 20 Year Update, p. 19, "AFFC Deployment Table - 3050"
  19. Objective Raids, p. 17, "AFFC Deployment Table - 3054"
  20. 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 Field Manual: 3145, p. 132, "Lyran Commonwealth Armed Forces - Coventry Province"
  21. 21.0 21.1 ’’ First Succession War’’, p. 139
  22. 22.0 22.1 22.2 ’’ Second Succession War’’, p. 99
  23. 23.0 23.1 House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth), p. 119
  24. 24.0 24.1 Historical: War of 3039, p. 137
  25. 25.0 25.1 25.2 20 Year Update, p. 19
  26. 26.0 26.1 26.2 Objective Raids, p.
  27. House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth), p. 77 Regiment Nicknames - Nickname of the 5th eludes to its actual origin, but not when.
  28. 20 Year Update, p. 19 - FedCom Deployment Tables as of 305/Addicks PDZ - 5th Regular listed with similar name commanding officer.
  29. Field Manual: Lyran Alliance, p. 133 Rule Annex/Force Specific Rules/5th Lyran Regulars - 5th Regular's special positive and negative traits.
  30. Era Report: 3145, p. 164 "Playing the Dark Age Era - BattleTech Rules - Special Command Abilities - Lyran Commonwealth - Fifth Lyran Regulars"

Bibliography