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{{infoBoxMilitaryCommand
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{{infoBoxStateUnit
| image = [[Image:FedCom Corps 08th logo.png|150px]]
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| image   =  
| Designation = Eighth FedCom RCT
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| nickname = The Katzbalger
| Formed = [[3041]]<ref name=FMFSp96>''Field Manual: Federated Suns'', p. 96: "8th FedCom RCT: The Katzbalger"</ref>
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| parent formation = [[Federated Commonwealth Corps]]
| Disbanded = [[3064]] (destroyed)<ref name=FCCW95>''FedCom Civil War'', pp. 95–96: "Kathil"</ref>
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| formed  = [[3041]]
| Previous Designation =
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| year    = 3064
| Nickname = The Katzbalger
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| unitname = 8th FedCom RCT
| Affiliation = [[Federated Commonwealth]]<br/>(until 3062)
 
----
 
[[Loyalist (FCCW)|Loyalists]]<br/>(3062 - 3064)
 
| Parent Command = [[Federated Commonwealth Corps]]
 
| Sub-Command =  
 
 
}}
 
}}
Though it fired some of the first shots of the [[FedCom Civil War]], the Loyalist '''Eighth FedCom RCT''' was later destroyed in the bitter fighting on their homeworld of [[Kathil]].  Their belligerence contributed to the shattering and eventual dissolution of the [[Federated Commonwealth]] and the [[Federated Commonwealth Corps]].
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Firing among the first shots of the [[FedCom Civil War]], the Loyalist '''8th FedCom RCT''' was destroyed in the bitter fighting on [[Kathil]], helping to shatter the [[Federated Commonwealth]] and the [[Federated Commonwealth Corps]].
  
 
==History==
 
==History==
Formed in [[3041]], two years later than planned due to the [[AFFC]]'s need to recover from the disastrous [[War of 3039]], the Eighth FedCom RCT ended up benefiting from that conflict as it gave officers transferred to its command a higher than average experience level. Despite not having seen combat together as a unit, the AFFC High Command nevertheless rated the untested Eighth quite highly thanks to the standards of excellence maintained by the unit's combat veteran officers.<ref name=FMFSp96/>
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Formed in [[3041]], two years later than planned due to the [[AFFC]]'s need to recover from the disastrous [[War of 3039]], that conflict gave the recruits transferred into the Eighth a higher than average experience level for a newly created unit. Despite not seeing combat as a unit, the AFFC High Command highly rated the untested Eighth based on this. <ref name=FMFS>''Field Manual: Federated Suns'', pg. 23</ref>
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As of [[3049]], the Eighth was assigned to [[Second Try]] in the [[Sarna March]].<ref name=20Y>''20-Year Update'', pg. 23</ref>. One of the worlds targeted in the [[Marik-Liao Invasion of 3057]], the Eightth inflicted serious damage on the attackers before withdrawing to bolster the defense of [[Kathil]] against further [[Capellan Confederation]] agression.
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After receiving orders outside the normal chain of command from the First Princess [[Katherine Steiner-Davion]], in [[3062]] the Eighth enacted martial law and attempted to secure the [[Yare Industries]]' [[McKenna shipyards]] and [[General Motors]] facilities for the Loyalist faction, putting it into conflict with the Kathil CMM and the [[2nd NAIS Training Cadre]], the first open fighting of the FedCom Civil War.
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Taking as heavy losses as it inflicted on the green units, with the arrival of the Capellan Dragoons the Eighth dug in to await Loyalist reinforcements,<ref name=FCCW1>''FedCom Civil War'', pg. 22-25</ref> which arrived in form of the [[8th Donegal Guards]]. Unfortunately the Allied forces received reinforcements of their own, led by the [[6th Syrtis Fusiliers]] [[RCT]], and slowly and progressively wore the Eighth down. <ref name=FCCW2>''FedCom Civil War'', pg. 56-57</ref>
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As the fighting dragged on from [[3063]] to early [[3064]], the Eighth bolstered the Loyalist morale by rescuing nearly five thousand Loyalist POWs from Allied hands before a breakout from the line of battle resulted in the Eighth being separated from the bulk of the Loyalist forces. <ref name=FCCW3>''FedCom Civil War'', pg. 76-77</ref> Lacking command flexibility, in the face of combined assaults from the First Capellan Dragoons and the [[5th Davion Guards]] the Eighth shattered and the Allied forces overran the unit's command post, with its CO falling in battle. The battered remains of both Eighth and the Capellan Dragoons effectively destroyed each other, with what few survivors left linking up with other units of their factions. <ref name=FCCW3>''FedCom Civil War'', pg. 95</ref>  
  
In [[3049]], the Eighth was assigned to [[Second Try]] in the [[Sarna March]] as a garrison force.<ref name=20yup23>''20 Year Update'', p. 23</ref> When the world was targeted in the [[Marik-Liao Invasion of 3057]], the Eighth inflicted serious damage on the attackers before being forced to with withdraw to bolster the defense of [[Kathil]] against further [[Capellan Confederation]] aggression.<ref name=FMFSp96/>
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Due to their bitter role in the destruction of the Federated Commonwealth, the FedCom Corp was striken from the rolls of the AFFS and what little surviving material and troops survived the Eighths destruction was reassigned to other units <ref name=FMU>''Field Manual Updates'', pg. 130</ref>
  
===FedCom Civil War===
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==Officers==
{{seealso|Battle of Kathil (3062)}}
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For the whole of the 8th FedCom's existence the unit was commanded by [[Hauptmann General]] [[Mitchell Weintraub]]. Formerly serving with the Eighth Donegal Guards in the [[Fourth Succession War]] and War of 3039, the Lyran born Weintraub favored Katherine in the lead-up to the Civil War, viewing Duke George Hasek's snubbing of the unit as an indication he intended to succeed the [[Capellan March]] from the Federated Commonwealth in the manner of his grandfather [[Michael Hasek-Davion]], at the behest of [[Victor Steiner-Davion]]. Weintraub died at the controls of his ''[[Nightstar]]'' in the face of the Capellan Dragoon thrust which eventually destroyed his command.
When rumblings of the coming conflict between [[Allies (FCCW)|pro-Victor]] and [[Loyalist (FCCW)|pro-Katherine]] factions reached the ears of [[Field Marshal]] [[Duke]] [[George Hasek]], he issued orders to the Eighth FedCom RCT to depart [[Kathil]] for [[Halloran V]] in October [[3062]].  Duke Hasek, who wished to remain neutral in any conflict between the two siblings, knew that the Eighth were staunch supporters of [[Katherine Steiner-Davion|Katherine]] and did not want any trouble to start in the [[Capellan March]]. Unfortunately, General Weintraub had received orders from the [[Archon-Princess]] herself to remain on the world and flat-out refused Hasek's orders, stating that her authority was much higher than the Duke's.  In response, Hasek ordered the [[First Capellan Dragoons]] to station themselves on Kathil and watch the Eighth.<ref name=FCCWp22>''FedCom Civil War'', pp. 22–23: "Kathil"</ref>
 
  
Knowing that Hasek's troops were not long in coming, Weintraub occupied Kathil's capital of District City, captured the Duke of Kathil, and placed the planet under martial law.  In response to this bold move, the commanding officer of the [[Kathil CMM]] ordered that General Weintraub and his staff be arrested.  The men sent to arrest the Loyalists were discovered and fired upon, leading to a series of indecisive skirmishes between the Eighth FedCom and the Kathil CMM.  Weintraub and the Eighth quickly captured a [[Yare Industries]] power uplink center and an [[Avalon|Avalon-class]] battlecruiser, but were driven back by the CMM and the [[Second NAIS Training Cadre]].  This counterattack wiped out a full battalion of the Eighth's 'Mechs along with two support battalions, destroyed the captured battlecruiser, and killed Leftenant General Fallon.  Riding this momentum, the Kathil CMM drove the Eighth FedCom back into District City, freeing the imprisoned Duke, and corralling the Loyalist unit inside the city's General Motors factory complex.  There the Eighth FedCom held the line, hoping for reinforcements.<ref name=FCCWp22/>
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==Tactics==
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The Eighth favored combat in open terrain, were they could concentrate their firepower, but also proved highly adept at assault operations, dislodging even the most dug-in units
  
In February 3063, the [[Eighth Donegal Guards]] arrived to reinforce them, but were shortly followed by the [[First Capellan Dragoons]] and the [[Sixth Syrtis Fusiliers]], who reinforced the Allied units there.<ref name=FCCWp56>''FedCom Civil War'', pp. 56–57: "Kathil"</ref>  The fight quickly became a bloody, months-long stalemate between the Allied and Loyalist units.  The Eighth FedCom was able to temporarily bolster Loyalist morale by rescuing nearly five thousand Loyalist POWs from Allied hands in January of 3064, but an Allied breakout resulted in Weintraub and his Eighth being separated from the bulk of the Loyalist forces.<ref name=FCCWp76>''FedCom Civil War'', pp. 76–77</ref>
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==Composition==
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In [[3062]] the unit consisted of:
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* 8th FedCom [[Regiment]] - Primarily Heavy/Assault [[BattleMech]]s
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** CO: [[Hauptmann General]] Mitchell Weintraub
  
It was now that Weintraub's curtailing of his subordinates' tactical flexibility would come back to haunt him.  Having to send all decisions up the chain of command for approval, his unit commanders lost critical time and adaptability in the face of a concentrated Fifth Davion Guards assault.  On 23 March, the Eighth's lines broke for the last time. The BattleMechs of the First Capellan Dragoons poured in through the gaps, blazing onwards to an attack on the RCT's rear area in Birkshire Forest and overrunning Weintraub's command post.  The Hauptmann General sent out an urgent request for all of his forces to converge on his position, but was killed at the controls of his ''[[Nightstar]]'' before they could arrive.  When the remains of the Eighth FedCom finally arrived, they eventually wiped out the Dragoons, but only after a costly, bloody brawl.  Now weakened by the Dragoons' furious last stand, the Eighth's survivors were easily mopped up by the advancing Fifth Davion Guards.<ref name=FCCW95/>
 
  
Due to their bitter role in the destruction of the Federated Commonwealth, the FedCom Corps, including the Eighth FedCom was stricken from the rolls of the AFFS.  What little matériel and troops that survived the Eighth's destruction was reassigned to other units once the Civil War ended.<ref name=FMUp130>''Field Manual: Updates'', p. 130</ref>
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*  8th FedCom AeroSpace Brigade - 3 [[Wing]]s
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** [[Leftenant General]] Jocasta Carlton
  
==Officers==
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
|-
 
! scope="col" width="220" style="background: #dedede;" | Rank
 
! scope="col" width="220" style="background: #dedede;" | Name
 
! scope="col" width="220" style="background: #dedede;" | Command
 
|-
 
| colspan="4" style="background: #efefef;" | '''Commanding Officers of the Eighth FedCom RCT'''
 
|-
 
| [[Hauptmann General]]||[[Mitchell Weintraub]]||[[3041]]<ref name=FMFSp96/> - [[3064]]<ref name=FCCW95/>
 
|-
 
|}
 
  
===Other Officers===
 
* [[Leftenant General]] [[Karen Fallon]] was Mitchell Weintraub's executive officer.<ref name=FPN>''Flashpoint'', p. ?{{cn}}</ref>
 
* [[Leftenant]] [[Xander Barajas]] was the [[MechWarrior (pilot)|MechWarrior]] who fired the first shot in the FedCom Civil War.<ref name=FCCWp17>''FedCom Civil War'', p. 17: "Final Thoughts"</ref>
 
  
==Tactics==
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*  8th FedCom Armor Brigade - Three Heavy [[Combat Vehicle|Armor]] Regiments
The Eighth favored combat in open terrain, where they could concentrate their firepower, but they also proved highly adept at assault operations, dislodging even the most dug-in units.  The Eighth was known to have a preference for 'Mechs that made use of [[Long-Range Missile|long-range missiles]], and possessed a large number of such designs as the ''[[Rakshasa]]'', ''[[Salamander]]'', and ''[[Orion]]''.<ref name=FPN/>
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** CO: Lft. General Michelle Dettori
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*  8th FedCom Heavy Armor
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** Lft. General Michelle Dettori 
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*  9th FedCom Heavy Armor
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** Lft. General Garry Duffield
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*  8th FedCom Armored Cavalry
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** Lft. General Natalie Polard
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==Composition History==
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*  8th FedCom Infantry Brigade - Five [[Infantry]] Regiments
===3050===
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** CO: Lft. General Nicki Little
'''Eighth FedCom RCT ''' (Regiment/Regular/Reliable)<ref name=20yup23/>
 
:* CO: [[Hauptmann General]] Mitchell Weintraub<ref name=20yup23/>
 
:* Base: [[Second Try]]<ref name=20yup23/>
 
  
===3054===
 
'''Eighth FedCom RCT''' (Regiment/Regular/Reliable)<ref name=ORp17/>
 
:* CO: [[Hauptmann General]] Mitchell Weintraub<ref name=ORp17/>
 
:* Base: [[Second Try]]<ref name=ORp17>''Objective Raids'', p. 17</ref>
 
  
===3062===
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*  11th FedCom Infantry Regiment
'''Eighth FedCom RCT''' (Regular/Reliable)<ref name=FMFSp96/>
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** Lft. General Casey Siddons
:* CO: [[Hauptmann General]] Mitchell Weintraub<ref name=FMFSp96/>
 
:* Base: [[Kathil]]<ref name=FMFSp96p135>''Field Manual: Federated Suns'', p. 135: "Federated Suns Forces"</ref>
 
  
:'''Eighth FedCom Regiment''' (1 Regiment/Regular/Reliable)<ref name=FMFSp96/>
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*  12th FedCom Infantry Regiment
::* CO: [[Hauptmann General]] Mitchell Weintraub
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** Lft. General Norton Polli
:::* XO: [[Leftenant General]] [[Karen Fallon]]
 
:'''Eighth FedCom Aerospace Brigade''' - (3 [[Wing]]s/Regular/Reliable)
 
::* [[Leftenant General]] [[Jocasta Carlton]]
 
  
:'''Eighth FedCom Armor Brigade''' (3 Regiments/Regular/Reliable)<ref name=FMFSp96/>
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* 11th FedCom Mechanized Infantry
::* CO: Leftenant General [[Michelle Dettori]]
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** Lft. General Charles Price
:::* Aide: [[Kommandant]] [[Kim Fortune]]
 
:::* Eighth FedCom Heavy Armor
 
::::* CO: Leftenant General Michelle Dettori
 
:::* Ninth FedCom Heavy Armor
 
::::* CO: Leftenant General [[Garry Duffield]]
 
:::* Eighth FedCom Armored Cavalry
 
::::* CO: Leftenant General [[Natalie Pollard]]
 
  
:'''Eighth FedCom Infantry Brigade''' - (5 [[Infantry]] Regiments/Regular/Reliable)<ref name=FMFSp96/>
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* 12th FedCom Mechanized Infantry
::* CO: Leftenant General [[Nicky Little]]
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** Lft. General Evantha Lowe
:::* Aide: Kommandant [[Donald Mernagh]]
 
:::* Eleventh FedCom Infantry Regiment
 
::::* CO: Leftenant General [[Casey Siddons]]
 
:::* Twelfth FedCom Infantry Regiment
 
::::* CO: Leftenant General [[Norton Polli]]
 
:::* [[Eleventh FedCom Mechanized Infantry]]
 
::::* CO: Leftenant General [[Charles Price]]
 
:::* [[Twelfth FedCom Mechanized Infantry]]
 
::::* CO: Leftenant General [[Evantha Lowe]]
 
:::* Sixth FedCom Jump Infantry
 
::::* CO: Leftenant General [[Yoshitomi Tendo]]
 
  
==Unit Colors and Insignia==
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* 6th FedCom Jump Infantry
* Like other FedCom RCTs, the Eighth primarily used the FedCom Corps crest as their insignia, before adopting a circular crest with a Capellan ''[[Huron Warrior]]'' run though by a broadsword after their withdrawal from Second Try.
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** Lft. General Yoshitomi Tendo
* The parade colors of the Eighth, and all other FedCom Corps units, was navy blue with gold banding on the arms and legs of 'Mechs. Gold is also used to highlight panels on the upper torsos of 'Mechs and turrets of armor units, resulting in a checkerboard pattern.
 
  
 
==Notes==
 
==Notes==
* The ''katzbalger'' was a sixteenth-and-seventeenth-century arming sword used by ''Landsknecht'' archers and pikemen when enemies closed to the distance that bows or pikes were no longer practical.  Literally translated from German, the term means "cat skin" or "cat brawl," referring to either the method by which it was carried or the manner in which it was used.  The Eighth FedCom RCT preferred to use the latter definition, enjoying a reputation for close-quarters undisciplined combat.<ref name=FPc3>''Flashpoint'', ch. 3</ref>
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*Like other FedCom RCTs, the Eighth primarily used the FedCom Corps crest as their insignia, before adopting circular crest with a Capellan ''[[Huron Warrior]]'' run though by a broadsword after their withdraw from Second Try.
* The Eighth FedCom RCT and the Sixth FedCom RCT appear to share their infantry regiments. This is likely due to a misprint or error, as the commanding officers of each subunit are different.
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*The parade colors of the Eighth, and all other FedCom Corps units, was navy blue with gold banding on the arms and legs of 'Mechs. Gold is also used to highlight panels on the upper torsos of 'Mechs and turrets of armor units, resulting in a checkerboard pattern.
 +
<references/>
  
 
==Reference==
 
==Reference==
<references/>
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*[[20-Year Update]]
 
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*[[Field Manual: Federated Suns]]
==Bibliography==
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*[[FedCom Civil War (sourcebook)]]
* ''[[20 Year Update]]''
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*[[Field Manual: Updates]]
* ''[[FedCom Civil War (sourcebook)|FedCom Civil War]]''
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*''[[Flashpoint]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: Federated Suns]]''
 
* ''[[Field Manual: Updates]]''
 
* ''[[Flashpoint (novel)|Flashpoint]]''
 
 
 
  
 
[[Category:Federated Commonwealth Commands|FedCom RCT, 08th]]
 
[[Category:Federated Commonwealth Commands|FedCom RCT, 08th]]

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