Iron Guard

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Iron Guard
Formed ca. 2559[1]
Disbanded ca. 3139[2]
Affiliation Free Worlds League
Parent Command Protectorate Guard

The Iron Guard was a Free Worlds League Military regiment. For most of the 31st century it was a provincial unit of the Border Protectorate; following that province's dissolution during the Jihad the Iron Guard joined the Oriente Protectorate. After the reformation of the Free Worlds League in 3139 the unit was folded into the newly raised Fifth Free Worlds Guards.

History

Formation and Star League Era

The Iron Guard was formed in approximately 2559.[1] As the Border Protectorate was not in existence at the time, it is unknown what province, if any, the Iron Guard belonged to.

When the Star League Defense Force compiled a report of the FWLM in 2765, the Iron Guard was not listed amongst the FWLM's regiments.[3]

Early Succession Wars

During the First and Second Succession Wars the Iron Guard were based near the Lyran border on Marcus and later Dubhe. Over the two wars the unit was reduced from full strength to barely a quarter of its establishment strength by 2864.[4] [5]

During the ComStar War the Iron Guard was stationed on Zosma in 2837 when an overwhelming Lyran force arrived. With the FWLM's communications crippled by ComStar's Interdiction, the Iron Guard had no way of knowing if reinforcements would come and so withdrew from the planet rather than be destroyed. Thirty two years later they would lead the Free Worlds League counterattack on Zosma, taking it from the Lyran Commonwealth.[1]

Anton's Revolt

During the Marik Civil War the Iron Guard remained on Alula Australis throughout the entire conflict. Although it and the Border Protectorate remained loyal to Janos Marik, an upsurge in Lyran attacks forced the Iron Guard to concentrate on responding to these rather than join the fight against Anton Marik.[6] [7]

Fourth Succession War

Prior to the Fourth Succession War the Iron Guard was ordered to relocate off their garrison world. This was an unpopular decision with the unit, as it marked the second time they withdrew from the field, but they obeyed the order.

Andurien Secession

In late 3033 the Iron Guard hit the Federated Commonwealth controlled world of Oliver. This was primarily to silence domestic critics, but it also served to disrupt operations at several FedCom production plants.[8]

During the Andurien Secession, the Iron Guard secured landing zones for the 13th Marik Militia and 3rd Free Worlds Guards on Ingomish in 3036.[9] They also secured Xanthe III in 3037, reinforcing several beleaguered FWLM units[10] and served as a garrison force on Lopez that same year.[1]

Operation Guerrero

The Iron Guard participated in Operation Guerrero, suffering some losses, but details on what world it attacked are thin.[11]

Jihad

The Jihad left the Iron Guard without a homeworld as their former comrades joined forces with the Word of Blake and ejected them. Though the Iron Guard was the only regiment to survive, the unit was without a home until The Protectorate negotiated a place for the unit. The Guard took up station on New Delos in 3079.[12]

The Iron Guard was offered a place in the Republic Armed Forces, but declined. They returned to New Delos and found that the military dictatorship in the Protectorate was collapsing. Colonel Ridgeway agreed to the Iron Guard becoming the official military of the Protectorate, but rapidly discovered that the military junta was more interested in maintaining their position. In 3081 the Duchy of Oriente offered a mutual defense pact, and Colonel Ridgeway accepted.[13]

Dark Age

During the Victoria War the Iron Guard played a prominent role in Oriente's conflict with the Capellan Confederation. As a result Chancellor Sun-Tzu Liao wanted an object lesson made of the regiment, which the First and Second Capellan Defense Force proceeded to administer on New Delos. Caught between the two Capellan units the stubborn Iron Guard was crushed, leaving barely a handful of survivors.[14]

Following the reformation of the Free Worlds League in 3139, the remaining Iron Guard personnel became part of the newly created Fifth Free Worlds Guards.[2]

Officers

Rank Name Command
Commanding Officers of the Iron Guard
Colonel Bradford Holmes 3025[15]
Colonel Virgil Ridgeway 3050 - 3067[16][17][1][18][13]
Colonel Gheorgeh Sukir 3085[19]

Tactics

The unit favors unorthodox battle tactics and has never surrendered to enemy forces. However it has withdrawn from the field of combat twice in its history.[1]

Composition History

2786 - 2821

Iron Guard (Regiment/Green/Questionable) [4]

Note: At this point in time the heavy-weight unit was stationed on Marcus. In 2821 the command was reduced to 30 of its strength and was deployed at Marcus. [4]

2830

Iron Guard (Regiment/Regular/Questionable) [5]

Note: At this point in time the assault-weight unit was stationed on Marcus with an operational readiness of 54 percent. [5]

2864

Iron Guard (Regiment/Regular/Questionable) [5]

Note: At this point in time the assault-weight unit was stationed on Dubhe with an operational readiness of 26 percent. [5]

3014

Iron Guard (Regular/Fanatical) [7]

Note: At this point in time unit was stationed on Alula Australis. [7]

3025

Iron Guard (Regular/Fanatical)[15]

  • CO: Colonel Bradford Holmes

3028

Iron Guard (Regiment/Regular/Fanatical)[20]

Note: At this point in time the command was stationed on Alula Australia. [20]

3050

Iron Guards (Regiment/Regular/Fanatical)[21]

  • CO: Colonel Virgil Ridgeway[21]
Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on Bordon. [21]

3054

Iron Guard (Green/Reliable)[17]

  • CO: Colonel Virgil Ridgeway

3059-3067

Iron Guard (1 Regiment/Regular/Fanatical)[1][18]

  • 2nd Battalion: Force Commander Sally Mandelbaum
  • 3rd Battalion: Force Commander Shozaburo Miyazaki

- The unit receive field upgrade kits in large numbers.

Iron Wing (1 Wing/Regular/Fanatical)[1][18]

- The Wing is fitted with some Star League era Technology.

1st Zosma Reconnaissance Regiment (1 Regiment/Green/Reliable)[1][18]

  • Armor Commander: Force Commander Pearce Spruil

93rd Zosma Militia (1 Regiment/Green/Reliable)[1][18]

3079

The Iron Guard lost over half their strength during the Jihad.[12]

3085

Iron Guard (Veteran/Fanatical)[19]

  • CO: Colonel Gheorgeh Sukir

Iron Wings (Elite/Fanatical)[19]

  • CO: Commodore Graciano Barret

45th New Delos Recon Regiment (Veteran/Fanatical)[19]

  • CO: Lieutenant Colonel Honoratus Novacek

87th New Delos Infantry Regiment (Regular/Reliable)[19]

  • CO: Lieutenant Colonel Laban Confortola

Notes

The Motto of the Iron Guard is "Never Surrender".[1] After the Jihad they had a lot of salvaged Word of Blake equipment.[13]

References

  1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 Field Manual: Free Worlds League, p. 81, "Iron Guard Unit Profile"
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Field Manual: 3145, p. 102, "Fifth Free Worlds Guards"
  3. ↑ Field Report 2765: Free Worlds League - Iron Guard does not appear in this document
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 First Succession War, p. 138
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Second Succession War, p. 98
  6. ↑ Historical: Brush Wars, p. 20, "Provincial Loyalties"
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Historical: Brush Wars, p. 34-39, "Deployment Tables: Anton's Revolt"
  8. ↑ Historical: Brush Wars, p. 65
  9. ↑ Historical: Brush Wars, p. 72
  10. ↑ Historical: Brush Wars, p. 75
  11. ↑ Field Manual: Updates, p. 153, "Iron Guard"
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Field Report: FWLM, p. 13
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Field Manual: 3085, p. 85
  14. ↑ Field Manual: 3145, p. 108
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 House Marik (The Free Worlds League), p. 108, "FWL Deployment Table - 3025"
  16. ↑ 20 Year Update, p. 56, "FWLM Deployment Table - 3050"
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Objective Raids, p. 38, "FWLM Deployment Table - 3054"
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 18.4 Field Manual: Updates, p. 161, "FWLM Deployment Table - 3067"
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 19.4 Field Manual: 3085, p. 92, "FWLM Deployment Table - 3085"
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Historical: Brush Wars, p.86
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 20 Year Update, p. 56, "Free Worlds League Deployment Table"

Bibliography

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