13th Robinson Chevaliers

Brigade Insignia of the Robinson Chevaliers
Thirteenth Robinson Chevaliers
Formed By 2765[1]
Disbanded By 2821[2]
Nickname Keepers of the Star
Affiliation Federated Suns
Parent Command Robinson Chevaliers

History[edit]

Star League Era[edit]

The Thirteenth Robinson Chevaliers was one of the regiments within the Robinson Chevaliers brigade of the Armed Forces of the Federated Suns and took its unit name from a chivalry order that existed during the preindustrial history of Terra; this was standard practice among units of the Robinson Chevaliers that formed prior to the massive expansion of the AFFS following the repeal of the Council Edict of 2650[1] in 2752.[3] In the case of the Thirteenth the regiment was known as the "Keepers of the Star"; members of the Thirteenth identified closely with their chosen order, and even the newest recruits were expected to be able to name significant individuals and events from the history of the order.[1]

First Succession War[edit]

In May 2787 the Draconis Combine launched a massive invasion of the Federated Suns. The invasion was so swift and targeted communications and JumpShips so effectively that many border systems didn't have a chance to transmit warnings or alerts, leading to widespread confusion on the part of the AFFS. A second wave followed three days after the first, led personally by Coordinator Minoru Kurita and his son, Warlord Jinjiro Kurita, striking through the Clovis Combat Region and Dahar Combat Region in two thrusts, and proved devastatingly effective. The death of Field Marshal Grover Simons on Clovis caused the AFFS defensive line to collapse,[4] and the DCMS adopted a strategy of leapfrogging worlds, smashing some AFFS units while leaving others isolated and cut-off, to be subsequently destroyed later.[5]

The majority of the AFFS units left behind enemy lines had been destroyed by mid-2789, but the Doughboys battalion of the Thirteenth Robinson Chevaliers was one of a handful of commands that managed to survive longer, through a combination of good luck, resourcefulness and sheer resilience. Made up from remnants of the Thirteenth and those supporting units that had managed to escape destruction, the Doughboys went to ground for years after Dobson fell, causing as much havoc as they could for the DCMS garrison and raiding for supplies to survive.[5]

Despite the Thirteenth's efforts on Dobson the regiment didn't survive the First Succession War as an operational command.[2]

Officers[edit]

Rank Name Command
Commanding Officers of the 13th Robinson Chevaliers

Tactics[edit]

The main tactic used by the Thirteenth was the hammer and anvil; the Thirteenth's reinforced assault battalion would prepare kill zones and then act as the anvil as the two battalions of light BattleMechs drew or led the enemy forces into those kill zones. This tactic was relatively easy for enemy units to counter if they could spot and avoid falling into the trap.[1]

Composition History[edit]

2765[edit]

Thirteenth Robinson Chevaliers (Regiment/Regular/Reliable)[6]

- The Thirteenth were stationed on Dobson at this point in time.[6] The Thirteenth was a regiment consisting of three battalions, one a reinforced assault battalion and the other two battalions of light 'Mechs.[1]

2786[edit]

Thirteenth Robinson Chevaliers (Regiment/Regular/Reliable)[2]

- At this point in time the Thirteenth was a medium-weight regiment at full strength and was based on Dobson.[2] The unit was destroyed during the war.[2]

Notes[edit]

  • While there doesn't appear to be a chivalric order named "Keepers of the Star" possible orders the Thirteenth may have been named for include the fourteenth century French Order of the Star and the eighteenth century Swedish Order of the Polar Star.

Reference[edit]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Field Report 2765: AFFS, p. 16: "Robinson Chevaliers"
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 First Succession War, p. 135: "Armed Forces of the Federated Suns (AFFS)"
  3. Field Report 2765: AFFS, p. 3: "Strategic Update"
  4. First Succession War, pp. 38–39: "The Battle For Clovis"
  5. 5.0 5.1 First Succession War, p. 40: "Rout"
  6. 6.0 6.1 Field Report 2765: AFFS, p. 17: "Regimental Status"

Bibliography[edit]