Gryphons

Silver Hawk Irregulars 2nd (Gryphons) logo.jpg
Gryphons
Disbanded 3081
Affiliation Free Worlds League
Parent Command Silver Hawk Irregulars


History[edit]

The Gryphons were, for many years, the most poorly trained and equipped force in the FWLM. The LCAF regularly pounded them into the dirt and the Gryphons were often the butt of jokes. This changed when Martha Zuritas took command of the unit in 3025. She instituted a harsh training program and demanded her troops do better. They responded to the challenge.[1]

Formation[edit]


Anton’s Revolt[edit]


Fourth Succession War[edit]

In 3029 during the Fourth Succession War, the Gryphons defended Connaught against a raid by Snord's Irregulars. They inflicted significant damage to the mercenaries prior to their escape.[2]

Andurien Secession[edit]

During this time, the Gryphons conducted several raids into the Lyran Commonwealth to prevent the LCAF from taking advantage of the confusion. In fact, the raids on Cor Caroli and Alioth during the War of 3039 contributed to that front's collapse.

The AFFC retaliated in 3047 when Harlock's Warriors raided the Kali Yama Weapons plant on Kalidasa. The Gryphons and Warriors fought several engagements, but the Gryphons were unable to prevent several AFFC special forces teams from successfully raiding the plant and escaping with several new FWLM 'Mech designs.[1]

Operation Guerrero[edit]

The Gryphons did not participate in Operation Guerrero.[3]

Operation Bulldog[edit]

The Gryphons did not participate in Operation Bulldog.

Jihad[edit]

After the Jihad ended, the Gryphons continued to follow the command of generals appointed by the Marik Commonwealth. However, this was more due to the fact that the Commonwealth had promised to support the Silver Hawk Irregulars' goal of retaking several Protectorate systems that fell under the control of the Republic of the Sphere after the Jihad ended. Until then, the Gryphons continued to rebuild on Alkes and Kalidasa with output from Commonwealth factories.[4] Despite the expansion of the Republic of the Sphere after the Republic Formation Treaty the Gryphons continued to stay on Kalidasa until at least late 3081.[5]

Dark Age[edit]

Republic Invasion and Destruction[edit]

After the formation of the Republic of the Sphere, the Silver Hawks Coalition launched an ambitious invasion of New Hope in order to restore the Coalition's territory. However, the invasion and conquest would trigger a large invasion against the worlds of the ex–Free Worlds League. Named Operation Golden Dawn, the military operation would be launched in April 3rd 3081. Over the course of six months, the Coalition's gains would be lost to the Republic, along with the Gryphons' destruction at the hands of Republic troops. By September, all of the fragmented nation-states of the League, save the Silver Hawks Coalition, would sign a permanent peace treaty with the Republic. New Hope along with other worlds would become part of the Republic of the Sphere, while any attempt to re-form the Gryphons and its sister unit Falcons would be seen as act of war.[6][7]

Legacy[edit]

The Gryphons would remain deactivated during the Dark Age, although the Silver Hawks Irregular's brigade would be restored by Anton Marik of the Marik-Stewart Commonwealth. He would fund the restoration of a single regiment under the unit's name. However, the Gryphons name would remain inactive even as the Irregulars came back into service in 3137.[8]

IlClan Era and Rebirth[edit]

The reborn Silver Hawks Irregulars remained a single regiment until 3151. Then, with financial support from the people of Alkes and New Hope, and additional funds from the Covenant Worlds and House Stewart, the Cameron-Witherspoons spun off a single battalion as the basis of a new regiment. The original became the Gryphons, and the new unit, the Falcons. The new Gryphons, as they were focused on assault tactics, fielded heavier equipment than the Falcons.[9]

Officers[edit]

Rank Name Command
Commanding Officers of the Gryphons
Colonel Martha Zuritas 3025[10]
Colonel Toni McIver 3050[11]
Colonel Petra Fisher 3058 - 3067[1][12]
Colonel Lucas Cameron-Witherspoon 3151 - 3152[13]

Tactics[edit]

The Gryphons used their brute force of heavy 'Mechs to pin down the enemy. Since the 3047 AFFC raid, the Gryphons have also implemented several training programs to counter special forces and conventional infantry attacks.[1]

Composition History[edit]

3025[edit]

Gryphons (Regiment/Regular/Questionable)[10]

  • CO: Colonel Martha Zuritas

3028[edit]

Gryphons (Regiment/Regular/Questionable)[14]

3040[edit]

Gryphons (Regiment/Veteran/Reliable)[15]

3050[edit]

Gryphons (Regiment/Regular/Reliable)[11]

3059[edit]

Gryphons (Regiment/Regular/Reliable)[1]

Note: The Regiment used FWL Advanced Technology, and refit their Orion and Thunderbolt 'Mechs.
Gryphon Aerospace Support (1 Wing/Regular/Reliable)[1]
Note: The Wing includes 1 Squadron of Cheetah F11-R recon variants.
Kalidasa Guard (1 Regiment/Veteran/Reliable)[1]
292nd League Regulars (Regiment/Regular/Reliable)[1]
Note: The 292nd is a jump infantry regiment.

3067[edit]

Gryphons (Regiment/Regular/Reliable)

  • CO: Colonel Petra Fisher
  • Base: Kalidasa
Note: The Gryphons were at about two-thirds their pre–Civil War strength.[16]

3079[edit]

Gryphons (Regiment/Regular/Reliable)[17]

Note: The Gryphons came through the Jihad in relatively good shape, only losing a tenth of their forces.[4]

3152[edit]

Gryphons (Regiment/Veteran/Questionable)[13]

References[edit]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Field Manual: Free Worlds League, p. 90: "Gryphons Unit Profile"
  2. Rhonda's Irregulars, p. 41
  3. Field Manual: Updates, p. 155
  4. 4.0 4.1 Field Report: FWLM, p. 8
  5. Jihad: Final Reckoning, p. 91: "The Marik Commonwealth"
  6. Field Manual: 3145, p. 108: Silver Hawk Irregulars/Atrean Dragoons/Protectorate Guards "Later sourcebook spells out the Silver Hawks were destroyed and why they were not re-formed until later
  7. Field Manual: 3085, pp. 16–17: Operation Golden Dawn - "details of Operation Gold Dawn and Silver Hawk irregular's overall fate in process
  8. Field Manual: 3145, p. 108: Silver Hawk Irregulars/Atrean Dragoons/Protectorate Guards - Silver Hawk Irregulars restored, but not Gryphons
  9. Empire Alone, p. 86
  10. 10.0 10.1 House Marik (The Free Worlds League), p. 108: "FWL Deployment Table"
  11. 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 20 Year Update, p. 57: "FWLM Deployment Table"
  12. Field Manual: Updates, p. 161: "Free Worlds League Military Deployment Table"
  13. 13.0 13.1 Empire Alone, p. 118: "Gryphons"
  14. 14.0 14.1 Historical: Brush Wars, p. 86
  15. 15.0 15.1 Historical: War of 3039, p. 140
  16. Field Manual: Updates, p. 161
  17. 17.0 17.1 Field Report: FWLM, p. 8

Bibliography[edit]