Hyades Light Infantry

Hyades Light Infantry.jpg
Hyades Light Infantry
Formed pre–Star League
Nickname Taurian Nomads
Affiliation Taurian Concordat
Parent Command II Corps


Unit Description[edit]

The Hyades Light Infantry was a highly mobile combat formation used by the Taurian Concordat for patrolling various worlds. Since its inception the unit employed Combined Arms allowing it a high level of mobility in combat.[1]

Unit Insignia and Paint Scheme[edit]

The unit's original insignia had two musketeers holding crossed muskets.[2] By 3062, this was changed to a golden diagonal sash-like swath painted across the front of their machines with 5 foils (swords) in the swath. Additional foils are allowed to be painted on the machine as further kills are accumulated by its pilot/crews. The Unit's preferred paint scheme consists of using blocky patchwork autumn camouflage patterns, similar to that used by infantry troops.[3]

History[edit]

Formation and Early Years[edit]

The Light Infantry was originally formed from a special forces/services combat unit that had specialized in defending Concordat's Flannagan's Nebulea. Like all other the Concordat's forces, after the Reunification War the Hyades Light Infantry was demobilized. They were not reactivated as a unit until sometime before 2765. At that time they were based on MacLeod's Land and were assigned the services of the TCS Parin, a Concordat-class WarShip, to assist them in their role as a rapid response force along the Federated Suns border.[4]

Amaris Civil War[edit]

Although the Hyades Light Infantry had been re-formed during the Star League era[4] they were evidently casualties of the Periphery Uprising, as the Infantry had ceased to exist as an operational command by the beginning of the First Succession War in 2786. The Taurian Defense Force mustered the Infantry again during the First Succession War.[5]

From the Succession Wars into 3060s[edit]

The unit by design and doctrine has no designated home base but rather has been utilized in the thirty-first century as a mobile patrolling force among the worlds facing the Davion border. When tasked as part of the Trinity Alliance the unit was deployed into Canopian space. After its actions in the St. Ives Conflict the unit returned to the Taurian Concordat to resume its duties as a border patrol.

Due to the destruction of its regimental mate the Concordat Cuirassiers in the St. Ives Conflict the Light Infantry has become stretched thin in its attempts to maintain its patrolling along Davion border space. In an attempt to ease this pressure and allow better defenses along this critical border the unit has been expanded to include a third BattleMech Battalion.[6]

Pleiades Cluster Assault of 3066 and the Unit's Destruction[edit]

In 3066, the regiment became part of efforts to reclaim the long-lost Pleiades Cluster after a suspected Davion mercenary regiment, the Fighting Urukhai assaulted Taurus. Using data gleaned from the survivors of the mercenary unit, the Hyades Light Infantry, along with the Pleiades Lancers and Hussars lead an incursion of reprisal into Federated Suns space, ultimately culminating in the assault and capture of the Pleiades Cluster by Taurian forces. While the initial reprisal campaign against the Federated Suns was at the behest of the Taurian Protector Grover Shraplen, the attack and capture of the Pleiades Cluster was not part of the plan. The addition of these long-lost planets to the Concordat and the resultant extension of the defended Davion border would have serious repercussions for the Hyades Light Infantry.

In 3067, forces from the Federated Suns Capellan March routed the Light Infantry and drove them and other supporting Taurian units out of the Cluster. The Light Infantry's end came on the planet Brockway II, where a majority of the regiment was destroyed by the advancing Davion forces.

After their return to Taurian space survivors of the Light Infantry were combined with other surviving Taurian Guard units in the hopes of resurrecting this proud regiment, but it is not known at this time whether this attempt will be successful in the long run.[7]

Officers[edit]

Rank Name Command
Commanding Officers of the Hyades Light Infantry
Colonel Fiona Jamesen 3025[8]
Colonel Tanis Verbret 3050[9][10]

Tactics[edit]

The Hyades Light Infantry's favored tactical doctrine is to take control of the critical vantage points of any given battlefield. The Light Infantry employs its fastest units to identify and invest these areas once they are found. The original Battalions of the Light Infantry have been extensively trained in all-climate warfare and have the capability to adapt their preferred tactics to varied terrains as part of their standard mission profile. Its newest BattleMech Battalion has not yet been brought up to speed in regards to the unit's standard tactical doctrine as of 3062.[11]

Composition History[edit]

2765[edit]

Hyades Light Infantry (Regiment/Veteran/Reliable)[12]

At this point in time the Light Infantry was deployed to MacLeod’s Land system.[12]

2821[edit]

Hyades Light Infantry (Regiment/Regular/Reliable)[5]

  • At this point in time the Infantry was reformed as a light-weight regiment stationed on Pinard, but was operating at just half strength.[5]

2830[edit]

Hyades Light Infantry (Regiment/Regular/Reliable)[13]

Note: At this point in time the medium-weight unit was stationed on Pinard with an operational readiness of 75 percent.[13]

2864[edit]

Hyades Light Infantry (Regiment/Regular/Reliable)[13]

Note: At this point in time the medium-weight unit was stationed on Pinard with an operational readiness of 51 percent.[13]

3025[edit]

Hyades Light Infantry[14]

  • CO: Colonel Fiona Jamesen
  • First Battalion (Veteran/Reliable)
  • Second Battalion (Regular/Reliable)
  • CO: Subaltern Malcolm Campbell

3050[edit]

Hyades Light Infantry (2 BattleMech Battalions)

  • CO: Colonel Tanis Verbret
  • First Battalion - CO: Subaltern Mohammed Chakravart, stationed on Jamestown - Veteran
  • Second Battalion - CO: Subaltern Sarasvati Rinaldi, stationed on Masterton - Veteran

3058[edit]

Hyades Light Infantry (2 BattleMech Battalions)

  • CO: Colonel Tanis Verbret
  • First Battalion - CO: Brigadier Mohammed Chakravart, stationed on Jamestown - Veteran
  • Second Battalion - CO: Brigadier Sarasvati Rinaldi, stationed on Brinton - Veteran

-Note: Both Battalions have loyalty rating of reliable. The Infantry assets in Second publication of the Periphery book does not detail its infantry & combat vehicle assets.[15]

3062[edit]

Hyades Light Infantry (3 BattleMech Battalions)

  • CO: Colonel Tanis Verbret
  • First Battalion - CO: Brigadier Alicia Nicholas, Unit Veteran Skilled
  • Second Battalion - CO: Brigadier Bryan Kole, Unit Veteran Skilled
  • Third Battalion - CO: Brigadier Tiberius James, Unit Green Skilled

-Note: The Regiment's typical BattleMech force composition tends toward lighter 'Mechs, with Medium 'Mechs being uncommon and Heavy 'Mechs a rare sight within its cadre.[16] As of 3062 the unit has been assigned patrol and garrison duties on the planets Amber Grove, Grossbach and Sterope.

Second Corps Air Division "Hard Air" (aerospace division)

-Note: The Second Corps is not permanently assigned to the Hyades Light Infantry. Doctrine during combat operations is to split the Division into wings to cover each of the BattleMech and conventional forces' Battalions.

Hyades Support Guard (Motorized Infantry Regiment)

  • CO: Colonel Mark White Bear - Veteran

-Note: the Guards regular infantry assets consist of a large contingent of hovercraft and VTOL mobile infantry units. As standard practice, the regiment is broken into its respective battalions and each resulting sub unit is assigned to work alongside their assigned BattleMech battalions. Two battlesuit-equipped squads have also been permanently assigned to this Guard unit.

Notes[edit]

  • It is unclear at this time what portion of the Light Infantry survived the unit's destruction and it is not known what name has been assigned to it as part of the reorganized Taurian Guards.

Game Notes[edit]

When using Force Specific Rules from Field Manual: Periphery for the Hyades Light Infantry, the controlling player will following abilities/rules. The Regiment has C Equipment Rating, when assigning units. Do the following: When using the Random Assignment Table fill out the lances, on the result of a 2 or 12, the player has option to roll any Inner Sphere Random Assignment Table from C, D & E columns. If using Battle Value to determine composition of the force (Original BV), 10 percent of the force must be dedicated to infantry units or be left unused. If units are dropping on the map (Hot Dropping) all units types have -2 bonus to their landing rolls. If using old MW3 RPG Rules for characters, members of the unit do not have the TDS trait (hyperspace sickness).[17]

References[edit]

  1. The Periphery (1988), p. 78: Unit description lays out use of Combat Vehicles and Jump Infantry as part of its methods of combat
  2. Periphery (1988), p. 78: II Corps/Hyades Light Infantry - Unit insignia described, but not present in the original book
  3. Field Manual: Periphery, p. 61: Unit paint scheme and new insignia noted
  4. 4.0 4.1 Field Report 2765: Periphery, p. 24
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 First Succession War, p. 140: "Major Periphery States"
  6. Field Manual: Periphery, p. 61: Hyades Light Infantry - Unit brief history to 3062
  7. Field Manual: Updates, pp. 192–193: The Pleiades Crusade/Taurian Guards - Unit's demise and its survivors kept together hope to revive the unit
  8. The Periphery (1988), p. 78: Unit Commanding Officer as of 3025
  9. 20 Year Update, p. 77: II Corps - Unit lists Verbret now commanding officer, the old CO now II Corps's commanding officer
  10. The Periphery (1996), p. 23: Verbret still Unit Commanding officer as of 3058
  11. Field Manual: Periphery, p. 61: Tactics - Unit tactics usually employed on the battlefield
  12. 12.0 12.1 Field Report 2765: Periphery, p. 24: "II Corps - Regimental Status"
  13. 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 Second Succession War, p. 100
  14. Periphery 1st Edition, p. 81
  15. The Periphery (1996), p. 23: 3058 listings for the unit, no fluff or details
  16. Field Manual: Periphery, p. 61: Regiment's break down and some details of their support forces
  17. Field Manual: Periphery, p. 152: Rules Annex/Hyades Light Infantry - Special rules/traits/abilities given to the unit

Bibliography[edit]