Editing Raventhir's Iron Hand

{{infoBoxMilitaryCommand
| image          = [[File:Raventhirs Iron Hand logo.png|150px|Insignia of Raventhir's Iron Hand]]
| Designation    = Raventhir's Iron Hand
| formed         = [[2579]]
| Disbanded      =
| Previous Designation =
| Nickname       = Undying Service
| Affiliation    = [[Magistracy of Canopus]]
| Parent Command = [[Magistracy Royal Guards]]
| Sub-Command    =
}}

The '''Raventhir's Iron Hand''' is a unit with the Magistracy of Canopus' military commands. Usually consisting of the MAF's most fanatical pilots in defending the Magistracy's capital world of [[Canopus IV]].

==History==
===Formation in the Reunification War===
The unit was founded in [[2579]] as an ad hoc BattleMech battalion created from the remains of MAF military units. The nameless battalion was used as a quick-response defense force created in the wake of the [[Star League|Star League's]] invasion of the Magistracy during the [[Reunification War]] in [[2577]]. In [[2580]], the unit proved its mettle by defending the world of [[Cranston]] against elements of the [[SLDF]] of [[VII Corps (Star League)|Seventh Corps]] and soundly defeating them.  The MAF christened the unit with the name "Magistracy Guards" in honor of their victory in hard struggle.  Later in [[2584]], the unit's name would be changed to the Royal Magistracy Guards after valiant defense of Canopus IV. The unit was disbanded in [[2588]]<ref>''BattleTech: 25 Years of Art & Fiction'', p. 22 "Succession Wars Era"</ref> after Canopus was conquered by the Star League.

===Reconstituted, the Succession Wars===
The Guards were re-formed in [[2786]] when [[Magestrix]] [[Janina Centrella]] declared Magistracy independence.  The unit gained its current name, Raventhir's Iron Hand, through the actions of its commander [[John Raventhir III]].  He led the regiment to break the [[House Marik|Marik]] siege of [[Thurrock]] at end of the [[First Succession War]].  The unit was renamed in his honor for this achievement. For most of the Succession Wars, the unit was stationed at the Palace of the Magestrix in the city of Crimson.<ref name=FMPp30>''Field Manual: Periphery'', p. 30, "Raventhir's Iron Hand unit profile"</ref>

===Liao Raid on Canopus===
In May of [[3035]], the [[Andurien Secession|Andurien-Canopus campaign]] to conquer [[House Liao|Liao]] had ended in defeat. Raventhir's Iron Hand surprised when Canopus was assaulted by [[McCarron's Armored Cavalry|McCarron's Armored Cavalry's 4th Regiment]], ''Leo's Demons''. As part of a raid to remind the Canopian government that they were not safe from Liao. The Iron Hand was nearly overrun by the ferocity of the mercenaries, but they were saved by the leadership of [[Emma Centrella]]. She led the counteroffensive with the Iron Hand and other Magistracy Guard units to blunt the attack.<ref>''Historical: Brush Wars'', pp. 67-68, "Object Lessons".</ref>

===Early 3060s===
As of [[3064]], the unit was barely veteran status, having not seen combat since 3035, Andurien Succession conflict.<ref name=FMPp30/> The unit became unlike a parade unit, with few technology upgrades among their troops. Only its commanding officer had been issued a new Capellan ''[[Yu Huang]]'' Assault 'Mech.<ref name=FMPp30/> Efforts had been made to upgrade the force, including a new Armor Battalion consisting of [[Heavy LRM Carrier]]s and [[Light SRM Carrier]]s. Despite the majority of the unit slowly losing its skills, the infantry battalion had retained its elite status, since it was consistently being rotated into frontline forces every six months.  The Infantry was employed to protect the Magestrix herself.

===Blakist Invasion of Canopus===
In May [[3068]], the [[Word of Blake|Word of Blake's]] [[34th Division (Word of Blake)|34th Division]] conducted an assault against Canopus.  The Iron Hand moved to meet them in outskirts of the capital city of Crimson.  The Iron Hands managed to battle the 34th Division from the emplacement bunkers.  The bunkers allowed the outnumbered Iron Hands to fight Blakist to a standstill briefly with its 'Mech and Armored Vehicle formations.  However, Raventhir's Infantry Guard was not at the battle itself. They were guarding the [[Emma Centrella|Magestrix]] and other VIPs. Blakist Infantry of the 34th Division inserted themselves in complex where the Magestrix was located and slaughter Iron Hand Infantry and captured their charges. The main unit itself was overwhelmed eventually, with only a few of its MechWarriors managing to escape the unit's destruction.<ref>''Masters and Minions: The StarCorps Dossiers'', p. 170, "Bloody and Blind"</ref>

As of [[3077]], survivors of the Iron Hand were transferred to rebuild the [[1st Canopian Cuirassiers|First Canopian Cuirassiers]]. With the Iron Hand's last commanding officer, Jason Raventhir, missing and presumed dead, the unit was at the time not being considered to be rebuilt.<ref>''Masters and Minions: The StarCorps Dossiers'', p. 179, "Royal Magistracy Guards"</ref>

===Rebuilding===
While Raventhir's Iron Hand hadn't been rebuilt by [[3079]],<ref name="FR:Pp10">''Field Report: Periphery'', p. 10, "Magistracy of Canopus"</ref> Magestrix [[Naomi Centrella]] ordered the rebuilding of the Iron Hand immediately following the end of the [[Jihad]]. The Magestrix appointed [[Major]] [[Jeremy Raventhir]] of the [[1st Raventhir Cuirassiers]] as commanding officer of the reconstituted Raventhir's Iron Hand, rebuilding the unit using a combination of the top-ranking cadets from the [[Emma Centrella Martial Academy]] and a cadre of elite veterans drawn from regiments throughout the Magistracy Armed Forces.<ref name="FM:3085p137">''Field Manual: 3085'', p. 137, "Magistracy Royal Guards Brigade"</ref>

=== The Dark Age ===
Having rebuilt to battalion strength, the Iron Hand promptly resumed their standard pattern of duties; two companies of the Iron Hand assumed guard duty on Canopus IV and at the Palace of the Magestrix, while a third company rotated out onto various Canopian border worlds to gain experience. The Iron Hand was soon proving its mettle against those who would harm the Magistracy; the Third Company had only recently mustered to full strength and deployed to the world of [[Bass]] in July [[3085]] when the planet was attacked by a raiding party numbering at least two companies in strength. The raiders, believed to originate from [[Astrokaszy]], expected Bass to be unguarded and had arrived with the intent of capturing and enslaving a number of the locals. The Third Company violently disabused the raiders of this notion, slamming into the enemy landing zone and pushing them back. The raiders tried to fall back to their [[DropShips]], only to have the Iron Hand attack and disable the DropShips in turn. Choosing to surrender, the raiders were subsequently executed outside the rebuilt provincial academy in Magestrix Square.<ref name="FM:3085p137"/>

In the 3120s the Iron Hand shifted away from recruiting the best graduates from the Emma Centrella Martial Academy, instead recruiting more and more graduates from the [[Canopian Institute of War]], which had been rebuilt after the Jihad. By [[3145]] almost all of the Iron Hand's intake of recruits was being drawn from the CIW. The Iron Hand continued to be based on Canopus - and continued to receive the best equipment [[Majesty Metals and Manufacturing]] produced. However, while the bulk of the regiment remained on Canopus, following the marriage of Magestrix [[Ilsa Centrella]] to the ruler of the [[Duchy of Andurien]] a company from the Iron Hand was assigned to postings in the Duchy, with the chosen company rotating every three months, helping the Iron Hand to maintain their combat skills.<ref name="FM:3145p191">''Field Manual: 3145'', p. 191, "Magistracy Royal Guards Brigade"</ref>

==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 Raventhir's Iron Hand'''
|-
| [[Major]]||[[Vernyce Alkobar]]||[[3025]]<ref name=TPp99>''The Periphery (1988)'', p. 99, "Unit Deployment Table - 3025"</ref>
|-
| Major||[[Mariann Tudor]]||[[3050]]<ref name=20Yp78>''20 Year Update'', p. 78, "MAF Deployment Table - 3050"</ref><ref name=ORp47>''Objective Raids'', p. 47, "MAF Deployment Table - 3054"</ref>
|-
| [[Colonel]]||[[Jason Raventhir]]||[[3064]] - [[3067]]<ref name=FMPp30/><ref name=FMUp201>''Field Manual: Updates'', p. 201, "MAF Deployment Table - 3067"</ref>
|-
| Colonel||[[Jeremy Raventhir]]||[[3085]]<ref name=FM3085p149>''Field Manual: 3085'', p. 149, "MAF Deployment Table - 3085"</ref>
|-
| Colonel||[[Kaci Dotson]]||[[3145]]<ref name=FM:3145p200>''Field Manual: 3145'', p. 200, "Magistracy Royal Guards"</ref>
|}

==Tactics==
The unit was trained in defensive actions.<ref name=FMPp30/>

==Composition History==
===2580===
'''Magistracy Guards''' ([[BattleMech]] [[Battalion]])<ref>''Field Manual: Periphery'', p. 31, "Raventhir's Iron Hand" - Unit history describes the unit's original formal name as being Magistracy Guards.</ref>

=== 2786 - 2821===
'''Magistracy Guards ''' (Regiment/Veteran/Reliable)<ref name= FSSp140 >''First Succession War'', p. 140</ref>
: Note: At this point in time the medium-weight unit was stationed on [[Canopus IV]]. In 2821 the command was reduced to 47 percent of its strength and was deployed on [[Canopus IV]].<ref name= FSSp140/>
=== 2830 ===
'''Raventhir's Iron Hand''' (Regiment/Elite/Reliable)<ref name=2ndSSp100>''Second Succession War'', p. 100</ref>
: Note: At this point in time the heavy-weight unit was stationed on [[Canopus IV]] with an operational readiness of 78 percent.<ref name=2ndSSp100/>
=== 2864 ===
'''Raventhir's Iron Hand''' (Regiment/Elite/Fanatical)<ref name=2ndSSp100/>
: Note: At this point in time the assault-weight unit was stationed on [[Canopus IV]] with an operational readiness of 37 percent.<ref name=2ndSSp100/>

===3025===
'''Raventhir's Iron Hand''' (Veteran/Fanatical)<ref name=TPp99/>
* CO: Major [[Vernyce Alkobar]]

=== 3028 ===
'''Raventhir’s Iron Hand''' (Regiment/Veteran/Fanatical)<ref name =HBSp87/>
:Note: At this point in time the command was stationed on [[Canopus IV]].<ref name =HBSp87>''Historical: Brush Wars'', p.87</ref>

===3050-3054===
'''Raventhir's Iron Hand''' (BattleMech [[Regiment]])<ref name=20Yp78/><ref name=ORp47/>
* CO: Major Mariann Tudor

===3064-3067===
'''Raventhir's Iron Hand''' (BattleMech Regiment/Veteran/Fanatical)<ref name=FMPp30/><ref name=FMUp201/>
* CO: [[Colonel]] Jason Raventhir
:* XO/1st Battalion: [[Force Major]] Karla Delther
* 2nd Battalion: Major Forrest Smith
* 3rd Battalion: Major Andrea Carlson

'''Raventhir's Air Guard''' ([[Air Lance]]/Veteran/Fanatical)<ref name=FMPp30/><ref name=FMUp201/>
* CO: [[Captain#Magistracy of Canopus|Commander]] Jak Vargas

'''Raventhir's Armor Guard''' (2 [[Battalions/Regular/Fanatical)<ref name=FMPp30/><ref name=FMUp201/>
* CO: Force Major Joshua Nielson II

'''Raventhir's Infantry Guard''' (Battalion/Elite/Fanatical)<ref name=FMPp30/><ref name=FMUp201/>
* CO: Colonel [[David Collins]]

===3085===
'''Raventhir's Iron Hand''' (Veteran/Fanatical)<ref name=FM3085p149/>
* CO: Colonel Jeremy Raventhir

'''Raventhir's Air Guard''' (1 [[Squadron]]/Veteran/Fanatical)<ref name=FM3085p149/>
* CO: Commander Akane Sato

'''Raventhir's Armor Guard''' (Regular/Reliable)<ref name=FM3085p149/>
* CO: Force Major David Dirix

'''Raventhir's Infantry Guard''' (Elite/Fanatical)<ref name=FM3085p149/>
* CO: Colonel Emmet Phil

===3145===
'''Raventhir's Iron Hand''' (Elite/Fanatical)<ref name=FM:3145p200/>
* CO: Colonel [[Kaci Dotson]]

'''Raventhir's Air Guard''' (Elite/Fanatical)<ref name=FM:3145p200/>
* CO: Colonel [[Elva Berryman]]

'''Raventhir's Armor Guard''' (Veteran/Fanatical)<ref name=FM:3145p200/>
* CO: Colonel [[Keith Rivers]]

'''Raventhir's Infantry Guard''' (Elite/Fanatical)<ref name=FM:3145p200/>
* CO: Colonel [[Walker Chappell]]

==Notes==
Commander Asia Bannor led the glory parade of the first [[Martial Olympiad]] to take place since the fall of the first [[Star League]].<ref>''Field Manual: Updates'', p. 5</ref>

<div class="gamerules">
== Game Rules ==
=== 3145 ===
* When rolling to determine skill levels randomly Raventhir's Iron Hand adds a +1 bonus to the result of the dice roll.<ref name="FM:3145p210">''Field Manual: 3145'', p. 210, "Magistracy of Canopus"</ref>
* When units from the Raventhir's Iron Hand are being determined randomly one unit out of every four may be generated from the Duchy of Andurien/Free Worlds League RAT.<ref name="FM:3145p210"/>
</div>

==References==
<references />

==Bibliography==
* ''[[20 Year Update]]''
* ''[[BattleTech: 25 Years of Art & Fiction]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: 3085]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: 3145]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: Periphery]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: Updates]]''
* ''[[Field Report: Periphery]]''
* ''[[First Succession War (sourcebook)]]''
* ''[[Masters and Minions: The StarCorps Dossiers]]''
* ''[[Objective Raids]]''
* ''[[The Periphery (1988)]]''
* ''[[Second Succession War (sourcebook)]]''

[[Category:Magistracy of Canopus Commands|Magistracy Royal Guards, Raventhir's Iron Hand]]