Taurian Defense Force

The well-organized and well-trained Taurian Defense Force (TDF) is arranged along the principles of 19th-century Napoleonic armies. A total of twelve BattleMech regiments are grouped into four separate operations corps: The First, Second, Third, and Taurian Guard Corps. Naval elements are attached directly to Corps Commanders, with each fleet divided further into two demi- squadrons each. There is also the Concord Constabulary, a paramilitary force normally used for internal security purposes, but which can be mobilized in time of war. Overall, the TDF is a highly motivated force of professional soldiery supported by a variety of heavy industries.

Command Structure

Actions of the TDF are ultimately controlled by the Protector of the Realm, who is the chief Taurian policy maker for both internal and external military and political affairs. If the Protector lacks in military expertise, the Protector may delegate a Marshall. The Taurian government maintains checks and balances, and as such, the Protector's policies are subject to advisor committees and judicial review. In times of war, the Protector is allowed emergency powers which temporarily render the Protector's orders as absolute.

In times of peace, the Protector is unofficially obliged to seek the advice of the Privy Council. The Privy Council was formed from the heads of the leading families of the original Calderon expedition. Council members come from all walks of life, and may attain this office by exceptional deeds, service, or political appointment by the Protector. The Privy Council maintains expertise in many different fields, and convene monthly to make recommendations. The Protector is NOT obligated to act upon these recommendations.

The Protector's policies are enacted by a second "advisory" committee, the Ministry of Defense, which only handles matters of defense. The Ministry of Defense is staffed by civilians and military personnel, and acts as quartermaster, recruiter, and directs weapons research. The primary responsibility of the Ministry of Defense is devising and (when required) enacting contingency plans, in the event of another Inner Sphere invasion.

Organization

Hierarchy

Rank	Infantry	Armor	AeroSpace	BattleMech
Enlisted Personel (XO indicates non-commissioned executive officer)
Recruit	soldier
Corporal	1 maniple (5 soldiers) or 1 junior specialist	1 vehicle
Section Leader	1 squad (2 maniples) or 1 senior specialist	1 maniple (2 vehicles)
Force Sergeant	1 platoon (25-30 soldiers)	1 lance (3 maniples)	1 AeroSpace Fighter
Lance Sergeant	1 command platoon (XO)	1 company (3 lances) (XO)	1 air lance (2 AeroSpace Fighters)
Battalion Cheif-Sergeant or Air Sergeant	1 battalion (XO)	1 battalion (3 companies) (XO)	1 flight (2 air lances)
Officers (XO indicates executive officer)
Cornet or Ensign	1 company	1 company	1 wing (2 flights)	1 BattleMech
Subaltern or Air Master, Junior Grade	1 battalion	1 battalion	2 wings	1 company (12 BattleMechs)
Brigadier or Air Master, Senior Grade	1 regiment (XO)	1 regiment (XO)	1 division (3 wings)	1 battalion (4 companies)
Colonel or Space Master	1 regiment	1 regiment	1 ship	1 regiment
Comptroller or Commodore	multi-world force commander	multi-world force commander	demi-squadron (varies)	1 regiment plus support
Marshal	1 corps	1 corps	1 corps	1 corps

Branches

Concord Army:

The Concord Army consists of twelve BattleMech regiments (30 battalions). Nine are line units, and three are mercenary regiments with long-term contracts. Oriented toward lances of light-to-medium BattleMechs, Taurian units are similar in composition to their counterparts in the Successor States. Units are routinely trained as Special Task Groups. In the first days of an invasion, battalions not engaged with enemy forces would be earmarked for special STG strike missions, as local counterattack teams or as deep-space raiders directed at vulnerable communication and supply points. The flexibility of this military response remains to be seen, especially as more and more Taurian units are being committed to permanent garrisons each year.

Concord Navy:

The Concord Navy currently consists of 117 DropShips and JumpShips divided into four fleets, each fleet being assigned to a corps front commander. Taurian naval personnel are typically long-term volunteers, with officers serving from about four to seven years. In time of war, the Navy is expected to serve as the first line of defense against any aggressor. In a departure from Reunification War doctrine, all four fleet components, including that of the Taurian Guard Corps, are expected to engage the enemy as far forward as possible, sacrificing themselves to blunt the enemy's invasion as far from the Hyades Cluster as possible. Few vessels would be retained to defend the Taurian home worlds.

AeroSpace Arm:

Though staffed, like its naval counterpart, with long-term professionals, the AeroSpace Arm remains the weakest of three principal military branches. A general lack of equipment and experience against modern combat tactics leaves this organization at a distinct disadvantage against its Inner Sphere counterparts. As a result, the AeroSpace Arm concentrates on ground-support roles. In recent years, the Concord has brought in advisers from the Outworlds Alliance to help modernize the arm, though it may be years before the Taurians are on par with their potential opponents.

Medical Division:

The Medical Division is concerned with the recovery and rehabilitation of wounded personnel in the field. At present, the medical service available to the average Concord soldier is comparable to that of the Inner Sphere. Emphasis is placed on the quick retrieval of wounded personnel close to the forward edge of battle, and the division is fully capable of deploying emergency medical and surgical support stations via support craft at a moment's notice.

Transport and Service Division:

The Transport and Services Division is responsible for the transportation of men and material to battle areas. In addition, it can provide recovery and repair of battle-damaged craft and machines, as well as transport reserves capable of maintaining the integrity of units in the field. Except for those vessels directly assigned to specific regiments, military DropShips and JumpShips are under the control of this division.

Administrative Corps:

The Administrative Corps is responsible for all matters pertaining to personnel and administrative functions in the armed forces, including disbursement of funds, recordkeeping, promotion review boards, and the acquisition and management of mercenary units.

Propaganda Division:

With the task of maintaining good morale within the armed services, the Propaganda Division is an independent arm of government that disseminates information regarding the positive aspects of Concord life and discounts rumors instigated by enemy agents.

Special Forces

The following summarizes the three wings of TDF Special Forces: the Concord Constabulary, the Taurian ASF, and the Noble Family Regiments.

Concord Costabulary:

The Concord Constabulary is a dual-function local defense force, charged with intelligence-gathering and internal security operations. It is also a source of conventionally armed troops in time of war, when each Taurian planetary system reverts to martial law under the control of the Constabulary. The military potential of the Constabulary is two to six battalions of conventional troops (600 men each) available for active duty on each Taurian world.

In addition, the Constabulary retains the services of a special Engineer Company (125 men) on each planet outside the Hyades Cluster. These individuals are charged with maintaining planetary defenses and fortifications. All Constabulary units also maintain at least one company of armor in the capital of each inhabited world.

Taurian SASF:

The Taurian Special Asteroid Support Force is a body of five thousand soldiers and naval personnel trained on Zero-g defense platforms throughout the Hyades Cluster asteroid belt, from which they can attack invading forces. As the survival potential of forces in combat is low, the Taurian SASF is a voluntary force of individuals motivated by the highest degree of patriotism.

Noble Family Regiments:

In the event of war, the Taurian aristocracy is expected to raise and equip local defense regiments at their own expense. The number and quality of these "Home Guards" cannot be estimated at this time, but their strength in the Reunification War suggests the possibility of from one to two dozen such units, ranging from 1,000 to 3,000 conventional troops.

Units of the Taurian Defense Force

BattleMech Units within the TDF are divided into 6 separate Corps, each of which "coordinates" with more conventional assets. Below is a brief list of Taurian assets, listed by command structure, not by unit formation (c. 3063):

Taurian Guard

BattleMech

• Taurian Guard
• Taurian Velites
• Concordat Commandos

AeroSpace

• 4th Taurian Air Division

Armor

• 3rd Taurian Armor Guard
• 15th Armored Cavalry

Infantry

• 121st Cluster Infantry
• 3rd Battlesuit Recon

I Corps

BattleMech

• Concordat Jaegers
• Red Chasseurs

AeroSpace

• 2nd Velites Air Division
• 21st Corps Air Division

Armor

• 27th Armored Reconnaissance

Infantry

• 35th Cluster Support Force

II Corps

BattleMech

• Hyades Light Infantry
• Concordat Cuirassiers

AeroSpace

• 2nd Corps Air Division

Infantry

• Hyades Support Guard

III Corps

BattleMech

• Pleiades Hussars
• Taurian Lancers

AeroSpace

• Pleiades 7th Air Division

Armor

• 47th Jansen's Armored Brigade
• 1st Taurian Armored Lancers

Infantry

• 12th Pleiades Infantry
• 75th Light Guard

IV Corps

BattleMech

• Pleiades Lancers
• 2nd Taurian Lancers

AeroSpace

• 33rd Air Defense

Armor

• 13th Light Cavalry
• 2nd Taurian Armored Lancers

V Corps

BattleMech

• 3rd Taurian Lancers

Armor

• 3rd Taurian Armored Lancers

Infantry

• 3rd Taurian Foot Lancers

VI Corps

BattleMech

• 1st Taurian Pride
• 2nd Taurian Pride

AeroSpace

• 1st Pride Defense Division
• 2nd Pride Defense Division

Armor

• 7th Gaul Armored Regiment

Infantry

• New Colony Guard
• Calderon's Commandos

=Affiliated Mercenaries

Given below is a list of mercenary commands in service to the Taurian Concordat as of 3058:

I Corps - Gordon's Armored Cavalry II Corps - Longwood's Bluecoats III Corps - Bannockburn's Bandits IV Corps - Hell's Black Aces, 2nd Wing V Corps- Vandelay's Valkyries, the Lone Star Regiment VI Corps - Prey's Divisionals, the The Clean Kill, Protector's Pride

Independent (Planetary Militias)

Each world and colony also maintains a standing army of infantry and armor, with armor assets totaling at least 1 battalion, but climbing to more than 1 regiment on very important worlds.

In Memoriam

• Calderon Red Hand
• Concordat Velites

Military Academies

Alone of all the Periphery states, the Taurian Concordat maintains large military training academies. At present, there is one academy for each major combat branch: the Army, Navy, and AeroSpace Arms. The army training academy is the Taurian Ecole Militaire, located on Taurus. The Taurian Naval Institute and the Concord AeroSpace Flight School are located on New Vandenburg and Samantha, respectively. Each has well-developed training programs for both NCOs and officers and can accommodate upward of five hundred personnel.

Uniforms

The traditional dress uniform of the Concord military is a red tunic with silver buttons (gold for officers), black trousers, and black lapels. Distinctions between branches are denoted by the colors of oversized berets or field caps: dark green for infantry light green for armor, brown for BattleMech, sky blue for navy, and light gray for all support services. In the field, troops wear a standard dull-red or burgundy fatigue uniform with rank insignia on their uniform lapels. Designs for personal gear such as neurohelmets and flight gear have been borrowed from Liao and Davion models, with slight modifications from unit to unit.

Dress uniforms within the TDF correspond to standard uniform styles, with silver sashes and white gloves for all enlisted ranks and gold sashes and white gloves for officers. Marshals of the Concord are further denoted by gold lanyards on both shoulders.

Ranks

Their are six tiers within both Officer and Enlisted ranks. The title of each rank pays homage to those of 18th-19th century Great Britain and France.

Enlisted Ranks

• Recruit - All Concord citizens are required at age 18 to begin a four-year tour in the TDF. Most recruits serve with the Infantry, on planetary militias ("provisional training battaliions") specific to geographical districts distinct to each planet (these districts are called "cantons"). Recruits receive 18 weeks of basic training before being deployed. Provisional training battalions rarely do more than "litter patrol".

• Corporal - Corporals lead infantry maniples, or serve as tank commanders. Among other services, Corporals are junior positions with specialist training.

• Section Leader - Section Leaders are squad leaders. In Taurian armor units, Section Leaders command a maniple. Among other services, Section Leaders are senior specialists.

• Force Sergeant - A Force Sergeant commands a platoon, or a lance of armored vehicles. Within the AeroSpace Arm, Force Sergeants are junior AeroSpace Pilots.

• Lance Sergeant - A Lance Sergeant commands the retinue platoon of a Cornet, or commnads a company of armored vehicles under a Subaltern. In the AeroSpace Arm, Lance Sergeants command an air lance.

• Battalion Chief-Sergeant/Air Chief - Battalion Chief-Sergeants are the highest non-commissioned officers within battalions. Air Chiefs, the equivalent rank used within the AeroSpace Arm, command a flight.

Officer Ranks

• Cornet/Ensigns - Cornets serve as company commanders (using Lance Sergeants to execute orders). Ensigns also serve as assistant department heads on AeroSpace vessels or wing commanders (using Air Chiefs to execute orders). In BattleMech units, all MechWarriors are officers, and therefore Cornets. Lance command falls to a senior Cornet within the unit.

• Subaltern/Air Master, Junior Grade - Subalterns are battalion commanders among Taurian ground forces, or BattleMech company commanders. Among AeroSpace forces, Air Masters, Junior Grade act as assistant commanders of air divisions (consisting of two wings).

• Brigadier/Air Master, Senior Grade - Brigadiers are regimental executive officers for ground units, or battalion commanders for BattleMech units. Air Masters, Senior Grade command an aerospace division consisting of 3 wings.

• Colonel/Space Master - Colonels are senior regimental commanders. Space Masters act as ship captains aboard Taurian naval vessels. All officers of this rank wear a full moon on each lapel.

• Comptroller/Commodore - Commodores command demi-squadrons, a collection of naval vessels assembled to accomplish a mission. Comptrollers command sections of a corps, and integrate regimental command with support.

• Marshal - each corps is commanded by a Marshall. The commanding officer of the Taurian Guard is also a marshal, the Senior Marshal, a rank generally held by the Protector of the Realm.

Strengths and Weaknesses

On the whole, the Taurian military consists of highly trained and well-motivated individuals. It nevertheless suffers from several debilitating factors. The shrunken size of the Concord, in comparison with its original holdings in the 2500s, means that in any full-scale war, the Taurians will be unable to trade space for time as they did in the Reunification War. Within the first few months of fighting, the Taurians can expect to lose several key planetary systems, after which they will be forced into either a desperate counterattack or a withdrawal into the Hyades Cluster. Many of the Taurians' key industrial centers are located outside the Hyades zone, making them prime targets of occupation. The protection of these manufacturing centers forces the Taurians to commit most of their battalions to a relatively static role.

Sources

• The Periphery (sourcebook)
• Field Manual: Periphery