Editing 17th Arcturan Guards

{{Update Needed|[[Tamar Rising]]}}
{{infoBoxMilitaryCommand
| image          = [[File:Arcturan Guards 17th logo.png|150px|Insignia of the 17th Arcturan Guards]]
| Designation    = Seventeenth Arcturan Guards RCT
| formed         = 
| Disbanded      = 
| Previous Designation = 
| Nickname       = The Kezla Rams
| Affiliation    = [[Lyran Commonwealth]]
| Parent Command = [[Arcturan Guards]]
| Sub-Command    = 
}}

==Unit Description==
The '''Seventeenth Arcturan Guards''' is a [[House Steiner]] military formation; in its early days it was a purely [[BattleMech]] Regiment.  After the formation of the [[Federated Commonwealth]], the unit was reorganized into the lead element of its own [[Regimental Combat Team]].  The unit saw little action through most of the early and late [[thirty-first century]] until the [[FedCom Civil War]].{{cn}}

==History==
=== Star League Era ===
The Seventeenth was not active in [[2765]], although both the [[16th Arcturan Guards|Sixteenth]] and [[Eighteenth Arcturan Guards]] were.<ref name="FM2765:LCp9">''Field Report 2765: LCAF'', p. 9: "Regimental Status"</ref>

=== First Succession War ===
The Seventeenth Arcturan Guards were re-formed in [[2781]] through the recruitment of the [[205th Heavy Assault Regiment]], a former [[Star League Defense Force]] regiment from the [[17th Army (Star League)|Seventeenth Army]], and had the distinction of being the first SLDF unit to be recruited by the LCAF.<ref name="FSWp33">''First Succession War'', p. 33: "Those Left Behind (Continued)"</ref>

===Third Succession War===
The Seventeenth faced [[Wolf's Dragoons]] Beta and Delta Regiments on [[Wyatt]] in [[3016]]. The unit did something few other units had: It destroyed a battalion of Beta Regiment when they destroyed a Dragoon [[DropShip]].<ref>''Wolf's Dragoons'', p. 21</ref>

In [[3019]] the Seventeenth ambushed [[Zeta Battalion]] and the [[Black Widow Company]] on [[Lamon]]. The Seventeenth wasn't able to drive off the Dragoons, but they did put up a heavy defense that inflicted serious losses on the two Dragoon units.<ref>''Wolf's Dragoons'', p. 23</ref>

=== Fourth Succession War ===
In October [[3028]] the Seventeenth were stationed on [[Wyatt]] when it was targeted by the [[Free Worlds League Military]] as a part of [[Operation DAGGER]], the offensive planned by [[Captain-General of the Free Worlds League|Captain-General]] [[Janos Marik]] to seize valuable industrial worlds in the [[Federation of Skye]]. Wyatt was a particular target of DAGGER because of the presence of the Seventeenth and the [[Eleventh Lyran Guards]]; while the [[Fifth Regulan Hussars]] and [[Twenty-fifth Marik Militia]] jumped into the Wyatt system intent on destroying both regiments, other [[FWLM]] regiments were capturing the [[Milton]] and [[Phecda]] systems in an effort to isolate the Lyran forces.<ref name="FSWMAv1p62">''NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 1'', pp. 62–63: "Operation DAGGER"</ref>

Unfortunately for the two League regiments, the two Lyran regiments had been forewarned of the attack. The Hussars arrived at a [[pirate point]] allowing them to make an immediate drop on the surface of the planet, while the Militia appeared at the zenith [[jump point]] - only to find the Eleventh Lyran Guards waiting at the jump point, with the 'Mechs embarked on transports and [[Aerospace fighter|aerospace fighters]] patrolling. Before the Militia could launch fighters the Eleventh's aerospace fighters began strafing attacks, with pairs of ''[[Chippewa]]s'' and ''[[Lucifer]]s'' each launching a single attack before withdrawing. The cumulative damage destroyed two ''[[Union]]s'' and a ''[[Leopard]]''; worse still for the Militia, one of the DropShips was transporting a [[battalion]] command staff, and when it was destroyed, not only were those staff killed, but the [[DropShip]] then exploded, damaging a number of neighboring DropShips as they separated from their ''[[Invader]]''-class [[JumpShip]]. With the Militia forces frantically trying to form up, the Eleventh retrieved its fighters and jumped out to the [[Alchiba]] system, while the Arcturan Guards jumped for [[Cor Caroli]].<ref name="FSWMAv1p62"/> Although the plan to destroy the two Lyran regiments was unsuccessful, the League did capture Wyatt.<ref name="FSWMAv1p63">''NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 1'', p. 63: "Overview"</ref>

===Post–Fourth Succession War===
The unit undertook a raiding mission against the [[Free Worlds League]] world of [[Dubhe]] in [[3049]].  The unit was noted for having crushed the [[Silver Hawk Irregulars|Silver Hawk Irregulars']] Falcon Regiment in the action.<ref name=FMLA>''Field Manual: Lyran Alliance'', p. 57: "17th Arcturan Guards" - Raid in Free Worlds League noted, one of the few actions the unit is noted for doing</ref>

===Clan Invasion===
In [[3047]], the Guards saw action against the [[13th Marik Militia]]. During that operation, the unit learned to develop defensive tactics to protect its vital rear staging areas.<ref>''Field Manual: Lyran Alliance'', p. 57: Tactics - Unit fought 13th Marik Militia and learn its tactics, but unspecific where they fought</ref> By [[3050]], the Guards were stationed on the planet [[Wyatt]] along the border of the [[Free Worlds League]].<ref name=20Yp27>''20 Year Update'', p. 27: "AFFC Deployment Table - 3050"</ref> They remained there in the years following the [[Clan Invasion]], and would ultimately remain on Wyatt until [[3062]].

===FedCom Civil War===
====Garrison Duty on Solaris====
The unit was first deployed to [[Solaris VII]] with orders to reinforce the garrison on planet, as the locals failed to contain increasing levels of violence that become later known as the [[Solaris#Solaris_Riots|Solaris Riots]] in [[3062]].

====Small World====
In 3066, the Seventeenth was ordered to reinforce Loyalist forces fighting on [[Tikonov]], however they ended up on [[Small World]].

On April 20th, the unit moved land on the planet and awaited new orders from [[LAAF]] High Command.  In what was only meant to be a stopover, the unit was attacked by [[Smithson's Chinese Bandits]] and other minor militia and mercenary units under their direct control. The Bandits were originally contracted by the planet's government to protect the world's mining complexes. The Guards' proximity to Mining complex was too close for them and the Bandits attacked while the Guards were landing.  Caught in complete surprise, the Guards and Bandits battle extended into a conflict for control of the planet instead of simple way station to wait for orders.  The Bandits led the Guards in chases through Small World's arctic regions, but ended up unsuccessful hunting down the units.  By 14th of June, the [[Achernar SMM]] had arrived to reinforce the Guards. The unit commanders prove to dislike each other but were able to carry on in their efforts to hunt down the Bandits.  Within three days, both loyalist units were successful in destroying the Smithson's Chinese Bandits.

On the 21st of June, [[Victor Steiner-Davion|Victor Steiner-Davion's]] Allied forces arrived in-system.  The [[5th Syrtis Fusiliers]] was leading brigade of Mercenaries, under the command of [[Major General]] Koening. Initially the 5th Syrtis and its forces were using their range weaponry to wear down the Guards and its Militia ally. Despite this, in 2nd July the Guards & Militia pushed back Federated Suns forces to back to their landing zone.

Unfortunately for the Guards, Koening had additional forces called in, inform of few battalions of mercenary led by [[Wilson's Hussars]].  The sheer size of forces against the Arcturans and its Militia put the unit within two weeks of fighting.  By July 23rd, Leutnant-General [[Davis Lillie]] ordered a withdrawal for all loyalist forces.  As Guards & Militia were loading their troops on their DropShips, Allied forces conducted a Combat Drop of BattleMechs on their LZ.  This actions by the allies was backed by an attack by numerous [[Combat vehicles|Armor units]]. On the next day of fighting, General Lillie formally surrendered to Allied forces, and his unit's personnel were incarcerated on the planet.<ref>''FedCom Civil War'', pp. 160–161: "Small World" - The Unit Actions on Small World and their defeat</ref>

===Post–FedCom Civil War===
During their incarceration, the mercenary units involved in the fighting attempted to confiscate the Guard's equipment for their own. However, Major-General Koening prevented Guards from being rendered equipment-less.  However, the unit did end up losing some their assets to the mercenaries.<ref>''Field Manual: Updates'', p. 168: "17th Arcturan Guards" - Unit lost equipment after being jailed by FedSuns troops</ref>

===Jihad===
The Seventeenth Arcturan Guards survived the initial [[Jihad]] actions in the [[Federated Suns]] and fought in Operation SCOUR.<ref>''Field Report: AFFS'', p. 20</ref>
As part of the Coalition's Lyran Thrust, the Seventeenth raided [[Zosma]] in [[3077]].<ref>''Total Chaos'', pp. 89, 171</ref> Finding the world nearly defenseless, they promptly took control of the planet and brought it into the Coalition's control.<ref>''Jihad Hot Spots: Terra'', p. 65</ref> They also served under [[General]] [[Belle Lee]]'s assault on Sydney, Australia, [[Terra]].<ref>''Jihad Hot Spots: Terra'', p. 96</ref><ref>''Field Report: LAAF'', p. 10</ref> While fighting in Sydney, they fought alongside [[Ryuken-san]] and [[Stone's Stalwarts]].<ref>''Total Chaos'', pp. 221–223</ref>

After the [[Jihad]] ended, the Seventeenth was rotated back to [[Arcturus]]. There they rebuilt to fighting strength. They have the distinction of being the only full RCT left in the Arcturan Guards brigade,<ref>''Field Manual: 3085'', p. 98</ref> though they are still at barely half their listed strength.<ref name=FM3085p109/>

===Dark Age===
In [[3083]] one Star from the [[13th Battle (Clan Wolf)|13th Battle Cluster]] from [[Clan Wolf]] raided [[Surcin]], but was repulsed by elements of the 17th Arcturan Armor Regiment.<ref>''BattleCorps Scenarios: Pillbox''</ref>

The Seventeenth was stationed along the Port Moseby Salient, a finger of Commonwealth controlled systems that ranged from Port Moseby to Auldhouse. When the [[Clan Jade Falcon|Jade Falcons]] jumped the border, the Seventeenth's commander ordered a general retreat towards [[Tharkad]] instead of fighting. None of the Seventeenth engaged the Falcons before they withdrew. They fought on Tharkad, but as soon as the Falcons and [[Clan Wolf]] forces retreated, the Seventeenth's commander was arrested and charged with dereliction of duty. The Seventeenth was then assigned to garrison [[Coventry]] under a new commander.<ref>''Field Manual: 3145'', p. 125</ref>

In February [[3148]] the Seventeenth were [[Battle of Coventry (3148)|engaged]] by seven Clusters of Jade Falcon warriors under Galaxy Commander [[Stephanie Chistu]]. As the Seventeenth fought the Clan warriors in the Ridesein River Valley and elsewhere, they were unable to utilize tactics that had been successfully employed ninety years earlier during the [[Jade Falcon Incursion (3058)|previous Falcon assault]]; Chistu anticipated such measures and countered them. The arrival of reinforcements led by [[Roderick Steiner]] and [[Jasek Kelswa-Steiner]] enabled the Seventeenth to avoid defeat, and the unit remained intact at the battle's end.<ref>''Shattered Fortress'', pp. 50–51</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 the 17th Arcturan Guards'''
|-
| [[Colonel]]||[[Timothy Elgar]]||[[3025]]<ref name=HSp119>''House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth)'', p. 119: "Unit Deployment Tables - 3025"</ref>
|-
| [[Hauptmann General]]||[[Allan Nacine]]||[[3050]] - [[3054]]<ref name=20Yp27/><ref name=ORp19>''Objective Raids'', p. 19: "AFFC Deployment Table - 3054"</ref>
|-
| [[Leutnant-General]]||[[Davis Lillie]]||[[3059]] - [[3067]]<ref>''Field Manual: Lyran Alliance'', p. 57: "Note of commanding officer"</ref><ref name=FMUp179>''Field Manual: Updates'', p. 179: "LAAF Deployment Table - 3067"</ref>
|-
| Leutnant-General||[[Ursula Winfried]]||[[3085]]<ref name=FM3085p109>''Field Manual: 3085'', p. 109: "LAAF Deployment Table - 3085"</ref>
|-
| Leutnant-General||[[Gregory Paulus]]||- [[3143]]<ref name=TRp22>''Tamar Rising'', p. 22: "Nice Planet You've Got There"</ref><ref name=TRp79>''Tamar Rising'', p. 79: "17th Arcturan Guards profile"</ref>
|-
| Leutnant-General||[[Francine Ross]]||3143 - [[3152]]<ref name=FM:3145p132>''Field Manual: 3145'', p. 132: "Lyran Commonwealth Armed Forces - Coventry Province"</ref><ref name=TRp79/>
|}

==Tactics==
The unit is oriented in conducting lightning fast assaults.  The guards employ shock and momentum to their assaults.  The unit however is weak in policing actions which requires peacekeeping and employing defensive tactics.<ref>''Field Manual: Lyran Alliance'', p. 57: "Tactics" - Unit strength and weaknesses in its methods of combat</ref>

==Composition History==
=== 2786–2821 ===
'''17th Arcturan Guards''' (Regiment/Veteran/Questionable)<ref name="FSWp139">''First Succession War'', p. 139: "Lyran Commonwealth Armed Forces (LCAF)"</ref>
:- At this point in time the Seventeenth were stationed on [[Chimpaw]] and were at full strength.<ref name="FSWp139"/> In 2821 the unit was at just thirty-two percent of full strength, and were stationed on [[Camlann (DC)|Camlann]].<ref name="FSWp139"/>

=== 2830 ===
'''17th Arcturan Guards''' (Regiment/Veteran/Reliable)<ref name=2SWp99>''Second Succession War'', p. 99</ref>
: Note: At this point in time the heavy-weight unit was stationed on [[Camlann (DC)|Camlann]] with an operational readiness of 102 percent.<ref name=2SWp99/>

=== 2864 ===
'''17th Arcturan Guards''' (Regiment/Elite/Fanatical)<ref name=2SWp99/>
: Note: At this point in time the assault-weight unit was stationed on [[Caldrea]] with an operational readiness of 52 percent.<ref name=2SWp99/>

===3025===
'''17th Arcturan Guards ''' (Regiment/Regular/Reliable)<ref name=HSTLCp117>''House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth)'', p. 117: "LCAF Deployment Table"</ref>
:* CO: Colonel Timothy Elgar<ref name=HSTLCp117/>
: Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on [[Wyatt]].<ref name=HSTLCp117/>

===3040===
'''17th Arcturan Guards RCT''' (Regiment/Regular/Reliable)<ref name=HWo3039p137/>
:Note: At this point in time the command was stationed on [[Wyatt]].<ref name=HWo3039p137>''Historical: War of 3039'', p. 137</ref>

===3050===
'''17th Arcturan Guards RCT''' (Regiment/Regular/Reliable)<ref name=20Yp27/>
: Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on [[Wyatt]].<ref name=20Yp27/>

===3054===
'''17th Arcturan Guards RCT''' (Regular/Reliable)<ref name=ORp19/><br>
CO: Hauptmann General Allan Nacine<br>

===3062===
'''17th Arcturan Guards''' (BattleMech Regiment/Regular/Reliable)<ref name=FMLA57>''Field Manual: Lyran Alliance'', p. 57: "17th Arcturan Guards Composition"</ref><br>
CO: Leutnant-General Davis Lillie<br>
Aide: Colonel [[Anthony Richardson]]<br>

'''Aerospace [[Brigade]]''' (2 [[Wing (Military Unit)|Wing]]s)<ref name=FMLA57/><br>
CO: Kaptain [[Rico Fargo]]<br>
- 411th Independent Wing<br>
- 7th Solaris Wing<br>

'''17th Arcturan Armor Brigade''' (3 Regiments/Regular/Reliable)<ref name=FMLA57/><br>
CO: Colonel [[Tork Moritz|Tørk Moritz]]<br>
Aide: Leutnant-Colonel [[Koloman Landaw]]<br>
- 127th Arcturan Heavy Armor Regiment: Colonel [[Antonis Vasilou]]<br>
- 173rd Arcturan Armored Cavalry Regiment: Colonel [[Jaye Isenberg]]<br>
- 186th Arcturan Armored Cavalry Regiment: Colonel [[David Cross]]<br>

'''17th Arcturan Infantry Brigade''' (5 Regiments/Regular/Reliable)<ref name=FMLA57/><br>
CO: Colonel [[Victoria Bryce]]<br>
Aide: Leutnant-Colonel [[William Weare]]<br>
- 294th Wyatt Heavy Infantry Regiment: Colonel [[David Pugh]]<br>
- 302nd Arcturan Infantry Regiment: Colonel [[Ray Sanchez]]<br>
- 304th Arcturan Infantry Regiment: Colonel [[Julian Moseley]]<br>
- 12th Arcturan Commando Regiment Colonel [[Agnes Hui]]<br>
- 19th Arcturan Jump Regiment: Colonel [[Maximillian Kimbell]]<br>

===3067===
'''17th Arcturan Guards''' (BattleMech Regiment/Veteran/Reliable)<ref name=FMUp179/><br>
CO: Leutnant General Davis Lillie<br>

'''Aerospace [[Brigade]]''' (2 [[Wing (Military Unit)|Wing]]s/Veteran/Reliable)<ref name=FMUp179/><br>
CO: Kaptain Rico Fargo<br>

'''Seventeenth Arcturan Armor Brigade''' (3 Regiments/Regular/Reliable)<ref name=FMUp179/><br>
CO: Colonel Jaye Isenberg<br>

'''17th Arcturan Infantry Brigade''' (5 Regiments/Regular/Reliable)<ref name=FMUp179/><br>
CO: Colonel Victoria Bryce<br>

===3079===
'''Seventeenth Arcturan Guards ''' (Regiment/Veteran/Reliable)<ref name=“frlcaf10“>''Field Report: FWLM'', p. 10</ref>
: Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on [[Surcin]].<ref name=“frlcaf10“/>

===3085===
'''17th Arcturan Guards RCT''' (Veteran/Reliable)<ref name=FM3085p109/><br>
CO: Leutnant-General [[Ursula Winfried]]<br>

'''17th Arcturan Aerospace Brigade''' (Regular/Reliable)<ref name=FM3085p109/><br>
CO: Kommandant [[Bernard Russel|Bernard Ansgar Russel]]<br>

'''17th Arcturan Armor Brigade''' (2 Regiments/Veteran/Reliable)<ref name=FM3085p109/><br>
CO: Colonel [[Antoninus Brand]]<br>

'''17th Arcturan Infantry Brigade''' (Regular/Fanatical)<ref name=FM3085p109/><br>
CO: Colonel [[Jitinder Aucciello]]<br>

===3145===
'''17th Arcturan Guards RCT''' (Regular/Questionable)<ref name=FM:3145p132/><br>
CO: Leutnant General Francine Ross<br>

'''17th Arcturan Aerospace''' (Regular/Questionable)<ref name=FM:3145p132/><br>
CO: Kommandant [[John Young]]<br>

'''17th Arcturan Armor Brigade''' (Veteran/Reliable)<ref name=FM:3145p132/><br>
CO: Colonel [[Billy Clark]]<br>

'''17th Arcturan Infantry Brigade''' (Regular/Questionable)<ref name=FM:3145p132/><br>
CO: Colonel [[Ronald Butler]]<br>

==Rules==
<div class="gamerules">
===Game Rules===
* The unit has an Equipment Rating of 'A', uses [[Overrun Combat]] ability when it is the aggressor in scenario. However, if it a defending unit, it receives a -2 to its initiative to reflect units weakness in defensive tactics. <ref>''Field Manual: Lyran Alliance'', p. 130, "Force Specific Rules" - 17th Arcturan Guards - Unit abilities and weaknesses.</ref>
</div>

==References==
<references />

==Bibliography==
* ''[[20 Year Update]]''
* ''[[FedCom Civil War (sourcebook)|FedCom Civil War]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: 3085]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: 3145]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: Lyran Alliance]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: Updates]]''
* ''[[Field Report: AFFS]]''
* ''[[Field Report: LAAF]]''
* ''[[Field Report 2765: LCAF]]''
* ''[[First Succession War (sourcebook)|First Succession War]]''
* ''[[Historical: War of 3039]]''
* ''[[House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth)]]''
* ''[[Jihad Hot Spots: Terra]]''
* ''[[NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 1]]''
* ''[[Objective Raids]]''
* ''[[Second Succession War (sourcebook)|Second Succession War]]''
* ''[[Shattered Fortress]]''
* ''[[Total Chaos]]''
* ''[[Wolf's Dragoons (sourcebook)|Wolf's Dragoons]]''


[[Category:Lyran Commands|Arcturan Guards, 17th]]
[[Category:Federated Commonwealth Commands|Arcturan Guards, 17th]]