Iron Guard

Insignia of the Iron Guard
Iron Guard
Formed ca. 2559[1]
Disbanded ca. 3139[2]
Affiliation Free Worlds League
Parent Command Protectorate Guard

The Iron Guard was a Free Worlds League Military regiment. For most of the thirty-first century it was a provincial unit of the Border Protectorate; following that province's dissolution during the Jihad the Iron Guard joined the Oriente Protectorate. After the re-formation of the Free Worlds League in 3139 the unit was folded into the newly raised Fifth Free Worlds Guards.

History[edit]

Formation and Star League Era[edit]

The Iron Guard was formed in approximately 2559.[1] As the Border Protectorate was not in existence at the time, it is unknown what province, if any, the Iron Guard belonged to.

When the Star League Defense Force compiled a report of the FWLM in 2765, the Iron Guard was not listed amongst the FWLM's regiments.[3]

Early Succession Wars[edit]

During the First and Second Succession Wars the Iron Guard were based near the Lyran border on Marcus and later Dubhe. Over the two wars the unit was reduced from full strength to barely a quarter of its establishment strength by 2864.[4][5]

During the ComStar War the Iron Guard was stationed on Zosma in 2837 when an overwhelming Lyran force arrived. With the FWLM's communications crippled by ComStar's Interdiction, the Iron Guard had no way of knowing if reinforcements would come and so withdrew from the planet rather than be destroyed. Thirty two years later they would lead the Free Worlds League counterattack on Zosma, taking it from the Lyran Commonwealth.[1]

Anton's Revolt[edit]

During the Marik Civil War the Iron Guard remained on Alula Australis throughout the entire conflict. Although it and the Border Protectorate remained loyal to Janos Marik, an upsurge in Lyran attacks forced the Iron Guard to concentrate on responding to these rather than join the fight against Anton Marik.[6][7]

Fourth Succession War[edit]

Prior to the Fourth Succession War the Iron Guard was ordered to relocate off their garrison world. This was an unpopular decision with the unit, as it marked the second time they withdrew from the field, but they obeyed the order.

Andurien Secession[edit]

In late 3033 the Iron Guard hit the Federated Commonwealth controlled world of Oliver. This was primarily to silence domestic critics, but it also served to disrupt operations at several FedCom production plants.[8]

During the Andurien Secession, the Iron Guard secured landing zones for the Thirteenth Marik Militia and Third Free Worlds Guards on Ingonish in 3036.[9] They also secured Xanthe III in 3037, reinforcing several beleaguered FWLM units[10] and served as a garrison force on Lopez that same year.[1]

Operation Guerrero[edit]

The Iron Guard participated in Operation Guerrero, suffering some losses, but details on what world it attacked are thin.[11]

Jihad[edit]

The Jihad left the Iron Guard without a homeworld as their former comrades joined forces with the Word of Blake and ejected them. Though the Iron Guard was the only regiment to survive, the unit was without a home until The Protectorate negotiated a place for the unit. The Guard took up station on New Delos in 3079.[12]

The Iron Guard was offered a place in the Republic Armed Forces, but declined. They returned to New Delos and found that the military dictatorship in the Protectorate was collapsing. Colonel Ridgeway agreed to the Iron Guard becoming the official military of the Protectorate, but rapidly discovered that the military junta was more interested in maintaining their position. In 3081 the Duchy of Oriente offered a mutual defense pact, and Colonel Ridgeway accepted.[13]

Dark Age[edit]

During the Victoria War the Iron Guard played a prominent role in Oriente's conflict with the Capellan Confederation. As a result Chancellor Sun-Tzu Liao wanted an object lesson made of the regiment, which the First and Second Capellan Defense Force proceeded to administer on New Delos. Caught between the two Capellan units the stubborn Iron Guard was crushed, leaving barely a handful of survivors.[14]

Following the re-formation of the Free Worlds League in 3139, the remaining Iron Guard personnel became part of the newly created Fifth Free Worlds Guards.[2]

Officers[edit]

Rank Name Command
Commanding Officers of the Iron Guard
Colonel Bradford Holmes 3025[15]
Colonel Virgil Ridgeway 3050 - 3067[16][17][1][18][13]
Colonel Ghcorgeh Sukir 3085[19]

Tactics[edit]

The unit favors unorthodox battle tactics and has never surrendered to enemy forces. However it has withdrawn from the field of combat twice in its history.[1]

Composition History[edit]

2786–2821[edit]

Iron Guard (Regiment/Green/Questionable)[4]

Note: The heavy-weight unit was stationed on Marcus. In 2821, the command was reduced to 30 of its strength and was deployed at Marcus.[4]

2830[edit]

Iron Guard (Regiment/Regular/Questionable)[5]

Note: The assault-weight unit was stationed on Marcus with an operational readiness of 54 percent.[5]

2864[edit]

Iron Guard (Regiment/Regular/Questionable)[5]

Note: The assault-weight unit was stationed on Dubhe with an operational readiness of 26 percent.[5]

3014[edit]

Iron Guard (Regular/Fanatical)[7]

Note: The unit was stationed on Alula Australis.[7]

3025[edit]

Iron Guard (Regular/Fanatical)[15]

  • CO: Colonel Bradford Holmes

3028[edit]

Iron Guard (Regiment/Regular/Fanatical)[20]

Note: The command was stationed on Alula Australia.[20]

3050[edit]

Iron Guards (Regiment/Regular/Fanatical)[21]

Note: The unit was stationed on Bordon.[21]

3054[edit]

Iron Guard (Green/Reliable)[17]

  • CO: Colonel Virgil Ridgeway

3059–3067[edit]

Iron Guard (1 Regiment/Regular/Fanatical)[1][18]

- The unit received field upgrade kits in large numbers.

Iron Wing (1 Wing/Regular/Fanatical)[1][18]

- The Wing was fitted with some Star League era Technology.

First Zosma Reconnaissance Regiment (1 Regiment/Green/Reliable)[1][18]

Ninety-third Zosma Militia (1 Regiment/Green/Reliable)[1][18]

3079[edit]

Iron Guard (Regiment/Veteran/Fanatical)[22]

Note: The unit was stationed on New Delos.[22]

3083[edit]

Iron Guard

Note: Third Battalion would be stationed on McKenna from December.[23]

3085[edit]

Iron Guard (Veteran/Fanatical)[19]

  • CO: Colonel Gheorgeh Sukir

Iron Wings (Elite/Fanatical)[19]

Forty-fifth New Delos Recon Regiment (Veteran/Fanatical)[19]

Eighty-seventh New Delos Infantry Regiment (Regular/Reliable)[19]

Notes[edit]

The Motto of the Iron Guard is "Never Surrender."[1] After the Jihad they had a lot of salvaged Word of Blake equipment.[13]

References[edit]

  1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 Field Manual: Free Worlds League, p. 81: "Iron Guard Unit Profile"
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Field Manual: 3145, p. 102: "Fifth Free Worlds Guards"
  3. ↑ Field Report 2765: FWLM: Iron Guard does not appear in this document
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 First Succession War, p. 138
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Second Succession War, p. 98
  6. ↑ Historical: Brush Wars, p. 20: "Provincial Loyalties"
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Historical: Brush Wars, pp. 34–39: "Deployment Tables: Anton's Revolt"
  8. ↑ Historical: Brush Wars, p. 65
  9. ↑ Historical: Brush Wars, p. 72
  10. ↑ Historical: Brush Wars, p. 75
  11. ↑ Field Manual: Updates, p. 153: "Iron Guard"
  12. ↑ Field Report: FWLM, p. 13
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Field Manual: 3085, p. 85
  14. ↑ Field Manual: 3145, p. 108
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 House Marik (The Free Worlds League), p. 108: "FWL Deployment Table - 3025"
  16. ↑ 20 Year Update, p. 56: "FWLM Deployment Table - 3050"
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Objective Raids, p. 38: "FWLM Deployment Table - 3054"
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 18.4 Field Manual: Updates, p. 161: "FWLM Deployment Table - 3067"
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 19.4 Field Manual: 3085, p. 92: "FWLM Deployment Table - 3085"
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Historical: Brush Wars, p. 86
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 20 Year Update, p. 56: "Free Worlds League Deployment Table"
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 Field Report: FWLM, p. 13
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 A Show of Force

Bibliography[edit]

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