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Lyran Alliance Armed Forces

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The Lyran Alliance Armed Forces, also known by the unfortunately acronym of LAAF, is the military arm of the Lyran Alliance. Formed from Armed Forces of the Federated Commonwealth's Lyran State Command, the LAAF promotes a return to the military and tactical style of the Lyran Commonwealth Armed Forces.

Command Structure


Units of the Lyran Alliance Armed Forces

The bulk of the LAAF TOE consists of pre-existing LCAF units who returned home upon the break-away of the Alliance from the Federated Commonwealth, though a small number of new and renamed formations exist. Only BattleMech or mixed units are listed below - associated conventional assets are considered attached to these commands for convenience.

Active Corps

These brigades are active as of 3079.[1]

Alliance Guards

50x50px
Main article: Alliance Guards

To help promote nationalist feelings in the newly formed Lyran Alliance, those Federated Commonwealth Corps RCTs stationed in the Lyran half of that former state were renamed under the banner of the Alliance Guards.


Alliance Jaegers

Insignia of the Alliance Jaegers
Main article: Alliance Jaegers

Founded in the wake of the formation of the Lyran Alliance, the Alliance Jaegers were an effort to boost Lyran nationalism, with a Jaeger unit for each Alliance province.[2]


Arcturan Guards

Insignia of the Arcturan Guards
Main article: Arcturan Guards

The Arcturan Guards were the first Lyran national unit mustered to defend the nascent Lyran Commonwealth.


Donegal Guards

Insignia of the Donegal Guards
Main article: Donegal Guards
Brigade Insignia of the Donegal Guards
Donegal Guards
Formed 2315–2340
Nickname Tuatha Dé Danann
Affiliation Lyran Commonwealth;
Protectorate of Donegal (prior to 2341)
Parent Command LCAF

The Donegal Guards began their existence as the military force for the Protectorate of Donegal. Even after the formation of the Lyran Commonwealth, the Donegal Guards remain one of the nation's military cornerstones. They have been well supplied and equipped throughout their history, as the Donegal Province was spared the worst of the damage in the Succession Wars. The Donegal Guards are noted for their dogged determination, with their inclusion in a campaign being seen as a sign of the High Command's resolve.[4] At its zenith, the start of the First Succession War, the brigade numbered 20 BattleMech regiments and an additional 80 regiments of conventional forces.[5]

History

The brigade's roots begin with Seth Marsden's Donegal Freights and Goods. By 2310, Marsden was already employing mercenaries to protect his trade convoys, and that need for protection transformed into a need for a standing army when Marsden's company became an interstellar government.[6] During their early years, one of the Donegals' greatest challenges was spreading out their relatively small numbers to cover dozens of star systems and huge tracts of uninhabited land.[7] Since that time, the units fought with a solid reputation against the enemies of the Commonwealth with great success. The units are characterized by loyalty to the Archon, the Protectorate and the Commonwealth, even when stationed far from home.[4] The regiments of the Donegal Guards were originally all named for famed regiments from Terra that shared the predominantly Irish heritage of the Protectorate, although this tradition would fade with time.[8]

Star League Era

The most loyal of the regional brigades, the Donegal Guards continued to join with the various state brigades of the Lyran Commonwealth Armed Forces in support of the Commonwealth and the Archon. The Donegal Guards lost half a dozen regiments in the brutal fighting of the closing years of the Age of War prior to the formation of the Star League, but throughout the Star League era the Guards enjoyed access to the best equipment outside of the Royal Guards brigade. The Donegal Guards remained the formation of choice to conduct those offensive operations too large for the smaller Royal Guards brigade to handle alone, and the Guards attracted officers who sought to advance via their leadership and grasp of strategic skills, rather than through politics and favoritism. It was during the Star League era that the shift in unit traditions away from favoring or honoring those units associated with Ireland became distinctly noticeable among some regiments. By 2765 the Guards were eleven regiments strong.[8]

The Donegal Guards grew in strength during the lead-up to the First Succession War, and by 2786 mustered seventeen full 'Mech regiments. Two of these, the Fifth and Fourteenth Donegal Guards were former Star League Defense Force units, whilst the Ninth, Thirteenth, Fifteenth and Sixteenth Donegal Guards were reactivated regiments. During the First Succession War three new regiments of Guards - the Eighteenth, Nineteenth and Twentieth Donegal Guards were founded.[9]

Clan Invasion

The leaders of the Federated Commonwealth assigned the future Archon-Prince Victor Steiner-Davion to the Twelfth Donegal Guards as his first posting following graduation from The Nagelring. This honor proved to be fleeting, however, as the unit was destroyed by Clan Jade Falcon in an attempt to capture the young Prince on Trellwan.[10] The Tenth Donegal Guards, once celebrated as the peak of martial skill for the brigade, suffered a punishing loss to Clan Wolf on Chateau[11] before surrendering to the Falcons on Zoetermeer rather than face the threat of orbital bombardment.[4]

The Thirteenth Donegal Guards were given the task of the first Inner Sphere raid on a Clan-held world. In 3053, the Thirteenth's recon elements were sent to attack La Grave and able to escape intact. While unsuccessful, the raid did show that the Inner Sphere could maintain pressure on the Clans, a type of warfare the Falcons were unused to.[12]

The Second and Third Guards were selected to participate in Operation BULLDOG as part of the Second Star League Defense Force. The Second made history as the first Lyran unit welcomed onto Luthien, where they garrisoned the Combine capital before hunting down Jaguar stragglers,[6] while the Third joined the Second Genyosha and First St. Ives Lancers under Kai Allard Liao to battle the Seventh Jaguar Dragoons on Tarazed. Though successful, the Third suffered a higher than expected level of casualties and was pulled back for the remainder of the campaign.[13]

FedCom Civil War

Other than the Seventeenth, the whole brigade sided with Katherine Steiner-Davion and five regiments were destroyed in the conflict.[14] Note that FM:Updates isn't very clear on which regiments were destroyed. Based on the fact that they were all listed as being at 5-20% of their pre–Civil War strength, possible candidates are:

Jihad

As of mid-Jihad, the Second and the Seventh were the only active regiments.[18] The Fourth Donegal Guards were destroyed in the Capellan Confederation attack on New Syrtis, the Fifth Donegal Guards were destroyed by the Blakists on New Avalon and the few survivors were drafted into other units. The Word destroyed the Eighth Guards on Kathil and the Third Guards on Donegal as well as the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Donegal Guards. The survivors from the Third were rolled into the Second Guards while the surviving members of the Sixth reinforced the Seventh Guards. The Eleventh and Seventeenth Guards were destroyed by the Free Worlds League Military during Operation Broken Fist.[19]

While the Second only conducted diversionary raids into the Blakist Protectorate prior to Stone's Coalition invading, the Seventh was included in the plans for Operation SCOUR.[19] Prior to the invasion of Terra, the Earthquakers were posted alongside the Sixth Pesht Regulars on Lyons, where long-simmering tensions erupted into open combat between the two units on 12 December 3076. Fighting continued until General Belle Lee interceded in January 3077, separating both parties and ordering them off-world.[20] Despite this, the Seventh participated in attacks on ROM headquarters on Mars as well as Sandhurst.[21]

Following the Jihad, the LCAF rebuilt a substantial number of regiments within the Donegal Guards, reactivating the Fourth, Eighth and Eleventh regiments by 3085.[22] The rebuilding efforts were in large part due to Hauptmann-General Sarah Steiner, who fought off efforts to have the brigade disbanded. While Sarah's efforts were limited, in that the Fourth, Eighth and Eleventh were all reactivated as Light Combat Teams rather than the RCTs of the past, it was a notable success. Archon Adam Steiner was criticized for not rebuilding the Fourteenth as a priority, but as many would have criticized him for rebuilding his former command had he chosen differently. The rebuilding efforts devoted to the Donegal Guards by the LCAF went down very well with the Guards, which continued to display fanatical levels of loyalty to the Commonwealth. There were concerns that the brigade needed more time to train and rebuild, but the diminished size of the LCAF meant that the Guards were back on the frontlines sooner than anticipated; while it was considered that this was placing additional stress on the Guards, the Guards themselves viewed this as a mark of respect towards them.[23]

Each of the three reactivated commands were established via differing routes. The Fourth was rebuilt primarily using survivors from the Fourth who had been captured on New Syrtis and spent most of the Jihad in Capellan prison camps. The Eighth was raised on Donegal using new recruits, while the Eleventh was rebuilt by incorporating an irregular unit, the Blackjacks, into the LCAF and constructing the new regiment around them. Between the reactivation of the regiments and 3085, the brigade saw combat on numerous fronts - the Second was kept occupied dealing with training raids launched by Clan Jade Falcon, as were the Fourth, who repulsed a determined attack on Yeguas, and the Eleventh was responsible for recapturing Graceland. While there was some discontent on the part of the Seventh on being kept on light duties and cadre work, they were responsible for training both the Eighth Donegal Guards[23] and the First Donegal Jaegers, something Colonel Bamin Taylor of the Jaegers directly credit as being responsible his regiment becoming the highest-performing unit within the Lyran Reserves.[24]

Dark Age

In the years after the Jihad, the Donegal Guards continued to rebuild, coming close to regaining their number prior to the FedCom Civil War. But this did not last. During fighting along the Free Worlds League and Wolf Empire borders, half the Donegal Guard's 'Mech regiments were destroyed. A brigade that once had ten 'Mech regiments, seven of which led Regimental Combat Teams became a unit with a single RCT and four 'Mech regiments. The political upheaval of the 3140s also left the brigade divided politically. Both the Second and Fourth Guards were declared rogue by Archon Vedet Brewer during his brief time in power, but pledged their loyalty to Archon Trillian Steiner, while the Seventeenth fanatically backed Duke Brewer and was kept under the watchful eye of the Third Royal Guards and the LIC after his ouster.[25]

Officers

Rank Name Command
Commanding Officers of the Donegal Guards
Geoffry Berg
General Kathleen Heany 3058[26]
General Caesar Steiner April 3067 - February 3068
Hauptmann-General Sarah Steiner February 3068 - 3085[27][28]

Tactics

Different per Unit.

Units of the Donegal Guards

Notes

Color Scheme and Unit Insignia

The Donegal Guards paint their BattleMechs and Combat Vehicles blue-gray.

References

  1. ↑ Field Report: LAAF, pages 8-17
  2. ↑ Field Manual: Lyran Alliance, p. 48
  3. ↑ Jihad Turning Points: Tharkad, p. 8, "Sifting Though the Rubble" - Scenario note the destruction of the 11th Arcturan Guards.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Field Manual: Lyran Alliance, p. 62
  5. ↑ First Succession War, p. 139
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Field Manual: Lyran Alliance, p. 63
  7. ↑ Era Report: 2750, p. 52
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Field Report 2765: LCAF, pp. 10–11: "Donegal Guards"
  9. ↑ First Succession War, p. 139: "Lyran Commonwealth Armed Forces (LCAF)"
  10. ↑ Jade Falcon Sourcebook, p. 26: "Trell I"
  11. ↑ Wolf Clan Sourcebook, p. 59
  12. ↑ Jade Falcon Sourcebook, p. 33
  13. ↑ Field Manual: Lyran Alliance, p. 64
  14. ↑ Field Manual: Updates, p. 169
  15. ↑ FedCom Civil War, pp. 182–183
  16. ↑ FedCom Civil War, p. 185
  17. ↑ Field Manual: Updates, pp. 177–179
  18. ↑ Masters and Minions: The StarCorps Dossiers, p. 98
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 19.4 19.5 Field Report: LAAF, p. 11
  20. ↑ Jihad Hot Spots: Terra, p. 20
  21. ↑ Jihad Hot Spots: Terra, p. 96
  22. ↑ Field Manual: 3085, p. 95: "The Einherjar"
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 Field Manual: 3085, p. 100: "Donegal Guards"
  24. ↑ Field Manual: 3085, p. 103: "Lyran Reserves"
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 Field Manual: 3145, p. 127
  26. ↑ Field Manual: Lyran Alliance, p. 62: "Commanding Officer", Steiner is rescued and rejoins the Donegal Guards
  27. ↑ Field Report: LAAF, p. 11: "Donegal Guards", Sarah Steiner commands the Donegal Guards after the Jihad
  28. ↑ Field Manual: 3085, p. 100: "Donegal Guards", Sarah Steiner's command of the Donegal Guards in 3085
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 Second Succession War, p. 99
  30. ↑ Jihad Turning Points: New Avalon

Bibliography

Lyran Guards

Main article: Lyran Guards
Insignia of the Lyran Guards

The Lyran Guards were the second Lyran brigade mustered after the formation of the Lyran Commonwealth. Unlike the Arcturan Guards, the Lyran Guards recruited soldiers from across the Commonwealth, and, second only to the Royal Guards, is the most prestigious commission in the LCAF. At its zenith, the Lyran Guards numbered 60 regiments.

Prior to the Jihad, there were fifteen Lyran Guard RCT's on the rolls:

Lyran Regulars

Main article: Lyran Regulars
Insignia of the Lyran Regulars

Originally a Lyran national brigade (mustered, dibanded and remustered) used for hopeless missions, the Lyran Regulars were raised from Lyran veterans, hired mercenaries, the remnants of the Rim Worlds Republic Military, and the remnants of the SLDF which remained in Lyran space. The Lyran Regulars lack patronage, and specialize in tactics considered "unorthodox" within the LAAF. As such, the Lyran Regulars are the only brigade lacking a political agenda. The modern Lyran Regulars are basically a training cadre, and are poorly equipped.

The Lyran Regulars consisted of ten RCT's for many years:

Royal Guards

Main article: Royal Guards
Insignia of the Royal Guards

The Lyran Royal Guards are the best equipped and most prestigious brigade within the LAAF, but mostly serve as the protectors of the Lyran government. Each unit within the Royal Guards recruits by invitation only from soldiers of a particular parent state. The Royal Guards are also tasked with the protection of the Archon or Archon-Designate, and the Triad. In fact, the BattleMechs that stand constant garrison over the Lyran throne room are elements of the 1st Royal Guards.

Though at one point there were four regiments, the Royal Guards have only had three regiments since 2848. These regiments are:

Skye Rangers

Main article: Skye Rangers
Insignia of the Skye Rangers

Predating the Lyran Commonwealth, the Skye Rangers were the military of the Federation of Skye. The Skye Rangers have maintained close ties to its parent state, recruiting almost exclusively from the Federation. As such, the unit frequently sides with the Duke of Porrima, not the Archon. Therefore, the brigades loyalties are questionable.

The Skye Rangers have had five regiments on the rolls of the LCAF and LAAF:

Training Units

Main article: Buena War College Training Battalion
Main article: Royal New Capetown Training Battalion
Main article: Pandora Training Battalion

Regional Militias

All Militias use pale blue with region-specific highlights. Derived from the March Militia system used during the time of the Federated Commonwealth, these RCTs are drawn from the best of the militia troops from each world in their province or theater.

Province Militias

The Province Militias are the interior garrison forces of the LAAF. They take their name from the name of the Province's capital world. Abbreviations: APM, Alarion Province Militia; BPM, Bolan Province Militia; CPM, Coventry Province Militia.

(APM, Alarion; BPM, Bolan; CPM, Coventry; SPM, Skye; DPM, Donegal - there is no DPM as of 3062)

Theater Militias

The Theater Militias are militia units used to provide border defenses. Like the Province Militias, they take their name from the capital world of the theater that they're responsible for protecting.

(CTM, Cavanaugh II; FTM, Freedom; MTM, Melissia; PTM, Pandora; TTM, Timbuktu)

Alarion APM
Carlisle APM
Alekseyvka TTM
Florida TTM
Teyvareb TTM
Chahar MTM
Neerabup MTM
Qanatir MTM
Furillo BPM
Dar-Es-Salaam CTM
Dixie CTM
Penobscot CTM
Accrington FTM
Alexandria FTM
Denebola FTM
Lyons FTM
Gacrux FTM
Thorin FTM
Kelenfold ARTM
Koniz ARTM
Destroyed Militia Units

During Operation Revival the Clans destroyed most of the Tamar March Militia (TMM) units. With the loss of much of the Tamar Province to Clan Wolf and the destruction of the Federated Commonwealth, these units weren't reconstituted. Instead their equipment and troops were used to build up the Freedom Theater Militia and Arc-Royal Theater Militia.

Former Brigades

Tikonov Republican Guard

Main article: Tikonov Republican Guard
Insignia of the Tikonov Republican Guard

Formed from the remnants of the CCAF stationed within the former Tikonov Commonality, the Tikonov Republican Guard was the garrison of the Tikonov Free Republic. When the TFR joined the Federated Commonwealth after the assassination of Lord Pavel Ridzik, the Republican Guard units were absorbed into the AFFC as part of the LCAF.[citation needed]

At their height, the Tikonov Republican Guards consisted of five regiments. One regiment was destroyed during Operation Guerrero, while another deserted. The remaining three regiments were destroyed in the FedCom Civil War.

The Tiknonov Republican Guard consisted of five regiments:

Winfield's Brigade

Main article: Winfield's Brigade

Winfield's Brigade was designed by House Steiner as a mixed-weapon line unit. In 3025, the unit fielded 2 Batallions. Winfield's Brigade was destroyed during the first and second wave of Operation Revival by Clan Jade Falcon.

Tamar Cavaliers

Main article: Tamar Cavaliers
insignia of Tamar Cavaliers

The Tamar Cavaliers are a recently mustered unit. Duke Robert Kelswa-Steiner raised the unit from his only fortune, with the mandate of liberating Tamar Pact worlds from The Clans. The Cavaliers use a red a silver paint scheme.

Military Academies


The military academies of the Lyran Alliance in 3067 were:

Former ones were:

Training Cadres

Military Ranks

Most of the ranks of the LAAF are based on those of the Lyran Commonwealth Armed Forces. There have been some slight changes to insignia, but the titles of the ranks remain the same.

LAAF/LCAF Military Rank Insignia

LAAF Military Rank Insignia
Rank Post-FC Insignia Pre-FC Insignia
Private PrivateLAAF.png
Private, First Class PrivateFirstClassLAAF.png
Corporal CorporalLAAF.png
Senior Corporal SeniorCorporalLAAF.png
Sergeant SergeantLAAF.png
Staff Sergeant StaffSergeantLAAF.png
Sergeant Major SergeantMajorLAAF.png
Staff Sergeant Major StaffSergeantMajorLAAF.png
Senior Sergeant Major SeniorSergeantMajor.png
Warrant Officer WarrantOfficerLAAF.png
Warrant Officer First Class WarrantOfficerFirstClassLAAF.png
Senior Warrant Officer SeniorWarrantOfficerLAAF.png
Chief Warrant Officer ChiefWarrantOfficerLAAF.png
Cadet Cadet-LAAF.png
Leutnant LeutnantLAAF.png
First Leutnant FirstLeutnantLAAF.png
Hauptmann Hauptmann.png
Kommandant KommandantLAAF.png
Hauptmann-Kommandant HauptmannKommandant.png
Leutnant-Colonel
Leutnant-Kaptain 		LeutnantColonelLAAF.png
Colonel
Kaptain 		ColonelLAAF.png
Leutnant-General
Leutnant-Kommodore 		LeutnantGeneralLAAF.png
Hauptmann-General
Kommodore 		HauptmannGeneralLAAF.png
Kommandant-General
Hauptmann-Kommodore 		KommandantGeneralLAAF.png
General
Admiral 		GeneralLAAF.png
General of the Armies
Fleet Admiral 		GeneralOfArmiesLAAF.png

Lyran Alliance Standard Nomenclature

This of the LAAF's listing for Tank/Combat Vehicles and Infantry regiments. The lists shows the initials that they use to identify the type of formation they represent. Example: 8th Royal Tharkad LI(R). Which the LI(R) which means 8th Royal Tharkad Light Infantry (Regiment).[3]

Vehicle Type Formations

  • AB - Artillery Battalion
  • ABY - Artillery Battery
  • AG - Artillery Group
  • ATR - Artillery Regiment
  • AC(R) - Armored Cavalry (Regiment)
  • AG - Armored Grenadiers
  • AR - Armor Regiment
  • ARR - Armored Regiment
  • CR - Cavalry Regiment
  • CA - Combat Auxiliary
  • HA(R) - Heavy Armor (Regiment)
  • HAY - Heavy Artillery
  • LA(R) - Light Armor (Regiment)
  • LT - Light Tank
  • MG - Mounted Grenadiers
  • PR - Panzer Regiment
  • RR - Recon Regiment
  • SR - Scout Regiment
  • TR - Tank Regiment

Infantry Type Formations

  • AI - Armored Infantry
  • BAB - Battle Armor Battalion
  • CMR - Commando Regiment
  • FR - Front Recon
  • HI(R) - Heavy Infantry (Regiment)
  • IR - Infantry Regiment
  • JI(R) - Jump Infantry (Regiment)
  • JR - Jump Regiment
  • LI(R) - Light Infantry (Regiment)
  • MPR - Military Police Regiment
  • MDR - Mounted Rifles
  • MI(R) - Mechanized Infantry (Regiment)
  • MR - Mechanized Rifles
  • MRT - Mechanized Regiment
  • MTR - Motorized Regiment

References

  1. ↑ Jihad Turning Points: New Avalon
  2. ↑ FM update p.170
  3. ↑ Field Manual: Lyran Alliance page 43 - Standard LAAF Nonmenclature.

Bibliography

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