Editing Tortugan Phalanx

{{infoBoxMilitaryCommand
| image          = [[Image:Tortugan Phalanx logo.png|191px|Insignia of the Tortugan Phalanx]]
| Designation    = Tortugan Phalanx
| formed         = Ca. [[3070]]<ref name="HTP:Tp7"/>
| Disbanded      = 
| Previous Designation = 
| Nickname       = 
| Affiliation    = [[Pirate]]
| Parent Command = Independent
| Sub-Command    = 
}}
The '''Tortugan Phalanx''' was a pirate unit based on [[Tortuga Prime]] that was largely unknown to the [[Inner Sphere]] prior to [[3071]].<ref name="HTP:Tp7">''Historical Turning Points: Tortuga'', p. 7: "Combatants"</ref>

==History==
The first that the Inner Sphere knew of the Tortugan Phalanx was when it arrived on [[Lackland]] in [[3071]] and proceeded to conduct a flawless raid. Each of the three major subunits within the Phalanx - dubbed ''mora'' - split off from the pirate landing zone and executed an attack against a specific target within the planetary capital before returning to their [[DropShip]]s, allowing the Phalanx to escape before the planetary militia was able to respond. In retrospect, the attack on Lackland appeared very similar to a shakedown mission for the pirate band.<ref name="HTP:Tp7"/>

The commanding officer of the Tortugan Phalanx at the time, Polemarch [[Naxamander Anabasis]], couldn't be identified on the training rolls of any of the various Inner Sphere militaries, leading to speculation that his name was an alias; the Phalanx was also believed to be largely staffed with undesirables, including those fleeing war crime charges for acts committed during the [[FedCom Civil War]]. Anabasis was evidently responsible for the Phalanx's unusual structure and organization, which displayed a knowledge of classical history on Anabasis' part.<ref name="HTP:Tp7"/>

The Phalanx raided [[Broken Wheel]] on the 1st of October [[3076]], striking at the [[Quikscell Company|Quikscell]] factory located Conestoga. A ''mora'' from the Phalanx hit the plant, supported by a number of [[Rock Rover|Rock Rover Half-Tracks]] and [[Burro II|Burro II Super Heavy Trucks]] carrying additional crew. The raid was a success, with the pirates retrieving a substantial quantity of ammunition, spare parts, ''[[Pegasus (Combat Vehicle - Hovertank)|Pegasus]]'' hovertanks and [[Light Thunderbolt Carrier]]s - having comfortably defeated both the Quikscell corporate security forces and the disorganized planetary militia, almost all of the Phalanx 'Mechs and their accompanying vehicles successfully escaped, fully laden with loot - along with the looted [[combat vehicle]]s - bar a few trucks the planetary militia to destroy. The Phalanx didn't even damage the factory facilities - instead, the factory was left intact so that it could be subjected to further raids in the future.<ref name="HTP:Tp9">''Historical Turning Points: Tortuga'', pp. 9–10: "Breaking The Wheel"</ref>

In response to the raid conducted by the Phalanx and similar simultaneous raids launched by the [[Strychnine Slavers]], the [[Filtvelt Coalition]] ordered the [[Thumpers]] - an assault-weight former mercenary unit that formed the core of the Coalition's armed forces - and the [[First Filtvelt Citizen's Militia]] to attack Tortuga Prime and destroy the Tortugan's military manufacturing industry. The raid was a disaster for the Filtvelt forces, who dramatically underestimated the defensive forces available to Tortuga Prime; the Thumpers' command company, commanded by the unit Commanding Officer, [[Major]] [[Buck Tripp]], dropped into Raider's Roost intent on distracting the pirates from the landing being made by the rest of the Thumpers and the First Filtvelt Citizen's Militia. Instead, whilst battling unexpected numbers of [[Tortuga Militia]] forces, Tripp received word that the units disembarking from the Filtvelt DropShips were under attack from massed armor units; Tripp led his company on a charge through Raider's Roost to reconnect with the remainder of his forces, only to be subject to constant ambushes and skirmishes launched by Anabasis and the Phalanx, who successfully bled the Thumpers repeatedly.<ref name="HTP:Tp6">''Historical Turning Points: Tortuga'', p. 6: "Repulsed By The Pirates On Tortuga Prime"</ref><ref name="HTP:Tp15">''Historical Turning Points: Tortuga'', p. 15: "Phalanx For The Memories"</ref>

When Tripp and his command company reached the Landing Zone, it was witness to a horrific site - the use of chemical weapons against the Filtvelt forces. The gas used slaughtered huge numbers of the Filtvelt Citizen's Militia infantry forces and vehicle crews, with the poorly-maintained tanks allowing the gas to reach the crews even when the vehicles were battened down. The use of chemical weapons - supplied by the [[Word of Blake]], unknown to most on the planet including the planetary ruler, [[Precentor]] [[William Derer]] - appalled Anabasis when he heard of it, and he responded by leading the Phalanx on a rampage through Raider's Roost. Anabasis and the Phalanx then left Raider's Roost and relocated, settling on a different city on Tortuga Prime.<ref name="HTP:Tp16">''Historical Turning Points: Tortuga'', pp. 16–17: "The LZ Massacre"</ref>

At some point Naxamander died under mysterious circumstances and was succeeded by his son, [[Lysandr Anabasis]]. His raids were markedly less planned, but the sheer numbers of the Phalanx usually carried the day.<ref name=HTP:Tp23/>

In a [[3083]] [[Battle of Lackland (3083)|raid]] on [[Lackland]], the Phalanx absconded with armor, ammunition, and electronics before the defenders could even respond.<ref name=HTP:Tp23/>

== 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 Tortugan Phalanx'''
|-
| [[Polemarch]]||[[Naxamander Anabasis]]||[[3076]]<ref name="HTP:Tp7"/>
|-
|[[Polemarch]]||[[Lysamder Anabasis]]||[[3083]]<ref name=HTP:Tp23>''Historical Turning Point: Tortuga'', p. 23: "LDT-5 Brigand"</ref>
|-
|}

==Tactics==
Unknown.

==Composition History==
In 3076 the Tortugan Phalanx was divided into three ''moras'': Hoplite Mora, Peltast Mora and Sarissa Mora. Each ''mora'' was formed in turn from three ''lochoi''; a ''lochoi'' was composed of five [[BattleMech]]s, although there was no evidence of a [[Clan]] connection to the Tortugan Phalanx.<ref name="HTP:Tp7"/> Polemarch Lysandr Anabasis a notable [[Brigand (BattleMech)|LDT-5 ''Brigand'']] pilot, it is unknown if his father Naxamander Anabasis was as well.<ref name=HTP:Tp23/>

==Tactics==
Each ''mora'' within the Tortugan Phalanx operated in a different fashion. Hoplite Mora was a generalist command, whilst Peltast Mora consisted of fast-moving units and functioned as a cadre of shock troops. Sarissa Mora specialized in long-range combat.<ref name="HTP:Tp7"/>

==Colors And Insignia==
The insignia of the Tortugan Phalanx was a round Greek hoplon shield, emblazoned with a Jolly Roger. The 'Mechs of the Tortugan Phalanx were painted a dull grey, embellished with bright red blood dripping from the various weapon ports; each 'Mech also sported the Phalanx's insignia on both shoulders.<ref name="HTP:Tp7"/>
<gallery>
Brigand (Tortugan Phalanx) HTPTortuga.jpg|A ''[[Brigand]]'' in Tortugan Phalanx colors.
</gallery>

==References==
<references/>

==Bibliography==
* ''[[Historical Turning Points: Tortuga]]''

[[Category:Pirate Commands|Tortugan Phalanx]]