OBT Forum
General BattleTech => Canon Inspired => Historicals => Topic started by: Ice Hellion on February 10, 2013, 12:55:24 PM
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I was taken aback a little while ago when I read the raw strength of the KungsArmé just prior to the Clan invasion: 15 BattleMech Regiments, 32 Armoured Regiments, 97 Infantry Regiments, 62 Militia Regiments and 5 Mercenary BattleMech units.
From 20 Years Update, we know that the quality of the Militia Regiments was not consistent because of a lack of training and limited resources but we also know that the priority of the KungsArmé Command was the frontline units and then at some point in the future, the militia ones.
This made me think and I wondered what could have been the overall organisation and strategy of the Free Rasalhague Republic if the Clans hadn't hit it.
So here are my thoughts on it.
The first idea is that I don't plan on expanding the KungsArmé. Why? Because when you look at it, the Free Rasalhague Republic is lacking in terms of industrial power and money and I decided that they would first and foremost focus on supplying and training existing units.
Without the Clans (which unleashed everything up to the Jihad/Republic), the trend towards bigger combined-arms units would have gone forward (remember I am talking from a long historical point of view) and faced with almost no territory to play elastic defence strategy, the KungsArmé would have to stop things right away with the use of Militia units (combined with Planetary units) as pure defensive units, the first ones being “mobile†defensive units while the second ones being the pure defensive players.
With this in mind, I created Home Guard Brigades or Hemvärnet Brigad in Swedish, which are made of 1 BattleMech Regiment, 2 Armoured Regiments and 2 Infantry ones.
This allowed me to create 12 such Brigades, 4 for each Free Rasalhague Republic Province, and left me with two unallocated Regiments, that I decided to turn into BattleMech ones.
Since they are Militia units, I think they would be mobilised either partly (1 Hemvärnet Brigad being active in each Province for a period of 3 years) or fully when a war is likely to happen (if MIMIR is good enough to warn the KungsArmé).
Now this brings us to the Regular units.
Since the influence of the Lyran Commonwealth Armed Forces was so strong as long as the Headquarters is concerned, I thought that the Federated Commonwealth Armed Forces would also have some influence and therefore the new meta units would follow the Regimental Combat Team pattern with 1 BattleMech Regiment, 3 Armoured Regiments and 5 Infantry ones; giving the KungsArmé 10 RCT to wage the offensive or to counterstrike.
With the remaining units and to create a reserve, I created 1 Brigade (like the Hemvärnet ones but with Regular units).
This left the KungsArmé with 6 BattleMech Regiments (including the Militia ones that have their personnel rotated every 3 years) and 45 Infantry Regiments.
To protect the main worlds (ie the capital world of each Province and the two manufacturing centres), I would go for 5 “pure†Infantry Divisions (with 9 Infantry Regiments each) supported by 1 BattleMech Regiment (and with 2 of them for the one protecting Rasalhague).
I think this organisation makes sense and gives to the KungsArmé both the heavy anvil/hammer combo it needs and a lighter one to deal with lighter threads.
What are your thoughts on this?
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An interesting topic Ice. I'll give it some thought and get back to you in detail but some brief thoughts.
Why were the Gunzberg Eagles the only Assault Regiment of the Kungsarme? Never got that. Was the world special in some way?
What happened to the Lyran backed Mech Regiment? Was it the Tyr? Can't remember its name pre-Republic. Would have reestablished them.
Gradual dismissal of mercenaries from service by founding new regiments perhaps training cadres.
Political Questions and Goals listed cause the military has to advance these
Does Mansdotter step down as Prince in 305? Who else becomes Elected Prince?
Hang onto Lyran worlds even if you have to square off against Tamar
Return Draconis occupied Rasalhague territory like Alshain
Kill bandits - try to establish some sort of legitimate Periphery state next door as an ally
Build on relationship with ComStar
Response to your Hellion Ideas
Love the Home Guard idea especially if you can get some Liao trainers. The Capellan model for tough defense is likely a nice build point.
I doubt the FRR has the resources to field an RCT. I would create smaller commands (call them what you will) like you have your Hemvärnets organized. Transport capability of the Republic is likely poor and unable to deploy units quickly. Dracs would likely grab every Jumpship they could and the Lyrans well in a nicer way. Combined arms could also be taught by the ComGuards and developed on your terms into something practical.
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I think the Tyr became the Eagles, I think, but don't have books handy to check.
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I think the Tyr became the Eagles, I think, but don't have books handy to check.
I believe they became the 1st Tyr Regiment, but my memory could be failing me.
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1st Tyr is correct.
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Takiro, the 1st Tyr was decommissioned after the Ronin Wars, its members being assigned positions in the new KungsArme (after all they are veterans) and it was reactivated after the Clan Invasion.
And for the Gunzburg Eagles, I think the explanation lies in Tor Miraborg, the ruler of this planet and the former executive officer of the 1st Tyr.
As for the RCT, I was just trying to make sense of the numbers.
Since going with the smaller Brigades alone would allow the KungsArme to field:
- 12 Home Guards Brigades
- 15 Regular Brigades
- 1 mixed Brigade (with one Militia BattleMech Regiment)
leaving them with one Militia BattleMech Regiment and 65 Infantry Regiments...
I will look at the Capellan/Taurian territorial units.
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And for the RCT, it also makes sense as they are following the Lyran Commonwealth Armed Forces model and thus the Federated Commonwealth one.
And I forgot to add that the first Prince was not willing to increase the military as he didn't want to frighten the FRR neighbours.
Would have it been possible for the KungsArmé to grow more?
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Capellan Confederation Home Guards are different from Planetary Militias.
They are defensive units usually 1 Regiment strong (with an average of 3 per Duchy) and are made of former CCAF soldiers.
There are some differences in their organisation between 3025 and the later years.
In 3025, you have one Armoured Battalion and 2 Infantry Battalions.
Later, thanks to the modernisation of the CCAF and a surplus of Aerospace and 'Mechs, you have 1 'Mech Battalion and 2 others (a mix of Infantry and Armour?).
They are there to defend/strike back and to use guerilla against invaders.
There are two different units in the Taurian Concordat: Concordat Constabulary and Noble Family Regiments.
The first one is usually 2 to 6 Battalions strong with an added engineering company.
They are a mix of police and guerilla fighters.
The Noble Family Regiments are raised by Noble Families and have no standardised organisation.
As a side note but an important one, what would the status/strength/organisation of the Aerospace Fighter branch?
There was something on the Classic BattleTech forums but it is not available yet.
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i found this info: 206 Regiments, 97 Infantry Regiments (48 mechanized), 32 Armor Regiments, 16 BattleMech Regiments. The FRR militia is 62 Regiments
Drakon: Heavy 'Mech Regiments
1st-4th
Freemen: Medium 'Mech Regiments
1st-3rd
Hussars: Mx of light and medium 'Mech Regiments
1st-3rd
Kavalleri: Light 'Mech Regiments
1st-4th
Gunzburg Eagles: Assault 'Mech Regiment
1st Tyr Regiment: Disbanned after Ronin Wars, possible absorb into Gunzburg Eagles
Rasalhagian Free Division: Combined Arms Regiment
3 Reg
Force Listing for the Battle of Rasalhague
Reykjavik
1st Drakons
2nd Drakons-1st battalion
1 regiment of light ‘Mechs
2 regiments of armor
5 regiments of mechanized infantry
Tyr
Firebase Tyr
1st Freemen
1 regiment of light ‘Mechs
1 regiment of armor
1 regiment mechanized infantry
Ymir
3rd Freemen
2 regiments of hover tanks
2 regiments of infantry
Force listing for Battle of Radstadt
Munich
4th Drakons
CO: Overste Carl Sleipness
Varberg
1st Rasalhague Militia Division
1 regiment of light ‘Mechs
2 regiments of armor
5 regiments of mechanized infantry
Tonsberg
2nd Rasalhague Militia Division
1 regiment of light ‘Mechs
2 regiments of armor
5 regiments of mechanized infantry
Kjakan
3rd Rasalhague Militia Division
1 regiment of light ‘Mechs
2 regiments of armor
5 regiments of mechanized infantry
i found these force listing in the clan wolf invasion reports of each planet and what forces oppsed them.