OBT Forum

LordGrayson

Preston Lancers
 How about having them start as the House Liao's version of the royal guard's that get replaced by the capellan hussars when their formed up. Regulating them to regular house unit status with some perk's and from there slowly going down in status as the best pilots choose serves in the Hussar's over them. This might make the two formations rival's on some parts as the lancer's try to reclaim thier status and try to upstage the hussar's.

Rainbow 6

Quote from: LordGrayson on April 12, 2009, 04:23:55 PM
Preston Lancers
 How about having them start as the House Liao's version of the royal guard's that get replaced by the capellan hussars when their formed up. Regulating them to regular house unit status with some perk's and from there slowly going down in status as the best pilots choose serves in the Hussar's over them. This might make the two formations rival's on some parts as the lancer's try to reclaim thier status and try to upstage the hussar's.
 

Sounds good too me.

Takiro

Hmm, not bad. I'll let everyone sound off before a decision is made. So chime in everyone. Which do you like? Or do you have one of your own that is better?

I'm assembling an overview that includes known child units now. Smiley

I prefer Sian Citizens Army or Sian Peoples Army personally.

FirstStarLord

Quote from: CJvR on April 12, 2009, 09:29:34 PM
No worry Im quite calm, just thought it was an appaling name for an army.

I guess I should defend my choice here...

Blame the Scots.  Wink

"Common Army" is a double play on words. As Takiro pointed out, it sounds like something the descendents of Communist Chinese immigrants might name their military force, but it has Celtic orgins as well (and Scots are a prominant part of the Capellan population). The Common Army was the main body of the medieval Scottish Army, as opposed to the professional kinghts and mercenary bodygards of the king. Men from each region were levied into units in a time a war, and of course each region tended to have their own speciality in combat.

Also, "good morale" and "Capellan" in the same sentence? That's a paradox in logic if I've ever heard one.  Cheesy

Takiro

Phew, after many hours of work I think I've completed the Overview for the CCAF. Hopefully this will stand up as the template for the written section. Please pick it apart and comment. Sorry for the last second addition of the Capellan Lancers, hopefully you'll like them as much as I do. Really tried to meld everything together. Enjoy!

Capellan Confederation Armed Forces (CCAF)
129 BattleMech Regiments (as of 2785)

Liao Rangers (5 regiments)
Overview: The Rangers are closely linked to the Duchy of Liao and the ruling House of the Confederation. As one of the elite forces of the CCAF (think US Army Rangers) they are adept at rapid battalion sized strikes making them ideal for modern combat. Their brand of highly mobile warfare has been honed as recently as the Star League’s infamous Hidden Wars. Striking at Liao's neighbors with a high degree of success is already second nature to these crack troops.
Inspiration: Vincent’s Commandos who according to HLSB were formed in 2805-2810 from “various commando battalions” provided much of the canon inspiration for the Rangers. They are also meant to provide Liao with an appropriate elite force and foreshadow the coming of the Warrior Houses and Death Commandos.
Child Units: Organized into 15 BattleMech battalions supported by infantry and aerofighters they are likely numerical in organization although there could be a certain amount of “hero units” I suppose likely one based on Vincent’s Commandos.

Confederation Reserve Cavalry (6 regiments)
Overview: The rapid response forces of Capella are the Confederation Reserve Cavalry. Akin to the Star League’s Deneb Light Cavalry they are pre-positioned by the Strategios across the realm. Their deployment is subject to constant review in order to best react to any hostile incursion. Traditionally there is one for each Commonalty including Chesterton.
Inspiration: Established canon formation, see HLSB and FM CC
Child Units: Perhaps the simplest of the CCAF units to detail as they maintain the 1st through the 6th Cavalry regiments often rebuilding units if I remember correctly.

Capellan Chargers (4 regiments)
Overview: The Chargers are the "strong hammer" of the Capellan military. Quite simply they are a four regiment force of heavy and assault BattleMechs used to spearhead assaults against heavily defended enemy worlds. The Chargers carry this aggressive tactical doctrine to its end point both on and off the battlefield. Typical their members are described as brash and callous in manner. In other words they come straight to the point and won’t hesitate to fight if provoked.
Inspiration: FirstStarLord developed the basic Charger role from the history of Cochraine's Goliaths. Building on their profile as a clue to the Charger's overall mission profile, he surmised that the Chargers were an assault brigade. Usually Capellan units are composed of medium mechs mixed with some heavies and lights in support. The Goliaths on the other hand were one of the few regiments in the CCAF to use assault mechs in large numbers.
Child Units: As the 5th Capellan Chargers (Cochraine's Goliaths) are listed numerically it is assumed that the 1st through 4th would be as well in 2785.

Capellan Hussars (4 regiments)
Overview: The guardians of the state we all know from BT and admire
Inspiration: Established canon formation, see HLSB and FM CC
Child Units: The Red Lancers, The Prefectorate Guard, Blandford's Grenadiers, The Celestial Hand. The fourth and final Capellan Hussar regiment represents the unbreakable bond between the Capellan people and the will of the Chancellor. In that role this regiment called out to defend the most critical planets. This explains why of all of the Hussars units it became the only one to be destroyed before the 4th SW.

Baranov’s Regulars (6 regiments)
Overview:  Faced with the prospect of returning Capellan nationals and those citizens who espoused Star League ideals polluting Liao military establishment a new unit was created to keep all the bad eggs in one basket. They are named for their commander and the Star League Regulars who now fight to uphold Liao’s rightful claim to the First Lordship. Their “foreign values” may have forever put them under the thumb of the Maskirovka. Only through dedicated and unquestioning service to the CCAF can these soldiers ever hope to prove their worthiness for citizenship. Despite the clash of military doctrines the Regulars are an invaluable force to the Chancellor.
Justification: The last CCAF Parent Formation created, they address the question what happened to all the Capellans returning from SLDF service. Assembled from elements joined the Capellan Confederation in the SLSB.
Child Units: It is possible that the regiments of the Regulars reflect the SL units who mainly made up this formation. 133rd Jump Infantry Division, 202nd Mechanized Infantry Division (The Pride of Cuba), 147th Mechanized Infantry Division, 265th Mechanized Infantry Division (Pride of Pittsburgh), 166th Mechanized Infantry Division (Red Diamond Division), and 7th Jump Infantry Division. They could also contain some or all of the ancestors of the Dismal Disinherited which were assembled in the 2nd Succession War from Capellan Mechwarriors who traced their heritage back to SLDF so their units could also be foreshadowed here.

Capellan Lancers (12 regiments)
Overview: Several times throughout its history the Confederation has recruited line military units from specific worlds. This whole scale conscription seems arbitrary and ill-conceived to foreigners who individually elect to join the military. In Capellan society such efforts are considered the norm as the individual rights are less important then the well being of the whole. The Lancer Program fosters a special camaraderie among its participants who have the high honor of being chosen to serve the state. Their world is also rewarded with service benefits and recognition which provide significant boosts to the locale economy. Potential aspirants, often Home Guard units, train along senior Lancer formations like the 1st (Preston) Lancers. The 1st claims to have instructed many illustrious Capellan units like the Red Lancers and the St. Ives Lancers. Many groups across the nation have tried to become Capellan Lancers but few who do succeed. Graduate units either stay with the Parent Formation and become teachers themselves or go onto serve in other Line Formations. As such they are Liao’s version of training cadre essentially serving up feeder units for the Confederation military.
Inspiration: Blackwind, Preston (appearing in the HLSB and the Succession War board game their appearance in BTSD is homage to those limited sightings), and many other Capellan Lancers served as my muse here as I took the Confederation’s mass recruitment efforts to heart.
Child Units: Capellan Lancers are typically numbered and named for their world of origin. Known members would be the 1st (Preston) Lancers and the 14th (Zurich) Lancers. Possible graduates could be the Red Lancers, St. Ives Lancers, 21st Centauri Lancers, etc.
1st (Preston) Lancers would keep much of the history I was assembling for that Formation. The world of Preston is located just above Sian in the Capellan Commonality. This proud member of the Confederation along with its fanatical soldiers has played a historical role which few can surpass. Their constant efforts to showcase these facts have earned them the derision of many outsiders and even some Capellans. While critics are only to happy to point out that Preston and its Lancers are in decline this doesn’t deter the True Servants of the Confederation in the least. Traditionalists in the strict sense they are slow to adapt new ways but they know what works and are experienced warriors.

Turin Light Cavalry (4 regiments*)
Overview: Based on Star League RCTs they are currently at 4 battalions even though Liao counts them at 4 regiments their complete planned strength. Capellan Counting and Liao Math to be explained here. Based on the Chancellor’s decree Capellan figures often mean an ideal rating rather than an actual facts. This is an interesting Liao like philosophy (and certainly a red meat item to be discussed in Terran analysis for the book) based on the central planning and the command economy which operates at the Chancellor's whim. I could see it. Are they mercenaries or House Regulars also to be discussed here. Explain Liao Charted Units. This new Liao unit based on the League’s old Regimental Combat Teams has already proven itself in combat. While assembling on Turin they quickly dispatched a band of Periphery outlaws who thought they were attacking an undefended world.
Inspiration: Long ago the Turin world summary in HLSB along with the Furies therein inspired me to come up with this unit. In BTSD they effectively replaced the Tau Ceti Rangers who instead joined the Terran Republic.
Child Units: Could be named like the Star League named its regiments that composed a Combat Team.

Northwind Highlanders (4 regiments*)
Overview: The well known and beloved Highlanders of Northwind need no overview. Are they mercenaries or House Regulars also to be discussed here. Explain Liao Charted Units and why only four of the six are counted.
Inspiration: Established canon formation, see HLSB
Child Units: Marion's Highlanders, McCormick's Fusiliers, 1st Kearny Highlanders, 2nd Kearny Highlanders

Chesterton Freedom Legion (9 regiments)
Overview: Nominally a Commonalty Force but in practice Liao expatriates from the long dispute zone along the Davion border. These freedom fighters rove throughout the Confederation serving at the Chancellor’s will.
Inspiration: The forerunner of the Chesterton Reserves which were established in 2832
Child Units: Known to exist as of 2785; Shadrack’s Shadow Hawks, Sung’s Cuirassiers, Ariana Fusiliers (just the 1st), Ariana Grenadiers, and Hamilton's Highlanders (I find there is evidence of the Highlanders, placed them here)

St. Ives Armored Cavalry (14 regiments)
Overview: Commonalty Force of St. Ives
Inspiration: Established canon formation, see HLSB and FM CC
Child Units: Known to exist as of 2785; 1st St. Ives Lancers, 2nd St. Ives Lancers, St Ives Cheveau Legers, 21st Centuari Lancers, and Capellan Cuirassiers

Tikonov Border Guard (17 regiments)
Overview: Commonalty Force of Tikonov, we decided to name all Commonalty Parent Formations after the militaries of their Capellan state predecessors
Inspiration: The old military of the Grand Union
Child Units: Known to exist as of 2785; Kincaid’s Rangers, a number of Tikonov Lancers, Lefarge Hussars (named after the General who put down a revolt here, I figure the Chancellor stuck them here as a reminder even though they weren’t native, eventually became Wilson's Hussars)

Capellan Defense Force (12 regiments)
Overview: Commonalty Force of Capella, smallest area went with smallest number we decided to name all Commonalty Parent Formations after the militaries of their Capellan state predecessors
Inspiration: The old military of the Hegemony
Child Units: Known to exist as of 2785; Stapleton’s Grenadiers, Ishira’s Grenadiers (in the same write up in HLSB)

Sarna Shock Brigades (14 regiments)
Overview: Commonalty Force of Sarna, we decided to name all Commonalty Parent Formations after the militaries of their Capellan state predecessors
Inspiration: The old military of the Supremacy
Child Units: Known to exist as of 2785; none but not surprising considering they took the hardest blow from the FWLM

Sian Common Army (18 regiments)
Overview: Commonalty Force of Sian, large size because of the space to defend
Inspiration: We are still debating the name of this final Commonalty Formation which has no known canon designation. "Common Army" is a play on words and alludes to the Sian Commonwealth which it served. It sounds like something the descendents of Communist Chinese immigrants might name their military force, but it has Celtic origins as well (and Scots are a prominent part of the Capellan population). The Common Army was the main body of the medieval Scottish Army, as opposed to the professional knights and mercenary bodyguards of the king. Men from each region were levied into units in a time a war, and of course each region tended to have their own specialty in combat.
Child Units: Known to exist as of 2785; The Lost Legion (Garrisoning Shuen Wan) and the 15th Sian Dragoons (TRO3075)

FirstStarLord

As far as we know, the 21st Centauri Lancers were an independent unit in the SIAC. Granted, we know very little about their history before they went merc, but I doubt they were a sub-unit of the St. Ives Lancers.

The Lancers as they existed in 2785 were probably more then a battalion in size. A lot of Capellan regiments were less then full strength by the time of the 3rd SW. Some regiments had only two mech battalions with a conventional battalion filling in the gaps, and the elite Ariana Grenadiers had been battered down to a mere battalion despite still claming the designation of "regiment". Considering that the whole reason the Lancers left the CCAF was due to their anger over late pay and a lack of supplies for maintaining their mechs, then it makes sense that they had shrunk greatly in size over time; a battalion sized unit might not have even survived long enough to mutiny.