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Author Topic: The Taurian Defense Force: A New Look  (Read 15474 times)

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master arminas

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The Taurian Defense Force: A New Look
« on: June 13, 2010, 05:11:02 PM »
Taking a look at the TDF (circa 3025) we are struck with a few important points:  first of all are the ‘bloated’ battalions that Taurus fields.  Each line battalion contains four companies (not three) of ‘Mechs and Aerospace Fighters (forty-eight BattleMechs and eight ASF per battalion).  When looking at this, I realized that if we assign each regiment a company-strength command headquarters, this will give a Taurian two-battalion regiment the same ‘Mech strength (108) and same ASF complement (18) as a standard three-battalion IS regiment.

In 3025, by canon the TDF has at its disposal twenty-six battalions of ‘Mechs, divided among nine regiments with four Corps HQ.  Eight of those regiments are three-battalions strong, while only one has two-battalions.  As I doubt that the TDF only seldom deploys anything stronger than a single battalion in this era, why not revamp the TO&E.  Twenty-six battalions would give the TDF a strength of 13 line regiments (before we consider mercs) with a total OB strength of 1,404 BattleMechs and 234 ASF.  This would also allow the TDF to expand its Corps HQ from four (in canon; Guards, I, II, & III) to six:  five Corps with two line regiments each and the Guards Corps with three.  Assuming each Corps HQ has a command company, this would give the TDF a total field strength of 1,476 BattleMechs and 258 Aerospace Fighters.  Of course, this would only apply if the TDF was at 100% of TO&E strength, something that virtually no military formation is ever able to achieve.

Assuming that only Union class DropShips are available for transport, this revamped TDF structure would require 123 DropShips and somewhere around seventy JumpShips to transport the whole kit-and-caboodle; if each JumpShip was a Merchant class, that is.  Every line battalion (with two Merchants and four Unions) is able to redeploy to meet threats, making the BattleMech Corps of the TDF a quick-reaction force while relying upon its Armor Corps, Infantry Brigades, and Fortification Battalions to delay an attacker.

What I have done here is to reorganize the TDF in a way that (I think) works a little bit better for the Taurians.  Let’s take a look at the reorganized Defense Force circa 3025.  We will leave mercs out for the moment.

Guard Corps
1st Battalion, Taurian Guard (Elite; Fanatical)
2nd Battalion, Taurian Guard (Veteran; Fanatical)
1st Battalion, Taurian Velites (Veteran; Fanatical)
2nd Battalion, Taurian Velites (Veteran; Reliable)
1st Battalion, Concordat Commandoes (Veteran; Fanatical)
2nd Battalion, Concordat Commandoes (Veteran; Reliable)

I Corps
1st Battalion, Concordat Jaegers (Veteran; Fanatical)
2nd Battalion, Concordat Jaegers (Veteran; Reliable)
1st Battalion, Red Chasseurs (Regular; Reliable)
2nd Battalion, Red Chasseurs (Regular; Reliable)

II Corps
1st Battalion, Concordat Cuirassiers (Veteran; Reliable)
2nd Battalion, Concordat Cuirassiers (Veteran; Reliable)
1st Battalion, Hyades Light Infantry (Veteran; Reliable)
2nd Battalion, Hyades Light Infantry (Regular; Reliable)

III Corps
1st Battalion, Pleiades Hussars (Regular; Reliable)
2nd Battalion, Pleiades Hussars (Regular; Reliable)
1st Battalion, Taurian Lancers (Regular; Reliable)
2nd Battalion, Taurian Lancers (Green; Reliable)

IV Corps
1st Battalion, Taurian Grenadiers (Veteran; Fanatical)
2nd Battalion, Taurian Grenadiers (Veteran; Reliable)
1st Battalion, Taurian Dragoons (Veteran; Reliable)
2nd Battalion, Taurian Dragoons (Veteran; Reliable)

V Corps
1st Battalion, Pleiades Lancers (Veteran; Reliable)
2nd Battalion, Pleiades Lancers (Regular; Questionable)
1st Battalion, Taurian Fusiliers (Green; Reliable)
2nd Battalion, Taurian Fusiliers (Green; Reliable)

What have you done, moans the crowd?  That is not the TO&E for 3025, cries the purist.  Actually, it is.  Just organized a wee bit differently.  Since two battalions and a regimental command company equals a standard IS regiment, and we already have one two-battalion Taurian regiment (the Hyades Light Infantry), let’s make them all two battalions and the RCC strong.  I kept the same ratings (experience; loyalty) as Periphery 1st for the 3025 roster, but by using two battalion regiments instead of three, we gained FOUR additional regiments.  The names are mine, but since the TDF doesn’t seem to number its ‘Mech units, I thought they would fit.  Plus, we were able to add two new Corps HQs to the mix.

Skipping ahead to 3050 and the 20 Year Update, we see that in canon the Concordat managed to add two more regiments (of three battalions each) to its roster (thank you, Thomas, thank you very much).  What does that do for us in my new remix of the TDF?  Let’s take a look.

Guard Corps
1st Battalion, Taurian Guard (Elite; Fanatical)
2nd Battalion, Taurian Guard (Veteran; Fanatical)
1st Battalion, Taurian Velites (Veteran; Fanatical)
2nd Battalion, Taurian Velites (Veteran; Reliable)
1st Battalion, Concordat Commandoes (Veteran; Fanatical)
2nd Battalion, Concordat Commandoes (Veteran; Reliable)
1st Battalion, Taurian Grenadiers (Veteran; Fanatical)
2nd Battalion, Taurian Grenadiers (Veteran; Reliable)

I Corps
1st Battalion, Concordat Jaegers (Veteran; Fanatical)
2nd Battalion, Concordat Jaegers (Veteran; Reliable)
1st Battalion, Red Chasseurs (Regular; Reliable)
2nd Battalion, Red Chasseurs (Regular; Reliable)

II Corps
1st Battalion, Concordat Cuirassiers (Veteran; Reliable)
2nd Battalion, Concordat Cuirassiers (Veteran; Reliable)
1st Battalion, Hyades Light Infantry (Veteran; Reliable)
2nd Battalion, Hyades Light Infantry (Veteran; Reliable)

III Corps
1st Battalion, Pleiades Hussars (Regular; Reliable)
2nd Battalion, Pleiades Hussars (Regular; Reliable)
1st Battalion, Taurian Lancers (Regular; Reliable)
2nd Battalion, Taurian Lancers (Green; Reliable)

IV Corps
1st Battalion, Pleiades Lancers (Veteran; Reliable)
2nd Battalion, Pleiades Lancers (Regular; Questionable)
1st Battalion, Taurian Dragoons (Veteran; Reliable)
2nd Battalion, Taurian Dragoons (Veteran; Reliable)

V Corps
1st Battalion, Taurian Fusiliers (Green; Reliable)
2nd Battalion, Taurian Fusiliers (Green; Reliable)
1st Battalion, Taurian Regulars (Regular; Reliable)
2nd Battalion, Taurian Regulars (Green; Questionable)

VI Corps
1st Battalion, Concordat Uhlans (Regular; Reliable)
2nd Battalion, Concordat Uhlans (Green; Questionable)
1st Battalion, Taurian Carabinier (Green; Questionable)
2nd Battalion, Taurian Carabinier (Green; Reliable)

Now we are up to SEVEN Corps HQs, six at two regiments each (before mercs) and one at four.  Total ‘Mech strength is 32 Battalions, 16 Regimental Command Companies, and 7 Corps Command Companies, or almost the equal of 17 IS Regiments.  Of course, we’ve also gained quite a few little colonies in just 20 years time:  now we have 52 canon worlds outside of the Hyades.  This leaves our new colonies a little more exposed than before, but still we have enough to station at least one battalion where it can respond to nearly every populated world in the event of an attack (and we still have all those armor and infantry regiments that every single Taurian colony possesses!).  Total OB (Order of Battle) strength would be 1,812 BattleMechs and 302 Aerospace Fighters.

I refuse to go beyond 3050 in canon, attempting to disbelieve that abomination that is Shraplen and TPTB’s gutting of the Concordat.  But I did think that I would share these thoughts with you good folks.  Happy hunting!

Master Arminas (a.k.a. Stephen T Bynum)
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Takiro

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Re: The Taurian Defense Force: A New Look
« Reply #1 on: June 13, 2010, 09:33:57 PM »
I'm sure Irose probably has something more intelligent then I to say about this.  ;)
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lrose

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Re: The Taurian Defense Force: A New Look
« Reply #2 on: June 14, 2010, 07:51:43 AM »
I don't really see the advantage to this- it looks like it is largely a paper reorganization, I don't see how it increases flexibility.  It might fool enemies into thinking the TDF is stronger then it really is, which is not that bad, but on the other hand, I suspect the AFFS and CCAF are aware that the TDF uses larger strength battalions,

As you correctly point out, the TDF rarely deploys more then a single battalion to a world.  I don't see what difference it makes if you have 2 battalion regiments or 3 battalion regiments- the 2 battalion formations may provide a bit quicker response since a CO only has to deal with 2 battalions, not 3.  If you're looking to increase the flexibility of the TDF, I would take the 4th company from each battalion and create instead a 4 battalion regiment- that way a regiment can cover 4 worlds with a battalion each.

One thing we are introducing in BTSD is an idea I stole from VLandrigan on Battlecorps. we are going to organize battlemech regiments in the same way as armored commands- with maniples of 2 mechs, platoons (lances) of 6 mechs, troops(companies) of 18  mechs and squadrons(battalions) of 54 mechs.  This adds only 6 mechs over a standard taurian battalion but greatly increases flexibility- on smaller outlying colonies you can deploy a single troops as a self contained fighting unit, allowing a single squadron to cover 3 worlds. On more important worlds you can deploy an entire squadron for defense.
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master arminas

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Re: The Taurian Defense Force: A New Look
« Reply #3 on: June 14, 2010, 08:57:38 AM »
I toyed with that idea (the 6/18/54 organization) but kept getting stymied because all transport is designed around the 4/12/36 paradigm.  And you are right, it is primarily a paper reorganization.  For a while I thought about ditching the regiment in Taurian service and just going with twenty-six battalions (with four Companies each).  I mean, the regiment is SO Star League, after all.  LOL 

MA
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Rainbow 6

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Re: The Taurian Defense Force: A New Look
« Reply #4 on: June 14, 2010, 12:49:56 PM »
So you could do the Corps then Squadron/Troop/Manaple.

Of course then the TDF's Dropships will need to be re-designed from the Union/Leopard they now use.
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lrose

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Re: The Taurian Defense Force: A New Look
« Reply #5 on: June 14, 2010, 12:55:59 PM »
Quote from: master arminas on June 14, 2010, 08:57:38 AM
I toyed with that idea (the 6/18/54 organization) but kept getting stymied because all transport is designed around the 4/12/36 paradigm.  And you are right, it is primarily a paper reorganization.  For a while I thought about ditching the regiment in Taurian service and just going with twenty-six battalions (with four Companies each).  I mean, the regiment is SO Star League, after all.  LOL 

MA

The 6 is easy- just modify the leopard to carry 6 mechs and no fighters.  For the company/troop transport I would just develop a new dropship designed to carry 18 mechs.  But wait you say- the TC designing a new dropship that seems unreasonable.  Well I would design it with the limitation that it either uses 2 of the drives from the Union or 3 to 4 that are used on the Leopard.  It really limits you on the size of the ship but that is part of the fun of the challenge.   Actually without actually do any design work I think a Super Union would be a very effective design- double the mass of the Union (so you use 2 of the Unions drives) and you can easily carry 18 mechs, 2 fighters, a fair bit of cargo and better armor/weapons then the standard union- I may try this later.
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Ice Hellion

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Re: The Taurian Defense Force: A New Look
« Reply #6 on: June 14, 2010, 01:30:35 PM »
I thought it was a way to increase the number of regiments while not increasing the burden and the taxes.
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"In turn they tested each Clan namesake
in trial against the Ice Hellion's mettle.
Each chased the Ice Hellion, hunting it down.
All failed to match the predator's speed and grace.
Khan Cage smiled and said, "And that is how we shall be."

The Remembrance (Clan Ice Hellion) Passage 5, Verse 3, Lines 1 - 5

lrose

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Re: The Taurian Defense Force: A New Look
« Reply #7 on: June 14, 2010, 02:23:30 PM »
Quote from: Ice Hellion on June 14, 2010, 01:30:35 PM
I thought it was a way to increase the number of regiments while not increasing the burden and the taxes.

But it doesn't actually increase the strength of the TDF- it is all just a paper shuffle- either it's 9 regiments with 3 battalions per regiment (with 1 exception) or 13 regiments with 2 battalions per regiment- the actual mech strength is unchanged.
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Takiro

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Re: The Taurian Defense Force: A New Look
« Reply #8 on: June 14, 2010, 08:19:16 PM »
A Concord or Concordat class to replace the Union would be cool but would a Protector class to replace the Overlord be possible. What other dropships do they produce? Perhaps base it on the Mule and you could call it the Taurus or Minotaur class.  ;)
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lrose

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Re: The Taurian Defense Force: A New Look
« Reply #9 on: June 14, 2010, 08:55:16 PM »
Quote from: Takiro on June 14, 2010, 08:19:16 PM
A Concord or Concordat class to replace the Union would be cool but would a Protector class to replace the Overlord be possible. What other dropships do they produce? Perhaps base it on the Mule and you could call it the Taurus or Minotaur class.  ;)

In canon, the TC only produces the Leopard and Union. You could argue that they built the Danais based on the fluff and the existence of the Trojan.

I guess it could be possible to build a replacement for the Overlord, but I think a troop carrier is better- putting 54 mechs into 1 ship is a huge risk if that transport gets destroyed.

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Takiro

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Re: The Taurian Defense Force: A New Look
« Reply #10 on: June 14, 2010, 10:35:45 PM »
They must have Mules or some other designs in service that they could study for such a design. The all your eggs in one basket does have its advantages as it offers tremendous force projection into a specific area. I'd try and mod a Mule cross it with a Fortress class (artillery support is always fun). Might make one hell of a dropship.
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Ice Hellion

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Re: The Taurian Defense Force: A New Look
« Reply #11 on: June 15, 2010, 01:55:22 PM »
Quote from: lrose on June 14, 2010, 02:23:30 PM
But it doesn't actually increase the strength of the TDF- it is all just a paper shuffle- either it's 9 regiments with 3 battalions per regiment (with 1 exception) or 13 regiments with 2 battalions per regiment- the actual mech strength is unchanged.

From what I understood (but I might be wrong), a TDF regiment with 2 battalions is as numerous as an Inner Sphere regiment.
Therefore the increase from 9 to 13 gives the TDF some reserve.
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"In turn they tested each Clan namesake
in trial against the Ice Hellion's mettle.
Each chased the Ice Hellion, hunting it down.
All failed to match the predator's speed and grace.
Khan Cage smiled and said, "And that is how we shall be."

The Remembrance (Clan Ice Hellion) Passage 5, Verse 3, Lines 1 - 5

lrose

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Re: The Taurian Defense Force: A New Look
« Reply #12 on: June 15, 2010, 02:25:48 PM »
Quote from: Ice Hellion on June 15, 2010, 01:55:22 PM
From what I understood (but I might be wrong), a TDF regiment with 2 battalions is as numerous as an Inner Sphere regiment.
Therefore the increase from 9 to 13 gives the TDF some reserve.

But you still have the same number of battalions (26) in either case.  So it doesn't add a reserve- now if you took the extra company from each battalion you could add almost 9 battalions to the TDF, but that is not what MA is proposing here.
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Ice Hellion

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Re: The Taurian Defense Force: A New Look
« Reply #13 on: June 16, 2010, 01:31:08 PM »
Quote from: lrose on June 15, 2010, 02:25:48 PM
But you still have the same number of battalions (26) in either case.  So it doesn't add a reserve- now if you took the extra company from each battalion you could add almost 9 battalions to the TDF, but that is not what MA is proposing here.

I probably misunderstood it  :-[
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"In turn they tested each Clan namesake
in trial against the Ice Hellion's mettle.
Each chased the Ice Hellion, hunting it down.
All failed to match the predator's speed and grace.
Khan Cage smiled and said, "And that is how we shall be."

The Remembrance (Clan Ice Hellion) Passage 5, Verse 3, Lines 1 - 5

Hammer6R

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Re: The Taurian Defense Force: A New Look
« Reply #14 on: December 13, 2010, 11:33:30 PM »
Just came to this.

Having read through it, paperwork-shuffling, while trifling and annoying, can make or break a force.

Having a larger number of Corps-level commands may not increase the over all numbers of the maneuver force (the 'mech regiments), but it will likely increase their readiness, because it is easier to cycle through for rest and replenishment. Add in mercenary backup, and your line regiments should actually achieve a much higher level of efficiency, and be in better repair. I would not, however, go with an entire command company; trim that to a command lance, and you still get 6 regiments for maneuver.

The catch, here, is that this configuration and strength only works well for anti-piracy patrols. The two-battalion force is at a severe disadvantage versus an attack by their most likely invader (as opposed to 'raider'): an AFFS RCT.

The reason is simple: the very act of keeping the regiment in motion means that they are not developing long-term contacts and methods with the conventional garrison forces, and are not learning to coordinate with them. When that RCT hits dirt, you can bet that all of their regiments - conventional, mech and aero) will sync together like a well-oiled machine...Assuming otherwise is a recipe for being dead.

Having more mechs can win the day, but the more mechs you, the invader, can tie down will defeat the defender with ease, giving you the ability to strike lightly- or undefended worlds, while the bulk of the enemy is tied into 4- or 6-mech garrisons.

As to the Jumpship/Dropship interface, is it a definite that the TDF only has Merchants? That seems very strange to me, given how long naval theory has revolved around the Mech, in-'verse. Where naval theory goes, naval building follows...although, I could never see the point in only three collars - why limit it, from a military POV? Why not a fourth, to park an Intruder, a Mule or an Excalibur on for support?

That said, you need to work with what you have. While I'm partial to the 6-mech lance idea, that's not how it was done previously, and military forces are notorious for training to fight the last war. OTOH, maybe the designs for the Minotaur (6), Brahma (18) and Auroch (54) have been finalized, and the current organization is (internally) an intermediate step until they have enough mechs to add to the table.

That's the only reason I can see to not go with adding 9 battalions/3 regiments to the TDF, per lrose...which would still add one Corps to the maneuver table, keep the logistics flowing without remodeling the entire supply system, and dispense with the extreme expense of brand new designs that, in 3025, the TC can ill afford...

...Now, if we're talking 2800 -- different story.....
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