View source for 5th Deneb Light Cavalry

{{infoBoxMilitaryCommand
| image          = [[File:Deneb Light Cavalry -Brigade logo.png|191px|Brigade Insignia of the Deneb Light Cavalry]]
| Designation    = 5th Deneb Light Cavalry RCT
| formed         = [[2782]]<ref name="FSWp33"/>
| Disbanded      = 
| Previous Designation = 
| Nickname       = The Sprinter Killers<ref name=HDFS141-SK-1>''House Davion (The Federated Suns)'', p. 141: "Fifth Deneb Light Cavalry RCT: The Sprinter-Killers", the Fifth's nickname is given and explained</ref>
| Affiliation    = [[Federated Suns]]
| Parent Command = [[Deneb Light Cavalry]]
| Sub-Command    = 
}}

The '''Fifth Deneb Light Cavalry RCT''' was a [[Regimental Combat Team]] in service to [[Federated Suns]], and was the first original [[Deneb Light Cavalry]] unit formed by the [[AFFS]] during the [[Succession Wars (History)|Succession Wars]].

==History==
===Formation===
During the [[First Succession War]], the [[Fourth Deneb Light Cavalry]], an original [[Star League Defense Force]] unit, helped train and reorganize several regiments in the [[Rapid Deployment Mixed Arm Forces]] philosophy, which would become the foundation of the entire brigade. Unlike most RCTs, the Light Cavalry units were formed around a [[BattleMech]] [[regiment]] made up of light and medium 'Mechs, with two [[Hovercraft]] regiments and two regiments of [[Jump Infantry]]. Six [[aerospace fighter]] [[Wing (Military Unit)|wings]] (three times the standard for an RCT) would provide superior air cover, while enough [[JumpShips]] and [[DropShips]] were permanently attached to transport the entire RCT. These commands were well-suited to quickly responding to any threat (or opportunity) anywhere. The Fifth Light Cavalry and other units were thus formed to these lines, while the Fifth was the first to become combat operational. The Fifth drew their nickname from a predator native to the plains of [[New Avalon]]. Although they saw no action during the First War, they soon made their presence felt in the [[Second Succession War]].<ref name=HDFS141-SK-1/><ref name=HDFS141-DLC-1>''House Davion (The Federated Suns)'', p. 141: "Deneb Light Cavalry", the Deneb Light Cavalry formations and training are described</ref><ref name=HDFS141-5DLC-2>''House Davion (The Federated Suns)'', p. 141: "Fifth Deneb Light Cavalry RCT: The Sprinter-Killers", the Fifth is described, particularly their Succession Wars successes</ref>

Like the Fourth and [[Eighth Deneb Light Cavalry]] formations, the core of the Fifth lay in the [[Thirteenth Royal French Demi-Brigade]]<ref name="FSWp33"/> a part of [[LVI Corps (Star League)|LVI Corps]], one of three Corps that formed the [[19th Army (Star League)|Nineteenth Army]]. The SLDF personnel recruited by the [[Armed Forces of the Federated Suns]] to form the Fourth, Fifth and Eighth could all trace the heritage of their unit back to the ancient French Foreign Legion on [[Terra]]. The [[AFFS]] recruited the Thirteenth in [[2782]], making it one of the first SLDF formations to be recruited as the [[Terran Hegemony]] collapsed.<ref name="FSWp33">''First Succession War'', p. 33: "Those Left Behind"</ref><ref name="FM:SLDFp223">''Field Manual: SLDF'', p. 223: "LVI Corps"</ref>

===Succession Wars===
The Fifth Deneb Light Cavalry distinguished itself during the Second and [[Third Succession War]]s, winning several major victories and establishing itself as one of the most famous units of the entire AFFS.<ref name=HDFS141-5DLC-2/> By the end of the Third War in [[3025]], the Fifth Light Cavalry were based on the strategic world of [[Northwind]] in the [[Draconis March]].<ref name=HDFS136-FSDT-5DLC-1>''House Davion (The Federated Suns)'', p. 136: "Federated Suns Deployment Table - 3025", the Fifth DLC's homeworld, commander, experience and loyalty ratings</ref>

===The Fourth Succession War===
====The Battle of Northwind====
[[File:Sword of Light 5th logo.png|right|175px|The [[5th Sword of Light]] nearly destroyed the Fifth on Northwind]]
When the [[Fourth Succession War]] came in [[3028]], the Fifth Deneb was still based on Northwind. [[Maximilian Liao]], [[Chancellor]] of the [[Capellan Confederation]], was desperate to blunt the Federated Suns' [[Operation Rat|offensive]] against his realm. Pleading for aid from his [[Concord of Kapteyn]] ally, [[Coordinator]] [[Takashi Kurita]], the [[Draconis Combine]] leader authorized attacks against House Davion. The Coordinator and [[Tai-shu|Warlord]] [[Vasily Cherenkoff]] of the [[Dieron Military District]] recognized Northwind's critical position on the border, concluding that if that world could be taken, many others would soon follow. There was even a chance the Federated Suns could be cut off from their allies in the [[Lyran Commonwealth]]. Cherenkoff deployed the elite [[5th Sword of Light]], the [[36th Dieron Regulars]] and the recently formed [[Genyosha]], an elite, reinforced battalion of MechWarriors commanded by the legendary [[Yorinaga Kurita]]. In addition to the Fifth Deneb Light Cavalry and their supporting units, Northwind was defended by [[Team Banzai]] and [[Bradley's Bravos]], a [[mercenary]] unit commanded by former (and future) [[Kell Hound]] [[Scott Bradley]]. The Genyosha's presence was due primarily to the [[ISF]] misidentifying Bradley's Bravos as the Kell Hounds' Third Battalion. (In fact, they would not formally become part of the Hounds until after the battle.)
The AFFS forces were based in and around the capital city of Cromarty on the continent of New Lanark. The [[DCMS]] troops landed north and east of the city, and soon began pressuring the Davion forces. The early fighting saw neither side able to win a decisive edge over the other, with the skill of the invading forces matched by the mobility and determination of the defenders. Realizing that a prolonged conflict would delay further attacks and seeking to break the stalemate, ''[[Tai-sho (rank)|Tai-sho]]'' [[Palmer Conti]], commander of the Fifth Sword of Light, ordered his troops to release ptomaine poisoning into the reservoir lake that provided water to the city. By the following day, most of the city and half the Fifth Deneb had been inflicted with a deadly disease that proved almost incurable. Thousands of civilians were killed before the water was cut off, and only four 'Mech [[company|companies]] of the Fifth Deneb remained in operation. The mercenaries were unaffected, as they relied on a separate water source. Nevertheless, the strength and morale of the defenders had been devastated. Major Collins was the most-senior officer of the Fifth Deneb not dead or ill, and he assumed command of their remaining Deneb forces. Soon the Thirty-sixth Dieron launched a full-scale assault on the city. The Fifth, though at less than half-strength, seemed to successfully drive the Regulars off, then fell into a pursuit of the Kurita troops. This proved to have been a grave mistake, as the Thirty-sixth's attack and retreat had all been designed to lure the Cavalry from their defensive positions. Fifth Sword of Light ambushed the overextended and outnumbered Light Cavalry, overrunning the Davion forces and forcing them to scatter. Team Banzai attempted to intervene to save the Sprinter Killers, only to find themselves blocked by the Genyosha, who inflicted serious damage on the mercenaries and injuring their commander, Doctor [[B. Banzai]], whose 'Mech was destroyed by Yorinaga Kurita himself. It was here that Takashi Kurita's [[Death to Mercenaries]] order came into play, with Kurita soldiers executing many of those mercenaries who were captured, much to the disgust of the Genyosha warriors. The remaining forces of the Fifth Deneb, Team Banzai and Bradley's Bravos retreated north into the Cairngorm Mountains to the rocky terrain of the Rockspires, attempting to regroup. By this point, only two battalions' worth of disorganized mixed troops remained of the Cavalry, which had previously boasted 15 battalions total plus air support. Collins formed the survivors of the Fifth Deneb into provisional companies or "Teams", incorporating his remaining 'Mech and [[Combat Vehicle|armor]] assets together. By early January [[3029]], ''Tai-sho'' Conti's forces now boasted a huge numerical advantage over the surviving defenders, an edge he intended to press. On 11 January, a raid by the Blue Blazers battalion of Team Banzai almost destroyed Conti's headquarters while the Fifth Sword was on maneuvers. Their attack was blunted and repulsed by elements of the Genyosha led by [[Akira Brahe]], however, who destroyed a full 'Mech company of the mercenaries. Although the Genyosha departed to pursue their feud against the Kell Hounds, Conti still had more than sufficient troops to complete his victory. The Davion and mercenary troops, meanwhile, prepared for the end, repairing their machines and treating their wounded as best they could. Bradley's Bravos formed themselves into an [[Omega Company]] armed with [[Inferno (Missile)|Inferno]] missiles, preparing to make a suicide attack to buy the other survivors time to escape through the northern passes with the wounded.
[[File:NorthwindHighlanders.gif|left|175px|The [[Northwind Highlanders]] helped rescue the Fifth on Northwind]]
As the Kuritan forces approached the AFFS forces, intending to finish them off, the sound of bagpipes filled the communication systems of both sides. The four regiments of [[Northwind Highlanders]], which had long been in service to House Liao, were burning fast towards the planet, and directly towards the coming battle. Conti believed the Highlanders had arrived to help finish off the Davion troops, and ordered the DCMS forces onward. The Highlanders, however, contacted the Davion commanders, informing them that they had reached an agreement with [[First Prince]] [[Hanse Davion]] to return to their ancestral homeworld, and were returning home on the side of the AFFS. This reinvigorated the surviving defenders, with one Deneb provisional company: "Team Cutter", so enthused they conducted an ill-advised charge against advancing elements of the Fifth Swords' first battalion. Fortunately, elements of the [[2nd Kearny Highlanders]]' Dark Watch company soon arrived to reinforce the overeager Davion troops. Recognizing the situation, Conti immediately ordered a retreat, preserving most his own regiment but ordering the Thirty-sixth to cover the retreat, effectively sacrificing a full battalion from the Hungry Ghosts. The defeat on Northwind effectively cowed Warlord Cherenkoff and ended his ambitions against the Federated Suns for the remainder of the war. Although House Kurita made gains elsewhere, none were at the expense of the [[Coreward]] combat theater facing Cherenkoff's district. Cherenkoff remained bunkered on Dieron, authorizing only minor raids against House Davion.<ref name=NAIS4SW1-7879-N-1>''NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 1'', pp. 78–79: "Northwind", the battle of Northwind</ref><ref name=FSWSV1-37-1>''The Fourth Succession War Scenarios Volume One'', p. 37: "A Dirty Little War", the battle of Northwind</ref><ref name=FSWSV1-36-1>''The Fourth Succession War Scenarios Volume One'', p. 36: "Of Treason and Heroes", Team Cutter attacks</ref><ref name=WR-C47-1>''Warrior: Riposte'', pp. 276–281: the Genyosha blunts the Blue Blazers' attack, reacts to mercenary executions</ref><ref name=WR-C48-1>''Warrior: Riposte'', pp. 282–286: Scott Bradley and Tommy Lester discuss the Northwind Campaign, Highlanders arrive</ref><ref name=WC-183-1>''Warrior: Coupé'', p. 183: Conti orders the Thirty-sixth Dieron to cover the retreat of his own Fifth Sword of Light</ref>

====Aftermath====
In need of extensive rebuilding after the battle, the survivors of the Fifth Deneb Cavalry saw no serious action for the remainder of the conflict. Indeed, their losses in men and matériel were so extensive that they were officially considered "destroyed" months later in a summary of the battle by [[Theodore Kurita]].<ref name=WC-182-1>''Warrior: Coupé'', p. 182: Theodore Kurita names the Fifth Deneb Light Cavalry as destroyed by the Fifth Sword of Light</ref>

===War of 3039===
In the mid-3030s, [[Hauptmann General]] [[Andrew Terlecki II|Andrew Terlecki Jr.]] took command of the Fifth. The son of [[Marshal (rank)|Marshal]] Terlecki was the son of Andrew Terlecki Sr., the commanding officer of the entire Deneb Light Cavalry brigade.<ref name=FMFSp84>''Field Manual: Federated Suns'', p. 84: "Deneb Light Cavalry</ref> When the [[War of 3039]] finally broke out in [[3039]], the Fifth Deneb Light Cavalry, though having been rebuilt to full strength and of good quality, were left on the sidelines, defending the planet [[Nanking]] in the [[Sarna March]]. Only after the conflict had ended was the RCT rotated to garrison the recently conquered world of [[Murchison]].<ref name=HW3039-136-5DLC-1>''Historical: War of 3039'': "Deployment Table - Armed Forces of the Federated Suns", the Fifth DLC's disposition and movements during and after the War of 3039</ref>

===Clan Invasion and Sudeten===
[[File:Clan Jade Falcon.jpg|right|200px|Losses to [[Clan Jade Falcon]] ended the Fifth's proud history]]
At the dawn of the [[Clan Invasion]] in [[3050]], the Fifth Light Cavalry was still based on Murchison.<ref name=20YU-19-5DLC-1>''20 Year Update'', p. 19: "Armed Forces of the Federated Commonwealth (Deployment as of 3050)", the Fifth DLC is based on Murchison and commanded by Hauptmann General Andrew Terlecki</ref> Along with dozens of other Davion regiments, the Fifth Cavalry was transferred to the Lyran Commonwealth-[[Clan]] front to meet the threat of the seemingly invincible invaders. The Fifth saw little action until after the [[Battle of Tukayyid (3052)|Battle of Tukayyid]], however, and soon found themselves involved in "border raiding" against [[Clan Jade Falcon]].

In [[3053]], the Fifth was chosen along with the [[12th Deneb Light Cavalry]], a "free" 'Mech regiment, to conduct a daring raid on the occupied world of [[Sudeten]]. [[AFFC]] [[Intelligence Secretariat|Intelligence]] had identified Sudeten as a major supply depot for Falcon operations, as well as reporting the presence of a large encampment of POWs. Accompanied by the [[81st FedCom Independent Aero Regiment|81st FedCom]] and [[403rd Lyran Independent Aero Regiment|403rd Lyran Independent Aero Regiments]] along with their own support and a number of assault DropShips, it was believed the Deneb Light Cavalry forces would have ample support to succeed in their mission. True to form, the Cavalry employed a [[Pirate Point]] to reach their destination, hoping to catch the Falcons by surprise. Unfortunately, the Intelligence services had severely underestimated Clan opposition for the mission, as the CJF ''[[Jade Talon]]'', an ''[[Aegis]]''-class [[WarShip]], was in orbit over the planet, and more than a [[Galaxy]] of Falcon troops were on the surface. By chance, various Jade Falcon [[Clusters]] had been temporarily assigned to the important world. The AFFC troops were forced to commit their entire aerospace contingent to holding off the WarShip and the Falcons' own aerospace forces while the ground troops made their drop. The Fifth was assigned to rescue the POWs from the camp, where they took devastating casualties, but were nonetheless able to free hundreds of prisoners. The Twelfth, meanwhile, had landed directly on the supply factories, and the defending [[8th Falcon Regulars (Clan Jade Falcon)|8th Falcon Regulars]]. Although the Fifth attempted to send their hovercraft to help reinforce the beleaguered Twelfth, the Falcons received their own reinforcements in the [[12th Falcon Regulars (Clan Jade Falcon)|12th Falcon Regulars]]. The Twelfth Deneb retreated without having even damaged the targeted facilities. The Fifth fled Sudeten having taken 80 percent casualties, while only a third of the Twelfth made it off the planet. The aerospace forces had suffered similar losses, with only 27 of 120 fighters surviving the battle with the ''Jade Talon''. Although some prisoners had been rescued, the entire operation was considered a debacle.<ref name=FMFS84-DLC-CO-1>''Field Manual: Federated Suns'', p. 84: "Commanding Officer", the fateful raid on Sudeten effectively ends the Fifth's existence</ref><ref name=FMFS88-12DLC-S-1>''Field Manual: Federated Suns'', p. 88: "12th Deneb Light Cavalry: The Blur-Snakes", the raid on Sudeten goes badly for the Deneb Light Cavalry</ref>

In the aftermath, it was decided that the Fifth Deneb Light Cavalry would be disbanded, with its surviving officers and soldiers transferred to the other DLC commands. The lion's share of these seemed to join the understrength Twelfth Deneb, including two companies of armor and three companies of infantry, which had been all that was left of the Fifth's conventional forces. This gave the Twelfth a permanently attached auxiliary [[battalion]].<ref name=FMFS88-12DLC-S-2>''Field Manual: Federated Suns'', p. 88: "12th Deneb Combat Auxiliary", the Fifth's conventional forces join the Twelfth</ref>

==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;" | Time Period in Command
|-
| colspan="4" style="background: #efefef;" | '''Commanding Officers of the 5th Deneb Light Cavalry'''
|-
| [[Marshal (rank)|Marshal]]||[[Lovis Yolis]]||[[3025]]<ref name=HDFS136-FSDT-5DLC-1/>
|-
| [[Major]]||Collins||[[3029]]<ref name=NAIS4SW1-7879-N-1/>
|-
| [[Hauptmann General]]||[[Andrew Terlecki Jr.]]||303? - [[3053]]<ref name=FMFSp84/>
|}

===Other Officers===
* [[Captain]] [[Loren Cutter]], a MechWarrior who served on Northwind during the 4th Succession War; commander of "Team Cutter".<ref name=TFSWSVO36>''The Fourth Succession War Scenarios Volume One'', p. 36: "Of Teason And Heroes"</ref>
* [[Leftenant]] [[Nathan James]], a MechWarrior who served on Northwind during the 4th Succession War.<ref name=TFSWSVO37>''The Fourth Succession War Scenarios Volume One'', p. 37: "Attacker"</ref>

==Tactics==
Like most Deneb Light Cavalry units, the Fifth specialized in rapid deployments, using lighter and faster 'Mechs, along with hovercraft and mobile infantry for their conventional forces.<ref name=HDFS141-DLC-1/> Although effective in many situations, when forced into a stand-up fight against large numbers of Jade Falcons without their air support, they lacked the strength to survive.<ref name=FMFS84-DLC-CO-1/>

==Composition History==
=== 2786 - 2821 ===
'''Fifth Deneb Light Cavalry''' (Regiment/Regular/Reliable)<ref name="FSWp134">''First Succession War'', p. 134: "Armed Forces of the Federated Suns (AFFS)"</ref>
:- At this point in time the Fifth was a medium-weight unit operating at full strength, and was based on [[New Florence]].<ref name="FSWp134"/> In 2821 the unit was operating at just below half-strength, and was based on [[Edwards]].<ref name="FSWp134"/>

===2830===
'''5th Deneb Light Cavalry''' (Regiment/Regular/Reliable)<ref name=2SWp95>''Second Succession War'', p. 95</ref>
: Note: At this point in time the medium-weight unit was stationed on [[Edwards]] with an operational readiness of 115 percent.<ref name=2SWp95/>

===2864===
'''5th Deneb Light Cavalry''' (Regiment/Regular/Fanatical)<ref name=2SWp95/>
: Note: At this point in time the heavy-weight unit was stationed on [[Klamriz V]] with an operational readiness of 90 percent.<ref name=2SWp95/>

===3025===
'''5th Deneb Light Cavalry [[RCT]]''' (Regimental Combat Team/Regular/Reliable)<ref name=HDFS136-FSDT-5DLC-1/>
:* CO: Marshal Lovis Yolis
:* BattleMech regiment
:* Two hovercraft regiments
:* Two jump infantry regiments
:* Six aerospace wings
:Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on [[Northwind]].

===3040===
''' 5th Deneb Light Cavalry RCT''' (Regimental Combat Team/Regular/Reliable)<ref name=HWo3039p136/>
: CO: Hauptmann General Andrew Terlecki Jr.
:* BattleMech regiment
:* Two hovercraft regiments
:* Two jump infantry regiments
:* Six aerospace wings
:Note: At this point in time the command was stationed on [[Murchison]].<ref name=HWo3039p136>''Historical: War of 3039'', p. 136</ref>

===3050===
''' 5th Deneb Light Cavalry RCT''' (Regimental Combat Team/Regular/Reliable)<ref name=20YU-19-5DLC-1/>
: CO: Hauptmann General Andrew Terlecki Jr.
:* BattleMech regiment
:* Two hovercraft regiments
:* Two jump infantry regiments
:* Six aerospace wings
: Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on [[Murchison]].<ref name=20YU-19-5DLC-1/>

==Insignia and Color Scheme==
Like the rest of the Deneb Light Cavalry, the Fifth used a rectangle of black surrounding the bust of a white horse upon a square of gold as its insignia; with the roman numeral "five" appearing within the square to designate the Fifth. In deference to the Light Cavalry's origins as a Star League Regular Army command, the Fifth uses a light tan paint scheme.<ref name=HDFS141-DLC-1/><ref name=FMFS84-DLC-CI-1>''Field Manual: Federated Suns'', p. 84: "Colors and Insignia", the brigade and unit insignias are described</ref>

==Notes==
* Although the Fifth Deneb primarily employed light and medium 'Mechs and did not normally use heavy tanks at all, the sample provisional company listed in the ''[[NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 1]]'' featured several heavy and assault 'Mechs along with heavy tanks.<ref name=FSWSV1-36-1/> This may be put down as either an aberration or the perhaps the equipment came from a planetary militia unit absorbed into the Cavalry.

==References==
<references />

==Bibliography==
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* ''[[20 Year Update]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: Federated Suns]]''
* ''[[First Succession War (sourcebook)|First Succession War]]''
* ''[[The Fourth Succession War Scenarios Volume One]]''
* ''[[Historical: War of 3039]]''
* ''[[House Davion (The Federated Suns)]]''
* ''[[NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 1]]''
* ''[[Second Succession War (sourcebook)|Second Succession War]]''
* ''[[Warrior: Coupé]]''
* ''[[Warrior: Riposte]]''
{{div col end}}


[[Category:Federated Suns Commands|Deneb Light Cavalry, 05th]]
[[Category:Federated Commonwealth Commands|Deneb Light Cavalry, 05th]]