Editing 8th Syrtis Fusiliers

{{infoBoxStateUnit
| image    = [[File:Syrtisfusiliers8.png]]
| nickname = The Snow Cobras
| parent formation = [[Syrtis Fusiliers]]
| formed   = [[Age of War]]
| year     = 3062
| unitname = 8th Syrtis Fusiliers RCT
}}

The '''Eighth Syrtis Fusiliers''' used lighter 'Mechs, hovercraft, and VTOLs to move quickly throughout the battlefields.<ref>''House Davion (The Federated Suns)'', p. 141</ref>

==History==
=== Early History ===
The '''Eighth Syrtis Fusiliers''' could trace its origins back to the [[Age of War]] or earlier and the private military force raised by House Hasek to defend its mining and drilling concerns on New Syrtis. The [[Syrtis Fusiliers]] became the private guard and personal army of the Hasek family, with their star rising alongside that of the Hasek family and New Syrtis; the Syrtis Fusiliers expanded, and as time progressed the [[brigade]] became the official guard of New Syrtis and then the perhaps the most important military command within the [[Capellan March]] Principality of the [[Federated Suns]].<ref name="FR2765:FSp18">''Field Report 2765: Federated Suns'', p. 18, "Syrtis Fusiliers"</ref>

=== Davion Civil War ===
The bulk of the Syrtis Fusiliers brigade supported Prince [[David Varnay]] and his wife [[Cassandra Davion]] loyally throughout the [[Davion Civil War]], opposing first the combined forces of [[Laura Davion]] and [[Nikolai Rostov]] and then [[First Prince]] [[Alexander Davion]]. At the end of the war Prince Alexander offered an amnesty to the survivors from the [[brigade]], and reintegrated the Syrtis Fusiliers into the [[Armed Forces of the Federated Suns]], the restructured military that replaced the [[Federated Peacekeeping Forces]] as the state military of the [[Federated Suns]].<ref name="FR2765:FSp18"/>

Alexander's clemency towards the Syrtis Fusiliers and his subsequent actions in rebuffing the attempt by [[Richard Varnay]] to seize control of the Capellan March cemented the Fusiliers' loyalty to [[New Avalon]] and the wider Federated Suns.<ref name="FR2765:FSp18"/>

=== The Star League ===
The Eighth Syrtis Fusiliers served the Federated Suns well in the two centuries following the Davion Civil War; when the [[Star League]] council issued the [[Council Edict of 2650]], sharply limiting the size of the military each [[Great House]] was allowed to maintain, the Eighth and her sister regiments were left untouched. The brigade would remain ten regiments strong until shortly after the repeal of the Council Edict of 2650.<ref name="FR2765:FSp18"/>

During the Star League era the Eighth was a complete contrast to her sister regiment, the [[7th Syrtis Fusiliers|Seventh]], perhaps intentionally; whereas the Seventh was an assault regiment with a preponderance of slow, heavy [['Mechs]], the Eighth was a lightweight regiment within which almost every 'Mech could reach a cruising speed of sixty kilometers per hour or better. As a consequence the Eighth was capable of maneuvering very flexibly on the battlefield.<ref name="FR2765:FSp18"/>

=== First Succession War ===
In February [[2788]] [[First Prince]] [[John Davion]] launched [[Operation SOLAR SHIELD]], a desperate plan to try and disrupt the invasion of the Federated Suns launched by the Draconis Combine in May [[2787]]. Prince John had been preparing to invade the [[Capellan Confederation]] when news of the Combine invasion reached him, and the forces he drew together for SOLAR SHIELD were based on those three [['Mech]] [[regiment]]s nearby earmarked for the abortive invasion of the Confederation plus some six assorted regiments of armor and infantry provided by regional militias within the Marlette Combat Region. Prince John divided his forces into three groups and launched strikes at three occupied worlds on the Terran flank of the invasion, hoping to disrupt the thrust being led personally by [[Coordinator]] [[Minoru Kurita (28th c.)|Minoru Kurita]].<ref name="FSWp40">''First Succession War'', p. 40, "Fighting The Tsunami"</ref><ref name="FSWp41">''First Succession War'', p. 41, "An Expensive Learning Curve"</ref>

SOLAR SHIELD proved to be flawed from the outset; the units assembled lacked time to train together, Prince John's forces were limited in number, and he had only a handful of [[WarShip]]s available to use to escort his forces. Senior officers advised against the operation, but Prince John felt that speed was of the essence, and ordered that the operation go ahead. Elbar was one of the worlds targeted by SOLAR SHIELD, and in May 2788 the [[Eighth Syrtis Fusiliers]] jumped into the Elbar system, initially encountering no serious difficulties. While the transport [[JumpShip]]s recharged, the Fusilier [[DropShip]]s set off for Elbar, along with a small WarShip escort, but before the JumpShips could finish recharging the ''[[Narukami (WarShip class)|Narukami]]''-class destroyer [[Tsutsuji|DCS ''Tsutsuji'']] appeared and attacked the transports, supported by two [[squadron]]s of [[aerospace fighter]]s.<ref name="FSWp40"/>

The Fusiliers realized that they were heading into a trap, and that the [[DCMS]] forces were well-prepared for any attack; their two-ship WarShip escort lacked enough docking collars to enable the Fusiliers to escape with all their DropShips, and the ''Tsutsuji'' had destroyed all eight Fusilier JumpShips, so the Fusiliers resorted to transferring as many of their DropShip crews, passengers and equipment into the ''[[Carrack]]''-class transport [[Port Victoria|FSS ''Port Victoria'']] as they could before jumping out of the Elbar system, abandoning more than a dozen DropShips behind them. Combined with heavy defeats on [[Cartago]] and [[Schedar]] as well, SOLAR SHIELD was an abject failure that cost the AFFS men and resources it couldn't afford to lose.<ref name="FSWp40"/>

=== Third Succession War ===
The Eighth was based on [[Avigait]] in [[3025]].<ref name=HD137/>

=== FedCom Civil War ===
In [[3063]] the Eighth Syrtis Fusiliers were stationed on their homeworld [[Lothair]]. Shortly after the outbreak of the [[FedCom Civil War]], Duke [[George Hasek II|George Hasek]] ordered them to [[New Syrtis]].<ref name=FMFS107>''Field Manual: Federated Suns'', p. 107, "8th Syrtis Fusiliers Unit Profile"</ref>

The unit was dragged into the FedCom Civil War in [[3065]] when pro-Katherine forces tried to conquer New Syrtis in an attempt to neutralize Duke Hasek. The Duke's forces eventually repelled the invaders but all units suffered heavy casualties.<ref name=FMFS107/><ref>''Field Manual: Updates'', p. 132</ref> The Eighth was forced to fight the [[11th Avalon Hussars]], [[4th Donegal Guards]], and the [[Ridgebrook CMM]].<ref>''FedCom Civil War (sourcebook)'', pp. 141-142, 156</ref> The unit was stationed to [[Genoa]] in [[3067]] to rebuild.<ref name=FMUp137/>

=== The Jihad ===
After participating in [[Operation SOVEREIGN JUSTICE]] and [[Operation Thunderstrike]] the Eighth's personnel issues have downgraded the unit's experience level. The Eighth's soldiers were also having trouble learning the new tactics that are required by a [[Light Combat Team]]. Fortunately [[Brusett]] wasn't likely to come under attack soon, so this weakness cannot be exploited by the [[Capellan Confederation]].<ref name="fra15">''Field Report: AFFS'', p. 15</ref>

During Operation SOVEREIGN JUSTICE the Eighth invaded [[Liao]] and fought the [[Dynasty Guard]]. The Guard inflicted heavy losses on the Eighth and forced them off-world.<ref>''Technical Readout: 3058 Upgrade'', p. 86</ref><ref>''Field Manual: 3085'', p. 23</ref>

=== The Dark Age ===
As part of [[Operation MATADOR]] the Eighth teamed up with the [[Second Robinson Strikers]] to assault [[Hyalite]]. The two AFFS units drove the [[Third Taurian Lancers]] from the world. The Eighth then went on to secure [[Norman's World]].<ref>''Field Manual: 3085'', p. 54</ref> In [[3082]] they were able to rebuild their armor unit and gain the full complement of battle armor troopers. They were moved to garrison [[Talcott]].<ref>''Field Manual: 3085'', p. 63</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;" | Command
|-
| colspan="4" style="background: #efefef;" | '''Commanding Officers of the 8th Syrtis Fusiliers'''
|-
| [[Marshal (rank)|Marshal]]||[[Iona Hasek]]||[[3025]]<ref name=HD137>''House Davion (The Federated Suns)'', p. 137 (pdf version), "Ridgebrook PDZ"</ref>
|-
|[[Hauptmann General]]||[[Pollak Ramsey]]||[[3050]]<ref name=20Yp22>''20 Year Update'', p. 22, "AFFC Deployment Table - 3050"</ref>
|-
||Hauptmann General||[[Deborah Palu]]||[[3054]]<ref name=ORp15>''Objective Raids'', p. 15, "Federated Commonwealth Deployment Table"</ref> 
|-
| Marshal||[[Entropy Richards]]||[[3062]] - [[3085]]<ref name=FMFS107/><ref name=FMUp137>''Field Manual: Updates'', p. 137, "AFFS Deployment Table - 3067"</ref><ref name=FM3085p69>''Field Manual: 3085'', p. 69, "AFFS Deployment Table - 3085"</ref>
|-
|}

===Other Officers===
* [[Leftenant Colonel]] [[Grayson Addison]] in [[3066]].<ref>''Imminent Crisis''</ref>

==Tactics==
The Eighth Syrtis Fusiliers are a fast unit - deploying light Mechs, hover-tanks, and helicopters.<ref name=FMFS107/>

==Composition History==
=== 2765 ===
'''Eighth Syrtis Fusiliers''' (Regiment/Veteran/Reliable)<ref name="FR2765:FSp19">''Field Report 2765: Federated Suns'', p. 19, "Regimental Status"</ref>
:- At This point in time the Eighth were stationed on [[Chesterton]].<ref name="FR2765:FSp19"/> The [[Syrtis Hover Recon]] - a [[battalion]] of hover vehicles - had been attached to the Eighth for so long at this point in time that it was essentially a ''de facto'' part of the Eighth, although it was still listed as merely being "temporarily attached".<ref name="FR2765:FSp18"/>

=== 2786 ===
'''Eighth Syrtis Fusiliers''' (Regiment/Veteran/Reliable)<ref name="FSWp134">''First Succession War'', p. 134, "Armed Forces of the Federated Suns"</ref>
:- At this point in time the Eighth were a light-weight regiment at full strength and based on Chesterton.<ref name="FSWp134"/>

=== 2821 ===
'''Eighth Syrtis Fusiliers''' (Regiment/Veteran/Reliable)<ref name="FSWp134"/>
:- At this point in time the Eighth had been reduced to just forty-five percent of full strength and were based on [[New Ivaarsen]].<ref name="FSWp134"/>
=== 2830 ===
'''8th Syrtis Fusiliers''' (Regiment/Elite/Reliable) <ref name=2ndSSp95>’’ Second Succession War’’, p. 95 </ref>
: Note: At this point in time the light-weight unit was stationed on [[Mirach]] with an operational readiness of 99 percent. <ref name=2ndSSp95/>
=== 2864 ===	
'''8th Syrtis Fusiliers''' (Regiment/Veteran/Reliable) <ref name=2ndSSp95/>
: Note: At this point in time the light-weight unit was stationed on [[Mirach]] with an operational readiness of 32 percent. <ref name=2ndSSp95/>

===3025===
'''Eighth Syrtis Fusiliers RCT''' (Regiment/Regular/Questionable)<ref name=HD137/>
:* CO: Marshal Iona Hasek <ref name=HD137/>
:Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on [[Avigait]]. <ref name=HD137/>

===3040===
'''Eighth Syrtis Füsiliers RCT''' (Regiment/Regular/Reliable)<ref name = HWo3039p136/>
:Note: At this point in time the command was stationed on [[Lothair]].  <ref name = HWo3039p136>''Historical: War of 3039'', p.136</ref>

===3050===
'''8th Syrtis Fusiliers RCT ''' (Regiment/Regular/Reliable) <ref name = 20yup22/>
:* CO: Hauptmann General Poliak Ramsey <ref name = 20yup22/>	
:Note: At this point in time the command was stationed on [[Lothair]].  <ref name = 20yup22>''20 Year Update'', p. 22</ref>
		
===3054===
'''8th Syrtis Fusiliers RCT''' (Regiment/Regular/Reliable)  <ref name = OpjRp15/>
:* CO: Hauptmann General Deborah Palu <ref name = OpjRp15/>
:Note: At this point in time the command was stationed on [[Lothair]].  <ref name = OpjRp15>''Objective Raids'', p. 15</ref> 

===3062===
'''Eighth Syrtis Fusiliers RCT''' (1 [[Regiment]]/Regular/Reliable)<ref name=FMFS107/>
* CO: Leftenant General Entropy Richards
:* Aide: [[Major]] Lorena Felton

'''Eighth Syrtis Fusiliers Aerospace [[Brigade]]''' (One unnamed [[Wing (Military Unit)|Wing]])<ref name=FMFS107/>
* CO: [[Light Commodore]] Jordane Meloch 

'''Eighth Syrtis Fusiliers Armor Brigade''' (3 Regiments/Elite/Fanatical)<ref name=FMFS107/>
* CO: Major General Bruce Durnne
:* Aide: [[Leftenant Colonel]] Iakobus Malenkov
* Eighth [[Ogilvie ]] Light Armor - [[Colonel]]: Hachi Lee-Kwane
* Eighty-eighth [[Lyons]] Cavalry Regiment - Colonel: Ingvar Haakensen
* 100th [[Talon (BattleMech)|Talon]] Armored Regiment - [[Leftenant Colonel]] Darlene Shouth
* 259th Syrtis Artillery Battalion - [[Captain]] Dusty Bondo

- The Eighty-eighth is reinforced to five [[Battalion]]s, includes three [[VTOL]] Battalions

'''Eighth Syrtis Fusiliers Infantry Brigade''' (4 Regiments/Regular/Reliable)<ref name=FMFS107/>
* CO: Major General Rezi LaFayette
:* Aide: Leftenant Colonel Paul Farchione
* 384th Federation Mechanized Infantry Regiment - Colonel: Meda Brown
* 390th Federation Mechanized Infantry Regiment - Colonel: William James Rohm
* Seventh [[Alcyone]] Mechanized Regiment - Leftenant Colonel: Veronica Hasek-Romanov
* 189th Syrtis Jump Regiment - Colonel: Rafaella Delacruz

- Infantry regiments fields AFVs

===3067===
'''Eighth Syrtis Fusiliers RCT''' (1 [[Regiment]]/Regular/Reliable)<ref name=FMUp137/>
* CO: General Entropy Richards

'''Eighth Syrtis Fusiliers Aerospace [[Brigade]]''' (Elite/Reliable)<ref name=FMUp137/>
* CO: [[Rear Admiral]] Grant Jeron 
 
'''Eighth Syrtis Fusiliers Armor Brigade''' (Elite/Reliable)<ref name=FMUp137/>
* CO: Major General Dusty Bondo

'''Eighth Syrtis Fusiliers Infantry Brigade''' (Regular/Reliable)<ref name=FMUp137/>
* CO: Major General William James Rohm

===3079===
Though at full [[LCT]] strength, the Eighth's armor contingent consists of mostly Succession Wars-era vehicles that were seized from the planetary militia.<ref name="fra15"/>

===3085===
'''Eighth Syrtis Fusiliers LCT''' (Regular/Questionable)<ref name=FM3085p69/> 
* CO: Marshal Entropy Richards

'''Eighth Syrtis Fusiliers Aerospace Brigade''' (Green/Reliable)<ref name=FM3085p69/> 
* CO: [[Commodore]] Adriano Bott

'''Eighth Syrtis Fusiliers Armor Brigade''' (Regular/Reliable)<ref name=FM3085p69/> 
* CO: Major General Fleur Baggaley

'''Eighth Syrtis Fusiliers Infantry Brigade''' (Green/Reliable)<ref name=FM3085p69/> 
* CO: Major General Alaric Schneider

==Notes==
Since at least [[2960]], the Eighth have had a traditional drink: the ''"Sour Cobra"'':<br> Theoretically 2 shots of Bourbon, 1 spoon citrus juice, 1 spoon lemon juice, 1 cup crushed ice. But in reality on [[New Syrtis]] they often had to resort to: Bourbon, concentrated citrus or lemon juice, and ice, freshly chopped from a glacier.<br> The Sour Cobra is also recommended for cleaning purposes.<ref name=ICp43>''Imminent Crisis'' , p. 43</ref>

==References==
<references />

==Bibliography==
* ''[[20 Year Update]]''
* ''[[FedCom Civil War (sourcebook)]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: 3085]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: Update]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: Federated Suns]]''
* ''[[Field Report: AFFS]]''
* ''[[Field Report 2765: Federated Suns]]''
* ''[[First Succession War (Source Book)|First Succession War]]''
* ''[[House Davion (The Federated Suns)]]''
* ''[[Imminent Crisis]]'' (novel)
* ''[[Objective Raids]]''
* ''[[Technical Readout: 3058 Upgrade]]''

[[Category:Federated Suns Commands|Syrtis Fusiliers, 008th]]
[[Category:Federated Commonwealth Commands|Syrtis Fusiliers, 008th]]