Regarded as the Armored Cavalry's workhorse unit for most of its history, the Second St. Ives Lancers are renowned for their bravery in the face of superior numbers.
During the Fourth Succession War, the complete Second was stationed on St. Ives along side the First Lancers, surviving the conflict intact it defected to the newly formed St. Ives Compact.
The Second was reconfigured after the Fourth Succession War into brigade size. As of 3054 the Second Lancers were stationed alongside the First Lancers on the Compact capital of St. Ives, but in the wake of the Clan Invasion were redeployed to the Compact world of Teng, remaining there as of 3054.
As hostilities between the Confederation and Compact increased in 3061, the bulk of the Lancers formed the SIMC mobile reserve, broken into task forces to act as reinforcements as needed. As losses mounted, the Second took on the critical role of delivering supplies and equipment to fellow Compact units in hostile battles across the front. While the Compact ultimately fell, the Second Lancers were credited as the reason the defeated nation lasted as long as it did.
Pictured is a taskforce formed around 3rd Company, 3rd Battalion of the 2nd St Ives Lancers, serving the St. Ives Compact during it's brief existance. The 'Mechs are supported by elements from the 2nd Lancers Armored Command, and the Thirteenth Armored Grenadiers.
The unit's equipment is not at the standard of the rest of the regiments - someone has to be low on the supply totem pole. The company's Command Lance is composed of an antiquated Stalker STK-4P, having had an LRM removed to reduce stress on the ageing assault 'Mech's chassis; a newer Awesome AWS-9M; a classic Cataphract CTF-2X, and as a bodyguard, a Trebuchet TBT-5S, which replaces the LRMs with SRMs for close-up protection.
The jump-capable Battle Lance is made up of a Grasshopper GHR-5J, Quickdraw QKD-5M, Griffin GRF-3M, and Enforcer ENF-4R.
While the recon lance is organised around a new-tech Firestarter FS9-S, protected by a Cicada CDA-3F, Spider SDR-5V, and Jenner JR7-D.
Elements of the 2nd Lancers Armored Command:
A Recon platoon of Plainsman Scout hovercraft, a Battle platoon of Bulldogs (half standard, half LRM version), and a platoon of Cavalry VTOLs in Infantry configuration.
And from the Thirteenth Armoured Grenadiers, a platoon of Cavalier battle armour (deploying from the VTOLs), supported by three platoons of motorised infantry.
So, battalion #57, and part of my "blink and you'll miss them" states. I've done the FRR and am working on Tikonov Republic, and I may even break them off from Periphery States in my Grand Plan.
The basic point was to use up (some) existing stocks in anticipation of the KS arriving next year. I've got a fair whack of 'mechs to work through by then; the classics in the GoAC box are in scale with each other, but look surprisingly bulky next to older IWM product. When the Shadow Hawk outbulks an Orion ...
So the St Ives Lancers. Colours are green-tinted grey with jade highlights. Method:
- base light green
- wash with black ink (got to restock on Nuln Oil!)
- Green details
- Black anything to be made metallic
- Wash with black ink
- drybrush metal bits
- 'jewel' cockpits
I wanted a utilitarian scheme, and I think this delivered. The jade lifts it a bit, and the panelling has come out excellently. Basing is dirt from a garden centre, and Citadel burnt grass.
I think it came out nicely, and the emphasis on panel lines rather than highlights is effective IMHO. Next time I may use silver, rather than white, under the red ink in my fake jewelling. What do you think?
Comments/critiques all welcome.
And as a bonus ...
