Orloff Grenadiers

Orloff grenadiers.jpg
Orloff Grenadiers
Unit Profile (as of [[]])
Nickname Warrior Tradition [1]
Parent Formation Free Worlds League Military
Formed 2691[2]


The provincial regiments of the Duchy of Orloff, the Orloff Grenadiers are synonymous with competence. Orloff takes great pride in its troops, with an initiation ritual that binds them together. Ironically, theirs was one of the loudest voices against Thomas Marik's attempts to centralize power and unify the Free Worlds League Military because it would have meant giving up many of their traditions.[1]



The Orloff Grenadiers were founded in 2691 when House Orloff cited the Camlann vs. Free Worlds precedent and broke the planets of Kievanur and Semenyih away from the Federation of Oriente to form the new Duchy of Orloff. The Duchy then immediately announced the formation of the Orloff Grenadiers, which would be funded solely by House Orloff.[2]

Star League Era

Swiftly building a reputation for excellence, the Orloff Grenadiers wanted for very little during the Star League era; five regiments strong, the Grenadiers were provided with top-of-the-line equipment procured by House Orloff and had initiated an extremely stringent recruiting mechanism that included all members of the Grenadiers swearing oaths not to fight against the Grenadiers or House Orloff. Combined with a strict training regimen, the Grenadiers' formidable reputation traveled beyond the Free Worlds League borders.[2]

Despite House Orloff's secession from the Federation of Oriente and although the Grenadiers were officially provincial forces of the Duchy of Orloff[2] - all of the forces associated with provinces officially having become provincial forces in 2650, decades before the founding of the Grenadiers, in what was at least partly an act of fiction to avoid disbanding a large number of regiments under the demands of the Star League Council Edict of 2650[3] - House Orloff and House Allison maintained a close relationship. As a result the Orloff Grenadiers were deployed throughout the Federation of Oriente, protecting worlds of importance to Oriente rather than just Kievanur and Semenyih, neither of which was of particular interest to pirates and raiders.[2]

The Grenadiers chose to stand by House Allison during the Marik Civil War, a decision that resulted in the Grenadiers not being called on to fight, but which also strained the relationship between the Grenadiers, the Free Worlds League Parliament and the Captain-General.[2]

During the decade leading up to the Amaris Civil War the Grenadiers would deal with more pirate raids than any other unit in the Federation of Oriente, a testament to the Grenadiers' consistently rapid response times - which limited collateral damage and casualties - and to the high degree of operational latitude the Grenadiers were given by House Orloff. Funded by House Orloff, equipped with the best equipment and given a great deal of operational latitude, morale was consistently high amongst the Grenadiers during this era. In exchange for this high level of support and operational freedom, to ensue that the high standards of the Grenadiers were met, the commanding officer of each regiment enforced high standards of conduct and strict dress codes, with the few personnel who found themselves unable to measure up swiftly being censured or simply dismissed from the Grenadiers completely. These standards, whilst harsh and imposing, were supported by the Grenadiers, who felt that the discipline was a key part in allowing the Grenadiers to continue to outshine every other provincial and federal brigade within the Free Worlds League.[2]

It was during the Star League era that the Grenadiers established the tradition of regimental commanding officers being democratically elected by the personnel in their unit, with each commanding officer being elected for a two-year term. This tradition was a source of some concern for the Free Worlds League Military due to the risk that an elected commander might not agree with the policies and direction provided by House Orloff, in contrast with an appointed commander.[2]

The Succession Wars

The Academy of Vanraa supplied over the centuries the FWLM with many skillful soldiers during the Succession Wars and beyond.[1] Between 2901 and 2910 elements of the Brigade were part of the Red Rovers strike force. The strike force consisted of Grenadiers and units from the Defenders of Andurien. The Red Rovers assaulted several important planets (Aldebaran, Shensi, Nanking, Zion) to keep the CCAF off balance. The raid on Zion saw the first real combat for the Galleon tank. [4]

The regiments continued their tradition to be victorious against the enemy of the league through out the Succession Wars. During Anton Marik's Revolt in 3015 the units within the brigade defended the borders once more, driving Donegal Guards units away from Nestor. When the border was secured the four commands landed on Tiber in full strength, but after 14 days of continued battle only 7 battered battalions remained. The survivors were reorganized into three provisional regiments.[1]

Clan Invasion Era

Prior to 3046 the Orloff Grenadiers only accepted candidates who had served for five years, were born in the Duchy of Orloff, and had been awarded a Distinguished Service Award or membership in the Order of the Saber. These candidates were usually highly trained and professional, which led to the Grenadier's high skill level. After the Military Reorganization Act passed, however, the LCCC controlled assignments to the Orloff Grenadiers. This led to some tension between the Grenadiers and the Captain-General.[1]

In 3067 the Orloff Grenadiers and the LCCC were in a tense standoff: The LCCC wanted to appoint officers to the Grenadiers, while the Grenadiers were worried that appointing "outsiders" would dilute their skill and erode their traditions. They also felt that the LCCC had complete control over command appointments and recruitment, and that was enough. Duke Christopher Halas had proposed a potential compromise: The Grenadiers would receive new recruits from the LCCC, and the LCCC would give priority to recruits from Orloff, Oriente, Ohren, and Zion provinces, areas which were culturally similar to Orloff.[5]

The Jihad

During the Jihad the Sixth Orloff Grenadiers were destroyed, but the First and Eighth survived.[6] By 3085 the Duchy of Orloff had merged with the Grand Duchy of Oriente and become part of the Duke's and Duchess' Own Corps of Foot and Horse.[7]

Dark Age

The surviving Orloff Grenadier regiments were able to maintain two regiments with two 'Mech battalions each. During the reformation of the Free Worlds League, the Grenadiers found the transition to federal forces slightly insulting, and grumbled about their new status. Despite this, they were still professionals and spoiled many raids by the Capellan Confederation and Duchy of Andurien. The LCCC pushed the Grenadiers to raise an additional regiment, but the Grenadiers felt this would dilute their combat experience too much and declined.[8]


Rank Name Command
Commanding Officers of the Orloff Grenadiers
Colonel Douglas Hoppe 3067[9]


Different per Unit.

Units of the Orloff Grenadiers


  • The Fourth Grenadiers was destroyed in 2838.
  • The Fifth Grenadiers fought in the Marik Civil War.

Colors and Unit Insignia



  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Field Manual: Free Worlds League p.101
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 Field Report 2765: FWLM, p. 19, "Orloff Grenadiers"
  4. House Marik (The Free Worlds League) p.39
  5. Field Manual: Updates, p. 157
  6. Field Report: FWLM, p. 13
  7. Field Manual: 3085, p. 83
  8. Field Manual: 3145, p. 103
  9. Field Manual: Updates, p. 162, "AFFS Deployment Table - 3067"