47th Internal Troops Regiment

The 47th Internal Troops Lancers Imperial Regiment "Emperor's Own Space Wolves" is a military unit of the Internal Troops Command. It was activated for the last time in 2962 in order to counter the threat of a massive rebellion in the Southern Continent; after the late-XXX century crisis, it was redeployed on Sergyar, where it still serves. The Regiment is known to have been refounded several times in its history, while fighting in all wars of Barrayar.

History

The first establishment of the 47th Regiment dates back to the 1st Cetagandan War, the Regiment being among the first regular military units raised by the new Imperial Army to launch the final liberation camapaign to oust the Cegagandan invaders. During its history, the Regiment repeatedly suffered of heavy casualities; when the regiment has been reduced below effective strength, the survivors always rotated home to recruit new troopers and found the regiment anew.

First Cetagandan War

While keeping the traditions of the 47th Imperial Host, the 47th Regiment in its modern form came into being in 2854 by combining 4th, 5th and 6th Vorkosigan Partisan Brigades (battalion-sized units), the 2nd Battalion of the Imperial Rangers and two newly recruited battalions. After the Vorbarr Sultana liberation, occurred in the final stages of the campaign, the Regiment was granted with the attribute of "Imperial", marking it as one of the most glorious units at the time.

Late XXIX Century: Conquest of Komarr and Escobaran Campaign

The 47th Regiment was involved into the Komarran conquest, being granted the honour to caputre Solstice City Dome; the task was fullfilled without difficulty, and by 2897 the Regiment was moved back to Barrayar. The 120 Days War, which took place in 2899, saw Barrayar attacking Escobar; the 47th Regiment was part of the landing spearhead of the Barrayaran forces. The unit sustained heavy casualties from the very beginning but managed to capture an important Escobaran fortress and surrendered only after the direct order of Admiral Vorkosigan. Once repatriated, the Regiment was reduced to only a quarter of its nominal strength, and badly needed to be rebuilt or to be disbanded. Despite the wishes of then-Minister of Political Education, Emperor Ezar personally moved in and, during the rueful return parade, granted to all landing units the title of "Emperor's Own" to be added to their name, making impossibile for all to disband them. Subsequently, survivors were tasked with the refounding the Regiment anew.

Early XXX Century: Vordarian's Pretendership and Komarran Revolt

The 47th Regiment was rebuilt as a line infantry unit, during the restructuring of the Imperial Military Service; it fought under Regent Lord Vorksigan's orders at Emperor Gregor's side in the Vorkosigan District. The most inspiring figure of legend of the Regiment was Platoon Lieutenant Paul Vorkeres, responsible for conducting the glorious 2972 campaign against an insurgent militia, defeating the foe and bringing an entire Sourthern District back into the loyalty to the Emperor.

Nowadays the Regiment is at full strength and assigned to to counter the rebel threat on Sergyar.

Recruitment base

The 47th Regiment is, and has always been, recruited from the most rural regions of the southern coast of the Northern Continent; such regions have at least the 85% of their surface devoted to arid agriculture and their tiny populations is widely spread across them.

Demanour

The 47th Regiment prides itself on its rigid discipline and professional officer corps; since its inception, officers had always received their commissions for merit, not family connections and, even in the less meritocratic times, promotions had always come from success in the field.
However, the Regiment is noted for being filled with the most prejudice-affected layers of society; almost as official doctrine, the 47th holds all off-worlders are unclean and as such it has been at odds with foreigners, strangers or simply people not coming from the Northern Continent of Barrayar.

Organization

The Regiment is an horse-mounted unit. It consists of five cavalry Squadron Groups (battalion-level units), of a Support Squadron and of a Command Squadron (company-level units). The 5th Squadron Group is devoted to advanced reconnaissance, while the other four Squadron Groups are line units, although they are most often used as a riot-suppression force. Like most of the Internal Troops units, they do not have Service Security detachments assigned.