432nd Zwawi Guard Regiment

Regimental flag of the 432nd Zwai Guard Regiment

A Zwawi Guard trooper.

"*The Zwawians ... arrogant weirdos in their shimmering uniforms, but also warriors acting with the plume of lions.*"
— Unknown Astra Militarum commander.
The **432nd Zwawi Guard Regiment** is the elite regiment of the Astra Militarum that hails from the civilised world of Izwawie.

## History

### Origins

Originally, this troop hailed from the tribe of the civilized world of Izwawie. The peoples who offered their services to the Imperium during the beginnings of the reconquest of the Izwawie against imperial regiments abroad from the planet which was diverted from the light of the Emperor alongside the Lieutenant-General of a regiment of the Vostroyan Firstborn named Dimitri Amikvarila who came to reconquer the planet in the name of the Emperor. It is this same Lieutenant-General who ordered the lifting of "Regiments of Zwawians" recruited among the natives of the planet was excluded from the local power because judged too much according to the regiments of renegade guards, from 830.M39. Since this liberation the world of Izwawie has created several regiments of imperial guards thanks to the warrior tribes of the planets.

## Notable Campaign

### Siege of the world city Malil'kioff M40 years 211

The siege of Malil'kioff during the two hundred and eleventh years of the fortieth millennium of the Zwawien Guard regiments was engaged during the siege of Malil'kioff or opposed the guard regiments (and even of the renegade marine guard and planetary defense ordered by a certain supreme prince-admiral Pavel Korniliov in front of loyalist regiments come to suppress the insurrection among them to regroup Praetorian regiments and especially four Zwawien regiments were engaged during this campaign. The siege of the city was particularly long and bloody for these people. regiments which first had to surround the town, and so began the external battles.

#### Battle Al'mvia M40 212s

##### Start of battle

To avoid encirclement, the leader of the rebellion, Prince-Admiral Pavel Korniliov, tries to intervene by fortifying a plateau near a river, partly bypassed by a cliff. The felons prince placed his troops and his artillery on the plateau to prevent the imperials from bypassing. The imperial regiments, in particular praetorian, commanded by Commander Sir George Brown, are at the head of the system. Colonel-General Falda orders the other troops to follow with the exception of the Zwawiens who cross a river on a bridge at its mouth and bypass the rebels. The Zwawiens of the 432 regiment will accomplish the decisive maneuver by climbing a cliff with the support of the guns of the fleet, they seize the rebel batteries and turn them against the troops of Korniliov. Finding themselves at the forefront, they must resist the waves of infantry opposed to them while waiting for reinforcements. The latter, caught in a pincer movement, fall back on Malil'kioff. Under Zwawian fire, the rest of the regiment struggled and finally stopped near a village. Colonel-General Falda's heavy armaments reach the foot of the cliff, but the slopes are too steep and the guns cannot move up to position to reinforce the Zwawians.

##### The March of the Praetorians Guards

On the left flank of the Zwawiens, the Praetorian Guard are catching up, but an error in Sir George Brown's maneuver undermines the formation of the Praotorian regiments and other astra militarum regiments. Hoping to take advantage of this disorganization, the rebels charge but are repelled by the loyalists. A series of rather confused exchanges ensued: Korniliov, fearing that the action of the Zwawians would be fatal to him, moved with his command in front of the imperialists. From his off-center position, he struggles to perceive the situation against the Praetorians and launches counter-attacks against elements of it. Believing they were facing divisions, the rebel infantry found themselves facing battalions and skirmishers, with the bulk of the imperialists on their flanks. Despite conflicting orders, the commanders of the Praetorian Guards units do not let the opportunity pass and decimate their opponent.

##### The final assault

At the extreme right flank of the Zwawian regiments on the cliffs, 1 decimated regiment of 2 to 3 thousand men, face more than 20,000 rebels, freshly arrived, who have not yet taken part in the battle. The Imperialists, stretched out on the front line of almost 6 kilometers, advance by firing (shooting down the officiated in priority) and managing to hoist heavy weapons at the top of the cliff. The Zwawiens returned to the offensive and managed to break through and even take the highest point of the plateau until then occupied by the rebel staff. In the smoke and confusion of the battle, the rebels overestimated the number of troops facing them and withdrawing. The rebels are retreating across the front and unreservedly capable of opposing the Astra-Militarum. The battle ends in rout for the rebel army which withdraws towards the fortifications Malil'kioff.

### Malil'kioff Headquarters

After a retreat which cost the rebels dearly under the command of Prince-Admiral Pavel Korniliov, the imperial forces retreated to the city of Malil'kioff while awaiting reinforcements that could break the encirclement. For the imperial forces, despite the victory, the situation was not all that rosy. The troops were exhausted by the battle the imposing fortification of Malil'kioff spanked to fear an exhausting and especially long siege which could be a disaster in case of reinforcement army. In addition it would seem that the city is possibly factories manufacturing heavy equipment while the imperials have little armored reserves.

## Regimental Organization

### Zwawian Infantry Battalions

The zwawien are light infantry units from the world of Izwawie and the backbone of their regiment. They are known for their zxuberant uniform and their shooting skills.

### The Sibahi Light Cavalry Squadrons

The sibahis are the squadrons of cavalry originating in Izwawie, on the mother world of the Zwawiens the horse is considered to be the ultimate symbol of social ascension in their society. Many nobles are therefore exceptional horsemen, wielding saber, mace and rifle or laser pistol on horseback like no one else. These regiments are generally used in the role of light cavalry of reconnaissance and harassment. The latter dress in even more singular ways than their infantry compatriots.

#### Recruitment

The Zwawiens are organized into several tribes which have created warrior castes both composed of nobles but also of tribes which have specialized in providing Zwawian guards. The number of guards provided being important major strict tests will be conducted in the desert, or endurance, morale and skills in shooting and melee will be evaluated. Only the most efficient will be kept, the others will be sent back to their tribes or will, in certain cases, not despair the forces of planetary defenses.

## Tactical

The Zwawien Guard regiments are light infantry regiments. Based on sniper combat.

## Arsenal

* **Yatagan Pattern Saber Bayonet** - The yatagan is a weapon with a curved blade and whose edge forms, towards the point, a re-entrant curve. Probably derived from the machaira, this saber is 60 to 80 cm long. The yatagan gave its shape to the bayonets of the Zwawian guards, because its shape (slightly flamed) allows it to be fixed very close to the soul of the rifle without reducing the accuracy of the shot.

* **Scimitar Saber** -Heavy saber used mainly by officers and Sibahis horsemen where the saber is suspended from the belt by cords. Its single-edged curved blade makes it a weapon with specific mechanical properties. To slice, a traditional straight blade sword needs a specific cutting movement, making its handling relatively complex. The curvature of the sabers improves cutting gestures, making them less difficult to implement. In fact, this mechanical peculiarity makes the saber indispensable on horseback, which explains its massive use of Sibahis light rider.

* **Lucius pattern Lasrifle** - The Lucius type laser rifle used by the Zwawien regiments are inherited from the same model as those of Krieg's death corps, the Lucius Pattern Lasgun operates in the 21 mega-shell range, but is designed to be inspired by a block of standard Munitorum type power supply. As a result, the Lucius Lasgun discharges a more powerful shot, but drains the power pack at a proportionately increased speed. This also puts a great deal of pressure on the weapon, limiting the rate of fire and requiring features like additional heat sink rings lining the exterior of the barrel. Even with such considerations, an over-taxed Lucius Lasgun can quickly overheat. The added danger of the weapon overheating does not disturb the Zwawians.

* **Djezaïl Long Lasrifle** - The Zwawiens are experts in shooting and own a number of long laser rifles that he calls djezaïl, these are awarded to the best shooters of the companies. These weapons are only ever issued to Guards who have demonstrated sniper skills, stealth operations, and scouting movements, as these weapons are difficult to produce and require more training and knowledge- to be used correctly.

## Notable Characters

* **Colonel Lieutenant General** - Colonel Lieutenant General Dalbiez is the Commander-in-Chief of the 432nd Zwawian Guard Regiment.

## Uniform

### Zwawian infantry uniform

The uniform of the Zwawian, inspired by the traditional masculine attire of Izwawie. It consists of an Izwawinien headdress called "chechia", a sort of red felt cap, decorated with a tassel with red fringes, and a white cotton turban rolled into a sausage shape around the chechia. The “bedaïa”, an Algerian bolero jacket, in dark blue cloth with piping and madder braids, is worn over the “sedria”, a sleeveless Izwawinian waistcoat in dark blue cloth with madder braids. The "tombô" of the jacket, a sort of false pocket drawn by an arabesque formed by the decorative braid, is in the color of the regiment. Izwawinien is surmounted by a breastplate which can be richly decorated according to the rank and social status of the guard, we will also add over the leather X-shaped lashing accompanied by several large cartridge pouches, Yatagan bayonet-saber sheath and the rest of the soldier's barda and communication engine.

The bottom consists of traditional Izwawinian pants, the "sarouel" (also known as "saroual", "seroual" or "serouel") is very loose in shape and without separation between the legs. It even has a hole at the bottom, the "Lamoricière hole", designed to let water flow when crossing the river. An indigo blue wool belt is rolled up at the junction of the bottom of the vest and the top of the harem pants (this belt is intended to keep the intestines warm to fight against dysentery). The belt, which was 40 centimeters wide and four meters long, was the most difficult part to put on, as the Zwawian often had to call for help from one of his companions. As a coat, the zouave has a hooded collar, a sort of loose but short cape made of “bluish iron gray” cloth. High gaiters of dark brown cloth or white canvas depending on the circumstances, worn with studded black leather shoes, complete the silhouette of the Zwawian.

This uniform worn by the Zwawian has a most important implication in the esprit de corps of these extraordinary men with a high proportion of voluntary enlisted and re-enlisted, which explains the tenacity, strength and cohesion within the various regiments. As a result, the so remarkable "oriental" outfit has hardly undergone any modification for 2 millennia if not more.

### Sibahis rider uniform

Of "oriental" cut, it is composed for the native riders of a particular headdress called "guénour" made up of a rigid cap of rounded shape, in large ecru felt inside and red above, covered with a "haik", large. White cotton scarf, fixed by a dromedary hair head rope, called "kheït", about ten meters long. In addition to the madder cloth “burnous”, this huge blue hooded cape whose heart piece, a second white wool “burnous” is worn below the first. The "bedaïa", an Izwawinien bolero jacket, in madder cloth, sky blue sleeve cuffs and black braids, is worn over the "sedria", an Izwawinien waistcoat in sky blue cloth with black braids. The "tombô" of the jacket, a sort of false pocket drawn by an arabesque of the decorative braid, is in the color of the regiment. The traditional Izwawinien pants called the "sarouel" (also known as "saroual", "seroual" or "serouel") are of a very loose shape and without separation between the legs. The Izwawinien shoe is made up of the assembly of “thémags”, high soft boots without soles in red morocco leather, accompanied on horseback by “khoffes”, split overboots in red morocco leather, or in service on foot by “ sabates ”, a kind of moccasins. A red woolen belt, finely striped in blue and white (40 centimeters wide and six meters long) is rolled up at the junction of the bottom of the waistcoat and the top of the harem pants (this belt is intended to hold the intestines in the warm to fight dysentery).

#### **Harness**

The Sibahis saddle is regulated and features a green cloth saddle pad with crimson braid, piped in white and edged with alternating white and crimson fringes. The cantle is in the oriental style, but the green coat rack, with crimson braid and white piping on both sides, is of the so-called oriental model. The trumpet chabraque is identical to that of the troop, only the coat rack differs in the organization of colors, crimson cloth with green and white piping. Arab stirrups, in gray or gold metal, also act as spurs thanks to their pointed ends. For the officers' saddle pad, the golden braid and the golden fringes are adopted instead of the distinctive crimson. Fantasies are nevertheless allowed, and thus, certain officers equip themselves either in the manner of the light cavalry, with the chabraque in animal skin, or in the oriental style, without saddle pad.

## Regiment Relationship

### Ally

Praetorian Guard: 432 Regiment Zwawien fought several times with regiments originating in Praetorian, at which a friendly rivalry developed between regiments of these two worlds.

## Quote

"*To be Zwawian is an honor. To remain so is a duty.*"
—Currency that everyone keeps Zwawian.