88th Keltan Regiment

88th Keltan Battle Standard

88th Keltan Trooper

The **88th Keltan Regiment** is an Astra Militarum regiment hailing from the Keltan system in Segmentum Tempestus, recently re-founded during the 41st Millennium based upon a legendary predecessor that dates back to the Horus Heresy. Despite being a regiment with a relatively brief history, the new 88th has proven itself a potent military force and is rapidly establishing a reputation of their own for fighting ability.

## History

There has been two regiments to bear the name of the 88th, the original regiment which was raised during the Great Crusade and while most of its deeds have long passed into myth, what is known for sure is their fate. At the outbreak of the Horus Heresy the 88th, having fought alongside the Sons of Horus Astartes Legion for decades, nonetheless refused to side with the traitors and fought to the last man, spitting defiance with their final breath. When news of this bravery and loyalty reached the Keltan they immortalised the regiment, renaming cities in honour of the fallen men and erecting countless memorials. The current 88th was raised during the latter half of M41, in preparation for a Tithe of the Keltan System. At the request of Col. Mulatova Longinovska, the planned commander of the regiment, it was decided to resurrect the 88th rather than raise fresh numbers as is the norm on Keltan. While such an act was controversial (other numbers had been resurrected but never such a prestigious one), Mulatova's request was approved and a fresh fighting force created.

The Defence of Aorta was the watershed moment, when the 88th Keltan stepped out of the shadow of the previous regiment and established itself as a formidable fighting force in its own right. Since that time they have steadfastly stood against the foes of mankind, carving fresh deeds in the annals of the regiment's history.

In the aftermath of this campaign, the decision was made by the high command to merge the 88th with the remnants of the 412th airborne regiment and 201st armoured regiment after the heavy losses all three took. The Keltan (particularly Mulatova) protested at this and pointed out the Keltan practice of reinforcing their regiments, to no avail. They were however successful in retaining their name rather than an amalgamation of the three, due to the fact they were by far the largest by a significant margin.

## Notable Campaigns

* **Defence of Aorta (945.M41)** - Hive Fleet Kersalla, a splinter of Leviathan, assaulted the Aorta system, causing unimaginable destruction before being halted on Aorta IV by the combined forces of multiple Astra Militarum regiments, Skitarri legions and Astartes chapters. The 88th established their new legacy in this conflict, standing firm against the tide even as other regiments were overrun or broke, earning the nickname "The Unbroken".
* **Indomitus Crusade (~999.M41-~111.M42)** -

## Homeworld

The Keltan System is highly militarised, with almost all exports being military in nature, be they armour, rations or manpower. Keltan I is a minor Forgeworld, Keltan II a Hiveworld, Keltan IV and V mining planets. Keltan III is the capital world, for historical and practical reasons, for while Keltan II has a far greater population and Keltan I, IV and V are far wealthier, Keltan III has the free landmass needed for open warfare training. This means that Keltan III possesses the system’s infantry training facilities, officer academies and armour manoeuvring plains, making it indispensable for the production of flexible combat formations.

## Regimental Organisation

The 88th follows the standard organisation of Keltan regiments, comprising 16 companies, each composed of 1,000 soldiers, totalling a nominal strength of 16,000 men and women in total. This total includes the vehicle crews and auxiliary platoons, but does not include support staff such as ammunition orderlies, chefs etc. Due to their amalgamation with the remnants of the 412th Keltan airborne regiment and 201st Tyrasian armoured regiment after the heavy losses all three took during the Aorta campaign; the 88th now possesses a modest number of paratroopers and assigned aircraft, which have replaced the second company, and an armoured contingent, distributed to each company as part of the armoured squadron.
The companies are broke down as follows:

**1st Company** - Command/Veteran company, composed of the best soldiers in the regiment.

**Composition:**

* Regimental HQ
* Company HQ
* 4 platoons of veteran infantry
* 1 platoon of light infantry
* 2 platoons of support weapons (ordnance batteries & heavy weapons teams)
* 4 commando squads (2 Grenadier, 2 First recon)
* 1 armoured squadron (Rogal Dorns, Leman Russes, Chimeras, Sentinels, Mechanised artillery)
* Auxiliaries attachment (including rough riders squads, platoon of auxiliary infantry)
* Sniper detachment

**2nd Company** - Paratrooper company.

**Composition:**

* Company HQ
* 5 platoons of drop infantry
* 2 platoons of support weapons (ordnance batteries & heavy weapons teams)
* 3 commando squads (1 Grenadier, 2 Vyper)
* 1 light armoured squadron (Drop Sentinels, Venators, Kurov tanks)
* Sniper detachment

**3rd Company** - Mainline mixed company, the blueprint for the remaining companies.

**Composition:**

* Company HQ
* 4 platoons of infantry
* 1 platoon of light infantry
* 2 platoons of support weapons (ordnance batteries & heavy weapons teams)
* 2 commando squads (1 Grenadier, 1 First Recon)
* 1 armoured squadron (Rogal Dorns, Leman Russes, Chimeras, Sentinels, Mechanised artillery)
* Auxiliaries attachment (including rough riders squads, platoon of auxiliary infantry)
* Sniper detachment

### Regimental Ranks

#### Officer Ranks

* **Colonel** - Regimental commander. As tacticians of Keltan grand strategy, Colonels are discouraged from getting too close to the front lines, instead relying upon their subordinates to deal with low level situations and to feed back larger issues.
* **Lieutenant Colonel** -Detachment commander. When a force larger than a Battalion is required, the senior officer is awarded this brevet rank to establish his command right.
* **Major** -Battalion commander. Responsible for commanding half of the Regiment. The highest ranking combat officer in normal circumstances.
* **Captain** - Company commander. Like Sergeants, Captains are granted high levels of autonomy to maximise combat efficiency.
* **Lieutenant** - Platoon commander. As junior officers, Lieutenants are expected to rely heavily on their Staff Sergeants for advice. Those that don’t rarely last long.
* **Second Lieutenant** - Officer cadet, not yet entrusted with command. Typically seconded to a Lieutenant for training.

#### Non-Commissioned Officers & Enlisted

* **Warrant Officer** - Company 2IC. Warrant officers oversee the logistics required to support a Company both on and off the battlefield, allowing the officers to concentrate on more important business.
* **Staff Sergeant** - Platoon 2IC. A veteran of at least a decade of war and responsible for making sure that the Platoon Lieutenant issues the right orders.
* **Sergeant** - Squad leader. The Keltan military relies on low tier flexibility in combat and as such Sergeants are granted unusually high levels of autonomy.
* **Corporal** - Section Leader, 2IC for the Squad and responsible for the heavy weapon team.
* **Specialist** - Veteran Troopers entrusted with carrying important equipment such as special weapons or vox casters.
* **Trooper** - Line infantryman

### Regimental Recruitment & Training

Like all Keltan regiments, the 88th is supported by the home system, with detachments of new recruits being dispatched to replace losses when a campaign/battle has caused significant casualties. They will also recruit small numbers from worlds local to their combat zones or accept troops from regiments that have dwindled to the point of dissolution. Such sub units are generally looked down upon until they prove themselves in battle.

Keltan recruits are drawn from the various planets of the Keltan system, in particular the Hives of Keltan II which produce very hardy soldiers. They then undergo a gruelling fitness and training regime, with the best being skimmed off to join the various specialised infantry branches. After undergoing many months of drill, the recruits are transported to Salzbery Plain on Keltan III, where they conduct massive scale exercises against the local PDF to ensure that they can fight just as well on the battlefield as they can on the firing range.

As the 412th is a Keltan regiment, arrangements have been made to provide suitable reinforcements to the hybrid 88th from the recruits normally earmarked for the purely airborne formations. Replacements for the armoured squadrons are drawn from the mechanised elements, retrained to operate the battle tanks.

### Combat Doctrine

Like all Keltan regiments, the 88th favours aggressive lightning assaults combined with commando raids behind the front. As the second company is drop trained and schooled in covert tactics and irregular warfare, it is often dropped behind enemy lines to spread confusion and gather intelligence on enemy forces.

As the regiment now has its own integrated heavy armour, this is reflected in a slight shift to their doctrine, to account for their ability to tackle enemy armour head on, rather than via traps and infantry portable anti-tank weapons.

### Specialist Infantry

* **Grenadiers:** Locally created Stormtroopers. Trained and equipped in the same manner as Cadian Kasrkin and boasting to be the match of both them and the Tempestus Scions. 88th Grenadier squads are typically spread out amongst the various companies to bolster the fighting ability and morale of the line infantry.
* **Light Infantry:** The bravest and brightest of the mainline infantry are given additional training in irregular tactics and formed into squads of light infantry. They are given greater flexibility in terms of uniform and access to a wider variety of weaponry, such as marksman rifles and lascarbines. Light infantry squads act as scouts and skirmishers for the rest of the regiment and shock troopers for assaults.
* **First Recon:** Formed from the fittest recruits and drop outs from Grenadier training, the First Recon is "The best of the rest" intended to provide support for the Grenadiers during covert operations and act as a reliable combat force for countering breakthroughs, or exploiting them. Training for the First Recon is three times the length of that a basic trooper receives, meaning some troopers (such as those who failed in the late stages of Grenadier training) have spent years in training before they even reach the battlefield.
* **Vypers:** Specialised covert op teams intended to support paratrooper assaults. Drawn from the First Recon and given additional training in airborne warfare. They have access to silenced lascarbines and heavier armour
* **Shadowblades:** Long range patrol teams intended to raid enemy bases, cut supply lines and set up areas prior to assaults. The Shadowblades are formed from the stealthiest and most independent veterans of the First Recon. They have access to autoguns, laser target designators, sniper rifles and demolitions equipment.
* **Droptroopers:** Soldiers assigned to the second company of the 88th are drop trained and equipped with grav-chutes. These Droptroopers have access to Lascarbines, Accatran Pattern Lasguns and other specialised equipment.

## Regimental Equipment

Keltan forces are well armed and armoured, thanks to the neighbouring Forgeworld, with Cadian style flak armour and Kantreal pattern lasguns. They possess large quantities of armour, support weapons and artillery.

### Standard Regimental Kit

The standard regimental kit for an Keltan Trooper is as follows:

* **1 M39 Keltan pattern Lasgun and 8 charge packs**
* **Laspistol and 2 charge packs**
* **Bayonet/combat knife**
* **2 frag grenades**
* **Helmet** - Locally produced variant which is superficially similar to Cadian helmets. Incorporates a ranging laser module.
* **Uniform** - Durable fatigues with IR reduction coating, constructed of water resistant material.
* **Flak armour** - Locally produced variant which is superficially similar to Cadian Flak armour.
* **Gas mask**
* **Micro-bead**
* **Poor weather gear** - Includes a long smock and a ground sheet which can be used to construct a rudimentary shelter.
* **Rucksack**
* **Entrenching tool**
* **Basic toolkit**
* **Mess kit and water canteen**
* **2 weeks rations**
* **Blanket and sleeping bag**
* **Rechargeable lamp-pack**
* **Grooming kit**
* **Dog tags**
* ***Imperial Infantryman’s Uplifting Primer***

### Optional Wargear

Like any regiment of the Imperial Guard, the 88th Keltan deploys a wide range of special and heavy weapons. In particular lascannons, plasma guns, and grenade launchers are prized.

* Lascannon
* Heavy bolter
* Mortar
* Missile launcher
* Autocannon
* Flamer
* Grenade launcher
* Plasma gun
* Meltagun
* Shotgun
* Heavy flamer
* Sniper rifle/Long-las
* Boltgun
* Autogun
* Hot-Shot Lasgun/Hellgun
* Hot-Shot Volley Gun
* Bolt pistol
* Hot-Shot Laspistol/Hellpistol
* Autopistol
* Plasma pistol
* Chainsword
* Power sword
* Power fist

### Vehicles

* Stormblade
* Macharius Heavy Tank
* Valdor Tank Hunter
* Leman Russ Battle Tank (particularly Vanquisher variants)
* Basilisk
* Chimera
* Hellhound
* Manticore
* Tauros
* Venator
* Sentinel/Drop Sentinel
* Motorbike
* Valkyrie
* Vulture
* Sky Talon

## Notable Guardsmen

* **Col. Mulatova Longinovska** - the first commanding officer of the 88th Keltan. Col. Longinovska was instrumental in persuading the Council of Eldars to recommission the 88th and oversaw the raising and training of the regiment. Later he led his warriors to victory against the Tyranids in the battle of Aorta, cementing the beginning of a new reputation for prowess in combat.
* **Col. Jonathan Koramasinov** - the current commanding officer of the 88th Keltan. While Col. Koramasinov has only recently attained his rank, he has decades of experience under the previous commander of the 88th and is an astute tactician.

## Notable Vehicles

* **Azure Mortis** This Arkurian-pattern Stormblade is the most prized possession of the 88th Keltan regiment. Credited with dozens of kills, Azure Mortis was instrumental in the battle for Aorta, toppling 2 Tyranid Bio-Titans during the final hour of the conflict.

## Regiment Appearance

88th Keltan troopers wear grey flak armour over khaki fatigues. The First Recon and Light infantry wear camouflage fatigues intended to be compatible with a multitude of terrain types. They are also permitted greater customisation of their uniform and gear.