79th Armoured Division (GL)
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79th Armoured Division Lucian 79th Armoured Division | |
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Active | 1933-Present |
Country | United Kingdom |
Branch | Lucis Army |
Type | Infantry Specialised armour |
Size | approx. 20,000 - 22,000 200 tanks 120 special service vehicles |
Nickname(s) | "The Funnies" "The Ramming Bulls" |
March | Liliburlero March |
Engagements | Second Europan War War of Lorican Aggression Second Lucis Civil War Imperial Crisis Chalcedonic War Neocon War |
Commanders | |
Current commander | Field Marshal Kiriya Kitagawa |
Notable commanders | Okita Hanamura Albert Crocker |
Insignia | |
Identification symbol |
The 79th Armoured Division or the Lucian 79th Armoured Division is a division of the Lucis Army that first served during the Second Europan War. Initially conceived as a regular armoured formation, it was amalgamated with several engineer regiments and battalions with the aim of creating the first pure sapper division with emphasis on the use of armour, a plan which did not happen until in 1939. The division was created prior to Operation Bugger, the Allied invasion of Quenminese-occupied Joyonghea in 1940.
Major-General Albert Crocker commanded the division and was in charge of the development of armoured vehicles that were solutions to the problems of amphibious landings and river crossings; these unusual-looking tanks it developed and operated were known as "Crocker's Funnies". They included tanks that floated, cleared mines, destroy defences, carry and lay bridges and roadways, provided field repairs and recovered damaged tanks, and provided strong infantry support using larger calibre guns. The practical use of these specialist tanks was confirmed during Operation Bugger. Its vehicles were distributed as small units across the divisions taking part in the landings and subsequent operations. It greatly contributed to the ambitious Operation Surrogate and Operation Needle Stack, two operations that hastened the end of Quenminese occupation in Joyonghea.
After the war, the division continued its function as a specialised armour division even during the War of Lorican Aggression and the succeeding conflicts. It still continues to see service as part of the Lucis Commonwealth Armies in Erebonia. It mainly services Lucian Challenger Mk. II tanks and still use specialised engineer APCs and tanks using the Centurion tank chassis. It is also the only division in Eordis that employs specialised tanks for use by the Royal Engineers under the designation AVRE (Armoured Vehicle, Royal Engineers) and often armed with larger calibre guns for bunker and fortifications destruction.