Our Home & Humble Beginnings: Godcrofts

Since the very beginning, the 1st Marines - regardless of the name changes - have always been drawn to the Eastern front. Inspired by the War 83 YouTube series by MoiDawg, 1st Marines deployed into action for the very first time on 24 May 2023 (then 27WMR and later 17WMR to avoid confusion). The regiment established a small logistics outpost in Morgen's Crossing led by the Executive Officer - Lt. Col. CHAOS, while the combat element let by Col Harney and Maj REDARROW deployed to the Eastern bridgehead at Barreller's Way. This being located directly North of the frontline at The Kris Ford bridgehead. Ahead of us, an older regiment called the 126th had established defensive positions along the bridgehead. Without any prior experience, it was determined that establishing a secondary defensive line would be more beneficial.

Godcrofts Hex Prior to War 108 (Naval Update)

Been completely green and starting a regiment is a very uniquely difficult endeavor. Without knowledge of how to play, how to operate, how to construct even bunker bases. In Foxhole, the learning curve is incredibly sharp. Such a learning curve which we needed to quickly overcome. War 104 was luckily a break war with a large influx of new players. While the remaining large regiments still were hoarding supplies as had been the custom through War 100 (to which many were still recovering), we were able to begin thanks to the kindness of strangers. Located adjacent to a salvage field, a map post was created: "Will scroop for BMATs". A friendly, well seasoned Lt. Col passed by in a logi truck, and with their delivery o The Kris Ford completed saw our post on their return journey to Foxcatcher. Seeing the very green Marine attempting to build a bunker base, he provided a full delivery of BMATs. With this, we formed out first bunker base. Attempting logi ourselves, we gathered a full load of salvaged and fat-walked to Foxcatcher, across the Northwestern border. The long, slow, painful journey immediately invoked an understanding of the pains that logistics requires to keep our faction turning - and was the foundation upon which our public works program would later develop. With the scrap refined, we set out to the garage to complete our first Dunne Transport and haul back our remaining BMATs to our secondary line position. A small luxury was afforded, and a sign erected announcing for the first time our existence. This was the humble origins of our regiment in the opening days of our first conflict. It would be a conflict of hard lessons.

1CIMR (then 27WMR & 17WMR) first bunker base. Barreller's Way, Godcrofts hex. Circa War 104.

The lessons began immediately. For the 25th & 26th of May 2023, 17WMR established defensive positions surrounding the Eastern Bridge of The Dice Road. Consisting of a primary compound surrounded by 1x3 defensive buildings. With a vast superiority of manpower and supply, War 104 was incredibly lopsided as a conflict. Following War 100, there had been an understanding that the following wars would be considered "break wars" between the two sides. This mutual agreement was broken by the Colonial side, which threw their entire weight behind the relatively green, inexperienced, and undermanned/undersupplied Warden regiments. Initial infantry fighting had been heavy, and both sides probed each other's defensive lines. Quickly, the Colonial forces advanced through their technology tree while ours moved sluggishly along. It wasn't long before a fleet of gunships and ground vehicle began pounding Blackwatch. The 126th displaced from their bridge positions and reinforced it heavily. Hours upon hours of fighting, and with the XO providing their logistical support - braving the blockade in doing so - we were able to repel the enemy assault through rifle and grenade fire. Even with the heavy bombardment from seven vessels offshore. This, however, was the opening salvo in their major offensive. With the 126th having moved to Blackwatch, The Kris Ford and its bridges were undefended. This led to a rapid mechanized assault by the Colonial forces. Luckily some supplies and equipment such as a FMG had been salvaged from their positions and brought to ours. While we had done our job at our poorly named "FORT VICTORY", cutting off the Eastern approach to Promethiens, the Western bridge lay exposed. Colonial forces destroyed the bridge, and pushed across the Western bridge. The regiment OBS reinforced, but were outnumbered and outgunned significantly. It was not long before we would be overrun as well. On the early morning of the 28th May 2023 the Colonial forces would launch the assault against Fort Victory. Both bridges hotly contested, the Colonials launched an infantry-centered offensive supported by armor against Fort Victory and the 1st Marines. Fighting amongst the bunker base defenses, several key sections were destroyed, and the bunker core was destroyed and rebuilt by the Marines on numerous occasions. Despite the valiant defense, the Western bridge broke, and Fort Victory was now caught in an L-shaped assault from its South and West. With the Sea on the East, the only reasonable action was to withdraw as enemy forces were now marching swiftly to Promethiens and its depot. Hastily, the Marines and other defenders dug Foxholes, emplaced barbed wire, established Machinegun nests using the limited quantity of Malone Ratcatcher Mk Is. However, the enemy assault was rapid. Barely had there been time to build defenses before the town found itself completely encircled and besieged. The fighting would rage for several more hours here. But, with the machineguns either overrun or out of ammunition, shirts running low, and no logistical support - the defense simply prolonged the inevitable fall of Promethiens. The order was made to withdraw to Lividus in Morgen's Crossing to begin setting up defenses. This was never able to be carried out - the war-winning Colonial offensive began and pushed us into Morgen's Crossing, then forced a withdrawal into Clanshead Valley, and our logistics re-established in Basin Sionnach. Plans had been preliminarily made to conduct an amphibious assault. However, little time to properly prepare had been given. A target of opportunity arose, and 1st Marines would seize the moment. Using what limited stockpiles we had, and donated supplies from friendly regiments such as the 6th, BTEAM, and 92nd (now CBOLT). 1st Marines was able to prepare a White Whale and several barges to launch its first amphibious assault against a small beachhead near Lipsia. The landing itself was successful - but inexperience and poor planning meant that the landings were caught improperly supplied and placed inside a kill zone. While infantry elements did reach the objective, they were unable to seize Skodio and were pushed back. The enemy forces on the cliffs above the beach created a killzone, killing all who spawned on the deployed White Whale. Before long, the assault was over, all vessels were destroyed, and the landing attempt a failure. The failings did not go unaddressed, and a routine for notating every issue that occurred during amphibious operations was begun - regardless of if the landings were a success or failure. These would begin the "lessons learned" section which allowed the Marines to adapt properly to the changing battlespaces of the future.

1CIMR's first Amphibious Assault - War 104 - 1 June 2024

At this time, another small logistical regiment (the 4th Logistics Group) merged with 17WMR, and doubled our numbers. However, this war would see 1CIMR pushed back repeatedly. Defending the encircled King for hours on end in a dedicated last-stand. Fighting through Howl County at the bridges and relics, encircled and destroyed. All the way to where we would spend the War's end - defending Speaking Woods. 1CIMR would fight in Godcrofts, utilizing it as a base of operations in War 104, 105, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 114, 116, 117, 118, and 119. Godcrofts, for the Marines, is home. From our first day, to our last.