Grenadier Guards of Alsace

"You ask us to retreat? How can we follow such an order from a man who doesn't even fight on the front" Brigadier Eirik Gundersen to unnamed Lord Marshal.

''"Pour la gloire et le God-Emperor!" - Britton motto before a mass charge''

Regiments of highly disciplined and trained men and women, the Britton Grenadiers march forward into the thick of battle, to serve as the 'frontline' of a campaign for other regiments to fight around, fall back to and support. As the regiments of Grenadiers comprise only of infantry, they rely on the support of other specialist regiments to fulfil other combat roles, such as Airborne, Mechanised and Artillery. Most would consider their charges suicidal rather than courageous, just never let a Britton hear you say that.

History
Brittonia is a planet that was an unauthorised colonisation sometime between the 25th and 30th millennium, by refuges trying to forge a new life away from the rapidly changing and degrading Imperium. When they crash landed on the planet, the ship was stripped and used in building the foundations of a new colony, unfortunately due to the crash, technology went backwards for them and they were reduced to using primitive wepaons, such swords and spear.

Black powder was discovered sometime during the Emperor's reunification of mankind, although the planet was never found, the Britton continued to fight in a bloody civil war using the pike and shot tactics of 18th Century Earth. The term 'Grenadier' was created during these times, it was titled to the largest, strongest and most disciplined men of the rank and file, they were expected to march into combat, fire multiple volleys then charge with bayonets. Ultimately this became the norm for combat, with all soldiers being referred to as a 'Grenadier'.

First contact between Brittonia and the Imperium was hard at first, the Britton's had just started to recover from the civil war and furthermore Brittons didn't speak either High or Low Gothic but rather an entirely different language called Gallic by the natives. High Gothic did exist though, in the form of the local priests and missionaries, and it was by a stroke of luck that the native Brittons worshipped a deity known as the 'God-Emperor' and that someday he and his disciples would come down to uplift the Brittons to fight at his side, thus it was easier for the Imperium to accept their religion, and not resort to violence for religious reasons.

When the Brittons joined the Imperium of mankind, the combat doctrine changed only slightly to accommodate the change in technology, and within 4 Britton stellar years, 3 regiments of Britton Grenadiers had been raised and sent to fight in the Imperium's wars.

Sex
The armies of Brittonia are open to all sexes, all are equal in the eyes of the emperor, although there is a significantly lack of females in the army.

Culture
Brittons tread on a thin line between Abhuman and Human. Due to the nature of Brittonia, the Brittons bodies adapted, the high gravity on the planet caused them to grow taller, their bones to become thicker and stronger and for muscles to develop early in childhood. The air on Brittonia is also very thin so a Brittons lungs are larger than normal and the intake of oxygen is almost 80% more efficient than that of a normal human.

Brittons are a very martial people, their culture revolves around war, contests of strength are commonplace and even sport contains some form of combat. They worship a deity known as the 'God-Emperor', the Imperial Cult has dubbed the worship as non-heretical as the Britton texts and Scriptures are almost identical to the Imperial Cults.

Organisation
The regiments of Brittonia are unique as that they are strictly infantry regiments, almost no organic or mechanized vehicles are used during combat, and field artillery is a rare sight. Each regiment consists of a minimum of 800,000 men, with regiments being reinforced after they return home.

In the Regiments of the Britton Grenadiers, every man is a Grenadier first, rank second and it is not uncommon to see the Brigadier General at the front of a charge. A squad within a regiment consists of 20 Grenadiers, including a Sergeant and Corporal, and 20 squads form a column.

High Command Ranks Regimental Officer Ranks
 * Brigadier General
 * Colonel


 * Major


 * Captain

NCO Ranks
 * Lieutenant
 * Warrant Officer


 * Sergeant-Major

Grenadier Ranks
 * Sergeant
 * Corporal


 * Soldat (Private)