Editing Iron Rangers (section)

==Tactics and Strategy==
<span>''"The only fair fight is a lost one."''</span> - Iron Rangers Proverb<br><span>''"An enemy fighting itself has done half our work for us."''</span> - Rogerius Merrill

The overall strategy employed by Rogerius Merrill is confusing to many, yet its origin is simple. Merrill never had the patience nor believed he had the mind for large, strategic thought. He rebuilt the Iron Rangers, their doctrine, and their unit composition to operate almost completely independently. Having a soldiery focused on independently scouting and attacking high value targets while cross-coordinating attacks, patrols, and reconnaissance on their own relieves their Primarch the burden of planning every assault out, allowing him to simply act on objectives and targets as he wishes, tapping into whatever resources he chooses.

He fully realized that this was an effective means of taking out key elements of an enemy opposition, yet not as effective in open warfare. To that end, he utilized his Imperial Army and Auxiliaries to their fullest, allowing them to dictate their own battles and movements. They would provide the solid battlefronts to face the enemy for him. To ensure their success, he developed the Ceidwad units to support them in combat, and provide them with his Tactical Marines and Devastators.

A full-scale assault on a planet usually has three phases: Infiltration, Preparation, and Attack.

'''Infiltration''' normally starts as soon as the XX Legion is within range of a planet. At the outset. Heliwr and Scout troops are inserted onto the surface of the planet using stealthy methods. If Drop Pods are utilized, they are destroyed upon landing. The combined Scouts and Heliwr are then tasked with finding and building forward operations bases. Instead of large, defensive fortresses that other Legions are known for, these are usually small, easily disguised, and remote or hard to reach natural formations, abandoned buildings, and other locations which allow troops to enter and exit without being spotted.

Once these locations are discovered and minimally developed, more troops are inserted to defend the bases while the Scouts and Heliwr locate and watch enemy strongpoints, arms and equipment manufacturing, and troop movements. A second, but no less important objective is to locate indigenous settlements, groups, and locations which may harbor resentment towards planetary leadership or would be otherwise open to the benefits of Imperial rule over the native one. Thirdly, they locate and secretly mark possible positions to stage and hide Legion forces during the latter phases of operations.

The last part of infiltration involves the Milwyr Cwyn, if they are present within the Expeditionary force on the offensive. If not, usually some Iron Rangers officers (all of whom receive some Milwyr Cwyn training) will approach them to swiftly train and indoctrinate a localized guerrilla force.

Infiltration often takes days, and training a native force takes weeks. It is not uncommon for the XX Legion to intentionally drag out talks with a planet who declines Imperial rule in order to accommodate a complete Infiltration phase.

'''Preparation''' begins when the forward bases are completed or talks break down, depending on the situation at hand. Unlike the other phases, this is a single-night, complex attack. The infiltrated forces send information to the ships in orbit, and targets are selected based on a number of factors, including the importance of the enemy's assets and the relative danger of attacking them outright. In one, coordinated assault, orbital barrages are fired on enemy fortifications, while Milwyr Cwyn and/or Heliwr forces attack and disable enemy surface-to-air defenses assassinate enemy commanders.

Llychlynwyr forces then move en masse. Some drop the various Gwaed and Assault Marines to attack their own targets and make supply drops. Others strike hard and fast at enemy supply routes, manufacturing complexes, and locations of planetary leadership.

While the massive initial strike is underway, the Auxilia, Imperial Army units, and their Legion attachments make use of the chaos caused, simultaneously moving their forces planetside and developing their lines and defenses as quickly as possible in the hopes of developing a solid front before the enemy can properly organise an offensive action towards them.

'''Attack''' phase starts the following. As the human regulars begin their operations, the various attacking forces of the XX Legion move to their respective bases of operations and begin their cycles.

The indigenous forces recruited during the Infiltration phase now begins to be put to work in earnest. Led by either select Legion leadership or the Milwyr Cwyn, they move amongst the civilian population, inciting riots and civil unrest while simultaneously creating a guerrilla campaign to sabotage enemy forces and eliminate civilian and military leadership.

The Llychlynwyr units are noted for carrying a massive weight on their shoulders, splitting their forces between the duties of resupplying Legionnaires fighting "behind enemy lines," performing hit-and-run attacks of their own, and providing additional air support for the Imperial Army and Auxilia.

'''After the Heresy''', the Legion's tactics did not change much. The only major difference is reliance on the Cult of Merrill to undermine local authority figures and recruit a larger fighting force to begin directly attacking the enemy.  Much of the initial shock in the Preparation phase is also no longer present, as the Legion sees it more fit to slowly move small units in greater quantities before creating massive strikes across the planet with largely ground forces.