Editing The Crusaders (section)

==Legion Doctrine==

For the Crusaders, victory was everything. If dirty tricks were required to secure Victory, then so be it. The mobile armored warfare Gaudin had experienced and adopted on Sturmundrang was tailor-made for winning swift and decisive victories and would become the hallmark of the Legion's war-Doctrine. Attacking forces used spearheads made up of concentrated formations of armored and mechanized infantry with close air support. These formations would use short, fast, powerful attacks that with a combination of speed, shock and close-in firepower would break enemy defensive lines. Once broken these formations would use speed and surprise to encircle them, avoiding head-on collisions with the main body of the enemy. By doing this, the enemy armies would be left unbalanced and respond to the continuously changing front line. Once cut-off, the enemy armies could be reduced by the Imperial Army or aerial and orbital attack while the Crusaders forces pressed ever onwards towards vital political and industrial areas, crippling the enemies will to fight.

Thomas Gaudin offered a logical and well thought out alternative to the military organization of [[Gaspard Lumey]] presented in the ''Institutorum Astartes'', based on his decentralized legion structure and the smaller, more flexible squads his legion had pioneered. The Crusaders accepted much of the Institorum, but made a change in the chain of command of the Chapter. They included the new "Lieutenant" rank, given command over two squads of five marines, which form a single "troop". Due to their strength, hardiness, and ability to swiftly respond to any rising threat, the Crusaders have taken the role of a mobile response and peacekeeping force. Sending fleets out to patrol their section of the galaxy, they also keep a sizable force planet side to mobilize as a quick reaction force or to reinforce other Legions if needed.