The XCV Necromunda regiment was formed in 40.941 during the Armageddon invasion - It was meant to serve as an urban guerrilla unit to fight in the hive cities of Armageddon. For this purpose it was decided that its troops would consist solely of former gang members from the Necromunda Underhive. The Adeptus Arbites and the Adeptus Sororitas were called upon to decide which house was the most suitable for imperial guard duty. They were unanimous in concluding that the House Escher was the most viable choice for they were totally devoid of remorse or feelings toward would-be enemies and had great comradeship amongst themselves, each team fully capable of watching out for each other. On the other hand, being women, they were still able to induce the deception of a rather weakling force that could be easily defeated. Thus the decision was made to initiate recruiting among the House Escher gangs. 

However, the gangers were naturally unwilling to freely cooperate with the imperial forces and as such it was necessary for some arrangements to be made so that imperial service would seem attractive. It was decided that it would be possible to interest the House Escher as a whole - The House was given full pardon for their crimes against the Imperium and an assurance that gangs that contributed to the regiments of the imperial guard would not be persecuted by Adeptus Arbites or redemptionist gangs. It was further promised to the House Escher that wherever the regiment fought the House would be able to move in and establish territories in the industrial hives. These measures were deemed acceptable by the Eschers and recruitment began immediately. 

The troops initially recruited consisted of 60% gangers and 40% juves. They already had combat experience and as such their training was made much simpler and short. The gang leaders or aspiring leaders were chosen to become squad sergeants and platoon lieutenants. The most bright and battleworthy leaders were made senior officers within the Regiment. 

During their trip to Armageddon, the troops were given full imperial training and indoctrination by Imperial Commissars, and by the time they started fighting the XCV was already a battleworthy regiment capable of performing great deeds for the Emperor. 

Veteran Abilities 

Any Command HQ from the XCV Necromunda will always be composed of a captain and four troopers.

The army may field Command Squads only if the XCV is deployed as a self-contained unit or if it’s troops number a minimum of two Urban Fighting Squads (see below). In either of these cases the battle force may include upto one Command Squad for every two Urban Fighting Squad or Urban Fighting Support Squad. 
Command Squads consist of one lieutenant and four troopers.

The army may include Primaris Psykers. It may only field one for each Command Squad or Command HQ. This means that this regiment never employs great numbers of them unless large numbers of its troopers are used as well. 
Primaris Psykers are included in Command Squads and become part of them. 

Unlike regular IG regiments, the XCV Necromunda must include one Commissar for every two squads (besides being able to field one for each command unit). That is for two reasons: a) the XCV does not employ sufficient Command units; and b) Commissars are required to keep the XCV gangers from deviating from the Emperor’s Will. Commissars are individual characters and as such do have to be part of any command unit (or any other unit, for that matter). 

The Urban Fighting Squads compose the regular troops of the XCV (gangers). The regiment is, however, somewhat understrength due to difficulties of recruiting on its homeworld. As such, it was decided that its squads would consist of one sergeant (Escher gang leaders) and seven guardswomen (Escher troopers — gangers), instead of the usual one plus nine of regular IG squads.

The Urban Fighting Support Squads make up the heavy support troops of the XCV. The regiment is however somewhat understrength, due to difficulties of recruiting on its homeworld. As such, it was decided that its squads would consist of four guardswomen in two weapons teams, instead of the usual three weapons teams and six troopers.

The Urban Recon Squads make up small, fast and light armed troops. All the regiments’ troopers must first be part of recon squads whilst they are juves. These troops are trained in the use of stealth movement and infiltration tactics, penetrating the battlefield to report enemy positions and perform reconnaissance in force. These are five-girl squads including one juve leader (Juve Sergeant).

The Leman Russ Demolisher siege tank carries the short ranged but highly destructive Demolisher Cannon. It is invaluable in street fighting and for close assault against fortifications and buildings. Each individual Leman Russ Demolisher siege tank can be included in the battle force as an additional unit. 

The Hellhound is a close assault flame-thrower vehicle designed to flush out enemy infantry from dense terrain and urban combat zones. Each individual Hellhound can be included in the battle force as an additional unit. 

The Chimera is the Imperial Guard’s most commonly used armoured troop carrier and infantry support vehicle. Each individual Chimera Armoured Troop Carrier can be included in the battle force either as an additional unit or as part of an Amazon Squad. 

The Chimedon replaces the Chimera’s Multi-laser with a large bore Battle Cannon capable of blasting tanks, infantry and buildings alike. It is used by the XCV as a replacement for the Leman Russ, for it’s capability of anti-tank fire. Each individual Chimedon can be included in the battle force as an additional unit. It may also provide transportation for a Hive Amazon Squad (U.F. or U.F.S.). 

The Razorback is traditionally a Space Marine vehicle used as an Infantry Fighting Vehicle, possessing the capability to quickly transport troops while providing them with pretty heavy support. The XCV Necromunda Urban Fighting Regiment uses Razorbacks to transport its heavy weapons squads when necessary, to provide a highly mobile support platform. Each individual Razorback Infantry Fighting Vehicle can be included in the battle force either as an additional unit or as part of a U.F.S. Squad. 

The XCV often includes ratling snipers to cover them when assaulting buildings. A squad consists of five ratling snipers. They can only be fielded as additional units. 

The XCV includes ogryns for close assaulting heavy support. A squad consists of five ogryns. They can only be fielded as additional units. 

Mary-F was one of the original company commanders from the XCV. She was chosen for being one of the most successful gang leaders from House Escher in Necromunda. Her gang — the Black Rose — had an unbroken record of victories over other gangs and spyrers. She was equally successful in Armaggedon, with an sense of tactical feeling for urban combat rarely seen in troops with so little imperial training standards — At the battle for the Tartarus Hive her Black Rose company slaughtered the greenskins in close house to house combat. 
Mary-F may be included either as a replacement for a Command HQ’s captain (+15 pts instead of 60) or as an individual character, which may join and lead any IG unit or operate separately.

Shrieker Kate was a Heavy of the Edelweiss Silencers gang. She owed her name to her habit of making small cuts in the shells of her heavy bolter and attaching ribons to the shells which would produce a horrible shrieking sound as they were headed to their targets, and then leave the ribons flying out of their target’s bodies. 
Kate may be included as the heavy weapons specialist of any U.F. squad or as one team member of a U.F.S. squad at an additional cost of +20 points. She may not be included on her own.

Jane Jop was an aspiring gang leader when the first XCV recruitment proposition came out. Her gang — the Singing Roses — was in its early stages and was still an inexperienced, but promising group of juves — they had already distinguished themselves against wyrds and were starting to make a name. When they got to Armageddon they were already competent fighters. Jane, as their leader, was given command of her gang (10 girls) in the 2nd Company (Recon) as a Sergeant in one of its U.R. Squads. After helping in the relieve force of Hades Hive only four survived. It is said that they sang as they charged the orks from the rear and as they fought them the defenders of Hades Hive could hear their voices and were filled with courage. Their performance was so much appreciated that each of the surviving members of the Singing Roses quickly rose through the ranks and were given their own squads to command under the supervision of Lieutenant Jane Jop, the commander of the Singing Rose Recon Platoon. 
Jane Jop may be included either as a replacement for a Command Squad’s lieutenant (+15 pts instead of 50), as the commander of a U.R. Squad (+35 pts) or as an individual character, which may join and lead any IG unit or operate separately.