The 716th Irregulars trace their origins to the opening years of the Second Galactic War on Tyranny (GWOT). The regiment was initially formed from the surviving elements of several distinguished formations: the 201st Hell Rangers, 44th Bug Jumpers, 25th Savage Dragons, and 57th Heavy Assault Recon Regiment.
The 201st Hell Rangers and 57th Heavy Assault Recon suffered severe casualties during the fighting on Malevelon Creek, leaving both formations combat ineffective and requiring extensive refit and reorganization. The 25th Savage Dragons endured devastating losses across numerous campaigns associated with the establishment and defense of the Terminid Control System (TCS) network, culminating in the catastrophe of Meridia, where the regiment paid a heavy price in blood and matériel.
The 44th Bug Jumpers met a different fate. Rather than being broken by a single campaign, the regiment was slowly worn down through continuous deployments across multiple fronts. Attritional losses accumulated over countless operations, eventually reducing the formation below sustainable strength. No single battle marked its end; instead, the regiment succumbed to the relentless demands of an expanding galactic war.
Recognizing the need to rapidly restore combat power, Super Earth High Command consolidated the surviving personnel, equipment, and traditions of these formations into a single fighting force. Thus, the 716th Irregulars were born.
Since its activation, the 716th has continued to absorb personnel and detachments from depleted formations throughout the war. This diverse heritage has earned the regiment a reputation for adaptability, unconventional thinking, and a willingness to employ tactics that more traditional units would deem unorthodox. Veterans from dozens of campaigns and backgrounds serve side by side, making the 716th a true combat melting pot.
As the regiment grew, it established its primary base of operations at Widow's Harbor, a strategically vital staging area that became synonymous with the 716th's identity. From Widow's Harbor, the regiment launched countless operations against Terminid swarms, Automaton incursions, and later the emerging Illuminate threat. For many Helldivers, Widow's Harbor was more than a military installation—it was home.
That legacy was tested during the Battle for Super Earth, when the Illuminate offensive spread chaos across the sector. Widow's Harbor was ultimately destroyed in the fighting, becoming one of the regiment's defining tragedies. Despite the loss, surviving personnel continued the fight, carrying the Harbor's memory into every subsequent campaign. In the aftermath of the battle, members of the 44th Bug Jumpers recovered and salvaged an abandoned orbital defense platform from the wreckage field surrounding Widow's Harbor. Recommissioned as the SES Unsullied Aegis, the station stands as both a memorial to the fallen and a symbol of the regiment's refusal to surrender what remains of its history.
Today, the 716th commands a growing fleet presence, including the SES Diamond of Destruction, SES Shadow of Destruction, SES Sword of Judgement, SES Ashen Oath, SES Widow's Reprisal, SES Unsullied Aegis, SES Superintendent of Super Earth, SES Arbiter of Vigilance, and SES Gauntlet of Truth. These vessels serve as the backbone of the regiment's expeditionary operations across the galaxy.
The regiment currently operates under a partially redacted High Command designation, with many details of its organization, strength, and deployments restricted from public release. What is known is that the 716th remains an active front-line formation and is presently commanded by Hell Commander Jon "GhostTurd57" Murphy, a Mustang officer who rose through the ranks through distinguished service during Operation Valiant Enclosure, the liberation of Malevelon Creek, and numerous subsequent campaigns against the enemies of Managed Democracy.
Regimental Motto
"It'll Buff."
Originally uttered as a joke by exhausted Helldivers facing impossible odds, the phrase evolved into the unofficial and eventually official motto of the regiment. Whether referring to damaged equipment, questionable battle plans, catastrophic strategic situations, or the latest High Command directive, members of the 716th maintain the same stubborn response:
"It'll buff."
To outsiders, it sounds absurd. To the Irregulars, it is a statement of faith that any problem can be overcome through determination, firepower, and an unhealthy amount of optimism. The motto embodies the regiment's culture: resilient, irreverent, and impossible to keep down. Even when facing annihilation, a member of the 716th can usually be heard saying the same thing moments before charging into battle:
"Trust the process. It'll buff."
Notable Personnel
Throughout its history, the 716th Irregulars have been shaped by the leadership of officers whose careers reflect the regiment's unconventional nature and relentless determination.
At the head of the regiment stands Hell Commander Jon "GhostTurd57" Murphy, a Mustang officer who rose from the enlisted ranks through repeated acts of valor and steadfast leadership. Murphy commands both the 716th Irregulars and the 57th Heavy Assault Recon Battalion (57th HAR), a dual-hatted role rarely entrusted to a single officer. A veteran of Operation Valiant Enclosure, the liberation of Malevelon Creek, and countless campaigns against Terminids, Automatons, and Illuminate forces, Murphy is known for aggressive tactics, a refusal to abandon fellow Helldivers, and an uncanny ability to survive impossible situations.
Serving alongside him is Commander Theron "Preacher" Lachaylan, Executive Officer of the 57th HAR. A respected battlefield leader and confidant of Murphy, Lachaylan is renowned for his calm demeanor under fire and his ability to rally exhausted Helldivers when morale falters. Within the regiment, many believe the 57th would not function without Preacher's steady hand.
The regiment's administrative and ceremonial traditions are maintained by Star Marshall Svedka "Lou" Chernov, Regimental Adjutant and commander of the Adjutantal Guard. Chernov oversees personnel, records, and security for the regiment's senior leadership while ensuring the histories and honors of the 716th's predecessor units are preserved. Her influence is felt in nearly every aspect of regimental life.
The 25th Fire Safety Battalion, more commonly known as the Savage Dragons, is commanded by Commander Lisandra "Sassy" Savage. Fiercely protective of her troops and infamous for her audacious battlefield maneuvers, Savage embodies the regiment's preference for action over caution. Under her command, the Dragons have earned a reputation for turning seemingly hopeless engagements into improbable victories.
The 201st Hell Rangers Battalion is led by Commander Hanlon "Darth" Fett, a veteran ranger and survivor of Malevelon Creek. Fett's stoic demeanor and mastery of reconnaissance and guerrilla warfare have made him one of the regiment's most respected officers. His Rangers are often the first boots on the ground and the last to leave.
Commanding the 44th Jump Assault Battalion, known throughout the regiment as the Bug Jumpers, is Commander Maeck "Sure Flea" Anahi. A specialist in orbital assault operations and rapid-response deployments, Anahi earned her callsign through an uncanny ability to survive operations that should have ended in disaster. The Bug Jumpers continue to embody her philosophy: Drop hard, move fast, and never give the enemy time to think.
The regiment's fleet operations are coordinated by Fleet Admiral Daniel "Mastiff" Marteau, who serves as Fleet Liaison Officer for the 716th. Marteau oversees the deployment and maintenance of the regiment's expanding naval assets, ensuring the Irregulars can project force across multiple theaters simultaneously. Though seldom seen planetside, his logistical expertise has been credited with keeping the regiment operational through some of its darkest hours.
