39th Strike (Clan Diamond Shark)

Clan Diamond Shark.jpg
Thirty-ninth Strike Cluster
Disbanded 3072 (Destroyed)
Nickname The Frenzy
Affiliation Clan Diamond Shark
Parent Command Alpha Galaxy

The Thirty-ninth Strike Cluster, sometimes known as the Thirty-ninth Striker Cluster, was one of the elite units of Clan Diamond Shark's premier Deathstrike Galaxy.

History[edit]

Tukayyid[edit]

As with any major conflict the Sharks engaged in, the clusters of Alpha Galaxy were at the forefront of Clan Diamond Shark's forces in the Battle of Tukayyid, with the Thirty-ninth included in the five clusters bid by Khan Ian Hawker for the battle. With both the Diamond Sharks' target cities lying twenty kilometers from each other, the Sharks landed in the middle of the Kozice Valley that divided them, while Gamma Galaxy's 369th Striker and 222nd Assault Clusters headed toward the secondary target of Urcunat, the 39th and Nineteenth Heavy Cluster made their way to the primary target of Kozice Prime.

As the 85th and 182nd Division stalled the 19th Heavy, the Com Guard veteran 31st Division blocked the 39th in the narrow section of the Kozice Valley leading to the city, inflicting heavy losses and preventing the Thirty-ninth from advancing any further. After the 182nd Division outflanked both the 39th and 19th Heavy, the ComStar Level IV kept both clusters bottled up in the valley, resulting in a bloody days-long stalemate, as the clusters of Gamma took heavy losses of their own in an equally bloody and unsuccessfully attempt to defeat the 85th Division's blockade of the Diamond Sharks supply lines.

The stalemate dragged on so long that the defeat of Clan Smoke Jaguar freed up Com Guard reinforcements, the Sharks were totally unprepared when the fresh troops of the Fifth Army performed a combat drop behind their front lines, cutting off the 39th and the other clusters Alpha and Gamma from their landing zones and supply deports. Unable to break stranglehold of the encircled Com Guard forces, only the arrival and sacrifice of the reserve forces of the Freeborn 3rd Shark Regulars allowed the shattered 39th to withdraw in defeat.[1][2]

While all five clusters suffered horrific damage on Tukayyid, the Thirty-ninth was the only one the Shark Khans chose to maintain, absorbing survivors from the other clusters of Alpha and Gamma such as the 369th Striker.[3] With the Clans ejection from the Inner Sphere, the cluster returned to the Clan Homeworlds, garrisoning the Pentagon World of Babylon as part of Clan Diamond Shark's frontline defenses against Trials or challenges for Shark matériel.[4][5]

Wars of Reaving[edit]

By 3071 Alpha Galaxy had moved to Babylon for rest and refit. In January 3072 Delta and Epsilon Galaxy launched a devastating assault from the Coyote enclave on Babylon against the holdings of Clan Ice Hellion, Clan Diamond Shark and Clan Cloud Cobra. Alpha Galaxy put up the stiffest resistance, but eventually the Sharks were forced to withdraw; but not before the 39th Strike Cluster had been destroyed.[6]

Officers[edit]

Rank Name Command
Commanding Officers of the 39th Strike
Star Colonel Thoman Clarke 3061 - 3067[7][5]

Tactics[edit]

Like all the clusters of Alpha Galaxy, the 39th was skilled at discovering weak spots in the battle line of their opponents. When the time is right the warrior increase their pressure against this spot to break the enemy formation.[7]

Composition History[edit]

3061[edit]

Thirty-ninth Strike Cluster (Elite/Fanatical)

CO: Star Colonel Thoman Clarke [8]
Note: At this time the unit was stationed on Babylon.[9]

3067[edit]

Thirty-ninth Strike Cluster (Elite/Fanatical)[5]

Notes[edit]

Like all the clusters of Alpha, the Thirty-ninth painted their 'Mechs dark blue with black trim. The unit's insignia was an overhead view of a trio of sharks in a tight triangle around a single drop of blood.[7]

References[edit]

  1. Tukayyid, pp. 69–70: "Campaign: Clan Diamond Shark"
  2. Invading Clans, p. 141: "Baptism of Fire"
  3. Era Report: 3052, p. 63: "Factions - Clan Diamond Shark - 369th Striker Cluster (The Hammerheads)"
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 Field Manual: Warden Clans, p. 162: "Clan Diamond Shark - Alpha (Deathstrike Galaxy)"
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 Field Manual: Updates, p. 76: "Clan Diamond Shark - Deathstrike Galaxy (Alpha)"
  6. The Wars of Reaving, p. 94
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 Field Manual: Warden Clans, p. 68: "Clan Diamond Shark - Alpha Galaxy"
  8. Field Manual: Warden Clans, p. 68
  9. Field Manual: Warden Clans, p. 162

Bibliography[edit]