2nd Canopian Fusiliers

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History

Formation

Formed at some point between 2531 and the end of the Age of War, the Second Canopian Fusiliers was one of three regiments that made up the Magistracy Armed Forces brigade known as the Canopian Fusiliers when the Reunification War broke out.[1]

Reunification War

When the Star League declared war on the Magistracy of Canopus in 2577 the 2nd were stationed on Thurrock, a world claimed by both the Magistracy and the Free Worlds League. The commander of the MAF, Colonel Adam Buquoy, used an elaborate shell game involving moving units rapidly between worlds to confuse the SLDF task force invading the Magistracy, a plan that saw the 2nd deployed to the world of Early Dawn in 2578 before engaging in their first major combat action of the war in 2581 on the Magistracy world of Fanardir.[1]

Fanardir

The Star League Defense Force task force commanded by Captain-General Marion Marik launched their attack on Fanardir in March 2581 and while the planetary invasion force was smaller than those used during 2578 and 2579, it still consisted of a complete SLDF brigade - the 60th - supported by the 403rd Independent Regiment, the 3rd Orloff Grenadiers and the 1st Defenders of Andurien. Two regiments of the Canopian Fusiliers were defending Fanardir at the time, the 2nd Canopian Fusiliers and the 3rd Canopian Fusiliers and following the pattern used by the defending MAF units on Aspropirgos and Gallis in 2580, the Fusiliers stung the invading forces enough to contest the invasion and then retreated before the SLDF could mount an effective pursuit, preserving their strength as part of a general refit and rearmament campaign both sides were conducting.[1][2][3]

Joyz

In 2584 the SLDF managed to destroy most of the Magistracy Navy in a catastrophic ambush in the Thurrock system, and had capitalised on that success by capturing a number of Magistracy worlds as part of a buildup to attacking the Magistracy capital world of Canopus IV in the same year. Joyz was one of the worlds targetted by the SLDF in 2584 and was conquered quickly by VII Corps' 57th Brigade in early 2584 despite resistance from the 2nd Canopian Fusiliers, who were forced to retreat to Cate's Hold.[4][5][6]

Cate's Hold

During the Reunification War Cate's Hold had become an important supply world and repair depot for the Magistracy Navy,[7] and had continued to service the few remaining vessels available to the MAF after the fall of Canopus IV; although the MAF was down to only a handful of units in 2587 half of those units - the 2nd Fusiliers and the mercenary unit Samuelson's Slaughterers - were protecting Cate's Hold when the Star League targetted the world for invasion. The SLDF task force commander, Captain-General Marion Marik, became aware of the significance of Cate's Hold to the surviving Magistracy forces when a previous error on the part of the Hegemony Central Intelligence Directorate came to light, and she tasked almost a division of troops to capture the world. The 2nd Fusiliers and the Slaughterers faced the combined forces of the VII Corps' 57th Brigade and 63rd Royal Brigade, augmented by the 403rd Independent Regiment and the 5th Marik Militia. The Fusiliers and their mercenary allies fought a fierce campaign and held out for two weeks against four to one odds before they were finally defeated and the world of Cate's Hold secured for the SLDF.[8]

Disbandment

Those MAF units not destroyed in combat during the Reunification War were all forced to disband by 2588, and the 2nd Canopian Fusiliers would remain an inactive unit for almost 200 years. In 2765 they were based on Booker and participating in live fire exercises as part of their training.[9]

Amaris Civil War

Officially reconstituted during the Amaris Crisis, the 2nd Fusiliers had actually been rebuilt in secret in the years leading up to the New Vandenberg Uprising, and in 2765 the 2nd Fusiliers worked alongside the 3rd Fusiliers for the first time since the battle on Fanardir two hundred years before; the two Fusiliers regiments and another two regiments within the resurgent MAF laid siege to the SLDF 219th BattleMech Division (The Bull Run Division). The majority of the command staff within the 219th were assassinated by pre-positioned assassins embedded years before, and the 219th was then engaged by the MAF across both of the two worlds it had been stationed on; despite fighting valiantly, the 219th was destroyed to a man in one of the bloodiest battles of the year.[10]

Succession Wars

The 2nd Fusiliers fought in several conflicts during the Succession Wars.[10]

Andurien-Canopus War

When the Magistracy and the Duchy of Andurien launched a combined invasion of the weakened Capellan Confederation in the wake of the Fourth Succession War, the 2nd Fusiliers were teamed up with the 2nd Canopian Cuirassiers and the 2nd Canopian Light Horse, and distinguished themselves with several strong victories. The fighting on Repulse rapidly degenerated into a guerrilla operation for the defending Kincade's Rangers. They used hit and run attacks and terrorist style tactics to inflict severe damage on the Second Fusiliers.[11] They then redeployed to Drozan and New Roland before withdrawing to Lindermarle.[12]

Despite their successes when the combined Andurien and Canopian forces were on the offensive, the 2nd Fusiliers are more famous for their valiant stand against the CCAF during the Capellan counter-offensive; when House Dai Da Chi routed the 2nd Guards, the 2nd Fusiliers held firm and fought long enough to allow other MAF units to retreat.[10]

St. Ives-Capellan Confederation War

The 2nd Fusiliers were not directly involved with the St. Ives-Capellan Confederation War, despite the voluble protests from the unit CO, Colonel Jiwon Chun, who wanted to test the mettle of the 2nd Fusiliers against the newly formed SLDF. Chun's stance went against Magestrix Emma Centrella's strong support for the idea of the second Star League, and the more moderate 3rd Canopian Fusiliers were chosen for deployment to the war over the 2nd.[10]

In 3067 the Second Fusiliers staged several raids into the Free Worlds League under false colors. Dressed as pirates or smugglers the Second hit several League systems. Unfortunately for them, they ran into the Juggernaut regiment. The resulting conflict cost the Second Fusiliers two companies of troops.[13] The Second Canopian Fusiliers were stationed on Bass and Marantha at this time.[14]

Jihad

Early in the Jihad the Second was pinned down by Word of Blake sponsored pirates and raiding parties. These irregular assets were replaced in mid-3073 by the 41st Shadow Division and the Second suffered heavy losses.[15]

Immediately after the Jihad (in 3079) the Second was assigned to garrison Ballad II and Weistheimer.[16]

The Dark Age

The Second Fusiliers spent many years after the end of the Jihad posted on quiet worlds that were rarely raided by enemy forces; this lack of opportunity to engage in combat, combined with few opportunities for live-fire training and the steady retirement of those experienced veterans of the Jihad years left the Second Fusiliers slowly degrading in performance.[17]

This steady decline was finally checked in 3218 when the Magestrix, Ilsa Centrella, decided to order the deployment of the Second Fusiliers into the Capellan Confederation, to give the Second a chance to re-hone their combat edge and to help reinforce the Confederation's border. The Second were posted to the world of Iknogoro, close to the world the Third Canopian Light Horse were stationed on, and the two units would work together a number of times on raids along the border of the Oriente Protectorate.[17]

Insignia

The unit insignia of the 2nd Canopian Fusiliers was intended specifically to show their hatred for the Star League and the Terran Hegemony responsible for the creation of the League; the insignia shows a yellow sun circled by nine planets, the third of which is vividly coloured in blue and green. All of the planets and the sun are shown as being consumed by a black hole.[10]

Officers

Rank Name Command
Commanding Officers of the 2nd Canopian Fusiliers
Major Regina Von Strol 3025[18]
Major Rita Stoleberg 3050 - 3054[19][20]
Colonel Jiwon Chun 3064[10]
Colonel Lee Lawhorn 3067 - 3085[14][21]
Colonel Sammie Bisson 3145[22]

Tactics

The 2nd Canopian Fusiliers' standard tactic was to use overwhelming firepower to pin an opponent in place before slicing the enemy unit apart with a pincer movement.[10]

Composition History

2765

Second Canopian Fusiliers (Regiment/Regular/Reliable)[23]

- At this point in time the Second Fusiliers was stationed on Booker.[23]

2786 - 2821

2nd Canopian Fusiliers (Regiment/Green/Reliable) [24]

Note: At this point in time the medium-weight unit was stationed on Booker. In 2821 the command was reduced to 46 percent of its strength and was deployed on Booker. [24]

2830

2nd Canopian Fusiliers (Regiment/Green/Reliable) [25]

Note: At this point in time the medium-weight unit was stationed on Booker with an operational readiness of 75 percent. [25]

2864

2nd Canopian Fusiliers (Regiment/Green/Fanatical) [25]

Note: At this point in time the medium-weight unit was stationed on Booker with an operational readiness of 47 percent. [25]

3025

Second Canopian Fusiliers (Green/Reliable)[18]

  • CO:'Major Regina Von Strol

3028

Second Canopian Fusiliers(Regiment/Green/Fanatical)[26]

Note: At this point in time the command was stationed on Lindermarie. [26]

3050-3054

Second Canopian Fusiliers (Regular/Reliable)[19][20]

  • CO: Major Rita Stoleberg

3064

Second Canopian Fusiliers (1 Regiment/Veteran/Fanatical)[10]

  • CO: Colonel Jiwon Chun

- The 2nd is equiped with some FWL 'Mech models as the Eagle and the Yeoman, and had a 20% upgrade rating. As at the 1st of January 3064 the 2nd Canopian Fusiliers were garrisonning two worlds, Bass and Marantha.[27]

Second Fusiliers Armor Guard (1 Battalion/Elite/Reliable)[10]

Second Fusiliers Infantry Guard (1 Battalion/Veteran/Fanatical)[10]

3067

Second Canopian Fusiliers (2 Battalions/Regular/Fan)[14]

  • CO: Colonel Lee Lawhorn

Second Fusiliers Armor Guard (2 Battalions/Elite/Reliable)[14]

  • Armor Commander: Major Mark Lieberson

Second Fusiliers Infantry Guard (1 Battalion/Veteran/Fanatical)[14]

  • Infantry Commander: Major Sarah Read

3085

Second Canopian Fusiliers (Veteran/Fanatical)[21]

  • CO: Colonel Lee Lawhorn

Second Fusiliers Armor Guard (2 Battalions/Elite/Reliable)[21]

  • CO: Colonel Nikodemos Rapallino

Second Fusiliers Infantry Guard (2 Battalions/Regular/Fanatical)[21]

  • CO: Major Conlaoch Arkwright

3145

Second Canopian Fusiliers (Regular/Reliable)[22]

  • CO: Colonel Sammie Bisson

Second Fusiliers Armor Guard (Green/Reliable)[22]

  • CO: Colonel Milagro Grooms

Second Fusiliers Infantry Guard (Regular/Reliable)[22]

  • CO: Colonel Pauletta Earl
- At this point in time the Second were operating at seventy-five to eighty-five percent of full strength.

Notes

Rules

3064

  • The Canopian Fusiliers are drawn from the MAF's best troops; when generating random MechWarrior skills, the player may roll on the Veteran column of the Random Skills Table within the BattleTech Master Rules.[28]
  • The 2nd Canopian Fusiliers go berserk and receive a -1 To Hit Bonus to all weapon attacks any time they face Star League Defense Force troops.[28]
  • The 2nd Canopian Fusiliers receive a -3 Initiative Penalty any time they face Star League Defense Force troops.[28]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Historical: Reunification War, p. 150, "Magistracy Of Canopus Front(Jump-Off - 2582)"
  2. ↑ Historical: Reunification War, p. 101, "Gallis, Aspropirgos, Fanardir and Borgan's Rift (January 2580-October 2581)"
  3. ↑ Historical: Reunification War, p. 148, "Magistracy Of Canopus Front(Jump-Off - 2582)"
  4. ↑ Historical: Reunification War, p. 103, "Endgame (2583-2584)"
  5. ↑ Historical: Reunification War, p. 149, "Magistracy Of Canopus Front (2583-2588)"
  6. ↑ Historical: Reunification War, p. 151, "Magistracy Of Canopus Front (2583-2588)"
  7. ↑ The Periphery (sourcebook), p. 104, "Planet Profile"
  8. ↑ Historical: Reunification War, p. 105, "Mopping Up (2584-2588)"
  9. ↑ Field Report 2765: Periphery, p. 15
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 10.6 10.7 10.8 10.9 Field Manual: Periphery, p. 37, "2nd Canopian Fusiliers Unit Profile"
  11. ↑ Historical: Brush Wars, p. 54
  12. ↑ Historical: Brush Wars, p. 87
  13. ↑ Field Manual: Updates, p. 191
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 Field Manual: Updates, p. 201, "MAF Deployment Table - 3067"
  15. ↑ Field Manual: 3085, p. 139
  16. ↑ Field Report: Periphery, p. 10
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Field Manual: 3145, p. 193, "Canopian Fusiliers"
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 The Periphery 1st (1988), p. 99, "MAF Deployment Table - 3025"
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 20 Year Update, p. 78, "MAF Deployment Table - 3050"
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Objective Raids, p. 47, "MAF Deployment Table - 3054"
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 Field Manual: 3085, p. 149, "MAF Deployment Table - 3085"
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 22.3 Field Manual: 3145, p. 200, "Canopian Fusiliers"
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 Field Report 2765: Periphery, p. 15, "Canopian Fusiliers - Regimental Status"
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 ’’ First Succession War’’, p. 140
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 25.3 ’’ Second Succession War’’, p. 100
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 Historical: Brush Wars, p.87
  27. ↑ Field Manual: Periphery, p. 143, "Periphery Deployment Table - 3064"
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 28.2 Field Manual: Periphery, p. 151, "Canopian Fusiliers"

Bibliography

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