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2nd Fusiliers of Oriente

Revision as of 05:37, 27 January 2012 by BrokenMnemonic (talk | contribs) (Added detail on the Canopian campaign from Historical: Reunification War - the RWR campaign update is still needed.)

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History

Formation

The Second Fusiliers of Oriente were formed in 2485 by the Duchy of Oriente. From the time of their formation through 3025 they formed the core of the Free Worlds League's defenses against Capellan Confederation aggression.[1]

Reunification War

By the time of the Reunification War, the 2nd Fusiliers and their sister regiments had become known as brigades, although they still operated at regiment strength; as a result, records of their deeds during the various campaigns of the war record the 2nd Fusiliers as the 2nd Fusiliers of Oriente Brigade. The 2nd Fusiliers served in two different major campaigns during the war, acting first as a part of the 1st Marik Auxiliary Corps commanded by General Ian Marik as a part of the SLDF Task Force Canopus, before being redeployed as a core part of the 2nd Marik Auxiliary Corps commanded by General Duke Narinder Selaj as a part of the SLDF Task Force Mailed Fist; as a result, the 2nd Fusiliers saw extensive service in the campaigns against both the Magistracy of Canopus and the Rim Worlds Republic.[2][3][4][5][6]

Restitution

At the end of the military build-up prior to the official declaration of war between the Star League and the Magistracy, the 2nd Fusiliers were stationed on the Free Worlds League border world of Rohinjan alongside the 1st and 3rd Marik Militia. During the first wave of attacks the 2nd Fusiliers were selected alongside the 3rd Marik Militia to deploy in support of the 57th Brigade for the invasion of Restitution. The SLDF task force would continue to deploy the 2nd Fusiliers and the 3rd Marik Militia together throughout the campaign against the Magistracy until the 2nd Fusiliers were redeployed to the Rim Worlds Republic theatre.[4]

Restitution was famous for its media industry - particularly the producers of dubious pornography and low-brow dramas. Restitution's media industry had given the planet experts in communications, data delivery and image and video manipulation and a planetary communications network as advanced as any in the Inner Sphere. The attack on Restitution was expected to be a tough fight; intelligence showed that the defending garrison consisted of the 3rd Canopian Light Horse, one of the elite Chasseurs á Cheval regiments, and that the capital city of Magdeburg had been surrounded by massive prepared defences, augmenting the benefits of it's location atop a narrow bluff.[4][7]

The 57th Brigade were allocated the majority of the AeroSpace assets from the 58th Brigade to assist them in achieving air superiority over Magdeburg so allow for the 57th to make a direct assault on the city, bypassing the bulk of the prepared defenses. The plan was a complete success - in large part due to the fact that only token resistance was offered; the 57th secured the city, only to discover that there was no sign of the 3rd Canopian Light Horse. While the SLDF had been preparing to conquer Restitution, the planetary defenders had redeployed and would appear two weeks later in the Cranston system, bloodying the 58th Brigade badly.[4][7]

Ruschegg

The capture of Ruschegg in 2578 was relatively easy for the 2nd Fusiliers and the other units involved; one of three former Free Worlds League worlds which had defected to the Magistracy in the 2550s, all three were conquered through a display of overwhelming force and agile diplomacy by Captain-General Marion Marik. The defenders of Ruschegg effectively offered no resistance to the SLDF landings, although it would have been difficult for any local militia to contest an invasion which saw the SLDF 58th Brigade deploy alongside the 62nd Royal Brigade, the 1st and 3rd Marik Militia and the 1st and 2nd Fusiliers of Oriente Brigades. Within a very short period of time the planetary leader of Ruschegg had not only surrendered but was actively petitioning for Ruschegg to be admitted into the Free Worlds League. The relatively peaceful capture and annexation of Ruschegg, Payvand and Scheuerheck was an important moral victory for the Free Worlds League, one that the Captain-General's allies in the Parliament used extensively against opponents of the Star League.[4][8]

Aspropirgos

Following the campaign for Ruschegg the 2nd Fusileirs supported the 58th Brigade in their next campaign, the battle for Aspropirgos. The Magistracy Armed Forces had managed to surprise and outfox the SLDF task force several times in the opening years of the war, and as a result the SLDF timetable slowed as Captain-General Marik built up her forces for the next major invasions. In addition to refitting and rearming VII Corps and the FWLM regiments acting in support, Marik targeted two worlds each year for invasion, consolidating gains as part of a slow encirclement of the Magistracy capital world of Canopus IV. Aspropirgos was one of these worlds targetted during this relatively fallow period of operations, and the combined forces of the 58th Brigade, the 2nd Fusiliers and the 3rd Marik Militia clashed with Aspropirgos' defencers, the 1st Canopian Fusiliers and the 2nd Canopian Grenadiers. In what would be the standard pattern of warfare for the MAF when defending worlds during 2580-2581, the two Canopian regiments did their best to sting the invaders before retreating ahead of any effective retaliation, saving their strength for later battles.[4][9][10]

The battle for Aspropirgos was the last fought in the Canopian campaign by the 2nd Fusiliers; in 2581 the Fusiliers were redeployed along with the 1st Fusiliers to form a part of the 2nd Marik Auxiliary Corps as the campaign against the Rim Worlds Republic began.[4]

Anton’s Revolt

The Second Fusiliers landed on Calloway VI with the First, Second, and Sixth Oriente Hussars, as well as the 6th Defenders of Andurien. There they stopped Wolf's Dragoons Beta Regiment cold. The Dragoons were reinforced by Gamma Regiment, but the Second Fusiliers were able to maintain pressure on the rebel forces. Eventually the 12th Atrean Dragoons and 3rd Ducal Guard, both rebel units, were destroyed.[11] The Dragoons also suffered serious losses. This success came at a high price however: When the fighting on Calloway ended the Second Fusiliers had lost approximately a quarter of their forces.[12]

Later, the weakened Second Fusiliers tried to raid Emris IV, but Wolf's Dragoons Delta and Epsilon Regiment drove them off-world with heavy losses.[13] This ill-advised attack reduced the Second Fusiliers to approximately 40% of their base combat strength.[14]

The Second Brigade took so much damage during Anton Marik's Revolt that two damaged Oriente Hussars regiments were merged into it to speed recovery. This merger triggered a feud with the Ducal Guard that lasted well into the mid-3050s.[15]

Fourth Succession War

Like many Free Worlds League Military units, the Second Fusiliers sat out much of the Fourth Succession War.[citation needed]

Andurien Secession

The Second Fusiliers remained off the front lines until the last part of the war. The Second was part of the first wave of FWLM forces that attacked Andurien. Arriving via pirate point, the Second Fusiliers avoided contact with the defenders, reinforcing the 1st Free Worlds Guards once they had landed.[16] Shortly thereafter they reinforced the 1st Marik Militia and contained a breakout attempt by the 1st Defenders of Andurien.[17] Their greatest action, however, came when they attacked the city of Jojoken alongside the First Fusiliers of Oriente. The Second Fusiliers pinned the defending 5th Defenders of Andurien in place while the First Fusiliers flanked them and struck the 5th Defenders from the rear. The two Fusilier units then ground the Defenders between them, leaving few survivors.[18] This action cost the Fusiliers about 40% of their forces.[19]

In 3048 the Second Fusiliers raided the Gienah Combat Vehicles plant on Gienah, taking plans and armored vehicles, while the 3rd Free Worlds Legionnaires focused on attacking the planet's defenders.[15]

Operation Guerrero and Operation Bulldog

The Second Fusiliers didn't participate in either Operation Guerrero or Operation Bulldog.[citation needed]

Jihad

After a series of strikes in 3067 into the Abbey District, Colonel Angstead requested permission to strike at the Circinus Federation, who he believed sponsored the attacks. To defend more of the Abbey District the Second Battalion was deployed in smaller units across a half-dozen worlds.[20]

Officers

In 3025 the Second was commanded by Colonel Ricardo Fuentes, a former mercenary who was disliked by most of his fellow regimental commanders.[21] As of 3050 to 3059 the commanding officer was Colonel Donald Angstead[22][15]. He was still in command in 3067.[23]

Tactics

The 2nd Brigade is highly skilled in operations in mountain terrain, but has almost no experience fighting in urban environments.[15]

Composition History

3025

2nd Brigade (Veteran/Reliable) [24]

  • CO: Colonel Ricardo Fuentes

- The Second Brigade consisted of three battalions of medium weight 'Mechs that included many Hermes II designs. The third battalion was seriously under-strength.[25]

3050

2nd Brigade (Veteran/Reliable)[22]

  • CO: Colonel Donald Angstead

3059

2nd Brigade (1 Regiment/Veteran/Reliable)[15]

  • CO/1st Battalion: Colonel Donald Angstead
  • 2nd Battalion: Force Commander Laurence Anderton
  • 3rd Battalion: Force Commander Ruth Slight

- The Regiment is upgraded with field-modification kits

2nd Fusiliers Aerospace Wing (The Bug Blasters) (1 Wing/Elite/Reliable)[15]

- Heavy air wing

9th Maxwell Alpini (1 Regiment/Veteran/Reliable)[15]

  • Troop Commander: Lt. Colonel Elise Walker

- A mountain troop regiment

3rd Maxwell Airmobile (1 Regiment/Regular/Reliable)[15]

  • Troop Commander: Lt. Colonel Thomas Lakes

- Equipped with Planetlifters and UR Karnov transports, secured by attack VTOLs

Notes

References

  1. ↑ House Marik (The Free Worlds League), p. 95
  2. ↑ Historical: Reunification War, p. 95, "SLDF Task Force Canopus"
  3. ↑ Historical: Reunification War, p. 129, "SLDF Task Force Mailed Fist"
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 Historical: Reunification War, p. 148, "Magistracy Of Canopus Front (Jump-Off - 2582)"
  5. ↑ Historical: Reunification War, p. 152, "Rim Worlds Republic Front (Jump-Off - 2587)"
  6. ↑ Historical: Reunification War, p. 153, "Rim Worlds Republic Front (Jump-Off - 2596)"
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Historical: Reunification War, p. 97-98, "Restitution and Cranston (October-November 2577)"
  8. ↑ Historical: Reunification War, p. 100, "Ruschegg, Payvand and Scheuerheck (August-October 2577)"
  9. ↑ Historical: Reunification War, p. 150, "Magistracy Of Canopus Front(Jump-Off - 2582)"
  10. ↑ Historical: Reunification War, p. 101, "Gallis, Aspropirgos, Fanardir and Borgan's Rift (January 2580-October 2581)"
  11. ↑ Historical: Brush Wars, p. 29
  12. ↑ Historical: Brush Wars, p. 36
  13. ↑ Historical: Brush Wars, p. 31
  14. ↑ Historical: Brush Wars, p. 38
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 15.5 15.6 15.7 Field Manual: Free Worlds League, p. 76, "2nd Fusiliers of Oriente Unit Profile"
  16. ↑ Historical: Brush Wars, p. 80
  17. ↑ Historical: Brush Wars, p. 81
  18. ↑ Historical: Brush Wars, p. 82
  19. ↑ Historical: Brush Wars, p. 82
  20. ↑ Field Manual: Updates, p. 151
  21. ↑ House Marik (The Free Worlds League), p. 96
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 20 Year Update, p. 56, "FWLM Deployment Table"
  23. ↑ Field Manual: Updates, p. 161
  24. ↑ House Marik (The Free Worlds League), p. 108, "FWLM Deployment Table"
  25. ↑ House Marik (The Free Worlds League), p. 96

Bibliography

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