Martian Cuirassiers

Martian Cuirassiers logo.png
Martian Cuirassiers
Disbanded 3073
Affiliation Mercenary
Parent Command Independent


History[edit]

The Martian Cuirassiers were formed in 3003 by Jon Webb, the owner of a private mining cooperation at the behest of his son, Elliot. They worked primarily as a defensive unit and due to their good connections managed to avoid any major fighting, causing many to consider them a "Paper Tiger". The unit was often assigned to garrison contracts or diplomatic escort duties. By the mid 3020s the Cuirassiers had fought in only five major engagements fighting for the Free Worlds League. Later they took a string of pirate hunting contracts on the League's border.[1]

Following this the Cuirassiers worked for and against many factions in the Chaos March. In 3050 the Battalion was employed by the Federated Commonwealth and assigned to garrison McGehee.[2]

The Cuirassiers fought during Operation Guerrero for the Styk Commonality. Their task was to secure Gan Singh. The unit completed their objectives, but sustained heavy losses, including the loss of most of their aerospace assets and the death of their commander Ricardo Webb.

In 3067 the Cuirassiers disappeared from the radar; they were last seen on Fletcher and were subsequently listed as wanted by the MRBC after accepting employment from the Word of Blake.[3] They were suspected to have raided Lesalles in 3072[4]. They also worked alongside the Word of Blake's Eleventh Division and the 47th Shadow Division and also along the mercenary units Bullard's Armored Cavalry and the Gray's Ghosts[5] when they assaulted Galatea.[6]

The Martian Cuirassiers remained in the employ of the Word of Blake until their destruction on Hall on 3 April 3073. Despite being wanted by the MRBC, the Cuirassiers were actually destroyed by their own employer. The Word of Blake's 52nd Shadow Division destroyed the Cuirassiers as an unexpectedly harsh response to a contract dispute.[7][8] Documents recovered after the end of the Jihad indicated that the Cuirassiers refused an order to destroy the city of Bastrop as an "object lesson" for the citizens of Hall. The Fifty-second interpreted this as "breach of contract" and destroyed the Cuirassiers.[9][10]

Officers[edit]

Rank Name Command
Commanding Officers of the Martian Cuirassiers
Jon Webb 3003[1]
Major Elliot Webb 3025[11]
Major Jayne Purdie 3050[2]
Ricardo Webb 3057
Colonel Zane Cole 3067[1]

Tactics[edit]

The unit used their conventional support excessively. The 'Mechs are the anvil and the rest of their assets the hammer. With adequate air cover they excel in their work.[1]

Support[edit]

The Cuirassiers were known to have full technical support, but they lacked any transport assets.

Dragoon Ratings[edit]

3067[edit]

Dragoon Rating: C

Composition[edit]

3025[edit]

Martian Cuirassiers (Battalion/Green)[11]

  • CO: Major Elliot Webb
Three companies of Medium 'Mechs with Heavy Fighter, armor, and infantry support

3028[edit]

Martian Cuirassiers(Regiment/Green/Questionable)[12]

Note: At this point in time the command was stationed on Concord.[12]

3040[edit]

Martian Cuirassiers (Battalion/Green/Questionable)[13]

Note: At this point in time the command was stationed on McComb.[13]

3050[edit]

Martian Cuirassiers (Battalion/Green/Questionable)[2]

  • CO Major Jayne Purdie[14]
Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on McGehee.[14]

3067[edit]

Martian Cuirassiers(1 Battalion/Veteran/Questionable)

- Many medium designs with 50% upgrades

Ares' Swords(2 Battalions/Regular/Questionable)

  • Armor CO: Major Virginia Helsi
  • Infantry CO: Major Juan Webb

- Contains 1 Battalion each of armor and infantry plus a heavy aerospace Wing.

References[edit]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Mercenaries Supplemental, p. 50
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 20 Year Update, p. 19
  3. Mercenaries Supplemental Update, p. 20
  4. Jihad Hot Spots: 3072, p. 100
  5. Total Chaos, pp. 113–114, "GALATEA"
  6. Jihad Hot Spots: 3072, p. 109
  7. Jihad Hot Spots: 3076, p. 26, "Timeline of the Jihad"
  8. Jihad: Final Reckoning, p. 51, "The Jihad In Review"
  9. BattleTech: 25 Years of Art & Fiction
  10. Touring the Stars: Hall, p. 7
  11. 11.0 11.1 House Marik (The Free Worlds League), p. 109
  12. 12.0 12.1 Historical: Brush Wars, p. 87
  13. 13.0 13.1 Historical: War of 3039, p. 141
  14. 14.0 14.1 20 Year Update, p. 20

Bibliography[edit]