2nd Ceti Hussars

Insignia of the 2nd Ceti Hussars
Second Ceti Hussars
Formed 2784[1]
Nickname Three of Diamonds
Affiliation Federated Suns
Parent Command Ceti Hussars

History[edit]

Formation[edit]

The Second Ceti Hussars were formed by combining elements of the Star League Defense Force's Eighth Striker Regiment and 1894th Light Horse Regiment.[2] The Armed Forces of the Federated Suns recruited two battalions from the Eighth Striker Regiment in 2784, along with a battalion from the 1894th Light Horse, but while all of those recruited from the Eighth joined the Second Ceti Hussars, some of those recruited from the 1894th joined the Hussars, while others joined the First Argyle Lancers. Both commands had been a part of XLVIII Corps[3] within the Seventeenth Army.[1]

Second Succession War[edit]

On 19 June 2828, Chancellor Ilsa Liao landed on Orbisonia in command of the Red Lancers and the Prefectorate Guard, intent on seizing an important AFFS supply world and preventing the defending garrison—the Second Ceti Hussars and Fourteenth Avalon Hussars in place, to prevent them relieving Chesterton—the overall focus of Ilsa's Operation CELT.[4] The main Capellan forces consisted primarily of Marauder and Warhammer heavy 'Mechs and were soon threatening to overrun the main Federated Suns staging ground and overwhelm the defending forces.[5][6]

With the initial assault going well, and the CCAF units driving the defending garrison hard, Ilsa Liao went to bed after receiving news of other CCAF units assaulting Chesterton, expecting to be woken with good news about assaults on the Demeter and Sanilac systems. Instead, she was woken early in the morning with the news that the Davion Assault Guards were dropping onto Orbisonia, having arrived at a pirate point close to the planet. First Prince Paul Davion had been moving troops in anticipation of his own invasion of the Confederation, Operation DAO, and Ilsa's offensive had run straight into the teeth of Paul's marshaling forces.[4][6]

Ilsa ordered a general retreat, but the light forces of the Ceti Hussars and Avalon Hussars proved difficult to disengage from, and the Assault Guards landed across the CCAF positions, threatening to turn the retreat into a rout—or a massacre. Ilsa took to the field personally, taking command of the rearguard and refusing to retreat while she covered her withdrawing forces.[4] The garrison was able to make good use of information provided by AFFS recon and intelligence assets—primarily Darter scout cars—to outmaneuver and outsmart the attacking Capellan forces. After four days of combat the Capellan forces were retreating from Orbisonia when the AFFS troops acted on intelligence indicating that Chancellor Liao was leading the rearguard personally to launch an aimed strike that killed the Chancellor. Ilsa Liao was the first Chancellor of the Capellan Confederation to die on the battlefield.[5] Isla died having secured a safe retreat for almost four-fifths of her forces on Orbisonia.[4][6]

The First Battle of Tikonov—dubbed Operation LION by the Armed Forces of the Federated Suns—began on 4 April 2832 when an AFFS naval flotilla jumped into the system and captured the recharge station at the nadir jump point in a pitched battle conducted wile AFFS WarShips battled a pair of Capellan frigates, the CCS Jiaxing and CCS Zhaoking. With the station seized and the Jiaxing scuttled, the Second Ceti Hussars RCT dropped onto Tikonov under the command of General H. R. "Howler" Greer and fought a maneuver war that saw the Hussars capture most of Tikonov within a few weeks. Unfortunately, the Hussars lightweight, mobile nature wasn't suited to either brutal slugging matches or breaking through massive fortifications—and Tikonov had fortifications in abundance. While the Hussars controlled much of the planet and encircled both the major cities, such as Tikograd, as well as the High Kremlin—a massive former SLDF fortress—weeks of bombardment by the Hussars' light artillery couldn't breach the defenses. The defenders were unable to break out through the Hussars lines, and began to run short of food and supplies, but after six months the Hussars faced the arrival of CCAF reinforcements in the form of the Chesterton Reserves. With the fortifications on Tikonov potentially acting as an anvil to the Reserves' hammer, Greer chose to withdraw, leaving Tikonov in Capellan hands.[7]

In May 2833, the Second Ceti Hussars returned to Tikonov, supported this time by the Seventeenth Avalon Hussars and the Ninth Deneb Light Cavalry, on Operation LEOPARD—the second major attempt to capture the important industrial world. This time, the AFFS was better prepared, and dropped onto Tikonov with troops, artillery and aircraft suitable for breaking entrenched enemies out of heavy fortifications.[7]

The AFFS forces managed to break into and capture the High Kremlin after a bloody two-week battle, and proceeded to capture the heavily fortified cities on Krasnodar and Pskov in early June, leaving all of the major population and industrial centers under AFFS control. What the AFFS couldn't do was pin down the surviving elements of the CCAF defending units, who faded into the wilderness and used exactly the same mobile tactics against the AFFS that the Ceti Hussars had used against them the year before. The three AFFS regiments broke down into increasingly smaller elements to try and pin down the CCAF units, and distributed supply caches around the world, only to be foxed by the arrival of the Capellan Hussars on the 13th of June. The Capellan Hussars destroyed many of the AFFS caches, a setback that the combined AFFS units could probably have overcome with time, but MIIO passed on intelligence indicating signs of massed CCAF troop movements towards Tikonov, prompting Greer to withdraw the AFFS forces from Tikonov, much to the chagrin of the First Prince, who rewarded Greer with KP duty on New Syrtis until the end of 2834.[7]

Third Succession War[edit]

As of 3025, the Second Ceti Hussars RCT was based on Verde.[8] As of that year, they were still recovering from heavy fighting during a raid on Scheat, and it was contemplated they would be moved back from the front.[9]

Fourth Succession War[edit]


War of 3039[edit]


Operation Bulldog[edit]

As of 3058, the homeworld of the Second Ceti Hussars was Frazer.[10]

Civil War[edit]

The Second Ceti Hussars remained aloof from most of the fighting until they were personally asked by George Hasek to assist Allied operations. They secured Taygeta, and then joined Field Marshal Ardan Sortek's drive to New Avalon. The Second took heavy losses but rebuilt from salvaged units. They then returned to the Capellan March, where they were sent to watch the Pleiades Cluster and destroy the Pleiades Hussars.[11]

Jihad[edit]

During the Jihad, the Second Ceti Hussars were stationed on the Taurian Concordat/Federated Suns border. There they fought the invading Taurian forces for years until they left the Pleiades Cluster. The AFFS High Command ordered the survivors to rotate to New Hessen, where the Second received the survivors of the First Ceti Hussars and Third Ceti Hussars. With these survivors the Second quickly rebuilt their combat strength.[12]

After rebuilding the Second participated in Operation MATADOR. They landed on Althea's Choice where they (along with the newly built Third Ceti Hussars) destroyed the Red Chasseurs Second Battalion. They then attacked Cyrton, forcing the militia unit to surrender.[13] In 3085 the Second was understrength, fielding only two combat commands instead of the traditional three.[14] They were stationed on Organo.[15]

Dark Age[edit]

In 3145, the Second Ceti Hussars were stationed on Ronel, a vital world in the Federated Suns' Terran Corridor. The Second Ceti had already discouraged three probing attacks from the Draconis Combine by utilizing their aerospace and fast-attack ground forces, but attrition had begun to wear the unit down. Still, the warriors of the Second Ceti remained in good spirits and were prepared to leap at any opportunities to avenge their sister regiments destroyed at the Combine's hand.[16]

In 3149, the Second Ceti Hussars were attacked by the First Dieron Regulars and Second An Ting Legion. Maintenance issues stranded many of the Second Hussars' units and the First Dieron went through them quickly. The Second Ceti Hussars broke and retreated deeper into the Draconis March.[17]

Officers[edit]

Rank Name Command
Commanding Officers of the Second Ceti Hussars
Colonel Jezebel Pryce 2828[18]
General H. R. "Howler" Greer 2833[7]
Marshal Alan Cline 3025[8]
General Oscar Carlson 3050 - 3067[19][20][2][21]
General Christian Peterson 3085[15]
General Donal May 3145[22]

Tactics[edit]

The Hussars wait patiently for their enemy to make their opening moves, then reacts to them. The unit's officers are well informed and use every enemy failure to their own advantage.[2]

In 3085 the Hussars lacked their full complement of BattleMechs, and so they developed strategies that allowed them to use one or two 'Mechs as fire support for their large battle armor and conventional armor formations.[14]

Composition History[edit]

2786–2821[edit]

Second Ceti Hussars (Regiment/Regular/Reliable)[23]

- At this time the Hussars were a light-weight regiment stationed on Enchi and were operating at full-battalion strength.[23] In 2821 the unit was stationed on Franklin and were operating at just one-quarter of full strength.[23]

2830[edit]

Second Ceti Hussars (Regiment/Regular/Reliable)[24]

- At this time the Hussars were a light-weight regiment and had rebuilt to just over half-strength. The Hussars were stationed on Orbisonia.[24]

2864[edit]

Second Ceti Hussars (Regiment/Regular/Reliable)[24]

- At this time the Hussars were a light-weight regiment stationed on Orbisonia, and had been reduced to just a fifth of full strength.[24]

3025[edit]

Second Ceti Hussars RCT (Regiment/Veteran/Reliable)[8]

  • CO: Marshal Alan Cline[8]
Note: At this time the unit was stationed on Verde.[8]

3040[edit]

Second Ceti Hussars RCT (Regiment/Veteran/Reliable)[25]

Note: At this time the command was stationed on Uravan.[25]

3050[edit]

Second Ceti Hussars RCT (Regiment/Veteran/Reliable)[26]

Note: At this time the command was stationed on Uravan.[26]

3054[edit]

Second Ceti Hussars RCT (Regiment//Veteran/Reliable)[27]

  • CO: Hauptmann General Oscar Carlson[27]
Note: At this time the command was stationed on Uravan.[27]

3062[edit]

Combat Command Alpha (3 Regiments/Veteran/Reliable)[2]

- Equipped with slow heavy armor

Second Ceti Hussars Aerospace Group (Wing)[2]

Combat Command Bravo (2 Regiments/Elite/Fanatical)[2]

Combat Command Charlie (3 Regiments/Veteran/Reliable)[2]

Second Ceti Hussars Artillery Group (Battalion/Regular/Reliable))[2]

- The Second fields twenty-four light caliber tubes, and six Arrow IV platforms

3067[edit]

Second Ceti Hussars RCT (Elite/Fanatical)[21]

  • CO: General Oscar Carlson

Second Ceti Hussars Aerospace Brigade (Elite/Fanatical)[21]

  • CO: Colonel Mary Rothe

Second Ceti Hussars Combat Command Alpha (Elite/Reliable)[21]

  • CO: Major General Dennis Malloy

Second Ceti Hussars Combat Command Bravo (Veteran/Fanatical)[21]

  • CO: Major General Marquis de Lafayette

Second Ceti Hussars Combat Command Charlie (Elite/Fanatical)[21]

3079[edit]

Second Ceti Hussars RCT (Mixed Brigade/Regular/Reliable)[28]

Note: At this time the unit was stationed on New Hessen .[28]

3085[edit]

Second Ceti Hussars LCT (Regular/Reliable)[15]

  • CO: General Christian Peterson

Second Ceti Hussars Aerospace Brigade (Green/Reliable)[15]

Second Ceti Hussars Combat Command Alpha (Regular/Fanatical)[15]

Second Ceti Hussars Combat Command Beta (Green/Reliable)[15]

Second Ceti Hussars Combat Command Charlie (Regular/Reliable)[15]

3145[edit]

2nd Ceti Hussars RCT (Regular/Reliable)[22]

Aerospace Brigade (Regular/Fanatical)[22]

Combat Command Alpha (Regular/Reliable)[22]

Combat Command Beta (Green/Reliable)[22]

Combat Command Charlie (Regular/Reliable)[22]

Gallery[edit]

References[edit]

  1. 1.0 1.1 First Succession War, p. 33: "Those Left Behind"
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 Field Manual: Federated Suns, p. 64: "2nd Ceti Hussars Unit Profile"
  3. The Star League, p. 155: "Seventeenth Army"
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Second Succession War, p. 27: "The Suns-Confederation Front"
  5. 5.0 5.1 Technical Readout: 3075, p. 220: "Darter Scout Car"
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 Turning Points: Orbisonia, p. 7
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Second Succession War, pp. 35–36: "Crossed Swords"
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 House Davion (The Federated Suns), p. 135: "'Mech Unit Deployment Table"
  9. House Davion (The Federated Suns), p. 143
  10. Field Manual: Federated Suns, p. 135
  11. Field Manual: Updates, p. 127
  12. Field Report: AFFS, p. 10
  13. Field Manual: 3085, pp. 54, 58
  14. 14.0 14.1 Field Manual: 3085, p. 58
  15. 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 15.5 15.6 Field Manual: 3085, p. 73: "AFFS Deployment Table - 3085"
  16. Field Manual: 3145, p. 75: "Second Ceti Hussars"
  17. Shattered Fortress, p. 72
  18. Historical Turning Points: Orbisonia, p. 10
  19. 20 Year Update, p. 21: "AFFC Deployment Table - 3050"
  20. Objective Raids, p. 15: AFFC Deployment Table (3054)
  21. 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 21.4 21.5 Field Manual: Updates, p. 138: "AFFS Deployment Table - 3067"
  22. 22.0 22.1 22.2 22.3 22.4 22.5 Field Manual: 3145, p. 92
  23. 23.0 23.1 23.2 First Succession War, p. 134: "Armed Forces of the Federated Suns (AFFS)"
  24. 24.0 24.1 24.2 24.3 Second Succession War, p. 94: "Armed Forces of the Federated Suns (AFFS)"
  25. 25.0 25.1 Historical: War of 3039, p. 136
  26. 26.0 26.1 26.2 20 Year Update, p. 21
  27. 27.0 27.1 27.2 Objective Raids, p. 15
  28. 28.0 28.1 Field Report: AFFS, p. 10

Bibliography[edit]