Capellan Confederation Armed Forces

The Capellan Confederation Armed Forces (CCAF) is the military of the Capellan Confederation. It has evolved from the Capellan Defense Force created by the first Capellan Chancellor Franco Liao.

Like in all Successor States, there also exist further forces in the form of police, civilian guards, armed nobles and private or corporate security forces, all of which can take the form of veritable armies.

Besides these, the Capellan Confederation also maintains Warrior Houses, a unique feature of the Capellan state. These semi-religious monastic orders, usually a combined arms regiment including one or two battalions of BattleMechs, exist entirely separate from the CCAF, and answer directly to the Chancellor whom they swear personal loyalty. They are not covered in this article.

Command Structure

Chancellor

The Chancellor of the Capellan Confederation is also the titular head of the CCAF.

Sang-jiang-jun

A position created by Sun-Tzu Liao, the Sang-jiang-jun (Senior General) is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the CCAF. The officer who bears this singular rank also serves as the chairman of the Strategios, and acts as the regent of the Capellan Confederation when the Chancellor is away from Sian.

Strategios

The Strategios is the council that oversees the military bureaucracy that runs the CCAF. It is composed of the two jiang-juns from each Commonality and led by the Sang-jiang-jun. After the Capellan-St. Ives War, the St. Ives Commonality was granted three seats on the Strategios as part of the treaty that ended that war.

Regional

Each Commonality within the Capellan Confederation is commanded by two individuals. One is responsible for the line units, while the other commands the reserve forces.

Organization

The CCAF has traditionally employed a strong aerospace fighter contingent, hoping to stop invasions before they can get on the ground.

During the Third Succession War, the CCAF largely went on the defensive due to its smaller size compared to the other Successor States. They created a sort of elastic defense, with battalions holding down border worlds. Each battalion was only supposed to hold out until help could arrive from strategically located reserve forces. This worked very well for the small-scale raids that were the late 3rd War, but did not hold up well against a full-scale invasion. Prince Hanse Davion took advantage of this during the Fourth Succession War by using massed forces against multiple planets, overloading the CCAF's ability to respond.

Even in more recent times, Capellan units are often smaller than their counterparts in other nations.

Despite the overall poor reputation of the CCAF and their poor performance in the Fourth Succession War, it should be noted that the Liao army is easily underestimated. They were overrun by vastly superior number and at the same time hampered by no less than two enemy double-agents and two other traitors in their highest command positions, and a ruler drifting off into madness. No army could shine under such circumstances, and remaining in existence is probably no small feat.

The CCAF (and the Warrior Houses) recuperated from the devastating war in a surprisingly short time. Immediately following the Fourth Succession War and still severely weakened, they were capable of beating back the Duchy of Andurien and the Magistracy of Canopus at the same time. In fact, the average Liao MechWarriors tends to be slightly more skilled than his counterparts from other Houses, and the CCAF in general has a practical skill to make the best of their situation.

All Liao-designed 'Mechs (especially their early designs, Vindicator, Raven and Cataphract) have proven over and over again to be thoroughly well-designed and capable, as well as cheap and easy to build.

Deployment Status

In 2750 the CCAF had a strengh of 42 BattleMech Forces and 30 WarShips. As of 2765 they where well equiped with 92 'Mech regiments, and the naval fleet had a volume of 37 vessels.

Active Brigades

These brigades are active as of 3079.

Capellan Hussars

The Capellan Hussars are considered the most prestigious brigade in the Capellan Confederation and trace their origins back to the Capellan Defense Force formed by Franco Liao at the founding of the Confederation before the advent of ‘Mechs.

When not involved in combat duties the Hussars traditional guards the capital and act as bodyguards and escorts for nobles.

Thanks to their elevated status they receive the best equipment and personnel, getting first choice from local military academies.

Capellan Hussars

Warrior Houses

The Capellan Warrior Houses are semi-religious military orders within the Capellan Confederation, independent from the regular Capellan Confederation Armed Forces. They are a unique feature of the Capellan military, and well known and feared throughout the Inner Sphere. Led by the Grand Master of the Order, the Warrior Houses reported directly to the Chancellor and were placed under the command of the Strategos only at the Chancellor's direction. Many members of the Death Commandos are drawn from the ranks of the Warrior Houses.

Warrior Houses

Death Commandos

The absolute elite of the Capellan Confederation Armed Forces (CCAF), the Death Commandos are among the most feared units in the Inner Sphere. They are meant to counterbalance the Warrior Houses (which exist outside of the regular Capellan military and are loyal to the person of the Chancellor), and appease feelings of jealousy within the CCAF by giving the military a similarly prestigeous and capable unit. Their skills and wide-ranging authority raised misgivings even within the CCAF, which were partially satisfied when Chancellor Maximilian Liao opened membership to any sufficiently distinguished CCAF officer in 3003.

Unofficially known as the Chancellor's "storm troopers", members of the Death Commandos have very wide latitude in the the performance of their duties. For example, they are allowed, on their own authority, to summarily execute any Capellan soldier, and even members of the nobility, under certain circumstances.

Befitting their role, the Death Commandos have unrestricted access to whatever equipment they need. In another example of their wide-ranging authority, they can confiscate equipment from any other CCAF unit. In addition, each Death Commando is allowed two 'Mechs.

Confederation Reserve Cavalry

The Confederation Reserve Cavalry, the reserve force of the Sian Commonality, has a proud history of service to the Capellan Confederation.

Confederation Reserve Cavalry

Capellan Defense Force

The Capellan Defense Force was formed after the Clan Invasion when the formerly secure Capellan Commonality became vulnerable to attack from the Federated Suns. This marked the end of the older Capellan Reserve brigade as Stapelton's Grenadiers where renamed as the the first regiment of the new Capellan Defense Force and various Home Guard units where reorganized to form two additional regiments.

Capellan Defense Force

Liao Cháng-Chéng

With the reintegration of former Chaos March worlds back into the Capellan Confederation, in 3061 the CCAF saw the need to form a brigade of reserve regiments for the Liao Commonality which are known as Liao Cháng-Chéng.

Liao Cháng-Chéng

Victoria Commonality Rangers

The provincial force of the Victoria Commonality, the Victoria Commonality Rangers were formed from the two surviving units of the once mighty Chesterton Reserves.

Victoria Commonality Rangers

McCarron's Armored Cavalry

Also known as The Big Mac or simply abbreviated MAC, McCarron's Armored Cavalry used to be one of the largest and most successful mercenary units in existence with an excellent, near legendary reputation. After having spent a large portion of its history in Capellan employ, McCarron's Armored Cavalry joined the CCAF around 3060. In return, the commander received a noble title and each member was granted citizenship. Even as a regular House unit, they remain a semi-independent fighting force.

McCarron's Armored Cavalry

Citizens' Honored

The Citizens' Honored brigade was created by Sun-Tzu Liao and encompasses former mercenary units that became regular Capellan units. Many of these mercenary units had strong ties to the Confederation.

Citizens' Honored

Capellan Brigade

In March of 3061 the Capellan Brigade was created by Sun-Tzu Liao from former mercenary units thought to be deserving of the preferred status conferred by Confederation Sponsorship. That is, said mercenaries became house regulars.

The Regiments do not share joint command naming their own commanders and officers and largely maintain their own colors.

Capellan Brigade

St. Ives Armored Cavalry

The provincial forces of the St. Ives Commonality and St. Ives Compact, the St. Ives Armored Cavalry are the most elite force in the region. Traditionally, war material of the St. Ives Armored Cavalry is painted gray-green, with highlights specific to each command.

St. Ives Armored Cavalry

St. Ives Sentinels

Consisting of two former mercenary units with long histories of service to the Capellan Confederation and the St. Ives region in particular, the St. Ives Sentinels became the line reserve brigade of the reborn St. Ives Commonality in the wake of the Capellan-St. Ives War.

St. Ives Sentinels

Former brigades & units of the Capellan Confederation Armed Forces

Capellan Reserves

The Capellan Defense Force was formed after the Clan Invasion when the formerly secure Capellan Commonality became vulnerable to attack from the Federated Suns. This marked the end of the older Capellan Reserve brigade as Stapelton's Grenadiers where renamed as the the first regiment of the new Capellan Defense Force and various Home Guard units where reorganized to form two additional regiments.

Capellan Reserves

Chesterton Reserves

Defenders of the Chesterton Commonality until its capture by the Federated Suns, the Chesterton Reserves were primarily assigned to bolster of the Davion border along the Tikonov Commonality and was almost completely destroyed during the Fourth Succession War, only Kingston's Legionnaires & Sung's Cuirassiers, now known as Kingston's Rangers & Sung's Rangers still exist but with the re-organization of CCAF they were moved to the Victoria Commonality Rangers and the brigade was disbanded.

Chesterton Reserves

Liao Reserves

The Liao Commonality's previous provincial force. It ceased to exist, as both units were destroyed during the 4th Succession War.

Liao Reserves

Sarna Reserves

The Sarna Commonality's defense forces. Despite the majority of the commonality's conquest during the 4th Succession War, Ishara's Grenadiers and Kamakura's Hussars, who formerly were part of the Sian Reserves, were transfered to it and continued to defend the remains of it. With the re-organization of the Capellan Confederation Armed Forces the brigade was disbanded and both surviving units were transfered to the Liao Cháng-Chéng.

Sarna Reserves

Sian Reserves

The old reserve brigade for the Sian Commonality. The brigade was disbanded when both units were transferred to the Sarna Reserves.

Sian Reserves

Tikonov Reserves

The old reserve brigade for the Tikonov Commonality. The brigade was disbanded when Kincade's Rangers were transfered to the Periphery Guard.

Tikonov Reserves

Periphery Guard

With the re-organization of the CCAF the brigade was disbanded and Kincade's Rangers were transferred to the Liao Cháng-Chéng.

• Kincade's Rangers

Independent Commands

The 4th Succession War saw the effective end of several independent commands of the CCAF. Though the Blackwind Lancers were not destroyed, their defection to the St. Ives Compact ended their fealty to the Confederation. Since the (forced) reconciliation of the St. Ives Compact with the Confederation in the 3060s, the Blackwind Lancers have pledged their loyalty to Free Capella.

• Preston's Lancers - Destroyed? - 4th Succession War?
• McCrimmon's Light Cavalry - Destroyed/Surrendered - 4th Succession War
• MacGregor's Armored Scouts - Destroyed/Surrendered - 4th Succession War

St. Ives Janissaries

An experimental combined arms brigade created by Duchess Candace Liao, the St. Ives Janissaries were modeled after the Armed Forces of the Federated Suns' Ceti Hussars. The regiment's 'Mechs, combat vehicles, and infantry were integrated at the company level instead of into traditional Regimental Combat Teams or regular regiments that separate types by battalion or regiment.

The brigade was dissolved after the betrayal of Second Janissaries.

Former related brigades & units not belonging to the Capellan Confederation Armed Forces

Free Capella

Free Capella isn't a part of the CCAF. Similar to Heimdall, this formation of units consisted of resistance movements fighting the Capellan Confederation, but still defending the Capellan people.

Free Capella

Military Academies

Duchy RTC

Every Duchy provide the necessary education facilities for the common citizens to serve the Confederation adequate.

Capella War College

The CWC is the most prestigious, and most rigorous, military academy of the CCAF.

Liao Conservatory of Military Arts

Promoting a meditative approach to combat training, the LCMA was at the center of the battle for Liao when the Confederation invaded the Republic of the Sphere

Sarna Martial Academy

SMA is the military academy of the Sarna Supremacy. It is looked down upon by graduates of other academies as the Supremacy did not wish to rejoin the Confederation.

Sian Center for Martial Disciplines

SCMD cadets must be outwardly perfect. All cadets are very closely scrutinized during their training on the capital world of the Confederation.

Sian University

Officers receive their training at Sian University.

St. Ives Academy of Martial Sciences

SIAMS was the principal academy for the St. Ives Compact during that nation's brief life span. Attached to the St. Ives Institute of Science, SIAMS has its own officer training program. Following its reintegration into the Confederation, SIAMS once more began political indoctrination classes.

Victoria Academy of Arms and Technology

The AAT traditionally catered to and technicians, but it was upgraded in 3061 to help train the Confederation's Periphery allies.

Capellan Confederation Uniforms

3025

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  Pavel Ridzik

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  security

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  Northwind Highlanders

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  Northwind Highlanders

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  mechwarrior

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  technician

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  officer

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  navy personal

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  infantry

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  armor

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  Death Commando

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  aerospace

3054

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  Field Uniform

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  Dress Uniform

3064

CCAF Ranking Conventions

During the Age of War, CCAF generals attempted to engineer a coup. In retaliation after the coup was put down, the incumbent Chancellor (Jasmine Liao) removed all officer ranks above Colonel, instituting instead the title "Senior-Colonel" as the rough equivalent of a general officer. During the Xin Sheng reorganization, Sun-Tzu Liao reinstituted the ranks, denoting the two military commanders of each commonality and the CCAF fleet commander.

Immediately prior to the invasion of the St. Ives Compact, the Chancellor reformed and streamed lined the rank system of the Capellan military to try and reduce confusion and to further remind and enhance the renewal of the Capellan Chinese culture.

Old Rank	New Rank	Insignia
Commissioned Officers
Chancellor	Unchanged	N/A
–	Sang-jiang-jun (Senior General)
Senior Colonel	Jiang-jun (General)
Colonel	Sang-shao (Colonel)
Major	Zhong-shao (Lieutenant Colonel)
Captain	Sao-shao (Major)
Commander	Sang-wei (Captain)
Subcommander	Sao-wei (Lieutenant)
Enlisted Ranks
Force Leader	Yi-si-ben-bing (Master Sergeant)
Lance Sergeant	Si-ben-bing (Sergeant)
Lance Corporal	San-ben-bing (Corporal)
Recruit	Shia-ben-bing (Recruit)

Bibliography

• Field Manual: Capellan Confederation
• Field Manual: Updates
• Field Report: CCAF
• Historical: Liberation of Terra Volume 1
• House Liao (The Capellan Confederation)