Smithson's Chinese Bandits

Insignia of Smithson´s Chinese Bandits
Smithson's Chinese Bandits
Disbanded 3067
Affiliation Mercenary
Parent Command Independent


History[edit]

Founding[edit]

Formed by folding two mercenary commands into one (Jade Warriors and another unknown unit) the Bandits were considered "ancient" by mercenary unit standards in 3025.[1][2]

Third Succession War[edit]

Enlisted by Captain-General Samuel Marik in 2926, the unit was swayed from the service of the Lyran Commonwealth. The unit at the time was considered fairly typical greedy mercenary personality, but loyal as long as their paycheck arrived. The Free Worlds League was desperate for veteran troops and, at the time, the Bandits consisted of three BattleMech regiments and one regiment of aerospace fighters.[3] The Bandits were deployed on the Capellan border and over the years suffered heavy losses that reduced the unit to a regiment in size. The unit had issues trying replace its personnel and matériel. In 3014, Captain-General Janos Marik gave the unit a substantial bonus to sway them to fighting for him in his nation's Marik Civil War of (3014-3015).[4]

During the Marik Civil War the Bandit's commander, Erin Viola, was able to play the two sides against each other to get better employment terms. Eventually the Bandits signed a contract to work for Janos Marik. Their first assignment was to support the 11th Atrean Dragoons on Matheran. They dropped behind the 12th Atrean Dragoons and forced the rebel unit onto its heels.[5] The Bandits held out for the better part of a month, but when two regiments of Wolf's Dragoons landed on the world, they decided to withdraw to Carbonis.[6] In late 3014 the Bandits raided Fuentes, where they inflicted heavy losses on both 5th Regulan Hussars and the 7th Ducal Guard. The two rebel units were saved by the timely intervention of Wolf's Dragoons Epsilon Regiment.[7] A few months later (April, 3015) the Bandits revisited Fuentes and forced the Fifth Regulan and Seventh Ducal Guard regiments to surrender.[8].

Shortly after the Marik Civil War, the Bandits were sent to conduct a raid against Necromo, which was garrisoned by a single battalion from the elite McCarron's Armored Cavalry mercenary command. The Bandits had only heard of the Big Mac and proceeded with caution because of the MAC's reputation. The Cavalry, under the command, very quickly were able to deploy tanks and infantry to serve as forward observations to make sure that the Big Mac could quickly react to the Bandits' every move. When the Bandits attempted to hit what they wanted as their main objective, they ran directly into a dug-in battalion. Attempts to flank the Big MAC failed when they ran into vibromines and additional armored support, and the Bandits were forced to withdraw from the planet without achieving their objective.[9]

In 3022[10] Smithson's Chinese Bandits were in the employ of the Federated Suns. They were sent to raid Sian.[11]

Fourth Succession War[edit]

Now in service to the Free Worlds League, the unit saw action on Milton as part of Operation DAGGER.[12]

Andurien Secession[edit]

In the Andurien Secession, Smithson's Chinese Bandits landed on Connaught, Sophie's World, and Furud between 3030 and 3032.[13] It wasn't until 3036 that they landed on Shiro III and fought, sustaining moderate losses before withdrawing.[14]

Clan Invasion Era[edit]

As of 3049, the unit was still employed by the Free Worlds League. They merited a "Veteran" experience rating, and were based on the planet Kyrkbacken. By this point, Colonel Ada Gubser was already in command, who would eventually be the Bandits' last commanding officer.[15]

Operation Guerrero[edit]

Prior to Operation Guerrero in 3057, the Bandits had apparently expanded to two Regiments. Both units suffered very heavy casualties, however, in failed attacks on Woodstock and Nanking. Thomas Marik refused to help them rebuild, although he did provide them with some advanced equipment as stipulated by their contract. Departing for Outreach with four Overlord-class DropShips, they traded one of those vessels for replacement 'Mechs, equipment, and C-Bills. Though reduced to less than a single Regiment, the unit still merited an "A-" Dragoons rating. [16] During their time on Nanking, the LCCC ordered Burr's Black Cobras to reinforce the unit.[17] However, the Cobras weren't able to do so.

FedCom Civil War[edit]

During the FedCom Civil War, the unit wound up supporting Victor Ian Steiner-Davion's Allies, and saw heavy action on Small World. They sided with the 5th Syrtis Fusiliers and several other smaller mercenary commands.[18] They faced the 17th Arcturan Guards and Achernar SMM, and led the two Loyalist units on a chase for two months.[19] Outnumbered by Katherine Steiner-Davion's Loyalists, the unit was reduced to a reinforced Company by the war's end. They experienced great difficulty rebuilding, as so many others were attempting to do the same.[20]

Jihad and Destruction[edit]

The Bandits helped deliver the first blow of the Word of Blake's Jihad when they bombed the Wolf's Dragoons Aerospace Wing on Harlech in the early morning hours of October 15, 3067. Branded as a renegade command by the MRBC, the Bandits were completely destroyed over the course of the fighting on Outreach along with the other major mercenary units involved in the surprise attack on the Dragoons, the 51st Dark Panzer Jaegers and the Waco Rangers when Wolf's Dragoons and their allies responded to the death of Jaime Wolf by activating a plan entitled "Condition Feral".[21]

Officers[edit]

Rank Name Command
Commanding Officers of Smithson's Chinese Bandits
Colonel Erin Viola 3025[22]
Colonel Ada Gubser 3059 - 3067[23][24]

Tactics[edit]

The Bandits have a high expertise in jungle and woodland fights and tactics.[25]

Composition History[edit]

2786 - 2821[edit]

Smithson's Chinese Bandits (Regiment/Regular/Reliable)[26]

Note: At this point in time the medium-weight unit was stationed on Galatea. In 2821 the command was reduced to 82 percent of its strength and was deployed on Carbonis. [26]

2830[edit]

Smithson's Chinese Bandits (Regiment/Regular/Reliable) [27]

Note: At this point in time the medium-weight unit was stationed on Carbonis with an operational readiness of 143 percent. [27]

2864[edit]

Smithson's Chinese Bandits (Regiment/Regular/Fanatical) [27]

Note: At this point in time the medium-weight unit was stationed on Carbonis with an operational readiness of 68 percent. [27]

2926[edit]

  • 2x BattleMech regiments
  • 1x aerospace fighter regiment

3025[edit]

Smithson's Chinese Bandits (Veteran/Reliable)- FWLM [22]

  • CO: Colonel Erin Viola[22]
  • 1x heavy BattleMech battalion
  • 2x light BattleMech battalions
    • The majority of 'Mechs were medium class and the aerospace fighters were in the heavy category[28]

3028[edit]

Smithson’s Chinese Bandits (Regiment/Veteran/Reliable)[29]

Note: At this point in time the command was stationed on Zosma. [29]

3050[edit]

1st Smithson's Chinese Bandits (Regiment/Veteran/Reliable)[30]

  • CO: Colonel Ada Gubser[30]
Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on Kyrkbacken. [30]

2nd Smithson's Chinese Bandits (Regiment/Regular/Reliable)[30]

  • CO: Colonel Ester Schomberg[30]
Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on Asuncion. [30]

3059[edit]

Smithson's Chinese Bandits (2 Battalions/Veteran/Reliable) [23]

  • CO: Colonel Ada Gubser [23]
Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on Outreach. [23]

3067[edit]

One Reinforced Company with a command lance[24]

  • CO/Colonel Ada Gubser
XO/Major Antoine Lavoisier

Air Bandits (2x lances of heavy aerospace fighters)

  • Wing Commander: Captain James Stillwell
Note: The Bandits were stationed on Outreach at this time and were reduced to 15% of their original strength.[31]

Gallery[edit]

References[edit]

  1. Camo Specs, p. 16
  2. BattleTech: Inner Sphere Command Lance, "Joelle Williams"
  3. House Marik (The Free Worlds League), p. 105 - "Smithson's Chinese Bandits profile".
  4. Camo Specs, p. 16
  5. Historical: Brush Wars, p. 23
  6. Historical: Brush Wars, p. 26
  7. Historical: Brush Wars, p. 31
  8. Historical: Brush Wars, p. 32
  9. McCarron's Armored Cavalry (scenario pack), p. 7
  10. House Liao (The Capellan Confederation), p. 54
  11. Handbook: House Liao, p. 37
  12. NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 1, p. 62
  13. Historical: Brush Wars, p. 87
  14. Historical: Brush Wars, p. 89
  15. 20 Year Update, p. 57
  16. Field Manual: Mercenaries, p. 82
  17. Bred for War, p. 319
  18. Field Manual: Updates, p. 168
  19. FedCom Civil War (sourcebook), p. 160
  20. Field Manual: Mercenaries, Revised, p. 101
  21. Jihad: Final Reckoning, p. 44, "The Jihad In Review"
  22. 22.0 22.1 22.2 House Marik (The Free Worlds League), p. 109
  23. 23.0 23.1 23.2 23.3 Field Manual: Mercenaries, p. 114
  24. 24.0 24.1 Field Manual: Mercenaries Revised, p. 101 - "Smithson's Chinese Bandits profile"
  25. Field Manual: Mercenaries, p. 82
  26. 26.0 26.1 First Succession War, p. 138
  27. 27.0 27.1 27.2 27.3 Second Succession War, p. 98
  28. House Marik (The Free Worlds League), p. 105, "Smithson's Chinese Bandits"
  29. 29.0 29.1 Historical: Brush Wars, p.87
  30. 30.0 30.1 30.2 30.3 30.4 30.5 20 Year Update, p. 57, "Free Worlds League Deployment Table"
  31. Field Manual: Updates, p. 184, "Uncontracted Mercenaries"

Bibliography[edit]