3rd Bear Regulars (Rasalhague Dominion)

Insignia of Omega Galaxy
Third Bear Regulars
Affiliation Rasalhague Dominion
Clan Ghost Bear (previous)
Parent Command Omega Galaxy
Theta Galaxy (previous)

The Third Bear Regulars were the lead unit of the Ghost Bear's Theta Galaxy for many years.[1]

History[edit]

Tokasha[edit]

In 2921 the Third Bear Regulars fought through the River Elb river valley to attack Tokasha MechWorks Alpha. They faced the 333rd Mechanized Strike Cluster in the valley, and the 333rd retreated before them.[2] After retreating to more favorable terrain, the 333rd arranged Arrow IV artillery fire to fall on the Third Regulars. This was the general signal for the Horses to engage, and many combat vehicles in hidden positions opened fire on the Third Bear Regulars, inflicting heavy losses and completely destroying the 215th Assault Trinary.[3]

Operation REVIVAL[edit]

The Third Bear Regulars were the lead unit of Theta Galaxy in 3061.

First Draconis Combine/Ghost Bear War[edit]

Despite being a second-line Galaxy, Theta Galaxy took an active part in the First Draconis Combine / Ghost Bear War,[4] which began in 3062 with a suicidal attack by three regiments of the Alshain Avengers against Alshain.[5] As a part of Theta Galaxy, the Third Bear Regulars took part in the assault that captured Courchevel; after the War was resolved with a Trial, the various other contested or occupied worlds were returned to their prewar affiliations, but the Ghost Bears retained Courchevel as isorla.[4]

The Jihad[edit]

During the Ghost Bear campaign against the Word of Blake during the Jihad Theta Galaxy was assigned to Beta Wave,[6] which was led by Beta Galaxy.[7] After Beta Galaxy took heavy casualties during the attack on Ascella, an attack that began on the 6th of October 3075[8][9] and which went badly enough to be considered a debacle, the entire of Theta Galaxy - including the Third - was moved from a supporting role to an offensive role.[6]

Moore[edit]

The first attack launched by Theta Galaxy was against the world of Moore on the 21st of July 3076;[10][11] Theta performed poorly during the campaign, taking heavier losses than would be expected.[6]

Pike[edit]

Theta Galaxy assaulted Pike IV in September 3076;[10][11] while the attack on Moore had gone poorly, the Pike IV campaign was an even poorer showing on Theta's part. Of particular concern to the Dominion Council was the destruction of the Seventh Phalanx, which was lost after elements of the Thirtieth Provisional Garrison Cluster refused to come to the assistance of the Seventh.[6]

The Dark Age[edit]

The Third Bear Regulars served in Theta Galaxy throughout the Jihad, but after the conflict ended the Third was transferred to Omega Galaxy in an attempt to reform Omega's behavior. Whereas Omega had been regarded with suspicion by the rest of the Ghost Bear touman after it had originally been formed - despite having been formed from the best warriors available - the bulk of the replacement personnel assigned to Omega as it rebuilt were Rasalhagian recruits who lacked a firm grounding in the Way of Clans. Where Omega had always walked a tightrope in the past between the ways of honor and the dishonorable excesses of the Inner Sphere, the balance was considered to have firmly shifted towards the latter, with many Ghost Bears coming to shun Omega for what was considered to be a descent into dezgra.[12]

Assigning the Third to Omega was one of the attempts made by the Dominion Council in an attempt to check this downward slide; another was to transfer in the surviving elements of the Twenty-third Provisional Garrison Cluster as casualty replacements while Pi Galaxy was being disbanded. It was hoped that the combination of these Clan warriors plus those originally assigned to Omega Galaxy would provide a good example for the Galaxy. Unfortunately, both the Third and Twenty-third had been primarily defensive Clusters, and the transition into a front-line formation was difficult for them; as a result, Omega was moved to locations where the nearest significant enemy force was unlikely to launch an attack - the nearest enemy force being Kappa Galaxy of Clan Wolf - while also placing Omega under the watchful eye of the Dominion's Tau Galaxy.[12]

As a part of Omega Galaxy the Third Bear Regulars were directly involved in the formation of the Vega Protectorate during the widespread invasions of the Republic of the Sphere. While the Vega Protectorate was independent Omega was starved of supplies by the Rasalhague Dominion, and the little new equipment it was able to obtain consisted largely of salvage or equipment purchased from Clan Sea Fox. When the First Vega Regulars successfully fought off an invasion by the Twelfth Falcon Jaegers in 3142 they not only achieved a notable victory - they also secured valuable salvage.[13]

Whilst Omega lacked equipment, it had no problem attracting recruits from amongst the Vegan population, particularly after the Dominion began shipping Freeminders into the Protectorate. Omega's supply lines improved after the Vega Protectorate was absorbed into the Dominion and became a semi-autonomous province; access to the Dominion brought access to cast-off equipment from other Dominion forces. By 3145 the Third resembled frontline Clan forces once more.[13]

Officers[edit]

Rank Name Command
Commanding Officers of the 3rd Bear Regulars (Clan Ghost Bear)
Commanding Officers of the 3rd Bear Regulars (Ghost Bear Dominion)
Galaxy Commander Gerrard Hambash 3061 - 3067[14][15]
Star Colonel Scott 3085[16]
Commanding Officers of the 3rd Bear Regulars (Rasalhague Dominion)
Star Colonel Henrietta Jorgensson 3145[17]

Tactics[edit]

In contrast to the other units of their Galaxy, the Bear Regulars also engage in offensive operations. The command is known to employ the "smash and grab" tactic. The warriors of the Cluster know their terrain well and will use their lighter units to lead the enemy into an ambush. The enemy can approach the target without a fight and at the right moment the Bear Regulars will assault from all sides simultaneously.[14]

Composition[edit]

2921[edit]

Third Bear Regulars

3061[edit]

Third Bear Regulars (Veteran/Reliable)[19]

CO: Galaxy Commander Gerrard Hambash [20]
Note: At this time the unit was stationed on Casere.[19]

3067[edit]

Third Bear Regulars (Veteran/Reliable)[15]

- At this point the Third were stationed on Casere and were at two-thirds of full-strength; approximately two-thirds of the Cluster were equipped with Clan technology, and another quarter with Star League-era technology; forty-five percent of the Cluster were equipped with OmniMechs or equivalent technology.[15]

3079[edit]

Third Bear Regulars (Veteran/Reliable)[21]

Note: At this point in time the Third was stationed on Yorii alongside the Seventeenth Provisional Garrison Cluster. The Third had been reduced to just forty-five percent of full strength, and just over a third of the Cluster were equipped with OmniMechs or equivalent technology.[21]

3085[edit]

Third Bear Regulars (Veteran/Reliable)[16]

- At this point in time the Third was stationed on Rubigen and was at three-quarters of full strength; close to half of the Cluster were equipped with OmniMechs or equivalent advanced technology.[16]

3145[edit]

Third Bear Regulars (Veteran/Reliable)[17]

- At this point in time the Third was stationed on La Blon and was at eighty-five percent of full strength but had no access to OmniMechs or similar advanced technology.[17]

References[edit]

  1. Turning Points: Tokasha, p. 10
  2. Turning Points: Tokasha, p. 13
  3. Turning Points: Tokasha, p. 14
  4. 4.0 4.1 Field Manual: Updates, p. 61, "Theta Galaxy"
  5. Field Manual: Updates, p. 60, "Overview"
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Field Report: Clans, p. 9, "Theta Galaxy"
  7. Field Report: Clans, p. 9, "Beta Galaxy"
  8. Jihad Hot Spots: Terra, p. 18, "Timeline of the Jihad"
  9. Jihad: Final Reckoning, p. 54, "The Jihad In Review"
  10. 10.0 10.1 Jihad Hot Spots: Terra, p. 22, "Timeline of the Jihad"
  11. 11.0 11.1 Jihad: Final Reckoning, p. 56, "The Jihad In Review"
  12. 12.0 12.1 Field Manual: 3085, p. 120, "Omega Galaxy"
  13. 13.0 13.1 Field Manual: 3145, p. 164, "Omega Galaxy"
  14. 14.0 14.1 Field Manual: Warden Clans, p. 94, "3rd Bear Regulars Profile"
  15. 15.0 15.1 15.2 Field Manual: Updates, p. 78, "Theta Galaxy"
  16. 16.0 16.1 16.2 Field Manual: 3085, p. 127, "Omega Galaxy (The Raging Bears)"
  17. 17.0 17.1 17.2 Field Manual: 3145, p. 173, "Vega Protectorate"
  18. 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 18.4 Turning Points: Tokasha, p. 20, "Clan Ghost Bear Table of Organization and Equipment, Tokasha 2921"
  19. 19.0 19.1 Field Manual: Warden Clans, p. 163
  20. Field Manual: Warden Clans, p. 94
  21. 21.0 21.1 Field Report: Clans, p. 11, "Deployment Status"

Bibliography[edit]