50th Striker (Clan Ghost Bear)

50th Striker (Clan Ghost Bear).jpg
Fiftieth Strike Cluster
Disbanded 3076/3077 (disbanded)[1]
Nickname The Black Bears
Affiliation Clan Ghost Bear
Parent Command Alpha Galaxy


History[edit]

The Fiftieth Striker Cluster is one of the oldest units in the Ghost Bear touman, having fought on Tokasha in 2921.[2]

Operation Revival[edit]

The Fiftieth Strike Cluster fought on the following worlds during the invasion of the Inner Sphere:

Wave Three[edit]

On Thule, the Fiftieth Strike Cluster were responsible for finally running down and destroying the Free Rasalhague Republic's First Hussars; the commanding officer of the First Hussars, Överste Joannie Swigard, was captured during the campaign and made a bondsman. By 3061 the former överste was serving as a Star Captain within the Fiftieth.[3]

Wave Five[edit]

On Alshain the Fiftieth Striker Cluster assisted the First Bear Guards in their fight against the Sixth Alshain Regulars.[4] Prior to that event, however, the Fiftieth spent most of their time in the Fareer Canyons supporting the Third Bear Guards in their fight against the Second Sword of Light. The Sword of Light feigned a withdrawal, and the Fiftieth repositioned to assist the First Bear Guards. The two Clan units were able to force the Sixth Alshain Regulars out of the Polotmy Mountains, but were unable to prevent the Combine units from linking up and withdrawing off-world.[5]

Setubal was conquered in February 3052, by the Fiftieth Striker Cluster after defeating the Twenty-first Benjamin Regulars in combat at Marcil's Noose and Creation Fields. The green Twenty-first Regulars had split their forces into two parts approximately two kilometers apart, hoping that the Ghost Bears would do the same and allow the defenders to slowly close the two halves together, thereby destroying the Clan forces with their combined strength. In response Star Colonel Stephan Huntsig massed his entire unit against one half and, as hoped, watched it crack and retreat towards the other half with his forces close behind. Not knowing who was charging over the hill towards them, the other half of the Twenty-first opened fire at the pack of 'Mechs, hitting both friendlies and enemies, and the Ghost Bears charged forwards to engage both forces, causing the Twenty-first to surrender.[6]

Tukayyid[edit]

The unit fought the 308th Com Guard Division on the advance to Spanac and actually managed to enter the suburbs of Luk.

First Draconis Combine/Ghost Bear War[edit]

The First Draconis Combine–Ghost Bear War erupted following an attack on Alshain by rogue elements of the Alshain Avengers brigade of the Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery in 3062,[7] and while the Ghost Bears and Draconis Combine were fighting Clan Hell's Horses launched an opportunistic invasion of the Ghost Bear Occupation Zone[8] in 3063.[9]

The Hell's Horses were acting at the urging of the Khan of Clan Wolf, Vladimir Ward,[7] and the Ghost Bears responded with their own counterattack; a number of worlds were targeted in particular, one of which was the world of Rasalhague, a world of particular significant to the native population of the former Free Rasalhague Republic. Alpha Galaxy deployed the First Rasalhague Bears and the Fiftieth Striker Cluster to capture Rasalhague, an act that was well received by the Rasalhagian natives within the Ghost Bear Occupation Zone.[8]

The Jihad[edit]

As a part of Alpha Galaxy the Fiftieth Strike Cluster saw some of the fiercest fighting in the Ghost Bear campaign against the Word of Blake during the Jihad. Alpha Galaxy was reliant on troops from lesser Galaxies being supplied as combat replacements to remain viable, and the Fiftieth was no exception; after heavily fought engagements to liberate the Draconis Combine worlds of Pesht,[10] Luthien, Kaus Borealis and Dyev the Fiftieth was caught up in the Blakist counterattack on Dyev[1] launched in mid-December 3076. Supported by WarShips and Pocket WarShips, the counterattack saw a large naval engagement in the Dyev system[11][12][13] followed by the landing of six divisions of Blakist troops; amongst the forces deployed by the Blakists was the Twenty-eighth Militia Division[11] who heavily damaged the Fiftieth, inflicting damage beyond the point at which the Cluster was considered viable. The Fiftieth was disbanded, with the surviving warriors assigned as replacements to the other Clusters within Alpha Galaxy.[1]

Officers[edit]

Rank Name Command
Commanding Officers of the Fiftieth Striker (Clan Ghost Bear)
Star Colonel Stephan Huntsig Operation REVIVAL[14]
Commanding Officers of the Fiftieth Striker (Ghost Bear Dominion)
Star Colonel Stephan Huntsig 3061 - 3067[14][15]

Tactics[edit]

The Cluster uses jump-capable 'Mechs and are experts at avoiding traps and ambushes.[14]

Composition History[edit]

2921[edit]

3052[edit]

  • Trinary Command - Star Captain Derek Jorgensson
    • Alpha Command Star (5 OmniMechs)
    • Bravo Command Star (5 OmniMechs)
    • Charlie Command Star (5 OmniMechs)
  • Forty-third Striker Trinary - Star Captain Milton Snuka
    • Alpha Striker Star (5 OmniMechs)
    • Bravo Striker Star (5 OmniMechs)
    • Charlie Striker Star (5 OmniMechs)
  • 212th Striker Trinary - Star Captain Lents Tseng
    • Alpha Striker Star (5 OmniMechs)
    • Bravo Striker Star (5 OmniMechs)
    • Charlie Striker Star (5 OmniMechs)
  • Thirty-second Supernova Striker Trinary - Star Captain Donel Carrera
    • Alpha Striker Nova (5 OmniMechs, 25 Elementals)
    • Bravo Striker Nova (5 OmniMechs, 25 Elementals)
    • Charlie Striker Nova (5 OmniMechs, 25 Elementals)
  • Alpha Fighter Trinary - Star Captain Victoria Bourjon)
    • Alpha Fighter Star (10 OmniFighters)
    • Bravo Fighter Star (10 OmniFighters)
    • Charlie Fighter Star (10 OmniFighters)

3058[edit]

3061[edit]

Fiftieth Striker Cluster (Elite/Fanatical)[3]

CO: Star Colonel Stephan Huntsig [17]
  • Five Trinaries[3]
Note: The Fiftieth were stationed on Alshain at this point in time.[18]

3067[edit]

Fiftieth Striker Cluster (Elite/Fanatical)[15]

- At this point the Fiftieth was stationed on Rasalhague and was at seventy percent of full strength. Seventy percent of the Cluster were using Clan-level technology, with another quarter using Star League era technology. Slightly less than two-thirds of the Cluster were equipped with OmniMechs or equivalent technology.[15]

3074[edit]

Among the Fiftieth's forces were the Alpha Trinary Recon Star (OmniMechs, light) and the Alpha Trinary Fire Support Star (OmniMechs, heavy).[10]

Rules[edit]

2921[edit]

When rolling on the Random Assignment Tables if a Fiftieth Striker Cluster 'Mech doesn't have jump jets on the first roll, the player may reroll. This second roll must be taken, even if the newly rolled unit doesn't have jump jets.[2]

3061[edit]

  • In common with every other unit in the Clan Ghost Bear touman at this point in time, the Fiftieth Strike Cluster receives a +1 modifier to any dice roll on Random Weight-Class tables to determine Star or Binary/Trinary type.[19]
  • As a part of Alpha Galaxy the Fiftieth receives a +1 Bonus to Initiative rolls.[20]
  • As a part of Alpha Galaxy the commander of each Star within the Fiftieth may choose to deploy in any OmniMech in any configuration rather than determining their 'Mech randomly.[20]

References[edit]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Field Report: Clans, p. 9: "Alpha Galaxy"
  2. 2.0 2.1 Turning Points: Tokasha, p. 10
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Field Manual: Warden Clans, p. 88: "Alpha Galaxy: The Golden Bears"
  4. Era Report: 3052, p. 52
  5. Era Report: 3052, p. 140
  6. Invading Clans, p. 36
  7. 7.0 7.1 Field Manual: Updates, p. 60: "Overview"
  8. 8.0 8.1 Field Manual: Updates, p. 60: "Alpha Galaxy (The Golden Bears)"
  9. Field Manual: Updates, p. 13: "Dragons, Dark and Dangerous"
  10. 10.0 10.1 BattleForce Quick-Start Rules, p. 10: "Green Training Scenario"
  11. 11.0 11.1 Jihad Hot Spots: Terra, p. 18: "A Time Of Cleansing"
  12. Jihad Hot Spots: Terra, p. 23: "Timeline of the Jihad"
  13. Jihad: Final Reckoning, p. 56: "The Jihad In Review"
  14. 14.0 14.1 14.2 Field Manual: Warden Clans, p. 88: "50th Striker Cluster Profile"
  15. 15.0 15.1 15.2 Field Manual: Updates, p. 77: "Alpha Galaxy (The Golden Bears)"
  16. Turning Points: Tokasha, p. 20
  17. Field Manual: Warden Clans, p. 88
  18. Field Manual: Warden Clans, p. 163: "Alpha Galaxy (The Golden Bears)"
  19. Field Manual: Warden Clans, p. 180: "Clan Ghost Bear"
  20. 20.0 20.1 Field Manual: Warden Clans, p. 180: "Alpha Galaxy"

Bibliography[edit]