Sarna News: Bad 'Mechs - Targe

1st Proserpina Hussars

(Redirected from First Proserpina Hussars)
Proserpina Hussars 01st logo.png
First Proserpina Hussars
Formed pre-2319[1]
Nickname Blood Suckers[2]
Affiliation Draconis Combine
Parent Command Proserpina Hussars

History[edit]

Formation[edit]

The First Proserpina Hussars were one of the first units formed by Shiro Kurita. They actually predate the formation of the Draconis Combine, serving under Shiro as he conquered Benjamin and other important colony worlds. Originally an armor unit, the First Proserpina Hussars were equipped with BattleMechs when they joined the DCMS. Their early experience with planetary assaults continued, being well-suited to the Hussars. They were used to assault many systems that fell under the Dragon's wings, rarely staying in place for longer than a month. Prior to the War of Davion Succession, the First Proserpina Hussars had their own JumpShips and even two WarShips (DCS Iwate and DCS Wakayama) assigned to support their operations.

The War of Davion Succession marked a turning point for the Hussars, however. The DCMS positioned the Hussars as defending forces and split them into battalion sized groups. The fighting on Junction, Proserpina, and Klathandu IV inflicted heavy losses on the Hussars as they had to trade their interstellar mobility for defensive fortifications. At the same time, the DCMS High Command reassigned the WarShips and several JumpShips the Hussars used for surveillance, leaving them vulnerable to AFFS strikes. The losses the Hussars suffered were still being rebuilt in 2750.[3]

Star League Era[edit]

During the Star League era the First Proserpina Hussars served as rapid-reaction units, constantly on the move - often staying on a planet for little more than a month or two before moving on. The various Hussar regiments including the First made a point of regularly challenging Star League Defense Force units to training exercises, and while the balance of victories lay with the SLDF, the Hussars always represented a challenge and won a surprising number of victories. Unfortunately, the very mobility that was a hallmark of the Hussars was also a disadvantage when it came to ensuring that they were kept adequately supplied, as demands for spares and matériel could take months to catch up to the demanding unit - as could new and replacement personnel.[4]

In common with the other regiments of the Hussars, the soldiers of the First were concerned primarily with being the best soldiers they could be; the average member of the First viewed politics as distasteful, and the high level of confidence each had in their own abilities could lead to the Hussars fighting on past the point at which they should retreat, and taking heavier casualties as a result.[4]

Fourth Succession War[edit]

The Hussars found themselves on the front lines when Shirotori was attacked as part of the final wave of attacks launched during Operation GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG in Late 3028, with the Lyran Commonwealth Armed Forces deploying the Third Donegal Guards to capture the planet.[5] The battle had bogged down, and Shirotori was still contested when the lull between operations began in early 3029.[6]

The Third managed to secure the bulk of the countryside on Shirotori, but the Hussars - a four-battalion regiment commanded by Tai-sa Mashaka Hirohito - retained control of the three major cities on Shirotori, and used a combination of the hit-and-run attacks for which they were famed and superior reconnaissance to dog the Third, constantly disrupting attempts to muster attacks against the dispersed Hussar battalions before breaking contact before the Third could concentrate forces against them. If the Hussars had mustered their superior numbers together, they might well have driven the Third off Shirotori; as it was, when the lull between operations approached in early 3029, the commanding officer of the Third, Colonel Walter Lestrade, requested reinforcements from the LCAF.[7]

Lestrade was recalled to the Commonwealth in February, and in March he was replaced as commanding officer of the Third by Colonel James Lancelot Hipper. The news that the LCAF wasn't sending reinforcements to Shirotori was unwelcome, particularly coupled with the change in commander partway through an operation, but Hipper proved to be a tactical savant. Exploiting information obtained from a captured DCMS courier, Hipper devised and executed a headhunter operation that saw Hirohito and half of his senior command staff killed in their bunker within the city of Meijer. Two days later the Third had captured Meijer, and five days after the death of Hirohito the Third has also captured Brusk, leaving Massona as the only major city still under the control of the Hussars. A week later the Hussars retreated from Shirotori, leaving the planet in Lyran hands.[7]

Ronin War[edit]

War of 3039[edit]

In August 3039, the First Proserpina was paired with the Sixteenth Galedon Regulars on Thestria. Facing the Pollux regiment of the mercenary Dioscuri, the Sixteenth had already engaged and pushed the mercenaries directly through the capital, Rashômon. Willing to grind their forces down to destroy the money warriors, the Sixteenth succeeded in pushing the Dioscuri to their brink. First Hussar Tai-sa Henry Sobiroff wished to avoid further destruction of the city, however, and offered the mercenaries the chance to withdraw. Despite the standing order of Proserpina commanders assuming overall command in any joint action, Tai-sa Leonard Kobayashi of the Sixteenth refused to honor the offer, as Coordinator Takashi Kurita had appointed him to his position and had made clear his thoughts on mercenaries in his Death to Mercenaries order. Tai-sa Kobayashi and the Sixteenth launched an unsupported final attack on the Dioscuri while the First Proserpina watched their compatriots be destroyed to the last. Tai-sa Sobiroff even allowed the mercenaries to take their pick of salvage from the battlefield and took the remainder to outfit the fourth battalion of his own unit.[2] For their actions, Tai-sa Kobayashi committed seppuku to atone for his actions, while Ta-sa Sobiroff was commended by Kanrei Theodore Kurita for minimizing damage to Rashômon.[8]

Clan Invasion[edit]

The First Proserpina Hussars had several encounters with Clan Smoke Jaguar during the Clan Invasion.

On Port Arthur, they faced Shroud Keshik and Seventh Jaguar Dragoons, managing to retreat in good order. SaKhan Sarah Weaver soon directed a headhunter attack against Tai-sa Jeong Moon Lee, destroying half of the command unit, though he escaped. Eventually, the Hussars maneuvered the Clan warriors into a field of automated defense weaponry, inflicting heavy casualties. After almost a week of rooting out the concealed defenses and raiding by the Hussars against the Jaguar's supply depots, the Hussars were hunted down and forced to abandon the planet.[9]

After rebuilding, the First pulled off a series of raids against front-line Jaguar units. In 3057, a combined raid by the First and Third netted the unit an entire Trinary of Clan OmniMechs as salvage.[10] As of 3059, the First was stationed on Yumesta.[11]

Operation Bulldog[edit]

The First Proserpina Hussars were eager to fight the Smoke Jaguars, but the commanders assigned them to attack worlds held by Clan Nova Cat instead. They faced a hard fight on Kanowit, but took Mualang by winning a round of miniature golf.[12] This obviously minimized further losses. They also took Yamarovka.[13]

Dominion War[edit]

Federated Suns Incursion[edit]

Jihad[edit]

During the Jihad, the First Proserpina Hussars declared their support for the Black Dragon Society. They joined forces with the Fifteenth Dieron Regulars and took several planets in the Xinyang Prefecture. The Fifth Sword of Light destroyed them on Baruun Urt around 3075. In response to the treachery espoused by the First, the Combine struck the regiment from DCMS rolls.[14]

Officers[edit]

Rank Name Command
Commanding Officers of the 1st Proserpina Hussars
Brigadier General Elizabeth Langley 3025[15]
Tai-sa Mashaka Hirohito 3029[16]
Tai-sa Henry Sobiroff 3039[8]
Tai-sa Jeong Moon Lee 3050 - 3054[17][18]
Tai-sa Alexander Minowa 3059 - 3067[10][19]

Tactics[edit]

Star League Era[edit]

As a regiment within the Proserpina Hussars, the First was trained to fight in a fast, hard-hitting style, based on a well-rounded approach to combined-arms warfare, which was further reinforced by the large number of officers within the regiment trained at either the Sun Tzu School of Combat or the University of Proserpina. To prove themselves capable of serving in the Hussars, an officer or soldier could be tested by the Commanding Officer of each regiment in multiday exercises during which those tested would have to demonstrate their ability to cope with highly fluid and mobile combat situations.[4]

Succession Wars Era[edit]

In 3025 the unit specialized in hit-and-run tactics.[20]

Clan Invasion[edit]

The First Proserpina excels at hit-and-run tactics, especially in open-field engagements. Since the regiment is reinforced, the Fourth Battalion is held in reserve and used to surprise the enemy as unexpected reinforcements.[10]

Composition History[edit]

2750[edit]

First Proserpina Hussars (Reinforced Regiment)[3]

2765[edit]

First Proserpina Hussars (Regiment/Elite/Fanatical)[4]

Note: At this point in time the First was based on Proserpina and was supported by a single aerospace fighter wing, two jump infantry regiments equipped with lasers and SRMs and two hovertank regiments.[4]

2786–2821[edit]

First Proserpina Hussars (Regiment/Elite/Fanatical)[21]

Note: At this point in time the First was a medium-weight regiment stationed on Proserpina and was operating at full strength.[21] In 2821 the unit was stationed on Paris and had been reduced to below half-strength.[21]

2830[edit]

First Proserpina Hussars (Regiment/Elite/Fanatical)[22]

Note: At this point in time the First was a heavy-weight regiment stationed on Paris and had rebuilt to just below three-quarters of full strength.[22]

2864[edit]

First Proserpina Hussars (Regiment/Veteran/Fanatical)[22]

Note: At this point in time the First was an assault-weight regiment at three-quarters of full strength.[22]

3025[edit]

First Proserpina Hussars (Reinforced Regiment/Veteran/Reliable)[23][24]

  • CO: Brigadier General Elizabeth Langley[15]
Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on Orestes.[15] The 1st Proserpina Hussars was a medium-weight 'Mech command.[20]

3040[edit]

First Proserpina Hussars (Regiment/Veteran/Reliable)[25]

Note: At this point in time the command was stationed on Thestria.[25]

3050[edit]

First Proserpina Hussars (medium reinforced 'Mech Regiment/Veteran/[2]Reliable)[26]

  • CO: Tai-sa Jeong Moon Lee[26]
Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on Thestria[26] and attached support units include a light aerospace fighter wing, a medium combat vehicle regiment, and a Motorized Infantry regiment.[2]

3054[edit]

First Proserpina Hussars (2 Battalions/Veteran/Reliable)[18]

  • CO: Tai-sa Jeong Moon Lee[18]
Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on Yumesta.[18]

3059[edit]

First Proserpina Hussars (Reinforced Regiment/Veteran/Reliable)[10]

Note: The unit fields 36 OmniMechs, many with captured Clan technology.
Fifty-first Benjamin Aerospace (Wing/Veteran/Reliable)[10]
The Blackhearts (Two Battalions/Regular/Reliable)[10]
Note: The medium command fight on their own when no other support is in range.
Proserpina Fast Motor Infantry (1 Battalion/Veteran/Reliable)[10]

3067[edit]

First Proserpina Hussars (Veteran/Reliable)[27]

  • CO: Ta-sa Alexander Minowa[27]
Fifty-first Benjamin Aerospace Wing (Veteran/Reliable)[27]
  • Wing Commander: Sho-sa Liu Kang[27]
The Blackhearts (2 Battalions/Regular/Reliable)[27]
  • Armor Commander: Chu-sa Kyle Black[27]
Proserpina Fast Motor Infantry (Battalion/Veteran/Reliable)[27]
  • Tai-sa Obuho Natomi[27]

Colors and Unit Insignia[edit]

The First Proserpina used a color scheme of blue with green and silver accents. The Hussar insignia of 3 Prosperina-native blood limpets on a field of green covers the torso of the unit's BattleMechs.[10][28]

Notes[edit]

References[edit]

  1. Era Report: 2750, p. 43
  2. a b c d e Combat Manual: Kurita, p. 58: "Proserpina Hussars"
  3. a b c d Era Report: 2750, p. 43
  4. a b c d e Field Report 2765: DCMS, p. 12: "Proserpina Hussars"
  5. NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 1, pp. 44–45: "Operation GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG"
  6. NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 2, p. 61: "Trellshire and Tamar Theaters"
  7. a b NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 2, p. 64: "Liezen"
  8. a b Historical: War of 3039, p. 108: "Thestria"
  9. Invading Clans, p. 69: "Port Arthur"
  10. a b c d e f g h Field Manual: Draconis Combine, p. 108: "1st Proserpina Hussars Profile"
  11. Field Manual: Draconis Combine, p. 134: "Draconis Combine Deployment Table"
  12. Field Manual: Updates, p. 113
  13. The Dragon Roars, p. 10
  14. Field Report: DCMS, p. 18
  15. a b c House Kurita (The Draconis Combine), p. 135: "DCMS Deployment Table"
  16. NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 2, p. 64: "Shirotori"
  17. 20 Year Update, p. 41
  18. a b c d Objective Raids, p. 27
  19. Field Manual: Updates, p. 117
  20. a b House Kurita (The Draconis Combine), p. 146: "The Proserpina Hussars"
  21. a b c First Succession War, p. 137: "Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery"
  22. a b c d Second Succession War, p. 97: "Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery (DCMS)"
  23. MechWarrior, First Edition, p. 123
  24. House Kurita (The Draconis Combine), p. 146
  25. a b Historical: War of 3039, p. 139
  26. a b c 20 Year Update, p. 41
  27. a b c d e f g h Field Manual: Updates, p. 117: "Xinyang Prefecture"
  28. "1st Proserpina Hussars". CamoSpecs Online. Retrieved 2025-02-14. Per FM:Draconis Combine, page 108.

Bibliography[edit]