Military Ranks
Sarna News
The BattleTech universe, because of its origins as a combat board game, provides a rank structure in the role-playing game and novels. Military ranks are used to distinguish a hierarchy within a branch of the armed forces and generally denote some level of responsibility and accountability for the individual. When the Star League collapsed, each house relied upon its own internally-used rank systems.
The hierarchy of ranks used within a house is specific to that house and generally aren't shared between houses. Mercenary units may choose to either use the house rank structure or, especially in the case of older units, may use one of their own creation. Mercenary officers, however, tend to use ranks that are easily related to existing rank structures used by the houses.
Contents
Capellan Confederation[edit]
The military of the Capellan Confederation is known as the Capellan Confederation Armed Forces (CCAF). Though it is small and often under-equipped, the CCAF is actually among the most powerful of militaries in a one-on-one encounter. The CCAF is unique in that it places more power in the hands of the commander at the regiment level and less at higher levels than do most other militaries. Capellan units are often named after their commander; for example the first regiment of the Victoria Commonality Rangers is known as Kingston's Rangers. The CCAF is also famous for its use of Military Orders. Military Orders are collections of warriors organized on allegiance to a particular set of principles.
CCAF units are composed of 'Mech, conventional, infantry and aerospace forces, and has long relied on mercenaries, more than other Inner Sphere militaries.
Draconis Combine[edit]
The Draconis Combine's military (called the Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery, or DCMS) is much-feared in the Inner Sphere, due to its strong adherence to personal honor and overarching commitment to the Coordinator. Discipline is very strict in the DCMS and harsh punishments are often meted out for small infractions. At the highest levels of military command, officers who fail in their duties often request and are sometimes granted the right to commit seppuku, or ritual suicide; only through such atonement can an officer regain some of their lost honor.
Federated Suns[edit]
In terms of strength of arms, the Federated Suns is one of the most powerful nations in the Inner Sphere. The First Princes of House Davion have always been committed to the military of their realm and every Davion is required to serve in the armed forces in order to claim the title of First Prince. The Armed Forces of the Federated Suns (or AFFS) is a highly disciplined, professional force that benefits greatly from technological advances from the New Avalon Institute of Science as well as the high degree of training its members receive.
Free Worlds League[edit]
The Free Worlds League has a strong emphasis on combined arms tactics, with almost all of their regiments featuring a large number of infantry, armor and aerospace assets, as well as one of the largest navies in the Inner Sphere. The focus on BattleMechs, however, does exist within their elite regiments.
Lyran Commonwealth[edit]
The Brandenberg Edicts of 2413 established the rank system for the LCAF from 2413 through the Fourth Succession War. Following the formation of the Federated Commonwealth, the rank systems of both the Lyran Commonwealth and the Federated Suns were merged into a single structure.
Rank Equivalence[edit]
While each of the houses uses a house-specific name for each of their ranks, the various hierarchies do allow for the comparison of ranks to one another. The table below shows the equivalent rank between the different house rank structures.
One note is that the Free Worlds League provided, in the Document of Incorporation, the allowance for each of the three founding states to maintain their pre-League military structures. Therefore, the Marik military ranks are based on the region to which an individual is assigned. The table contains the main Marik ranks. Distinctions between Marik and the Andurien and Oriente ranks are noted in footnotes.
| Enlisted Personnel | ||||
| Capellan Confederation | Draconis Combine | Federated Suns | Free Worlds League | Lyran Commonwealth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recruit | Recruit | Recruit | Private | Private |
| N/A | Private | Private | Private 1st Class | Private 1st Class |
| Lance Corporal | Lance Corporal | Corporal | Corporal | Corporal |
| N/A | Corporal | N/A | [1] | Sr. Corporal |
| Noncommissioned Officers (NCOs) | ||||
| Capellan Confederation | Draconis Combine | Federated Suns | Free Worlds League | Lyran Commonwealth |
| Lance Sergeant | Sergeant | Sergeant | Sergeant | Sergeant |
| Asst. Force Leader | Master Sergeant | N/A | Staff Sergeant | Staff Sergeant |
| Force Leader | Talon Sergeant | Sergeant Major | Master Sergeant | Sergeant Major |
| N/A | Sergeant Major | N/A | Sergeant Major | Staff Sergeant Major |
| N/A | N/A | N/A | [2] | Senior Sergeant Major |
| N/A | N/A | N/A | [3] | N/A |
| Warrant Officers | ||||
| Capellan Confederation | Draconis Combine | Federated Suns | Free Worlds League | Lyran Commonwealth |
| N/A | N/A | N/A | Lieutenant, J.G.[4] | Warrant Officer |
| N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | Warrant Off. 1st Class |
| N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | Sr. Warrant Off. |
| N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | Chief Warrant Off. |
| Junior Officers | ||||
| Capellan Confederation | Draconis Combine | Federated Suns | Free Worlds League | Lyran Commonwealth |
| Subcommander | N/A | Cadet/Subaltern | Lieutenant, J.G.[5] | Leutnant |
| Commander | Chu-i | Leftenant | Lieutenant, S.G.[6] | First Leutnant |
| Captain | Tai-i | Captain | [7] | Hauptmann |
| N/A | Sho-sa | Major | Captain [8] | Kommandant |
| N/A | N/A | N/A | Force Commander [9] | Hauptmann-Kommandant |
| Senior Officers | ||||
| Capellan Confederation | Draconis Combine | Federated Suns | Free Worlds League | Lyran Commonwealth |
| Major | Chu-sa | Leftenant Colonel | Lieutenant Colonel [10] | Leutnant-Colonel |
| N/A | Tai-sa | Colonel | Colonel | Colonel |
| N/A | N/A | Leftenant General | N/A | Leutnant-General |
| N/A | Sho-sho | Major General | N/A | Hauptmann General |
| Colonel | Tai-sho | General | N/A | Kommandant-General |
| N/A | N/A | Marshal | General [11] | General |
| N/A | Warlord | Field Marshal | N/A | General of the Armies |
| Chancellor | Coordinator | Marshal of the Armies | Captain-General [12] | Archon |
Notes[edit]
- Ranks, when not preceding a name, are not capitalized.[13]
- Ex: The major stood and rendered a salute to General DeChavilier.
- Non-English ranks, with the exception of those used by the Federated Suns or Lyrans, are italicized.[13]
References[edit]
- ↑ House Marik Book, FASA, 1987 Note: Andurien provides Thegn as a rank at this level.
- ↑ House Marik Book, FASA, 1987 Note: Andurien provides Banner as a rank at this level.
- ↑ House Marik Book, FASA, 1987 Note: Andurien provides Master Banner as a rank at this level while Oriente provides Banner.
- ↑ House Marik Book, FASA, 1987 Note: Marik provides two separate Lieutenant, JG grades.
- ↑ House Marik Book, FASA, 1987 Note: Marik provides two separate Lieutenant, JG grades.
- ↑ House Marik Book, FASA, 1987 Note: Andurien uses only Lieutenant at this grade.
- ↑ House Marik Book, FASA, 1987 Note: Andurien provides Force Captain at this grade.
- ↑ House Marik Book, FASA, 1987 Note: Andurien refers to this grade as Flag Captain.
- ↑ House Marik Book, FASA, 1987 Note: Both Oriente and Andurien refer to this grade as Major.
- ↑ House Marik Book, FASA, 1987 Note: Neither Oriente nor Andurien use this grade.
- ↑ House Marik Book, FASA, 1987 Note: Andurien refers to this grade as Lieutenant General.
- ↑ House Marik Book, FASA, 1987 Note: Andurien refers to this grade as Major General. Oriente does not use it.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Per Line Developer Ray Arrastia, 02Aug2022 (screencap)
