Rolling Thunder Company

This article is about the military unit. For the scenario pack, see Rolling Thunder (scenario pack).

Rolling Thunder Company
Unit Profile (as of 3028)
Nickname	none
Parent Formation	1st Regulan Hussars
Formed	3015

Unit Description

The Rolling Thunder was originally a late Third Succession War BattleMech company which was configured for assault missions. The unit was assigned to the Free Worlds League's Eastern Star Strike Battalion of the 1st Regulan Hussars. The unit was noted for its unique characteristics of its battle-hardened personnel and its antics on and off the battlefield.

History

Formation

The company was formed from the remains of three previous companies belonging to the 1st Regulan Hussars in 3015. The 1st Regulan Hussars had been rebuilding after the brutal fighting in the Marik Civil War fought between brother Anton Marik and sitting Captain-General Janos Marik.

Assigned as the new company's commanding officer was Force Captain Vic "The Ripper" Davis. During part of 3015, Captain Davis relentlessly trained his people in shape with a degree of liberally applied brutality in both a verbal and physical sense. After its training period ended the company was newly named Ripper's Reavers.

In 3016, the unit participated in raid of the Lyran world of Dixie. Part of this raiding force were elements of Wolf's Dragoons. When the Dragoons were threatened by the sudden appearance of an assault company of Lyrans, the Reavers moved and intercepted the assault company in a no-holds barred battle in which the unit prevented the raiding force from failing its mission and kept the Dragoons from being flanked. The Reavers lost half of number in the course of the brutal fight with the assault company, which earned them the respect of Colonel Jaime Wolf. Colonel Wolf noted the company's approach to battle was like "Rolling Thunder". The nickname caught on quickly and the unit was later officially named Rolling Thunder. The raid itself was deemed a success.

Raiding, Riots, and Garrison Duty

Following its Dixie raid, the unit participated in a raiding campaign with the Dragoons for the following two years. By 3019, the unit was exhausted and needing refit. The Regulan High Command reassigned the unit to garrison duty of a base in hills near the planetary capital of Tiber. However, after nearly two years of quiet training and rest the population rose in revolt against the ruling family of the planet. Rolling Thunder was dispatched and fought in the streets of the capital to subdue the riotous population. However, Thunder's actions in subduing lead atrocities being committed against the citizens. Noting of resentment towards the unit after the riots, the Regulan High Command resigned to Regulus.

In 3021, the unit was deployed for a tour as security force for the League Parliament on Atreus. Many of the unit's warriors complained of it being boring "powder-puff duty", Captain Davis replied to their concerns in his usual direct and physical manner. This resulted in a number of the company's personnel making a visit to the medical section for various injuries. For the remainder of the tour, no warrior brought up the issue of the nature of their duty again. The company's most noted event was when it used as Honor Guard for visiting director Subhash Indrahar of the Draconis Combine's Internal Security Forces.

In December 3022, the unit where once again assigned to garrison capital world of Regulus. While there, Captain Davis received a promotion and was replaced as the unit's Commanding Officer by Thunder's Fire Lance Commander, Gerald Cameron-Jones.

For next couple years, Rolling Thunder is alternated between its garrison duty in the Principality's capital and Lyran border. While on the Lyran border, the unit conducted probing raids as well defending from similar probes from Commonwealth forces, for example raiding Red Wolves' base on Tainjin on 3023. In December, 3024 the unit found itself once again on Tiber, where it was deployed in counterinsurgency duty. Resistance factions rose to full revolt in early 3025 where unit faced a Hussar unit and the Tiber Militia which had defected to the rebel's cause. Force Captain Cameron-Jones led Rolling Thunder to completely destroy the traitors. In May, the unit was deployed to Hongqiao where sent to destroy another rebellious faction whom had been waging a guerrilla war since 3020. In these endeavors, the Thunder was unable to pin down the elusive enemy and was pulled from the planet after five months.

Border Campaigns and Other Actions

In November 3025, the unit was re-united with the main body of the 1st Regulan Hussars and was assigned to Calloway VI. This was part of Captain-General Janos Marik's plan to pay back House Liao for breaches in their two year peace treaty.

Soon after Rolling Thunder and the Hussars arrived on Calloway, a regiment of the mercenary force, 2nd McCarron's Armored Cavalry arrived on planet in raid. The Cavalry was caught unprepared for the battle-hardened 1st Regulan Hussars, along with Thunder had routed the Capellan mercenaries. Within week of the raid, Rolling Thunder and its Hussar parent command commenced a series of raids along the Capellan border.

After the border campaign, Thunder was assigned independent task to help with counterinsurgency on Wallis. However, the unit arrived too late, was nearly trapped by rebel forces whom had gain control of planet in a coup. The unit was forced to go to ground and avoid rebel forces for three months until March, 3027 when reinforcements had arrived to help them put down rebellion.

Within a month, the unit had been rotated back to Regulus where it was conducted extensive training & refit to ready it to participate in new offensive with rest of the 1st Regulans.

In October, the unit was deployed to Lyran front where it and 1st Regulan where it launched a series of large & small raids against such worlds as Dixie, Ford, Loric, and Poulsbo. Thunder's action help to keep Lyran Commonwealth's forces off balance.

During the Poulsbo raid in 3028, where 1st Regulan Hussars was targeting a base that was being used to stage attack into the League. Thunder was assigned to attack the city of Silverdale to clear of enemy forces. This would have led the way for Marik forces to strike the Bangor military base outside the city. However, the Lyran forces had been waiting, the Thunder was ambushed in city by the Lyran Second Armored Brigade. The all combat vehicle force, also known as Steel Lightning was supported by pair of infantry companies in the city for the counter-attack. The Thunder was able to maul the Lyran forces, but the raid fell short in taking the base itself out.

Officers

Rank	Name	Command
Commanding Officers of the Ripper's Reavers
Captain	Vic "The Ripper" Davis	3015 - 3016
Commanding Officers of the Rolling Thunder Company
Captain	Vic "The Ripper" Davis	3016 - 3022
Captain	Gerald Cameron-Jones	3022 - 3028

Tactics

3028

The Company principle tactics focused in Firepower. The unit's three lances conduct the following roles which aren't traditionally done in its parent regiment.

The Attack Lance is used in three roles, where it is used as a Heavy Recon and probing force. In probing role, the unit meant to find weakness in enemy force. It also used to cover units retreat should company need to withdraw. As part of their retrograde maneuver they also have their flamer-equipped 'Mechs create fires to make smoke screen to cover the withdrawal.

The Fire Lance, provide cover fire for the company. It also employs its lighter machines with the Command Lance's light 'Mechs for scouting assignments.

Composition History

3028

• Command Lance - Force Captain Gerald Cameron-Jones
• Fire Lance - Lt. Kathryn Garrick
• Attack Lance - Lt. Francis Canny
  • Transportation unit is the DropShip FWLS Adamant

Notes

By the Clan Invasion era, the unit had faded away. In the midst of the Jihad conflict, rumors of the unit being reactivated for newly independent Principality of Regulus.

Bibliography

• Rolling Thunder (scenario pack)
• Masters and Minions: The StarCorps Dossiers