Stirling's Fusiliers

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Stirling's Fusiliers
Stirling's Fusiliers
Formed 2377
Previous Designation(s) McCormack's Fusiliers
Affiliation Mercenary
Parent Command Northwind Highlanders

The unit known as Stirling's Fusiliers has a long history. Formerly known as McCormack's Fusiliers, they have operated as mercenaries since before the time of the Star League as part of the Northwind Highlanders brigade.

The unit traditionally consists of natives or descendants of natives of the world of Northwind.

The Fusiliers were known for their audacious behavior as one of the most colorful BattleMech units. During the Succession Wars, the Fusiliers were known to parade with their own bagpipe band and troop of entertainers and courtesans, with the entertainment troop also serving as unit medical staff. The regimental dancers were known to be highly skilled surgeons and have often accompanied the Fusiliers in battle.[1]

History[edit]

Early years[edit]

When Stirling's Fusiliers was first formed in 2377, it would soon develop a rivalry with its sister unit the Marion's Highlanders. Both units tried to upstage each other, with the Fusiliers taking a number of missions they might have passed on if not for the constant gaze of the Highlanders.[2]

The Fusiliers first saw action while stationed in Tikonov's border regions of the Capellan Confederation from 2370 to 2388. They fought a number of engagements with Kurita reserve forces along the border. One such raid was in 2372 on Rio and netted them a Kurita field officer. This was the only high-ranking officer captured so far by any Highlanders.

Against the Free Worlds League[edit]

The Fusiliers were later moved to protect House Liao's Marik Frontier, and remained in this region for a number of years, conducting numerous actions.

The Fusiliers launched a raid on Wisconsin in 2477. The unit was noted for its defense of the world of Ingersoll from the Asuncion reserve regiment in 2511. The Fusiliers and the 1st Kearny Highlanders participated in a raiding mission against the League world of Calloway VI. Both regiments' combined aerospace force won a resounding victory over the League's Seydlitz fighters in 2592.

In 2616, the Fusiliers fought their most famous action so far, capturing the Free Worlds League world of Bellatrix. Defending the world were Ajax's Avengers, who outnumbered the Fusiliers by a factor of three to one; rather than choosing to retreat, the Fusiliers instead made an audacious attack on the planet, using a combination of ferocity and superior tactics to smash the Avengers and force them to retreat. The Fusiliers then pursued the Avengers across Bellatrix's southern continent, despite the best efforts of the Avengers to shake the Fusiliers off; when bad weather finally forced the remains of the Avengers to stand and fight, they were quickly wiped out by the Fusiliers.[2][3]

Early Succession Wars[edit]

The Fusiliers participated in the invasion and occupation of the Davion world of Demeter with all other Northwind Highlander regiments in 2761. However the following year elements of the Avalon Hussars inflicted heavy damage to the Fusiliers as they were ejected from the planet. Due to the damage, the unit was sent to St. Ives where it was garrisoned for a period of time. Not until the opening stages of the Second Succession War was the unit called up from St. Ives in 2834. The Fusiliers were sent to Tikonov where they were reassigned as part of the fight to retain the planet. The unit fought Davion mercenaries Kergawa's Blood Lances, where the Fusiliers' attached Jump Infantry and unit's Fire Lances clashed. Ultimately the campaign was won by Fusiliers in a show of combined force of the unit's Orion and Hunchback BattleMechs devastating the merc force within three days of battle.[4]

At the very end of the Second Succession War the unit was assigned to Tsamma. In 2860, the unit stopped a full-scale raid by a Marik-hired mercenary unit called the Lander's Lancers. The Fusiliers suffered grave losses to its heavy 'Mechs, including all of its Orions. The Lancers' sniping Griffins were able to knock out up to a third of the unit's heavy 'Mechs. The battle on Tsamma changed the Fusiliers' attitude and the unit had now lost its ingrained cockiness.

Third Succession War[edit]

The Fusiliers were transferred to the Marik frontier, where they won a series of minor skirmishes with regular House units between 2865 and 2900.

The Fusiliers experienced a taste of delayed payback when the Lander's Lancers were discovered to be garrisoned on world of Lopez. After learning their location, the unit assembled its best MechWarriors into a single Battalion. In a stealthy raid, they took the Lancers by surprise, with the Fusiliers inflicting severe damage to the mercs before they could mount any kind of defense. For the rest of the Third Succession War the unit remained on Davion side of Capellan Border.[5]

In 3008 they faced Wolf's Dragoons alongside the 1st and 2nd Kearny Highlanders at the Battle of New Aragon. Though they fought well, they eventually retreated.[6][7]

Fourth Succession War[edit]

In the Fourth Succession War the unit was stationed on Elgin and didn't see combat. Later, after negotiating with the Federated Suns, they left the planet for their new home on Northwind. Arriving on Northwind in 3029 they quickly fought their way through the 5th Sword of Light and 36th Dieron Regulars to relieve the AFFS forces.[8]

The Fusiliers were stationed on Errai from 3040 until at least 3042, and in 3042 fought off a Combine raid that sought to capture a supply stockpile from the War of 3039.[9][10]

By 3050 Stirling's Fusiliers returned to Northwind to relieve their fellow Highlander units.[11] They fought the 3rd Royal Guards and forced them to surrender.[12]

Clan Invasion Era[edit]

In April 3053 Clan Jade Falcon's 124th Striker Cluster struck at Blue Hole, engaging the First Battalion of the Fusiliers.[13]

In 3058 the Fusiliers managed to make their long-term rivals the Marion Highlanders distinctly envious with a campaign against the Smoke Jaguars on behalf of the Draconis Combine. Hired to strike at one of the main supply bases of the Jaguars in the Deep Periphery, Wayside V, the Fusiliers arrived and when the Battle of Wayside (3058) began, they discovered, too late, that rather than the expected Provisional Garrison Cluster they had been briefed about, the supply base had a frontline Galaxy of troops defending it.[2][14]

With no way back to Combine space, the Fusiliers came up with a bold and nearly suicidal plan. A small group of the Fusiliers disguised themselves as Smoke Jaguar forces and set out to raid a number of nearby Clan Nova Cat facilities and garrisons, while the remainder of the Fusiliers settled in for a protracted guerrilla campaign.[2]

The Nova Cats responded as predicted, given the long-standing antipathy between the two Clans, and pursued the disguised Fusiliers back to Wayside V; with the arrival of the Nova Cats, a massive three-way battle on the planet resulted, with the Fusiliers emerging victorious despite heavy losses.[2][15]

FedCom Civil War Era[edit]

In the latter half of the 3060s the Fusiliers were deployed within the Chaos March and found themselves frequently opposing Word of Blake forces.[2]

Officers[edit]

Rank Name Command
Commanding Officers of the McCormack's Fusiliers
Colonel Henrietta "Harry" McCormack 3025[16]
Colonel Henry McCormack 3028[17]
Commanding Officers of the Stirling's Fusiliers
Colonel Andrea "Cat" Stirling 3050 - 3067[18][2]

Other Unit Officers[edit]

Tactics[edit]

The Fusiliers uses all advantages and whatever tactics are needed to achieve victory, although they are not as willing as the Marion Highlanders to resort to overtly suicidal tactics.[21]

Support[edit]

The naval fleet of Stirling's Fusiliers is called Stirling's Fleet.[2]

Composition History[edit]

2616[edit]

McCormack's Fusiliers[22]

  • Second Battalion
  • First Company
  • Command Lance
  • Second Company
  • Command Lance
  • Recon Lance

2786–2821[edit]

McCormack's Fusiliers (Regiment/Veteran/Reliable)[23]

Note: At this point in time the light-weight unit was stationed on St. Ives. In 2821 the command was reduced to 51% of its strength and was deployed on St. Ives.

2830[edit]

McCormack's Fusiliers (Regiment/Veteran/Reliable)[24]

Note: At this point in time the light-weight unit was stationed on St. Ives with an operational readiness of 76%.

2864[edit]

McCormack's Fusiliers (Regiment/Elite/Fanatical)[24]

Note: At this point in time the medium-weight unit was stationed on Alto with an operational readiness of 39%.[24]

3025[edit]

McCormack's Fusiliers (2 BattleMech Battalions/Veteran/Reliable)[16]

Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on Elgin.[25]

3029[edit]

McCormack's Fusiliers[26]

  • First Battalion
  • Third Company
  • Command Lance

3040[edit]

Stirling's Fusiliers (Regiment/Veteran/Reliable)[27]

Note: At this point in time the command was stationed on Errai.
Contract: AFFC

3050[edit]

Stirling's Fusiliers (Regiment/Veteran/Reliable)[28]

Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on Northwind.

3053[edit]

Stirling's Fusiliers (Regiment)[13]

3057[edit]

Stirling's Fusiliers[29]

  • First Battalion
  • First Company

3058[edit]

Stirling's Fusiliers[30]

3059[edit]

Stirling’s Fusiliers (2 battalions/Elite/Reliable)[32]

  • CO: Colonel Andrea “Cat” Stirling
Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on Rockland.

3067[edit]

Stirling’s Fusiliers (Reinforced Regiment/Elite/Reliable)[21]

Note: The entire unit is upgraded and fields additional 25% Clan upgrades. Also the unit incorporates two vehicle companies and two battle armor companies.

Regimental Air Wing (Wing/Veteran/Reliable)[21]

Note: The six fighters of the Air Wing field Clan technology.

Naval Support[edit]

In 3067, the naval fleet that supported the regiment, contains the following JumpShips:[21]

Notes[edit]

During the late Succession Wars the unit's BattleMechs primarily consisted of Commandos and Wasps.[33]

References[edit]

  1. ↑ House Liao (The Capellan Confederation), p. 80: "Unit profile" - Unit has band and dancers who also serve as the regiment's medical team.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 Mercenaries Supplemental, p. 55: "Stirling's Fusiliers: Never Second Best"
  3. ↑ Northwind Highlanders, p. 15
  4. ↑ House Liao (The Capellan Confederation), p. 80: "McCormack's Fusiliers" - Unit history through the Succession Wars.
  5. ↑ House Liao (The Capellan Confederation), p. 80: "McCormack's Fusiliers' revenge on the Lander's Lancers".
  6. ↑ Wolf's Dragoons, p. 11
  7. ↑ "Making a Name"
  8. ↑ Northwind Highlanders, p. 24
  9. ↑ Historical: War of 3039, pp. 135–141: Deployment Tables
  10. ↑ Combat Manual: Mercenaries, p. 100
  11. ↑ 20 Year Update, pp. 19–20: Deployment Tables
  12. ↑ Northwind Highlanders, p. 30
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 That Old Highlander Way
  14. ↑ Northwind Highlanders, p. 32
  15. ↑ Northwind Highlanders, pp. 35, 38–46
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 House Liao (The Capellan Confederation), p. 105
  17. ↑ Highlander Gambit, Prologue
  18. ↑ Northwind Highlanders, p. 48
  19. ↑ Northwind Highlanders, p. 51
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Northwind Highlanders, p. 46
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 Mercenaries Supplemental, p. 55: "Stirling's Fusiliers Profile"
  22. ↑ Northwind Highlanders, p. 16: "Instant Fame - Attacker"
  23. ↑ First Succession War, p. 136
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 Second Succession War, p. 96
  25. ↑ House Liao (The Capellan Confederation), p. 105
  26. ↑ Northwind Highlanders, p. 24: "Homecoming - Attacker"
  27. ↑ Historical: War of 3039, p. 141
  28. ↑ 20 Year Update, p. 19
  29. ↑ Northwind Highlanders, p. 31: "Wail of the Bagpipes - Attacker"
  30. ↑ Impetus of War, Prologue
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 31.2 31.3 31.4 31.5 31.6 31.7 Northwind Highlanders, p. 33: "A Deal with the Dragon - Attacker"
  32. ↑ Field Manual: Mercenaries, p. 106
  33. ↑ House Liao (the Capellan Confederation), p. 80: "McCormack's Fusiliers bio" - Primary BattleMechs

Bibliography[edit]

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