17th Avalon Hussars

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Unit Description

The Seventeenth Avalon Hussars were originally an mainline BattleMech Regiment serving in Armies of the Federated Suns. The unit would be become part of merged realms of the Federated Commonwealth as RCT. After the Jihad, the 17th was reformed as a smaller multi-battalion Light Combat Team.

History

Star League Era

The Seventeenth was actively involved in the border war between the Capellan Confederation and Federated Suns during the early 2760s; relocated from Robinson into the Royalston thumb, the Seventeenth was initially supposed to serve as a training cadre helping the reactivated brigades to get up to speed and make them capable of opposing the Confederation and the pirates plaguing the border. As the war heated up, the AFFS launched an invasion of Redfield, and the Seventeenth acted as the lead unit for that invasion. The Seventeenth bore the brunt of the fighting, and was still rebuilding in 2765; while the Seventeenth's materiel losses had been replaced, it still hadn't received enough trained soldiers to replace the casualties taken during the invasion.[1]

First Succession War

In 2796 most of the Seventeenth Avalon Hussars were sent to New Avalon to prepare for an attack by the Draconis Combine. A small group of the Seventeenth was left behind on New Rhodes III to stall the Draconis advance. Two Enforcers and four Dervishes from the Seventeenth inflicted huge losses on the 2nd Sword of Light's supply train. The six members of the Seventeenth were eventually run down and killed, but they cost the DCMS thousands of tons of ammunition and spare parts before that happened.[2]

Second Succession War

In May 2833 the Seventeenth Avalon Hussars joined the Second Ceti Hussars and the Ninth Deneb Light Cavalry on Operation LEOPARD, the second major attempt to capture the important industrial world of Tikonov to be launched in 13 months. The Ceti Hussars had attempted to capture Tikonov in Operation LION, launched in April 2382, but had ultimately been stymied by a lack of equipment and resources needed to dislodge the defending forces from the High Kremlin, a former SLDF fortress, and the massively fortified cities like Tikograd dotted across the planet. This time, the AFFS was better prepared, and dropped onto Tikonov with troops, artillery and aircraft suitable for breaking entrenched enemies out of heavy fortifications.[3]

This time, the AFFS forces managed to break into and capture the High Kremlin after a bloody two-week battle, and proceeded to capture the heavily-fortified cities of Krasnodar and Pskov in early June, leaving all of the major population and industrial centers under AFFS control. What the AFFS couldn't do was pin down the surviving elements of the CCAF defending units, who faded into the wilderness and used exactly the same mobile tactics against the AFFS that the Ceti Hussars had used against them the year before. The three AFFS regiments broke down into increasingly smaller elements to try and pin down the CCAF units, and distributed supply caches around the world, only to be foxed by the arrival of the Capellan Hussars on the 13th of June. The Capellan Hussars destroyed many of the AFFS caches, a setback that the combined AFFS units could probably have overcome with time, but MIIO passed on intelligence indicating signs of massed CCAF troop movements towards Tikonov, prompting General H. R. Greer to withdraw the AFFS forces from Tikonov, much to the chagrin of the First Prince, who rewarded Greer with KP duty on New Syrtis until the end of 2834.[3]

War of 3039

Led by Field Marshal Ardan Sortek the 17th Avalon Hussars and the 1st Davion Guards attacked An Ting. The 17th took five thousand prisoners during the attack.[4] Several DCMS troops were able to escape death or capture, however, and led insurgent attacks against the AFFS troops. In late July Ryuken-roku landed on An Ting under the command of Tai-sa Dechan Fraser. Ryuken-roku struck at the largest AFFS prisoner of war camp, freeing thousands of DCMS troops. The Hussars and Davion Guards still had control of much of the planet however. That changed two weeks later when Tai-shu Kester Hsiun Chi arrived on An Ting with Ryuken-yon and several regiments of conventional forces. Field Marshal Sortek ordered the AFFS forces to retreat.[5]

Clan Invasion Era

The 17th Avalon Hussars were one of the units reassigned to the Clan front, but they didn't arrive until a few weeks before the Truce of Tukayyid. For the next five years they jumped along the front, keeping Clan Jade Falcon off-balance while the rest of the AFFC rebuilt.[6]

Operation Guerrero

The 17th didn't participate in Operation Guerrero, but was horrified when they discovered Victor Steiner-Davion's deception.[6]

Operation Bulldog

The 17th didn't participate in Operation Bulldog's combat operations, but their JumpShips were assigned to the forces used in Operation Bulldog and Task Force Serpent.[6]

FedCom Civil War

The homeworld of the 17th Avalon Hussars was Cassias. During the FedCom Civil War, the 17th attacked the Draconis Combine worlds of An Ting and Matsuida. An Ting fell relatively quickly,[7] and the 17th moved on to Matsuida. There they faced the 2nd Galedon Regulars, surrounding the green unit from three different drop zones. A battalion of the 7th Ghost was also on the world, and they smashed two of the 17th's smaller landing zones completely. The 17th's main force was able to destroy much of the 2nd Galedon Regulars before the 7th Ghost could open an escape route. The DCMS forces withdrew from the fight, with the 17th's fastest elements tracking the 7th Ghost and the slower units surrounding the city that housed the 2nd Galedon Regulars. The 2nd staged a series of small attacks on the 17th but didn't inflict major damage. After waiting for a few weeks, the 17th drove deep into the city. This brought the 7th Ghost out of hiding and the 17th destroyed them.[8] The 17th then turned to the 2nd Galedon Regulars. Commando squads from the 17th used snipers and other "dishonorable" tactics to kill the 2nd Galedon's officer corps. The 2nd, enraged by this, threw themselves into a suicidal charge of the 17th's fortified positions. Six weeks after the death of the 7th Ghost force, the 17th wiped out every member of the 2nd Galedon Regulars in less than an hour.[9]

A few months later, the 12th Galedon Regulars, Ryuken-go, and the remaining 7th Ghost battalions landed on Matsuida. There the 7th Ghost faded into the wilderness, hitting smaller 17th Hussar commands and stirring the population against the Hussars. The 12th Galedon Regulars and Ryuken surrounded the main body of the 17th Hussars and prevented a breakout. Things came to a head when the 7th Ghost regiment turned their attention to the 17th's main base. The 12th Galedon Regulars forced a breach in the 17th's lines and shoved a battalion through the gap. A company from the 7th Ghost was able to infiltrate the rear areas of the 17th Hussars and went on a rampage. With his lines failing and his rear area no longer secure, the 17th's commander withdrew from Matsuida and returned to An Ting.[10]

The 17th landed on An Ting and found it a hotbed of Combine activity. Three days after they landed the 12th Galedon Regulars and Ryuken-Go arrived on An Ting. After splitting into two forces the 17th's armor regiment halted the Ryuken while the 17th's 'Mechs held the 12th Galedon in place. This led to several weeks of intense fighting as the two Hussar commands tried several times to join forces. The Ryuken and Galedon Regulars were able to prevent most of these attempts. The 17th finally did join into one unit however, and left An Ting. The 17th was pressured the entire way, and was forced to leave behind two regiments of mixed conventional forces.[11]

Landing on their homeworld of Cassias, the 17th occupied several fortified positions prepared by the 3rd Davion Guards when that unit was on the world. Shortly after the 17th's arrival, the 5th Sword of Light attacked Cassias. A few days later, two combat commands from the Third Davion Guards arrived to reinforce the Hussars. The AFFS forces were able to keep the Sword of Light pinned near their drop zones for several weeks. The arrival of Ryuken-Go changed things, allowing the Combine troops to finally take more ground. The 17th inflicted many casualties on the Combine units however.[12] The 17th slowly ground the DCMS troops down, advancing steadily, destroying and demoralizing them. Draconis Combine MechWarriors found this personal affront to their honor so insulting that several companies of turned and fought the Hussars in duels. The Combine commander, Tai-sa Shotoku led a force of volunteers directly into the path of the 17th Hussars. This fight restored the honor of the Combine warriors, and allowed them to withdraw.[13]

Several regiments abandoned their post, joining Katherine Steiner-Davion's forces on New Avalon.[14][15][16] They were destroyed.

The remaining component units of the 17th Avalon Hussars were assigned to Talcott.[17]

Jihad

The Seventeenth remained on Talcott through the Jihad. There they faced off against Word of Blake forces that attacked the General Motors factories on the world. These Blakists were disguised as Capellan troops, but the deception was revealed. After repelling the single attack on Talbott, the Seventeenth rebuilt their losses from the output of the GM factories. Facing little combat and near the GM factories, the Seventeenth was able to convert half their conventional infantry units to battle armored formations. The large battle armor formations were broken up into smaller units and transferred to other Avalon Hussars commands to rapidly bring those units up to LCT strength.[18]

The Seventeenth was assigned as Talcott's garrison in 3079.[18] They were still the garrison unit in 3085, and were re-formed into a Light Combat Team. The units that split off from the Seventeenth became the core of the new 1st Avalon Hussars and 2nd Avalon Hussars. The Seventeenth was assigned to garrison Spica after the Kittery Prefecture was handed over to the Federated Suns.[19]

Dark Age

During the Victoria War of 3103 and 3104, the Seventeenth was assigned to take station on Kittery to support the Fourth Crucis Lancers. The CCAF responded by attacking Kittery, and after four months of combat the Seventeenth was forced off-world. The unit suffered from morale loss and poor performance until they raided Warlock in retaliation for raids conducted by the 1st St. Ives Janissaries. The Seventeenth inflicted heavy losses and took a Lung Wang P2 as war spoils. In the early years of the post-Blackout period, the CCAF invaded the Federated Suns and the Seventeenth was forced off Spica.[20]

The Seventeenth was badly damaged when the Second St. Ives Sentinels launched a raid on the Seventeenth's base on Fortymile. The raid was a retaliation for the Seventeenth's destruction of the Janissaries and went very well for the Sentinels;[21] the Seventeenth were caught unawares, having only just finished unloading a few hours before. The LCT's conventional forces were still mostly attempting to unload, and the Sentinels were able to concentrate on the Seventeenth's 'Mech and battle armor forces. Even as forces on the ground were battling the Sentinels launched an aerospace strike that destroyed a fully-loaded Colossus DropShip belonging to the Seventeenth along with the supplies and armored units aboard it at the time.[22] The Seventeenth attempted to fall back to the Klondike mountain range, giving the advantage to the Sentinels, who were the more maneuverable of the two units. Dispersed pockets of the Seventeenth were caught in broken terrain and destroyed and among the trophies brought back to Highspire by the Sentinels were the legs of General Suttikul's 'Mech.[21] The damage inflicted by the Sentinels was such that the Seventeenth had been effectively neutralized as an offensive unit in 3145, a state that would continue unless supplies could be delivered from Kathil or Salem to allow the LCT to rebuild.[22]

Officers

Rank Name Command
Commanding Officers of the 17th Avalon Hussars
Marshal Emma O'Brien - 3010[23]
General Eugene Drivers 3010 - 3013[23]
Marshal Addley Verner 3025[24]
Hauptmann-General Nasha Tiljurga 3050[25]
Hauptmann-General Kev Evans 3062-3067[6][17]
General Cassandra Dzuiba 3085[26]
General Daman Zibler 3116-3122[20]
Leftenant General Pakpao Suttikul 3122-3145[20][27]

Tactics

During the Star League era all of the Avalon Hussars were required to focus on being both flexible and mobile, with every regiment required to be capable of deploying within eight hours, although many of the Hussars struggled to actually achieve this.[1]

In 3025 the 17th Avalon Hussars were noted for their ability to deploy under heavy enemy fire. This tactic allowed them to get close to enemy forces, but also led to heavy casualties.[28] They were still able to do this forty years later.[6]

Composition History

2765

Seventeenth Avalon Hussars (Regiment/Regular/Fanatical)[29]

- At this point in time the Seventeenth was stationed on Turko.[29] In common with the other regiments of the Avalon Hussars the Seventeenth had an attached aerospace wing, although these forces were primarily tasked to provide ground support rather than escort duties.[1]

2786

Seventeenth Avalon Hussars (Regiment/Regular/Fanatical)[30]

- At this point in time the Hussars were a medium-weight regiment stationed on Turko and were operating at four-battalion strength.[30]

2821

Seventeenth Avalon Hussars (Regiment/Regular/Fanatical)[30]

- At this point in time the Hussars were a medium-weight regiment stationed on Turko and were operating at just over two-battalion strength.[30]

2830

Seventeenth Avalon Hussars (Regiment/Regular/Fanatical)[31]

- At this point in time the Hussars were a medium-weight regiment and had rebuilt to almost their full four-battalion strength. The Hussars were stationed on Turko.[31]

2864

Seventeenth Avalon Hussars (Regiment/Regular/Reliable)[31]

- At this point in time the Hussars were a medium-weight regiment stationed on Glenmora, and had been reduced to approximately ninety percent of the strength of a standard regiment.[31]

2992

Seventeenth Avalon Hussars

2nd Lexington Regulars[32][33]

3025

Seventeenth Avalon Hussars (Regiment/Regular/Reliable)[24]

  • CO: Marshal Addley Verner [24]
Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on Cassias. [24]

3040

Seventeenth Avalon Hussars (Regiment/Regular/Reliable)[34]

Note: At this point in time the command was stationed on Cassias. [34]
Seventeenth Avalon Hussars Armor Brigade
445th Avalon Recon Regiment[35]

3050

17th Avalon Hussars RCT (Regiment/Regular/Reliable) [25]

*CO: Hauptmann General Nasha Tiljurga [25]
Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on Cassias. [25]

3062

Seventeenth Avalon Hussars (1 Regiment/Regular/Reliable)[6]

CO: Hauptman General Kev Evans
Aide: Leftenant General Cassandra Dzuiba

Seventeenth Avalon Hussars Aerospace Brigade (1 Wing)[6]

Kommandant: Jamie Doucette
  • 44th Avalon Fighter Wing

Seventeenth Avalon Hussars Armor Brigade (3 Regiments/Regular/Reliable)[6]

CO: Hauptman General Trevor Cartmann
Aide: Kommandant Julia Simonson
  • 99th Avalon Armor Regiment - Leftenant General: J.E. Ortiguerra
  • 198th Ipava Grenadiers - Leftenant General: Josephus Schoenauer
  • 445th Avalon Recon Regiment - Leftenant General: Lathan Kimayev
  • 35th Avalon Artillery Group - Kommandant: Pathinh Pi

Seventeenth Avalon Hussars Infantry Brigade (4 Regiments/Regular/Reliable)[6]

CO: Leftenant General Gandalf Darklight
Aide: Kommandant Don Bong Kim
  • 84th Avalon Light Infantry - Leftenant General: Searlas Halliden
  • 115th Crucis Mechanized Infantry - Leftenant General: Sonia Thao
  • 405th Avalon Mechanized Infantry - Leftenant General: Helmer Fineas Wojahn
  • 135th Federation Jump Infantry - Leftenant General: Darius Prohaska

3067

Seventeenth Avalon Hussars RCT (Elite/Reliable)

CO: General Kev Evans

Seventeenth Avalon Hussars Aerospace Brigade (Elite/Fanatical)

CO: Rear Admiral Jamie Doucette

Seventeenth Avalon Hussars Armor Brigade (Elite/Reliable)

CO: Major General Josephus Schoenauer

Seventeenth Avalon Hussars Infantry Brigade (Veteran/Reliable)

CO: Major General Gandalf Darklight

3079

To rapidly rebuild the Avalon Hussars, the Seventeenth Avalon Hussars was reduced in size to form a Light Combat Team. The Seventeenth's large number of battle armored infantry was particularly important to the rebuilding of other Avalon Hussars units, but several 'Mech and Aerospace units were also transferred to other Hussars LCTs.[18]

As it was able to rebuild after its lone encounter with the Word of Blake, the Seventeenth Avalon Hussars LCT was at one hundred percent strength.[18]

3085

Seventeenth Avalon Hussars LCT (Elite/Reliable)[26]

CO: General Cassandra Dzuiba

Seventeenth Avalon Hussars Aerospace Brigade (Green/Reliable)[26]

CO: Rear Admiral Angelique Vincent

Seventeenth Avalon Hussars Armor Brigade (Regular/Reliable)[26]

CO: Major General Socrates Fox

Seventeenth Avalon Hussars Infantry Brigade (Green/Reliable)[26]

CO: Major General Jill Awad

The Seventeenth has two regiments of Battle Armor equipped infantry.[19]

3145

Seventeenth Avalon Hussars LCT (Veteran/Reliable)[27]

  • CO: Leftenant General Pakpao Suttikul

Seventeenth Avalon Hussars Aerospace Brigade (Veteran/Fanatical)[27]

  • CO: Rear Admiral Phillip Foster

Seventeenth Avalon Hussars Armor Brigade (Veteran/Reliable)[27]

  • CO: Leftenant General Nicole Johnson

Seventeenth Avalon Hussars Infantry Brigade (Regular/Reliable)[27]

  • CO: Leftenant General Helen Garcia

Notes

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Field Report: Federated Suns 2765, p. 8, "Avalon Hussars"
  2. Technical Readout: 3025 Revised, p. 62
  3. 3.0 3.1 Second Succession War, p. 36, "Crossed Swords"
  4. Historical: War of 3039, pp. 51-52
  5. Historical: War of 3039, pp. 102-103
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7 6.8 Field Manual: Federated Suns, p. 53, "17th Avalon Hussars Unit Profile"
  7. FedCom Civil War (sourcebook), pp. 48-49
  8. FedCom Civil War (sourcebook), pp. 71-72
  9. FedCom Civil War (sourcebook), p. 91
  10. FedCom Civil War (sourcebook), p. 108
  11. FedCom Civil War (sourcebook), p. 133
  12. FedCom Civil War (sourcebook), p. 136
  13. FedCom Civil War (sourcebook), pp. 166-167
  14. FedCom Civil War (sourcebook), p. 168
  15. Field Manual: Updates, p. 126
  16. The Longest Road, p. 204 of The Corps
  17. 17.0 17.1 Field Manual: Updates, p. 137, "ASSF Deployment Table - 3067"
  18. 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 Field Report: AFFS, p. 9
  19. 19.0 19.1 Field Manual: 3085, p. 57
  20. 20.0 20.1 20.2 Era Report: 3145, p. 52
  21. 21.0 21.1 Field Manual: 3145, p. 42, "Second St. Ives Sentinels"
  22. 22.0 22.1 Field Manual: 3145, p. 74, "Seventeenth Avalon Hussars LCT"
  23. 23.0 23.1 Historical Turning Points: Mallory's World, p. 7
  24. 24.0 24.1 24.2 24.3 House Davion: The Federated Suns, p. 137, "Dahar PDZ"
  25. 25.0 25.1 25.2 25.3 20 Year Update, p. 19, "AFFC Deployment Table - 3050"
  26. 26.0 26.1 26.2 26.3 26.4 Field Manual: 3085, p. 70, "AFFS Deployment Table - 3085"
  27. 27.0 27.1 27.2 27.3 27.4 Field Manual: 3145, p. 90, "Armed Forces of the Federated Suns"
  28. House Davion (The Federated Suns), p. 140
  29. 29.0 29.1 Field Report: Federated Suns, p. 10, "Regimental Status"
  30. 30.0 30.1 30.2 30.3 First Succession War, p. 134, "Armed Forces of the Federated Suns (AFFS)"
  31. 31.0 31.1 31.2 31.3 'Second succession War, p. 94, "Armed Forces of the Federated Suns (AFFS)"
  32. House Davion (The Federated Suns), p. 188, "Ran Felsner"
  33. Historical: War of 3039, p. 21
  34. 34.0 34.1 Historical: War of 3039, p.135
  35. Historical: War of 3039 , p. 52

Bibliography