Editing 305th Assault (Clan Jade Falcon)

{{infoBoxMilitaryCommand
| image = [[File:305th Assault (Clan Jade Falcon).jpg]]
| Designation = 305th Assault Cluster
| Formed =
| Disbanded =
| Previous Designation =
| Nickname = The Blood Vision
| Affiliation = [[Clan Jade Falcon]]
| Parent Command = [[Iota Galaxy (Clan Jade Falcon)|Iota Galaxy]]<br>[[Delta Galaxy (Clan Jade Falcon)|Delta Galaxy]] (previous)
| Sub-Command =
}}

==History==
Despite facing some of the invasion's fiercest battles,<ref>''Jade Falcon Sourcebook'', p. 43</ref> the '''305th Assault Cluster''' lost [[Montmarault]] to the [[1st Viper Guards (Clan Steel Viper)|First Viper Guards]] during the Fifth Wave of [[Operation REVIVAL]]. Destroyed on [[Baker 3]] by [[Clan Wolf]] forces during the Refusal War. Rebuilt with a mix of veterans and new recruits and sent on to fight on [[Coventry]], taking approximately forty percent losses in that campaign.{{cn}}

===REVIVAL===
The First Wave began for the Blood Vision when the 305th, along with the Third Falcon Talon Cluster and the rest of [[Gyrfalcon Galaxy]] crushed the [[7th Regiment (12th Star Guards)|Seventh Regiment]] and then faced ongoing resistance fighters after the destruction of the mercenary [[Twelfth Star Guards]] on [[Bensinger]]<ref>[http://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,12797.msg302452.html#msg302452 Catalyst Game Labs Ask The Writers Forum], "If you want a very good example of faulty information in the first Clan books, look at page 36 of the Jade Falcon SB, and tell me where in the Jade Falcon OZ of 3052 Alkalurops is.... (A hint, it is about 60 light years from Terra, kind of far from the Periphery border of the Lyran part of the Federated Commonwealth)."</ref><ref>''Jade Falcon Sourcebook'', p. 36</ref><ref>''Era Report: 3052'', p. 41</ref>

[[Black Earth]] was the next target for [[Gyrfalcon Galaxy]], attacking elements of [[First Grave Walkers]] and the remains of the [[Seventeenth Skye Rangers]] RCT. The aerospace forces of the Jade Falcons surprised the FedCom aerospace forces while still on the ground, and later overpowered the Lyran unit's 'Mechs after an hour of fighting near the Black Earth spaceport.  The mercenaries lit the New Houston refinery aflame, hoping to screen their movements, but the superior Clan technology led to the defeat of the Inner Sphere forces within 30 hours.<ref name=JFSp38>''Jade Falcon Sourcebook'', p. 38</ref>

Hit-and-run raids from retired LCAF Major Hans Remke on [[Maxie's Planet]] forced the 305th to hunt down the lance of medium 'Mechs that defended the planet for much of May 3050. Despite his [[Phoenix Hawk]] being destroyed, after four months and the arrival of a Provisional Garrison Cluster, the raids began again suggesting the survival of the old warrior.<ref name=JFSp38/>

[[Gyrfalcon Galaxy]] caught up to the [[Twelfth Star Guards]] on [[Wotan]] in June 3050.<ref>''Jade Falcon Sourcebook'', p. 39</ref> Survivors of the First and Second Regiments effectively coordinated their attacks until Clan aerospace forces killed Colonel Franklin Pierce and their [[OmniMech]] forces crushed the remaining demoralized mercenaries.  The [[Wotan TMM]] was easily crushed, fighting so poorly as to be described as a execution by Khan [[Elias Crichell]].

Star League records listed [[Antares]] as the site of an SLDF replenishment and supply base, unknown to the inhabitants, or the Federated Commonwealth, who defended the planet with only a militia battalion.<ref>''Jade Falcon Sourcebook'', p. 40</ref> Ordered to take the base all all costs, the Galaxy's aerospace forces destroyed the militia's fighters on the ground, and the OmniMechs quickly took the capital Antares City. Alba, directly atop the SLDF base, was initially forbidden to be bombarded to ensure the water purification system's survival.  The heavy casualties suffered by the Second Falcon Jaegers and Khan Crichell learning that the system could be replaced within months with Clan technology led to a rescinding of the order and the town's destruction.  The unearthing of the Star League base stunned the populace, and the ordered sharing of the planet with the [[Steel Viper]]s by the ilKhan angered the Jade Falcons and led to a series of Trials of Refusal.

The Cluster joined the Galaxy on [[Blackjack (system)|Blackjack]], watching as the Second Falcon Jaegers inflicted 80% casualties on the Blackjack Training Battalion.  Some cadets joined the Galaxy as bondsmen,<ref>''Jade Falcon Sourcebook'', p. 41</ref> though the Steel Vipers later took the planet and razed the planet's school.

The 305th finally received solitary action at [[Dompaire]] in August 3050, landing almost inside the capital Dompaire Central, and quickly destroying the aging vehicles and 'Mechs of the [[Dompaire Militia|Dompaire Armored Cavalry]] in a brief counterattack by the Spheroids.<ref>''Jade Falcon Sourcebook'', p. 42</ref>  By the second day, the Falcons controlled the world, though resistance fighters continued attacks and bombings for sometime.

A month later, the Galaxy was reconstituted for the attack on [[Parakoila]].  The site layout, a huge winding underground mine, and defensive installations forced the Falcon attackers to slowly advance.  The Khans ordered the mines be taken intact, and thus planetary bombardment was disallowed.  Tunnel by tunnel fighting took 6 weeks in September to October 3050, and Inner Sphere 'Mechs continued to emerge even after Tukayyid to raid Steel Viper forces.<ref>''Jade Falcon Sourcebook'', p. 42</ref>

Following the return from the Homeworlds and the [[Grand Kurultai]], the 305th then defended [[Montmarault]] from the Steel Vipers unsuccessfully in November 3051.  The Viper Guards had thus far not faced the Inner Sphere, while the Falcon forces were forced to make due with equipment that had faced many battles and untested fledglings from the Homeworlds.<ref>''Jade Falcon Sourcebook'', p. 43</ref>

The Galaxy again fought together on [[Quarell]] in December 3051.  Incensed at the losses to the Steel Vipers, the Inner Sphere hit-and-run tactics failed this time, with the aerospace fighters of the Falcons successfully scouting the Inner Sphere positions and orbital 'Mech drops leading to the near destruction of the Quarell 'Mech battalion, with only 6 members becoming bondsmen to the enraged Galaxy.

===Refusal War===
Fighting against [[Clan Wolf]] on [[Baker 3]] in [[3057]] the Cluster took 98% casualties, including their commanding officer, in a devastating defeat. That saw the 305th hit by successive hit and run attacks that depleted its ammunition supply to critical levels and left its forces strung out. The Wolf main attack virtually destroyed the unit leaving only two Points of [[Elemental]]s alive.<ref name=FW24>''The Falcon and the Wolf'', p. 24</ref>

===Battle of Coventry===
Rebuilt with fresh warriors straight out of the ''sibkos'' the 305th faced off against the [[Eridani Light Horse]]'s [[71st Light Horse Regiment]] on [[Coventry]] in [[3058]]. During this engagement, the Light Horse units destroyed the 305th's supporting artillery units and then forced the 305th out of their positions. The 305th inflicted severe damage on the Horsemen however, making this one of the Light Horse's costliest victories.<ref name="otpfi23">''Operational Turning Points: Falcon Incursion'', p. 23</ref>

The 305th also assaulted the north side of the Inner Sphere base, striking at the [[10th Skye Rangers]] and [[Coventry Donegal March Militia]] units stationed there.<ref>''The Battle of Coventry (scenario pack)'', p. 49</ref> The Falcons were driven off, but they later slammed into the Eridani Light Horse's position supported by [[Arrow IV]] and [[Thumper Artillery Piece|Thumper]] artillery. Despite this, they were repelled by the Horsemen.<ref>''The Battle of Coventry (scenario pack)'', p. 52</ref>

During the fighting on Coventry, the unit was composed of Trinaries and Novas, afterwards it was reduced to Binaries.<ref>''The Battle of Coventry (scenario pack)'', pp. 10, 48-50, 53</ref> As of 3059, the unit was considered dangerously understrength.{{cn}}

==Officers==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! scope="col" width="220" style="background: #dedede;" | Rank
! scope="col" width="220" style="background: #dedede;" | Name
! scope="col" width="220" style="background: #dedede;" | Command
|-
| colspan="4" style="background: #efefef;" | '''Commanding Officers of the 305th Assault Cluster'''
|-
| [[Star Colonel]]||[[Evelyn Buhallin]]||[[3052]] - [[3057]]<ref name="JFsb-077">''Jade Falcon Sourcebook'', p. 77</ref><ref name=FW24/>
|-
| Star Colonel||[[Tara (Clan Jade Falcon)|Tara]]||[[3058]] - [[3067]]<ref name="otpfi13">''Operational Turning Points: Falcon Incursion'', p. 13</ref><ref name=FMUp72>''Field Manual: Updates'', p. 72</ref>
|-
| Star Colonel||[[Noritomo Helmer]]||[[3134]]<ref>''Blood of the Isle'', p. 198</ref>
|-
|}

==Tactics==
The 305th Assault Cluster lost all its tactical specialties in the Refusal War. During the fighting on Coventry they preferred head on fights.<ref name="otpfi13"/>

==Composition History==
===3052===
'''305th Assault Cluster'''
* 5 [[Trinary|Trinaries]]<ref name="JFsb-077"/>

The cluster was served by these DropShips:
** ''[[Blood Beacon (Individual Overlord-class DropShip)|Blood Beacon]]'' (''[[Overlord-C]]'' [[DropShip]])
** ''[[Blood Home (Individual Union-class DropShip)|Blood Home]]'' (''[[Union-C]]'' DropShip)
** ''[[Blood Vessel (Individual Overlord-class DropShip)|Blood Vessel]]'' (''Overlord-C'' DropShip)

===3059===
'''305th Assault Cluster'''
* 5 [[Binary|Binaries]]{{cn}}

===3067===
'''305th Assault Cluster''' (Regular/Reliable)<ref name=FMU72+73>''Field Manual: Updates'', pp. 72–73</ref>
: Note: At this time the unit was stationed on [[Leskovik]] with an operational readiness of 95 percent.<ref name=FMU72+73/>

==References==
<references />

==Bibliography==
* ''[[The Battle of Coventry (scenario pack)]]''
* ''[[The Falcon and the Wolf]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: Crusader Clans]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: Updates]]''
* ''[[Jade Falcon Sourcebook]]''
* ''[[Operational Turning Points: Falcon Incursion]]''


[[Category:Clan Jade Falcon Commands|Assault, 305]]