3rd Fleet (Free Worlds League)
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| Third Fleet | |
| Affiliation | Free Worlds League |
| Parent Command | Free Worlds League Navy |
Contents
History
Star League Era
The Free Worlds League Navy Third Fleet was one of five WarShip formations operated by the FWLN at the height of the Star League era, and as with the other four FWLN fleets, was the designated fleet for one of the five military districts within the Free Worlds League. The Third Fleet was responsible for patrolling the rimward border regions adjacent to the Magistracy of Canopus and Capellan Confederation - and for keeping the Duchy of Andurien under observation. As with the Second and Fourth Fleets the Third had fought a number of engagements in the decade leading up to 2765, firing on unidentified ships crossing the Free Worlds League's borders on numerous occasions. As with the other FWLN fleets, the destruction of the League-class destroyer FWLS Albert Marik in a brief engagement with a flotilla from the Star League Defense Force Seventh Fleet in the Calloway system in 2763 had a profound effect on the personnel of the Third Fleet, with operations being conducted with textbook precision and response times improving. During this period the Third Fleet's home base was the Kanata system.[1]
First Succession War
When Chancellor Barbara Liao launched a major attack on the Calloway system in early 2789, an attack she led personally, Task Force Devlin burned towards Calloway VI - a two-week journey - unaware that the FWLN Third Fleet was waiting in two large groups at Holt and Oriente, and had been made aware of the attack. The First Oriente Provincial Squadron had been waiting at the zenith jump point, and in addition to alerting the Third Fleet of the invading forces, the entire squadron - two Atreus-class battleships and four League II-class destroyers - tore into the midst of the Capellan task force, intent on destroying as many transport JumpShips and their embarked ground forces as possible. Although the First Oriente Provincial Squadron was destroyed, it was responsible for the destruction of a quarter of the Task Force's JumpShips, along with a regiment of BattleMechs and a regiment of aerospace fighters. The Squadron had also managed to injure Major Barnabus Liao, the Chancellor's younger son, while crippling the Overlord-class DropShip he was aboard. Twelve hours out from the surface of Calloway VI League assault craft and fighter carrier DropShips were waiting, and swarms of League aerospace fighters threw themselves at the lighter Capellan fighters. The resulting battle lasted two days, and by the time Task Force Devlin had managed to secure orbital supremacy above the planet the Task Force had lost seven more transport DropShips and two regiments of aerospace fighters.[2]
The Capellan landings went ahead, with the Task Force mustering roughly five regiments of 'Mechs - a number almost equaled by the defenders, who had spent two weeks fortifying positions, creating redoubts and evacuating civilians from the major cities on the planet. For ten days the Capellan ground forces fought a war of attrition against the defenders, hampered by the need to protect the Chancellor; when Barbara Liao finally announced a withdrawal from the planet only a third of the Red Lancers remained to evacuate her, and Barnabus Liao was killed along with the other members of the Ares Titans while attempting to fall back. Even as the Capellan forces evacuated from Calloway VI, they learned that their transport JumpShips had been destroyed. The FWLN Third Fleet had jumped to Calloway a week into Task Force Devlin's two-week approach to the planet; arriving close enough to the transport JumpShips to engage immediately, the Third Fleet had destroyed all bar two of the JumpShips, along with their small WarShip escort, and were burning towards Calloway VI, determined to avenge New Delos.[2]
Colonel Devlin assigned six WarShips to evacuate Barbara Liao, while his remaining forces acted as a rearguard against the vengeful League forces. By the time the Chancellor's ships were away, Devlin was dead, and the CCS Sundermann Liao had been destroyed, along with the bulk of Task Force Devlin. Of the original Task Force Devlin ships and forces, the survivors who managed to escape mustered just twelve WarShips, six attack DropShips, five 'Mech transports and three fighter carriers, transporting away the remnants of the ground forces - of which only the Red Lancers, Third Confederation Reserve Cavalry and Fifth Liao Lancers had managed to survive in any numbers. Lost during the naval battle was Baltazar Liao, the Chancellor's eldest son, who had been aboard the Essex-class destroyer CCS Calseraigne when it was destroyed by the Aegis-class heavy cruiser FWLS Pleiades.[2]
Officers
| Rank | Name | Command | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commanding Officers of the Third Fleet | |||
Tactics
Unknown.
Composition History
2765
The Free Worlds League Navy consisted of five fleet groups, with each fleet assigned to a League military district. Each fleet consisted of four Atreus-class battleships, one Aegis-class heavy cruiser, and two League-class destroyers. Other WarShips, JumpShips, and DropShips were assigned to each fleet as needed.[1]
In 2765 the flagship of the Third Fleet was the FWLS Accipiter.[1] The fleet also included the Aegis-class heavy cruiser FWLS Pleiades[2] and was the largest of the five FWLN fleets in 2765, having been assigned an additional Soyal-class heavy cruiser and a Baron-class destroyer purchased from the Star League Defense Force.[1]