Kingston's Rangers

Previously the Kingston's Legionnaires, the Kingston's Rangers are a high-spirited unit known for sometimes questionable tactics.

History

Formation

A relative newcomer to the Chesterton Reserves, the Kingston's Legionnaires were formed from the remnants of two poor performing regiments, the 6th Capellan Reserve Cavalry and Shadrack's Shadow Hawks, taken out of active service after a failed attack on the Federated Suns world of Bristol in 2915.

The unit's first major action occurred in 2952 when the Legionnaires' Cheetahs, backed by Thunderbirds and Eagles from assorted reserve regiments, fended off incursions against Ingersoll by the Marik Guard.

The Legionnaires' next major assignment almost led to their destruction, tangling with the 42nd Avalon Hussars during the siege of Fletcher in 2985. Greatly outnumbered and suffering poor communication, the Hussars Marauders proved deadly, with over 60 percent of the unit destroyed before reinforcements could extract the survivors.

At the end of the Third Succession War, the Legionnaires consisted of two Battalions stationed on the planet of Heligoland

Fourth Succession War

Heligoland was targeted in the sixth wave of AFFS's Fourth Succession War invasion of the Capellan Confederation, with the the Legionnaires facing the 6th Crucis Lancers RCT. Instead of attacking the Lancers' drop zones, the Legionnaires chose to hold the superior defensive positions in the hills around planet's capital city Helio. Recognizing the tough combat required extract to the Legionnaires from their dug-in positions, the Lancers instead captured the sole water reservoir for Helio and cut the supply. The Legionnaires lasted two weeks in the sweltering heat before realizing they could wait no longer, charging down from the hills directly into the teeth of the Lancers.

As the Legionnaires losses mounted, the unit's CO Colonel Mathias requested an audience with the commander of the Lancers Marshal Orval Gossiage, offering to evacuate all Capellan forces off worlds in return for safe treatment of the planet's citizenry and transport for the Legionnaries and their families to the Capellan world of Minnacora. Despite the potential danger, the Marshal agreed to the terms. .

With the conclusion of the Fourth Succession War, the Legionnaires were one of just two units of the once mighty Chesterton Reserves to survive and remained on Minnacora, now a frontline world on the border with the Federated Commonwealth.

Andurien/Canopus Invasion

The Legionnaires were stationed on Heligoland and Minnacora during this conflict. No record exists of any action during the conflict.

Operation Bulldog

Compared to the fanatical and elite units contributed by the other states, many were surprised when the Capellan Confederation sent the Legionnaires as their contribution to Task Force Serpent, the reborn Star League's assault on the Clan Smoke Jaguar homeworld of Huntress in 3059. Publicly the reason stated was that with CCAF's elite forces tied up with stabilizing the so-called Chaos March and Operation Bulldog they couldn't afford to send anyone else, while many saw it as representing Chancellor Sun-Tzu Liao's low expectation of mission's success.

During the initial assault on Huntress in 3060, the Legionnaires were assigned with the 1st Knights of the Inner Sphere to capture a cadet training base near the city of New Andery. Both units discovered the bases were defended by a new form of military unit, the ProtoMech, and suffered heavy damage, requiring reinforcement by the 2nd Com Guard Division to carry the day. The Legionnaries suffered nearly 70 percent losses in this first battle.

In preparation for the Smoke Jaguar's counter-invasion, along with the 4th Drakons and 11th Lyran Guards, the remains of the Legionnaires were transferred to the Lunar Range on the continent of Abysmal to act reinforcement for the larger northern and southern armies. With losses mounting, the Legionnaires were assigned to bolster General Winston's northern army facing brutal combat in the Jaguar Fang mountains until the arrival of Victor Steiner-Davion's relief force.

Much of the CCAF were surprised both at the successful completion of Serpent and the Legionnaires return, a battered battalion's worth of survivors bringing with them Clan-tech OmniMechs making their way back to Liao space.

Xin Sheng Campaign

When the Victoria Commonality was split from the Sian Commonality, the CCAF assigned the remains of the Chesterton Reserves as to form the Victoria Commonality Rangers, with the Legionnaires being renamed the Kingston's Rangers.

As the FedCom Civil War raged, the Rangers were posted on Yuris as a procaution against Duke George Hasek fomented AFFS aggression, which eventually burst into minor conflict on Frazer. By 3067 the unit was posted on Zanzibar.

Jihad

During the Jihad, the unit was assigned to Operation: Thunderstrike's Task Force Vengeance as part of counter offensive against FedSun's Capella March invasion of the St. Ives Commonality in 3068. As part of TF Vengeance, they help to take worlds of Frazer, Mendham, Glentworth, Wrentham, and Robstart in Third Wave of the Operation in 3069.

In the Fourth Wave, Kingston and rest of TF Vengeance worlds of Manadee and Ridgebrook by end of June. TF Vengeance and sister Task Force Light Horse assaulted New Syrtis in September as part of the Fifth Wave. Here, Kingston and rest of the forces of two task forces fought grueling battle for the planet against six AFFC units that had gathered there. The unit withdrew from New Syrtis in January 3070 as part of Chancellor Sun Tzu Liao's call for a ceasefire.

As of 3079, the regiment is spread across Zanzibar, Yuris, and Rollis.

Officers

As part of a deal struck when the Legionnaires still belonged to the Chesterton Reservers, the Kingston family is entitled to hereditary command positions in the unit, though regimental and even battalion command are still determined based on skill by the CCAF. Part of this bargin also insures that unit only retains the Kingston name as long as one member of the Kingston line serves in the unit. The Kingston family also present a new 'Mech to the commanding officer, whether they are related or not every year.

As of 3025, the Legionnaires were commanded by Colonel Martha "Big Mama" Mathias.

As of 3050 the Legionnaires were commanded by Colonel Samuel Kingston. Previously serving under Colonel Mathias as commander of the 1st Battalion, Kingston lead the Legionnaires during Task Force Serpent and was killed during the last desperate days of fighting. He was reaffirmed as sang-shao in the new CCAF, awarded the Cluster of Conspicuous Heroism and buried with full honors.

As of 3066, the Rangers were commanded by Sang-shao Willow Green. Defying the stereotype of the elite MechWarrior, the shy and soft-spoken exterior hides a ruthless strength.

Tactics

The harder an enemy beats on the Rangers, the harder they fight back. While this stand and deliver style leads to heavy losses, the Rangers seem willing to pay this cost rather than allow an enemy to strike with impunity.

Composition History

3063

Kingston's Victoria Commonality Rangers (2 Battalions/Regular/Reliable)

XO/1st Battalion: Zhong-shao Oscar Sung

2nd Battalion: Zhong-shao Elizabeth Lee-Ping

- The command fields an independent command lance and received as replacement for battlefield loses 12 factory new machines.

Kingston's Air Rangers (2 Flights/Green/Reliable)

Wing Commander: Kong-zhong-shao Yal Po Tseng

- only a lately assignment

Kingston's Armored Rangers (2 Companies/Veteran/Reliable)

Armor Commander: Sao-shao Jamie "Mailman" Gardner

Kingston's Victoria Commonality Rangers Infantry (2 Regiments/Green/Reliable)

3rd Victoria Home Guard - Commander: Zhong-shao Pan Ti Lun

15th Victoria Home Guard - Commander: Zhong-shao Eric LaFabre

- 3rd & 15th regiment includes a company each of artillery and laser-equipped troops

3067

'Mech

• Kingston's Victoria Commonality Rangers (1 Regiment)

Aerospace

• Kingston's Air Rangers (2 Flights)

Armor

• Kingston's Armored Rangers (2 Companies only)

Infantry

• Kingston's Victoria Commonality Rangers Infantry (2 Regiments)
  • 3rd Victoria Home Guard (includes a company each of artillery and laser-equipped troops)
  • 15th Victoria Home Guard (includes a company each of artillery and laser-equipped troops)

3079

After the Jihad Kingston's Rangers were reduced to three quarters of their pre-war strength.

Notes

The majority of the Ranger use a two-color patchwork camouflage and always include red highlights. Those Rangers who fought in Clan-space however use the jungle pattern paint scheme they on Huntress, showing no sign of ever changing. Newer recruits may not use this color pattern.

Kingston's Rangers regimental insignia is a hawk pierced by a lance, set over a red circular field. As with other reserve divisions, the Victoria Commonality Rangers use the Confederation crest as their only insignia aside from a regimental emblem. Their version of the crest is backed by a steel-colored field.

The units sometimes referred to as Kingston's Victoria Commonality Rangers (or Kingston's VCR) in later source books.

Bibliography

• House Liao (The Capellan Confederation)
• NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 1
• NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 2
• 20-Year Update
• Twilight of the Clans
• Field Manual: Capellan Confederation
• Field Manual: Updates
• Jihad Secrets: The Blake Documents
• Field Report: CCAF