Little Richard's Panzer Brigade

Little Richard's Panzer Brigade
Little Richard's Panzer Brigade
Formed Late 2800s
Disbanded 3069
Previous Designation(s) Richard's Panzer Brigade
Affiliation Mercenary
Parent Command

History

Richard's Panzer Brigade, later known as Little Richard's Panzer Brigade, was created from a former House Davion military unit named the Panzer Brigade. When that unit's executive officer found out that their commander was dealing drugs to supplement his income, he threw the former CO and his associates out of the unit. He then used the opportunity caused by this chaos to foment a mutiny, leading the rest of the unit in seizing their assigned DropShips as "separation pay" and fleeing the Federated Suns. The now-mercenary unit later took contracts with House Kurita, Liao, and Marik during the remainder of the Third Succession War.[1] Not much is known of their exploits in the Third War, but in the late 2980s, they notably exercised an escape clause in their employment with the Free Worlds League.[2]

In or just prior to 3025, two battalions of heavy 'Mechs of Richard's Panzer Brigade were hired by the Draconis Combine to strengthen their garrisons along the Federated Suns border in anticipation of an imminent attack. Elements of Richard's Panzer Brigade fought McKinnon's Raiders on Galedon V, defending a cache of high-grade industrial diamonds. The outcome of the battle is unknown.[3]

The battle on Galedon V was near the end of the Brigade's employ with House Kurita. As of 3025, the unit was listed as in the employ of the Lyran Commonwealth and was based on Tharkad, noted as the Commonwealth's "most recent" mercenary acquisition.[4] When Hanse Davion and Melissa Steiner announced their wedding in 3028, the Panzer Brigade terminated their contract with the Lyran Commonwealth and were forced to seek employment with the Capellan Confederation, as they were persona non grata with the Federated Suns and had worn out their welcome elsewhere.[1][5] Perhaps due to the stress of relocating, Richard "Big Daddy" Whitman died suddenly and passed command of his unit to his son, Richard "Sugar Baby" Whitman. The younger Richard was not quite the commander that his father had been, and soon the unit had been given the epithet "Little" to reflect this change. Once under contract to the Capellan Confederation, they remained in its service, mostly on garrison duty, for the next several decades.

During the FedCom Civil War, the Brigade was rotated back to the Federated Commonwealth border from being stationed on the Periphery front. Seeing the unrest of that conflict as an opportunity to curry favor with their employers, they launched an unauthorized raid into the Chaos March, targeting the planets Genoa and Arboris. They did not expect to meet Beta Regiment of the Twelfth Vegan Rangers, who had been hired by Duke George Hasek to stop the predations of the Panzer Brigade before they could start.[5]

On initial contact, the Rangers smashed the Brigade, forcing it into a two-week retreat across the surface of Genoa. Knowing that the Brigade traditionally showed no quarter to its foes, the Rangers showed little mercy in dealing with Panzer Brigade personnel. Cornering the Brigade in their landing zone, the Rangers destroyed all of the Panzers' conventional forces and two DropShips before the hapless unit could manage to flee off-world. The Brigade retreated to Arboris, where they hoped to call for reinforcements from their employers. Unfortunately, the Rangers followed them into the system via pirate point and quickly made landfall, seeking to fulfill their orders to wipe out the Brigade completely. The weeklong battle that followed left the Panzer Brigade with only twenty-eight 'Mechs to their name. To make matters worse, Richard "Sugar Baby" Whitman was mortally wounded in the fight and died shortly after evacuation was complete.[5]

Now under the command of Whitman's daughter, Regina "Gila Queen" Whitman, the Brigade limped back to their base of operations on Pleione. There they learned that they had been entirely disavowed by the CCAF for their unauthorized actions. Capellan high command had cancelled their contract and revoked access to necessary supplies, leaving the Brigade stranded on Pleione until the planetary governor deigned to find a unit to replace them.[5]

Still on Pleione when the Blakist Jihad began in 3069, the unit fought to the last man against the forces of the Word of Blake despite not being contracted to do so. There were no survivors.[6]

Officers

Rank Name Command
Commanding Officers of Little Richard's Panzer Brigade
Colonel Richard DeCord Early Third Succession War[7]
Colonel Richard "Big Daddy" Whitman 3025[7]
Colonel Richard "Sugar Baby" Whitman 3027[8][9] - 3067[5]
Colonel Regina "Gila Queen" Whitman 3067 - 3069[5]

Tactics

The Panzer Brigade were willing to resort to every trick to win a battle, including pretending to be other 'Mech units and broadcasting fake IFF or distress signals.[5] They were well known for their brutal combat style and for rarely showing mercy to captured opponents. In the rare event that a prisoner was spared, they were relieved of all property and either marooned or ransomed back to their employers at a high price.[1]

Support

  • Technical: 100 %

- A single Invader-class JumpShip transports the Brigade's DropShips, one Overlord-class and one Union-class. - The JumpShip is often used for resupply missions.

Dragoons Rating

3059

Dragoons Rating: B[9]

3067

Dragoons Rating: F[5]

Composition History

3025

Richard's Panzer Brigade (Regiment/Veteran/Fanatical)

  • CO: Colonel Richard "Big Daddy" Whitman
Note: At this time the unit was stationed on Tharkad.

3050

Little Richard's Panzer Brigade (Regiment/Regular/Reliable)[10]

  • CO: Colonel Richard "Sugar Baby" Whitman[10]
Note: At this time the unit was stationed on Sax, Andarmax and Principia.[10]

3059

Little Richard's Panzer Brigade (Regiment/Veteran/Questionable)[8]

  • CO: Colonel Richard "Sugar Baby" Whitman[8]
Note: At this time the unit was stationed on No Return.[8]

3059

Little Richard's Panzer Brigade (Regiment/Veteran/Questionable)[9]

  • First Battalion (Richard's Own): CO/Colonel Richard Whitman
Composed mostly of medium and heavy BattleMechs
The unit employs a greater number of assault 'Mechs
The unit contains light and fast heavy 'Mechs
  • Air Panzers (Wing/Veteran/Questionable)
Wing Commander: Major Joel Levitson
  • Armored Panzers (Regiment/Veteran/Questionable)
Armor Commander: Lt. Colonel Brian "Buzz" Corbett
  • Ground Panzers (5 Companies/Regular/Questionable)
Infantry Commander: Major Angela Marino
(2 VTOL companies, 1 artillery company, 2 jump infantry companies)

3067

Little Richard's Panzer Brigade (1 Battalion)[5]

  • CO/Alpha Battle Co.: Colonel Regina Whitman
The unit contains fast heavy and medium BattleMechs.
  • XO/Bravo Assault Co.: Major Malcolm Powell
The unit fields heavy and assault designs.
The Company is composed of light and medium 'Mechs; many are upgraded Capellan designs.

Uniforms

Gallery

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Combat Manual: Mercenaries, p. 55
  2. Handbook: House Marik, p. 43
  3. The Fox's Teeth: Exploits of McKinnon's Raiders, pg. 29
  4. House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth), pp. 78, 121 (PDF edition)
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 5.8 Mercenaries Supplemental II, p. 47: "Unit Profile"
  6. Mercenaries Supplemental Update, p. 15
  7. 7.0 7.1 House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth), p. 76: "Richard's Panzer Brigade"
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Field Manual: Mercenaries, p. 107
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 Field Manual: Mercenaries, p. 74
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 20 Year Update, p. 63: "CCAF Deployment Table - 3050"

Bibliography