Difference between revisions of "Siege of Hesperus II (2853)"
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| − | + | The '''Siege of Hesperus II''' was a spaceborne conflict during the [[Second Succession War]] that was concurrent with the [[Hesperus#The_Battles_for_Hesperus_II|Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Battles of Hesperus II]]. It was the last [[WarShip]] action in the [[Inner Sphere]] until the [[Clan Invasion]] two centuries later. | |
==Invasion and Blockade== | ==Invasion and Blockade== | ||
| − | The siege and invasion of Hesperus II is popularly portrayed as revenge for the assassination of [[Coordinator]] [[Yoguchi Kurita]], though evidence was later found that he had been planning the offensive well before his death.<ref name=2SWp72>''Second Succession War ( | + | The siege and invasion of [[Hesperus II]] is popularly portrayed as revenge for the assassination of [[Coordinator]] [[Yoguchi Kurita]], though evidence was later found that he had been planning the offensive well before his death.<ref name=2SWp72>''Second Succession War (sourcebook)'', p. 72</ref> The objective was the strategically important [[Defiance Industries]] complex on-planet, in hopes of crippling the Lyran ability to wage war. |
| − | On April 9, 2583, the Draconis Combine invaded Hesperus with all of the surviving Kuritan WarShips, accompanied by | + | On April 9, [[2583]], the Draconis Combine invaded Hesperus with all of the surviving Kuritan WarShips, accompanied by assault DropShips and [[aerospace fighter]]s. The initial assault cost the Lyran Defenders more than forty ships and upwards of 100 aerospace fighters along with possession of the recharge stations. Kuritan losses were relatively light: fewer than a dozen DropShips and a few squadrons of fighters were lost to the Lyran defense. For five months, Kuritan units held both jump points and the orbit of Hesperus II while the Lyran defenders used up their food and supplies. ''[[Tai-sho (rank)|Tai-sho]]'' [[Susumu Fujiwara]], the Combine commander, felt that time was on his side.<ref name=HSTLCp62>''House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth)'' PDF version, p. 62</ref><ref name=2SWp72/> |
| − | The [[LCAF]] made multiple attempts to run the blockade to no avail: the jump points were too well defended, and pirate point insertions could not get past the forces in orbit. The only success was placing observer vessels in the system outskirts. After five months the Draconis Combine began a ground war of attrition against the Lyran regiments, while on [[Tharkad]] a new plan was born.<ref name=2SWp73>''Second Succession War ( | + | The [[LCAF]] made multiple attempts to run the blockade to no avail: the jump points were too well defended, and pirate point insertions could not get past the forces in orbit. The only success was placing observer vessels in the system outskirts. After five months the Draconis Combine began a ground war of attrition against the Lyran regiments, while on [[Tharkad]] a new plan was born.<ref name=2SWp73>''Second Succession War (sourcebook)'', p. 73</ref><ref name=HSTLCp63>''House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth)'' PDF version, p. 63</ref> |
As of 25 October, the Draconis Combine blockading forces were deployed as follows: | As of 25 October, the Draconis Combine blockading forces were deployed as follows: | ||
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***Aerospace Wing CO:''Sho-sa'' [[David Dinh]]<ref name=SPDG/> with twelve squadrons, consisting of ''[[Lightning (Aerospace Fighter class)|Lightning]], [[Sabre]], [[Shilone]], [[Sholagar]]'', and ''[[Slayer]]'' fighters. | ***Aerospace Wing CO:''Sho-sa'' [[David Dinh]]<ref name=SPDG/> with twelve squadrons, consisting of ''[[Lightning (Aerospace Fighter class)|Lightning]], [[Sabre]], [[Shilone]], [[Sholagar]]'', and ''[[Slayer]]'' fighters. | ||
***Marine CO: ''Sho-sa'' [[Lewis Gohmann]]<ref name=SPDG/> | ***Marine CO: ''Sho-sa'' [[Lewis Gohmann]]<ref name=SPDG/> | ||
| − | *''[[Baron]]''-class destroyer: DCS ''[[Yedo (Individual Baron-class WarShip)|Yedo]]'' | + | *''[[Baron (WarShip class)|Baron]]''-class destroyer: DCS ''[[Yedo (Individual Baron-class WarShip)|Yedo]]'' |
** Attached squadron of ''Shilone'' fighters. | ** Attached squadron of ''Shilone'' fighters. | ||
*''[[Vigilant]]''-class corvette: DCS ''[[Wyrm (Individual Vigilant-class WarShip)|Wyrm]]'' | *''[[Vigilant]]''-class corvette: DCS ''[[Wyrm (Individual Vigilant-class WarShip)|Wyrm]]'' | ||
** Attached squadron of ''Shilone'' fighters | ** Attached squadron of ''Shilone'' fighters | ||
* ''[[Mammoth]]''-class [[DropShip]]: DCS ''[[Sabeeh]]'' | * ''[[Mammoth]]''-class [[DropShip]]: DCS ''[[Sabeeh]]'' | ||
| − | * ''[[Achilles (DropShip)|Achilles]]''-class DropShips: DCS ''[[Broadsword (Individual Achilles-class DropShip)|Broadsword]]'', DCS ''[[Katana (Individual Achilles-class DropShip)|Katana]]'', DCS ''[[Rapier (Individual Achilles-class DropShip)|Rapier]]'' | + | * ''[[Achilles (DropShip class)|Achilles]]''-class DropShips: DCS ''[[Broadsword (Individual Achilles-class DropShip)|Broadsword]]'', DCS ''[[Katana (Individual Achilles-class DropShip)|Katana]]'', DCS ''[[Rapier (Individual Achilles-class DropShip)|Rapier]]'' |
** Each ''Achilles'' carried a lance of ''Sabre'' fighters | ** Each ''Achilles'' carried a lance of ''Sabre'' fighters | ||
* ''[[Seeker]]''-class DropShips: DCS ''[[Cabeleira]]'', DCS ''[[Kraan]]'' | * ''[[Seeker]]''-class DropShips: DCS ''[[Cabeleira]]'', DCS ''[[Kraan]]'' | ||
| − | * ''[[Fury (DropShip)|Fury]]''-class [[DropShip]]s: DCS ''[[Roberts]]'', DCS ''[[Yama]]'' | + | * ''[[Fury (DropShip class)|Fury]]''-class [[DropShip]]s: DCS ''[[Roberts]]'', DCS ''[[Yama]]'' |
* ''[[Olympus]]''-class recharge station | * ''[[Olympus]]''-class recharge station | ||
;Zenith Jump Point Fleet<ref name=TD2p5>''Tactics of Desperation II'', p. 5</ref> | ;Zenith Jump Point Fleet<ref name=TD2p5>''Tactics of Desperation II'', p. 5</ref> | ||
| − | *''[[Bonaventure]]''-class corvettes: DCS ''[[Tamura]]'', DCS ''[[Georgia]]'' | + | *''[[Bonaventure (WarShip class)|Bonaventure]]''-class corvettes: DCS ''[[Tamura (Individual Bonaventure-class WarShip)|Tamura]]'', DCS ''[[Georgia (Individual Bonaventure-class WarShip)|Georgia]]'' |
*''[[Vigilant]]''-class corvette: DCS ''[[Pacheco (Individual Vigilant-class WarShip)|Pacheco]]'' | *''[[Vigilant]]''-class corvette: DCS ''[[Pacheco (Individual Vigilant-class WarShip)|Pacheco]]'' | ||
* Each of the three corvettes had an attached squadron of ''Shilone'' fighters | * Each of the three corvettes had an attached squadron of ''Shilone'' fighters | ||
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;Planetary Blockade Fleet<ref name=TD2p5/> | ;Planetary Blockade Fleet<ref name=TD2p5/> | ||
| − | * ''[[Overlord]]''-class DropShips: DCS ''[[Morrison]]'', DCS ''[[Sasaki]]'', DCS ''[[Solano]]'' | + | * ''[[Overlord (DropShip class)|Overlord]]''-class DropShips: DCS ''[[Morrison (Individual Overlord-class DropShip)|Morrison]]'', DCS ''[[Sasaki]]'', DCS ''[[Solano]]'' |
** Each ''Overlord'' had an attached squadron of ''Slayer'' fighters | ** Each ''Overlord'' had an attached squadron of ''Slayer'' fighters | ||
* ''[[Union]]''-class DropShips: DCS ''[[Karlander]]'', DCS ''[[Thoresson]]'' | * ''[[Union]]''-class DropShips: DCS ''[[Karlander]]'', DCS ''[[Thoresson]]'' | ||
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[[Henry DeCalidore]], a member of the [[Triumvirate Regency]], suggested using the ''LCS Invincible'', which had been a museum ship for many years. With no other active WarShips since the [[First Succession War]], the Lyran Commonwealth had to dig deep to get her ready: a mixture of aged veterans, crew from other ship types, and cadets from the naval academies worked up for all of September and part of October before departing for Hesperus.<ref name=HSTLCp63/><ref name=TD1p2-3>''Tactics of Desperation I'', pp. 2-3</ref><ref name=2SWp73/> | [[Henry DeCalidore]], a member of the [[Triumvirate Regency]], suggested using the ''LCS Invincible'', which had been a museum ship for many years. With no other active WarShips since the [[First Succession War]], the Lyran Commonwealth had to dig deep to get her ready: a mixture of aged veterans, crew from other ship types, and cadets from the naval academies worked up for all of September and part of October before departing for Hesperus.<ref name=HSTLCp63/><ref name=TD1p2-3>''Tactics of Desperation I'', pp. 2-3</ref><ref name=2SWp73/> | ||
[[Image:Tharkad JHS3070.jpg|right|thumb|LCS ''Invincible'']] | [[Image:Tharkad JHS3070.jpg|right|thumb|LCS ''Invincible'']] | ||
| − | ;Invincible and attached DropShips<ref name=TD1p3>''Tactics of Desperation I'', p. 3</ref> | + | ;''Invincible'' and attached DropShips<ref name=TD1p3>''Tactics of Desperation I'', p. 3</ref> |
* ''[[Tharkad (WarShip class)|Tharkad]]''-class LCS ''[[Invincible (Individual Tharkad-class WarShip)|Invincible]]'' | * ''[[Tharkad (WarShip class)|Tharkad]]''-class LCS ''[[Invincible (Individual Tharkad-class WarShip)|Invincible]]'' | ||
| − | ** Two squadrons each of ''[[Thunderbird]]'', ''[[Lucifer]]'', and ''[[Chippewa]]'' fighters. | + | ** Two squadrons each of ''[[Thunderbird (Aerospace Fighter class)|Thunderbird]]'', ''[[Lucifer]]'', and ''[[Chippewa]]'' fighters. |
| − | * ''[[Avenger]]''-class DropShips: LCS ''[[Droner]]'', LCS ''[[Hayes]]'' | + | * ''[[Avenger]]''-class DropShips: LCS ''[[Droner]]'', LCS ''[[Hayes (Individual Avenger-class DropShip)|Hayes]]'' |
* ''[[Intruder]]''-class DropShips: LCS ''[[Martina]]'', LCS ''[[Pitbull (Individual Intruder-class DropShip)|Pitbull]]'' | * ''[[Intruder]]''-class DropShips: LCS ''[[Martina]]'', LCS ''[[Pitbull (Individual Intruder-class DropShip)|Pitbull]]'' | ||
** Each ''Intruder'' had an attached squadron of ''Lucifer'' fighters. | ** Each ''Intruder'' had an attached squadron of ''Lucifer'' fighters. | ||
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==Action at the Nadir Jump Point== | ==Action at the Nadir Jump Point== | ||
| − | Thinking themselves the only power to still possess operational WarShips, the Draconis Combine panicked when the ''LCS Invincible'' jumped in. Ships scattered as the battlecruiser drove forward. The DCS ''Yedo'' and the ''Wyrm'' died under the guns of the ''Invincible'' and her consorts. Taking heavy fire, the ''Galedon II'' jumped away to a | + | Thinking themselves the only power to still possess operational WarShips, the Draconis Combine panicked when the ''LCS Invincible'' jumped in. Ships scattered as the battlecruiser drove forward. The DCS ''Yedo'' and the ''Wyrm'' died under the guns of the ''Invincible'' and her consorts. Taking heavy fire, the ''Galedon II'' jumped away to a preplotted point near the planet, taking two DropShips and some of her fighters with her. The rest of the nadir jump point defenders were lost.<ref name=HSTLCp63/><ref name=TD1p5>''Tactics of Desperation I'', p. 5</ref><ref name=2SWp73/> |
Both sides had been badly hurt. The heavily-damaged ''Galedon II'' escaped to Hesperus II with only sixteen fighters out of the seventy-two she had started with, the ''Sabeeh'', and the ''Katana'' which had two fighters remaining of her original squadron. On the Lyran side, the ''Invincible'' was also damaged, and half her attached fighter complement was gone. Of the six DropShips that made the initial jump, four were left to accompany the ''Invincible'' and the relief force to orbit: the ''Droner'', ''Martina'', ''Pitbull'', and ''Ecol'', all damaged to some degree. The Lyran DropShips' total fighter complement had been reduced to just seven among them.<ref name=TD2p3-5>''Tactics of Desperation II'', pp.3-5</ref> | Both sides had been badly hurt. The heavily-damaged ''Galedon II'' escaped to Hesperus II with only sixteen fighters out of the seventy-two she had started with, the ''Sabeeh'', and the ''Katana'' which had two fighters remaining of her original squadron. On the Lyran side, the ''Invincible'' was also damaged, and half her attached fighter complement was gone. Of the six DropShips that made the initial jump, four were left to accompany the ''Invincible'' and the relief force to orbit: the ''Droner'', ''Martina'', ''Pitbull'', and ''Ecol'', all damaged to some degree. The Lyran DropShips' total fighter complement had been reduced to just seven among them.<ref name=TD2p3-5>''Tactics of Desperation II'', pp.3-5</ref> | ||
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;Lyran Transport Flotilla<ref name=TD2p3/> | ;Lyran Transport Flotilla<ref name=TD2p3/> | ||
| − | *''[[Overlord]]''-class DropShips: LCS ''[[Layar]]'', LCS ''[[Sadaba]]'' | + | *''[[Overlord (DropShip class)|Overlord]]''-class DropShips: LCS ''[[Layar]]'', LCS ''[[Sadaba]]'' |
** Each ''Overlord'' had an attached squadron of ''Lucifer'' fighters. | ** Each ''Overlord'' had an attached squadron of ''Lucifer'' fighters. | ||
| − | * ''[[Union]]''-class DropShips: LCS ''[[Olsen]]'', LCS ''[[Yirrell]]'' | + | * ''[[Union]]''-class DropShips: LCS ''[[Olsen (Individual Union-class DropShip)|Olsen]]'', LCS ''[[Yirrell]]'' |
** Each ''Union'' had an attached squadron of ''Seydlitz'' fighters. | ** Each ''Union'' had an attached squadron of ''Seydlitz'' fighters. | ||
* ''[[Excalibur (DropShip class)|Excalibur]]''-class DropShip: LCS ''[[Muraya]]'' | * ''[[Excalibur (DropShip class)|Excalibur]]''-class DropShip: LCS ''[[Muraya]]'' | ||
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On 10 November 2853, the ''Invincible'' and her consorts engaged the combined Kuritan aerospace forces. With most of the attention focused on the Lyran battlecruiser, the relief transports were able to slip past and land on the planet's surface.<ref name=2SWp73/> | On 10 November 2853, the ''Invincible'' and her consorts engaged the combined Kuritan aerospace forces. With most of the attention focused on the Lyran battlecruiser, the relief transports were able to slip past and land on the planet's surface.<ref name=2SWp73/> | ||
| − | Even as the battle raged in orbit, Kuritan ground forces were making their final attack on the DefHes facility. The only force in their path was [[Defiance Self-Protection Force|The Force of Last Resort]], a scratch unit of forty Defiance employees piloting unpainted [[BattleMech]]s straight off the assembly line.<ref name=HSTLCp64/> Still under fire from the orbital defenses, the ''Invincible'' moved into low orbit and [[Orbital Bombardment|rained fire]] down on the Kuritans. Some were able to force their way into the factory and escape destruction, but most died.<ref name=2SWp73>''Second Succession War ( | + | Even as the battle raged in orbit, Kuritan ground forces were making their final attack on the DefHes facility. The only force in their path was [[Defiance Self-Protection Force|The Force of Last Resort]], a scratch unit of forty Defiance employees piloting unpainted [[BattleMech]]s straight off the assembly line.<ref name=HSTLCp64/> Still under fire from the orbital defenses, the ''Invincible'' moved into low orbit and [[Orbital Bombardment|rained fire]] down on the Kuritans. Some were able to force their way into the factory and escape destruction, but most died.<ref name=2SWp73>''Second Succession War (sourcebook)'', p. 73</ref><ref name=HSTLCp63/> |
The last of the Draconis Combine WarShips were destroyed in orbit.<ref name=HBHSp45/><ref name=HSTLCp64>''House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth)'' PDF version, p. 64</ref> Coordinator [[Miyogi Kurita]] ordered his remaining forces to withdraw.<ref name=2SWp73/> The siege was lifted. | The last of the Draconis Combine WarShips were destroyed in orbit.<ref name=HBHSp45/><ref name=HSTLCp64>''House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth)'' PDF version, p. 64</ref> Coordinator [[Miyogi Kurita]] ordered his remaining forces to withdraw.<ref name=2SWp73/> The siege was lifted. | ||
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In addition to the loss of their entire WarShip fleet, the Draconis Combine lost fifty percent or more of the combined forces committed to Hesperus. For this price, they gained the destruction of only one of the DefHes assembly lines, though that was up and running again within a year.<ref name=HBHSp45>''Handbook: House Steiner'' p. 45</ref><ref name=HSTLCp64>''House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth)'' PDF version, p. 64</ref> | In addition to the loss of their entire WarShip fleet, the Draconis Combine lost fifty percent or more of the combined forces committed to Hesperus. For this price, they gained the destruction of only one of the DefHes assembly lines, though that was up and running again within a year.<ref name=HBHSp45>''Handbook: House Steiner'' p. 45</ref><ref name=HSTLCp64>''House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth)'' PDF version, p. 64</ref> | ||
| − | Yet the Lyran Commonwealth paid a heavy price as well: the [[10th Skye Rangers]] and [[9th Arcturan Guards]] took so many losses that they were disbanded. As for the forty brave volunteers of "The Force of Last Resort", only five survived.<ref name=HSTLCp64/> | + | Yet the Lyran Commonwealth paid a heavy price as well: the [[10th Skye Rangers|Tenth Skye Rangers]] and [[9th Arcturan Guards|Ninth Arcturan Guards]] took so many losses that they were disbanded. As for the forty brave volunteers of "The Force of Last Resort", only five survived.<ref name=HSTLCp64/> |
The end of the battles did not mean the end of Lyran losses: on her return voyage to Tharkad, the LCS ''Invincible'', with two hundred crew aboard, was lost to an apparent [[JumpShip#Misjump|misjump]].<ref name=TD2p5/><ref name=HSTLCp64/><ref name=2SWp73/><ref name=HBHSp45/> | The end of the battles did not mean the end of Lyran losses: on her return voyage to Tharkad, the LCS ''Invincible'', with two hundred crew aboard, was lost to an apparent [[JumpShip#Misjump|misjump]].<ref name=TD2p5/><ref name=HSTLCp64/><ref name=2SWp73/><ref name=HBHSp45/> | ||
==Legacy== | ==Legacy== | ||
| − | Many honors were bestowed upon the living and the dead: [[Baron]] [[Ivor Brewer]], who commanded the forty volunteers in the factory, was given the [[Commonwealth Medal of Honor]] and made [[Duke of Hesperus II]]. His unit was given the [[Dragon Slayer's Ribbon]], and the thirty-five who died in the fighting were added to the [[List of Honored Missing]] along with the crew of the ''Invincible''. In a move without precedent, the entire planet was awarded the [[Honor of Skye]].<ref name=2SWp73/> The ''Invincible'' was featured on the back of the 100 [[Kroner]] note.<ref name=HBHSp131>''Handbook: House Steiner'' p. 131</ref> | + | Many honors were bestowed upon the living and the dead: [[Baron (noble title)|Baron]] [[Ivor Brewer]], who commanded the forty volunteers in the factory, was given the [[Commonwealth Medal of Honor]] and made [[Duke of Hesperus II]]. His unit was given the [[Dragon Slayer's Ribbon]], and the thirty-five who died in the fighting were added to the [[List of Honored Missing]] along with the crew of the ''Invincible''. In a move without precedent, the entire planet was awarded the [[Honor of Skye]].<ref name=2SWp73/> The ''Invincible'' was featured on the back of the 100 [[Kroner]] note.<ref name=HBHSp131>''Handbook: House Steiner'' p. 131</ref> |
With the destruction of the Kuritan fleet and the loss of the ''Invincible'', WarShips would be absent from Inner Sphere conflicts until the [[Clan]]s returned. As for the venerable ''Invincible'', she would reappear at the start of the [[Jihad]].<ref name=2SWp73/> | With the destruction of the Kuritan fleet and the loss of the ''Invincible'', WarShips would be absent from Inner Sphere conflicts until the [[Clan]]s returned. As for the venerable ''Invincible'', she would reappear at the start of the [[Jihad]].<ref name=2SWp73/> | ||
==Notes== | ==Notes== | ||
| − | For | + | * For aerospace fighter units, the compositions given in ''[[BattleCorps Scenarios#Scenario: Tactics of Desperation I|Tactics of Desperation I]]'' and ''[[BattleCorps Scenarios#Scenario: Tactics of Desperation II|Tactics of Desperation II]]'' do not necessarily conform to their faction's customary usage as found in [[Inner Sphere Aerospace Organization]]. For clarity and to conform to the usage of those scenarios, "lance" herein means a unit of two fighters while "squadron" means six fighters. Other levels of organization are omitted. |
| − | ''Tactics of Desperation I'' says that the blockade involved five Kuritan WarShips and six BattleMech regiments.<ref name=TD1p3/> However, ''Tactics of Desperation I'' and ''II'' list six WarShips between them.<ref name=TD1p4-5/><ref name=TD2p4-5>''Tactics of Desperation II'', pp. 4-5</ref> The ''Second Succession War'' sourcebook mentions eight regiments rather than six<ref name=2SWp72/>, but does confirm that Kurita lost six WarShips<ref name=2SWp73/>. ''Handbook: House Steiner'' says six BattleMech | + | * ''Tactics of Desperation I'' says that the blockade involved five Kuritan WarShips and six BattleMech regiments.<ref name=TD1p3/> However, ''Tactics of Desperation I'' and ''II'' list six WarShips between them.<ref name=TD1p4-5/><ref name=TD2p4-5>''Tactics of Desperation II'', pp. 4-5</ref> The ''Second Succession War'' sourcebook mentions eight regiments rather than six<ref name=2SWp72/>, but does confirm that Kurita lost six WarShips<ref name=2SWp73/>. ''Handbook: House Steiner'' says six BattleMech regiments and "more than twice as many" conventional regiments.<ref name=HBHSp43>''Handbook: House Steiner'', p. 43</ref> |
==References== | ==References== | ||
| Line 128: | Line 127: | ||
* ''[[Handbook: House Steiner]]'' | * ''[[Handbook: House Steiner]]'' | ||
* ''[[House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth)]]'' | * ''[[House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth)]]'' | ||
| − | * ''[[Second Succession War ( | + | * ''[[Second Succession War (sourcebook)|Second Succession War]]'' |
| − | * ''[[BattleCorps Ship Profiles#Ship Profile: DCS Galedon II|Ship Profile: DCS | + | * ''[[BattleCorps Ship Profiles#Ship Profile: DCS Galedon II|Ship Profile: DCS Galedon II]]'' |
* ''[[BattleCorps Scenarios#Scenario: Tactics of Desperation I|Tactics of Desperation I]]'' (scenario) | * ''[[BattleCorps Scenarios#Scenario: Tactics of Desperation I|Tactics of Desperation I]]'' (scenario) | ||
* ''[[BattleCorps Scenarios#Scenario: Tactics of Desperation II|Tactics of Desperation II]]'' (scenario) | * ''[[BattleCorps Scenarios#Scenario: Tactics of Desperation II|Tactics of Desperation II]]'' (scenario) | ||
| − | [[Category:Second Succession War Era Military Operations]] | + | |
| + | [[Category:Second Succession War Era Military Operations|Hesperus II, Siege of (2853)]] | ||
Latest revision as of 01:32, 22 April 2024
| Siege of Hesperus II | |||||||||||
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| Part of Second Succession War | |||||||||||
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| Factions | |||||||||||
| (Attacker) LCAF |
(Defender) DCMS |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||||
| Kommodore Parsh [1] | Tai-sho Susumu Fujiwara (overall), Cho-sho Greg Hossu (space command) | ||||||||||
| Forces involved | |||||||||||
| LCS Invincible and associated DropShips, Transport Flotilla | Two flotillas of Warships and associated DropShips | ||||||||||
| Environment | |||||||||||
| Space | |||||||||||
The Siege of Hesperus II was a spaceborne conflict during the Second Succession War that was concurrent with the Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Battles of Hesperus II. It was the last WarShip action in the Inner Sphere until the Clan Invasion two centuries later.
Contents
Invasion and Blockade[edit]
The siege and invasion of Hesperus II is popularly portrayed as revenge for the assassination of Coordinator Yoguchi Kurita, though evidence was later found that he had been planning the offensive well before his death.[2] The objective was the strategically important Defiance Industries complex on-planet, in hopes of crippling the Lyran ability to wage war.
On April 9, 2583, the Draconis Combine invaded Hesperus with all of the surviving Kuritan WarShips, accompanied by assault DropShips and aerospace fighters. The initial assault cost the Lyran Defenders more than forty ships and upwards of 100 aerospace fighters along with possession of the recharge stations. Kuritan losses were relatively light: fewer than a dozen DropShips and a few squadrons of fighters were lost to the Lyran defense. For five months, Kuritan units held both jump points and the orbit of Hesperus II while the Lyran defenders used up their food and supplies. Tai-sho Susumu Fujiwara, the Combine commander, felt that time was on his side.[3][2]
The LCAF made multiple attempts to run the blockade to no avail: the jump points were too well defended, and pirate point insertions could not get past the forces in orbit. The only success was placing observer vessels in the system outskirts. After five months the Draconis Combine began a ground war of attrition against the Lyran regiments, while on Tharkad a new plan was born.[4][5]
As of 25 October, the Draconis Combine blockading forces were deployed as follows:
- Nadir Jump Point Fleet[6]
- Samarkand-class carrier: DCS Galedon II (flagship)
- CO: Cho-sho Greg Hossu[7]
- Gunnery Master: Sho-sa Victor Liu[7]
- Aerospace Wing CO:Sho-sa David Dinh[7] with twelve squadrons, consisting of Lightning, Sabre, Shilone, Sholagar, and Slayer fighters.
- Marine CO: Sho-sa Lewis Gohmann[7]
- CO: Cho-sho Greg Hossu[7]
- Baron-class destroyer: DCS Yedo
- Attached squadron of Shilone fighters.
- Vigilant-class corvette: DCS Wyrm
- Attached squadron of Shilone fighters
- Mammoth-class DropShip: DCS Sabeeh
- Achilles-class DropShips: DCS Broadsword, DCS Katana, DCS Rapier
- Each Achilles carried a lance of Sabre fighters
- Seeker-class DropShips: DCS Cabeleira, DCS Kraan
- Fury-class DropShips: DCS Roberts, DCS Yama
- Olympus-class recharge station
- Zenith Jump Point Fleet[8]
- Bonaventure-class corvettes: DCS Tamura, DCS Georgia
- Vigilant-class corvette: DCS Pacheco
- Each of the three corvettes had an attached squadron of Shilone fighters
- It is implied that another recharge station was present at the zenith point as well.[2]
- Planetary Blockade Fleet[8]
- Overlord-class DropShips: DCS Morrison, DCS Sasaki, DCS Solano
- Each Overlord had an attached squadron of Slayer fighters
- Union-class DropShips: DCS Karlander, DCS Thoresson
- Each Union had an attached lance of Sabre fighters
- Leopard-class DropShips: DCS Brezesinksi, DCS Santana, DCS Wen Goei
- Each Leopard had an attached lance of Sholagar fighters
A Bold Plan[edit]
Henry DeCalidore, a member of the Triumvirate Regency, suggested using the LCS Invincible, which had been a museum ship for many years. With no other active WarShips since the First Succession War, the Lyran Commonwealth had to dig deep to get her ready: a mixture of aged veterans, crew from other ship types, and cadets from the naval academies worked up for all of September and part of October before departing for Hesperus.[5][9][4]
- Invincible and attached DropShips[10]
- Tharkad-class LCS Invincible
- Two squadrons each of Thunderbird, Lucifer, and Chippewa fighters.
- Avenger-class DropShips: LCS Droner, LCS Hayes
- Intruder-class DropShips: LCS Martina, LCS Pitbull
- Each Intruder had an attached squadron of Lucifer fighters.
- Leopard CV-class DropShips: LCS Ecol, LCS Stalker
- Each Leopard CV had an attached squadron of Seydlitz fighters.
On 25 October 2853, the Invincible jumped to the Hesperus nadir jump point.[10][4]
Action at the Nadir Jump Point[edit]
Thinking themselves the only power to still possess operational WarShips, the Draconis Combine panicked when the LCS Invincible jumped in. Ships scattered as the battlecruiser drove forward. The DCS Yedo and the Wyrm died under the guns of the Invincible and her consorts. Taking heavy fire, the Galedon II jumped away to a preplotted point near the planet, taking two DropShips and some of her fighters with her. The rest of the nadir jump point defenders were lost.[5][11][4]
Both sides had been badly hurt. The heavily-damaged Galedon II escaped to Hesperus II with only sixteen fighters out of the seventy-two she had started with, the Sabeeh, and the Katana which had two fighters remaining of her original squadron. On the Lyran side, the Invincible was also damaged, and half her attached fighter complement was gone. Of the six DropShips that made the initial jump, four were left to accompany the Invincible and the relief force to orbit: the Droner, Martina, Pitbull, and Ecol, all damaged to some degree. The Lyran DropShips' total fighter complement had been reduced to just seven among them.[12]
An hour after the arrival of the Invincible, Lyran JumpShips carrying a flotilla of DropShips containing relief forces for Hesperus II jumped in.[10]
- Lyran Transport Flotilla[1]
- Overlord-class DropShips: LCS Layar, LCS Sadaba
- Each Overlord had an attached squadron of Lucifer fighters.
- Union-class DropShips: LCS Olsen, LCS Yirrell
- Each Union had an attached squadron of Seydlitz fighters.
- Excalibur-class DropShip: LCS Muraya
- Triumph-class DropShips: LCS Albstrom, LCS Patalim
- Condor-class DropShips: LCS Syamala, LCS Uhl
- Mule-class DropShips: LCS Carafa, LCS Sowerby
Kommodore Parsh ordered his command to flank speed toward Hesperus II, placing strain on the mix of crew young and old. They would effect such repairs as they could as they sped toward the next meeting.[1][4]
Battle in Orbit[edit]
The DCS Galedon II jumped to a pirate point near Hesperus II. The planetary blockade ships saw the carrier emerge still venting atmosphere and debris. Once communications were established and they learned that the LCS Invincible was active once again, the decision was made to recall the zenith point corvettes: they would need everything they had to hold her off.[13]
On 10 November 2853, the Invincible and her consorts engaged the combined Kuritan aerospace forces. With most of the attention focused on the Lyran battlecruiser, the relief transports were able to slip past and land on the planet's surface.[4]
Even as the battle raged in orbit, Kuritan ground forces were making their final attack on the DefHes facility. The only force in their path was The Force of Last Resort, a scratch unit of forty Defiance employees piloting unpainted BattleMechs straight off the assembly line.[14] Still under fire from the orbital defenses, the Invincible moved into low orbit and rained fire down on the Kuritans. Some were able to force their way into the factory and escape destruction, but most died.[4][5]
The last of the Draconis Combine WarShips were destroyed in orbit.[15][14] Coordinator Miyogi Kurita ordered his remaining forces to withdraw.[4] The siege was lifted.
Aftermath[edit]
In addition to the loss of their entire WarShip fleet, the Draconis Combine lost fifty percent or more of the combined forces committed to Hesperus. For this price, they gained the destruction of only one of the DefHes assembly lines, though that was up and running again within a year.[15][14]
Yet the Lyran Commonwealth paid a heavy price as well: the Tenth Skye Rangers and Ninth Arcturan Guards took so many losses that they were disbanded. As for the forty brave volunteers of "The Force of Last Resort", only five survived.[14]
The end of the battles did not mean the end of Lyran losses: on her return voyage to Tharkad, the LCS Invincible, with two hundred crew aboard, was lost to an apparent misjump.[8][14][4][15]
Legacy[edit]
Many honors were bestowed upon the living and the dead: Baron Ivor Brewer, who commanded the forty volunteers in the factory, was given the Commonwealth Medal of Honor and made Duke of Hesperus II. His unit was given the Dragon Slayer's Ribbon, and the thirty-five who died in the fighting were added to the List of Honored Missing along with the crew of the Invincible. In a move without precedent, the entire planet was awarded the Honor of Skye.[4] The Invincible was featured on the back of the 100 Kroner note.[16]
With the destruction of the Kuritan fleet and the loss of the Invincible, WarShips would be absent from Inner Sphere conflicts until the Clans returned. As for the venerable Invincible, she would reappear at the start of the Jihad.[4]
Notes[edit]
- For aerospace fighter units, the compositions given in Tactics of Desperation I and Tactics of Desperation II do not necessarily conform to their faction's customary usage as found in Inner Sphere Aerospace Organization. For clarity and to conform to the usage of those scenarios, "lance" herein means a unit of two fighters while "squadron" means six fighters. Other levels of organization are omitted.
- Tactics of Desperation I says that the blockade involved five Kuritan WarShips and six BattleMech regiments.[10] However, Tactics of Desperation I and II list six WarShips between them.[6][17] The Second Succession War sourcebook mentions eight regiments rather than six[2], but does confirm that Kurita lost six WarShips[4]. Handbook: House Steiner says six BattleMech regiments and "more than twice as many" conventional regiments.[18]
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Tactics of Desperation II, p. 3
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Second Succession War (sourcebook), p. 72
- ↑ House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth) PDF version, p. 62
- ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 Second Succession War (sourcebook), p. 73
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth) PDF version, p. 63
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Tactics of Desperation I, pp. 4-5
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Ship Profile: DCS Galedon II
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Tactics of Desperation II, p. 5
- ↑ Tactics of Desperation I, pp. 2-3
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 Tactics of Desperation I, p. 3
- ↑ Tactics of Desperation I, p. 5
- ↑ Tactics of Desperation II, pp.3-5
- ↑ Tactics of Desperation II, p. 2-3
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth) PDF version, p. 64
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 Handbook: House Steiner p. 45
- ↑ Handbook: House Steiner p. 131
- ↑ Tactics of Desperation II, pp. 4-5
- ↑ Handbook: House Steiner, p. 43