Editing 4th Proserpina Hussars

{{infoBoxMilitaryCommand
| image          =[[Image:Proserpina Hussars.jpg|Insignia of the Proserpina Hussars|150px]]
| Designation    = Fourth Proserpina Hussars
| formed         = [[Age of War]] or earlier<ref name="H:RWp152">''Historical: Reunification War'', p. 152: "Rim Worlds Republic Front (Jump-Off - 2587)"</ref>
| Disbanded      = 
| Previous Designation = 
| Nickname       = The Luthien Leeches
| Affiliation    = [[Draconis Combine]]
| Parent Command = [[Proserpina Hussars]]
| Sub-Command    = 
}}
==History==
===Reunification War===
The '''Fourth Proserpina Hussars''' were one of four regiments assigned by the [[DCMS]] to the [[Draconis Auxiliary Corps]]<ref name="H:RWp152"/> formed in the early 2580s as a contribution towards [[Operation MAILED FIST]], the [[Star League]] intervention in the [[Rim Worlds Republic]] Civil War.<ref name="H:RWp131">''Historical: Reunification War'', p. 131: "False Starts (2579-81)"</ref> The Fourth Hussars were assigned to [[Task Force MAILED FIST]] alongside the [[2nd Sword of Light|Second]] and [[7th Sword of Light|Seventh Swords of Light]] and the [[1st Arkab Legion|First Arkab Legion]].<ref name="H:RWp152"/>

The Fourth Proserpina Hussars began operations in the Rim Worlds Republic as a part of Battle Group Timbuktu in [[2584]] with the campaign to secure [[Nightwish]] and the [[2nd Amaris Dragoons|Second Amaris Dragoons]].<ref name="H:RWp152"/><ref name="H:RWp21"/> The Draconis Combine forces were soon well known for their arrogance, brutality and inhumane methods;<ref name="H:RWp36">''Historical: Reunification War'', p. 36: "Second Sword of Light"</ref> unimpeded by the [[Ares Conventions]] as a result of the declaration by [[First Lord]] [[Ian Cameron]] in [[2578]] that [[SLDF]] operations in the [[Periphery]] would not be bound by the Conventions,<ref name="H:RWp21">''Historical: Reunification War'', p. 21: "Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges"</ref> the Fourth Hussars caused carnage on Nightwish, shelling inhabited areas to drive out hidden [[Rim Worlds Army]] forces and torturing prisoners for information. When the overall commander of Battle Group Timbuktu, [[Duke]] [[Narinder Selaj]] of the [[Principality of Regulus]], challenged the DCMS units over their tactics, he was rebuffed with the reply that the tactics were efficient and saved troops and resources. On paper, this was true; the DCMS forces lost 42 personnel - including 7 [[MechWarrior (pilot)|MechWarriors]] - in the conquest of Nightwish, whereas casualties on the opposing side exceeded 10,000 people.<ref name="H:RWp133">''Historical: Reunification War'', p. 134: "Helbrent to Nightwish (July 2582 - November 2584)"</ref>

The actions of the DCMS force on Nightwish led to them being despised by the Rim Worlds Army, the [[Rift Republican Army]]... and their own allies in the SLDF. Soon all of the Task Force MAILED FIST forces were being tarred with the same brush; both the RWA and RRA put the DCMS units on automatic kill lists - with the notable exception of the First Arkab Legion, who in contrast with their DCMS fellows were accorded a grudging respect for their compassion when dealing with prisoners of war<ref name="H:RWp36A">''Historical: Reunification War'', p. 36: "First Arkab Legion"</ref> - and resistance on Republic worlds increased sharply, both from the various military units and from the growing civilian partisan movements<ref name="H:RWp134">''Historical: Reunification War'', p. 134: "Arlina to Viborg (December 2584 - September 2588)"</ref> with hidden bunkers and weapon emplacements becoming both increasingly common and increasingly cynical in their placement, not that this prevented the Fourth Hussars from removing such sites through heavy weapons and shelling even as the Republic forces began locating complexes under schools, hospitals and other such sites.<ref name="H:RWp134A">''Historical: Reunification War'', p. 134: "Busting Bunkers"</ref>

The Draconis Auxiliary Corps fought as a complete formation against local militia forces during the occupation of [[Milvano]] in [[2586]]<ref name="H:RWp152"/> and against the loyalist [[7th Amaris Dragoons|Seventh Amaris Dragoons]] on [[Timbuktu]] in [[2588]].<ref name="H:RWp153">''Historical: Reunification War'', p. 153: "Rim Worlds Republic Front (2588-2596)"</ref><ref name="H:RWp155">''Historical: Reunification War'', p. 155: "Rim Worlds Republic Front (2588-2596)"</ref> The conquest of Milvano took more than a year, considerably longer than originally planned, thanks to ongoing bouts of civil unrest despite the brutality with which the Fourth Hussars and other DCMS units put down such actions.<ref name="H:RWp134"/>

The campaign for Timbuktu saw the Draconis Auxiliary Corps fighting alongside the elite [[11th Royal Division|Eleventh Royal Division]], an SLDF [[division]] from [[IV Corps (Star League)|IV Corps]], and the combined forces made short work of the defenses prepared by the Seventh Dragoons. [[Colonel]] [[Samuel Macao]] withdrew his forces to the more sparsely populated Hades continent, intent on using the mining complexes there for cover, but reports of the harsh treatment of Republic citizens at the hands of the DCMS forces provoked him into strikes that cost him much of his unit; the Fourth Hussars were then subjected to nineteen days of merciless bombardment until the survivors surrendered.<ref name="H:RWp135">''Historical: Reunification War'', p. 135: "Timbuktu (July 2588)"</ref>

After the campaign to secure Timbuktu was complete the Fourth Hussars were dispatched along with the First Arkab Legion to take the world of [[Marisura]] in [[2590]]. This was the first and only time that forces from the Draconis Auxiliary Corps would campaign directly alongside forces from Duke Narinder Selaj's [[2nd Marik Auxiliary Corps]], operating alongside a [[brigade]] of forces consisting of the [[2nd Marik Militia|Second]] and [[6th Marik Militia|Sixth Marik Militias]] and the [[1st Fusiliers of Oriente|First Brigade]] of the [[Fusiliers of Oriente]]. The combined Combine and Free Worlds forces overwhelmed the loyalist [[7th Amaris Fusiliers|Seventh Amaris Fusiliers]] and had secured the world in sufficient time for the Fourth Hussars to be deployed alongside the First Arkab Legion to secure the world of [[Mahrah]] in [[2590]]which would be the last campaign of the Reunification War for the Fourth Hussars;<ref name="H:RWp153"/> the Draconis Auxiliary Corps was withdrawn from Operation MAILED FIST in [[2591]] as the various District Warlords of the [[Draconis Combine]] attempted to compensate for the erratic actions of [[Coordinator]] [[Leonard Kurita]].<ref name="H:RWp138">''Historical: Reunification War'', p. 138: "Leonard the Debauched"</ref>

=== Star League Era ===
During the [[Star League era]] the Fourth Proserpina Hussars shared a common heritage back to a tank regiment of the same name that served under Coordinator [[Shiro Kurita]] and the [[Alliance of Galedon]], before the [[Draconis Combine]] was born. Since becoming equipped with BattleMechs, the Proserpina Hussars served as rapid-reaction units, constantly on the move - often staying on a planet for little more than a month or two before moving on.<ref name="FR2765DCMSp14"/>

The various Hussar regiments including the Fourth made a point of regularly challenging Star League Defense Force units to training exercises, and while the balance of victories lay with the [[SLDF]], the Hussars always represented a challenge and won a surprising number of victories. Unfortunately, the very mobility that was a hallmark of the Hussars was also a disadvantage when it came to ensuring that they were kept adequately supplied, as demands for spares and matériel could take months to catch up do the demanding unit - as could new and replacement personnel.<ref name="FR2765DCMSp14"/>

In common with the other regiments of the Hussars, the soldiers of the Fourth were concerned primarily with being the best soldiers they could be; the average member of the Fourth viewed politics as distasteful, and the high level of confidence each had in their own abilities could lead to the Hussars fighting on past the point at which they should retreat, and taking heavier casualties as a result.<ref name="FR2765DCMSp14"/>

===First Succession War===
When the holocaust that would be known as the [[First Succession War]] began, the Fourth was at full strength and stationed on [[Conroe]].<ref name="FSWp137"/>

No major operations by the Fourth were recorded, but they still suffered heavy losses, ending the conflict with little more than a third of their strength.<ref name="FSWp137"/>

===Second Succession War===
The Fourth started the [[Second Succession War]] stationed on [[Matar (system)|Matar]], having rebuilt to nearly three-quarters strength.<ref name="SSWp97"/>
{{ApocryphalContentStart}}
In [[2840]] the Fourth took part in the [[Battle of Proserpina (2840)|defense]] of [[Proserpina]].  Their employment of [[Land-Air 'Mechs]] would be a noted example of how to utilize the rare specialist units.
{{ApocryphalContentEnd}}
Despite not taking part in any major operations, when the War ended the Fourth was on [[Xhosa VII]] with slightly more than a quarter strength.<ref name="SSWp97"/>

=== Third Succession War ===
In the second decade of the [[Thirtieth century]] the Fourth Proserpina Hussars, along with the [[Second Sword of Light]] and [[Twentieth Dieron Regulars]], headed a massive multiregiment assault on the [[Tamar Pact]] under the overall command of General [[Tugima Travison]]. This assault, which launched in March [[2915]], took advantage of the defending Steiner forces' paralysis and insecurity. Despite the poor straits the [[LCAF]] found itself in the Fourth Hussars and the other DCMS troops were forced off [[Tamar]] by October [[2915]].<ref>''House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth)'', p. 72</ref><ref>''Technical Readout: 3026, Revised Edition'', p. 8</ref><ref>''Technical Readout: 3039'', p. 8</ref>

The [[Eighth Sword of Light]] and Fourth Proserpina Hussars fought the [[Davion Heavy Guards]] in [[3002]]'s Third Battle of [[Harrow's Sun]]. The Federated Suns ultimately prevailed but not before the Eighth had inflicted serious losses.<ref>''Technical Readout: 3025 Revised'', p. 104</ref>

Sometime between 3023 and 3025, the Fourth Hussars raided the Lyran world of [[Sevren]]. The defending Lyran unit, the [[26th Lyran Guards]] forced the Fourth to leave Sevren. This encounter was the first time the [[DCMS]] fought the ''[[Hatchetman]]'' design.<ref>''Technical Readout: 3025 Revised'', p. 48</ref><ref>''Technical Readout: 3039'', p. 228</ref>

In [[3025]] the unit was stationed on [[Orestes]].<ref name=HKDCp135/>

=== Fourth Succession War ===
While the [[Lyran Commonwealth Armed Forces]] were attempting to consolidate the gains made during [[Operation GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG]], the [[Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery]] launched a wave of counterattacks. Most of these contested worlds the Commonwealth had captured, but the Fourth Proserpina Hussars launched the most worrying attack for the Lyran High Command - an invasion of [[La Blon]], executed in the final weeks of [[3028]]. La Blon was defended by twenty assorted regiments of infantry and armor, and a single [[battalion]] of aging militia [[BattleMech]]s. The Fourth was a frontline 'Mech regiment and arrived with eighteen assorted supporting regiments, exploiting a hole in the LCAF's lines, and swiftly defeated the planetary militia.<ref name="FSWMAv1p61">''NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 1'', p. 61: "End of the Offensive"</ref>

In June [[3029]] the Commonwealth launched [[Operation HOLDUR]], a plan devised by the [[Margrave]] of the Ryde Theater, [[General]] [[Jack Sphire]], to break the deadlock in the region. HOLDUR carried a degree of risk and committed large numbers of troops - including militia forces - in an offensive spearheaded by 'Mech regiments and intended to be swift enough that the DCMS would be unable to counterattack. [[Archon]] [[Katrina Steiner]] approved the plan and mobilized additional 'Mech regiments to support HOLDUR, deploying regiments that had previously been held in reserve. When assigning these additional forces, the Archon dictated that these forces had to be used at the [[Terra]]n end of the Ryde area, so that they could respond to any attacks originating from the [[Free Worlds League]].<ref name="FSWMAv2p73">''NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 2'', p. 73: "Ryde Theater"</ref>

For the Archon, destroying DCMS 'Mech forces was as significant a goal as capturing territory;<ref name="FSWMAv2p73"/> the LCAF was angry at the loss of La Blon, and as a consequence assigned the [[First Royal Guards]] and two companies of 'Mechs from the mercenary unit [[Barrett's Fusiliers]] to land on La Blon and destroy the Fourth Proserpina Hussars. The Hussars were caught by surprise while they were in the process of relocating their headquarters to Fort Taurus from Fort Minotaur. When the elite Royal Guards dropped two kilometers from Fort Minotaur and attacked, they found it occupied by just a battalion of the Fourth's 'Mechs, and within 28 hours had secured the Fort. Meanwhile, the forces from Barrett's Fusiliers landed on Fort Taurus, overwhelming the small garrison there while the Hussars were still almost seventy kilometers away. Deprived of both Forts the Hussars retreated into the countryside, raiding settlements for supplies while the Royal Guards began launching recon operations to try and pin them down.<ref name="FSWMAv2p76">''NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 2'', p. 76: "La Blon"</ref>

The Hussars attempted to lure the Royal Guards out of Fort Minotaur so that they could sneak back in, without success, but were able to avoid getting trapped by the Royal Guards in turn until the Lyrans used falsified communications to lure the Hussars into a direct attack on Fort Minotaur, convinced that the main Guard force was elsewhere. The Hussars attacked in force, not realizing that they were facing the entire Royal Guards; after four hours of suffering heavy casualties the Hussars retreated, only to fall straight into an ambush prepared by the Fusiliers. With casualties mounting precipitously the surviving [[lance]]s from the Hussars abandoned La Blon.<ref name="FSWMAv2p76"/><ref name="FM:MRp42">''Field Manual: Mercenaries, Revised'', p. 42: "Barrett's Fusiliers: The Light Musketeers"</ref>

===Ronin War===
{{Sectionstub}}

===War of 3039===
During the [[War of 3039]] the Fourth Proserpina Hussars regiment was stationed on [[Fellanin II]]. The [[Eridani Light Horse]]'s Seventy-first Light Horse and Twenty-first Striker regiments attacked Fellanin in the first wave of the invasion. After stringing the Light Horse units along for three weeks, the Fourth Proserpina's artillery and a 'Mech-led combined arms battalion attacked the Light Horse's grounded [[DropShips]] and aerospace fighters. At the same time, the rest of the Fourth Hussars pinned the Light Horse's 'Mechs in place outside a small city so they couldn't aid their comrades. The Light Horse lost three DropShips, a battalion of 'Mechs, and a wing of fighters were destroyed or disabled. The Hussars lost their artillery and most of the attacking battalion.<ref name=HW39-41>''Historical: War of 3039'', p. 41</ref><ref>''Technical Readout: 3039'', p. 295</ref>

The Fourth Hussars struck again a few hours later, forcing the Light Horse units into retreat. After twelve hours of harassment from the Hussars, the Horsemen regrouped and delivered a counterattack that stopped the Fourth Hussars cold. The Hussars were the pursued, as they organized a series of fighting withdrawals. At last the Hussars tried to make a stand at a local fortress, but were smashed by the 21st Striker regiment. The survivors fled into the wilds of Fellanin II.<ref name=HW39-42>''Historical: War of 3039'', p. 42</ref> Less than a battalion of 'Mechs were able to fight, and it wasn't until the arrival of the [[2nd Arkab Legion]] that the Hussars were able to push the 71st Light Horse regiment (now the only [[AFFS]] force present) offworld.<ref name=HW39-92>''Historical: War of 3039'', p. 92</ref>

===Clan Invasion===
The Fourth Proserpina Hussars were destroyed in the [[Clan Invasion]].  Its surviving matériel and personnel were merged into the [[3rd Proserpina Hussars|Third]] when that unit was rebuilt to full strength.

==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 4th Proserpina Hussars'''
|-
| ''[[Brigadier General]]''||[[Pho Nget]]||[[3025]]<ref name=HKDCp135/>
|-
| ''[[Tai-sa]]''||[[Jiro Takada]]||[[3039]]<ref name=HW39-41 />
|-
| ''Tai-sa''||[[Wendel Garrison]]||[[3050]]<ref name=20YU42>''20 Year Update'', p. 42</ref>
|-
|}

==Tactics==
=== Star League Era ===
As a regiment within the Proserpina Hussars, the Fourth was trained to fight in a fast, hard-hitting style, based on a well-rounded approach to combined-arms warfare, which was further reinforced by the large number of officers within the regiment trained at either the [[Sun Tzu School of Combat]] or the [[University of Proserpina]]. To prove themselves capable of serving in the Hussars, and officer or soldier could be tested by the Commanding Officer of each regiment in multiday exercises during which those tested would have to demonstrate their ability to cope with highly fluid and mobile combat situations.<ref name="FR2765DCMSp14"/>

=== Succession Wars Era ===
In [[3025]] the unit was specialized in hit-and-run tactics.<ref name=HKDCp146>''House Kurita (The Draconis Combine)'', p. 146: "The Proserpina Hussars"</ref>

==Composition History==
===2765===
'''Fourth Proserpina Hussars''' (Regiment/Elite/Reliable)<ref name="FR2765DCMSp14">''Field Report 2765: DCMS'', p. 12: "Proserpina Hussars"</ref>
:- At this point in time the Fourth was based on [[Conroe]] and was supported by a single [[aerospace fighter]] wing, two jump infantry regiments equipped with lasers and [[SRM]]s and two hovertank regiments.<ref name="FR2765DCMSp14"/>

===2786–2821===
'''Fourth Proserpina Hussars''' (Regiment/Elite/Reliable)<ref name="FSWp137">''First Succession War'', p. 137: "Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery"</ref>
:- At this point in time the Fourth was a medium-weight regiment stationed on Conroe and was operating at full strength.<ref name="FSWp137"/> In 2821 the unit was stationed on [[Matar (system)|Matar]] and had been reduced to just above one-third of full strength.<ref name="FSWp137"/>

===2830===
'''Fourth Proserpina Hussars''' (Regiment/Elite/Reliable)<ref name="SSWp97">''Second Succession War'', p. 97: "Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery (DCMS)"</ref>
:- At this point in time the Fourth was a medium-weight regiment stationed on Matar and had rebuilt to just under three-quarters of full strength.<ref name="SSWp97"/>

===2864===
'''Fourth Proserpina Hussars''' (Regiment/Elite/Reliable)<ref name="SSWp97"/>
:- At this point in time the Fourth was a medium-weight regiment stationed on [[Xhosa VII]] and was operating at above one-quarter of full strength.<ref name="SSWp97"/>

===3025===
'''Fourth Proserpina Hussars''' (Regiment/Veteran/Reliable)<ref name=MW1ed123>''MechWarrior, First Edition'', p. 123</ref><ref name=HKsb146>''House Kurita (The Draconis Combine)'', p. 146</ref>
:* CO: Brigadier General Pho Ngeb<ref name=HKTDCp135>''House Kurita (The Draconis Combine)'', p. 135: "DCMS Deployment Table"</ref>
: Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on [[Orestes]]. The 4th Proserpina Hussars is medium 'Mech unit.<ref name=HKDCp146/><ref name=HKDCp135>''House Kurita (The Draconis Combine)'', p. 135</ref>

===3040===
'''Fourth Proserpina Hussars''' ([[Regiment]]/Veteran/Fanatical)<ref name=HWo3039p139/>
:Note: At this point in time the command was stationed on [[Scheat]].<ref name=HWo3039p139>''Historical: War of 3039'', p. 139</ref>

===3050===
'''Fourth Proserpina Hussars''' ([[Regiment]]/Regular/Fanatical)<ref name=20yup42>''20 Year Update'', p. 42</ref>
:* CO: Tai-sa Wendell Garrison<ref name=20yup42/>
: Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on Scheat.<ref name=20yup42/>

==References==
<references/>

==Bibliography==
{{div col|colwidth=25em}}
* ''[[Field Manual: Draconis Combine]]''
* ''[[Field Report 2765: DCMS]]''
* ''[[First Succession War (sourcebook)|First Succession War]]''
* ''[[Historical: War of 3039]]''
* ''[[House Kurita (The Draconis Combine)]]''
* ''[[House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth)]]''
* ''[[MechWarrior, First Edition]]''
* ''[[NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 1]]''
* ''[[NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 2]]''
* ''[[Second Succession War (sourcebook)|Second Succession War]]''
* ''[[Technical Readout: 3025 Revised]]''
* ''[[Technical Readout: 3026, Revised Edition]]''
* ''[[Technical Readout: 3039]]''
{{div col end}}


[[Category:Draconis Combine Commands|Proserpina Hussars, 04th]]