Editing 2nd Federated Suns Armored Cavalry

{{Update Needed|[[The Old Rules of Hire]]}}
{{infoBoxMilitaryCommand
| image = [[File:Cunninghams_Commandos_logo_MSU.jpg|150px]]
| Designation = Second Federated Suns Armored Cavalry
| Formed = ca. 3028
| Disbanded = [[3144]] (destroyed)<ref name=FM:3145p71>''Field Manual: 3145'', p. 71: "Debacle at Palmyra"</ref>
| Previous Designation = Cunningham's Commandos
| Nickname = 
| Affiliation = [[Federated Suns]]
----
[[Mercenary]] (formerly)
| Parent Command = [[Armed Forces of the Federated Suns]]
| Sub-Command = 
}}
'''Cunningham's Commandos''' was a [[mercenary unit]] that was created in the wake of the [[Fourth Succession War]].<ref name=MSU47>''Mercenaries Supplemental Update'', p. 47</ref> Around [[3071]], at the height of their power, they consisted of two regiments that each consisted of three [['Mech]] [[battalion]]s, two [[combat vehicle|armor]] battalions and one [[jump infantry]] battalion.<ref name=MSU47/>

The heavily damaged command eventually merged into the [[Armed Forces of the Federated Suns]] in [[3076]] as the '''[[2nd Federated Suns Armored Cavalry|Second Federated Suns Armored Cavalry]]''',<ref name=JHS19>''Jihad Hot Spots: Terra'', p. 19</ref><ref name=FRAFFS20>''Field Report: AFFS'', p. 20</ref> and were effectively destroyed in [[3078]] before being rebuilt and then destroyed again in [[3143]] during the [[Palmyra Disaster]].<ref name=JHS74>''Jihad Hot Spots: Terra'', p. 74</ref><ref name=FM:3145p71/>

==History==
===Early Years===
The unit was created by [[Danny Cunningham]], a mercenary captain from another defunct unit who recruited his own cadre from among mercenaries and [[AFFS]] veterans. The fledgling unit took dangerous contracts "on the edge of civilization" (implicitly, the [[periphery]] border) in the first years, hunting pirates and executing deep raids into the [[Draconis Combine]] and [[Capellan Confederation]]. With luck and skill the unit used salvaged equipment to swell their ranks, though in reality only half their [['Mech]]s were fully operational at any given time.<ref name=MSU47/>

At one point several years prior to the [[War of 3039]], Cunningham's Commandos had been privately employed by governor [[Yosuki Yamada]] of [[New Aberdeen]] when he had problems with pirates and rogue warriors.<ref name=HW39-50>''Historical: War of 3039'', p. 50</ref>

In ca. [[3037]], Cunningham's Commandos' intervention on [[Gallitzin]] prevented that world from falling to Capellan Confederation control in a civil war that lasted for a year.<ref>''Historical: War of 3039'', p. 126</ref>

As of [[3038]] Cunningham's Commandos were stationed on [[Novaya Zemlya]].<ref name=HW39-140>''Historical: War of 3039'', p. 140</ref>

===War of 3039===
The jump-off point into the War of 3039 for Cunningham's Commandos was [[Benet III]].<ref name=HW39-140/> Because of having been on New Aberdeen previously, the mercenaries were sent to support an organized uprising there that was part of the War of 3039 between March and July [[3039]].<ref name=HW39-50/> The mercenaries took governor Yamada into protective custody when insurgents threatened to kill him, ending up between the fronts of what amounted to a local civil war that had exploded like a powder keg by July.<ref name=HW39-101>''Historical: War of 3039'', p. 101</ref>

When the [[Draconis Combine]] sent reinforcements (the [[12th Galedon Regulars]]), ''[[Sho-sho]]'' Yamada negotiated a solution by which the Combine forces would enact a joint peacekeeping mission together with the mercenaries, disarming citizens and imprisoning the worst offenders. Order was restored within three months.<ref name=HW39-101/>

Cunningham's Commandos left New Aberdeen in early December and returned to the posting on Novaya Zemlya after the war.<ref name=HW39-140/> They were charged with aiding the enemy, but acquitted following a communique from Yamada to the AFFS high command.<ref name=HW39-101/>

===Novaya Zemlya===
After the War of 3039 Cunningham's Commandos bounced from one border world to another for a time in [[AFFS]] employ. Finally, they were hired by the world of Novaya Zemlya to serve as a regular opposition force at the Novaya Zemlya Combat Training Center,<ref name=MSU47/> where they spent long years mimicking Capellan tactics in war games against rotating AFFS forces.<ref name=MSU47/><ref name="MSUp124">''Mercenaries Supplemental Update'', p. 124</ref> During this time, they added a second regiment to their roster that included one "swarm" company composed of twelve ''[[Grasshopper]]''s.<ref name=MSU47/>

===Clan Invasion===
Their assignment on Novaya Zemlya continued throughout the [[Clan Invasion]], though each battalion was rotated through the [[Lyran Commonwealth]] front to give them some experience and bolster weakened Lyran defenders.<ref name=MSU47/>

===Chaos March and Civil War===
When the Capellan Confederation invaded the [[St. Ives Compact]], the 1st Cunningham Commandos regiment was dispatched to St. Ives while the second would escort relief supplies into the embattled region at the behest of Duke Hasek. Afterwards, they returned to Novaya Zemlya.<ref name=MSU47/>

Throughout the FedCom Civil War, the unit conducted recon raids for Duke Hasek. In [[3066]] the 1st Cunningham's Commandos were dispatched from [[Zurich]] to [[Acamar]] by Duke Hasek, where they retook the world from [[Olson's Rangers]] (following a [[Capellan Confederation]]-backed invasion ploy).<ref>''Mercenaries Supplemental Update'', p. 42: Chaos Irregulars entry - ''Decision at Acamar''</ref>

In [[3068]] they took part in Hasek's ill-fated [[Operation SOVEREIGN JUSTICE]], where they saw heavy combat. It was reported that after helping the AFFS win the day on [[Hexare]] they made mistakes that the Capellans were quick to exploit in their relentless counterattacks; the Commandos suffered some 25% casualties before withdrawing to [[Weatogue]] by early [[3069]]. The second regiment enjoyed successes on [[Gei-Fu]], [[New Westin]] and [[Sendalor]] before significant damage from a [[Battle of New Westin (3068)|counterattack]] on New Westin and collapsing supply lines forced them to fall back to [[Mentasta]] by early 3069.<ref name=MSU47/><ref>''Jihad Secrets: The Blake Documents'', p. 17</ref>

===Merger===
At one point in ca. 3076 Cunningham's Commandos were mauled in a [[Taurian Concordat]] attack and subsequently reorganized, folding into a single regiment; they forged an agreement with the AFFS to become a line regiment.<ref>''Masters and Minions: The StarCorps Dossiers'', p. 47</ref>

They were known as the [[2nd FedSuns Armored Cavalry]] by [[3076]], partaking in the retaking of [[Schedar]]. Thanks to the sacrifice of the mercenary unit [[Wilson's Hussars]], they managed to flank the blakist forces and drive them off world.<ref name=JHS19/><ref name=FRAFFS20/> They were effectively destroyed in combat against the [[Word of Blake]]'s [[Shadow Divisions]] on [[New Home]] in [[3078]].<ref>''Jihad Hot Spots: Terra'', p. 74</ref>

===Palmyra===
The Second Federated Suns Armored Cavalry, reconstituted at some point after the end of the [[Jihad]], were among the thirteen Federated Suns military commands destroyed in the 3143 Palmyra Disaster.<ref name=FM:3145p71/>

==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 Cunningham's Commandos'''
|-
| ||[[Danny Cunningham]]|| At least from [[3037]] - [[3071]]<ref name=MSU47/>
|-
| colspan="4" style="background: #efefef;" | '''Commanding Officers of the 2nd FedSuns Armored Cavalry'''
|-
|}

==Tactics==
Unknown.

==Composition History==
===3040===
''' Cunningham's Commandos''' (Regiment/Regular/Reliable)<ref name=HWo3039p140/>
:Note: At this point in time the command was stationed on [[Novaya Zemlya]].<ref name=HWo3039p140>''Historical: War of 3039'', p. 140</ref>
:Contract: AFFC<ref name=HWo3039p140/>

==References==
<references />

==Bibliography==
* ''[[Field Manual: 3145]]''
* ''[[Field Report: AFFS]]''
* ''[[Historical: War of 3039]]''
* ''[[Jihad Hot Spots: Terra]]''
* ''[[Jihad Secrets: The Blake Documents]]''
* ''[[Masters and Minions: The StarCorps Dossiers]]''
* ''[[Mercenaries Supplemental Update]]''


[[Category:Federated Suns Commands|Federated Suns Armored Cavalry, 2nd]]