Editing Black Widow Company

{{Update Needed|[[Starterbook: Wolf and Blake]]|[[Historical: Brush Wars]]|[[Hector (short story)]]|[[The Day After]]|[[Technical Readout: 3145 Mercenaries]]|[[The Memory of Pain]]|[[The Fourth Succession War Scenarios Volume One]]|[[Era Report: 3145]]|[[Field Manual: 3145]]|[[Technical Readout: 3039]]}}
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{{infoBoxMilitaryCommand
| image = [[Image:Black Widow Company.jpg|150px|The Black Widow Company]]
| Designation = Spider's Web Battalion
| Formed = [[3014]]
| Disbanded = 
| Previous Designation = Black Widow Company<br>Black Widow Battalion<br>Wolf Spider Battalion
| Nickname = 
| Affiliation = [[Mercenary]]
| Parent Command = [[Wolf's Dragoons]]
| Sub-Command = 
}}

The infamous '''Black Widow Company''' was a semi-independent unit within the larger mercenary unit [[Wolf's Dragoons]], formed and led throughout its existence by [[Natasha Kerensky]], the "Black Widow".

Although composed mostly of misfits and troublemakers, the Black Widow Company was a dangerous elite fighting unit with a reputation for brilliant tactics and a boldness bordering on folly. Renowned for their skill as [[MechWarrior (pilot)|MechWarrior]]s, Natasha Kerensky and her unit were also known and feared for cruelty, deceitfulness and generally dishonorable behavior, attributes that set them apart from the rest of the highly esteemed Wolf's Dragoons.
Despite being annihilated at the dawn of the Jihad, they were resurrected shortly, becoming the most prestigious and elite unit in the Dragoons. However, at the dawn of the [[IlClan Era]], they were deactivated again after suffering massive losses.

==History==
===Early Days===
Upon returning from [[Terra]] in 3014 and his secret meeting with [[Anton Marik]] and [[Chancellor]] [[Maximilian Liao]], [[Colonel]] [[Jaime Wolf]] decided to create a new unit to give Dragoon troublemakers and hard cases a chance to rehabilitate themselves before being court-martialed.  He put [[Lieutenant]] [[Natasha Kerensky]] in command of this new unit as she loved to tackle near impossible situations and still pull through to victory.  Kerensky, now [[Captain]], quickly began to get her new unit into shape as a company-sized problem solver unit able to handle situations that larger formations could not.  By the time the Dragoons were in Marik Space, the unit was ready for the test.<ref name=WDsp17>''Wolf's Dragoons'', p. 17: "Pact with Anton Marik"</ref>

The Black Widow's first recorded action was during [[Anton Marik's Revolt]] in [[3014]] on [[Calloway]].  There they helped the trapped Wolf's Dragoons forces escape offworld.<ref name=WDsp19>''Wolf's Dragoons'', p. 18: "Last Gasp"</ref>

In [[3019]] the [[New Avalon Institute of Science]] decided to place several research facilities on [[Hoff]], particularly the [[Friden Aerospace Park]] that played a crucial role in the rediscovery of several technologies including [[Double Heat Sink]]s and the development of the ''[[Super Wasp]]'' and ''[[Super Griffin]]'' [[BattleMechs]] into prototype stage. The facility was sacked by the Black Widow Company<ref name=BT20YoAaFp87>''BattleTech: 25 Years of Art & Fiction'', p. 87: "Hoff Planet Profile"</ref> in [[3022]], even though [[Eridani Light Horse]] units tried to prevent it, even enhanced in some case with the technology being developed by the NAIS<ref name=HDp202>''House Davion (The Federated Suns)'', p. 202: "Hoff"</ref> during the period in which [[Wolf's Dragoons]] were in the employ of the Draconis Combine.<ref name=BT20YoAaFp87/>

The Black Widow Company [[Battle of Doneval II (3021)|raided]] [[Doneval II]] in [[3021]] during their contract for the [[Draconis Combine]], and faced the Cadet Corps from the [[Meistmorn Academy]].<ref>''Tales of the Black Widow Company'', pp. 24–25</ref>

In [[3022]], [[Kessel]] was subject to a raid from the Black Widow Company, under contract with the [[Lyran Commonwealth]]. At the time, the planet was defended by elements of [[Smithson's Chinese Bandits]] led by Captain [[Terrell Pilson]].<ref>''Tales of the Black Widow Company'', pp. 14–15</ref>

Under contract with the [[Draconis Combine]], the Black Widow Company fought an engagement with the [[Eridani Light Horse]] on [[New Aberdeen]] sometime between [[3023]] and [[3025]].<ref name=TBWCp16>''Tales of the Black Widow Company'', pp. 16–17: Queen's Gambit scenario</ref>

Still under Kurita contract, and during the end of the [[Third Succession War]] elements of the [[21st Illician Rangers]] faced the Black Widow Company on [[Galtor III]].<ref>''Tales of the Black Widow Company'', pp. 18–19</ref>

[[Klathandu IV]] was the scene of battle between the Black Widow Company and McKendrick's Company from the [[3rd Davion Guards|Third Davion Guards]].<ref name=TBWCp28-29>''Tales of the Black Widow Company'', pp. 28–29</ref>

[[Coursadin]] (Remis III) was the site of a battle between forces the Black Widow Company, versus [[Federated Suns]] forces including the Third Davion Guards and [[Lindon's Company]]. A Black Widow Company attack against an ammo dump had been repulsed, and headhunter forces gunning for [[Natasha Kerensky]] specifically engaged her in the Battle for Coursadin, a hard-fought engagement that went for at least a week.<ref name=TBW/> Up to this time Lindon's Company was under the command of [[Owen Lindon]],<ref>According to the unit write-up for Lindon's Company in the rulebook for the [[BattleTech, 2nd Edition]] box set</ref> but shortly afterwards as of 3025 it was under the command of "acting captain" [[Sarah Lindon]],<ref>''House Davion (The Federated Suns)'', p. 135: 'Mech Unit Deployment Table, Bryceland PDZ</ref> suggesting Owen Lindon may have been killed or incapacitated in this battle. (See notes)

During the [[Third Succession War]], [[Thule]]'s frozen and valuable watery climate was used as bait to trap elements from the pirate [[Helmar Valasek]] led by [[Roger Tregarth|Roger "The Tiger" Tregarth]]. House Kurita used the Black Widow Company to surprise the pirates and destroy them.<ref>''Tales of the Black Widow Company'', pp. 22–23: "The Chill of War"</ref> (It should be noted that this particular engagement took place far from the Black Widows' known deployment zone at the time; circumstantial evidence suggests it may have been not the real Black Widow Company, but a false flag operation by a faux unit which in turn may have had the approval of the real Black Widows. Natasha Kerensky herself at one point suggested she had doubles.<ref>''Natasha Kerensky: Bio-medical Report''</ref>)

The Black Widow Company engaged elements of the [[21st Centauri Lancers]] during the [[Twelfth Battle of Marduk]].<ref>''Tales of the Black Widow Company'', pp. 26–27</ref> (See notes)

During the Third Succession War [[Le Blanc]] was the scene of a complicated incident involving the Black Widow Company, [[Michael Hasek-Davion]], the [[Bounty Hunter]] and a family of high-tech skilled individuals ensued.<ref>''Tales of the Black Widow Company'', pp. 30–31</ref>

During the sixth campaign for [[Bergman's Planet]], the Black Widow Company and Rajhan's Company, [[4th Davion Guards|Fourth Davion Guards]] fought.<ref name=TBWCp32-33>''Tales of the Black Widow Company'', pp. 32–33</ref>

In September 3026, Wolf's Dragoons, including the Black Widow Company, along with the [[Fifth Sword of Light]] were tasked with flushing out resistance to the Kurita-backed government of [[Kawabe]] from cities and other defensive positions.<ref>''Sorenson's Sabres'', pp. 36–37</ref>

====Notes====
* The battle on Coursadin seems to have taken place in early November [[3024]], where a detachment of [[Epsilon Regiment (Wolf's Dragoons)|Epsilon Regiment]] was wrapping up operations on "Courasin"<ref name=WB>''Wolves on the Border'', ch. 18</ref> (implicitly meant to be the same battle elsewhere noted to have taken place on or at "Coursadin (Remis III)")<ref name=TBW>''Tales of the Black Widow'', pp. 20–21: "Spider Trap"</ref><ref name=WD>''Wolf's Dragoons'', p. 32</ref> and returning to their base on [[Thestria]].

===Misery & Fourth Succession War===
The unit survived both fights in quite good shape unlike most of the Dragoons units. The unit fought in [[Misery]] and then was included as part of Alpha Regiment fighting in [[Glenmora]] and [[Crossing]].<ref name=WDSp84>''Wolf's Dragoons'', p. 84: "Black Widow Company Roster"</ref>

At that time, none of the disciplinary measures awaiting the unit's member had been executed.<ref name=WDSp84/>

===Return to Business===
Following the devastating losses that Wolf's Dragoons suffered during the [[Battle of Misery]] against [[House Kurita]] and in the following [[Fourth Succession War]], the Black Widow Company was the first unit available for hire again and signed a contract on 7 November 7 [[3031]]. On 16 December of that year it was publicly announced that Natasha Kerensky had been promoted to Colonel, and that the unit had been upgraded to battalion strength. It was subsequently known as the '''Black Widow Battalion'''.<ref name=MTotBW/>

====Tsinghai====
In [[3031]], [[Tsinghai]] planetary rules hired the new [[Black Widow Battalion]] to defend their world after discovering from the compromised [[SAFE]] spy network on planet that it was a target of the [[Duchy of Orloff]]. In [[3032]] during the midst of the [[Andurien Secession]], hawkish members of the [[Free Worlds League Parliament|Parliament]] who had felt [[Captain-General of the Free Worlds League|Captain-General]] [[Janos Marik]] had not done enough during the Fourth War pressured his regent [[Thomas Marik]] to take some proactive action against the Steiner-Davion alliance. Unwilling to commit the untested [[4th Free Worlds Guards|Fourth Free Worlds Guards]] in subduing the [[Duchy of Andurien|Anduriens]], Thomas attempted to both appease the hawks in parliament and give the unbloodied unit a chance to prove itself, allowing the Fourth's commanding officer [[Colonel]] [[Veena Ligacescu]] to launch an attack against the [[Sarna March]] world of Tsinghai in February. With intelligence indicating only minimal resistance, success seemed a foregone conclusion.<ref name=FMFWLp43>''Field Manual: Free Worlds League'', p. 43: "Free Worlds Guards Profile"</ref><ref name=MTotBW/><ref name=HBW-62>''Historical: Brush Wars'', pp. 62–63: "The Andurien Wars - Phase 1: The Invasion of the Capellan Confederation - 3032: Counterblows - Tsinghai (February)"</ref>

Much to the new Fourth's shock, the planet was defended by the also newly enlarged Black Widow Battalion. [[Natasha Kerensky]] led the sub-unit of [[Wolf's Dragoons]] and effortlessly proved their elite status by shattering the Fourth so badly that the survivors chose to defect to [[Federated Commonwealth]] rather than return home to the League. As they feared, Captain-General Janos Marik was enraged by this betrayal, and the disgraced Fourth Free Worlds Guards were permanently disbanded and struck from the rolls of the FWLM.<ref name=FMFWLp43/><ref name=MTotBW/><ref name=HBW-62/>

====Wallacia====
After [[Wallacia]] rejected the [[Internal Emergency Act of 3030]], the [[Second Oriente Hussars]] seized the world's capital, but a government in-exile was established in [[Kujari]] (who had also not signed the Act). Both governments hired the [[Black Widow Battalion]], with Wallacia getting first help. The Widows [[Battle of Wallacia (3032)|quick victories]] set both governments to the negotiation table and a settlement was agreed.<ref name="MTotBWp9">''More Tales of the Black Widow'', p. 9</ref>

====Kujari====
A minor border world in [[3033]], '''Kujari''' was considered a possible target for invasion by [[Chancellor]] [[Romano Liao]] following conflicts on a number of nearby worlds including [[Wallacia]], which suggested that the local region of space was unstable. Romano elected to deploy an all-mercenary force to avoid damaging any of her regular [[CCAF]] units, choosing to send four battalion-sized mercenary units to probe the world: [[McCrimmon's Light Cavalry]], [[Rivaldi's Hussars]], [[St. Cyr's Armored Grenadiers]] and [[Steele's Eagles]], with overall command of the operation going to [[Colonel]] [[Donovan Steele]] of Steele's Eagles.<ref name="MTotBWp17+">''More Tales of the Black Widow'', pp. 17–19</ref>

Unfortunately for the Grenadiers, Romano's invasion force would face the '''Black Widow Battalion''' led by [[Natasha Kerensky]], as Kujari had been used for some time as a base of operations for the Black Widows. Steele elected to attack using a bold, aggressive plan similar to those used by [[Wolf's Dragoons]], a plan that was largely predicted by Kerensky from the outset. Despite a contested landing, the four mercenary commands managed to link up, but couldn't bring their numbers to bear against the Black Widows, and the campaign finished in defeat when Kerensky deceived many of the mercenaries into believing that her forces had left the planet, only to then launch a decapitation raid against the Eagles. Kerensky prevailed over Colonel Steele in a duel and called on him to surrender. Steele not only surrendered, he also led his unit to defect to the [[Federated Commonwealth]] rather than face a vengeful Romano Liao.<ref name="MTotBWp17+"/>

====Gei-Fu====
In [[3035]], [[Warrior House Ijori]] was stationed on [[Gei-Fu]] along with the [[Fourth McCarron's Armored Cavalry]] to control them. There, defending the home base of the Warrior House's first battalion, they faced off against the [[Black Widow Battalion]] (under contract from the [[Kell Hounds]]). This facility held arms, equipment, and other military supplies, but also served as a precious metals depository. The Widows distracted the [[CCAF]] units long enough for [[Seventh Kommando]] troops to infiltrate the base and plant explosives in the munitions lockers. The resulting blast destroyed the first battalion of the Warrior House and registered as a 7.5 earthquake on seismometers. The Widows then engaged the Second Battalion until reducing it to less than 20% operation.<ref>''More Tales of the Black Widow'', pp. 9–10</ref>

===Recall to Outreach===
They were recalled to the Dragoon homeworld of [[Outreach]] in [[3035]] and ordered to provide training for other Dragoon units for the following seven years. It is believed that during this time, the unit was restructured following [[Clan]] doctrine: Each company comprised of 15 [[BattleMech]]s (instead of 12 as per [[Inner Sphere]] standard), known among the Clans as a [[Trinary]].<ref name="MTotBWp11">''More Tales of the Black Widow'', p. 11: "Extended TDY"</ref>

===War of 3039===
In [[3039]] the [[18th Marik Militia|Eighteenth Marik Militia]] took the world of [[Hall]] from the [[Federated Commonwealth]] quickly and easily. Unfortunately the [[Black Widow Battalion]] led the counterattack, capturing part of the Second Battalion and smashing the other two battalions. The Eighteenth withdrew to their base world to rebuild.<ref>''Field Manual: Free Worlds League'', p. 63</ref><ref name="MTotBWp21">''More Tales of the Black Widow'', p. 21: "Ghost of Christmas Future"</ref>

===Disbandment===
When the [[Clan invasion]] began in [[3049]], Natasha Kerensky left Wolf's Dragoons and resumed her place among her fellow [[trueborn]] Clan warriors, eventually attaining the rank of [[Khan]] of [[Clan Wolf]]. The original '''Black Widow Battalion''' was disbanded after she left the unit, and a new unit called the '''Wolf Spider Battalion''' was formed within Wolf's Dragoons in their place.

The unit, led by [[Maeve Wolf]], was equipped with Inner Sphere BattleMechs, but upgraded with Clan technology, fought with great success in the [[Dragoon Civil War]], the [[First Battle of Harlech (3067)|First Harlech]] and [[Second Battle of Outreach (3067)|Second Harlech]] battles. However, the unit was already severely weakened in Second Harlech, and fell under the attack of their "allies" of the [[Broadsword Legion]], who were in reality [[Word of Blake|Blakist]] moles. Only one of the MechWarriors, [[Stacy Church]] survived. The rest of the unit was destroyed in the battle or the Blakist nuclear bombardment.{{cn}}

===Rebirth===
After the failed [[Battle of Mars]], the Dragoons tried to build new units on Arc-Royal, but without any success. Three of the new members of the unit died from suicide during the training. Then Maeve Wolf decided to resurrect the Black Widow Company. Assigning this task to Stacy Church, she explained his decision "because people fear legends".<ref>''Starterbook Wolf and Blake'', p. 17</ref>

Stacy decided to search their new recruits between veterans, malcontents, and those whose sole aim was to kill Blakists. The place to find them: Outreach.

The arrival of the Black Widows, then a single lance at Outreach in a [[Leopard]] class DropShip, wasn't very successful: they were detected and attacked by blockade Blakists and downed. All Widows survived the crash, with their 'Mechs operative, but immediately were attacked by their "old friends" of the Broadsword Legion.<ref name=SWBp18>''Starterbook Wolf and Blake'', p. 18</ref>

Forced to retreat, they lost a member of the lance, and were trapped, but when they prepared for a last stand, two lances of Dragoons, led by a warrior named [[Francine]], come to their rescue. Together, managed to open a hole in the Legion's lines and escape.

The next months, the new Black Widows led the main resistance group fighting against the Blakist occupation forces: the Broadsword Legion and [[Wannamaker's Widowmakers]] mercenary groups. The other one resistance unit was led by [[Tara Lucas (31st c.)|Tara Lucas]].<ref name=SWBp18 />

In September of 3070, Tara and Stacy had a meeting, agreeing to join forces, and the next nine months, they made life for the Blakists. The Black Widows, finally company strength, struck isolated Broadsword garrisons near Harlech, until April 3071. The two groups, acting together for the first time, drew the Broadsword Legion out of Harlech City. The Widows allowed them to be caught, but when the Legion were to annihilate the Widows, Tara Lucas forces attacked them. In the fight, the Legion was destroyed. Only Kari Marita and some warriors managed to escape.<ref name=SWBp19>''Starterbook Wolf and Blake'', p. 19</ref>

After the Legion's destruction, both resistance groups launched an assault on Wanamaker's Widowmakers' base on Remus continent where they had Dragoons' dependents prisoners. The assault was a success; despite the death of Tara Lucas, the Widowmakers were effectively destroyed, and the Dragoons captured four DropShips. Using three to evacuate refugees from planet, another was claimed by the Widows. Before departing Outreach, Stacy send a short message to Maeve Wolf: "The black Widows are back".<ref name=SWBp19 />

After leaving Outreach, the Widows began touring inside the Blakist Protectorate, striking targets of opportunity.<ref>''Starterbook Wolf and Blake'', p. 39</ref>

===Dark Age===
The unit, after the Jihad, was renamed Spider's Web and replaced both [[Zeta Battalion|Zeta]] and Wolf Spiders battalions as the Dragoons' more elite command. Their first significant action in the thirty-second century involved raids on the [[Duchy of Tamarind-Abbey]], fighting alongside [[Camacho's Caballeros]] on Saltillo.<ref>''Field Manual: 3145'', p. 178: "Wolf's Dragoons"</ref>

On an unknown date, the Spider's Web fought [[Clan Jade Falcon]] on the Lyran planet of [[Great X]]. There, after defeating the Falcons, a team led by Major [[Henry Kincaid]] captured a Falcon ''[[Overlord-C]]''-class DropShip, which was later renamed [[Jaime Wolf (DropShip)]] and assigned to the Spider's Web.<ref>''Redemption Rift'', pp. 9–13</ref>

The Spider's Web was stationed on the [[Dragon's Tongue]] world of [[Saginaw]] when the Suns launched [[Operation PERCEVAL]]. There, the Dragoons raised an effective defense against [[Erik Sandoval-Groell]]'s taskforce, but as they faced an entire [[RCT]], and were unable to receive Combine reinforcements, the 9 May [[3149]], they could no longer hold and retreated into the Tongue's, leaving Saginaw in the Suns' control.<ref>''Shattered Fortress'' p. 69</ref>

===IlClan Era and Disbandment===
The Spider's Web fought, alongside most of the Dragoons, at the [[Battle of Terra (3151)|Battle of Terra]], sustaining heavy losses. Compared with the other Dragoon regiments, they were lucky: Baker and Charlie companies ''only'' sustained forty percent losses, but the new Dragoons leader, Colonel [[Henry Kincaid]] was forced to deactivate the Spider's Web, at least temporarily.<ref>''Redemption Rites'', p. 29</ref>

==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 Black Widow Company'''
|-
| [[Captain]]||[[Natasha Kerensky]]||[[3015]]–[[3031]]<ref name=TS&TW/><ref name=ToBWC/>
|-
| colspan="4" style="background: #efefef;" | '''Commanding Officers of the Black Widow Battalion'''
|-
| [[Colonel]]||Natasha Kerensky||3031–[[3049]]<ref name=MTotBW/>
|-
| colspan="4" style="background: #efefef;" | '''Commanding Officers of the Wolf Spider Battalion'''
|-
| Colonel||[[Mackenzie Wolf]]||[[3050]]–[[3054]]<ref>''Wolf Pack'' (novel)</ref>
|-
| [[Major]]||[[John Clavell]]||3054–[[3067]]<ref name=FMMercsp114/>
|-
| colspan="4" style="background: #efefef;" | '''Commanding Officers of the Re-formed Black Widow Company'''
|-
| Captain||[[Stacy Church]]||[[3072]]<ref name="Starterbook: Wolf and Blake"/>
|-
| colspan="4" style="background: #efefef;" | '''Commanding Officers of the Spider's Web Battalion'''
|-
| Major||[[Eleanor Chan]]||[[3145]]<ref name=FM:3145p182>''Field Manual: 3145'', p. 182: "Notable Mercenary Forces - Draconis Combine"</ref>
|-
|}

==Tactics==
Hit hard and quick.

==Composition History==
<div class="desktop-3-col">
=== 3015 ===
'''Black Widow Company'''<ref name=TS&TW>''The Spider and the Wolf'': "BattleTech and MechWarrior Scenarios", pp. 2, 5</ref>
*Command Lance
::Captain [[Natasha Kerensky]] - ''[[Warhammer]]''
::[[Colin Maclaren]] - ''[[Marauder]]''
::[[Lynn Sheridan]] - ''[[Crusader]]''
*Fire Lance
::Lieutenant [[Takiro Ikeda]] - ''[[Archer]]''
::[[Michael Andrews]] - ''[[Shadow Hawk]]''
::[[Nikolai Koniev]] - ''[[Wasp]]''
::[[Akira Harlowe]] - ''[[Thunderbolt]]''
*Recon Lance
::[[Piet Nichols]] - ''[[Phoenix Hawk]]''
::[[Steve Tommersom]] - ''[[Hornet]]''
::Lieutenant [[Arthur Williams]] - ''[[Locust]]''

=== 3025 - 3028===
'''Black Widow Company'''<ref name=ToBWC>''Tales of the Black Widow Company'', pp. 8–13</ref><ref name=FSWSV1p31>''The Fourth Succession War Scenarios Volume One'', p. 31 "Helpless as a fly ", Attacker</ref>
* Command Lance
::Captain Natasha Kerensky - [[Warhammer|WHM-6R ''Warhammer'']]
::Colin Maclaren - [[Marauder|MAD-3R ''Marauder'']]
::Lynn Sheridan - [[Crusader|CRD-3R ''Crusader'']]
::[[John Hayes]] - [[Griffin|GRF-1N ''Griffin'']]
* Fire Lance
::Lieutenant Takiro Ikeda - [[Archer|ARC-2R ''Archer'']]
::[[Miklos Delius]] - ARC-2R ''Archer''
::Nikolai Koniev - [[Wasp|WSP-1A ''Wasp'']]
::[[Alex Ward]] - [[Stinger|STG-3R ''Stinger'']]
* Recon Lance
::Lieutenant [[John Clavell]] - [[Rifleman|RFL-3N ''Rifleman'']]
::Piet Nichols - [[Phoenix Hawk|PXH-1K ''Phoenix Hawk'']]
::[[Simon Fraser]] - [[Stinger|STG-3R ''Stinger'']]
::[[Mohammar Jahan]] - [[Stinger|STG-3R ''Stinger'']]

===3027===
* The ''[[Union]]''-class [[DropShip]] ''[[Widow's Web]]'' was known to be attached to the company during this year.<ref name=WotBp196>''Wolves on the Border'', p. 196</ref>

===3029===
'''Black Widow Company'''<ref name=WDSp84/>
* Command Lance
::Captain Natasha Kerensky - ''[[Warhammer]]''
::[[Sergeant]] Colin Maclaren - ''[[Marauder]]''
::Lynn Sheridan - ''[[Crusader]]''
::John Hayes - ''[[Griffin|Griffin]]''
* Fire Lance
::Lieutenant Takiro Ikeda - ''[[Panther]]''
::Sergeant Miklos Delius - ''[[Whitworth]]''
::Nikolai Koniev - ''[[Firefly]]''
::[[Delmar Lindstrom]] - ''[[Shadow Hawk]]''
* Recon Lance
::Lieutenant John Clavell - ''[[Firefly]]''
::Sergeant Piet Nichols - ''[[Hornet]]''
::Simon Fraser - ''[[Stinger]]''
::Mohammar Jahan - ''[[Stinger]]''

=== 3031 ===
'''Black Widow Battalion'''<ref name=MTotBW>''More Tales of the Black Widow'', p. 11: "Black Widow Battalion, 3031"</ref>
* Command Lance
::Colonel Natasha Kerensky - ''[[Warhammer]]''
::Captain Takiro Ikeda - ''[[Shogun]]''
::Lynn Sheridan - ''[[Crusader]]''
::John Hayes - ''[[Griffin]]''
* First BattleMech Company (Wolf Spiders)
:* First Lance
:::Captain John Clavell - ''[[Firefly]]''
:::Sergeant Simon Fraser - ''[[Stinger]]''
:::Mohammar Jahan - ''Stinger''
:::[[Bradley Turlow]] - [[Vulcan (BattleMech)|''Vulcan'']]
:* Second Lance
:::Lieutenant Piet Nichols - ''[[Hornet]]''
:::[[Steven Fujimi]] - ''[[Marauder II]]''
:::[[Jorge Muller]] - ''[[Annihilator]]''
:::[[Ulzanna Whitehead]] - ''[[Flea]]''
:* Third Lance
:::Lieutenant [[James Riker]] - ''[[Imp]]''
:::Sergeant [[Paul Sayers]] - ''Warhammer''
:::[[Wilson Smullen]] - ''Shogun''
:::[[Ted Heyden]] - ''[[Ostroc]]''
* Second BattleMech Company (Tarantulas)
:* First Lance
:::Captain [[MacKenzie Wolf]] - ''[[Enforcer]]''
:::[[Lillith Lang]] - ''[[Hermes II]]''
:::[[Trel Morkai]] - ''[[Rifleman]]''
:::[[John Castle]] - ''Crusader''
:* Second Lance
:::Lieutenant [[Leslie Kawalli]] - ''[[Marauder]]''
:::Sergeant Miklos Delius - ''[[Whitworth]]''
:::Nikolai Koniev - ''[[Firefly]]''
:::Delmar Lindstrom - ''[[Shadow Hawk]]''
:*Third Lance
:::Lieutenant [[Norah Jane Stokes]] - ''[[Griffin]]''
:::[[Maurice Frenn]] - ''[[Falcon]]''
:::[[Timothy Storrs]] - ''[[Charger]]''
:::[[Kathy Keegan]] - ''[[Wolverine]]''
* Aerospace Company
:* First Lance
:::Lieutenant [[Sidney Moskowitz|Sidney "Jackrabbit" Moskowitz]] - ''[[Thrush]]''
:::[[Thomas Gordon (TH)|Thomas "Top Hat" Gordon]] - ''Thrush''
:* Second Lance
:::Lieutenant [[Clarence Lamond|Clarence "Sweep" Lamond]] - ''[[Cheetah]]''
:::[[Ruben Norris|Ruben "Switchblade" Norris]] - ''Cheetah''
:* Third Lance
:::Lieutenant [[William Fitch|William "Trigger" Fitch]] - [[Centurion (Aerospace Fighter class)|''Centurion'']]
:::[[Scott Anderson|Scott "Swede" Anderson]] - ''Centurion''
* Third Team, Seventh Kommando

=== 3040 ===
''' Black Widow Battalion ''' (Battalion/Elite/Fanatical)<ref name=HWo3039p141/>
* Wolf Spiders (First Company)<ref name="MTotBWp22"/>
* Tarantulas (Second Company)<ref name="MTotBWp22"/>
* Black's Widow's Own (Third Company)<ref name="MTotBWp22"/>
* Aerospace Company<ref name="MTotBWp22"/>
* Support Infantry Company (Third Team, Seventh Kommando)<ref name="MTotBWp22"/>
: Note: At this point in time the command was stationed on [[Outreach]].<ref name=HWo3039p141>''Historical: War of 3039'', p. 141</ref>
: Note: At this time the unit was already organized with Clan structure, its lances containing 5 BattleMechs and the aerospace company containing 5 Points.<ref name="MTotBWp22">''More Tales of the Black Widow'', p. 22: "Training Battalion"</ref>

=== 3055 ===
[[Image:Wolf Spider Battalion.jpg|right]]
'''Wolf Spider Battalion''' (Reinforced Cluster)<ref>''Mercenary's Handbook 3055'', p. 45</ref>
* Command Star (5 [[OmniMech]]s)
:CO: [[Major]] [[John Clavell]]
* Wolf Striker Cluster
:* Spider Trinary (Alpha, Beta, and Gamma Star, 5 BattleMechs each)
:* Tarantula Trinary (Alpha, Beta, and Gamma Star, 5 BattleMechs each)
:* Web Trinary (Alpha and Beta Star, 5 BattleMechs each; Gamma Star of 5 [[Elemental]] Points)
* Aerospace Company (6 [[Aerospace fighter|fighter]]s)
* Third Infantry, Seventh Kommando Company
* Support Vessel: ''[[Overlord]]''-class DropShip ''[[Widow's Regards]]''

=== 3059 ===
'''Wolf Spider Battalion''' (Strengthened Battalion/Elite/Fanatical)<ref name=FMMercsp103> ''Field Manual: Mercenaries'', p. 103: "Wolf Spider Battalion: The Spider's Web"</ref>
:* CO/Command Star: [[Major]] [[John Clavell]]
*'''1st Trinary (Spider Trinary)''' (3 'Mech Stars)
:*CO: [[Captain]] Derek Storm
*'''2nd Trinary (Tarantula Trinary)''' (3 'Mech Stars)
:*CO: Captain Connor McDougal
*'''3rd Trinary (Web Trinary)''' (2 'Mech Stars, 1 Elemental Star)
:*CO: Captain [[Stacy Church]]
*'''Widow Flight''' (Aerospace fighter Squadron/Elite/Fanatical) (6 fighters)
:*CO: Captain Andrea Tyler
*'''Third Infantry, Seventh Kommando (Gray Wolf)''' (Kommando Strike Team/Elite/Fanatical)
:*CO: Lieutenant Gerald Davidson
* Support Vessel: ''[[Overlord]]''-class DropShip ''[[Widow's Regards]]''
: Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on [[Outreach]].<ref name=FMMercsp114>''Field Manual: Mercenaries'', p. 114</ref>

===3067===
'''Wolf Spider Battalion''' (Reinforced Battalion/Elite/Fanatical)<ref name=FMMR_119>''Field Manual: Mercenaries, Revised'', p. 119: "Wolf Spider Battalion: The Widow’s Legacy"</ref>
:* CO/Command Star: Major [[John Clavell]]
*'''Spider Trinary''' (3 'Mech Stars)
:*CO: Captain Ian MacIntosh
*'''Tarantula Trinary''' (3 'Mech Stars)
:*CO: Captain Dirk Samuels
*'''Black Widow Trinary''' (3 'Mech Stars)
:*CO: Captain [[Stacy Church]]
*'''Widow Flight''' (Aerospace fighter Squadron/Elite/Fanatical) (6 fighters)
:*CO: Captain Andrea Tyler
*'''Third Infantry, Seventh Kommando (Gray Wolf)''' (Kommando Strike Team/Elite/Reliable)
:*CO: Lieutenant Gerald Davidson
:Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on [[Outreach]].<ref name=FMU184>''Field Manual: Updates'' p. 184</ref>

=== 3072 ===
'''Black Widow Company'''
* Command Lance<ref name="Starterbook: Wolf and Blake">''Starterbook: Wolf and Blake'', p. 14: "Unit Composition"</ref>
:: Captain. [[Stacy Church]] - [[Zeus X|ZEU-9WD ''Zeus X'']]
:: Lt. [[Jacob Kincaid]] - [[Uziel|UZL-2S ''Uziel Jacob II'']]
:: [[Francine]] - [[Griffin|GRF-6S ''Griffin Francine II'']]
:: [[Calvin Magdaleno]] - [[BattleMaster|BLR-4S ''BattleMaster Calvin II'']]

* Fire Lance
:: Lt. [[Eirene Rondema]] - [[Gallowglas|GAL-4GLSA ''Gallowglas'']]
:: [[Orrin Fletcher]] - [[Dervish|DV-7D ''Dervish'']]
:: [[Michael Ramirez]] - [[Archer|ARC-7S ''Archer'']]
:: [[Max Henricksen]] - [[Cobra (BattleMech)|CBR-O2 ''Cobra'']]

* Recon Lance
:: Lt. [[Wyatt Rolfe]] - [[Wolfhound|WLF-4WA ''Wolfhound'']]
:: [[Neil Gibson]] - [[Firefly|FFL-4DA ''Firefly'']]
:: [[Halle Yost]] - [[Talon (BattleMech)|TLN-5W ''Talon'']]
:: [[Russel Madison]] - [[Locust|LCT-6M ''Locust'']]

=== 3145 ===
'''Spider's Web Battalion''' (Elite/Fanatical)<ref name=FM:3145p182/>
* CO: Major [[Eleanor Chan]]
* The ''[[Overlord-C]]''-class [[DropShip]] ''[[Jaime Wolf (DropShip)]]'' was known to be attached to the company.<ref>''Redemption Rift'', p. 13</ref>
</div>

==Other references==
* Parodied in [[Critter-TEK]] as the "Black Hippo Company" under Captain Natasha Immenski. According to the description: "Her tactical derring-do, silly clothes, and total confidence in the scriptwriter have led to a winning streak unsurpassed since the days of the Big League. In fact, most of the rest of Wolff's Baboons seem to exist purely to soak up damage while the Black Hippos win the battle" and all of the other Baboon battalions "stand around looking good while the feared and respected Black Hippo Company mops the floor with the enemy".

==Gallery==
===3015 Company Members===
<gallery>
Image:Natasha Kerensky color comic.JPG|Captain Natasha Kerensky
Image:Colin Maclaren 2.JPG|Colin Maclaren
Image:Lynn Sheridan.JPG|Lynn Sheridan
Image:Takiro Ikeda.JPG|Lieutenant Takiro Ikeda
Image:Michael Andrews.JPG|Michael Andrews
Image:Nikolai Koniev.JPG|Nikolai Koniev
Image:Akira Harlowe.JPG|Akira Harlowe
Image:Piet Nichols.JPG|Piet Nichols
Image:Steve Tommersom.JPG|Steve Tommersom
Image:Arthur Williams.JPG|Lieutenant Arthur Williams
</gallery>

===3025 Company Members===
<gallery>
Image:Natasha Kerensky 2.JPG|Captain Natasha Kerensky
Image:Colin Maclaren.JPG|Colin Maclaren
Image:Lynn Sheridan Crusader.JPG|Lynn Sheridan
Image:John Hayes Griffin.JPG|John Hayes
Image:Takiro Ikeda Archer.JPG|Lieutenant Takiro Ikeda
Image:Miklos Delius Archer.JPG|Miklos Delius
Image:Nikolai Koniev Wasp.JPG|Nikolai Koniev
Image:Alex Ward Stinger.JPG|Alex Ward
Image:John Clavell.jpg|Lieutenant John Clavell
Image:Piet Nichols Phoenix Hawk.JPG|Piet Nichols
Image:Simon Fraser Stinger.JPG|Simon Fraser
Image:Mohammar Jahan Stinger.JPG|Mohammar Jahan
</gallery>

===3072 Company Members===
<gallery>
Stacy Church SBWaB.png|Captain [[Stacy Church]]
Image:Jacob Kincaid.jpg|Lieutenant [[Jacob Kincaid]]
Image:Francine.jpg|MechWarrior [[Francine]]
Image:Calvin Magdaleno.jpg|MechWarrior [[Calvin Magdaleno]]
Image:Eirene Rondema.jpg|Lieutenant [[Eirene Rondema]]
Image:Orrin Fletcher.jpg|MechWarrior [[Orrin Fletcher]]
Image:Michael Ramirez.jpg|MechWarrior [[Michael Ramirez]]
Image:Max Henricksen.jpg|MechWarrior [[Max Henricksen]]
Image:Wyatt Rolfe.jpg|Lieutenant [[Wyatt Rolfe]]
Image:Neil Gibson.jpg|MechWarrior [[Neil Gibson]]
Image:Halle Yost.jpg|MechWarrior [[Halle Yost]]
Image:Russel Madison.jpg|MechWarrior [[Russel Madison]]
</gallery>

===BattleMech Gallery===
<gallery>
WDS Hellstar.png|Nina Slade's Hellstar during the Battle of Glenmora.
Black Widow Company Timber Wolf BoTukayyid.png|''Timber Wolf'' with the colors of the Black Widow Company
</gallery>

==Notes==
* Special rules for the Black Widow Company can be found in ''Historical Turning Points: Misery'' (p. 9).
* The Fire Lance's ''Shadow Hawk'' pilot during the 3015 attack on Anton Marik's compound on New Delos is named [[Willard Andrews (31st c.)|Willard Andrews]] in [[Jason Schmetzer]]'s short story, ''[[The Memory of Pain]]''.
* Miklos Delius is spelled in ''[[More Tales of the Black Widow]]'' as Mikos Delius.
* Nikolai Koniev is spelled in ''More Tales of the Black Widow'' as Nikolai Konief.

==References==
<references />

==Bibliography==
<div class="desktop-3-col">
* ''[[Field Manual: 3145]]''
* ''[[Historical Turning Points: Misery]]''
* ''[[Mercenary's Handbook 3055]]''
* ''[[More Tales of the Black Widow]]''
* ''[[Redemption Rift]]''
* ''[[Redemption Rites]]'' (novel)
* ''[[The Spider and the Wolf]]''
* ''[[Shattered Fortress]]'' (sourcebook)
* ''[[Starterbook: Wolf and Blake]]''
* ''[[Tales of the Black Widow Company]]''
* ''[[Wolf Pack]]''
* ''[[Wolf's Dragoons (sourcebook)|Wolf's Dragoons]]''
</div>


[[Category:Mercenary Commands|Wolf's Dragoons, Black Widow Company]]