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Line 4: == History == == History == ===Founding and Early History=== ===Founding and Early History=== − The Hanseatic Security Force was born in the mid-thirtieth century as a result of the desire of the [[Council of Merchants]] to continue expanding their sphere of influence and dictating policy to the various "independent" colony worlds within the Hansa sphere of influence. The Council laid the foundations of the HSF in [[2920]] with the decision to recruit mercenary forces to act as a security force, tasked with maintaining order and protecting Hanseatic interests; by the mid-thirtieth century the League had obtained enough equipment from sources in the [[Inner Sphere]] to form its own army, the Hanseatic Security Force (HSF). In addition to possessing [[aerospace fighter]] and conventional vehicle production facilities of a comparable level to those of the Inner Sphere at the time, the Hansa also obtained the design schematics to allow them to produce [[BattleMech]]s; while production within the League was never particularly high, these 'Mech assets were supported by a substantial conventional force.<ref name="FM:Pp135B">''Field Manual: Periphery'', p. 135: "Hanseatic League"</ref> + The Hanseatic Security Force was born in the mid-thirtieth century as a result of the desire of the Council of Merchants to continue expanding their sphere of influence and dictating policy to the various "independent" colony worlds within the Hansa sphere of influence. The Council laid the foundations of the HSF in [[2920]] with the decision to recruit mercenary forces to act as a security force, tasked with maintaining order and protecting Hanseatic interests; by the mid-thirtieth century the League had obtained enough equipment from sources in the [[Inner Sphere]] to form its own army, the Hanseatic Security Force (HSF). In addition to possessing [[aerospace fighter]] and conventional vehicle production facilities of a comparable level to those of the Inner Sphere at the time, the Hansa also obtained the design schematics to allow them to produce [[BattleMech]]s; while production within the League was never particularly high, these 'Mech assets were supported by a substantial conventional force.<ref name="FM:Pp135B">''Field Manual: Periphery'', p. 135: "Hanseatic League"</ref> − Initially, elements of the Hansa attempted to drive off interlopers and intruders—including adventurous merchants from the [[Periphery]] and Inner Sphere who might threaten the Hansa monopolies on trade and communications within the Hansa sphere of influence. When that proved unworkable in the longer term the Council of Merchants decided in [[3011]] to open up three worlds to outside trade,<ref name="FM:Pp135B"/> guarded by one of the Regional Defense Forces.<ref name="FM:Pp137">''Field Manual: Periphery'', p. 137: "Regional Defense Force 1"</ref> + Initially, elements of the Hansa attempted to drive off interlopers and intruders - including adventurous merchants from the [[Periphery]] and Inner Sphere who might threaten the Hansa monopolies on trade and communications within the Hansa sphere of influence. When that proved unworkable in the longer term the Council of Merchants decided in [[3011]] to open up three worlds to outside trade,<ref name="FM:Pp135B"/> guarded by one of the Regional Defense Forces.<ref name="FM:Pp137">''Field Manual: Periphery'', p. 137: "Regional Defense Force 1"</ref> ===The Clan Invasion and Jihad years=== ===The Clan Invasion and Jihad years=== Attempts to drive off [[Clan]] merchants who began appearing openly in the 3050s were largely unsuccessful, with the Clan response being typically bellicose; this was highlighted in [[3055]] when a Hansa Captain-General drove off a [[Clan Diamond Shark]] [[JumpShip]] near the [[Chainelane Isles]] only to have his JumpShip and a second JumpShip destroyed along with their attendant [[DropShip]]s by the Diamond Shark [[WarShip]] that appeared in-system shortly after. As a result, Hansa efforts at expansion were directed away from the [[Clan Homeworlds]] afterwards.<ref name="FM:Pp135B"/> Attempts to drive off [[Clan]] merchants who began appearing openly in the 3050s were largely unsuccessful, with the Clan response being typically bellicose; this was highlighted in [[3055]] when a Hansa Captain-General drove off a [[Clan Diamond Shark]] [[JumpShip]] near the [[Chainelane Isles]] only to have his JumpShip and a second JumpShip destroyed along with their attendant [[DropShip]]s by the Diamond Shark [[WarShip]] that appeared in-system shortly after. As a result, Hansa efforts at expansion were directed away from the [[Clan Homeworlds]] afterwards.<ref name="FM:Pp135B"/> − Between [[3064]] and [[3067]], the Council of Merchants appointed Captain-General [[Albert Snow]]—cousin of the head of the Council of Merchants, [[Liam Snow]]—to the position of head of the HSF. Promoted out of [[Regional Defense Force 1]], Albert began the process of transforming the HSF from a simple convoy protection force into a relatively well-trained military command,<ref name="M&M:TSCp231">''Masters and Minions: The StarCorps Dossiers'', p. 231: "Albert Snow"</ref> a process that involved replacing Captain-General [[Jonas Were]] of [[Regional Defense Force 5]]—an individual suspected of lining his own pockets rather than supporting his troops<ref name="FM:Pp138Z">''Field Manual: Periphery'', p. 138: "Regional Defense Force 5"</ref>—an early sign that Albert Snow would brook no dissent against his command. Snow also went against the wishes of a number of members of the Council of Merchants by choosing Captain-General [[Cynthia Hickock]] of [[Regional Defense Force 3]] as his deputy; Hickock's military skills were well-documented, but Hickock's experience had been gained as the result of a mercenary career, a career that also funded her rise through the ranks of the HSF, a stark contrast to those who funded their career through mercantile skills.<ref name="FM:Pp137Z">''Field Manual: Periphery'', p. 137: "Regional Defense Force 3"</ref> + Between [[3064]] and [[3067]] the Council of Merchants appointed Captain-General [[Albert Snow]] - cousin of the head of the Council of Merchants, [[Liam Snow]] - to the position of head of the HSF. Promoted out of [[Regional Defense Force 1]], Albert began the process of transforming the HSF from a simple convoy protection force into a relatively well-trained military command,<ref name="M&M:TSCp231">''Masters and Minions: The StarCorps Dossiers'', p. 231: "Albert Snow"</ref> a process that involved replacing Captain-General [[Jona Were]] of [[Regional Defense Force 5]] - an individual suspected of lining his own pockets rather than supporting his troops<ref name="FM:Pp138Z">''Field Manual: Periphery'', p. 138: "Regional Defense Force 5"</ref> - an early sign that Albert Snow would brook no dissent against his command. Snow also went against the wishes of a number of members of the Council of Merchants by choosing Captain-General [[Cynthia Hickock]] of [[Regional Defense Force 3]] as his deputy; Hickock's military skills were well-documented, but Hickock's experience had been gained as the result of a mercenary career, a career that also funded her rise through the ranks of the HSF, a stark contrast to those who funded their career through mercantile skills.<ref name="FM:Pp137Z">''Field Manual: Periphery'', p. 137: "Regional Defense Force 3"</ref> During the [[Jihad]] the HSF faced a number of challenges, including a raid on [[Antwerp]] by forces from [[Clan Ice Hellion]], while an attempt by two RDFs to displace Clan Diamond Shark from the Chainelane Isles resulted in heavy losses for no gain. The discovery by the [[Umayyad Caliphate]] and the [[Castilian Principalities]] that the Hansa were manipulating events to keep the two nations locked in an extended war for control of [[Nueva Castile]] led to constant raids by Umayyad forces in the same era, keeping the other RDF units busy; meanwhile, the Convoy Protection Force found itself tangling increasingly frequently with Clan Diamond Shark forces and taking significant casualties as a result.<ref name="FR:Pp18">''Field Report: Periphery'', p. 18: "Deep Periphery Forces"</ref> During the [[Jihad]] the HSF faced a number of challenges, including a raid on [[Antwerp]] by forces from [[Clan Ice Hellion]], while an attempt by two RDFs to displace Clan Diamond Shark from the Chainelane Isles resulted in heavy losses for no gain. The discovery by the [[Umayyad Caliphate]] and the [[Castilian Principalities]] that the Hansa were manipulating events to keep the two nations locked in an extended war for control of [[Nueva Castile]] led to constant raids by Umayyad forces in the same era, keeping the other RDF units busy; meanwhile, the Convoy Protection Force found itself tangling increasingly frequently with Clan Diamond Shark forces and taking significant casualties as a result.<ref name="FR:Pp18">''Field Report: Periphery'', p. 18: "Deep Periphery Forces"</ref> − The successful defense of Antwerp by [[Regional Defense Force 2]] in [[3073]] was a testament to the leadership abilities of Albert Snow, although Snow controversially pushed for the Hanseatic League to withdraw from its involvement in Nueva Castile because of the drain on the HSF imposed by having to constantly fend off punitive raids conducted by the Umayyad Caliphate, which was retaliating for the Hansa involvement in the ongoing conflict between the Caliphate and the Castilian Principality. Snow was confident of the HSF's ability to deal with the Caliphate's raids, but believed that the Clans represented the greater—and increasing—threat. By [[3076]], Snow was also causing controversy through his romantic relationship with [[Jessika Crossland]], the [[Word of Blake]] [[Precentor]] stationed on Bremen; despite both the diminished Blakist activity within the League and Crossland's membership in the Expatriates, one of the less extreme Blakist sects, Snow's involvement with Crossland was the subject of some concern for members of the Council of Merchants. Snow's response to these concerns was characteristically blunt, and served to further endear him to his troops within the HSF.<ref name="M&M:TSCp231"/> + The successful defense of Antwerp by [[Regional Defense Force 2]] in [[3073]] was a testament to the leadership abilities of Albert Snow, although Snow controversially pushed for the Hanseatic League to withdraw from its involvement in Nueva Castile because of the drain on the HSF imposed by having to constantly fend off punitive raids conducted by the Umayyad Caliphate, which was retaliating for the Hansa involvement in the ongoing conflict between the Caliphate and the Castilian Principality. Snow was confident of the HSF's ability to deal with the Caliphate's raids, but believed that the Clans represented the greater - and increasing - threat. By [[3076]] Snow was also causing controversy through his romantic relationship with [[Jessika Crossland]], the [[Word of Blake]] [[Precentor]] stationed on Bremen; despite both the diminished Blakist activity within the League and Crossland's membership in the Expatriates, one of the less extreme Blakist sects, Snow's involvement with Crossland was the subject of some concern for members of the Council of Merchants. Snow's response to these concerns was characteristically blunt, and served to further endear him to his troops within the HSF.<ref name="M&M:TSCp231"/> ===Reforms and the Hanseatic Crusade=== ===Reforms and the Hanseatic Crusade=== Line 27:
Line 27: The Council of Merchants exercises control over the HSF, with each RDF answering directly to the Council. Each RDF is commanded by the Captain-General of the BattleMech forces within that RDF; in addition to having almost total control over the forces within their charge, each Captain-General is responsible for keeping those forces fed and equipped. In exchange for this responsibility, each Captain-General receives a "tithe", drawn in proportion to the trade revenue for the area for which the Captain-General is responsible. This allows Captain-Generals to potentially turn a substantial profit, but as each Captain-General is responsible for making up any shortfalls, politics within the League has resulted in an individual RDF being deliberately starved of cash as a means of discrediting the Captain-General in charge - or reducing that Captain-General to penury. This political tactic represents an act of brinkmanship for those involved, as starving an RDF of funds runs the risk of weakening the League's defenses and their profitability as a consequence.<ref name="FM:Pp135A"/> The Council of Merchants exercises control over the HSF, with each RDF answering directly to the Council. Each RDF is commanded by the Captain-General of the BattleMech forces within that RDF; in addition to having almost total control over the forces within their charge, each Captain-General is responsible for keeping those forces fed and equipped. In exchange for this responsibility, each Captain-General receives a "tithe", drawn in proportion to the trade revenue for the area for which the Captain-General is responsible. This allows Captain-Generals to potentially turn a substantial profit, but as each Captain-General is responsible for making up any shortfalls, politics within the League has resulted in an individual RDF being deliberately starved of cash as a means of discrediting the Captain-General in charge - or reducing that Captain-General to penury. This political tactic represents an act of brinkmanship for those involved, as starving an RDF of funds runs the risk of weakening the League's defenses and their profitability as a consequence.<ref name="FM:Pp135A"/> − In the early [[thirty-second century]], the HSF pushed the Council of Merchants to provide them with more authority over their military deployments and expanded power. The Council agreed, allowing the HSF to expand the size of each RDF deployment. RDF 2 tested the new deployment model by attacking several [[Scorpion Empire]] colony worlds. The success of these attacks allowed the Captains-General to ask for more reforms. To oversee these changes they created the position of '''Captain-Marshal'''. The Captain-Marshal had command of all Regional Defense Forces and Convoy Protection Force.<ref name=otphcp10>''Operational Turning Points: Hanseatic Crusade'', p. 10</ref> + In the early [[thirty-second century]] the HSF pushed the Council of Merchants to provide them with more authority over their military deployments and expanded power. The Council agreed, allowing the HSF to expand the size of each RDF deployment. RDF 2 tested the new deployment model by attacking several [[Scorpion Empire]] colony worlds. The success of these attacks allowed the Captains-General to ask for more reforms. To oversee these changes they created the position of '''Captain-Marshal'''. The Captain-Marshal had command of all Regional Defense Forces and Convoy Protection Force.<ref name=otphcp10>''Operational Turning Points: Hanseatic Crusade'', p. 10</ref> == Composition of HSF Units == == Composition of HSF Units == Line 37:
Line 37: == Technology of the HSF == == Technology of the HSF == − HSF units are typically combined arms units equipped with designs equivalent to Inner Sphere equipment from the late [[Third Succession War]], although in the latter half of the thirty-first century more modern equipment began appearing in service with the HSF as a result of increased trade within the Inner Sphere—and a desire on the part of various governments within the Inner Sphere to exploit the League.<ref name="FM:Pp135">''Field Manual: Periphery'', p. 135: "The Hanseatic Security Force"</ref> + HSF units are typically combined arms units equipped with designs equivalent to Inner Sphere equipment from the late [[Third Succession War]], although in the latter half of the thirty-first century more modern equipment began appearing in service with the HSF as a result of increased trade within the Inner Sphere - and a desire on the part of various governments within the Inner Sphere to exploit the League.<ref name="FM:Pp135">''Field Manual: Periphery'', p. 135: "The Hanseatic Security Force"</ref> By the early thirty-second century, the Hansa had improved their industrial base to the point that they could produce Clan-invasion era equipment and weaponry.<ref>''Operational Turning Points: Hanseatic Crusade'', p. 9</ref> By the early thirty-second century, the Hansa had improved their industrial base to the point that they could produce Clan-invasion era equipment and weaponry.<ref>''Operational Turning Points: Hanseatic Crusade'', p. 9</ref> Line 50:
Line 50: As the senior officers within the HSF, Captain-Generals wear a uniform consisting of a red shirt worn under a white woolen jacket, white stirrup trousers and black boots. The jacket is decorated with gold epaulets and a red-banded golden sash; the bands on the sash denote the seniority of the officer in question.<ref name="FM:Pp136"/> As the senior officers within the HSF, Captain-Generals wear a uniform consisting of a red shirt worn under a white woolen jacket, white stirrup trousers and black boots. The jacket is decorated with gold epaulets and a red-banded golden sash; the bands on the sash denote the seniority of the officer in question.<ref name="FM:Pp136"/> − All members of the HSF wear the Hansa patch as insignia; the patch depicts an ancient sailing ship inset on a red disc, and each patch has a number on the sail depicted on the ship corresponding the RDF to which each person is assigned. The only exception is the Convoy Protection Force: Hansa patches worn by the CPF display a large letter "C" rather than a number to indicate their affiliation.<ref name="FM:Pp137"/> + All members of the HSF wear the Hansa patch as insignia; the patch depicts an ancient sailing ship inset on a red disc, and each patch has a number on the sail depicted on the ship corresponding the RDF to which each person is assigned. The only exception is the Convoy Protection Force - Hansa patches worn by the CPF display a large letter "C" rather than a number to indicate their affiliation.<ref name="FM:Pp137"/> == Units of the HSF == == Units of the HSF == Line 105:
Line 105: </gallery> </gallery> − ==References== + == References == <references/> <references/> − ==Bibliography== + == Bibliography == * ''[[Field Manual: Periphery]]'' * ''[[Field Manual: Periphery]]'' * ''[[Field Manual: Updates]]'' * ''[[Field Manual: Updates]]'' Line 114:
Line 114: * ''[[Masters and Minions: The StarCorps Dossiers]]'' * ''[[Masters and Minions: The StarCorps Dossiers]]'' * ''[[Operational Turning Points: Hanseatic Crusade]]'' * ''[[Operational Turning Points: Hanseatic Crusade]]'' + [[Category:Military Organizations]] [[Category:Military Organizations]]
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== History == | == History == | ||
===Founding and Early History=== | ===Founding and Early History=== | ||
| − | The Hanseatic Security Force was born in the mid-thirtieth century as a result of the desire of the | + | The Hanseatic Security Force was born in the mid-thirtieth century as a result of the desire of the Council of Merchants to continue expanding their sphere of influence and dictating policy to the various "independent" colony worlds within the Hansa sphere of influence. The Council laid the foundations of the HSF in [[2920]] with the decision to recruit mercenary forces to act as a security force, tasked with maintaining order and protecting Hanseatic interests; by the mid-thirtieth century the League had obtained enough equipment from sources in the [[Inner Sphere]] to form its own army, the Hanseatic Security Force (HSF). In addition to possessing [[aerospace fighter]] and conventional vehicle production facilities of a comparable level to those of the Inner Sphere at the time, the Hansa also obtained the design schematics to allow them to produce [[BattleMech]]s; while production within the League was never particularly high, these 'Mech assets were supported by a substantial conventional force.<ref name="FM:Pp135B">''Field Manual: Periphery'', p. 135: "Hanseatic League"</ref> |
| − | Initially, elements of the Hansa attempted to drive off interlopers and | + | Initially, elements of the Hansa attempted to drive off interlopers and intruders - including adventurous merchants from the [[Periphery]] and Inner Sphere who might threaten the Hansa monopolies on trade and communications within the Hansa sphere of influence. When that proved unworkable in the longer term the Council of Merchants decided in [[3011]] to open up three worlds to outside trade,<ref name="FM:Pp135B"/> guarded by one of the Regional Defense Forces.<ref name="FM:Pp137">''Field Manual: Periphery'', p. 137: "Regional Defense Force 1"</ref> |
===The Clan Invasion and Jihad years=== | ===The Clan Invasion and Jihad years=== | ||
Attempts to drive off [[Clan]] merchants who began appearing openly in the 3050s were largely unsuccessful, with the Clan response being typically bellicose; this was highlighted in [[3055]] when a Hansa Captain-General drove off a [[Clan Diamond Shark]] [[JumpShip]] near the [[Chainelane Isles]] only to have his JumpShip and a second JumpShip destroyed along with their attendant [[DropShip]]s by the Diamond Shark [[WarShip]] that appeared in-system shortly after. As a result, Hansa efforts at expansion were directed away from the [[Clan Homeworlds]] afterwards.<ref name="FM:Pp135B"/> | Attempts to drive off [[Clan]] merchants who began appearing openly in the 3050s were largely unsuccessful, with the Clan response being typically bellicose; this was highlighted in [[3055]] when a Hansa Captain-General drove off a [[Clan Diamond Shark]] [[JumpShip]] near the [[Chainelane Isles]] only to have his JumpShip and a second JumpShip destroyed along with their attendant [[DropShip]]s by the Diamond Shark [[WarShip]] that appeared in-system shortly after. As a result, Hansa efforts at expansion were directed away from the [[Clan Homeworlds]] afterwards.<ref name="FM:Pp135B"/> | ||
| − | Between [[3064]] and [[3067]] | + | Between [[3064]] and [[3067]] the Council of Merchants appointed Captain-General [[Albert Snow]] - cousin of the head of the Council of Merchants, [[Liam Snow]] - to the position of head of the HSF. Promoted out of [[Regional Defense Force 1]], Albert began the process of transforming the HSF from a simple convoy protection force into a relatively well-trained military command,<ref name="M&M:TSCp231">''Masters and Minions: The StarCorps Dossiers'', p. 231: "Albert Snow"</ref> a process that involved replacing Captain-General [[Jona Were]] of [[Regional Defense Force 5]] - an individual suspected of lining his own pockets rather than supporting his troops<ref name="FM:Pp138Z">''Field Manual: Periphery'', p. 138: "Regional Defense Force 5"</ref> - an early sign that Albert Snow would brook no dissent against his command. Snow also went against the wishes of a number of members of the Council of Merchants by choosing Captain-General [[Cynthia Hickock]] of [[Regional Defense Force 3]] as his deputy; Hickock's military skills were well-documented, but Hickock's experience had been gained as the result of a mercenary career, a career that also funded her rise through the ranks of the HSF, a stark contrast to those who funded their career through mercantile skills.<ref name="FM:Pp137Z">''Field Manual: Periphery'', p. 137: "Regional Defense Force 3"</ref> |
During the [[Jihad]] the HSF faced a number of challenges, including a raid on [[Antwerp]] by forces from [[Clan Ice Hellion]], while an attempt by two RDFs to displace Clan Diamond Shark from the Chainelane Isles resulted in heavy losses for no gain. The discovery by the [[Umayyad Caliphate]] and the [[Castilian Principalities]] that the Hansa were manipulating events to keep the two nations locked in an extended war for control of [[Nueva Castile]] led to constant raids by Umayyad forces in the same era, keeping the other RDF units busy; meanwhile, the Convoy Protection Force found itself tangling increasingly frequently with Clan Diamond Shark forces and taking significant casualties as a result.<ref name="FR:Pp18">''Field Report: Periphery'', p. 18: "Deep Periphery Forces"</ref> | During the [[Jihad]] the HSF faced a number of challenges, including a raid on [[Antwerp]] by forces from [[Clan Ice Hellion]], while an attempt by two RDFs to displace Clan Diamond Shark from the Chainelane Isles resulted in heavy losses for no gain. The discovery by the [[Umayyad Caliphate]] and the [[Castilian Principalities]] that the Hansa were manipulating events to keep the two nations locked in an extended war for control of [[Nueva Castile]] led to constant raids by Umayyad forces in the same era, keeping the other RDF units busy; meanwhile, the Convoy Protection Force found itself tangling increasingly frequently with Clan Diamond Shark forces and taking significant casualties as a result.<ref name="FR:Pp18">''Field Report: Periphery'', p. 18: "Deep Periphery Forces"</ref> | ||
| − | The successful defense of Antwerp by [[Regional Defense Force 2]] in [[3073]] was a testament to the leadership abilities of Albert Snow, although Snow controversially pushed for the Hanseatic League to withdraw from its involvement in Nueva Castile because of the drain on the HSF imposed by having to constantly fend off punitive raids conducted by the Umayyad Caliphate, which was retaliating for the Hansa involvement in the ongoing conflict between the Caliphate and the Castilian Principality. Snow was confident of the HSF's ability to deal with the Caliphate's raids, but believed that the Clans represented the | + | The successful defense of Antwerp by [[Regional Defense Force 2]] in [[3073]] was a testament to the leadership abilities of Albert Snow, although Snow controversially pushed for the Hanseatic League to withdraw from its involvement in Nueva Castile because of the drain on the HSF imposed by having to constantly fend off punitive raids conducted by the Umayyad Caliphate, which was retaliating for the Hansa involvement in the ongoing conflict between the Caliphate and the Castilian Principality. Snow was confident of the HSF's ability to deal with the Caliphate's raids, but believed that the Clans represented the greater - and increasing - threat. By [[3076]] Snow was also causing controversy through his romantic relationship with [[Jessika Crossland]], the [[Word of Blake]] [[Precentor]] stationed on Bremen; despite both the diminished Blakist activity within the League and Crossland's membership in the Expatriates, one of the less extreme Blakist sects, Snow's involvement with Crossland was the subject of some concern for members of the Council of Merchants. Snow's response to these concerns was characteristically blunt, and served to further endear him to his troops within the HSF.<ref name="M&M:TSCp231"/> |
===Reforms and the Hanseatic Crusade=== | ===Reforms and the Hanseatic Crusade=== | ||
| Line 27: | Line 27: | ||
The Council of Merchants exercises control over the HSF, with each RDF answering directly to the Council. Each RDF is commanded by the Captain-General of the BattleMech forces within that RDF; in addition to having almost total control over the forces within their charge, each Captain-General is responsible for keeping those forces fed and equipped. In exchange for this responsibility, each Captain-General receives a "tithe", drawn in proportion to the trade revenue for the area for which the Captain-General is responsible. This allows Captain-Generals to potentially turn a substantial profit, but as each Captain-General is responsible for making up any shortfalls, politics within the League has resulted in an individual RDF being deliberately starved of cash as a means of discrediting the Captain-General in charge - or reducing that Captain-General to penury. This political tactic represents an act of brinkmanship for those involved, as starving an RDF of funds runs the risk of weakening the League's defenses and their profitability as a consequence.<ref name="FM:Pp135A"/> | The Council of Merchants exercises control over the HSF, with each RDF answering directly to the Council. Each RDF is commanded by the Captain-General of the BattleMech forces within that RDF; in addition to having almost total control over the forces within their charge, each Captain-General is responsible for keeping those forces fed and equipped. In exchange for this responsibility, each Captain-General receives a "tithe", drawn in proportion to the trade revenue for the area for which the Captain-General is responsible. This allows Captain-Generals to potentially turn a substantial profit, but as each Captain-General is responsible for making up any shortfalls, politics within the League has resulted in an individual RDF being deliberately starved of cash as a means of discrediting the Captain-General in charge - or reducing that Captain-General to penury. This political tactic represents an act of brinkmanship for those involved, as starving an RDF of funds runs the risk of weakening the League's defenses and their profitability as a consequence.<ref name="FM:Pp135A"/> | ||
| − | In the early [[thirty-second century]] | + | In the early [[thirty-second century]] the HSF pushed the Council of Merchants to provide them with more authority over their military deployments and expanded power. The Council agreed, allowing the HSF to expand the size of each RDF deployment. RDF 2 tested the new deployment model by attacking several [[Scorpion Empire]] colony worlds. The success of these attacks allowed the Captains-General to ask for more reforms. To oversee these changes they created the position of '''Captain-Marshal'''. The Captain-Marshal had command of all Regional Defense Forces and Convoy Protection Force.<ref name=otphcp10>''Operational Turning Points: Hanseatic Crusade'', p. 10</ref> |
== Composition of HSF Units == | == Composition of HSF Units == | ||
| Line 37: | Line 37: | ||
== Technology of the HSF == | == Technology of the HSF == | ||
| − | HSF units are typically combined arms units equipped with designs equivalent to Inner Sphere equipment from the late [[Third Succession War]], although in the latter half of the thirty-first century more modern equipment began appearing in service with the HSF as a result of increased trade within the Inner | + | HSF units are typically combined arms units equipped with designs equivalent to Inner Sphere equipment from the late [[Third Succession War]], although in the latter half of the thirty-first century more modern equipment began appearing in service with the HSF as a result of increased trade within the Inner Sphere - and a desire on the part of various governments within the Inner Sphere to exploit the League.<ref name="FM:Pp135">''Field Manual: Periphery'', p. 135: "The Hanseatic Security Force"</ref> |
By the early thirty-second century, the Hansa had improved their industrial base to the point that they could produce Clan-invasion era equipment and weaponry.<ref>''Operational Turning Points: Hanseatic Crusade'', p. 9</ref> | By the early thirty-second century, the Hansa had improved their industrial base to the point that they could produce Clan-invasion era equipment and weaponry.<ref>''Operational Turning Points: Hanseatic Crusade'', p. 9</ref> | ||
| Line 50: | Line 50: | ||
As the senior officers within the HSF, Captain-Generals wear a uniform consisting of a red shirt worn under a white woolen jacket, white stirrup trousers and black boots. The jacket is decorated with gold epaulets and a red-banded golden sash; the bands on the sash denote the seniority of the officer in question.<ref name="FM:Pp136"/> | As the senior officers within the HSF, Captain-Generals wear a uniform consisting of a red shirt worn under a white woolen jacket, white stirrup trousers and black boots. The jacket is decorated with gold epaulets and a red-banded golden sash; the bands on the sash denote the seniority of the officer in question.<ref name="FM:Pp136"/> | ||
| − | All members of the HSF wear the Hansa patch as insignia; the patch depicts an ancient sailing ship inset on a red disc, and each patch has a number on the sail depicted on the ship corresponding the RDF to which each person is assigned. The only exception is the Convoy Protection Force | + | All members of the HSF wear the Hansa patch as insignia; the patch depicts an ancient sailing ship inset on a red disc, and each patch has a number on the sail depicted on the ship corresponding the RDF to which each person is assigned. The only exception is the Convoy Protection Force - Hansa patches worn by the CPF display a large letter "C" rather than a number to indicate their affiliation.<ref name="FM:Pp137"/> |
== Units of the HSF == | == Units of the HSF == | ||
| Line 105: | Line 105: | ||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
| − | ==References== | + | == References == |
<references/> | <references/> | ||
| − | ==Bibliography== | + | == Bibliography == |
* ''[[Field Manual: Periphery]]'' | * ''[[Field Manual: Periphery]]'' | ||
* ''[[Field Manual: Updates]]'' | * ''[[Field Manual: Updates]]'' | ||
| Line 114: | Line 114: | ||
* ''[[Masters and Minions: The StarCorps Dossiers]]'' | * ''[[Masters and Minions: The StarCorps Dossiers]]'' | ||
* ''[[Operational Turning Points: Hanseatic Crusade]]'' | * ''[[Operational Turning Points: Hanseatic Crusade]]'' | ||
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[[Category:Military Organizations]] | [[Category:Military Organizations]] | ||