Paul Bunyan Regiment

Paul Bunyan Regiment
Formed 2815
Affiliation Mercenary
Parent Command


The Paul Bunyan Regiment was a mercenary unit in the employ of House Kurita, and one of the most prominent examples of units falling prey to the "Company Store" ploy.[1]

Overview[edit]

The Paul Bunyan Regiment was an ad hoc regiment-sized unit made up of MechWarriors from the Star League Defense Force and the several Periphery realms, most notably the Rim Worlds Republic, that joined together in 2815.[2] Entering service with the Draconis Combine in the final years of the First Succession War, as the Armed Forces of the Federated Suns pushed the Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery back following the Kentares Massacre, the Paul Bunyan Regiment served as a rallying point for Combine units in Galedon Military District.[1] At the conclusion of that conflict, the regiment was still contracted to the Combine and as of 2821 was stationed on the former Terran Hegemony world of Lone Star at 97% strength.[3]

Along with most of the other mercenary units in the employ of the Combine in the lead-up to the Second Succession War, in 2822 the Paul Bunyan Regiment agreed to a new totally optional procurement system that, along with increased pay, allowed them to purchase supplies directly from the military's Procurement Division. It didn't take long for the unit to realize they had been conned - the increase in pay didn't cover the cost of the overpriced supplies, forcing the mercenaries to take on more missions which in turn increased their demands for the overpriced supplies, creating a vicious circle known as the "Company Store". In June 2825, while stationed on Zlatous, the Paul Bunyan Regiment was no longer even being paid by the Office of Professional Soldiery Liaison and eventually in desperation seized warehouses on Zlatous for food and supplies. While the Internal Security Force were aware of the unit's discontent, their violent response was unexpected with Coordinator Jinjiro Kurita ordered their DropShips destroyed and their JumpShips seized; he also sent the 5th and 9th Galedon Regulars to destroy the rebellious mercenaries who had dug in after losing their DropShips. Over the course of two months of vicious fighting that laid waste to much of the planet, the regiment was destroyed save for some mercenaries who seized a Kurita DropShip and escaped into the Periphery.[1]

Officers[edit]

Rank Name Command
Commanding Officers of the Paul Bunyan Regiment

Tactics[edit]

Unknown.

Composition History[edit]

2821[edit]

Paul Bunyon Regiment (Regiment/Regular/Reliable)[3]

Note: In 2821 the heavy-weight command was reduced to 96 percent of its strength and was deployed on Lone Star.[3]

Notes[edit]

Some sources alternately spell its name as the Paul Bunyon Regiment.[3]

References[edit]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 House Kurita (The Draconis Combine), p. 62 - "Snakes and Sneaks" box
  2. First Succession War, p. 35 "Those Left Behind - Became Mercenary"
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 First Succession War, p. 137 "First Succession War Deployment Table - Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery (DCMS) - Mercenary Combat Commands (DCMS)"

Bibliography[edit]