17th Benjamin Regulars

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Template:InfoBoxStateUnit The Seventeenth Benjamin Regulars are a heavy BattleMech Regiment in the Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery.

History

Formation

The unit was home based on Benjamin outside the city of Deber City.[1] While the Seventeenth never adhered strictly to the samurai code of other units, it only implemented Theodore Kurita's reforms slowly, refusing to stoop to dishonorable tactics.[2]

Fourth Succession War

The Seventeenth participated in the Galtor campaign during 3025. After routing the 33rd Avalon Hussars several times, they took serious losses outside New Wuhan City when a battalion of the 12th Vegan Rangers performed a daring nighttime drop and ambushed them from behind. This allowed the 33rd to smash into the Seventeenth, and the two units began grinding the Seventeenth between them. The Seventeenth was able to withdraw from the field, but the inability of the Benjamin Regulars to destroy the Davion defenders led to Warlord Yorioshi being relieved of his command.[3]

Ronin Wars


War of 3039


Clan Invasion


Operation Bulldog

The 17th landed on Port Arthur with the 2nd Legion of Vega and the 5th Sword of Light, securing the world and preventing Smoke Jaguar attacks.[4][5]

Dominion War

The 17th held their position on Chandler, denying the Ghost Bears a chance to take the world. The soldiers of the 17th were not happy with this decision, but they obeyed the Coordinator's orders.[5]

Federated Suns Incursion


Jihad

The 17th Benjamin Regulars saw action early in Operation SCOUR, serving on the Federated Suns front as a part of Group III. Group III attacked Tybalt in early 3077, when it was targeted in the first wave of assaults made by the allied coalition forces that made up the Federated Suns front of Operation SCOUR.[6] Serving alongside Delta Galaxy of Clan Nova Cat and the 5th Lyran Guards,[7] the liberation of Tybalt saw the local citizenry finding itself in the unusual position of throwing a victory parade that, for the first time in the history of Tybalt, honoured a unit from the Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery.[6]

As part of Group III the 17th took part in the assault on Nanking in late 3077. Arriving in-system at almost the same time as a Capellan attack group, the 5th and the rest of Group III arrived above Nanking a day after the Capellans had landed, only to find that the Capellan forces led by Warrior House Fujita were trapped in their deployment zone, exhausted from the punishing trip in and under fire from the Nanking Protectorate Militia. Group III dropped behind the Militia forces and proceeded to launch an attack that saw Delta Galaxy and the 17th Benjamin Regulars punish the Militia with ranged fire before the 5th Lyran Guards launched a devastating assault that broke the Blakist forces.[7]

The Seventeenth participated in the assault on Terra. There they were assigned to General Connor Sortek's command. The Seventeenth and the 3rd Lyran Guards then seized the Pacific Northwest, part of the North American continent.[8]

During their time with the Coalition, they were followed by a Voice of the Dragon broadcast team. These embedded reporters followed the 17th's members through the liberation of Terra. These broadcasts were so popular among the people of the Benjamin Military District that enrollment in the Benjamin Regulars increased 50% over the pre-Jihad level. Though the propaganda value was excellent, the 17th suffered during the Jihad. Only a third of the unit remained to take up station on Alnasi.[9]

The Seventeenth's honorable conduct went far in preventing the entire Benjamin Regulars from being stained by the betrayal of the Sixth. As mentioned earlier, the Seventeenth's actions led many people to volunteer for service in the unit. As a result the Seventeenth has many more conventional assets than it did previously and so is making use of more combined arms tactics.[10]

Dark Age

During the Second Combine-Dominion the Seventeenth was assigned to recapture Mualang from the invading Ghost Bears. They landed on Mualang on August 1st, supported by the Dragonscales Cluster. Intelligence indicated that the world was only garrisoned by the 8th Bear Curiassiers, but the world also hosted the Rho Trinary Galaxy Command. The Seventeenth was shattered by the Curiassiers, and the Rho TGC hounded them all the way back to their DropShips.[11]

Officers

As of 3020 to 3025, the commanding officer was Tai-sho Syovo Yorioshi.[citation needed]

As of 3025 to 3028, the commanding officer was Tai-sho Hirushi Shotugama.[12][13]

As of 3050 to 3054 the commanding officer was Tai-sa Tucker Orsinian.[14][15]

As of 3059 to 3067 the commanding officer was Tai-sa Timothy Tousley.[2][16]

As of 3085 the commanding officer is Tai-sa Prudencio Kulmala.[17]

- Three of the 17th's prior commanders have been awarded the Honor of Wakizashi, a left-handed award for those who put their personal honor above that of the Combine.

Tactics

In 3025 the unit specialty was open-country fighting expertise, utilizing its heavy 'Mechs to maximum effect. By 3059 they had improved these tactics to include Thunder munitions to keep enemy forces at bay, allowing artillery strikes, and strafing runs by their attached aerospace complement.[2] With so many conventional forces attached to the unit, the Seventeenth of 3085 is skilled in combined-arms tactics.[10]

Composition History

2765

17th Benjamin Regulars (Regiment/Green/Questionable)[18]

3025

17th Benjamin Regulars (Regiment/Veteran/Reliable)[13]

- The command contains 9 heavy companies.[19]

3028

17th Benjamin Regulars (BattleMech Regiment/Veteran) [12]

  • CO: Tai-sho Hirushi Shotugama

3040

17th Benjamin Regulars (Regiment/Veteran/Reliable)[20]

3050-3054

17th Benjamin Regulars (Regiment/Veteran/Reliable)[14][14]

  • CO: Tai-sa Tucker Orsinian

3059

17th Benjamin Regulars (BattleMech Regiment/Veteran/Reliable)[2]

  • 2nd Battalion: Chu-sa James Elliot
  • 3rd Battalion: Chu-sa Randy Olson

- Note:Approximately 60 percent of the heavy and assault Mechs are upgraded.

Petals on the Wind (Expanded Wing/Veteran/Reliable)[2]

  • Wing Commander: Tai-sa Jasmine Imikoto

- Note: Includes 1 Vengeance-DropShip for transport duties.

17th Benjamin Regulars Armor (2 Battalions/Regular/Reliable)[2]

  • Armor Commander: Chu-sa Harry Smith

3rd Benjamin Heavy Motorized Infantry (Regiment/Regular/Reliable)[2]

  • Troop Commander: Tai-sa Lynn Yuan-ming

- Note: Includes 3 companies artillery and also battle armor forces.

3067

17th Benjamin Regulars (Battletech Regiment/Veteran/Reliable)[16]

  • CO: Tai-sa Timothy Tousley

Petals on the Wind (4 Air Companies/Veteran/Reliable)[16]

  • Wing Commander: Tai-sa Jasmine Imikoto

17th Benjamin Regulars Armor (2 Battalions/Regular/Reliable)[16]

  • Armor Commander: Chu-sa Harry Smith

3rd Benjamin Heavy Motorized Infantry (Regiment/Regular/Reliable)[16]

  • Troop Commander: Tai-sa Lynn Yuan-ming

3079

17th Benjamin Regulars (BattleMech Regiment/Regular/Reliable)[9]

3085

17th Benjamin Regulars (Regular/Reliable)[17]

  • CO: Tai-sa Prudencio Kulmala

Petals on the Wind (Veteran/Reliable)[17]

17th Benjamin Armor (2 Battalions/Regular/Questionable)[17]

  • CO: Chu-sa Cyrus Coleman

3rd Benjamin Heavy Motorized Infantry (Regular/Reliable)[17]

  • CO: Tai-sa Timotej Merlo

3145

17th Benjamin Regulars (2 Battalions/Regular/Fanatical) (90% Strength)[21]

  • CO: Tai-sa Tyrell Bell

Petals on the Wind (Veteran/Fanatical) (100% Strength)[21]

  • CO: Sho-sa Gwen Cabrera

17th Benjamin Armor (Veteran/Reliable) (105% Strength) [21]

  • CO: Tai-sa Michael Byrd

17th Benjamin Infantry (Regular/Reliable) (90% Strength)[21]

  • CO: Tai-sa Ssekien Ochiai

Notes:

The unit had an "A" Equipment Rating.

References

  1. House Kurita: (The Draconis Combine) - Benjamin planetary profile.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 Field Manual: Draconis Combine, p. 46, "17th Benjamin Regulars Unit Profile"
  3. Historical Turning Points: Galtor, p. 11 "Aftermath"
  4. The Dragon Roars, p. 10
  5. 5.0 5.1 Field Manual: Updates, p. 106
  6. 6.0 6.1 Jihad Hot Spots: Terra, p. 36, "First Wave Complete"
  7. 7.0 7.1 Jihad Hot Spots: Terra, p. 39, "War To The Knife"
  8. Jihad Hot Spots: Terra, p. 96
  9. 9.0 9.1 Field Report: DCMS, p. 8
  10. 10.0 10.1 Field Manual: 3085, p. 39
  11. Historical: Wars of the Republic Era, p. 37
  12. 12.0 12.1 NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 2, p 107
  13. 13.0 13.1 House Kurita (The Draconis Combine), p. 137, "DCMS Deployment Table"
  14. 14.0 14.1 14.2 20 Year Update, p. 41, "DCMS Deployment Table - 3050"
  15. Objective Raids, p. 28, "DCMS Deployment Table - 3054"
  16. 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 16.4 Field Manual: Update, p. 116, "DCMS Deployment Table - 3067"
  17. 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 17.4 Field Manual: 3085, p. 49, "DCMS Deployment Table - 3085"
  18. Field Report 2765: DCMS,p10
  19. House Kurita (The Draconis Combine), p. 146
  20. Historical: War of 3039, p. 138
  21. 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 Field Manual: 3145, p. 63, Draconis Combine - Deployment Table continued

Bibliography