6th Benjamin Regulars

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With their strict adherence to the ways of Bushido favored by Takashi Kurita, the Sixth Benjamin Regulars were at odds with both the laid back nature of the other Benjamin Regulars and the reformed DCMS under Theodore Kurita, openly joining the Kokuryu-kai during the Jihad.

History

First Succession War

The DCMS staged an assault on Saffel in April 2787, intent on capturing the world, but the Sixth Benjamin Regulars soon discovered that the Twenty-first Rim Worlds Regiment - a former Rim Worlds Army and Amaris Empire Armed Forces regiment that had become a part of the Blue Star Irregulars mercenary unit - were active on Saffel. The Twenty-first was evidently attempting to secure a cache left behind by the Amaris Empire, and Warlord Jinjiro Kurita - son of the Coordinator - had issued very specific instructions to his forces along the border with the Federated Suns and conducting operations inside the former Terran Hegemony; any encounters with the AFFS, mercenaries in AFFS employ or possible allies of the Federated Suns were to be met with the minimum necessary force, so as to preserve the illusion that the Combine was focussed on operations against the Lyran Commonwealth, while Jinjiro massed forces for an imminent invasion of the Federated Suns.[1]

The orders were galling to Tai-sa Shiro Knutesson, as it meant that the Sixth had to deliberately lose to the mercenaries, a particularly bitter pill given that the Regulars regarded the mercenaries as honorless dregs from the fallen Republic, but Jinjiro's orders left no room for misinterpretation. Knutesson acted accordingly, ordering his forces to disperse across multiple settlements, to give ground easily and to feign weakness and incompetence. Reminders of the consequences of Jinjiro's presence kept his command in line, and after ten days the Regulars retreated from Saffel, just days ahead of the launch of the Combine invasion of the Federated Suns.[1]

Third Succession War

As of 3025 the Sixth was primarily assigned to bolster the defense the important world of Irurzun alongside the Third Benjamin Regulars and three Infantry regiments.[2] During this time the green Sixth participated in the tail end of the Galtor campaign, engaging in only single one-sided battle which was played up for propaganda reasons. [3][4]

4th Succession War

During the Fourth Succession War, the Sixth was assigned with the the Third Benjamin Regulars and twenty infantry and tank regiments to attack the First Chisholm's Raiders RCT on Deshler. [5] While the Raiders consistently outmaneuvered the invaders, the Kurita task force had superior numbers, slowly but progressively wearing the Davion unit down. When the Combine offensive swept past Deshler the AFFS attempted to pull their unit out, but the Chisholm Raiders chose to stay and fight, tying up the Combine units for months before being effectively destroyed. [6]

War of 3039

Just prior to the War of 3039, a battalion of the Sixth, along with several regiments of conventional troops and vehicles, served as the defense of the important BattleMech producing world of Marduk, previously held by the Federated Suns and designated as a primary target during the first wave of the invasion. Led by AFFS Field Marshal James Sandoval, the 1st Robinson Rangers, 10th Deneb Light Cavalry RCT and 93rd Mechanized Brigade greatly outnumbered and overwhelmed the defenders. [7]

The remains of the Sixth, along with the 8th Galedon Regulars, were assigned to recapture the planet for the Combine under the command of the Sixth's CO Sho-sho Goros. Undermanned and outnumbered, hampered by the old-school "victory or death" suicide charges and bitter arguments between unit commanders, the Combine task force suffered heavy losses but held on in desperation in the remains of a Succession Wars era fort. The Sixth were saved by the recall of all AFFS combat units from the Draconis Combine, returning Marduk to Combine hands.[8]

Clan Invasion

Prior to the Clan Invasion, the now regular ranked Sixth remained as the defenders of Marduk. [9] Transferred to Dover after the Battle of Tukayyid, the Sixth's medium-weight and rigid adherence to an "old-school" interpretation of Bushido led the DCMS to hold the unit back during the Clan Invasion and Operation Bulldog. [10] The Sixth were briefly assigned to Lambrecht during the Combine's seizure of the Lyons Thumb, repelling only one minor raid by Skye Loyalists.[11]

Combine-Ghost Bear War and FedCom Civil War

The Sixth seemed finally set to face the threat of the Clans during the Ghost Bear Dominion retaliatory invasion of the Combine, being moved to Pilkhua in preparation for an expected second wave of attacks. However the Combine-Ghost Bear War and FedCom Civil War both instead wound down, with the Sixth relocated to Minakuchi, within four jumps of Lyran, Davion and Dominion space to protect against any flare ups from any of these nations.[11]

Jihad

Battle of Luthien (3067-3074)

See also: Battle of Luthien (Jihad)

With its CO, XO and first two battalions firm believers in the views of the Black Dragon Society, the majority of the Sixth Benjamin Regulars obeyed the Society's order to abandon their garrison on Minakuchi in order to reinforce the 2nd Sword of Light during the Battle of Luthien. Led by Tai-sa Hajii Mara, the unit landed on Luthien in June 3068.[12]

On 18 July 3069, the 2nd Sword, along with the 6th Benjamin Regulars and 40th Dieron Regulars, moved to disrupt the effectiveness of the Loyalist forces operating in the vicinity of the LAW City ruins on Guthry Island. Prematurely alerted to their presence by an engagement with an encountered Word of Blake salvage team, the 1st Genyosha levied heavy casualties on the Sixth, scoring a victory for the Loyalists.[13]

In December 3074, during the Clan Ghost Bear assault against the Blakist presence on Luthien, the Sixth combined their assets with the 40th Dieron Regulars in order to attack the Ghost Bears Omega Galaxy. Though frustrated by not engaging the Word of Blake Militia, their intended target, the Clan warriors devastated both regiments.[12] Remaining members of the Sixth melted away following their defeat. The Coordinator declared the unit to be ronin in February 3075 and it was stricken from the DCMS at the same time.[12]

Wing, Gacrux and the Liberation of Terra

The troops that remained loyal to the Draconis Combine were allowed to continue to serve under the colors of the Sixth Benjamin, but they received no logistical support from the DCMS.[14] The Sixth were assigned to Group III of the Lyran Front of Operation SCOUR, serving alongside the 1st Federated Suns Lancers and the 31st Marik Militia amongst other units. A headhunter attack launched by the Blakists during the coalition assault on Gacrux in early 3077 cost the Sixth their Commanding Officer, although the coalition forces went on to liberate Gacrux, under the command of the Lyran Lieutenant-General, Thomas Hogarth.[15]

The Sixth attacked Wing alongside the 1st Federated Suns Lancers, but the 3rd Free Worlds Guards (who were fighting for the Blakists) inflicted heavy casualties on the Sixth.[16] The survivors continued to fight for the Coalition, eventually participating in the liberation of Terra. Along with the 30th Marik Militia and Juggernaut regiments, they assaulted Babylon.[17] At some point during the long campaign to take Cairo, the Sixth Benjamin Regulars were apparently reassigned to reinforce Kanrei Minamoto's command. The few survivors of the Sixth Benjamin died in that fight.[14]

Officers

As of 2787 the Commanding Officer was Tai-sa Shiro Knutesson.[1]

As of 3025, the Commanding Officer was Brigadier General Saad Shazli.[2]

As of 3050 to 3067, the Commanding Officer was Tai-sa Hajii Mara[9][18][10][12][19].

Tactics

The Sixth's dedication to the old Bushido philosophy of combat led the unit to engage in "suicide or death" all-out offensives against the enemy's strongest forces and single combat style duels, the large volume of light BattleMechs favored by the Combine in the Third Succession War hampered their effectiveness against mobile and better armed foes. While the third battalion tried to follow the new ways of Coordinator Theodore, they were consistently overruled by the old-school commanders.

Composition History

2765

Sixth Benjamin Regulars (Regiment/Regular/Reliable)[20]

3025

Sixth Benjamin Regulars (Regiment/Green/Reliable)[2]

  • CO: Brigadier General Saad Shazli)

3040

Sixth Benjamin Regulars (Regiment/Green/Reliable)[21]

3050-3054

Sixth Benjamin Regulars (Regiment/Regular/Reliable)[9][18]

  • CO: Tai-sa Hajii Mara

3059

Sixth Benjamin Regulars (Regiment/Regular/Reliable)[10]

  • Second Battalion: Chu-sa Grant Hendrickson
  • Third Battalion: Chu-sa Karen Smythe

Sixth Benjamin Regulars Aerospace (2 Companies/Regular/Reliable)[10]

  • Wing Commander: Dai-i Paul Hoberson

Forty-fifth Marduk Light Armor (2 Battalions/Green/Reliable)[10]

  • Troop Commander: Chu-sa Russel Taylo

3067

Sixth Benjamin Regulars (Regiment/Regular/Reliable)[19]

  • CO: Tai-sa Hajii Mara

Sixth Benjamin Regulars Aerospace (2 Companies/Regular/Reliable)[19]

  • Wing Commander: Dai-i Paul Hoberson

Forty-fifth Marduk Light Armor (Two Battalions/Green/Reliable)[19]

  • Troop Commander: Chu-sa Russel Taylo

Rules

Game Rules

  • During the Battle of Luthien, the Sixth may only field one element with a Gunnery skill of 2 or lower in any particular conflict.[12]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 First Succession War, p. 37, "Holding Back: The Battles for David and Saffel"
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 House Kurita (The Draconis Combine), p. 135, "Unit Deployment Table - 3025"
  3. The Galtor Campaign, p. 53
  4. Historical Turning Points: Galtor, p. 5, "Combat in Changlee city"
  5. NAIS Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Vol 1, p. 80
  6. NAIS Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Vol 2, p. 28
  7. War of 3039, pp. 42-44
  8. War of 3039, pp. 91-92
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 20-Year Update, p. 42, "DCMS Deployment Table - 3050"
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 Field Manual: Draconis Combine, p. 43, "6th Benjamin Regulars Unit Profile"
  11. 11.0 11.1 Field Manual: Update, p. 106, "6th Benjamin Regulars"
  12. 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 Jihad Turning Points: Luthien, p. 7, "6th Benjamin Regulars" Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "JTPL_7" defined multiple times with different content
  13. Jihad Turning Points: Luthien, pp. 8-9, "Bullet In the Blue Sky"
  14. 14.0 14.1 Field Report: DCMS, p. 8
  15. Jihad Hot Spots: Terra, p. 27, "We Have Met The Enemy"
  16. Jihad Hot Spots: Terra, p. 65
  17. Jihad Hot Spots: Terra, p. 96
  18. 18.0 18.1 Objective Raids, p. 27, "DCMS Deployment Table - 3054"
  19. 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 Field Manual: Updates, p. 116, "DCMS Deployment Table - 3067"
  20. Field Report 2765: DCMS,p10
  21. Historical: War of 3039, p. 138

Bibliography