9th Benjamin Regulars

Unit Description

The Ninth Benjamin Regulars were a medium BattleMech regiment in the Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery.

History

First Succession War

In June of 2786, an unmarked freighter entered the Skondia system and passed through the Lyran picket lines unchallenged. Several DropShips then detached from this vessel and began a hi-gee burn toward the planet. Once the ships were in orbit, a regiment of Draconis Combine BattleMechs attacked the planet catching the defenders by surprise. The Commonwealth ground forces focused their might on defending the major industrial centers waiting for an attack. However, the Combine troops began attacking civilians and population centers instead. When the Lyran troops moved to stop these attacks, the quicker Combine forces flanked their opponents, as well as dropping additional BattleMech forces from the still unchallenged DropShips, seized the now undefended factories and destroyed them. The Kuritan troops were then able to withdraw. This defeat was a major embarrassment to the Commonwealth High Command. However, the defeat led to many reforms regarding system security and planetary defense. The quick victory also convinced then-Coordinator Minoru Kurita to focus his efforts against the Federated Suns as it was now seen as more dangerous than the Lyran Commonwealth. For the Ninth Benjamin Regulars, the DCMS unit responsible for the attack, the raid was a great success; having dropped near the cities of Passageway and Wurston on the Edel continent, the Ninth then began attacking the cities when the defending Ninth Arcturan Guards scrambled to protect their primary assignment, the major factories on the planet. The Arcturan Guards responded to the reports of widescale slaughter in the two cities by leaving the factories to attack the battalion the Benjamin Regulars had deployed, only for a second wave of troops from the Ninth Benjamin Regulars to land on the factories dozens of kilometers away from where the Arcturan Guards were fighting. The Arcturan Guards contingents on the other continents scrambled to redeploy from their current locations to assist the beleagured forces on Edel, by which time the Benjamin Regulars had already had two days to wreak havoc; as the Benjamin Regulars withdrew to meet their DropShips in the foothills of the Lafferty mountain range, they added insult to injury by destroying three of the largest factory complexes, located at Passageway, Vorenstag and Wursten. The DropShips then rendezvoused with their JumpShip near the orbit of Skondia III and jumped out, well ahead of pursuing Lyran WarShip forces.

Third Succession War

The Ninth Benjamin Regulars, like most Benjamin Regulars, had a very poor relationship with the supply officers of the DCMS. As a result the Ninth's 'Mechs and tanks were often less-effective than they would appear.

During the fighting on Mallory's World, the Ninth's most noteworthy battle was with the 1st Robinson Rangers outside of Harrison's Ferry. There the Ninth fought the First for several hours before receiving a retreat order. The Robinson Rangers never let up, however, pursuing the Ninth all the way to their drop zones. They returned to their baseworld, Proserpina, to rebuild.

Clan Invasion

The Ninth Benjamin Regulars were stationed on Proserpina, near the Federated Suns border. The DCMS left the unit there to protect the border as other units were rotated to the Clan front.

Operation BULLDOG

The Ninth moved to Kiamba as part of Operation BULLDOG.

Federated Suns Incursion

The unit was destroyed in 3062 when the command defended Proserpina against the 1st Robinson Rangers, 8th Crucis Lancers, and the Robinson Battle Academy Cadre.

Officers

• 3016, Tai-sho Shiro Weyhu
• 3028, Tai-sho Denice Eastmoreland
• 3059, the Ninth's commanding officer was Tai-sa Richard Rekai.

Tactics

The Ninth is adept at city defense, pairing lances at critical spots around a city. Its attached armor and infantry operate independently, leading opposing forces into traps.

Composition History

2765

Ninth Benjamin Regulars (Regiment/Veteran/Reliable)

2785

Ninth Benjamin Regulars (Veteran/Reliable)

- At this point in time the Ninth was a medium-weight regiment operating at full strength and based on Elix.

2821

Ninth Benjamin Regulars (Veteran/Reliable)

- At this point in time the Ninth was a medium-weight regiment operating at just over one quarter of full strength and based on Galtor III.

3025

Ninth Benjamin Regulars (Veteran/Reliable)

• CO: General Denice Eastmoreland

Note:The command contains 3 medium battalions .

3028

Ninth Benjamin Regulars (BattleMech Regiment/Veteran)

• CO/1st Battalion - Tai-sho Denice Eastmoreland

3040

Ninth Benjamin Regulars (Regiment/Veteran/Reliable)

3050-3054

Ninth Benjamin Regulars (Regiment/Veteran/Reliable)

• CO: Tai-sa Mark Tomtrill

3059

Ninth Benjamin Regulars (Regiment/Veteran/Reliable)

• CO/1st Battalion: Tai-sa Richard Rekai

• XO: Tai-sa Opuo Weyhu

• 2nd Battalion: Chu-sa Jonathon DeVries
• 3rd Battalion: Chu-sa Suan Hap Do

Note: The unit could upgrade over 60 percent of their machines and get also 12 new IS Omnimechs. Every battalion has now an Omnimech command lance.

Tears of Proserpina (Company/Elite/Reliable)

• Wing Commander: Dai-i Karl Grunhaben

Note: The unit posses 6 omni fighter.

Ninth Benjamin Regulars Armor (Battalion/Veteran/Reliable)

• Armor Commander: Chu-sa Christopher Pedo

18th Reconnaissance: Special Delivery (2 Battalions/Regular/Reliable)

• Troop Commander: Tai-sa Jesus Gonzalez

Note: The some members are equiped with Laser rifles and SRM launchers. For scouting mission an entire platoon use advanced stealth suit. The command includes 4 vehicles with Arrow Launchers and also hovercrafts with TAG equipment for the missiles.

Bibliography

• The Dragon Roars
• Field Manual: Draconis Combine
• Field Report 2765: DCMS
• First Succession War
• Historical Turning Points: Mallory's World
• Historical: War of 3039
• House Kurita (The Draconis Combine)
• House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth)
• NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 2