3rd Benjamin Regulars

Third Benjamin Regulars
Formed	Star League era or earlier
Nickname	Pride of Benjamin
Affiliation	Draconis Combine
Parent Command	Benjamin Regulars

The Third Benjamin Regulars was an assault BattleMech regiment in the Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery.

History

Star League Era

During the early years of the Star League, the Third Benjamin Regulars were the Combine unit that triggered the so-called First Hidden War. In 2681, the Third's then Dueling Master Amanda Kazutoyo strode toward the front gate of Fort Shandra, the Star League Defense Force base on Benjamin, and lifted her BattleMaster's fist and loudly declared that all SLDF MechWarriors lacked the warrior's spirit and the courage to duel her. When the base commander asked her to leave, she refused and parked her 'Mech squarely in front of the gates, remaining there unmoving for ten days, periodically reissuing her challenge to the MechWarriors inside the fortress. Eventually her insults wore down the resolve of the SLDF troops, with one Lieutenant Bradley Grebbers leaving the fort without permission to face her in his Warhammer.

After agreeing to a suitable location away from the fort, Kazutoyo and Grebeers would fight for little more than ten minutes before the Benjamin MechWarrior achieved the advantage, disabling her opponent's legs with incredibly precise missile fire. Grebber's Warhammer forced to its knees, Kazutoyo walked behind him and placed her 'Mech's PPC at the back of his cockpit, callously executing him to the horror of the SLDF spectators. The fort's commander barely prevented his warriors from attacking Kazutoyo en masse, with First Lord Michael Cameron vigorously protesting this and further duels with similar outcomes for the hapless SLDF.

Of the various brigades of Regulars active within the DCMS during the Star League era, the regiments of the Benjamin Regulars - including the Third Benjamin Regulars - were considered to be the most flexible. This was a reflection of the reality that the Regulars could at any point be called on to fight against the Armed Forces of the Federated Suns, the Lyran Commonwealth Armed Forces or the SLDF, as a result of the Benjamin Military District bordering the Federated Suns, Lyran Commonwealth and Terran Hegemony. This was even acknowledged by the Internal Security Force, who gave the Third and the other regiments of the Regulars more leeway than the average DCMS unit - an attitude the Benjamin Regulars repaid by limiting complaints and criticism to supply issues and local concerns, rather than anything to do with politics.

Third Succession War

In 3015, the Third Benjamin Regulars were responsible for the successful invasion of Mara. This was accomplished by redeploying under fire to support the Dieron Regulars.

The unit's skills deteriorated from the moment Brigadier General Jakodo Naguchido was made commanding officer, and the Galtor Campaign in 3025 would show how much. His performance was so bad that the unit was mustered out of the campaign after botching its initial landing, entering an enemy minefield without ECM cover and losing twenty-seven 'Mechs, an additional ten damaged and three missing in action, plus two Slayer medium fighters destroyed with no return as they were unable to kill a single Davion 'Mech nor their air cover in the first two days of fighting. The unit lost nearly a third of its strength in the operation. After this, the Third Benjamin Regulars were assigned to bolster the defense of the world of Irurzun alongside the Sixth Benjamin Regulars and three infantry regiments.

Fourth Succession War

During the Fourth Succession War, the Third was assigned with the Sixth Benjamin Regulars and twenty infantry and tank regiments to attack the First Chisholm's Raiders RCT on Deshler. While the Raiders consistently outmaneuvered the invaders, the Kurita taskforce 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.

War of 3039

In August 3039, the Third Benjamin was part of a task force including the Second Galedon Regulars and two additional conventional infantry regiments assigned to retake the world of Klathandu IV. Under the command of Tai-sa Samuel Nelson, the forces made planetfall at Pere Caplais, methodically moving from one stronghold to another. This conservative approach gave his adversary, Marshal Winston Vaskursian, the opportunity to oppose him with feints and retreats when faced with overwhelming force, but attack at the weak points of the Kuritan offensive. For six weeks, the two commanders parried each other. With their smaller, though more motivated forces, the Kuritans were unable to rotate for rest and the Combine warriors began to falter, eventually making suicidal charges at the Federated lines when faced with unwinnable situations. Battlefields were left in the hands of the Federated troops, and the Kuritans could not salvage their fallen machines. By October, only nine mixed battalions of Tai-sa Nelson's original eight regiments remained and his air cover could number only ten fighters at any given time. Over three days at Pere Urucin, with the final battle beginning on 11 October, artillery and aerospace fighter attacks drew the Combine forces into a small defensive ring. However, the wider War of 3039 had failed elsewhere. Despite his final victory being at hand, Marshal Vaskursian received immediate recall orders and left Klathandu in Combine control.

Though the 'unofficial' War had officially ended in January 3040, bureaucracy and military confusion surrounding the end of hostilities continued. In late October 3040, an expeditionary force from the Third Benjamin returned to Galtor III from Irurzun to find the mercenary Clifton's Rangers following their last orders of assisting the people and dismantling the administrative structures built by the Combine since the capture of the planet in the Fourth Succession War. Both sides were stalemated with heavy losses until the Regulars were forced to retreat. Negotiations regarding the return of PoWs and the resistance to widening the conflict prompted the AFFS High Command to order the Rangers off-world. Instead, the Rangers broke their contract with the Federated Suns to sign directly with the planetary government. In December, the Third Benajmain returned, along with the First and Second Amphigean Light Assault Groups to end the resistance. After fifteen months, Clifton's Rangers and the Galtor Milita were destroyed, tens of thousands of civilians were dead, and anti-Kurita propaganda was rampant. Marital law was required to keep the planet under control, an order that did not end for fifteen years.

Clan Invasion

In 3048, the Third's base was raided by Federated Commonwealth mercenaries. The Third's 'Mech forces ignored the mercenary forces at first, instead choosing to seize the mercenary forces' DropShips. Once these were secured, the 'Mechs of the Third turned towards their headquarters and caught the mercenary raiders from the rear as the Third's conventional forces attacked from the front. The mercenaries were destroyed in this hammer and anvil maneuver.

In early 3050, the Third Regulars were stationed on Irurzun. The Third's main action in the Clan Invasion was against the Smoke Jaguar's Nineteenth Striker Cluster on Asgard. The Third struck from the beginning of the battle with artillery barrages while heavy 'Mechs pinned down the Clan forces and allowed the lighter machines to escape. While the DCMS command did not expect the Third to hold the Clan troops off, the Third exceeded expectations by holding out for an entire month and inflicting heavy losses on the Jaguars, who did not pursue the Combine forces once on their DropShips.

Survivors of the Eleventh Benjamin Regulars were integrated into the unit and the Third was moved up in upgrade priority.

Operation BULLDOG

When the Second Star League launched Operation BULLDOG one of the worlds marked for liberation was Asgard; when Star League forces landed - forces which included the Third Benjamin Regulars and the Davion Heavy Guards - they faced the Fourth Jaguar Dragoons as well as the Command Keshik of Epsilon Galaxy. In the resulting campaign the Fourth Jaguar Dragoons were driven back by the DCMS forces, leading to the Epsilon Galaxy Command Keshik retreating into the path of a company from the Davion Heavy Guards.

The large Elemental contingent within the Command Keshik and the superior technology enjoyed by the Smoke Jaguar warriors led to them quickly gaining the advantage over the Davion Heavy Guards; the tables turned when a company from the Second Battalion of the Third Benjamin Regulars which had been pursuing the Command Keshik plunged into the battle. The actions of the Third Benjamin Regulars turned the battle; the Benjamin Regulars forces included a lance commanded by Chu-i Hidekazu Moriyama which proved key to the battle, as the two Komodo BattleMechs within that lance cut a swath through the Command Keshik's Elemental forces, with the lance as a whole also claiming two heavy OmniMechs as victims before the battle was complete. The Benjamin Regulars were not alone in claiming trophies from the battle, however - one noted loss on the part of the Smoke Jaguars was a Star Commander taken down in close quarters by the Nightsky 'Mech piloted by Leftenant Osias Eisenberg of the Davion Heavy Guards during the desperate holding action while the Heavy Guards waited for reinforcements.

Federated Suns Incursion

The Third Benjamin Regulars were assigned the honor of capturing Kentares IV during the DCMS Reprisal against Duke James Sandoval's attempted invasion of the Draconis Combine. On January 23, 3065, the Regulars landed on Kentares and immediately engaged Duke Ian Dresari and his Kentares DMM in battle. Although Ian and the DMM were determined to hold off the Regulars, the DMM was heavily outnumbered and outgunned.

Salvation for Duke Ian and the DMM came in the form of the pro-Victor Tenth Lyran Guards, who were en route to the planet Tikonov to assist Prince Victor, but were forced to make an unscheduled stop in the Kentares system due to the sabotage of their JumpShips. Marshal James McFarland, commander of the Tenth, decided to assist the beleaguered Duke Ian. A week later, the surviving Third Benjamin Regulars were destroyed and the few survivors were imprisoned on Kentares.

Known Unit Members

Officers

Rank	Name	Command
Commanding Officers of the 3rd Benjamin Regulars
Brigadier General	Jakodo Naguchido	3025
Tai-sa	Samuel Nelson	3039 – 3054
Tai-sa	Clifford Allen	3059

Other Officers

• Tai-i Taitai Takeru, MechWarrior during the Clan Invasion.

Other Members

• Shujin Barrett Nichols, a MechWarrior during Operation REVIVAL.
• Shujin Hideki Shizuka, a MechWarrior during Operation REVIVAL.

Tactics

Star League Era

The Third Benjamin Regulars favored a strong combined-arms approach, but otherwise were a generalist unit, and deliberately fielded a wide range of BattleMech classes to encourage adaptation to changing circumstances.

Third Succession War

In 3025, when the Third Benjamin Regulars participated in the Galtor Campaign, the Third Benjamin Regulars were skilled in open-field battles. This specialization continued until at least ca. 3050. The third preferred to target their enemies lightest machines first, giving them a numerical advantage. Flanking raids, feined retreats, and combined heavy fire wear down the remaining forces within a few rounds of alternating waves. These tactics did not fare well against the Clan's advantages in ranged weapons.

Composition History

2765

Third Benjamin Regulars (Regiment/Regular/Reliable)

Note: At this point in time, the Regulars were stationed on Dover; attached to the Regulars were a wing of aerospace fighters, an artillery regiment, four infantry regiments, and four armored regiments.

2786–2821

Third Benjamin Regulars (Regiment/Regular/Reliable)

Note: At this point in time the Regulars were a heavy-weight regiment, operating at full strength and stationed on Dover.In 2821 the unit was operating at just above one-third of full strength and stationed on Odabasi.

2830

Third Benjamin Regulars (Regiment/Regular/Reliable)

Note: At this point in time the heavy-weight unit was stationed on Odabasi with an operational readiness of 81 percent.

2864

Third Benjamin Regulars (Regiment/Regular/Fanatical)

Note: At this point in time the heavy-weight unit was stationed on Dehgolan with an operational readiness of 47 percent.

3025

Third Benjamin Regulars (Regiment/Regular/Questionable)

• CO: Brigadier General Jakodo Naguchido

Note: The Third Benjamin Regulars was a heavy 'Mech Regiment. At this point in time the unit was stationed on Irurzun.

Regiment TO&E

Regimental BattleGroup (4x armor lances, 1x reinforced 'Mech lance, 1x 'Mech lance)

Air Squadron (1x wing of aerospace fighters)

Ismail's Battalion

• Battalion Headquarters ('Mech)
• Glover's Company ('Mech)
• Lane's Company ('Mech)
• Quinn's Company ('Mech)

Shazli's Battalion

• Battalion Headquarters ('Mech)
• Chu's Company ('Mech)
• Zetti's Company ('Mech)
• Bardeen's Company ('Mech)

Gamasy's Battalion

• Battalion Headquarters ('Mech)
• Astaire's Company ('Mech)
• Roger's Company ('Mech)
• Kelly's Company ('Mech)

Auxillary Group (2x armor lances, 1x infantry platoon)

3040

Third Benjamin Regulars (Regiment/Regular/Questionable)

Note: At this point in time the command was stationed on Irurzun.

3050

Third Benjamin Regulars (heavy 'Mech Regiment/Veteran/Questionable)

• CO: Tai-sa Samuel Nelson

Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on Irurzun and support units included a medium aerospace fighter company, an all heavy and assault class combat vehicle battalion, and a conventional infantry battalion.

3054

Third Benjamin Regulars (Battalion/Veteran/Questionable)

• CO: Tai-sa Samuel Nelson

3059

Third Benjamin Regulars (Regiment/Veteran/Reliable)

• CO/1st Battalion: Tai-sa Clifford Allen

• XO: Chu-sa Amanda Mattile

• 2nd Battalion: Chu-sa Onyoko Akagi
• 3rd Battalion: Chu-sa Gerrard Teyku

Note: Over 50 percent of the command is upgraded with new technology. The unit is heavy to assault with a few light/medium 'Mechs for scouting. All machines have the heaviest armor available. Furthermore, the command received 12 IS OmniMechs.

Third Benjamin Regulars Aerospace (Wing/Veteran/Reliable)

• Wing Commander: Sho-sa Brandon Klein

Note: 12 Slayer fighters were modified to carry on each wing pod with 5 tons pod space.

Rook's Armored Wall (Regiment/Elite/Reliable)

• Armor Commander: Tai-sa Maximillian Rook

Note: Because of their extraordinary bravery during the battle on Asgard against the Clans, the command received upgrades with lostech equipment and six lances of new armor.

Dragon's Gentle Kiss (2 Battalions/Regular/Reliable)

• Troop Commander: Chu-sa Sath Reinholdt

Note: The command included three companies of heavy artillery and the remaining members were trained to lay mines or to act as demolitions experts.

Color Scheme and Insignia

The Benjamin Regulars do not agree on a brigade theme to paint their machines. Their parade colors when needed are white or off-white with brown or dark red striping. The Brigade insignia is that of a white dagger and red sheath and is painted on a unit's BattleMech's lower left torso. The Kurita dragon crest is on the outside of the right shoulder, while regimental insignias are on the upper right arm or upper leg. The corresponding spot is used for the insignias on any other machine.

The regimental insignia, a ring of stars with the topmost very bright represents their homeworld of Benjamin's star and the twenty artificial semi-suns that surround the planet.

Notes

• Rules for the Third Benjamin Regulars can be found in Historical Turning Points: Galtor and page 38 of Combat Manual: Kurita.
• Combat Manual: Kurita notes the Third Benjamin maintains a ca. 3050 core of veterans from a battle on Marduk, including Sho-sa Haruto Wakahisa. The Third is not noted elsewhere as taking part in any battles on Marduk. Either veterans of that battle were transferred en masse to the Third from the Sixth Benjamin Regulars, or the report confuses the two and no such veterans are present in the Third.

Bibliography

• 20 Year Update
• Combat Manual: Kurita
• The Dragon Roars
• FedCom Civil War
• Field Manual: Draconis Combine
• Field Manual: Updates
• Field Report 2765: DCMS
• First Succession War
• The Galtor Campaign
• Historical: War of 3039
• Historical Turning Points: Galtor
• House Kurita (The Draconis Combine)
• NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 1
• NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 2
• Recognition Guide: ilClan, vol. 10
• Second Succession War
• The Star League
• Technical Readout: 3055 Upgrade