1st Chesterton Voltigeurs

First Chesterton Voltigeurs
Formed	2790–2795
Affiliation	Capellan Confederation
Parent Command	Chesterton Reserves

History

The First Chesterton Voltigeurs was formed in the closing years of the twenty-eighth century by expatriates from the Chesterton region.

First Succession War

The Voltigeurs first tasted combat fighting against House Kurita on Rio and Ronel in the first half of the 2800's. Where the Ariana Grenadiers were routed from Ronel, the Voltigeurs were far more successful on Rio. The Voltigeurs began by intercepting the Dieron Regulars' DropShips with aerospace fighters while the DropShips were entering the upper atmosphere, and successfully shot down two DropShips, which crashed into the surface south of the port city of San Lucas. The remaining Regulars' DropShips managed to land, but found themselves immediately subject to artillery fire from the Voltigeurs, forcing the DropShips to boost for safety as soon as the last 'Mechs had managed to disembark. The Regulars attempted to quickly seize the resort city of San Lucas to use as a base for operations, only to discover that the Voltigeurs had rigged a number of the tallest buildings in the city to collapse using explosives, as well as mining half the streets. Within half an hour of landing, the Regulars found themselves trapped in a burning, fiery hell that had once been a pristine resort town on a world that had enjoyed a reputation as a holiday paradise during the Star League era.

Later on Westphalia they defended the planet against the Freeman's Fanatics mercenary unit then in Steiner employ.

Second Succession War

During Operation RAIN, one of two counteroffensives launched by the Federated Suns against the Capellan Confederation in late October 2829, Westphalia was invaded by the Twenty-second Avalon Hussars. Defending Westphalia was the responsibility of the First Chesterton Voltigeurs, who were supported by a pair of marine regiments and five companies of hovercraft, suited to Westphalia's water-rich environment. The Hussars had planned for this though, and had brought a substantial contingent of conventional forces suitable for blue-water operations with them - including hovercraft, hydrofoils and even a pair of submarines. While BattleMechs fought battles on the islands and littoral areas, naval battles in the deeper waters of the ocean saw hundreds dying, either lost with their ships or lost to starvation and thirst after being cast adrift. The Hussars eventually proved the more skilled of the two 'Mech commands, and after eleven weeks of combat the survivors of the Voltigeurs surrendered, and were shipped off to POW camps deeper in the Capellan March.

Third Succession War

In 2944 the Voltigeurs met House Marik forces on Epsilon Eridani and suffered serious losses, but managed to capture a Leopard DropShip and eventually won the day.

The unit was badly mauled in 2987 while defending Tikonov against the attacking House Davion. In the end the invaders were defeated by the slimmest of margins.

Fourth Succession War

Defense of Tikonov

The Voltigeurs took moderate casualties in the failed defense of New Moscow on Tikonov when they battled the 3rd Crucis Lancers in October of 3026.

Operation RIPOSTE

All three regiments of the Chesterton Voltigeurs took part in the assault on New Aragon. The Voltigeurs suffered heavy losses attacking a supply depot and eventually surrendered when escape proved impossible.

Officers

Rank	Name	Command
Commanding Officers of the First Chesterton Voltigeurs
Colonel	Alana Dickersenn	3025

Tactics

Unknown.

Composition History

2821

First Chesterton Voltigeurs (Regiment/Green/Reliable)

- At this point in time the Voltigeurs was a lightweight regiment operating just above half strength and stationed on Rio.

2830

First Chesterton Voltigeurs (Regiment/Regular/Reliable)

Note: At this point in time the light-weight unit was stationed on Plataea with an operational readiness of 82 percent.

2864

First Chesterton Voltigeurs (Regiment/Veteran/Reliable)

Note: At this point in time the medium-weight unit was stationed on Conwy with an operational readiness of 17 percent.

3025

First Chesterton Voltigeurs (3 Battalions/Regular/Reliable)

• CO: Colonel Alana Dickersenn

• First Battalion - Major Athena Cochraine
• Second Battalion - Major Emmanuel Rinn
• Third Battalion - Major William Gazen

Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on Tikonov.

Unit Emblem

Crossed katanas against a red field.

Notes

First Succession War states that the First Chesterton Voltigeurs was one of three BattleMech regiments raised by Sandol Quinn before his installation as Regent Chancellor. Quinn was installed as Regent Chancellor in 2795, and the Voltigeurs were not listed as an active regiment in 2786, while House Liao (The Capellan Confederation) states that the Voltigeurs were formed in the last decade of the twenty-eighth century, giving a window of between 2790 and 2795 for the formation of the regiment.

Bibliography

• First Succession War
• House Liao (The Capellan Confederation)
• NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 1
• Second Succession War