3rd Chesterton Cavalry

3rd Chesterton Cavalry logo.png
Third Chesterton Cavalry
Formed Second Exodus
Nickname The Lightfoot Lancers[1][2]
Affiliation Capellan Confederation
Tikonov Grand Union (previous)
Chesterton Trade League (previous)
Parent Command Chesterton Regulars


History[edit]

Originally a part of the Chesterton Army, the armed forces of the Chesterton Trade League in the years immediately after the Demarcation Declaration saw the Terran Alliance abandon the bulk of humanity's interstellar colonies, the Third Chesterton Cavalry survived for centuries in service to the various successors to the Trade League.[2]

The Chesterton Army was folded into the armed forces of the Tikonov Grand Union when the Grand Union formed from the earlier Tikonov Union and Chesterton Trade League, and the surviving elements of the Chesterton Army were folded into a new brigade, the Chesterton Regulars. The Third Cavalry would continue to serve in the Chesterton Regulars after the formation of the Capellan Confederation and throughout the Age of War; the Third Cavalry and a sister regiment, the Eighth Chesterton Cavalry, outlasted many of their contemporaries. The violent struggles throughout the Age of War for control of Chesterton, former capital of the Trade League, would cost the Chesterton Reserves dearly; the Third Cavalry were one of only three units to have served in the Chesterton Army that would survive until the formation of the Star League, largely because the Third was a specialized long-range reconnaissance regiment that managed to avoid being drawn directly into the heaviest fighting. The Third was fortunate where many other Chesterton regiments were not, as it largely avoided being pulled into the attrition-heavy slugging matches that were the general result of each Capellan attempt to recapture Chesterton from the Federated Suns.[2]

While many units were disbanded or deactivated following the creation of the Star League Defense Force in the buildup to the Reunification War the Third Cavalry remained an active unit throughout the Star League era, witnessing the expansion of the Chesterton Regulars after the repeal of the Council Edict of 2650 in 2752. By 2765 the Cuirassiers were one of six BattleMech regiments within the Chesterton Regulars and a series of clashes with the Armed Forces of the Federated Suns during the two-year border conflict that erupted after a terror attack on Demeter saw the lethargy of years of garrison duty shaken off, tempering the Third Cavalry once more into an experienced combat unit.[2]

During the Second Hidden War the Third faced off against DCMS troops that raided Mira. A battalion of ronin troops landed and tried to take control of a CCAF munitions dump, quickly dispatching the small armor force that was guarding it. The Third made a suborbital DropShip flight and surrounded the ronin unit. After fighting for several hours the Kuritan pilots committed suicide when it became clear they had lost. The Third captured twelve DCMS BattleMechs after this fighting ended.[1]

Officers[edit]

Rank Name Command
Commanding Officers of the 3rd Chesterton Cavalry

Tactics[edit]

The Third Chesterton Cavalry was a specialized long-range reconnaissance regiment.[2] The Third deployed large amounts of infantry to act as spotters and search for an enemy force. Their fastest units, scout 'Mechs and VTOLs, would quickly encircle an enemy force and call in artillery strikes. This pinned the enemy unit in place long enough for heavier forces to arrive and engage. At the same time, the Third's faster units would start to squeeze the enemy's lines looking for weaknesses.[1]

Composition History[edit]

2765[edit]

Third Chesterton Cavalry (Regiment/Regular/Fanatical)[2]

Note: At this point in time the Third Chesterton Cavalry were stationed on the world of Algot. They were also the lightest cavalry regiment in CCAF service.[1]

2786–2821[edit]

Third Chesterton Cavalry (Regiment/Regular/Fanatical)[3]

- At this point in time the Third were a medium-weight regiment operating at full strength and were stationed on Algot.[3] In 2821 the unit was operating at just one-third of full strength, and were stationed on Everett.[3]

Game Rules[edit]

When using multiple force types (infantry, 'Mechs, and/or vehicles) in a scenario, they gain a +1 Initiative modifier. When using a single force type they receive a -1 Initiative modifier. When they are the Attacker in a scenario they can use the Off-Map Movement special ability.[4]

References[edit]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Era Report: 2750, p. 39
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Field Report 2765: CCAF, p. 10: "Chesterton Regulars"
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 First Succession War, p. 135: "Capellan Confederation Armed Forces (CCAF) - Deployment Table"
  4. Era Report: 2750, p. 140

Bibliography[edit]