Editing McCarron's Armored Cavalry

{{otheruses|the military unit|the scenario pack|McCarron's Armored Cavalry (scenario pack)}}
{{refimprove}}
{{Update Needed|[[Historical: Brush Wars]], [[Field Manual: 3145]], [[Field Manual: Updates]], [[Dawn of the Jihad]], [[Jihad Hot Spots: 3070]], [[Jihad Hot Spots: 3072]], [[Jihad Hot Spots: 3076]], [[Jihad: Final Reckoning]], [[More Tales of the Black Widow]]}}
{{infoBoxMilitaryCommand
| image = [[Image:McCarrons Armored Cavalry logo 3076.png|191px|Brigade Insignia of McCarron's Armored Cavalry]]
| Designation = McCarron's Armored Cavalry
| Formed = [[2930]]
| Disbanded = 
| Previous Designation = 
| Nickname = "The Big Mac"
| Affiliation = [[Mercenary]]<br>[[Capellan Confederation]]
| Parent Command = None<br>[[Capellan Confederation Armed Forces]]
| Sub-Command = [[First McCarron's Armored Cavalry]]<br>[[Second McCarron's Armored Cavalry]]<br>[[Third McCarron's Armored Cavalry]]<br>[[Fourth McCarron's Armored Cavalry]]<br>[[Fifth McCarron's Armored Cavalry]]<br>[[Sixth McCarron's Armored Cavalry]]
}}

<onlyinclude>
Also known as '''The Big Mac''' or simply abbreviated '''MAC''', '''McCarron's Armored Cavalry''' used to be one of the largest and most successful [[mercenary unit]]s in existence with an excellent, near legendary reputation. After having spent a large portion of its history in Capellan employ, '''[[McCarron's Armored Cavalry]]''' joined the CCAF around 3060. In return, the commander received a noble title and each member was granted citizenship.
Even as a regular House unit, they remain a semi-independent fighting force.
</onlyinclude>

==Overview==
The unit is known as restless, being far more comfortable with attacking and raiding than defending. Their command structure is exceptionally loose and informal, which seems to work to their advantage.

Despite their excellent combat record, the Big Mac has a mixed reputation off the battlefield. They are generally perceived as greedy troublemakers.

After the [[Fourth Succession War]] they became a veritable cornerstone of the Capellan military, and [[Archibald McCarron]] received land grants and a noble title. He also created several successful commercial enterprises in Capellan space.

On the eve of the [[Capellan-St. Ives War]], the Cavalry officially joined the [[CCAF]], ending its mercenary status and becoming a regular House unit. Its members were granted full citizenship in the Capellan Confederation.

==History==
McCarron's Armored Cavalry is and had been the pride and personal possession of the McCarron family since it was raised by Lord Gamala McCarron on [[Chesterton]] in [[2930]].

===The early days===
The MAC worked for the [[Federated Suns]], until Lord Gamala McCarron was killed on [[New Rhodes III]] in an attack by [[House Kurita]] in [[2970]]. His son Castor inherited the unit, and brought it into service for the [[Lyran Commonwealth]]. They saw extensive fighting against the [[Free Worlds League]] from [[2975]] until [[2991]]. However, Castor McCarron was dissatisfied with the compensation for his unit's service from [[House Steiner]], which he considered inadequate. Without prior notice to their employer, McCarron's Armored Cavalry withdrew from the Commonwealth and signed up for a tour of duty with the [[Draconis Combine]]. House Steiner put a price on Castor McCarron's head for this coup.

Generally, it is held that the MAC had fought for all Successor States, and against all but one, by [[2995]].

===Entering service to Liao===
In [[2995]], McCarron again felt the financial drain of running such a large unit. They left the Combine and entered the service of the [[Capellan Confederation]] where they arrived in [[2996]]. [[Maximilian Liao]] not only received them with open arms, he also provided them with an extensive support base on [[Menke]] to serve as their permanent home. Since that time, McCarron's Armored Cavalry has been in the employ of [[House Liao]], with one brief exception: In [[3002]], Castor McCarron was killed in a bar fight over a local dancing girl. Following his burial on Chesterton, his younger brother [[Archibald McCarron]] struck a secret agreement with the [[Free Worlds League]] by which he transferred control of the Cavalry to [[House Marik]] in exchange for the head of his brother's murderer. Marik secret service agents delivered the head.

Since [[2996]] the MAC has essentially served as a strategic reserve to House Liao, to be moved if and when the situation demands.

In [[3007]], after the [[CCAF]] suffered a string of defeats at the hands of [[House Davion]]'s new [[Wolf's Dragoons]] mercenaries. Archibald McCarron, who at the time was young and new to command, felt compelled to strike back, and brought all five regiments on a deep raid into Davion territory, striking at the Dragoons' homeworld of [[New Valencia]], in an attempt to crush the three Dragoon regiments on-planet. Though they had an advantage in numbers, the Dragoons soon established an effective defensive perimeter against the Cavalry, safeguarding their primary support personnel and dependents and making effective use of combined-arms tactics. The Cavalry, for their part, began trashing and looting the civilian city of Raiteland, and reportedly executed many civilians in their hunt for Dragoon elements. They were soon driven from the planet, however, when the remaining Dragoons as well as the [[Eridani Light Horse]] approached. [[Jaime Wolf]] soon retaliated, however, sending his elite Seventh Kommando special forces to the Cavalry's homeworld on [[Menke]], where they engaged in a campaign of sabotage and destruction, soon slipping away unharmed. Though McCarron was furious, Maximilian Liao forbade any counterstrikes, realizing "Big Mac" and his hot-headed troops would likely get themselves destroyed.<ref>''Wolf's Dragoons'', p. 10</ref>

Their regiments warded off Davion attacks against [[Highspire]] in [[3012]] and against [[St. Ives]] in [[3014]]. At some point during this time, they fell out with [[Wolf's Dragoons]], which was in Liao employ at the time, on the world of [[Bithinia]].

In [[3015]], [[Marcus Barton]] was put in command of the Second MAC Regiment, henceforth known as "Barton's Regiment". Archibald McCarron ordered him to build "the biggest, meanest assault regiment the [[Inner Sphere]] has ever seen", and Barton did just that. His first assignment came when Barton's Regiment was sent to relieve the Blackwind Lancers on [[Elnath]] in [[3015]], where the [[Free Worlds League]] kept raiding the ammunition and tank factories. Barton discovered that the Marik forces used the Gorndack fortress on [[Ohrensen]] as a staging area and resupply base, and immediately struck against the stronghold, breaking the resistance after five hours of intense fighting and securing the fort by the end of the day. His unit suffered heavy losses, but the success (and subsequent similar actions) gave rise to the legend of "Barton the Fort Buster".

Other MAC units stalled the Free Worlds League on [[Lesalles]] in [[3016]]. In the following year, the [[Federated Suns]] stepped up their attacks on the Confederation and reached an average of one raid per month by [[3018]]. In the constant raiding, the MAC's regiments were split up into battalions and used to garrison potential target worlds where they saw heavy fighting. In [[3018]], Davion's [[Armed Forces of the Federated Suns#Avalon Hussars|Forty-second Avalon Hussars]] killed Jordan Brush, one of Archibald McCarron's best friends, in a sneak attack on [[Purvo]]. In another notable fight, [[Smithson's Chinese Bandits]] (working for House Davion) tried to hit a [[DropShip]] repair facility on [[Necromo]], but were repulsed by the third Battalion (Wayne's Wreckers) of Barton's Regiment.

===McCarron's Long March===
Angered by the frequent Davion raids, and especially by a raid on the capital world of [[Sian]] by [[Smithson's Chinese Bandits]] in [[3022]], [[Maximilian Liao]] gave the MAC leave for what they longed for: blanket permission to attack the Federated Suns as they saw fit.

McCarron secretly prepared a highly risky series of three-pronged strikes by placing transports at predetermined rendezvous points, allowing for rapid troop movement but stripping other Capellan troops of their transports and supplies in the process. The rapid movement created the impression of superior numbers when there were none.

The operation, which became known as McCarron's Long March or simply McCarron's War, succeeded beyond all expectations.

====First wave====
The MAC simultaneously struck against the first three targets: [[Tawas]], where they defeated [[Tristam's Terrorists]], [[Farwell]], where they destroyed several important ore refineries before disappearing as quickly as they had come, and [[Kathil]], where McCarron personally led the First and Second Regiment against the Forty-second Avalon Hussars. McCarron wanted to avenge his friend Jordan Brush, but the Hussars put up a good running fight for several days; when they realized that the MAC was out for blood, they scattered until reinforcements could arrive. McCarron, unwilling to waste time hunting them down, moved on to the next target.

====Busting Fort Bourgogne====
The next wave hit the twin worlds of [[McHenry]] and [[Muskegon]] (catching the mercenary unit [[Mathias's Forlorn Hope]] on R&R on the former) and, most importantly, [[Marlette]]. This was one of five fortress worlds along the Davion-Liao border, used primarily as a resupply base for the Capellan March Militia. The Marlette stronghold, Fort Bourgogne, had not been attacked in over a century and was widely regarded as impregnable. McCarron and "Fort Buster" Barton rode point in the attack and breached the defenses in a three-day battle. Although the victory had come at heavy losses, it was a serious blow to the enemy morale.

====Beten Kaitos====
The MAC continued their merry romp through the Federated Suns, hitting the 'Mech repair facility on [[Goshen]] and raiding [[Emerson]] and [[Smolensk]]. However, in March [[3023]] the MAC unexpectedly met Davion's personal guard on [[Beten Kaitos]] and a pitched two-day running battle ensued. McCarron's Armored Cavalry was forced to withdraw, but having fought Davion's best and living to tell the tale only boosted their reputation further. They moved back to Liao space, hitting [[Bristol]], [[Mira]] and [[Mesartim]] on the way, and arrived to a hero's welcome at [[Tikonov]] in [[3023]]. Maximilian Liao personally rewarded each unit commander with the highest Capellan military decoration and the promise of landed titles when they retired in recognition of their achievements.

===Rebuilding===
After their prolonged campaign through the Federated Suns, the MAC needed to rebuild their regiments and kept rather quiet, returning to their previous duty of strategic reserve and fighting off retaliatory raids from the Federated Suns. They did, however, participate in the invasion of [[Stein's Folly]] in [[3025]].

Since advanced technology was hard to come by, Archibald McCarron increasingly relied on the "open" (black) market to obtain needed equipment and technology.

One dealer, [[Simon Kincaid]], reportedly decided to take the money and split instead of risking capture by [[House Steiner]] for moving a huge order sometime around 3027, supposedly leaving the MAC out several million [[C-bill]]s in needed supplies. Enraged, McCarron sent Barton's Regiment to raid the main manufacturing plant of [[Kincaid Defiance Industries]] on [[Hesperus II]] in a quick and narrow objective raid. (This was actually a cover story, or what House Steiner later thought had happened. In truth, Kincaid was a Capellan agent who was mere hours away from being found out, and the raid was executed to extract him.<ref>''Proprietary''</ref>) Although engaged by the [[Blackhearts]] and the [[Twenty-sixth Lyran Guards]] and under relentless [[aerospace fighter]] attack, the raid was a success, and losses were even lower than usual for Barton's Regiment. This marks the MAC as one of very few units to have ever successfully raided Hesperus II.

===Fourth Succession War===
Although the [[Capellan Confederation]] at large was utterly defeated in the [[Fourth Succession War]], the MAC lived up to expectations and fared somewhat better.

In response to the Long March offensive, Davion troops completely destroyed McCarron's first regiment on [[Arboris]] and [[Basalt]] in the opening stages of the war, with no quarter asked nor given on either side. Thirsting for revenge, the remaining four regiments were deployed to [[Sarna]] while Davion intelligence was misled into believing they had been moved to [[Palos]].<ref>''Warrior: Coupé'', ch. 4</ref> In May 3029 the [[Fifth Syrtis Fusiliers]] [[RCT]] ("The Evil Eye"), together with two regiments of the [[Crater Cobras]] and the Second Regiment of the [[Screaming Eagles]], attacked Sarna. Eager to prove his unit's worth in battle, General [[Gordon Hartstone]] had his Syrtis Fusiliers approach the planet ahead of the other forces at 2.5 Gs. By the time their mercenary backup arrived two days later, the Fusiliers were no more. The MAC then pinned down the mercenaries who had to stand their ground and fight a prolonged campaign that avoided major engagements.  Neither side was able to know the full picture of what the other side was truly facing, and neither side was able to send a message off-planet due to ComStar initiating a communications interdiction.  The arrival of the Davion Light and Heavy Guards RCTs seven months later, and Colonel Archibald McCarron made the hard choice that Sarna had to be abandoned. In one little-regarded battle that was described as actually one of the most brutal engagements of that war, the MAC managed an orderly retreat from [[Sarna]] under attack from the [[Screaming Eagles]] and the [[Crater Cobras]], largely again due to the actions of Barton's Regiment who lost almost half of its 'Mechs, but reduced the attackers by two thirds in return. This delay allowed the rest of the MAC to load up as much as they could before leaving the system.

Barton's second-in-command, [[Patrick Hart]], was among the casualties on Sarna.

===Rebuilding Again===
Despite their above-average combat record, the losses from the war were a blow to the MAC. After returning to [[Menke]], Archibald McCarron temporarily passed command to [[Marcus Baxter]] and went with Marcus Barton and Ian MacPhearson to create a web of trading companies in nearly all [[Successor States]], even the Commonwealth half of the [[Federated Commonwealth]] and the [[Taurian Concordat]]. By [[3032]], Barton and MacPhearson had recruited and trained personnel to replace their losses and McCarron had established a profitable interstellar trading company, the [[McCarron's Trading Company|MTC, Inc.]], which supplied his unit with technology and was also put to use in expanding the garrison facilities on Menke.

In the [[Andurien Secession|brief war]] with the [[Duchy of Andurien]], Barton and MacPhearson were sent to relieve [[Betelgeuse]]. The Anduriens had dug in their defensive positions, but "Fort Buster" Barton stubbornly broke through in a two-week assault. Following this victory, the MAC intelligence pegged the enemy resupply and staging area on the planet [[Prix]] and launched an attack that returned to Betelgeuse fully loaded with booty after another three weeks of intense fighting. The Anduriens had lost two major supply depots and repair facilities, and Barton's Regiment and Leo's Demons moved to fight the Andurien's allies, the [[Magistracy of Canopus]], next. In [[3036]], the Fourth Regiment struck [[Canopus]] itself in retribution raid ordered by Romano Liao herself to punish Canopus for their involvement in the fighting. They caught the defenders by surprise and began to raze the capital of Canopus.  Only the arrival of Emma Centrella and her personal guard prevented the complete collapse of the Canopus defenders. Only after two days of heavy fighting later did the Fourth withdrew, but not before they had razed most of the Canopus capital's most important industrial and government complexes as a message from House Liao of the reach of the Capellan Confederation.<ref>''Historical: Brush Wars'', pp. 67, 138</ref> Over the course of the hostilities, the First Regiment (The Nightriders) lost a veteran company to a [[DropShip]] crash.

In [[3037]], Archibald McCarron assumed command of the Cavalry again and formed a sixth Regiment under Marcus Baxter, Baxter's Brawlers. Using equipment captured from the Anduriens, the Menke repair facilities were expanded and also revamped to assemble 'Mechs. Chancellor Romano Liao largely exempted the unit and Menke from her many pogroms that were taking place throughout Capellan space. MAC units stationed elsewhere privately relayed their concerns about what was being done to Romano Liao's "enemies against the state".

The [[War of 3039]] was another opportunity for McCarron's Armored Cavalry to strike at FedCom worlds near Menke in fast "grab and move" raids, correctly assuming that the war had drained their defenses. They were successful in the case of [[Alcyone]] and [[Kathil]], among others.<ref name=Wo39>''Historical: War of 3039'', p. 123: "The Mac Attack"</ref> When they landed on Kathil on 2 September 3039, the [[8th Syrtis Fusiliers]] were ready and waiting and forced the attackers back. But Colonel Marcus Barton ordered numerous smaller objective raids as his forces pulled out, including a smash-and-grab raid against warehouses in a city on 9 September,<ref>Scenario ''[[HexPack: Cities and Roads#Slippery When Wet]]'', in: ''[[HexPack: Cities and Roads]]''</ref> and the Kathil raid was still considered a success.

On [[Addicks]], however, Barton's Regiment was fought to a standstill by the elite [[Davion Brigade of Guards|Davion Guards]], and retreated with no booty. A Davion counterattack smashed the Cavalry's base on Menke and destroyed the nascent sixth regiment.<ref name=Wo39/> The MAC fought on their own behalf, but [[Theodore Kurita]] found their actions helpful enough for his own war efforts to send Archibald McCarron a brand new CGR-3K ''[[Charger]]'' as a gift in [[3043]].

===Return to Fort Bourgogne===
Following the War of 3039, [[House Davion]] sought to fortify its borders. In [[3044]] they rebuilt Fort Bourgogne on [[Marlette]], which the MAC had left in ruins twenty-two years earlier, virtually daring the MAC and especially Marcus Barton to tear it down again. Baxter's Brawlers were sent on a probing raid, but when they discovered that Barton's sworn enemy, General [[Lester J. Otto]], was commanding the Fort's garrison, Barton included his own regiment in the raid as "tactical advisers". The MAC command let him have his way, and once again "Fort Buster" Barton lived up to his reputation. He took the opportunity to exact revenge on Otto whom he killed personally. Otto had piloted a brand-new prototype 'Mech (a DVS-2 ''[[Devastator]]'') and the wreckage fell into the hands of the MAC as combat salvage, adding insult to injury.

Afterwards, the MAC regiments were dispersed to garrison Capellan worlds along the Davion front and barely one battalion remained on Menke for some time. Seeking revenge for the attack on Marlette, [[Hanse Davion]] ordered his elite [[Fox's Teeth]] (McKinnon's Company, aka McKinnon's Raiders, of the [[Seventh Crucis Lancers]] RCT) to deliver a suitable response and in late [[3045]] they struck at Menke. In a week-long rampage of hit-and-run raids, they destroyed MAC property including supply dumps, repair facilities and a golf course and savaged Kitagawa's pursuing company through repeated ambushes, then withdrew before a furious Marcus Baxter could make planetfall with two regiments.

By [[3050]], McCarron's Armored Cavalry had six active regiments and a seventh training regiment on [[Menke]], usually on rotating duty with one active regiment serving elsewhere. Archibald McCarron spent most of his time on [[McCarron's Trading Company|MTC, Inc.]], and Marcus Baxter was groomed as his heir apparent.

===The Death of Archibald McCarron===
In [[3050]], Archibald McCarron died in an unfortunate training accident. The close-knit group elected Colonel Marcus Baxter to become their interim commander, with the proviso that Baxter should adopt McCarron's twin children, [[Rhamses McCarron|Rhamses]] and [[Faith McCarron]] and name one of them his heir to his command and landholds. Baxter did so, and began to raise the children as their stepfather, being expected to hand command over to them eventually.<ref name=FMCCp87>''Field Manual: Capellan Confederation'', p. 87: "McCarron's Armored Cavalry"</ref>

Baxter went on to lead the MAC against the [[Armed Forces of the Federated Commonwealth]] during the second wave of [[Operation GUERRERO|Operation GUERRERO]]<ref>''Shrapnel'' Issue 4, p. 198: "All Good Things"</ref> and against the ''touman'' of [[Clan Smoke Jaguar]] during [[Operation BULLDOG]].<ref name=FMCCp87 />

===Integration===
On the eve of the [[Capellan-St. Ives War]] that began in [[3060]], Chancellor [[Sun-Tzu Liao]] offered the Big Mac the honor of being the first [[mercenary unit]] to be added to the rolls of the [[Capellan Confederation Armed Forces]]. Baxter agreed, becoming a member of the ''Barduc'' and gaining citizenship for himself and his men. The worlds of [[Menke]] and [[Mitchel]] became their landholds.

As a House unit, the commands answer to the local ''jiang-jun'' but follow the orders of Marcus Baxter when needed. They can act on their own, this circumstance giving them the freedom to react to any military threat.

The MAC remains a semi-independent fighting force with fearsome reputation even afterwards, and well into the 3130s. The brigade fields some of the best equipment of the entire CCAF owing to their possession of their own factories. They have retained their own support and training infrastructure from their mercenary days.

===Capellan-St. Ives War===
All McCarron regiments participated in the [[Capellan-St. Ives War]], which resulted in heavy losses: A full battalion of the [[First McCarron's Armored Cavalry]] was immediately annihilated when they were attacked with nerve gas upon making planetfall on [[Wei]] in 3060. In retaliation, the [[Death Commandos]] took control of the planet, but only after decimating the local government and defenders in kind. The nerve gas was then stolen, and used later in the [[Black May]] attacks.

The [[Second McCarron's Armored Cavalry]] landed on planet [[Milos]] in 3062, and clashed with the [[Eridani Light Horse]] and were defeated, however the latter's retreat later on would ultimately result in a Capellan victory. Other McCarron regiments don't appear to have suffered as many casualties during the conflict.

===The Jihad===
Despite the damage taken by the MAC during the [[Jihad]], the conflict served to end the arguments between the MAC and the [[Strategios]] about whether or not the former mercenary command should continue to operate in an irregular fashion; the tactics used by the MAC differed enough from those of the CCAF that the MAC scored numerous victories during the course of the Jihad against those expecting to face CCAF units using conventional tactics.<ref name="FR:CCAFp15">''Field Report: CCAF'', p. 15: "McCarron's Armored Cavalry"</ref>

Of the various units that made up the MAC, some survived the Jihad in better shape than others; the First MAC saw combat throughout [[Operation SOVEREIGN JUSTICE]] and the Jihad up until the formation lost two battalions of MechWarriors to the active [[SDS]] network in the [[Zion]] system in [[3077]]. This gutted the Nightriders, who hadn't had the opportunity to rebuild completely before Zion, and forced the regiment to retreat to [[Aldebaran]] and wait for reinforcements and resupply; it also saw personnel from the other MAC formations begin deliberately avoid the First to avoid attracting "bad luck".<ref name="FR:CCAFp15A">''Field Report: CCAF'', p. 15: "Condition"</ref>

The Second MAC came under the command of Rhamses McCarron following the death of [[Angel Bodez]] in [[3077]] on [[New Aragon]]; having accepted command after the Second MAC's victory on [[Zurich]], Rhamses was still finding commanding a regiment to be a very different beast to that which his training anticipated.<ref name="FR:CCAFp15A"/>

Having run out of luck on [[New Syrtis]] in the early years of the Jihad when a spirited attack by the Third MAC intended to assault the rear of the AFFS forces there instead ran into a determined defense from the FedSuns forces at Saso forced the Wild Ones to withdraw to Menke. The Third MAC spent the remainder of the Jihad providing replacement warriors to the other MAC formations for the rest of the Jihad by performing cadre duties in support to the MAC's training program on Menke.<ref name="FR:CCAFp15A"/>

The Fourth MAC finished the Jihad on [[Hsien]], where Lord Richard Carson endeavored to resolve the deadlock between the CCAF and Coalition forces on the world in the aftermath of the three-way battle for control of the planet; with ''Zhong-shao'' [[Erin Grey]] having died, Carson took the opportunity to promote Faith McCarron, and intelligence indicated that Carson was using the situation as a training opportunity for Faith.<ref name="FR:CCAFp15A"/>

The Fifth MAC spent much of the Jihad making opportunistic raids against worlds within the [[Word of Blake Protectorate]] and the Capellan March, with the conflict removing the last dissenting elements from the regiment; the Fifth subsequently garrisoned [[Sian]] after the [[Red Lancers]] and [[Warrior House Imarra]] were deployed elsewhere. Kyp's Kommando would be deployed off Sian to join the campaign for [[Halloran V]] in [[3077]] before returning to garrison Sian again, remaining in place until at least 3079.<ref name="FR:CCAFp15A"/>

The successes enjoyed by the MAC during the Jihad led to the Armored Cavalry becoming very popular with the Capellan media, who began playing the MAC up as examples of valiant ''janshi'' in Capellan service, with the Fifth MAC receiving particular attention and acclaim because of their presence on Sian. This media adulation served to increase the loyalty of the MAC to the Confederation, although there was the potential for dissent within the MAC over which of the two children of Archibald McCarron would replace Marcus Baxter as commander of the MAC in due course.<ref name="FR:CCAFp15B">''Field Report: CCAF'', p. 15: "Morale"</ref>

===Post-Jihad===
In the wake of the Jihad the MAC were stationed along the border between the Confederation and the newly formed [[Republic of the Sphere]]; the presence of such a premiere offensive unit was a clear sign of the Chancellor's intentions towards [[Devlin Stone]] and his new realm. On the contested world of Hsien, Faith McCarron managed to persuade Republican forces to withdraw after months of posturing and low-level skirmishes; not only did this win her a number of accolades, but it also impressed the CO of the Fourth Regiment to the extent that he decided it was a good opportunity for him to retire. As a result, command of the Fourth MAC passed to ''[[Sang-shao]]'' Faith McCarron, and as "Faith's Fortunate", the Fourth were keen to compete with Rhamses McCarron's regiment in any campaign against the Republic.<ref name="J:FRp100">''Jihad: Final Reckoning'', p. 100: "McCarron's Armored Cavalry"</ref>

====Capellan Confederation/Republic of the Sphere War====
The MAC were on the front lines again when the Chancellor launched an attack on the [[Republic of the Sphere]] in [[3081]], and paid a heavy price for their part in the campaign; the Confederation proved incapable of supporting the MAC, and two regiments were lost in combat. The First MAC was destroyed on [[Gan Singh]]; operating alongside the Second MAC, the Nightriders' history of bad luck caught up with them when several regiments from the [[Principes Guards]] cut them off from the Second MAC and then destroyed them before the Second could come to their aid. As bad a loss as the First MAC was, the greater loss was the Fourth MAC and the young Faith McCarron on [[New Canton]]. Fighting against the [[VIII Hastati Sentinels|VIII]], [[IX Hastati Sentinels|IX]] and [[X Hastati Sentinels]], the Fourth lost McCarron when the head of her ''[[Starslayer]]'' BattleMech was struck repeatedly with [[Rotary Autocannon]] rounds from a Hastati ''[[Legionnaire]]''. The Fourth refused to yield the area containing their fallen commander and only surrendered when the regiment had been reduced to just two lances of 'Mechs.<ref name="FM:3085p26">''Field Manual: 3085'', p. 26: "McCarron's Armored Cavalry"</ref>

On Gan Singh Rhamses McCarron led the Second MAC against the [[VIII Hastati Sentinels]], ignoring the other Republican forces until it was too late to save the First MAC; this perceived error in judgment would continue to prey on Rhamses' mind, who developed an intense hatred for the Republic as a result of the death of his sister Faith on New Canton.<ref name="FM:3085p26A">''Field Manual: 3085'', p. 26: "Second McCarron's Armored Cavalry"</ref>

The Third MAC were still rebuilding when called on to join the later stages of the Capellan attack and ended up facing [[Stone's Revenants]] twice, first on [[Acamar]] and then again on [[Tsitsang]], coming off worse than the Revenants in each case. Despite the Revenants' able use of conventional units to tie down and punish the Third MAC via combined-arms combat, the Third MAC has been slow to adopt the combined-arms doctrine espoused by the CCAF, in large part due to the attitude of ''Sang-shao'' [[Otto Kung]], the Third MAC CO. Kung remained convinced that conventional units would only interfere in the ability of the Third MAC's 'Mech forces to complete their tasks.<ref name="FM:3085p26B">''Field Manual: 3085'', p. 26: "Third McCarron's Armored Cavalry"</ref>

As a primarily defensive unit the Fifth MAC was used to defend worlds seized by the Confederation, ably defending [[Woodstock]], [[Liao]] and [[Tsitsang]] until overwhelming Republican numbers forced them to withdraw.<ref name="FM:3085p26C">''Field Manual: 3085'', p. 26: "Fifth McCarron's Armored Cavalry"</ref>

===Dark Age Era===
The MAC played a major role in the Capellan expansion into former Republic of the Sphere systems, though not without problems: the Fourth MAC fought in the [[Battle of Northwind (3150)|Battle of Northwind]] in a mission personally ordered by Chancellor [[Daoshen Liao]] to bring the world under Capellan control, though they weren't able to obtain victory.<ref>''Grey Watch Protocol'' </ref>

===IlClan Era===
On March 18th [[3151]] [[Daoshen Liao]] moved to punish the unit by shaking up its leadership in response to the failure at Northwind at the end of the previous year as well as the brief recapture of [[Liberty]] by Republican forces in October 3149, singling out the [[4th McCarron's Armored Cavalry|4th]] and [[5th McCarron's Armored Cavalry|5th MAC]] respectively for their roles in the setbacks. The commander of the 4th MAC, Sang-shao [[Lindsey Baxter]], blamed the defeat at Northwind on duplicitous actions by their former Draconis Combine [[Unity Pact]] allies, while the commander of the 5th MAC, Sang-shao [[Gwendolyn Vaughan]], blamed the loss on Liberty to supply problems that allowed Republican forces to take back control of the planet. The Chancellor ignored the excuses and decided to replace Xavier McCarron as the leader of the MAC, blaming the 4th and 5th MAC's failures on his leadership. Xavier protested his removal, stating that the setbacks on Northwind and Liberty had nothing to do with his leadership, which led Daoshen to order his execution as well as for Vaughan for voicing support for Xavier. Daoshen threatened further executions to the other officers of the 4th and 5th MAC who protested his decision. Xavier's son and intended successor, [[Cyrus McCarron|Cyrus]], cautiously did not protest nor attempt to save his father from execution, but instead offered to replace him as the overall commander of the MAC, citing his loyalty to the Chancellor by not opposing his father's execution. Daoshen refused and instead named his daughter Sang-shao [[Danai Liao-Centrella]], the current commander of 2nd MAC, as the new overall commander of the MAC, while also promoting her to [[jiang-jun]], a rank not held before by any previous commander of the MAC. Cyrus signaled his disappointment, but Daoshen responded "Consider yourself fortunate that I have not struck the name 'McCarron' from the brigade entirely." Cyrus was allowed to retain his rank in the MAC under Danai's command.<ref>''IlClan (sourcebook)'' pp. 118-119 </ref>

==Officers==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! scope="col" width="220" style="background: #dedede;" | Rank
! scope="col" width="220" style="background: #dedede;" | Name
! scope="col" width="220" style="background: #dedede;" | Command
|-
| colspan="4" style="background: #efefef;" | '''Commanding Officers of the McCarron's Armored Cavalry'''
|-
| [[Lord]]||[[Gamala McCarron]]||[[2930]] - [[2970]]<ref name=HLp95>''House Liao (The Capellan Confederation)'', p. 95: "McCarron's Armored Cavalry"</ref>
|-
| ||[[Castor McCarron]]||2970 - [[3002]]<ref name=HLp95/>
|-
| [[Colonel]]||[[Archibald McCarron]]||3002 - [[3050]]
|-
| Colonel||[[Marcus Baxter]]||3050 - [[3060]]
|-
| ''[[Sang-shao]]''||Marcus Baxter||3060 -
|-
| ''Sang-shao''||[[Rhamses McCarron]]|| - [[3109]]
|-
| ''Sang-shao''||[[Xavier McCarron]]||3109 -[[3151]] <ref>''IlClan'', p. 119 </ref>
|-
| ''[[Jiang-jun]]''||[[Danai Liao-Centrella]]||[[3151]]-present<ref>''IlClan'', p. 119 </ref>
|-
|}

==Tactics==
Different per Unit.

==Units of the McCarron's Armored Cavalry==
* First McCarron's Armored Cavalry (lost in the [[Jihad]])<ref name=FM3085p20>''Field Manual: 3085'', p. 20: "Citizens' Sacrifice"</ref> (re-formed prior to [[3145]])<ref name=FM3145p32>''Field Manual: 3145'', p. 32: "McCarron's Armored Cavalry"</ref>
* Second McCarron's Armored Cavalry
* [[Third McCarron's Armored Cavalry]]
* [[Fourth McCarron's Armored Cavalry]] (lost in the Jihad)<ref name=FM3085p20/> (re-formed prior to 3145)<ref name=FM3145p32/>
* [[Fifth McCarron's Armored Cavalry]]
* [[Sixth McCarron's Armored Cavalry]] (disbanded in [[3049]])<ref name=HWo39-128>''Historical: War of 3039'', pp. 128–129: "Countering the Big Mac - Menke (August-September)"</ref>

==Color Scheme and Insignia==

<gallery>
Camoliaomccarronsarmoredcav.png|''[[Awesome]]'' in McCarron's Armored Cavalry livery
McCarrons Armored Cavalry logo-old.png|Original MAC insignia
McCarrons Armored Cavalry logo 3076.png|MAC insignia, ca. [[3076]]
Mac1.png|[[First McCarron's Armored Cavalry]]
McCarrons Armored Cavalry 2nd logo.png|[[Second McCarron's Armored Cavalry]]
Mac3.png|[[Third McCarron's Armored Cavalry]]
4th McCarron's Armored Cavalry.png|[[Fourth McCarron's Armored Cavalry]]
Mac5.png|[[Fifth McCarron's Armored Cavalry]]
</gallery>

==Notes==
* Since [[3035]], McCarron's Armored Cavalry counted [[Ning-Ti Liao]] among their ranks. The estranged son of a wealthy merchant dynasty, he is also a distant relative of the ruling Liao family, and they sometimes call on his diplomatic and social skills, especially to answer questions about their military actions to the Liao high command. He initially piloted an ''[[Archer]]'', but was later switched to a ''[[Marauder]]''.
* As of 3025 the MAC fielded some 'Mech designs that were notable for their rarity or had been thought extinct, including the ''[[Falcon]]'' (with the Fourth Regiment) and unusual (in Capellan space) ''[[Commando]]'' (with the First and Second Regiments).<ref>''House Liao (The Capellan Confederation)'', p. 95</ref> In [[3044]] they fielded an STY-3C ''[[Starslayer]]'' on [[Marlette]], reportedly recovered from a small [[Star League]] depot that they had found while enlarging and rebuilding the facilities on [[Menke]] and in [[3048]] they were rumored to field vintage Star League-era ''[[Spector]]s'', again allegedly recovered from an old cache.<ref>''McCarron's Armored Cavalry''{{cn}}</ref> The specific model of ''Spector'' was not mentioned; the sourcebook gave stats for the SPR-5F which was however a downgraded version put in production in 3053. If the sourcebook meant to imply that the MAC fielded SPR-5F then these would have been early prototypes of what later became a production model, presumably field modifications (downgrades) of the original -4F design that was exclusively produced in the 2600s.

==References==
<references />

==Bibliography==
{{div col|colwidth=25em}}
* ''[[Field Manual: 3085]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: Capellan Confederation]]''
* ''[[Field Report: CCAF]]''
* ''[[The Fox's Teeth (scenario pack)|The Fox's Teeth]]''
* ''[[Historical: Brush Wars]]''
* ''[[Historical: War of 3039]]''
* ''[[House Liao (The Capellan Confederation)]]''
* ''[[IlClan (sourcebook)]]
* ''[[Jihad: Final Reckoning]]''
* ''[[McCarron's Armored Cavalry (scenario pack)|McCarron's Armored Cavalry]]''
* ''[[Proprietary]]''
* [[Shrapnel Issue 4|''Shrapnel'', Issue #4]]
* ''[[The Sword and the Dagger]]''
* ''[[Threads of Ambition]]''
* ''[[Warrior: Coupé]]''
* ''[[Wolf's Dragoons (sourcebook)|Wolf's Dragoons]]''
{{div col end}}

[[Category:Mercenary Commands|McCarron's Armored Cavalry]]
[[Category:Capellan Confederation Commands|McCarron's Armored Cavalry]]