17th Recon Regiment

Revision as of 05:51, 16 August 2013 by Nuclear-Fridge (talk | contribs)

You must add a |reason= parameter to this Cleanup template – replace it with {{Cleanup|reason=<Fill reason here>}}, or remove the Cleanup template.
Cleanup tagged articles without a reason field

Template:InfoBoxMercUnit [ Widely known by their nickname Camacho's Caballeros, the 17th Recon Regiment (sometimes abbreviated "17th Recon") is a mercenary unit featured in the BattleTech novels Close Quarters, Hearts of Chaos, and Black Dragon, all written by Victor Milán. Their unit strength at the beginning of Close Quarters (circa 3057) is roughly a regiment in size, with three full battalions of 'Mechs and an unspecified number of infantry.

Notable members of Camacho's Caballeros include Cassie Suthorn (the main character of Close Quarters and who has a hobby of defeating BattleMechs whilst she is on foot) and Colonel Carlos Camacho. The unit appeared to be composed of older 'Mechs, such as the Phoenix Hawk, Shadow Hawk, and Wasp, though they are mentioned as being upgraded with double heat sinks and at least one C3 computer system.

No color scheme or insignia is referred to in the novels. The 'Mechs seem to be custom painted and decorated by each pilot.

Unit History

Close Quarters describes the unit as being composed of Free Worlds League natives, and having a diverse mix of different ethnicities. Many of the members hail from the three impoverished worlds of Cerillos, Galisteo, and Sierra, the so-called "Trinity of Southwestern Worlds" on the League edge of Periphery that are composed primarily of individuals of Hispanic descent. The novel also states the unit as being involved in battle against the Clans, Colonel Carlos Camacho most notably piloting a captured Clan Smoke Jaguar Mad Cat. They are employed by the people of Crotch (in a flashback) and, for the main part of the story, Chandrasekhar Kurita, the CEO of Hachiman Taro Electronics, which is based out of Hachiman.

The Caballeros have been key in foiling the plots of the Kokuryu-kai, as they did when the rebels attempted to conquer Towne from the Federated Commonwealth. The Caballeros defeated the 15th Dieron Regulars there, earning the Draconis Combine a bruised ego as a line unit was defeated by corporate mercenaries. The Regiment gains a fourth Battalion in wake of the fighting on Towne in 3058. Many of the 'Mechs and equipment that would make up their new battalion came from the decimated Black Dragon-aligned forces which included the 15th Dieron Regulars and its task force of supporting regiments. Prior to June, the unit received a mixed group of new recruits from Southwest Trinity of worlds, which would incorporate some survivors of the fighting on Towne. Robert "Navajo Wolf" Begay was promoted to Force Commander and became its commanding officer. However many within the regiment were ill at ease with the new Battalion due to the nature of its creation and personnel.[1]

The Caballeros were again on hand at Coordinator Theodore Kurita's birthday celebration, which they were invited to as a thanks for their involvement in the Towne debacle. There, they were able to escort both Theodore and Chandrasekhar to safety when the Otomo, the Coordinator's bodyguard, attempted to assassinate him.

The Caballeros deployed after Operation Bulldog on some liberated worlds to protect Tanadi assets, and were attacked by forces from Clan Ghost Bear[2]. The regiment survived the fighting, but lost Force Commander Bar-Kochba and many others of the battalion on Luzerne.

Remaining with HTE, upon hearing of the imminent disintegration of order in the Free Worlds League and the heavy-handed treatment of rioters in the Southwestern Trinity by the federally-employed mercenary unit Swann's Cavaliers resulting in the "Bad Rock Massacre", the Caballeros returned home to defeat the Cavaliers and defend their homeworlds against all possible threats. The arrival of the Caballeros on Galisteo turned the tide against the Cavaliers. The Caballeros destroyed most of the Cavaliers' AeroSpace equipment and the Cavaliers' Charlie Battalion was quickly eliminated. The Caballeros then traveled to Sierra and Cerillos to liberate those worlds but found that the Cavaliers had withdrawn from both systems. With the Free Worlds League destroyed and the Trinity Worlds on their own, Carlos Camacho assumed the office of President of Galisteo.[3]

In 3071 rumors suggested that the Caballeros would be working for the Lyran Alliance and be placed at the Clan Jade Falcon border.[4]

Officers

The commanding officer in 3067 was Carlos Camacho.

In 3085 Colonel Gavilán Camacho is the commanding officer.[5]

Tactics

Support

Dragoon Ratings

3067

Dragoon Rating: B-

Composition History

3040

Camacho's Caballeros (Regiment/Regular/Reliable)[6]

3056

  • 17th Recon Regiment (Carlos Camacho's) (BattleMech Regiment)
  • CO: Colonel Carlos "Tiburon" Camacho
    XO/Lt. Colonel Marisol "La Dama Muerte" Cabrera
    • 1st Battalion - CO: Lt. Colonel Gordon Braid
    • 2nd Battalion - CO: Force Commander Rabbi Bar-Kochba
    • 3rd Battalion - CO: Force Commander Peter White Nose Pony

-Unit was noted to have 90+ BattleMechs. Colonel Camacho, pilots a Clan Timberwolf named Great White, with shark teeth painted its cockpit-like nose.[7]

  • Infantry (1 Scout Platoon) - CO: Infantry Commander: Captain "Badlands" Powell

3067

17th Recon Regiment (Carlos Camacho's) (2 Battalions/Elite/Reliable)[8]

  • CO/Colonel: Carlos "Tiburon" Camacho
XO/Lt. Colonel: Gavilan "Falcon" Camacho
  • 1st Battalion: Force Commander Kali "Dark Lady" MacDougall
  • 4th Battalion: Force Commander Bobby "Navajo Wolf" Begay

Infantry (1 Scout Company)

  • Infantry Commander: Lt. Sergeant Daniel "Rooster" Morgan

Heavy Aerospace Squadron

  • Wing Commander: Captain Sharon "Dragon" Omizuki

3085

Camacho's Caballeros (Veteran/Fanatical)[5]

  • CO: Colonel Gavilán Camacho

Unit Notes

When asked about the origin of the "17th Recon Regiment" designation on the CBT Forum, the official answer was that is was presumably an oversight based on a unit patch depicted in the old Mercenary's Handbook for the 17th Recon Regiment; however this patch referred to a sub-unit of the Eridani Light Horse, a distinctly different mercenary unit.[9]

Gallery

References

  1. Black Dragon, pp. 72-73
  2. Field Manual: Mercenaries: Revised, p. 54 - "The Caballeros deployed after Operation Bulldog on liberated worlds to protect Tanadi"
  3. Mercenaries Supplemental Update, p. 39
  4. Mercenaries Supplemental Update, p. 39
  5. 5.0 5.1 Field Manual: 3085, p. 160, "Mercenary Forces Deployment Table - 3085"
  6. Historical: War of 3039 , p. 140
  7. Close Quarters p. 40, 60, 73, 79, 112- - Unit details and commanders as told in the novel.
  8. 17th Recon Regiment and composition
  9. In this thread ("17th Recon Regiment - also known as Camacho's Caballeros") on the CBT Forum

Bibliography