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Difference between revisions of "1st Aragon Borderers"
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== Notes ==
 
== Notes ==
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* Before the First Aragon Borderers were created, the First Auxiliary was known as the Seventh Aragon Armored Cavalry.{{cn}}
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* Before the First Aragon Borderers were created, the First Auxiliary was known as the Seventh Aragon Armored Cavalry.<ref name="FM:FSp45">''Field Manual: Federated Suns'', p. 45, "First Aragon Borderers: The Pride of New Aragon"</ref>
  
 
== References ==
 
== References ==

Revision as of 22:16, 4 January 2022

File:Aragon borderers.png
First Aragon Borderers
Formed 3011 - 3013
Disbanded 3079 (destroyed)
Previous Designation(s) New Aragon Planetary Militia
Nickname The Pride of New Aragon
Affiliation Federated Suns
Parent Command AFFS

In actuality an upgraded garrison, the First Aragon Borderers are stationed on the Capellan March border world of New Aragon. The unit has been deployed off world, but has been most effective as a counter-insurgency force and short-range strike force.


History

Formation

The First Aragon Borderers were created initially as a stop-gap measure in response to the constant pressure exerted on the Federated Suns-Capellan Confederation border. As New Aragon had changed hands between the Federated Suns and the Capellan Confederation numerous times during the Third Succession War, the Armed Forces of the Federated Suns decided that, rather than tie up an AFFS unit and contribute more issues to their supply chain, two battalions worth of BattleMechs would be added to New Aragon's planetary militia. This would have a two-fold purpose: help the planet fight off raids by the Capellan Confederation and secure the Federated Suns' hold on it. This planetary militia unit then became known as the First Aragon Borderers. Although the exact date of the Borderers' founding is not specified, it can be inferred that its activation was likely tied to Hanse Davion's restructuring of New Aragon's military forces during his tenure as military governor from 3011 to 3013[1], after the planet was secured for House Davion by elements of the Wolf's Dragoons in 3008[2]. Even though the presence of 'Mechs on New Aragon didn't slow or halt the Capellans' encroachments, the planetary militia suddenly found itself able to give the raiders a fair fight. Although the unit sustained many casualties as they passed through the crucible of combat, they managed to bring down many of the Confederation raiders and win valuable experience.[3]

Fourth Succession War

In 3029, the First Aragon Borderers joined other Federated Suns forces in attacking the Capellan Confederation in Operation Rat. During the second wave of the offensive, the unit was assigned, along with Delta Company of the Davion Light Guards, to invade and capture Hunan. Opposing the two Federated Suns units was the First Battalion of the Freemont's Cuirassiers, who met the Borderers as they landed just outside Hunan's capital city. Unfortunately, the Borderers were ill-equipped to face down the many Marauders of the Cuirassiers, and suffered devastating losses. Were it not for the timely and effective intervention of Delta Company, the unit would most likely have been wiped out entirely.[4]

After successfully capturing the planet, the Borderers redeployed back to New Aragon, where they returned to the task of defending their homeworld. During the fourth wave of Operation Rat, they were stationed at Fort Ellison when two battalions from the Second Chesterton Voltigeurs made planetfall south of their position. Knowing that their force of mostly infantry and armored vehicles would be outmatched by the 'Mechs of the Voltigeurs, the Borderers set up ambushes and harassed the advancing Capellans as they approached the fort. Despite their fierce resistance, the Borderers were pushed back to the fort and were in danger of losing their position when the aerospace element of the Davion Heavy Guards arrived and immediately began a series of extensive airstrikes on the Voltigeurs. As the momentum shifted, the Borderers regrouped and charged the wavering enemy, forcing their commander to call a retreat back to their landing zone. Unfortunately for the Capellans, their dropships had been attacked and destroyed by Heavy Guards, Aragon Borderers, and New Avalon Crucis March Militia fighters in orbit. The Voltigeurs were encircled and forced to surrender to the Borderers.[5]

War of 3039

Although the unit took no part in the official hostilities of the War of 3039, official records show that the First Aragon Borderers remained actively stationed on New Aragon from 3038 to 3040, likely to monitor the Capellan border in case of any CCAF incursion.[3][6]

Clan Invasion

During the majority of the opening conflicts of the Clan invasion, the Borderers found themselves tied up maintaining and preserving the security of their homeworld. However, they were called upon and eagerly participated in Operation Bulldog, facing off against the forces of Clan Smoke Jaguar. Although they sustained heavy losses, they managed to salvage enough parts from the battlefield to be able to field nine Clan BattleMechs at the conclusion of hostilities, four of which were OmniMechs. While they were away from New Aragon, their garrison duties were taken over by the 3rd FedCom RCT.

Operation Guerrero

They continued to fight so-called freedom fighter, because the joint invasion of Liao/Marik goes on.[3]

Operation Bulldog

They battled the Smoke Jaguars during the Operation first on Almunge, supported by the First Amphigean Light Assault Group. On Coudoux they fought alongside the Second Sword of Light, Com Guards Thirty-fourth Division, and the First Amphigean LAG against the Jaguars' Eighth Garrison Cluster. After that, they and the First Amphigean LAG attacked Staplefield, supported by the First Free Worlds Guards.[7]

FedCom Civil War

The Third FedCom RCT was defeated after the combined might of the Borderers and the Twelfth Vegan Rangers Alpha Regiment battled them to the ground.[8] Their losses were heavy but with the battlefield salvage the command could rebuild to former strength.[9]

Jihad

New Aragon was assaulted by Word of Blake forces in 3069.[10] The Borderers were on the world at the time, rebuilding from damage they'd taken as part of Operation SOVEREIGN JUSTICE. The Borderers quickly took control of several Star League fortresses and began a hit and run campaign against the invading Blakists. The Blakist troops wanted to end the fight quickly, so they deployed several chemical weapons in the tunnels that connected the forts. These attacks destroyed the Aragon Borderers completely.[11]

Officers

Rank Name Command
Commanding Officers of the 1st Aragon Borderers
Colonel Vincent Kooper 3025[12]
Leftenant General Barrie Salsburg 3054[13]
Leftenant General Jimmie Kirston 3062[3]
Major General Jimmie Kirston 3067[14]

Tactics

The Borderers are most effective as a counter-insurgency force and short-range strike force. They also prefer a defensive position if possible.[3]

Composition History

3025

First Aragon Borderers (Regiment/Veteran/Reliable)[12]

  • CO: Colonel Vincent Kooper[12]
Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on New Aragon. [12]

3040

1st Aragon Borderers (Regiment/Veteran/Reliable)[15]

Note: At this point in time the command was stationed on New Aragon. [15]

3050

1st Aragon Borderers (Regiment/Veteran/Reliable) [16]

  • CO: Leftenant General Barrie Salsburg [16]
Note: At this point in time the command was stationed on New Aragon. [16]

3054

1 st Aragon Borderers (Regiment/Veteran/Reliable) [17]

  • CO: Leftenant General Barrie Salsburg [17]
Note: At this point in time the command was stationed on Layover. [17]

3062

First Aragon Borderers (1 understrength Regiment/Veteran/Reliable)[3]

  • CO: Leftenant General Jimmie Kirston
Note:- Two Battalions only

First Aragon Auxiliary (2 Battalions/Regular/Questionable)[3]

Note:- Includes Mechanized Infantry and two Aerospace Fighter Squadrons)

3067

First Aragon Borderers (Veteran/Relibale)[14]

  • CO: Major General Jimmie Kirston

First Aragon Auxiliary (Veteran/Fanatical)[14]

  • CO: Colonel Gil O'Connell

3079

The Aragon Borderers were destroyed by Word of Blake forces in 3069 and weren't rebuilt.[11]

Color Scheme and Unit Insignia

The Aragon Borderers have a blue and white parade paint scheme.[3]

Notes

  • Before the First Aragon Borderers were created, the First Auxiliary was known as the Seventh Aragon Armored Cavalry.[3]

References

  1. ↑ House Davion: The Federated Suns, p. 178, "Personalities: Hanse Davion"
  2. ↑ Wolf's Dragoons (sourcebook, p. 13, "Bloodprice"
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 Field Manual: Federated Suns, p. 45, "First Aragon Borderers: The Pride of New Aragon"
  4. ↑ NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 1, p. 32, "Capellan Front - Other Second-Wave Action"
  5. ↑ NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 1, p. 98 "Operations Riposte and Ambush"
  6. ↑ Historical: War of 3039, p. 135
  7. ↑ The Dragon Roars, pp. 10-13, "Unit Summaries - Operation Bulldog"
  8. ↑ FedCom Civil War (sourcebook), p. 59, "Wave one - New Aragon"
  9. ↑ Field Manual Updates, p. 125, "Independent Commands - First Aragon Borderers"
  10. ↑ Jihad Hot Spots: 3072, p. 20, "Timeline of the Jihad" 14-30 October.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Field Report: AFFS, p. 8, "Independent Commands"
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 House Davion (The Federated Suns), p. 137 (pdf version), "Valexa PDZ"
  13. ↑ Objective Raids, p. 15, "Federated Commonwealth Deployment Table"
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 Field Manual: Updates, p. 137, "Armed Forces Of the Federated Suns - Deployment Tabl"
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Historical: War of 3039, p.135
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 20 Year Update, p. 21
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 Objective Raids, p. 15

Bibliography

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