Editing 15th Dracon Regiment

{{infoBoxMilitaryCommand
| image = [[File:15thdracon.png]]
| Designation = Fifteenth Dracon Regiment
| Formed = [[Star League]]<br>[[2784]];<ref name="FSWp35"/><br>[[3069]]<ref name=TBD/>
| Disbanded = 2784 (when they became mercenaries);<ref name="FSWp35">''First Succession War'', p. 35: "Those Left Behind"</ref><br>3069 (when they were made a CCAF line unit)<ref name=TBD/>
| Previous Designation = 
| Nickname = 
| Affiliation = [[Capellan Confederation]];<br />[[Star League]] (former);<br>[[Mercenary]] (former)
| Parent Command = [[Citizens' Honored]];<br />[[LX Corps (Star League)|LX Corps]] (former);<br>None
| Sub-Command = 
}}

==Unit Description==
Originally serving with the [[Star League Defense Force]] Regular Army, the '''Fifteenth Dracon''' was one of the oldest [[mercenary unit|mercenary units]] serving with the [[Capellan Confederation]], accepting sponsorship and becoming a line unit prior to their destruction in [[3069]].

==History==
===Star League Era===
In [[2764]], the Fifteenth Dracon Regiment was assigned, as a part of the [[LX Corps (Star League)|LX Corps]], [[5th Army (Star League)|Fifth Army]], to District 1 within the [[Capellan Confederation Military Region]] and transferred to District 2 during the [[Periphery Uprising]].<ref name=SL153>''The Star League'', p. 154: "Seventh Army"</ref> The Fifteenth survived the war and the [[Hegemony Campaign]], and chose to remain in the [[Inner Sphere]] rather than follow [[Aleksandr Kerensky]] on the [[Operation EXODUS|Exodus]], signing on with the Capellan Confederation as a mercenary unit in [[2784]].<ref name=SL153/>

=== First Succession War ===
In [[2795]], following the appointment of [[Sandol Quinn]] as regent to [[Ilsa Liao]], the [[Capellan Confederation Armed Forces]] launched an invasion of the [[Federated Suns]] intended to capture the politically significant [[Chesterton]] system. Planned by Quinn, the operation was intended to take advantage of the AFFS' continuing focus on trying to resist the massive [[Draconis Combine]] invasion of the Federated Suns, which stood poised to capture [[New Avalon]] itself. Quinn's plan involved encircling Chesterton by taking the systems around it, using mercenary units for the initial invasions - predominantly or exclusively former [[Star League Defense Force]] commands that had been recruited by the Confederation - and following up with CCAF line regiments to reinforce the assault and then secure the captured worlds. Whilst launching one or two planetary invasions aimed at systems around Chesterton, Quinn also had the CCAF copy tactics used by the Combine so effectively, leapfrogging over border systems to capture a number of systems further inside the Federated Suns to add pressure to the AFFS. Quinn's strategy worked well for several years; [[Tawas]] was conquered by the Fifteenth Dracon in [[2797]], with the mercenaries securing the Capellan hold on the world with the destruction of the last ad hoc AFFS defenses in June.<ref name="FSWp81">''First Succession War'', p. 81: "Quinn's War: The Confederation-Suns Front"</ref>

=== Third Succession War ===
The Fifteenth was involved in many of the heaviest actions of the latter half of the Succession Wars. Among the unit's most memorable actions were fierce firefights with elements of the [[Marik]] [[Oriente Hussars]] on [[Talitha]] in [[2901]]; the raid on [[Irian]] in [[2920]]; the capture of an entire battalion of [[Free Worlds Guards]] on [[Park Place]] in [[2940]]; the defense of [[Hsien]] in [[2934]],<ref name=TRO3025Rp84>''Technical Readout: 3025 Revised'', p. 84</ref> and the deep-space strike against the Marik world of [[Lancaster (FWL)|Lancaster]] in [[2950]]. The Fifteenth's victories was not without cost, having started as a standard size [[regiment]], attrition reduced it down to two understrength [[battalions]] by the end of the [[Third Succession War]], but continued to give a good account of itself.

Aside from its combat prowess, the Dracon policy of regularly contributing a percentage of captured booty to local planetary officials for civil improvements, an effort to leave something behind so that they would be remembered by succeeding generations by the worlds he once helped defend, earned them considerable goodwill for mere mercenaries. It also resulted in them continually attracting employment, while causing the [[Maskirovka]] to flag them as potential subversives.<ref name=HL1>''House Liao (The Capellan Confederation'', p. 98: "Mercenary Units"</ref><ref name=FMCC1>''Field Manual: Capellan Confederation'', p. 94: "15th Dracon: Winning Hearts and Minds"</ref>

At some point between [[3020]] and ca. [[3025]], the Fifteenth Dracon, then under contract to [[House Kurita]], captured [[Beta Mensae V]] from [[House Davion]].<ref>''The Fox's Teeth: Exploits of McKinnon's Raiders'', p. 21</ref> This turned out to influence [[Takashi Kurita|Takashi Kurita's]] decision to hire [[Wolf's Dragoons]], and despite his subsequent "[[Death to Mercenaries]]" edict the Dracons were personally gifted with a new BattleMech each year by the [[Coordinator of Worlds|Coordinator]].<ref>''Combat Manual: Mercenaries'', p. 34</ref>

=== Fourth Succession War ===
From the end of the Third in [[3025]]<ref name=HL2>''House Liao (The Capellan Confederation'', p. 107: "Regimental Deployment"</ref> through the conclusion of the [[Fourth Succession War]] in [[3028]], the Dracon's two remaining battalions were stationed on [[Bellatrix]] and [[Decatur]] respectively, remaining in position for fear of further [[AFFS]] waves and avoiding seeing combat. In the face of the tension that led to the [[Andurien Secession]], the recombined Fifteenth Dracon was transferred to [[Gunthar]], near the Capellan-[[Periphery]] border, in [[3030]].<ref name=BW1>''Historical: Brush Wars'', p. 88: "Andurien Wars - Deployment Table"</ref>

===Andurien/Canopus Invasion===
One of the key targets of the [[Magistracy of Canopus]]' invasion of the Confederation, the green [[Third Canopian Fusiliers]]' initially landed unopposed in early November when Major [[Wilhelm Archal]] committed a terrible error in attempting to bribe the Dracons into leaving the world. Having mistakenly assumed that the Dracons were of the mold of the rundown mercenary units that he was used to in the Periphery, Archal was completely unprepared for the loyalty the Dracons held to the people of Gunthar, and the Capellan Confederation as a whole, when the outraged "Sir Samuel" launched a surprise assault on the [[MAF]] defensive positions while the bulk of Fusiliers' troops slept.<ref name=BW2>''Historical: Brush Wars'', p. 56: "Gunthar (November-Ongoing)"</ref>

Suffering only light losses, the Fifteenth Dracon destroyed over a company of shut-down Fusiliers 'Mechs and massive quantities of ammunition and supplies until they were forced to withdraw in the face of the massed guns of the Canopians' [[DropShip]]s. Recognizing his position was very tenuous, Major Archal kept the bulk of his surviving troops near his DropShips, resulting in a stalemate as both units unsuccessfully attempted draw out and wear the other side down.<ref name=BW2/> The stalemate continued for two years, as the dug-in Canopians refused to take the initiative, waiting in vain of reinforcements, with the Dracons even selectively weakening their own defenses to unsuccessfully try and convince the Fusiliers to strike.<ref name=BW3>''Historical: Brush Wars'', p. 62: "Gunthar (Ongoing)"</ref>

After hearing word of the Capellan recapture of [[Drozan]] and [[Betelgeuse]], both the Canopian Fusiliers and Dracon were shaken out of their slow defensive actions and launched increasingly furious attacks against each other. Though weakened and facing poor odds, the Fusiliers struck at the Liao positions in an attempt to break the stalemate; but, by late June, as the CCAF turned the tide of the war, the MAF recalled the unit. The Dracons refused to allow them to escape so easily however, launching a surprise assault and capturing two of the Fusiliers' DropShips, forcing the desperate Canopians to pack and cram as many troops and hardware as possible into the transports they had left, withdrawing from the system on July 9th.<ref name=BW4>''Historical: Brush Wars'', p. 64: "Gunthar (Onging-July)"</ref> Having suffered moderate losses, after the withdrawal of the Fusiliers, the Fifteenth Dracon pulled back to help reinforce [[Renown]] in [[3033]].<ref name=BW1/>

===War of 3039===
Using matériel captured from the Fusiliers, the Fifteenth were able to rebuild and expand in size to four understrength battalions which the Confederation stationed on [[Ares (system)|Ares]], [[Necromo]], [[Capricorn III]] and [[New Sagan]] respectively. As part of [[Case Juliet]], the [[Federated Commonwealth]]'s retaliatory attack for the [[McCarron's Armored Cavalry]]'s raids during the [[War of 3039]], the [[2nd FedCom RCT]] attacked Ares in August [[3039]] and quickly overwhelmed and destroyed the defending Dracon 1st Battalion. The other Dracon battalions landed on the planet eighteen days later to avenge the loss of the first, but could not dislodge the Second FedCom until the [[Kingston's Legionnaires]] landed two weeks later, but not before the FedCom unit comprehensively crippled the [[Bergan Industries]], [[Quikscell Company]] and [[Earthwerks Limited]] factories.<ref name=HWo39>''Historical: War of 3039'', p. 128: "Countering the Big Mac - Ares"</ref>

Around the era of the initial [[Clan Invasion]], from at least [[3049]] to [[3055]], the Dracon had rebuilt their first battalion and remained on station on Ares, Necromo, Capricorn III and New Sagan.<ref name=20YU>''20 Year Update'', p. 63: "Mercenaries"</ref><ref name=OR>''Objective Raids'', p. 42: "Mercenaries"</ref> Like many long term units, the Dracons accepted Capellan sponsorship in late [[3060]], joining the [[Citizens' Honored]] brigade.<ref name=FMCC>''Field Manual: Capellan Confederation'', p. 92: "Citizens' Honored"</ref> Despite becoming a Capellan line unit, the Dracons maintained its tradition of donating funds and resources for civil improvements, a fact now publicized by the Capellan media.<ref name=FMCC1/>

To guard against renewed Free Worlds League aggression in the mid-3060s and along with fellow Citizen's Honored brigade [[4th Tau Ceti Rangers]], the Fifteenth was transferred from [[Gei-Fu]] to the League/Confederation border, its battalions ranging along a swath of worlds from [[Ingersoll]] to [[Exedor]]. Around this time the 15th also acquired enhanced combat vehicle and [[battle armor]] infantry elements.<ref name=FMU1>''Field Manual: Updates'', p. 27: "Citizen's Honored"</ref> As of [[3067]], the Dracons were stationed the [[Capellan Commonality]] world of [[Eom]].<ref name=FMU2>''Field Manual: Updates'', p. 32: "Capellan Confederation Armed Forces (Deployment as of 1 August 3067)"</ref>

===Jihad===
The Fifteenth Dracon took part in the second prong of [[Operation THUNDERSTRIKE]], the Capellan counterstrike against [[Duke]] [[George Hasek II|George Hasek's]] [[Operation SOVEREIGN JUSTICE]], striking at [[Overton]] alongside [[Warrior House Ijori]]. The Capellan forces eventually succeeded in forcing the [[AFFS]]' [[1st Federated Suns Lancers|First Federated Suns Lancers]] to withdraw with heavy losses, but not before the AFFS defenders had effectively destroyed both the Fifteenth Dracon and House Ijori.<ref name=JHS3070>''Jihad Hot Spots: 3070'', p. 42: "Hasek's Invasion unravels"</ref><ref name=BA202>''Blake Ascending'', p. 202: "Hasek's Invasion unravels"</ref><ref name=TBD>''Jihad Secrets: The Blake Documents'', p. 20: "Operation: "Thunderstrike" - Wave One (October 3068)"</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 15th Dracon Regiment'''
|-
| [[Colonel]]||[[Samuel Shimosa]]||[[3025]] - [[3030]]<ref name=OR/><ref name=HLp98>''House Liao (The Capellan Confederation)'', p. 98: "15th Dracon Profile"</ref><ref name=BW2/>
|-
| Colonel||[[Jean Rosenburg]]||[[3050]] - [[3059]]<ref name=FMMercsp107/><ref name=20YU/><ref name=OR/>
|-
| ''[[Sang-shao]]''||[[Rei Tsuba]]||[[3063]]<ref name=FMCC1/>
|}

==Tactics==
A choice born of the Fifteenth Dracon's efforts to support and improve the worlds on which they served, the unit refused to fight in any urban environment, preferring to allow an enemy to capture rather than destroy a city in their care. Rather than a negative that can be used against them, the Dracon developed a fast-response deployment pattern of flanking maneuvers and pincer movements to challenge any attacker before they could threaten a city.<ref name=FMCC1/>

First Battalion's forte was in enveloping enemies, particularly to cut them off from urban areas in order to avoid city fighting. Second Battalion, an assault force, would serve as the hard center when the entire regiment was deployed in battle. Third Battalion operated as a balanced mix of weight-classes, while Fourth Battalion specialized in reconnaissance and close combat.<ref>''Combat Manual: Mercenaries'', p. 35</ref>

==Composition History==
=== 2786–2821===
'''15th Dracon''' (Regiment/Regular/Reliable)<ref name=1SWp136>''First Succession War'', p. 136</ref>
: Note: At this point in time the medium-weight unit was stationed on [[Bhaktapur]]. In 2821 the command was reduced to 34 percent of its strength and was deployed on [[Mirach]].<ref name=1SWp136/>

=== 2830 ===
'''15th Dracon''' (Regiment/Regular/Reliable)<ref name=2SWp96>''Second Succession War'', p. 96</ref>
: Note: At this point in time the medium-weight unit was stationed on [[Ingress]] with an operational readiness of 101 percent.<ref name=2SWp96/>

=== 2864 ===
'''15th Dracon''' (Regiment/Regular/Reliable)<ref name=2SWp96/>
: Note: At this point in time the medium-weight unit was stationed on [[Ingress]] with an operational readiness of 52 percent.<ref name=2SWp96/>

===3025===
'''Fifteenth Dracon''' (2 [[Battalion]]/Regular/Reliable)<ref name=HLp98/>
:* CO: Colonel Samuel Shimosa
* First Battalion: [[Major]] Titus Gordon
* Second Battalion: Major Valerie Ming
:Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on [[Bellatrix]] and also on [[Decatur]].<ref name=HLCC>''House Liao (The Capellan Confederation)'', p. 107</ref>

=== 3028 ===
'''15th Dracon ''' (2 Battalions/Regular/Reliable)<ref name=HBSp88/>
:Note: At this point in time the command were stationed on [[Bellatrix]] and [[Decatur]].<ref name=HBSp88>''Historical: Brush Wars'', p. 88</ref>

===3040===
'''Fifteenth Dracon''' (Reinforced Regiment/Regular/Reliable)<ref name=HWo3039p140/>
:Note: At this point in time the command was stationed on [[Ares]].<ref name=HWo3039p140>''Historical: War of 3039'', p. 140</ref>

===3050===
'''Fifteenth Dracon''' (4 Battalions/Reliable)<ref name=20YU/>
:* CO: Colonel Jean Rosenburg
:Note: 1st + 2nd Battalion Regular and 3rd + 4th are Green.<ref name=20YU/> The command was deployed at [[Ares]], [[Necromo]], [[Capricorn III]] and [[New Sagan]].<ref name=20YU/>

===3050–3054===
'''Fifteenth Dracon''' (4 Battalions)<ref name=OR/>
* CO: Colonel Jean Rosenburg

===3059===
'''15th Dracon ''' (Regiment/Regular/Reliable)<ref name=FMMercsp107/>
:* CO: Colonel Jean Rosenburg<ref name=FMMercsp107/>
: Note: At this point in time the unit was stationed on [[Old Kentucky]] and [[Chamdo]].<ref name=FMMercsp107>''Field Manual: Mercenaries'', p. 107</ref>

===3063===
'''Fifteenth Dracon''' (1 [[Regiment]]/Regular/Reliable)<ref name=FMU2/>
* CO/First Battalion: ''Sang-shao'' Rei Tsuba
:* XO/Second Battalion: ''[[Zhong-shao]]'' Clint Swereda
* Third Battalion: ''Zhong-shao'' Joan Wilson
* Fourth Battalion: ''Zhong-shao'' Lawrence Bloch
- Reinforced to 4 [[Battalion]]s, equipped with some [[SLDF]]-era machines

'''Capellan Navy Echo''' Flight (1 [[Flight]]/Regular/Questionable)<ref name=FMU2/>
* Wing Commander: ''[[Kong-sao-shao]]'' Monty Boa-Xin

'''The Dragons''' (2 [[Battalion]]/Green/Reliable)<ref name=FMU2/>
* Infantry Commander: ''Zhong-shao'' William Shaw
- Includes one [[company]] of [[battle armor]]; the second company use artillery, combined with [[VTOL]] spotters

==Notes==
* The unit insignia was a red triangle radiating yellow and gray, surrounded by an orange band. The 15th proudly maintained its SLDF heritage by using the same gray and green paint scheme it used during the original Star League, as well as painting military "hash marks" as kill markers along the main body of fighters and vehicles or the limbs of 'Mechs.<ref name=FMCC1/>

* The unit's homeworlds were Gei-Fu and [[Relevow]].

* Thanks to its efforts to maintain its links to the original Star League, the Fifteenth Dracon relied heavily on [[Star League era]] BattleMech designs such as the ''[[Flashman]]'' and ''[[Crockett]]''; the only modern ''[[Xin Sheng]]'' Capellan design it fielded being the ''[[Duan Gung]]'', itself based on the SLDF's ''[[Sling]]''.<ref name=FMCC1/>

* Until their destruction, every commanding officer of the Fifteenth Dracon had won the [[Liao Sunburst of Gallantry]] and the [[Order of the Legion of Liao]] since [[3018]].<ref name=FMCC1/>

==Gallery==
<gallery>
Image:Camomercs15thdracon.png|A [[Demolisher]] in 15th Dracon Regiment colors
Image:15th Dracon logo-3049.png|15th Dracon Regiment Crest, pre-3060
</gallery> ‎

==References==
<references />

==Bibliography==
<div class="desktop-3-col">
* ''[[20 Year Update]]''
* ''[[Blake Ascending]]''
* ''[[Combat Manual: Mercenaries]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: Capellan Confederation]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: Updates]]''
* ''[[First Succession War (sourcebook)|First Succession War]]''
* ''[[The Fox's Teeth: Exploits of McKinnon's Raiders]]''
* ''[[Historical: Brush Wars]]''
* ''[[Historical: War of 3039]]''
* ''[[House Liao (The Capellan Confederation)]]''
* ''[[Jihad Hot Spots: 3070]]''
* ''[[Jihad Secrets: The Blake Documents]]''
* ''[[NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 1]]''
* ''[[Objective Raids]]''
* ''[[The Star League]]''
* ''[[Technical Readout: 3025 Revised]]''
</div>


[[Category:Star League Defense Force Commands|Dracon Regiment, 00015th]]
[[Category:Capellan Confederation Commands|Dracon Regiment, 015th]]
[[Category:Mercenary Commands|Dracon Regiment, 015th]]