Imperial Recruit in Training
Sydney, Australia
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3rd Caledonian Regiment
Light Infantry
-Planetary Overview-
Caledonia is a small agri/civilized world, or more accurately, a moon, orbiting a large gas giant, around a binary star system, on the southern fringe of the Segmentum Tempestus. It is a highly technologically advanced society with many technologies unheard of in most of the Imperium. These range from land speeders to carbon nanotubes. It has a temperate climate and most of the moons three continents are coved by thick forests and high mountain ranges. Caledonia, along with it's two sister moons, Circinn, an Imperial naval base, and Fortriu, an inhospitably cold world with an atmosphere of sulfurous gas, and rivers of liquid methane, were rediscovered by the Imperium in 602.M34.
-Culture-
Caledonia is a civilized world, much like many imperial worlds. It has a clan system rooted in tradition. Each of the 'bloods' (who are lead by a Thane who maintains a small private army, made up of veterans of the Imperial guard) often fight amongst each other for land and influence. The Council of Thanes, chaired by the Steward of the Emperor, makes decisions based on majority vote. They are not an overly militaristic society, however, joining the Imperial Guard is seen as a great achievement. The world also has an extravagant martial tradition. Particularly, the changing of the guard outside the Thanes palace and the Imperial Embassy, the home of the Emperors Steward. It is tradition for the Caledonian Guardsmen to paint themselves with woad dye before going into combat, spiking and bleaching their hair.
-Tithe-
There is no tithe on Caledonia, its population, numbering only in the few million, is so small, that the Adeptus Administratum has no demand for regiments. However due to the Caledonia culture, there is seldom a shortage of volunteers. Caledonia supports eight regiments of guard, two of each; Motorized Infantry, Light Infantry, Mountain Infantry and Armoured Regiments. Caledonian regiments operate on a cycled tour of duty basis. They are deployed for a period of two years, and are then cycled with another regiment of the same type. Caledonia is one of the few planets that reinforce there regiments. However, they are only reinforced when they return home and then they undergo refreshment training for six weeks. Further more, in addition to its three PDF regiments, Caledonia almost always has four regiments of guard stationed on it at any one time. Each Blood recruits one battalion comprising of five companies. The total number of men in a regiment of the light infantry at full strength is approximately 28,000.
-Tactics-
The Caledonian Light Infantry specialize in guerrilla warfare and sustained skirmishing conflicts. They attack rapidly and then withdraw to safer positions, ambush enemy convoys and devise delicate killing zones when defending areas. Unlike many Imperial guard regiments, the Caledonian Guard are encouraged to show individual initiative. It is a belief amongst the commander's of the Caledonian guard, that wars are won on the squad based level. When assaulting a fortified position the Caledonian light Infantry will make use of Bunker Buster Missiles and intricate artillery support where available, or from the imperial navy's many gunships. Mortars are also favored as a light support option and large human controlled drones, providing anti-tank support are also utilized effectively. Being light infantry, the third Caledonian regiment has no vehicle support par a sentinel company. At a squad level, sniper rifles along with flamers are a weapon of commonplace. Each squad has its own designated marksman and specially trained, ghille suit wearing Sniper teams are often deployed. The light infantry regiments also use missile launchers, heavy stubbers and mortars. Every member of the Caledonian Light Infantry is issued with the standard M-Galaxy pattern lasgun and laspistol, two combat knives and a tomahawk axe. Officers however often exchange these for various pistols combined with assault weapons. It also common place for sergeants to be issued bolt pistols. The Caledonian Flack armour differs from the mainstream in many ways. It is incredibly strong, due to it's construction of 'multi-walled' carbon nanotubes made into a cloth. Although it wouldn't stop a bolter, it could easily stop an elder Shuriken or a Tau pulse blast. Caledonian Regiments often have a disproportionately high number of veterans, compared to many other regiments. This is mainly due to the increased protection offered by their flack vests. The veteran squads are used in a variety of roles from assault, to demolitions to infiltration and scouting. Each company of Infantry consists of six platoons and two independent Veterans Squads. Each platoon consist of a Command squad, two 10 man squads, two 6 man special weapon squads and one 6 man support weapon squad.
-Training-
The Caledonian Light Infantry are trained in close combat, fire and maneuver and individual tactics but focus on marksmanship. They are also trained in ambush, unconventional warfare, wilderness survival, demolitions, IEDs and fortification defense. Survival training is a big thing in the light infantry. Each squad is dropped by Valkyrie into the forests of their home world with one days supplies and are to make it to the rally point within 14 days. All the Caledonian soldiers are trained in use of knives and claymores(more or less a ceremonial weapon), but it is only the light infantry who wield the tomahawk. Training typically last for about 10 months.
-Service History-
The third Caledonian Light Infantry's greatest achievement was fighting in the Damocles Gulf Crusade. Here they learned many skills they would need later on when fighting the tau. They have taken part in the defeat of various traitor regiments, and they have also been a part of covert unconventional actions against rebellious Imperial Governors. The commanding Officer of the Regiment is Colonel Drust Fedelmid.
-Equipment List-
M-Galaxy pattern Lasgun
M-Galaxy pattern Laspistol
Combat Knife x2
Tomahawk
Carbon nanotube-fiber Flack vest
Mix of light, medium and dark brown mottling camouflage
-Ranks-
Marshal – Supreme commander of all Caledonian Guard Forces
Brigadier – Commander of a Caledonian Guard Brigade (Four Regiments, one of each type, in one unit)
Colonel – Commander of a Caledonian Guard Regiment
Lieutenant Colonel – Second in command of a Caledonian Guard Regiment
Major – Battalion Commander
Captain – Company Commander
Lieutenant – Platoon/Company Commander
2nd Lieutenant – Platoon Commander
Colour Sergeant – Veteran Squad leader
Sergeant – Squad Leader
Corporal – Squad second in command
Lance Corporal – Command assistant
Private – Basic Soldier
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