Regiments of Fatatatutti (Closed)

[Fatatatutti]

The Fatatatutian Army is built on the regimental system - i.e. the regiment is the fundamental unit - recruiting, training and logistics are controlled at the regimental level. Regiments may or may not be organized into larger units such as brigades or divisions. Regimental commanders are essentially autonomous, subject only to the approval of their troops and the civilian sponsors of the regiment.

This thread will reveal the individual characterstics of some of our regiments.

Comments by telegram are welcome.

[Fatatatutti]

Dracheslander Regiment

The Dracheslander Regiment has its roots in the Crozet region fiasco. Although there has always been friction between Fatatatutians and Dracheslanders, they served side by side with distinction in the Crozet Peace Force (CPF) during the campaigns in the Suva Islands and along the Auftragsreich-Neurepublik border. With the collapse of the Crozet region and the dissolution of the CPF, some of the Dracheslander members expressed a desire to continue serving under General Marie-Louise Castro-Stalina, who had been Operations Chief of the CPF. Thus, the Dracheslander Regiment was formed.

Today, it contains Dracheslander ex-patriots as well as Fatatatutians who served alongside them in the PRF. Recently the Dracheslander regiment, sometimes called the "Dragons", was chosen to retrain for air assault and is now a part of the 99th Air Cavalry Brigade.

The regimental badge consists of an embroidered cloth patch in the shape of a shield with the words "Drachesland" and "Fatatatutti" above and below a pair of wings.

Borickio Regiment

The Borickio Regiment shares much of its history with the Dracheslander Regiment, since Borickio and Drachesland are sister nations in many ways. The Borickians or as they are sometimes called, the "Boricks", are a valued part of Fatatatutti's light infantry organization. Their regimental badge consists of a wreath of leaves with crossed rifles and the word "Borickio" across the center.

[Fatatatutti]

69th Lesbian Light Infantry Regiment

Contrary to popular misconception, the 69th is not made up entirely of lesbians. In fact, it includes both gay and straight members of both sexes. The name signifies the pride that Fatatatutians have in all of their gay warriors as well as recognizing the diversity of Fatatatutian society in general.

The 69th is a traditional regiment of the "walking infantry". Its illustrious history includes several long patrols in exploration of the island's interior. Its most famous alumnus is General Marie-Louise Castro-Stalina, who received her basic training with the regiment and rose through the ranks to Colonel before moving on to become one of Fatatatutti's foremost authorities on mobile warfare. Its members are sometimes known as "Lezzies" but more commonly as "69ers".

The regimental badge consists of a yin-yang symbol with "69" superimposed on it and the words "Lesbian Light Infantry" around the circumference.

[Fatatatutti]

Gidney and Cloyd Regiment

The Gidney and Cloyd Regiment is a light infantry regiment that was founded by immigrants from Fatatatutti's sister island nation in the Caribbean, Gidney and Cloyd. The "GeeCees," as they are called, boast the only Caribbean steel band in the Fatatatutian armed forces. They are in great demand for parades, in which they clap their hands and dance while singing The Rivers of Babylon. Their motto is, "No problem."

The regimental badge consists of a palm tree with crossed rifles and "Gidney" on the lower left and "Cloyd" on the upper right.

[Fatatatutti]

PanzerRegiment Fatatatutti

The PanzerRegiment Fatatatutti (PRF) is an armoured regiment equiped with T-42 ("tea for two") tanks, whose core membership is composed of German-speaking Fatatatutians. It is one of the oldest armoured units in Fatatatutti, dating back to the 1930s. Recently, the PRF has instituted a cross-training program with the Light Infantry to improve its rapid deployment capability.

The PRF is in great demand for parades, where it performs a kind of "tank ballet", its T-42s moving backward and forward, pirouetting in place and traversing, raising and lowering their guns, all in time to the Panzerlied. Members of the PRF wear a hexagonal fatigue cap instead of the tankers' traditional black beret, which has earned them the nickname "squareheads". They are also known as the "Panzers".

Colonel Hans-Ulrich Praetorius, currently commanding the regiment, is recognized as one of Fatatatutti's foremost authorities on armoured warfare. Rumours that he served in Rommel's Afrika Korps are unconfirmed. He has been offered general rank on a number of occasions but he prefers the more hands-on control of the regimental level.

The regimental badge consists of a cloth patch in the shape of a shield with a tank in profile and the letters "PRF" above.

[Fatatatutti]

Teamsters Regiment

The Teamsters Regiment is a Heavy Infantry regiment sponsored by the Teamsters Union. It was originally formed by supply-wagon drivers who wanted to take a more active role in the defense of Fatatatutti. Many of its members are sons and daughters of teamsters. The regiment is fully mechanized and is considered a good training ground for both drivers and mechanics in civilian life.

The regimental badge is based on the logo of the Teamsters Union, a large wheel with the word "Teamsters" across the center, with the addition of crossed rifles.

[Fatatatutti]

MacGregor Highlanders Regiment

The MacGregors, as they are known, are a heliborne light infantry regiment that has recently been attached to the 99th Air Cavalry Brigade. Like many highland regiments, it's core members are of Scottish ancestry and it upholds many Scottish traditions. Members wear a Glengarry cap in preference to a beret. Although the kilt is not worn on active duty, it is worn in parades where the pipe and drum band is also very popular. Ironically, the regiment's marching song, Up the MacGregors, is usually played by fifes rather than bagpipes.

The regimental commander is universally known as "the MacGregor", regardless of what his real family name might be. He is also sometimes called "the laird" but not to his face.

The regimental badge consists of a thistle and crossed rifles with the regimental motto "Up the MacGregors" in an arc above.

[Fatatatutti]

Westover Rifles Regiment

Although it is commonly believed that the "Westies", as they are known, were named after the prominent Westover family, in fact the regiment was not formed until after the giant Westover plantation was taken over by its workers. Thus, the regiment is named after the plantation, not the family. The custom of having a member of the Westover family as Honourary Colonel has long since passed out of favour.

The Rifles are something of an "entry-level" regiment for volunteers hoping to move on to more specialized units that don't do their own basic training and its core membership is made up of sons and duaghters of Westover plantation employees. For example, Colonel Kim Cho, currently commanding the 7th Air Cavalry Regiment, took her basic training with the Westover Rifles before transfering to air assault. Her father still works as an accountant for the plantation.

The regimental badge consists of a pineapple with crossed rifles and the word "Westover" across the center.

[Fatatatutti]

Foreign Legion

The Fatatatutti Foreign Legion (FFL), affectionately known as "Fuffle", is not a regiment per se. It is not organized above the battalion level, the battalion being the standard unit for overseas deployment. Thus, although its Commandant is of general rank, it is considered to be a "regimental-level" organization.

Members of the Legion, who include foreign nationals who wish to serve under Fatatatutian command and Fatatatutians who wish to serve on peacekeeping missions, are the only Fatatatutian soldiers who are authorized to serve overseas. Due to an ancient law which forbids Fatatatutian warriors from setting foot on foreign soil, in the past anybody wanting to serve on a peacekeeping mission was required to first resign from the Fatatatutian armed forces. After the Crozet Peace Force debacle, the Foreign Legion was formed as a way to "politely circumvent" the law. While they are serving overseas, Fatatatutian peacekeepers are not technically considered to be Fatatatutian citizens and are not eligible for benefits such as the guaranteed annual income. Ironically, peacekeeping is the only way to lose Fatatatutian citizenship (temporarily).

The fiction is maintained only while members are actually serving overseas. While training on Fatatatutian soil, they are like any other members of the armed forces and can readily transfer back and forth to other units. In case the Legion is needed to defend Fatatatutti from invasion, of course no member would be expected to fight against his/her home nation.

The Legion is trained and equiped like any other Fatatatutian light infantry. (Since its units need to be air-mobile, they are organized on the thirty-two-man platoon system, two platoons to a C-130 transport.) Its members wear the green beret of the regular infantry, though there has been some talk of adopting a distinctive colour.

The Legion's unofficial motto is "March or Die" , which is often attributed to General Marie-Louise Castro-Stalina, who was Training Officer for a time. Back when she was a platoon leader in the "walking infantry" she used to begin a long patrol by exhorting her troops, "All right boys and girls, it's time to march or die."

Since Fatatatutti has a tropical climate and many members of the Legion are used to a cooler environment, Fatatatutian bedrolls seem rather slim to them and resemble sausages. Thus, the Legion's marching song is sometimes known as The Sausage.

The regimental badge is a globe centered on the Indian Ocean, showing Africa and Asia where many peacekeeping operations are based. The words "Fatatatutti Foreign Legion" are around the circumference.

[Fatatatutti]

7th Air Cavalry Regiment

The 7th Cavalry Regiment was originally formed in the late nineteenth century when Fatatatutti first recognized the need for a modern, European-style army. The original badge was a large "7" with crossed sabers surrounded by a wreath of leaves, though the troopers were in fact armed with carbines. Of course, by the early twentieth century horse-borne cavalry was already practically obsolete and motor transport was adopted early on.

When helicopters became available in the 1950s and 1960s, the 7th was one of the first regiments to acquire a heliborne capability and was instrumental in developing air assault techniques. Recently, when the existing heliborne units were re-organized into the 99th Air Cavalry Brigade, the 7th became an important part of its core.

Today, the regimental commander, the popular and flamboyant Colonel Kim Cho, has made the 7th one of the best-known units in the Army. It is especially popular at air shows, where its troopers stage mock attacks on spectators in the bleachers while its gunships pour thousands of rounds from their miniguns into the infield. Brigade commander General Castro-Stalina has said jokingly that Colonel Cho uses more ammunition on one weekend than the rest of the brigade uses in a year. In her own defense, Colonel Cho points out that they recycle the lead and brass.

The regiment's battle song is Fat Bottomed Girls, which blares from the helicopters' loudspeakers during an attack. It was originally used to tease Colonel Cho but she has embraced it as her own.

Since the regiment became heliborne, the wreath on its badge has been replaced by a pair of wings.

[Fatatatutti]

Gurkha Regiment

"Tough as a Gurkha" has been a common phrase in the Fatatatutian armed forces for generations and the Gurkha Regiment has one of the toughest training programs around. There's a long waiting list to get in and transfers out are rare. Thus, the regiment has a peacetime strength of three battalions instead of the standard two and mobilization to a wartime strength of four battalions would be almost instantaneous.

General Marie-Louise Castro-Stalina, when she was still a colonel, was an outspoken advocate for the formation of a Gurkha Regiment and when it was finally organized she was offered command but she declined on the grounds that a "real Gurkha" should be promoted. In gratitude for her support, the regiment presented her with a kukri which she always carries when in the bush.

Instead of the traditional beret, the Gurkhas wear a broad-brimmed hat "looped up" on the shooting side. The regimental badge consists of crossed kukris with the words "Ayo Gorkhali" above.

[Fatatatutti]

3rd Fusilier Regiment

The 3rd Fusiliers was one of the earliest regiments formed when Fatatatutti realized the need for a modern European-style army in the 1880s. However, its major claim to fame is the fact that Prime Minister Schuyler Marmish was a member for a short time. After high school, she took her basic training with the Fusiliers and participated in a number of patrols before leaving to attend Fatatatutti University (FU). She is still on the reserve list but she has done little ongoing training and she is not considered a high priority call-up in case of war.

Like several other Fusilier regiments, the 3rd is often known by the nickname "fuzees".

The regimental bagde is a large number "3" and crossed rifles, surrounded by a wreath of leaves, with the word "Fusiliers" across the center.

[Fatatatutti]

Fallschirmjaeger Regiment

The Fallschirmjaegers or "Jaegers", as they are usually known, are one of the oldest parachute regiments in the Fatatatutian Army, having been formed in the 1930s. Since that time they have been in the forefront of developing new equipment and techniques. They are also known for singing the paratrooper song Red Shines the Sun in German.

Like many of our German-speaking regiments, they prefer a squarish soft fatigue cap to the traditional red beret of the paratrooper. The regimental badge consists of a cloth patch in the shape of a shield with lightning bolts suspended from a parachute and the word "Fallschirmjaeger" across the center.

[Fatatatutti]

Marine Corps

The Marine Corps, or Marine Infantry as it is also known, is not strictly speaking a regiment nor is it a corps in the sense of a group of divisions. The role of the Marines is to provide armed boarding parties for warships and to guard the Navy's overseas supply bases. Deployment is usually in platoon or company-sized units so operationally the Marines are not organized above the company level. However, for administrative purposes such as recruiting, procurement and training, there is a central structure under a Commandant. Thus, the Marines are considered a "regiment-equivalent" organization.

(It should be noted that submarines are too small to carry dedicated armed boarding parties. Instead, selected members of their crews have infantry training. A notable example is the Goldfish, whose crew has had considerable experience attacking slave ships.)

Because shipboard combat is at short ranges, the Marines train mostly with pistols and submachine guns instead of assault rifles. They also wear helmets and body armour more frequently than the regular infantry and they use standalone shotguns and grenade launchers instead of underbarrel models. Otherwise, their training is similar to any light infantry unit, with less emphasis on marching, of course.

The Marine Corps maintains cross-training programs with the Army and with some police organizations. It also has some amphibious warfare capability.

Uniforms are similar to regular infantry uniforms except that they are usually plain green or gray instead of camouflage. The beret is Navy blue and the badge is an anchor with crossed rifles and the word "Marine" across the center.

[Fatatatutti]

Irish Dragoons Regiment

The Irish Dragoons were originally formed as a cavalry regiment in the 1890s and they became one of the first heliborne regiments in the 1960s. Their members include Fatatatutians of Irish descent and, as the saying goes, "those who wish they were Irish". In preference to the "official" maroon beret of the Air Cavalry, they have retained their original Kelly green beret. The current commander, Colonel Brian O'Reilley, has been dubbed "extravagant O'Reilley" because he spells his name with two E's and two L's.

The regimental badge consists of a shamrock with crossed sabers and the word "Dragoons" across the center.

[Fatatatutti]

Chasseurs de l'Air

Ever since there has been a French influence in Polynesia, there have been French settlers in Fatatatutti. In the 1940s, the French community began to take a sudden and unexpected interest in the defense of the island. That interest took the form of enlistment in various existing regiments and also in the sponsorship of several new French-speaking regiments.

The Chasseurs were originally formed as a light infantry regiment and they soon earned a reputation for speed and mobility. It was only natural that that mobility would be enhanced by helicopters when they became available and the regiment's name was accordingly changed to Chasseurs de l'Air. Recently, the Chasseurs became an integral part of the Air Cavalry Brigade.

The original badge consisted of a shield with crossed rifles and the word "Chasseurs" across the center. When the regiment became heliborne, the shield was replaced with a pair of wings.

[Fatatatutti]

Raiding Force

Many names were bandied about, including Rapid Deployment Force and International Intervention Force, but the unit is known in the Army simply as Raiding Force. Believed by some to be the brainchild of General Castro-Stalina and General Kono, Fatatatutti's reigning experts on mobile warfare and logistics, respectively, it was conceived in response to the armed forces' new proactive attitude toward foreign affairs. Its baptism of fire was the recent raid on an airport in an unnamed foreign nation in which almost two hundred hostages were freed from hijackers.

Raiding Force is composed of an undisclosed number of commandos and commanded by Major John "Scottie" Wilson, a long-time commando and bagpiper. It is considered a "regiment-equivalent" unit because it is virtually autonomous, responsible only to the Council of Generals.

It is one of very few units in the Army to have its own dedicated air transport, said to consist of four C-130 Hercules (three of which were used in the aforementioned raid) and several helicopters. Other equipment includes jeeps and, supposedly, an armoured halftrack. As for weapons, Raiding Force is said to be potentially the most heavily-armed infantry unit in the Army, with access to mortars, anti-tank weapons and every form of small arms.

Only limited information is available at present because the unit is still in a state of development. However, the radio call sign "Romeo Foxtrot" is recognized by air traffic controllers all over Fatatatutti and is given high priority whenever it is used.

Raiding force's mission statement, drived from the Commandos' motto, "Anywhere any time," is, "Bringing freedom to the world, anywhere, any time, at any cost."

[Fatatatutti]

Grittonia Regiment

Legend has it that Pappa Nick P and General Castro-Stalina once tried to kill each other at a beach party but they seem to have settled their differences by now. In recognition of the ongoing friendly relations between Grittonia and Fatatatutti, we are forming a Grittonia Regiment, to be made up of Grittonian ex-patriates and "friends of Grittonia". The "Grits", as they are called, are expected to establish their recruiting depot in the capital's Little Grittonia section (a.k.a. Gritty City).

Since the regiment is very new, some of the distinguishing features have not been settled yet. One idea for a regimental badge is a rainbow - representing the diverse cultures of both Grittonia and Fatatatutti - and crossed rifles above the word "Grittonia". Unfortunately, a rainbow doesn't lend itself well to the low contrast required in the bush. The suggestion of a pink beret has been received with mixed reactions.

[Fatatatutti]

Commandos

(To clarify, a Commando is a company-sized unit trained for special operations. An individual soldier in a Commando is also called a commando.)

The Commandos are not organized above the company level. There is no overall command structure. Each Commando is autonomous just as a regiment is autonomous, in recruiting, logistics and training. So, although a Commando is not technically a regiment, it can be considered a regiment-equivalent unit. Also, the Commandos collectively can be thought of as "a" regiment because of their similarities.

Commandos are usually recruited from "feeder" regiments in the regular Army. Some regiments have a good-natured resentment toward the Commandos for poaching their best people. Almost all commandos can swim (a rare ability among Fatatatutians), almost all have parachute training and helicopter insertion/extraction training, many have demolition training and all are extensively trained in unarmed combat as well as the use of small arms and heavy weapons. Thus, it is possible to improve one's chance of being "head-hunted" by the Commandos by taking the appropriate training courses.

There are three Foreign Commandos attached to the Foreign Legion but they are not expected to be deployed overseas because their training is not generally applicable to peacekeeping operations. At home in Fatatatutti, there are "relationships" between certain Commandos and certain regiments but there are no formal ties. When a Commando is needed to execute a particular operation, the request will usually go through the Council of Generals, which will recommend a Commando with the requisite training.

At one time, commandos were issued with black uniforms because of their extensive use in night operations. The camouflage in use at the time had a problem with the dyes, which had a tendency to glow in the dark under certain conditions. However, that problem has since been overcome and now commandos are issued with ordinary camouflage uniforms which perform well in any lighting conditions. Commandos wear a green beret, like the regular infantry.

The "regimental" badge consists of wings, crossed swords and an anchor with the words "Anywhere" and "Any time" above and below.

[Fatatatutti]

Goldfish Commando

Anybody who has been following the Fatatatutian news will know that the armed forces have begun to take a more proactive attitude toward "unacceptable behaviour" by foreign nations. The most obvious example of this new policy is Lieutenant Anni-Frid Ulvaeus, commander of the submarine Goldfish, who has been particularly aggressive in attacking the shipping of "nations that she doesn't like", especially slavers.

Thus, the armed boarding party of the Goldfish has been facetiously dubbed "Goldfish Commando". Although they don't actually have commando training, they are considered one of the toughest and most effective infantry units that Fatatatutti has. Captain Ulvaeus has sent them on training courses with the Army, the Marine Corps and the Mounted Police so they are far more adept in infantry-style tactical operations than most Navy personnel. The Goldfish is also believed to be the only Fatatatutian submarine to mount 12.7mm machine guns (also known as "fifties") on the bridge.

The members of the "Commando" are heavily armed and armoured over their regular Navy coveralls. The closest thing they have to a "badge" is the word "Goldfish" stencilled on their helmets and body armour.

[Fatatatutti]

Oranje Regiment

The Oranje Regiment (pronounced "oh-RON-yeh") was founded by Dutchmen, Noordeindians and South Africans who had similar linguistic and cultural backgrounds. They have been described as "stoic and efficient", to which they usually repond with a wry smile. The regiment is based in the southwestern part of the island, where the terrain is relatively flat and open, almost savannah-like. When helicopters became available, it was quickly understood that they were ideally suited to that situation and the Oranjes were among the first to develop a heliborne assault capability.

Recently, a significant number of members have transfered to the Foreign Legion to participate in various peacekeeping missions in Africa and their numbers have been replenished by calling up reservists. Thus, the Oranjes have one of the smallest ready reserves in the Army at the present time and they are one of few regiments that is actively seeking recruits.

The regimental badge consists of a shield and crossed swords with the word "Oranje" across the center. It is said that the most common question that members are asked is, "Why don't you werar an orange beret?"

[Fatatatutti]

Harberian Regiment

Fatatatutians often have trouble with foreign demonyms and, to the Fatatatutian ear, the Harberians pronounce theirs "hah-bare-ee-an". Therefore, Harberians are often mistakenly called "Haberians" and they have acquired the nickname "Habs", which they don't seem to appreciate much.

The Harberian regiment is recognized as an efficient and well-disciplined unit. However, they are probably best known for their love of tea. There are stories, possibly apocryphal, that vehicles from other units have tried to get through the notoriously slow Fatatatutian traffic by posing as Harberian Tea Convoys.

The regimental badge consists of a wreath of leaves surrounding crossed rifles and the words "Grays Harbor".

[Fatatatutti]

Glencoe Regiment

Another of our celebrated Scottish regiments, the Glencoes are often called the Glencoe Highlanders, though "Highlanders" is not part of their official name. They are an armoured regiment, equiped with T-42 ("Tea for two") tanks. After seeing the PanzerRegiment Fatatatutti do its "tank ballet", people often wonder why the Glencoes don't do a highland fling. In fact, no such exercise exists, though the tanks do often parade with their song, Glencoe, skirling from the bagpipes on their loudspeakers.

Scottish tradition might expect the commanding officer to be a MacDonald of Glencoe but Fatatatutti's merit-based traditions don't allow for any such discrimination. The current CO is, in fact, a Kobayashi of Long Beach.

Instead of a beret, the Glencoes wear a Glengarry cap and their badge, consisting of a tank above the word "Glencoe", is worn above the left breast pocket instead of on the cap.

[Fatatatutti]

Spartacus Regiment

Our newest regiment has a core made up of freed slaves. Although few of them have previous military experience and some have health issues, they are already a capable and determined unit.

The regiment's inaugural parade was an emotional affair attended by many dignitaries including President Mickey Chang, Prime Minister Schuyler Marmish, Defense Minister Harmony Chang, General Kono, General Marie-Louise Castro-Stalina and retired General Carlos Maximiliano "Mad Max" Castro-Stalina. Lieutenant Anni-Frid Ulvaeus, commander of the submarine Goldfish which freed several of the members, has been named Honorary Colonel.

The regimental badge consists of crossed rifles and the words, "I am Spartacus" above a broken chain.

There are no current plans to use the regiment in anti-slavery operations.

[Fatatatutti]

Corps of Engineers

The Army Corps of Engineers is not a corps by size or structure nor is it a regiment by name. However, it is a cohesive unit which can be considered the equivalent of a regiment.

Members of the Corps are trained and/or experienced in various construction specialties.They receive basic infantry training and they are capable of defending themselves and surviving in the bush but they are not considered combat troops. Their skills are best utilized elsewhere.

(It should be noted that many regiments have their own "sapper companies" which are capable of handling smaller construction projects on their own. They are generally considered to be combat troops first and foremost.)

The Corps of Engineers has no fixed structure. Rather, work teams are made up of the necessary skills and trades for the project at hand. A work team might be called a cement mixer squad or a road contruction platoon, etc. for convenience, to reflect the approximate size of the unit.

The Corps has its own equipment, including a limited air-freight capability. In some cases. where specialized equipment is required, it may be leased from civilian suppliers. It is also fairly common to hire civilian subcontractors on Corps projects if that is the most cost-effective approach.

Members of the Corps wear a black beret. The badge consists of the words "Corps of Engineers" in a circle with a crossed pick and shovel at the center.

The Navy has its own Corps of Engineers for land-based construction projects, which is similar to the Army Corps of Engineers but smaller.