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[[Image:Catachan Trooper.jpg|thumb|right|A Catachan Trooper]]
'''Catachan Jungle Fighters''' are [[Imperial Guard]] regiments from [[Catachan]]. They have the well-deserved reputation of being the deadliest experts of jungle warfare in the galaxy. Their homeworld of [[Catachan]] is a jungle deathworld, where natural selection ensures only the best survive. Extremely resourceful and uncompromising warriors, they are deadly up close with their specialised [[close combat]] blades or from ambush with their [[lasgun]]s. In jungle terrain they are unsurpassed, with each Catachan being worth ten of any other regiment.<sup>1</sup>

{{LReg
|Name=Catachan Jungle Fighters
|Miniature=Catachan meltagun.jpg
|Homeworld=[[Catachan]]
|Specialities=Jungle Warfare
}}

==Organization==
[[Image:Catachan Jungle Fighters.jpg|thumb|left|A squad of Catachan Jungle Fighters]]
Catachan regiments generally lack [[Commissar]]s. Even these tough and uncompromising officers are unable to assert their authority over the Catachan soldiers; in fact, they are resented by troops, and it is not uncommon for Commissars assigned to Catachan regiments to be "fragged" by their own troops. [[Ogryn]]s however - who may well have evolved on Catachan themselves - commonly fight in Catachan regiments.

Due to their heavily developed physiques, normal human Catachans are sometimes referred to as "baby Ogryns."

===Battle Style===
They make extensive use of traps, mines and other unpleasant surprises. They use traps, [[Spring Mine]]s, [[Shredder Mine]]s and [[Plasma Charge]]s, each specializing in killing certain types of troops.

===Appearance & Uniform===
The Catachan Jungle Fighters are based on real world US Marines during the Vietnam War in the 60s and 70s.

===Battles===
The Catachan Jungle Fighters are known to have fought on [[Epsion Octarus]] against the Orks of [[Warboss]] [[Grubnak]] at his [[Gargant]] construction site.<sup>6</sup>

===Weapons & Equipment===
[[File:CatachanHeavyWeapons.jpg|thumb|right|Jungle warfare.]]
Catachans make use of many [[close combat weapons]] including the [[Catachan fang]], measuring up to 20 inches of gleaming steel, which is the most common weapon. It is also used for settling disputes between Catachans. Another knife is the '''Night Reaper''', which is smaller and blackened, effective in night infiltration and assassinations. They are sometimes poisoned to improve their kill strength, the poisons coming directly from Catachan. The '''Devil's Claw''', named after the [[Catachan Devil|great predator]] on Catachan, is the longest weapon, up to four feet long. It is closer to a sword than a knife and has achieved status among the [[Ork]]s who call it 'Da Cutta'. The blade is hollow and half filled with mercury in order to improve swing strength and control, and the design of this weapon has been copied by Catachan regimental officers for use as a power weapon.

As specialists in ambush tactics, the Jungle Fighters also make notable use of [[demolition charge]]s and improvised explosives, as well as possessing their own [[Deathworld Veteran Sniper|sniper]] cadre.

Their preferred heavy and special weapons are the [[Flamer]] and [[Heavy Bolter]].<sup>1</sup>

==Notable Regiments==

{| border="1"
!Regiment
!Nickname
!Information
|-
| '''Catachan II'''
|
| The Catachan 2nd are made up of many Catachan Devil Squads. They presumably took part in the Battle of Moden's Ridge, during the Yaquit 27 Campaign, fighting the L'Huraxi. [[Nork Deddog]] is also known to have served under [[Colonel]] [[Greiss]] within the 2nd regiment.<sup>1</sup>
|-
| '''Catachan III'''
|''Green Devils''
| Notable Members: *Captain Rock - commented on the similarities between Varestus Prime and Catachan (see [[Quotes Imperial Guard]])
|-
| '''Catachan IV, V, & VI'''
|
| The Catachan 4th, 5th, and 6th took part in the [[Macharian Crusade]] and all had varying success.  The 4th was wiped out during the [[Invasion of Jucha]] while the 5th only met fierce resistance. The 6th ''(Cobras)''<sup>7-p104</sup> were notably deployed from the [[Battlecruiser]] [[Opus Dei]].<sup>5-p9</sup>
|-
| '''Catachan XI'''
|
| (No Data Recorded)
|-
| '''Catachan XII & XIV'''
|
| The Catachan 12th took part in the [[Macharian Crusade]] and deployed from the [[Battlecruiser]] [[Defiance]] during the [[Invasion of Jucha]].<sup>5-p9</sup> They also fought during the [[13th Black Crusade]]. The Catachan 14th took also participated in the [[Macharian Crusade]] and were victorious in their missions. <sup>5-p9</sup>
|-
|'''Catachan XVII'''
|''Screaming Devils''
|The Catachan 17th, or the 'Screaming Devils'<sup>5-p30</sup>, is led by Captain [[Thorn]] and includes the famous Sniper [[Dell]], who won the [[Silver Bullet]] seven years in a row.<sup>2</sup>
|-
|'''Catachan XVIII'''
|''Swamprats''
|The Catachan 18th fought [[Tyranid]]s in a seven year campaign on Koralkal VIII, during which they covered themselves with the ichor of the [[Lictor]]s to mask their scent. They subsequently spent two years in decontamination before they were allowed to return to active duty. A notable member is [[Colonel]] [[Gator]]<sup>1-p6</sup>. They also have a [[Thunderer Siege Tank]] as part of their forces.<sup>3-p76</sup>
|-
|'''Catachan XXVII'''
|''Flaming Devils''
|The Catachan 27th were stationed on the world Gerran prime to fight against the [[Necrons]] in M41.962. It went very badly for them and within a year they were almost wiped out. They fought a desperate last stand in a jungle ruin, led by [[Commissar]] Von Blacke, though their company commander cowardly fled the battle in the first [[Valkyrie]] that arrived, and called off any more Valkyries, leaving his men to die. However, a maverick pilot risked his life to go to the ruins and rescue any survivors. Although his Valkyrie was badly damaged (almost destroyed, in fact), he managed to rescue Von Blacke and the remaining handful of survivors. Von Blacke promptly executed the Commander for cowardice. The remaing Flaming Devils were merged with the under strenght Katon Dragoons and Von Blacke was re-assigned.
|- 
|'''Catachan XIX'''
|''Scorpion Fangs''
|The Catachan 19th is known to include a [[Mars]] pattern [[Leman Russ Exterminator]], the third tank of the third squadron of the only company supporting the rest of the regiment. Equipped with a bulldozer blade to aid it in fighting in [[Armageddon Secundus]].<sup>3-p51</sup>
|-
|'''Catachan XXIII'''
|
|The Catachan 23rd fought on an unstated jungle world against the [[Eldar]].
|-
|'''Catachan XXIV'''
|''The Waiting Death''
|The "Waiting Death" are known for their extensive use of traps. They destroyed Warlord Krakskull's entire [[Ork]] horde with a single massive pit trap.
|-
|'''Catachan CXLVI'''
|''Red Cobras''
|(No Data Recorded)
|-
|'''Catachan CCCXCI'''
|''Coiling Cobras''
|The Catachan 391st are also known as the 'Coiling Cobras'.<sup>5-p30</sup>
|}

==Notable Catachan Jungle Fighters==
*[[Sly Marbo]] - [[Sniper]], considered a 'One Man Army'
*Colonel 'Iron Hand' [[Straken]] - Regimental leader, chest and arm bionics
*Colonel [[Greiss]]
*Gunnery Sergeant [[Harker]] 
*[[Nork Deddog]] - Ogryn bodyguard

==Images==
{|border="0" cellpadding="3" align="center" style="border-collapse:collapse" valign="top"
|[[Image:CatachanJunglePlastics.gif|thumb|center|350px| A unit of Catachans]]
|}

==Sources==

*<sup>1</sup>:[[Codex: Catachans (3rd Edition)]]
*<sup>2</sup>:[[Codex: Imperial Guard (3rd Edition, 1st Codex)]]
*<sup>3</sup>:[[Imperial Armour Volume 1 - Imperial Guard and Imperial Navy]]
*<sup>4</sup>:[[Codex: Tyranids (4th Edition)]]
*<sup>5</sup>:[[Codex: Imperial Guard (3rd Edition, 2nd Codex)]]
*<sup>6</sup>:[[Codex: Imperial Guard (2nd Edition)]]
*<sup>7</sup>:[[WD286us|US White Dwarf 286 November 2003]]

==Related Articles==
*[[Regiments of the Imperial Guard]]
*[[Catachan Jungle Fighters Army List]]

[[Category:Catachan Jungle Fighters|*]]

[[de:Dschungelkämpfer von Catachan]]