Operation Jonah

Operation Jonah
Part of the Final War of the Deluge
Royal Marine Corps landing reinforcements on West Seneca, 2 January 2022
Date 24 December 2021 - present Location Seneca Islands Result Ongoing
Belligerents
Urcea Alstin	Varshan
Units involved
Royal and Imperial Army Royal Navy Royal Marine Corps United Republic Navy	Seneca Islands Garrison Navy of Varshan
Strength
125,000+ (initial) 300,000+ (March 2022)	130,000+
Casualties and losses
High	High

The Operation Jonah was the Urcean invasion of the Seneca Islands during the Final War of the Deluge. The Seneca Islands, a critical commercial and shipbuilding territory for Varshan, were the only major remaining target to ensure the full naval blockade of Varshan. The Islands, which are strategically located just off the shore of mainland Varshan, also provided allied forces a convenient target to relieve pressure from Varshani operations elsewhere, including the ongoing occupation of Cetsencalia, Quetzenkel front, and other parts of the Final War of the Deluge. The campaign featured the first wartime use of an atomic bomb since the Great War.

Background

Through November 2021, allied forces in the Final War of the Deluge - especially Urcea and its Nysdra Sea Treaty Association partners - had been unable to make significant progress against Varshani territory itself. Varshan, on the other hand, had managed to successfully invade Cetsencalia and were making progress in their war with Corumm. Allied planning dictated that a major operation against Varshan was necessary to relieve pressure on other fronts. Operation Jonah was designed in order to take advantage of the allies' clear naval supremacy in the war and was originally envisioned as an amphibious attack against mainland Varshan, which was eventually ruled out due to the objections of the Royal Navy. The strategically valuable Seneca Islands, on the other hand, presented numerous advantages. Varshan would be quick to reinforce the islands due to its proximity to the Varshani coast where the could be easily trapped by allied naval action. Additionally, several new shipbuilding facilities and other commercial ports had been constructed on the islands during the early 2000s as an effort by Varshan to prepare against The Deluge. Consequently, it could be easily reinforced and used as a forward base for further operations against the mainland at a future point in the war. Allied leaders agreed to the Seneca Islands as the target in early November and operational planning began immediately.

Summary of operations

Naval campaign

Main article: Battle of the Seneca Straits

West Seneca invasion

The Royal and Imperial Army continually advanced to the northeast and broke through the main Varshani defensive line at Ne'Shel in the approximate middle of the island, destroying most of the Varshani armored forces remaining on West Seneca on 24 January. Following the destruction of most of its ability to counter-attack, the Varshani forces were divided into independent platoons and used suicide attacks in order to slow the Urcean advance towards the main port city of Zakan Rot. These tactics were successful in delaying, and Urcean forces did not arrive at the outskirts of Zakan Rot until 19 February. A secondary defensive line erected around the city was broken the next day, resulting in street-to-street skirmishes for nearly two weeks. Varshani forces were largely beaten back to the port by 22 February, though independent platoon cells began to fan out through the city the same day requiring a larger engagement of Urcean forces

Atomic bombing of Zakan Rot

Main article: Atomic bombing of Zakan Rot

With the Royal and Imperial Army spread throughout the city of Zakan Rot engaging independent bands of Varshani forces, several full divisions of Urcean forces were committed within the city limits. On the morning of 24 February, the Varshani forces detonated a 300 kt nuclear bomb at the port, destroying the port and inflicting severe casualties on the civilian population, the Royal and Imperial Army, and the local Varshani forces. Nearly a division and a half (at full strength) of the Royal and Imperial Army was destroyed. In the week following, military efforts shifted towards humanitarian relief for the local population. On 3 March, West Seneca was declared fully secured.