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Operation Featherlite: Difference between revisions
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'''Operation Featherlite''' was the military landing of [[Arcerion|Arcer]] troops supported by aircraft and naval vessels on the islands of [[Foxhey Governorate]], in an effort to retake the strategically important [[Gibson Gap]]. It saw combat on land, sea, and air, as Arcer troops landed on the islands of Swindon, Gramsby, Larton, and Sharnwick under adverse weather conditions and worked to retake them from Kelekonan control. Ultimately Kelekona would surrender, effectively ending their attempts to gain the islands and they remained part of sovereign Arcerion. | '''Operation Featherlite''' was the military landing of [[Arcerion|Arcer]] troops supported by aircraft and naval vessels on the islands of [[Foxhey Governorate]], in an effort to retake the strategically important [[Gibson Gap]]. It saw combat on land, sea, and air, as Arcer troops landed on the islands of Swindon, Gramsby, Larton, and Sharnwick under adverse weather conditions and worked to retake them from Kelekonan control. Ultimately Kelekona would surrender, effectively ending their attempts to gain the islands and they remained part of sovereign Arcerion. | ||
== Background and Preparation == | == Background and Preparation == | ||
The [[Arcer General Staff]] had undergone preparations to retake the islands in the [[Gibson Gap]]. The movement of three brigades, notably 7 Rifle Brigade, with its mountaineering and cold weather experience, and a large contingent from the [[Arcerion Parachute Regiment]] as part of 11 Parachute Brigade. Arriving in [[Craigfearn]], they quickly began coordinating plans for landings and recapture of the islands, beginning first with coordinating efforts with the [[Arcer Air Force]] and [[Royal Arcerion Naval Service]]. | The [[Arcer General Staff]] had undergone preparations to retake the islands in the [[Gibson Gap]]. The movement of three brigades, notably 7 Rifle Brigade, with its mountaineering and cold weather experience, and a large contingent from the [[Arcerion Parachute Regiment]] as part of 11 Parachute Brigade. Arriving in [[Craigfearn]], they quickly began coordinating plans for landings and recapture of the islands, beginning first with coordinating efforts with the [[Arcer Air Force]] and [[Royal Arcerion Naval Service]]. | ||
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[[File:1 November troop placement.png|thumb|Locations of forces as of 1 November, 1986. ]] | [[File:1 November troop placement.png|thumb|Locations of forces as of 1 November, 1986. ]] | ||
=== Surrender of Sharnwick === | === Surrender of Sharnwick === | ||
With barely any supplies for weeks, constantly harassed by Arcer air strikes and naval gunfire, the conscript troops on Sharnwick had exceedingly low morale. Particularly cold and wet winter weather had begun to set in, with average temperatures ranging from 0-5°C, accompanied by heavy rainfall. These temperatures and harsh climate did limit air sorties from Arcer fighter bombers, but these conditions also allowed the Special Arcerion Service Regiment to conduct infiltration onto the island to update higher command about Kelekonan positions. | |||
The Arcer General Staff ordered van der Berg to seize the island as soon as operationally possible, and the Arcerion Parachute Regiment conducted a similar operation that had been undertaken on Larton, landing via heavy cargo helicopter at night. Due to the small size of Sharnwick, the Kelekonan defenders were aware of the Arcer landing, but lacking modern night fighting equipment and without modern radio communications, were unable to locate the Landing Zone and mount a counter-attack, and by dawn on November 8th, multiple battalions of Arcer troops had been landed. Fierce battles in the small town of Sharnwick occurred as the remaining Kelekonan Marines refused to surrender, despite large amounts of conscripts from the 22nd Motor Rifle Brigade throwing down their weapons and fleeing the battle. | |||
With the arrival of reinforcements from the Royal Moorden Regiment and 105mm light pack howitzers from the Royal Regiment of Arcerion Horse Artillery (RRAHA), the fighting in Sharnwick lasted until late in the afternoon on November 12th. A combined battlegroup of Arco paras, Borderers, and combat engineers flanked the city to the Northwest, and using heavy machineguns and mortars destroyed and damaged many Kelekonan vessels attempting to flee and ferry soldiers back to the Telekeonese lowland town of Bambara in Kelekona. | |||
Sharnwick was officially surrendered on November 14th, with Paras mopping up the last company of Kelekonan Marines, ending Operation Featherlite with the liberation of the last occupied island. | |||
== Casualties == | == Casualties == | ||
== Aftermath == | == Aftermath == | ||
== Cultural Impact == | == Cultural Impact == | ||
[[Category:Arcerion]] | [[Category:Arcerion]] | ||