Cronan Theatre of the Second Great War: Difference between revisions
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The Confederate Parliament was initially hesitant to be dragged into another war not even half a decade after the first. Hawkish Members of Parliament who called for entering the war on the side of Urcea and Burgundie were often shouted down, reminded of the ills of war and told that Crona was thus far untouched by the horrors of the conflict. But after the Caphirian Affair and the sinking of the ''SS Finch'', public opinion shifted wildly against Caphiria and its allies, specifically new communist Capetian government officials. Arcerion's long held grudge against the Cape for its control of the Songun Straits meant that it now had reasonable ''casus belli'' to fight its Southern neighbour. | The Confederate Parliament was initially hesitant to be dragged into another war not even half a decade after the first. Hawkish Members of Parliament who called for entering the war on the side of Urcea and Burgundie were often shouted down, reminded of the ills of war and told that Crona was thus far untouched by the horrors of the conflict. But after the Caphirian Affair and the sinking of the ''SS Finch'', public opinion shifted wildly against Caphiria and its allies, specifically new communist Capetian government officials. Arcerion's long held grudge against the Cape for its control of the Songun Straits meant that it now had reasonable ''casus belli'' to fight its Southern neighbour. | ||
[[File:Aircraft factory easthampton.jpg|thumb|An aircraft manufacturing and assembly facility in [[Easthampton]], Arcerion during the 1930s builds wing sections during the Second Great War. ]] | [[File:Aircraft factory easthampton.jpg|thumb|An aircraft manufacturing and assembly facility in [[Easthampton]], Arcerion during the 1930s builds wing sections during the Second Great War. ]] | ||
Preparations for the war began immediately. Little concerned about Northern neighbours such as Kelekona and Tiechaxha, Arcer forces moved to the southern governorate of [[Moorden Governorate|Moorden]], and began training heavily for coastal defense against what could be a possible invasion. The Arcer Air Force and Nava Service began shifting major assets to Chester-on-Moore and the Southern coastline of the nation, protecting its access to the Songun. Of note was the [[Royal Arcerion Submarine Service]], which began patrolling and foraying further into the Songun Sea conducting reconnaisance, intelligence gathering, and infiltration of Capetian waters in preparation for a larger campaign. | Preparations for the war began immediately. Little concerned about Northern neighbours such as Kelekona and Tiechaxha, Arcer forces moved to the southern governorate of [[Moorden Governorate|Moorden]], and began training heavily for coastal defense against what could be a possible invasion. The Arcer Air Force and Nava Service began shifting major assets to Chester-on-Moore and the Southern coastline of the nation, protecting its access to the Songun. Of note was the [[Royal Arcerion Submarine Service]], which began patrolling and foraying further into the Songun Sea conducting reconnaisance, intelligence gathering, and infiltration of Capetian waters in preparation for a larger campaign. | ||
Arcerion also invited significant staffs of Urcean and Burgoignesc defense attaches, arriving through the New Archduchy and travelling to Kurst across the nation via the National Railway Service. The most important of these were Burgundian officials who helped to coordinate Operation Flyhook, one of the major long-term combat operations against the Capetian Navy, a joint action by Arcer and Burgoignesc ships. | Arcerion also invited significant staffs of Urcean and Burgoignesc defense attaches, arriving through the New Archduchy and travelling to Kurst across the nation via the National Railway Service. The most important of these were Burgundian officials who helped to coordinate Operation Flyhook, one of the major long-term combat operations against the Capetian Navy, a joint action by Arcer and Burgoignesc ships. | ||
One of the most critical components to the early Arcer war effort was preparing the nation economically for what lay ahead. Thankfully, a strong national railway system, combined with the New Archduchy being part of Urcea's sphere of influence meant that Arcers would not go hungry and materiel to support their Levantine allies could continue to flow. On the homefront, Arcer industry began retooling for the war effort. manufacturers of circuitry and electronics began to manufacture radios and other important electronics for the war effort whilst larger shipyards and automotive manufacturers built new vessels and armaments for the sea and land forces. The benefit of a strong domestic aircraft industry also assisted Arcerion as they were able to rely on this to generate much of their early war airlift and transport capabilities to supplement their land forces. Where Arcerion truly lacked was heavy and strategic bombers, as most of their forces were oriented to support the infantry and armoured troops with close air support or fight screens. Development of a native heavy bomber was slow progress, and Urcean blueprints and designs were licensed with their Levantine counterparts sending officials to Arcerion to help redesign factories to accommodate the new needs of their ally. | One of the most critical components to the early Arcer war effort was preparing the nation economically for what lay ahead. Thankfully, a strong national railway system, combined with the New Archduchy being part of Urcea's sphere of influence meant that Arcers would not go hungry and materiel to support their Levantine allies could continue to flow. On the homefront, Arcer industry began retooling for the war effort. manufacturers of circuitry and electronics began to manufacture radios and other important electronics for the war effort whilst larger shipyards and automotive manufacturers built new vessels and armaments for the sea and land forces. The benefit of a strong domestic aircraft industry also assisted Arcerion as they were able to rely on this to generate much of their early war airlift and transport capabilities to supplement their land forces. Where Arcerion truly lacked was heavy and strategic bombers, as most of their forces were oriented to support the infantry and armoured troops with close air support or fight screens. Development of a native heavy bomber was slow progress, and Urcean blueprints and designs were licensed with their Levantine counterparts sending officials to Arcerion to help redesign factories to accommodate the new needs of their ally. | ||
==== Capetian Response ==== | ==== Capetian Response ==== | ||
In The Cape, outbreak of hostilities was marked with much consternation as the Capetian Regime in Cape Town realized they were far from their Caphirian Allies. Economically, they were still attempting to industrialize, with the majority of their factories and heavy industrial facilities still undergoing painful transitions under the new communist regime. Preparations for the war began, but the leadership focused on a poor strategy of defending their two islands in the Songun Straits, XX and YY. The Caphirian delegation in Cape Town was furious at the Arcer declaration, as they had several infantry regiments and armoured car formations training in The Cape, as well as a significant investment from their engineers and naval services to increase the ability of eastern Capetian ports to accommodate commerce raiding vessels and submarines in Caphiria. Caphirian vessels and naval command also grew concerned as closing St. Brendan's Strait from the Urcean and Levantine forces was a critical component in their strategy to choke off the Odoneru. | In The Cape, outbreak of hostilities was marked with much consternation as the Capetian Regime in Cape Town realized they were far from their Caphirian Allies. Economically, they were still attempting to industrialize, with the majority of their factories and heavy industrial facilities still undergoing painful transitions under the new communist regime. Preparations for the war began, but the leadership focused on a poor strategy of defending their two islands in the Songun Straits, XX and YY. The Caphirian delegation in Cape Town was furious at the Arcer declaration, as they had several infantry regiments and armoured car formations training in The Cape, as well as a significant investment from their engineers and naval services to increase the ability of eastern Capetian ports to accommodate commerce raiding vessels and submarines in Caphiria. Caphirian vessels and naval command also grew concerned as closing St. Brendan's Strait from the Urcean and Levantine forces was a critical component in their strategy to choke off the Odoneru. | ||
The Capetian military leadership at their headquarters had a difficult strategic situation, however. Paulastra, while ambivalent, shared a significant land border with both Arcerion and the Cape. With all things being equal, Arcerion's economy and shared interest in Washakara was likely to have them leaning in the favour of the Confederates in Arcerion. To the East and South, St. Brendan's Strait and the Polynesian Sea represented two large maritime areas of operation that the Capetian navy was fundamentally underequipped and resource to effectively fight in, as a fledgling green water navy with outdated First Great War vessels. Lastly, in the Songun, the [[Royal Arcerion Naval Service]] and the other elements of the Arcer Armed Forces had distinct advantages - a limited frontage along the southern edge of Moorden Governorate, as well as a safe area to base ships out of in the Malentine Basin. Arcerion also could rely on their economic ties with Paulastra to keep the Kingdom out of the war, and the rail lines and ports of the New Archduchy to keep the Odoneru sea lines of communication to Levantia open. Therefore, a strategy to defend everything possible was emplaced by the Capetian communist generals, as they believed that the loss of any territory or not defending certain areas was to admit a weakness in both national ability and sovereignty. | The Capetian military leadership at their headquarters had a difficult strategic situation, however. Paulastra, while ambivalent, shared a significant land border with both Arcerion and the Cape. With all things being equal, Arcerion's economy and shared interest in Washakara was likely to have them leaning in the favour of the Confederates in Arcerion. To the East and South, St. Brendan's Strait and the Polynesian Sea represented two large maritime areas of operation that the Capetian navy was fundamentally underequipped and resource to effectively fight in, as a fledgling green water navy with outdated First Great War vessels. Lastly, in the Songun, the [[Royal Arcerion Naval Service]] and the other elements of the Arcer Armed Forces had distinct advantages - a limited frontage along the southern edge of Moorden Governorate, as well as a safe area to base ships out of in the Malentine Basin. Arcerion also could rely on their economic ties with Paulastra to keep the Kingdom out of the war, and the rail lines and ports of the New Archduchy to keep the Odoneru sea lines of communication to Levantia open. Therefore, a strategy to defend everything possible was emplaced by the Capetian communist generals, as they believed that the loss of any territory or not defending certain areas was to admit a weakness in both national ability and sovereignty. | ||
[[File:Capetian troops drilling.png|thumb|Capetian droops drill in basic marching during a training camp run by Caphirian officers in 1935. ]] | [[File:Capetian troops drilling.png|thumb|Capetian droops drill in basic marching during a training camp run by Caphirian officers in 1935. ]] | ||
=== The Ænglic Alliance === | === The Ænglic Alliance === | ||
''Main Article: [[Alstin in the Second Great War]]'' | ''Main Article: [[Alstin in the Second Great War]]'' | ||
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Alstin's defense staff in Arcerion eventually formed a joint command, based out of Kurst, known as Cronan Joint Allied Staff and Headquarters (CJASH), which evolved throughout the course of the war to accommodate the rapidly changing face of conflict in the South Cronan area of operations. | Alstin's defense staff in Arcerion eventually formed a joint command, based out of Kurst, known as Cronan Joint Allied Staff and Headquarters (CJASH), which evolved throughout the course of the war to accommodate the rapidly changing face of conflict in the South Cronan area of operations. | ||
=== "The Quiet Front" === | === "The Quiet Front" === | ||
The start of the war for both sides was characterized by the Kinnaird Financial Times as "A Quiet Front," or as the defense staff at CJASH considered it, "a sleepy period." All three committed nations to the war effort spent time training forces, producing new equipment, ammunition, and units to be used in upcoming offensives. While some dogfights and aircraft engaged eachother over the Songun Sea, action was generally limited to Arcer submarines destroying Capetian shipping via torpedoes or mine warfare. This trend continued into the new year, with the Confederate Parliament summoning the Arcer General Staff to lay out a campaign plan for 1936. Letters from Urcean diplomats stressed the need to fully reopen St. Brendan's strait so as to resume trade from the WesternOdoneru, and as a supporting ally to the major power fighting, the Confederate Parliament undertook this by issuing the General Staff a memorandum to present options on how to end the Caphirian and Capetian interdiction of trade. | |||
so | The General Staff consulted with their Alstinian allies, who concluded that while they had sufficient naval power to exert influence over the area and prevent both the Polynesian Sea and St. Brendan's Strait from being controlled by the Caphirian Navy, but they could not do so consistently due to a lack of permanent basing facilities that even Burgoignesc could not fully change. Concurrent to this, the Cape could always shift to an aerial method of interdicting ships, or submarine warfare from their own shores, meaning the only true option was to destroy the port facilities that the Cape and Caphiria operated from on the Cape's Eastern shores. | ||
The General Staff drew up plans for a bold operation to invade the Cape and its Songun islands, using almost the entirety of the Arcer Army. It also would require a significant contribution from the Paulastran, who would have to drive South and invade the Cape. The Operation, codenamed ''[[Operation Lightfoot|Lightfoot]]'', would be the largest military and combined arms action undertaken by Arcerion to that point. Preparations began by forming an Airborne Division and training remaining Arcer troops for seaborne landings. Supply ships and the naval power required to sealift, escort, and support ground forces as they mvoed inland and attempted to seize ports would continue to be marshalled with merchant mariners called to service and the Confederate Parliament nationalizing several Arco businesses in the maritime trade and cwrgo shipping industry to acquire the tonnage required for such an operation. | |||
==== Southwestern Peninsular Campaign ==== | |||
Alstin indicated to the CJASH that it was prepared to conduct landings on mainland Crona, to both support the war industry with the natural resources from the small, despotic Indigenous countries but also to provide itself with additional basing as its fleet increased in size to a wartime footing. This coincided with increased naval presence and the Alstinian naval action against the Caphirian Navy's Solemia Squadron, which such the destruction of much of the Imperial tonnage for relatively few Alstinian losses. This was part of the Alstinian campaign plan of both supporting their Arcer allies as they prepared for a major land engagement, while also trying to stymy the flow of resources from Varshan and Central Crona to Sarpedon's war effort. | |||
=== Operation Lightfoot === | === Operation Lightfoot === | ||
"For the finch" telegram | "For the finch" telegram | ||