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Telekonese Conflict: Difference between revisions
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At 4am on the 12th of August 1986, shortly before sunrise, Kelekonan warships appeared off the coast of the Foxhey Islands. Kelekonan forces seized the islands of Sharnwick, Larton, Gramsby, and Swindon. These four islands comprised the largest four islands north of Gibson Island, the largest in Foxhey Governorate. Kelekonan bombers struck the airfields at Port Gibson, and ships shelled the dock facilities and airstrip at Farnsworth. Arcer troops in Port Gibson quickly dispersed after deceiving the news via HF radio that Farnsworth was under attack, moving to positions on the bluffs around Port Gibson to defend it. | At 4am on the 12th of August 1986, shortly before sunrise, Kelekonan warships appeared off the coast of the Foxhey Islands. Kelekonan forces seized the islands of Sharnwick, Larton, Gramsby, and Swindon. These four islands comprised the largest four islands north of Gibson Island, the largest in Foxhey Governorate. Kelekonan bombers struck the airfields at Port Gibson, and ships shelled the dock facilities and airstrip at Farnsworth. Arcer troops in Port Gibson quickly dispersed after deceiving the news via HF radio that Farnsworth was under attack, moving to positions on the bluffs around Port Gibson to defend it. | ||
The Arcer government was quick to react, and the Confederate Parliament sent diplomatic correspondence to Kelekona informing it that if all forces were not withdrawn in 96 hours, and reparations paid to repair damage and compensate for civilian casualties, then Arcerion would respond with military force. Kelekona did not respond, and the Arcer government began to set conditions to retake the islands. Radio transmissions from Port Gibson to the occupied islands informed them that they would be freed soon, and to shelter in place and cooperate with local authorities and not to resist Kelekonan Forces. Despite this, roughly two dozen Arcer citizens were killed by the Kelekonan People's Army, mostly farmers who attacked Kelekonans with their hunting rifles or through violent protest. | The Arcer government was quick to react, and the Confederate Parliament sent diplomatic correspondence to Kelekona informing it that if all forces were not withdrawn in 96 hours, and reparations paid to repair damage and compensate for civilian casualties, then Arcerion would respond with military force. Kelekona did not respond, and the Arcer government began to set conditions to retake the islands. Radio transmissions from Port Gibson to the occupied islands informed them that they would be freed soon, and to shelter in place and cooperate with local authorities and not to resist Kelekonan Forces. Despite this, roughly two dozen Arcer citizens were killed by the Kelekonan People's Army, mostly farmers who attacked Kelekonans with their hunting rifles or through violent protest. | ||
The [[Arcer General Staff]] prepared three brigades to seize the islands. 1 Rifle, 7 Rifle, and 11 Para were all moved quickly to Craigfearn and began preparations to retake the four islands of Foxhey. Concurrently, the Arcer Air Force engaged in fierce dogfights over the Gibson Gap, with Arcer fighters and their Kelekonan opponents attempting to gain control of the skies. The Kelekonan fighter aircraft, of older make, were outmatched by the Arcer fighters, however damage by a surprise naval attack at night and shore bombardment by the Kelekonan Navy on the Port Gibson airfield forced Arcer sorties from the mainland, whereas Kelekonese pilots sortied from islands in the Gap itself. The pitched battles were key to prepare for the island landings, and eventually the Arcer Air Force regained control of the skies, despite some losses in pilots, aircrew, and air frames. Fighter bombers spent the rest of August and much of September striking Kelekonan locations on the islands, landing sites, and resupply vessels, attempting to pin and isolate occupying forces. The Royal Arcerion Naval Service during this time conducted sorties, with the [[Royal Arcerion Submarine Service|Royal Arcer Submarine Service]] working to strangle Kelekonan commerce, with surface vessels blockading the Warrington Strait and preventing any Kelekonan-flagged vessel from entering the [[Malentine Sea]], and seizing any attempting to leave. | The [[Arcer General Staff]] prepared three brigades to seize the islands. 1 Rifle, 7 Rifle, and 11 Para were all moved quickly to Craigfearn and began preparations to retake the four islands of Foxhey. Concurrently, the Arcer Air Force engaged in fierce dogfights over the Gibson Gap, with Arcer fighters and their Kelekonan opponents attempting to gain control of the skies. The Kelekonan fighter aircraft, of older make, were outmatched by the Arcer fighters, however damage by a surprise naval attack at night and shore bombardment by the Kelekonan Navy on the Port Gibson airfield forced Arcer sorties from the mainland, whereas Kelekonese pilots sortied from islands in the Gap itself. The pitched battles were key to prepare for the island landings, and eventually the Arcer Air Force regained control of the skies, despite some losses in pilots, aircrew, and air frames. Fighter bombers spent the rest of August and much of September striking Kelekonan locations on the islands, landing sites, and resupply vessels, attempting to pin and isolate occupying forces. The Royal Arcerion Naval Service during this time conducted sorties, with the [[Royal Arcerion Submarine Service|Royal Arcer Submarine Service]] working to strangle Kelekonan commerce, with surface vessels blockading the Warrington Strait and preventing any Kelekonan-flagged vessel from entering the [[Malentine Sea]], and seizing any attempting to leave. | ||
[[File:Helo Landing 1986 war.jpg|thumb|Members of the Royal Easthampton Borders unload 81mm mortar ammunition and other supplies from a helicopter during operations in the Gibson Gap on Larton Island, 29 October 1986. ]] | [[File:Helo Landing 1986 war.jpg|thumb|Members of the Royal Easthampton Borders unload 81mm mortar ammunition and other supplies from a helicopter during operations in the Gibson Gap on Larton Island, 29 October 1986. ]] | ||
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Arcerion's intelligence services had identified the areas where they had failed to influence the government during the 1986 conflict, and the [[Government of Arcerion|Confederate Parliament]] was quick to instruct the Arcer General Staff to prepare, and plans were drawn up. Initial estimates mistakenly included Dunborough as one of the targets, a holdover from the assessment that Kelekona wished to seize the port. | Arcerion's intelligence services had identified the areas where they had failed to influence the government during the 1986 conflict, and the [[Government of Arcerion|Confederate Parliament]] was quick to instruct the Arcer General Staff to prepare, and plans were drawn up. Initial estimates mistakenly included Dunborough as one of the targets, a holdover from the assessment that Kelekona wished to seize the port. | ||
Arcerion moved five Regular Army Brigades quietly up to the Northwestern border, with 1 Rifle digging in defensive positions around Oakham, and 4 Mechanized around Westchester. Other units prepped for counter-attacks and follow-on actions, with 11 Para linking up with Air Force strategic and tactical airlift assets in Dalton, and 5 and 6 Mechanized Brigades in an assembly area near the banks of the Leigh River. The plan by the Arcer General Staff was to conduct a flexible defense-in-depth. | |||
The Arcer government announced on 27 August that they were aware of the Kelekonan Army's preparations, and informed Kelekona that if they were to continue then there would be an appropriate military response. Kelekona, now realizing they had lost the element of surprise, rushed the final preparations of the invasion, which affected the ability of their Brigades to properly prepare and coordinate. | |||
Just prior to dawn on August 29th, Kelekonan units of the 11th and 24th Motor Rifle Brigades engaged Arcer static positions with artillery. However due to the lack of operational surprise, the Arcer units had spread out, and the artillery had little to no effect, instead just causing minor civilian casualties amongst the local population. The two brigades rolled across the line of departure and crossed bridges near Oakham and on the Innis River, and engaged elements of 1 Rifle Brigade along the Oakham Defensive Line. The previous 24 hours had seen Reserve units in Oakham assisting with the construction of defensive fighting positions, evacuating civilians, and assisting civil authorities with preparations for an enemy advance. Long columns of civilian vehicles along [[Highways of Arcerion|Interstate Highway 11]] fleeing the fighting would continue for days, as the Royal Arcerion Regiment had to conduct the difficult task of both delaying the Kelekonan forces advancing on Oakham from two directions. Notable was the defense of the historical Firebase Emily, a military base from the Fourth Bush War, by a combined unit of reservists from the Princess of Kilkken's Own Regiment (PKOR) against two motor rifle regiments trying to seize the junction of the Innis and North Innis Rivers. 1st Battalion, PKOR would resist the Kelekonan forces until relieved in mid-October. | |||
In the South, 4 Mechanized Brigade conducted a desperate defence against Kelekonan forces. Outnumbered 4:1, 4 Mechanized conducted a fighting withdrawal into the town's suburbs, where pre-laid minefields, tank ditches, and the usage of anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs) had slowed down the Kelekonan forces, who had begun to outstrip their supply lines, which were under fire from Arcer artillery and air strikes. The offensive slowed, and by mid-September, the Arcer General Staff believed the enemy had fought to their limit, and prepared Operation Corbray, their counter-offensive. | |||
==== Operation Corbray ==== | |||
In the North, 11 Parachute Brigade conducted a major airborne insertion of the entire Brigade, and after seizing the enemy airfield at Tallyibumbera, outflanked the Kelekonan 11th Motor Rifle Brigade, quickly destroying much of their rear echelon formations and enablers (artillery, maintenance, etc). | |||
attempts to gain oakham and westchester | attempts to gain oakham and westchester | ||