Battle of Westchester

Battle of Westchester
Part of Telekonese Conflict
Photos from the Battle of Westchester (clockwise form Top Left): A tank from the Royal Arcerion Dragoons engages a Kelekonese target; a destroyed Kelekonese main battle tank on a road outside Bambara, Infantrymen from the Arcerion Parachute Regiment load up to reinforce the airhead at Tallyibumbera Airfield; Two soldiers from the Northlea Rifle Regiment pose for a photo outside of Bambara, Kelekona.
Date 12-13 October 1991 Location Westchester, Northlea Governorate, Arcerion Result Decisive Arcer Victory
Belligerents
Arcerion	Kelekona
Commanders and leaders
Colonel Dean Griffith	Major-General Molor T't-yrosha
Units involved
4 Mechanized Brigade 5 Mechanized Brigade 6 Mechanized Brigade Arcerion Special Operations Command (various)	48th Mechanized Brigade (NG) 50th Mechanized Brigade (NG) 14th Motor Rifle Brigade 25th Motor Rifle Brigade
Strength
3 Mechanized Brigades (-), est. ~9,900	2 Mechanized Brigades, 2 Motorized Brigades, est. +14,000
Casualties and losses
22 KIA 78 WIA ~53 armoured vehicles damaged/destroyed	Unknown, estimated ~1,000 KIA +400 armoured vehicles destroyed

The Battle of Westchester (12-13 October 1991) was one of the final engagement of the 1991 Telekonese Conflict between Arcerion and Kelekona. Part of the larger Operation Corbray, the Battle of Westchester was a large mechanized counter-offensive to relieve the beleaguered 4 Mechanized Brigade Group defending the town after which the battle is named.

Background

Around the town of Westchester, the subordinate units to 4 Mechanized Brigade had conducted a tough defensive fight against four Kelekonan brigades, attempting to delay their push across the Innis River and into the Arcer Heartland. Working closely with engineers, the Northlea Rifle Regiment and the Royal Arcerion Regiment had dug themselves into the town's outer boroughs and suburbs, and utilizing anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs) and new infantry anti-tank weapons, they delayed Kelekonan troops with the use of minefields, prepared fighting positions, and anti-tank obstacles. Kelekonan forces suffered from poor morale and coordination, and their inability to use engineers, combined with accurate Arco artillery fire meant progress to conduct the river crossing was extremely slow. As of September, air strikes and the defensive line had slowed the offensive and the Arcer General Staff were prepared to begin the counter-offensive, Operation Corbray.

To the North, 11 Parachute Brigade conducted a sudden seizure of the Kelekonan forward airfield at Tallyibumbera, and outflanked the Kelekonan 11th Motor Rifle Brigade. Without close air support, many of their aircraft damaged, and one of their main brigades caught out of position, Kelekonan senior officers ordered the 11th Motor Rifle to pivot and withdraw towards friendly lines to the Northwest.

Preparations had been undertaken by 5 and 6 Mechanized Brigades, which had been kept as an operational reserve, and placed under the commander of Colonel Dean Griffith. Preparations began in the last week of September, and Griffith received a warning order from the Arcer General Staff to conduct offensive operations along the Westchester axis and relieve pressure on 4 Mechanized Brigade. Outnumbered, Griffith worked with liaison officers from Arcerion Special Operations Command and the Arcer Air Force to conduct air strikes and deep reconnaissance of Kelekonan lines and rear areas. With preparations made, preparatory bombings and precision long range strikes using cruise missiles (some fired by submarines from the Royal Arcerion Naval Service) and rockets began, destroying command and control nodes, logistics facilities, and troop concentrations on 10 and 11 October.