Battle of Westchester: Difference between revisions

== Battle ==

On the night of 12 October, at 2330 local time, the forward deployed elements of 5 and 6 Mechanized Brigades conducted a counter-attack around the Northern flank of the Westchester area of operations. After a successful bridge laying by the [[Arcerion Combat Engineer Regiment]], main battle tank squadrons, utilizing modern night fighting equipment and GPS-positioning systems began to engage the 50th Mechanized Brigade's outer elements. The Arco units had new thermal imaging systems, and many Kelekonan troops ran their vehicles at night to stay warm as their officers did not permit the lighting of fires, and these were easily picked off by Arco main battle tanks and LAVs. 5 Mechanized Brigade quickly fixed their adversaries in place, and over the next few hours destroyed much of the 501st and 502nd Mechanized Infantry Regiments. The Kelekonans withdrew the remaining elements of the 500th Armoured Regiment and the remaining infantry they had South, in a panicked road move under night conditions. Reconnaissance drones assisted 6 Mechanized Brigade, which had continued the flank further Southwest, and caught much of the 50th Mechanized as they attempted to link up with the 48th Mechanized Brigade. Lacking in heavy tanks, 6 Mechanized used ATGMs and air strikes from the Arcer Air Force to destroy much of the 500th Armoured Regiment of the Kelekonan Army along the roadway, forcing the 48th to conduct a failed coutner-attack at 0400, which was quickly rebuffed by the [[Arcerion Mounted Rifles]].  

By morning, the 48th Mechanized had begun a withdraw to the West in the direction of Bambara. With their flanks exposed, the 14th and 25 Motor Rifle Brigade attempted to conduct a counter-attack to delay 5 Mechanized's main battle tanks from cutting them off from Kelekonan lines of communication. This attack failed, with the 1401st Motor Rifle Regiment being completely destroyed by 1 Arcerion Tank Regiment, resulting in dozens of Kelekonan armoured vehicles being lost and hundreds of dead and wounded.  

With the technological advantage in GPS allowing for Arcer higher command at Griffith's forward command post to effectively track the battle throughout the night, the battle was concluded in the waning hours of October 13th. The 14th Motor Rifle Brigade had conducted a hasty withdrawal towards Bambara, pursued aggressively by anti-tank LAVs and reconnaissance vehicles from the Arcerion Mounted Rifles, leaving the 25th Motor Rifle little choice but to dig in and defend its positions at the Southern edge of the Westchester area of operations. Rainy roads and highways packed with civilian traffic had made the remaining Kelekonan forces' retreat towards Bambara extremely difficult, and combined with laser-designated air strikes by members of the Special Arcerion Service Regiment, the Kelekonan troops struggled to outpace 6 Mechanized Brigade.  

== Aftermath ==

Kelekonan forces had managed to withdraw close to Bambara, however they had continued to be harassed and hunted by 5 and 6 Mechanized Brigades, with their sub units and logistical elements spread out between the Arco-Kelekonese border and Bambara. Griffith's battlegroup had effectively put most of these forces in a cauldron, with one side being the Malentine Sea, the bottom being the Innis River, the Northern Edge 5 and 6 Mechanized Brigades, and the quickly closing open portion towards Bambara was constantly harassed by Arco artillery, air power, and civilians fleeing the fighting.