Cronan Theatre of the Second Great War: Difference between revisions

==== Arcer Response ====

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.  

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.  

==== 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.  

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 Ænglic Alliance ===

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" ===

1935 is mostly plans