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Operation Featherlite: Difference between revisions
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The Arcer Air Force would be required to ensure air superiority was achieved over the islands to allow the ships of the Royal Arcerion Naval Service the ability to ferry and land men, equipment, and supplies to support the brigades that were preparing to land. | The Arcer Air Force would be required to ensure air superiority was achieved over the islands to allow the ships of the Royal Arcerion Naval Service the ability to ferry and land men, equipment, and supplies to support the brigades that were preparing to land. | ||
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 Governorate|Foxhey]]. The Arcer Air Force began preparations with aerial reconnaissance flights, early usage of satellite photography, maritime reconnaissance, and working with [[Arcerion Special Operations Command]]. Members of the Special Arcerion Service Regiment had been conducting raids and reconnaissance of [[Kelekona|Kelekonese]] positions and facilities since the war's outbreak, and this helped build the intelligence picture required for the Air Force to strike. | 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 Governorate|Foxhey]]. The Arcer Air Force began preparations with aerial reconnaissance flights, early usage of satellite photography, maritime reconnaissance, and working with [[Arcerion Special Operations Command]]. Members of the Special Arcerion Service Regiment had been conducting raids and reconnaissance of [[Kelekona|Kelekonese]] positions and facilities since the war's outbreak, and this helped build the intelligence picture required for the Air Force to strike. | ||
The [[Royal Arcerion Submarine Service]] during this time had its new ''Dolphin''-class diesel electric attack submarines shadow the Kelekonese Navy, and had been conducting attacks on supply ships and other vessels bringing commerce into the Northern Malentine Sea. Sorties from [[Chester-on-Moore]] were constant and proved to be effective, as the Navy's blockade of the Warrington Strait prevented new ships from entering the Malentine Sea. | The [[Royal Arcerion Submarine Service]] during this time had its new ''Dolphin''-class diesel electric attack submarines shadow the Kelekonese Navy, and had been conducting attacks on supply ships and other vessels bringing commerce into the Northern Malentine Sea. Sorties from [[Chester-on-Moore]] were constant and proved to be effective, as the Navy's blockade of the Warrington Strait prevented new ships from entering the Malentine Sea. | ||
[[File:Shot down Kelekona aircraft.jpg|thumb|Gun camera footage from a ''Goshawk'' fighter aircraft of No.19 Squadron, Arcer Air Force shows a Kelekonan fighter being shot down over Larton Island. ]] | [[File:Shot down Kelekona aircraft.jpg|thumb|Gun camera footage from a ''Goshawk'' fighter aircraft of No.19 Squadron, Arcer Air Force shows a Kelekonan fighter being shot down over Larton Island. ]] | ||
Preparations focused on the landings, and a Task Force (Task Force 86) was organized around the Arcer aircraft carrier, the ACS ''Kurst''. Plans were for a short but aggressive air campaign, followed by landings in Farnsworth, followed by Swindon and Gramsby. During the preparations for the operation, a surprise attack by several Kelekonan destroyers and frigates on [[Port Gibson]] damaged much of the runway and support facilities. With the main military airfield in Foxhey damaged, the Arcer Air Force was forced to sortie out of Dunborough, Craigfearn, and Kinnaird. The extended times would only be cut down once the smaller runway at Farnsworth could be repaired, and with some sorties being conducted by the Naval Air Arm from the ''Kurst''. | Preparations focused on the landings, and a Task Force (Task Force 86) was organized around the Arcer aircraft carrier, the ACS ''Kurst''. Plans were for a short but aggressive air campaign, followed by landings in Farnsworth, followed by Swindon and Gramsby. During the preparations for the operation, a surprise attack by several Kelekonan destroyers and frigates on [[Port Gibson]] damaged much of the runway and support facilities. With the main military airfield in Foxhey damaged, the Arcer Air Force was forced to sortie out of Dunborough, Craigfearn, and Kinnaird. The extended times would only be cut down once the smaller runway at Farnsworth could be repaired, and with some sorties being conducted by the Naval Air Arm from the ''Kurst''. | ||
The date of the invasion was set for 7 October, as the weather forecast predicted clear skies that would be favourable for air-ground coordination, and Task Force 86, now comprised of over thirty warships and supporting vessels, moved into the Malentine to avoid Kelekonan spies and reconnaissance and to maintain operational surprise. | The date of the invasion was set for 7 October, as the weather forecast predicted clear skies that would be favourable for air-ground coordination, and Task Force 86, now comprised of over thirty warships and supporting vessels, moved into the Malentine to avoid Kelekonan spies and reconnaissance and to maintain operational surprise. | ||
=== Air Combat === | === Air Combat === | ||
From 1-7 October, the Arcer Air Force engaged in fierce dogfights over Foxhey, the Gibson Gap, and the Malentine Sea. Strikes against Kelekonan positions on the smaller islands were frequent, as the Air Force prepared the area for landings. The dogfights also saw the first uses of air-to-air missiles in Crona, with Arcer Goshawk fighter aircraft engaging older Kelekonan fighters, which were mostly armed with guns or very early missile designs. The Air Force was ultimately successful, and by 6 October the Kelekonan Air Force sorties remained outside the Gibson Gap, with Arcer fighters conducting combat air patrols over the islands and attacking surface-to-air missile sites. The Arcer Air Force also conducted additional aerial reconnaissance during this time as part of the bomb damage assessment after its strikes. Arcer fighters would continue to remain in support of ground troops as operation shifted from a prepatory phase and began to focus on the landings. | From 1-7 October, the Arcer Air Force engaged in fierce dogfights over Foxhey, the Gibson Gap, and the Malentine Sea. Strikes against Kelekonan positions on the smaller islands were frequent, as the Air Force prepared the area for landings. The dogfights also saw the first uses of air-to-air missiles in Crona, with Arcer Goshawk fighter aircraft engaging older Kelekonan fighters, which were mostly armed with guns or very early missile designs. The Air Force was ultimately successful, and by 6 October the Kelekonan Air Force sorties remained outside the Gibson Gap, with Arcer fighters conducting combat air patrols over the islands and attacking surface-to-air missile sites. The Arcer Air Force also conducted additional aerial reconnaissance during this time as part of the bomb damage assessment after its strikes. Arcer fighters would continue to remain in support of ground troops as operation shifted from a prepatory phase and began to focus on the landings. | ||
== Land Battles == | == Land Battles == | ||
Failures by diplomats to resolve the crisis meant that a military conclusion to the conflict was the only remaining option, and the operation was approved by the Arcer General Staff to commence as planned in the early morning hours of 7 October. Task Force 86 moved off the coast near Farnsworth during the evening of October 6th, and a heavy bombardment of Swindon began during the night by fighter bombers of the Arcer Air Forcer and Royal Arcerion Naval Service. Swindon was defended by elements of the Kelekonan 71st Motor Rifle Brigade, which was spread out between the two islands of Swindon and Gramsby. In the dawn hours of 7 October, two battalions of Arcer infantry loaded onto helicopters to land on Swindon and secure the beachhead. | |||
=== Swindon === | === Swindon === | ||
=== Gramsby === | === Gramsby === | ||