Istrenyan Crisis: Difference between revisions

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By the fall of 1959, Tytosh's NIPF members, along with local unions, socialist and liberal university students, and foreign fighters began the March to Karaba, a movement politicized and publicized as the means from which they would free Istrenya from foreign corporate and political interference. Starting in late September 1959, Tytosh's forces left Iraso, and quickly overran the National Police garrisons in Mogtopeni by the end of October, with Lokokeha succumbing to the 2nd and 3rd Liberation Battalions a week later. By the first week of December 1959, Enunana had begun to see an increase in labour union activity and it was assessed by members of the [[Arcerion Foreign Office]] that Tytosh's forces had begun the process to isolate the city from outside assistance. The incompetence of the National Police Forces and the Istrenyan National Guard meant that Arcerion was rapidly being forced to become involved by New Year's Eve, 1959.  
By the fall of 1959, Tytosh's NIPF members, along with local unions, socialist and liberal university students, and foreign fighters began the March to Karaba, a movement politicized and publicized as the means from which they would free Istrenya from foreign corporate and political interference. Starting in late September 1959, Tytosh's forces left Iraso, and quickly overran the National Police garrisons in Mogtopeni by the end of October, with Lokokeha succumbing to the 2nd and 3rd Liberation Battalions a week later. By the first week of December 1959, Enunana had begun to see an increase in labour union activity and it was assessed by members of the [[Arcerion Foreign Office]] that Tytosh's forces had begun the process to isolate the city from outside assistance. The incompetence of the National Police Forces and the Istrenyan National Guard meant that Arcerion was rapidly being forced to become involved by New Year's Eve, 1959.  
=== Arcerion's Response ===
=== Arcerion's Response ===
By January 1st, Prime Minister Nathaniel T. MacCallough, one of Arcerion's first post-war Prime Ministers concluded that the situation in Istrenya posed a clear and present danger to the interests of Arcerion and the safety of her citizens. By the end of the first week of January MacCallough had summoned the [[Arcer Admiralty]] and the Arcer General Staff to the Confederate Parliament for secret meetings to discuss military options. The conclusion that was a joint task force comprised of an escort carrier group, tactical helicopter squadrons, naval strike aircraft, and two army brigades (7 & 8 Rifle Brigades) with additional clandestine support from the Office of Public Safety and National Security. The initial phase of the war would see members of the Arcerion Commando Regiment (ACR) and Special Arcerion Service Regiment (SASR) would be airdropped into Enunana to delay the Liberation Battalions advance along the coast as part of the March to Karaba.  
By January 1st, Prime Minister Nathaniel T. MacCallough, one of Arcerion's first post-war Prime Ministers concluded that the situation in Istrenya posed a clear and present danger to the interests of Arcerion and the safety of her citizens. By the end of the first week of January MacCallough had summoned the [[Arcer Admiralty]] and the Arcer General Staff to the Confederate Parliament for secret meetings to discuss military options. The conclusion that was a joint task force comprised of an escort carrier group, tactical helicopter squadrons, naval strike aircraft, and two army brigades (7 & 8 Rifle Brigades) with additional clandestine support from the Office of Public Safety and National Security. The initial phase of the war would see members of the Arcerion Commando Regiment (ACR) and Special Arcerion Service Regiment (SASR) would be airdropped into Enunana to delay the Liberation Battalions advance along the coast as part of the March to Karaba.
The campaign was set to see the initial deployment begin by March of 1960, and the military quickly ramped up to begin the deployment to secure the Arcer Embassy in Karaba, as well as prepare for the evacuation of the Arcer Consular staff in Iraso.  
The campaign was set to see the initial deployment begin by March of 1960, and the military quickly ramped up to begin the deployment to secure the Arcer Embassy in Karaba, as well as prepare for the evacuation of the Arcer Consular staff in Iraso.  
[[File:8 Rifle Coastal Campaign.jpg|thumb|Members of the Norham Light Infantry engage socialist Liberation Battalion troops West of Enunana, Istrenya in the summer of 1960. ]]
=== Operation Insolent ===
=== Operation Insolent ===
By early March the Joint Task Force, under Major General Timothy McAdams, a veteran of the Second Great War and [[Operation Lightfoot]], had set up their headquarters in Hotel Chekila, the town of Madara. Hundreds of Arcer soldiers were being airlifted in every day, however concerns over the deployment of heavy equipment such as tanks and artillery raised fears and concerns with the Arcer government over the public perception of using such force in what was essentially being sold to the public as a police action and counter-insurgency operation. 7 and 8 Rifle Brigades set up outside Karaba, and prepared for their respective deployments. McAdams moved his tactical headquarters to Karaba to work out of the Arcer Embassy in Karaba, so as to co-locate with the Ambassador and have consistent communication with the Arcer general staff. Once provisional field hospitals, helicopter landing sites, and supply depots had been roughly constructed and were functional, the Army was prepared by the end of March to begin the counter-attacks out towards the West.
By early March the Joint Task Force, under Major General Timothy McAdams, a veteran of the Second Great War and [[Operation Lightfoot]], had set up their headquarters in Hotel Chekila, the town of Madara. Hundreds of Arcer soldiers were being airlifted in every day, however concerns over the deployment of heavy equipment such as tanks and artillery raised fears and concerns with the Arcer government over the public perception of using such force in what was essentially being sold to the public as a police action and counter-insurgency operation. 7 and 8 Rifle Brigades set up outside Karaba, and prepared for their respective deployments. McAdams moved his tactical headquarters to Karaba to work out of the Arcer Embassy in Karaba, so as to co-locate with the Ambassador and have consistent communication with the Arcer general staff. Once provisional field hospitals, helicopter landing sites, and supply depots had been roughly constructed and were functional, the Army was prepared by the end of March to begin the counter-attacks out towards the West.
 
[[File:8 Rifle Coastal Campaign.jpg|thumb|Members of the Norham Light Infantry engage socialist Liberation Battalion troops West of Enunana, Istrenya in the summer of 1960. ]]
During the deployment of the Arcer troops to Eastern Istrenya, A and B Companies from the Arcer Commando Regiment, numbering approximately two hundred men, were inserted via helicopter to Iraso to defend the Arcer embassy. While the perimeter of Iraso was being held by members of the Istrenyan National Guard, Arcer special forces advisors assisted them by directing airstrikes from naval aircraft against NIPF positions. The Commandos would be instrumental for holding the Iraso pocket until eventually relieved by regular Arcer forces. The navy also conducted a considerable amount of strikes in Lokokeja to disrupt the trucks and rail used by NIPF forces to resupply the four Liberation Battalions currently laying siege to Enunana.  
During the deployment of the Arcer troops to Eastern Istrenya, A and B Companies from the Arcer Commando Regiment, numbering approximately two hundred men, were inserted via helicopter to Iraso to defend the Arcer embassy. While the perimeter of Iraso was being held by members of the Istrenyan National Guard, Arcer special forces advisors assisted them by directing airstrikes from naval aircraft against NIPF positions. The Commandos would be instrumental for holding the Iraso pocket until eventually relieved by regular Arcer forces. The navy also conducted a considerable amount of strikes in Lokokeja to disrupt the trucks and rail used by NIPF forces to resupply the four Liberation Battalions currently laying siege to Enunana.  



Revision as of 16:54, 13 December 2022

1959 Istrenyan Civil Crisis
(Clockwise from top left) Members of 7 Rifle Brigade's Royal Moorden Regiment are extracted from Eastern Istrenya via helicopter; Arcer Army service members are dropped off near the Line of Contact (LOC) to conduct stabilisation operations; Indigenous protestors clash with Instrenyan National Policemen in the capitol during the 1959 Riots.
Duration1959-1961; 3 years
Also known asIstrenyan Crisis; First Istrenyan Civil War; Malentine Crisis
TypeCivil War
CauseCommunist and Popular Uprising
ParticipantsArcerion
Istrenya
Various Insurgent/Political Groups
OutcomeStatus quo; Communist Revolt suppressed, Indigenous Populist Government maintains power.

The 1959 Istrenyan Civil Crisis, also known as the First Istrenyan Civil War or the Malentine Crisis was an armed rebellion by the National Instrenyan People's Front (NIPF) during the 20th century between 1959-1961 in the Southern Cronan nation of Istrenya.

Inspired by other socialist movements during the same decade, it began in April 1959 when a pair of Arcer diplomatic officials were assaulted by a mob, angered over recent increases in tariffs on Istrenyan agricultural exports to the Occidental nation. Heavy-handed responses by the national police and security forces led to more civilian and military deaths, as well as a continued escalation in the riots. Formal complaints by the Arcer government to the Istrenyan President's office resulted in a severe scalation in 1960, and with continued attacks on Occidentals, the Arcer government formally issued a notice to the Istrenyan government that it would conduct a military intervention to stabilise the situation.

By 1961, the crisis had stabilized, and the Arcer government was able to close its embassy and consulates in Istrenya, as well as withdraw the joint military task force it had deployed to the region. In the crisis' wake, the Istrenyan government managed to remain in power with assistance from the Office of Public Safety and National Security.

Background

Istrenya was never under direct colonial rule from any Levantine or Sarpedonian nations, however mercantile influence had often relegated it to inconsistent economic growth and recurring bouts of recession and economic strife. Traditionally the maritime economy Istrenya enjoyed was primarily based on fishing, simple agriculture, and raw mineral and natural resource extraction, however with the expansion of modern Occidental corporations in the 19th and 20th centuries, these companies grew to inherit large amounts of influence over the Istrenyan government. Most prominent amongst these were corporations from Arcerion, located directly across from Istrenya across the Warrington Strait and Malentine Sea. Following the end of the Second Great War and the rise of decolonization amongst many smaller Indigenous nations and their colonies, Istrenya saw a rise of socialist and liberal movements aimed at toppling the existing Populist government under President A'kale Treo.

Increased activity amongst Indigenous peoples promoting Indigenous Nationalism had spread from Varshan into South Crona, with similar movements occurring in Porlos and Kelekona. During the Second Great War, Indigenous nations reinforced their neutral positions by refusing to allow many warships and airplanes from Arcerion and other Allied nations from using their facilities. It was assessed that communist and syndicalist sympathizers, foreign fighters, and ideological radicals from other Indigenous nations moved to Istrenya anticipating a much larger conflict, however the limited political success in the 1958 Istrenyan Elections meant that there was a limited perceived legitimate political base for liberal and socialist thought, and the majority of the dissidents were native Istrenyans.

Crisis

Map of Istrenya in 1959.

In April of 1959, two Arcer diplomatic officials were out in the large Southern Istrenyan town of Madara, John Francis (Deputy Ambassador) and Nathan Phillips (Head of Development, Istrenya), were having dinner at the Hotel Chekila, an Occidental-owned establishment frequented by members of the Levantine and Southern Cronan elite. Several disenfranchised members of a local farmer's union, frustrated at their protest over tariff increases were frustrated by the police breaking up their strike, and on their walk home encountered Francis and Phillips having dinner on the hotel's outdoor street patio. After a short verbal altercation, Francis and Phillips were violently attacked and beaten, suffering serious injuries that had both in the hospital in critical condition for weeks.

A formal protest was lodged by the Arcer ambassador within twenty four hours, and as a result President Treo cracked down using the Istrenyan National Police. The police broke up multiple union meetings and protests, including several that had the correct permits and permissions. The end result was a massive wave of bad publicity and news articles for the Presidential office, including numerous new protests and open street riots against the police slowly escalating in size and damages to public and private property.

1959 Riots

The 1959 Riots began in earnest by June 1st, with organized peaceful protests in five major towns and cities taking place, primarily along the interior and Western portions of Istrenya. Politically, Eastern Istrenya, which was geographically closer to Arcerion was more friendly and had more Occidental sympathetic, leading to a significant portion of the population disagreeing with the mass protests of the West and central highlands.

Street protestors in Sofrine protest against the Populist government in the summer of 1959.

National Police forces clashed violently for several weeks, with dozens of civilians dying a ay in the towns of Iraso and Mogtepeni, both of which were seriously affected by riots and paralyzed by street violence. An organization of unions in Iraso banded together. A collection of farmer's unions, mechanics unions, and foreign members of the Malentine Socialist Party. Self-named, the National Instrenyan People's Front (NIPF) was founded and headed by a former aide to President Treo, Ma'kle Tytosh, who had also previously served as a member of the Istrenyan National Guard. With a lack of weapons equipment, he entreated his foreign socialist and syndicalist counterparts to donate weapons, equipment, and instructors. Camps were set up in the Western Portion of Istrenya, in order to assist with the training of Liberation Battalions. Riots continued in the Eastern half of Istrenya, with the raging street battles destroying pubic transports and public services. Sofrine had both the Town Hall and the National Guard Barracks attacked with fireworks as well as a significant amount of firebombs. Despite heavy losses rom College Students from the nearby Agricultural University, of whom forty died and twice that number were wounded, Sofrine's Populist Government was expelled. Concurrent to the battles raging in Sofrine, the 1st Liberation Battalion left its camp and instigated riots in Iraso, culminating with the Arcer Consulate being attacked. However, members of the Royal Arcerion Constabulary were able to repel the attackers, but transmissions via High-Frequency (HF) radio to the embassy in Karaba made it clear that the riots and civil urnest in the West were becoming a grave danger to Arcer citizens.

Map of Populist-controlled areas and NIPF-controlled areas as of Spring, 1960 in Istrenya. Note the Iraso pocket where the Arcer consulate was located.

By the fall of 1959, Tytosh's NIPF members, along with local unions, socialist and liberal university students, and foreign fighters began the March to Karaba, a movement politicized and publicized as the means from which they would free Istrenya from foreign corporate and political interference. Starting in late September 1959, Tytosh's forces left Iraso, and quickly overran the National Police garrisons in Mogtopeni by the end of October, with Lokokeha succumbing to the 2nd and 3rd Liberation Battalions a week later. By the first week of December 1959, Enunana had begun to see an increase in labour union activity and it was assessed by members of the Arcerion Foreign Office that Tytosh's forces had begun the process to isolate the city from outside assistance. The incompetence of the National Police Forces and the Istrenyan National Guard meant that Arcerion was rapidly being forced to become involved by New Year's Eve, 1959.

Arcerion's Response

By January 1st, Prime Minister Nathaniel T. MacCallough, one of Arcerion's first post-war Prime Ministers concluded that the situation in Istrenya posed a clear and present danger to the interests of Arcerion and the safety of her citizens. By the end of the first week of January MacCallough had summoned the Arcer Admiralty and the Arcer General Staff to the Confederate Parliament for secret meetings to discuss military options. The conclusion that was a joint task force comprised of an escort carrier group, tactical helicopter squadrons, naval strike aircraft, and two army brigades (7 & 8 Rifle Brigades) with additional clandestine support from the Office of Public Safety and National Security. The initial phase of the war would see members of the Arcerion Commando Regiment (ACR) and Special Arcerion Service Regiment (SASR) would be airdropped into Enunana to delay the Liberation Battalions advance along the coast as part of the March to Karaba. The campaign was set to see the initial deployment begin by March of 1960, and the military quickly ramped up to begin the deployment to secure the Arcer Embassy in Karaba, as well as prepare for the evacuation of the Arcer Consular staff in Iraso.

Operation Insolent

By early March the Joint Task Force, under Major General Timothy McAdams, a veteran of the Second Great War and Operation Lightfoot, had set up their headquarters in Hotel Chekila, the town of Madara. Hundreds of Arcer soldiers were being airlifted in every day, however concerns over the deployment of heavy equipment such as tanks and artillery raised fears and concerns with the Arcer government over the public perception of using such force in what was essentially being sold to the public as a police action and counter-insurgency operation. 7 and 8 Rifle Brigades set up outside Karaba, and prepared for their respective deployments. McAdams moved his tactical headquarters to Karaba to work out of the Arcer Embassy in Karaba, so as to co-locate with the Ambassador and have consistent communication with the Arcer general staff. Once provisional field hospitals, helicopter landing sites, and supply depots had been roughly constructed and were functional, the Army was prepared by the end of March to begin the counter-attacks out towards the West.

Members of the Norham Light Infantry engage socialist Liberation Battalion troops West of Enunana, Istrenya in the summer of 1960.

During the deployment of the Arcer troops to Eastern Istrenya, A and B Companies from the Arcer Commando Regiment, numbering approximately two hundred men, were inserted via helicopter to Iraso to defend the Arcer embassy. While the perimeter of Iraso was being held by members of the Istrenyan National Guard, Arcer special forces advisors assisted them by directing airstrikes from naval aircraft against NIPF positions. The Commandos would be instrumental for holding the Iraso pocket until eventually relieved by regular Arcer forces. The navy also conducted a considerable amount of strikes in Lokokeja to disrupt the trucks and rail used by NIPF forces to resupply the four Liberation Battalions currently laying siege to Enunana.

McAdams ordered 8 Rifle Brigade, comprised of the Norham Light Infantry and Craigfearn Fusiliers. The six battalions of Arcer infantry conducted a mixture of road marches and used trucks provided by the Istrenyan National Guard, linking up with the beleaguered 2nd Istrenyan Division HQ in Enunana by March 24th. Two weeks of sustained mortar exchanges, use of heavy machineguns in depth, and naval airstrikes helped to break the resolve of Tytosh's Battalions, who slowly began to withdraw, allowing 2nd Battalion from the Norham Light Infantry (2 NLI) to cross the river and cut off many communist forces from withdrawing. With Enunana liberated and allowing the 2nd Istrenyan Division to mop up, 8 Rifle Brigade conducted an advance along the coast for Lokokeja.

Line of Contact

8 rifle breakout along coast

7 rifle battling in mountains

Battle of Teremba

small town outside of Lokokeja, 8 rifle mangles commies and liberates larger city with istrenyan national guard assistance

Battle at M'kelo Airport

7 rifle takes Mogtopeni airport

fierce battle lots of carrier cas

allows 11 para to jump into Mogtopeni

Stabilisation and Withdrawal

8 rifle and 11 para link up and relieve Iraso

opsns find Tytosh and kill him in Sofrine

8 rifle waltz into sofrine

Koungheul is liberated by 7 rifle and istrenyan national guard

Arcer Embassy Closure

diplo scandal and withdraw

Aftermath