Operation Lightfoot: Difference between revisions

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Operation Lightfoot (view source)

Revision as of 21:40, 30 January 2022

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=== Movement to the Cape ===
=== Movement to the Cape ===
[[File:Arco Paras Pack.png|thumb|Members of Arcerion's 1st Airborne Division pack and prepare for their insertion into the Cape on H-Hour. ]]
[[File:Arco Paras Pack.png|thumb|Members of Arcerion's 1st Airborne Division pack and prepare for their insertion into the Cape on H-Hour. ]]
[[File:Novasar v3.jpg|thumb|Initial dispositions of Arcer and Cape forces at H-Hour +1 before the assault on Novasar Airfield. ]]
As the night of the invasion approached, Eddis was concerned that weather reports would prevent the accurate landing of his forces on the designated drop zones. However, the morning of the drop, the meteorological department decided that despite high winds on the DZ, it was permissive for airborne insertion of the division. Eddis took a gamble, but ordered the last-light launch of the pathfinder units, of which six planes took off of the planned eight (due to mechanical difficulties) to prepare DZs Red, Blue, Yellow and Green. The division itself all loaded their transports at last light, officers and NCOs running back and forth ensuring that their chalks were set and all necessary equipment required for 3 days of fighting with no resupply was prepared for insertion. After the initial drop, each DZ would have a logistical and supply hub where air drops of supplies critical to the continuance of the fighting (medical supplies, ammunition, explosives, radio equipment, etc.) could be dropped to further assist in the fighting in the Cape. By midnight, hundred of military and civilian-nationalized planes took to the skies, flying over the Songun Sea towards their designated insertion points.  
As the night of the invasion approached, Eddis was concerned that weather reports would prevent the accurate landing of his forces on the designated drop zones. However, the morning of the drop, the meteorological department decided that despite high winds on the DZ, it was permissive for airborne insertion of the division. Eddis took a gamble, but ordered the last-light launch of the pathfinder units, of which six planes took off of the planned eight (due to mechanical difficulties) to prepare DZs Red, Blue, Yellow and Green. The division itself all loaded their transports at last light, officers and NCOs running back and forth ensuring that their chalks were set and all necessary equipment required for 3 days of fighting with no resupply was prepared for insertion. After the initial drop, each DZ would have a logistical and supply hub where air drops of supplies critical to the continuance of the fighting (medical supplies, ammunition, explosives, radio equipment, etc.) could be dropped to further assist in the fighting in the Cape. By midnight, hundred of military and civilian-nationalized planes took to the skies, flying over the Songun Sea towards their designated insertion points.  
=== H-Hour ===
=== H-Hour ===
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On Dropzone Alpha, Novasar airfield proved to be extremely difficult to capture, resulting in the Battle of Novasar Airfield. On Dropzone Bravo, the 4th Parachute Battalion fought determined to capture the key strategic bluffs overlooking the three bridges crossing the River Merve. Hill 334 was one of the bloodiest actions, with K Company of the 4th Parachute Battalion losing almost all of its officers and half of its NCOs by H-Hour +48. On Dropzone Charlie, skirmishes with the initial probes and counter-attacks of the Capetian Armed Forces were rebuffed and local raids organized, these small-unit actions, often at the squad- or platoon-level keep the Capetians on the back foot, and ensuring that the paras retained the initiative until armoured and mechanized troops could link up with them by H-Hour +72.  
On Dropzone Alpha, Novasar airfield proved to be extremely difficult to capture, resulting in the Battle of Novasar Airfield. On Dropzone Bravo, the 4th Parachute Battalion fought determined to capture the key strategic bluffs overlooking the three bridges crossing the River Merve. Hill 334 was one of the bloodiest actions, with K Company of the 4th Parachute Battalion losing almost all of its officers and half of its NCOs by H-Hour +48. On Dropzone Charlie, skirmishes with the initial probes and counter-attacks of the Capetian Armed Forces were rebuffed and local raids organized, these small-unit actions, often at the squad- or platoon-level keep the Capetians on the back foot, and ensuring that the paras retained the initiative until armoured and mechanized troops could link up with them by H-Hour +72.  
=== Dropzone-specific Actions ===
=== Dropzone-specific Actions ===
==== Drop Zone Alpha (Red) ====
==== Drop Zone Alpha (Red) ====
Fighting at DZ Alpha would be extremely fierce, especially the action at Novasar Airfield, where elements of not only the Divisional Headquarters, but General Eddis' staff themselves were engaged directly by Capetian forces as they attempted to secure the strategic airhead for the invasion. After the bloody but ultimately successful action at Novasar airfield, elements of the 1st and 2nd Parachute Battalions then fought their way to the coast, liberating the town of Terassipol, wherein maritime forces conducted a mostly-unopposed landing and the 2nd Infantry Division successfully began its South-Eastern drive to link up with elements of the 3rd, 4th and 5th Parachute Battalions at DZ Bravo.  
Fighting at DZ Alpha would be extremely fierce, especially the action at Novasar Airfield, where elements of not only the Divisional Headquarters, but General Eddis' staff themselves were engaged directly by Capetian forces as they attempted to secure the strategic airhead for the invasion. After the bloody but ultimately successful action at Novasar airfield, elements of the 1st and 2nd Parachute Battalions then fought their way to the coast, liberating the town of Terassipol, wherein maritime forces conducted a mostly-unopposed landing and the 2nd Infantry Division successfully began its South-Eastern drive to link up with elements of the 3rd, 4th and 5th Parachute Battalions at DZ Bravo.  
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At Dropzone Bravo, the 4th parachute Battalion quickly had to regroup and attack the Capetians, who by now had pulled almost a full infantry battalion onto the ridgelines and bluffs overlooking the River Merve. These high features could serve to assist in the coordination of artillery and air support against any Arco forces attempting to cross the rivers and push deeper inland, and as such the critical piece of terrain had to be captured early in the invasion. the 4th Parachute Battalion (Juliet, Kilo, Lima Companies) engaged in a multi-combat team attack in an attempt to seize, or at least fix, the enemy entrenched there. Despite the 1.5:1 numerical superiority held by the Cape, the ridgeline was hammered by Arco aerial strikes as well as 81mm and 120mm mortars almost constantly. The 3rd Airborne Field Battery in its After-Action Report (AAR) reported that it had used almost 50% of its first-wave dropped ammunition stores on defensive positions on or supporting Hill 334 in the first 24 hours of fighting.  
At Dropzone Bravo, the 4th parachute Battalion quickly had to regroup and attack the Capetians, who by now had pulled almost a full infantry battalion onto the ridgelines and bluffs overlooking the River Merve. These high features could serve to assist in the coordination of artillery and air support against any Arco forces attempting to cross the rivers and push deeper inland, and as such the critical piece of terrain had to be captured early in the invasion. the 4th Parachute Battalion (Juliet, Kilo, Lima Companies) engaged in a multi-combat team attack in an attempt to seize, or at least fix, the enemy entrenched there. Despite the 1.5:1 numerical superiority held by the Cape, the ridgeline was hammered by Arco aerial strikes as well as 81mm and 120mm mortars almost constantly. The 3rd Airborne Field Battery in its After-Action Report (AAR) reported that it had used almost 50% of its first-wave dropped ammunition stores on defensive positions on or supporting Hill 334 in the first 24 hours of fighting.  


By the end of the second day (H-Hour +48), the 4th Parachute Battalion held the majority of key terrain on Hill 334 and the Capetian forces ontop had either been destroyed or captured. As noted afterwards by the Commanding Officer of 4 Para, LCol Jeff Berskley, "The Capetians on [Hill] 334 fought with a tenacity that even we [4 Para] had to respect. It wasn't until afterwards we had learned they were Reservists that had only been called up for their annual service less than a week before. Despite the lives lost on both sides, even those who made it back left part of themselves in those hills." Nominal muster rolls on H-Hour +72 showed that Juliet, Kilo, and Lima companies had each fought to almost 50% strength, and amongst them Kilo Company specifically was on paper only at a total strength of 125 of 287 men, 44% total strength, of which the Officer Commanding (OC), was a junior Lieutenant, and three of its four platoons were under the command of NCOs, with only the weapons platoon still having an officer that had not been killed or wounded. After the battle, the Company-Sergeant Major, WO1 Jeff Shill wrote in his memoir, "I saw men shot, men blown up until their guts spilled out like a dog under a car, and men bleed to death screaming for their mothers and fathers in a home they would never see again. But time again, the Sergeants and Warrants would stalk up and down the company lines, standing proud in a withering hail of [Capetian] machine-gun fire, bringing us spirit. I remember sitting in a shell crater with LCpl Cochrane, and he produced a flask of gin. He held it to his lips, taking a sip. We had surrendered our water to the Company's Aid Station to give some comfort to the wounded men. He leaned over, the whistling of mortar rounds howling overhead in the twilight of another day fighting. I took it with thanks, and that small sip gave me some courage that the day was not yet lost. He was killed less than an hour later, shot through the face by a Capetian machinegun. An only child of a Northlea farming family."
By the end of the second day (H-Hour +48), the 4th Parachute Battalion held the majority of key terrain on Hill 334 and the Capetian forces ontop had either been destroyed or captured. As noted afterwards by the Commanding Officer of 4 Para, LCol Jeff Berskley, "The Capetians on [Hill] 334 fought with a tenacity that even we [4 Para] had to respect. It wasn't until afterwards we had learned they were Reservists that had only been called up for their annual service less than a week before. Despite the lives lost on both sides, even those who made it back left part of themselves in those hills." Nominal muster rolls on H-Hour +72 showed that Juliet, Kilo, and Lima companies had each fought to almost 50% strength, and amongst them Kilo Company specifically was on paper only at a total strength of 125 of 287 men, 44% total strength, of which the Officer Commanding (OC), was a junior Lieutenant, and three of its four platoons were under the command of NCOs, with only the weapons platoon still having an officer that had not been killed or wounded. After the battle, the Company-Sergeant Major, WO1 Jeff Shill wrote in his memoir, "I saw men shot, men blown up until their guts spilled out like a dog under a car, and men bleed to death screaming for their mothers and fathers in a home they would never see again. But time again, the Sergeants and Warrants would stalk up and down the company lines, standing proud in a withering hail of [Capetian] machine-gun fire, bringing us spirit. I remember sitting in a shell crater with LCpl Cochrane, and he produced a flask of gin. He held it to his lips, taking a sip. We had surrendered our water to the Company's Aid Station to give some comfort to the wounded men. He leaned over, the whistling of mortar rounds howling overhead in the twilight of another day fighting. I took it with thanks, and that small sip gave me some courage that the day was not yet lost. He was killed less than an hour later, shot through the face by a Capetian machinegun. An only child of a Northlea farming family."


Eddis, learning of the horrific fighting himself later concluded that he should have assigned more indirect fire assets for DZ Bravo, and in his own memoirs after the war wrote that the actions on Hill 334 were still some of his greatest regrets.  
Eddis, learning of the horrific fighting himself later concluded that he should have assigned more indirect fire assets for DZ Bravo, and in his own memoirs after the war wrote that the actions on Hill 334 were still some of his greatest regrets.  
=== Novasar Airfield ===
=== Novasar Airfield ===
[[File:Novasar v3.jpg|thumb|Initial dispositions of Arcer and Cape forces at H-Hour +1 before the assault on Novasar Airfield. ]]
The fighting at Novasar airfield was particularly fierce. Entrenched there a garrison comprised of units of the Cape's Republican Highlanders (2nd Battalion) unit and 4th Armoured Cavalry held out against Arcer forces that had assembled at DZ Alpha, and had begun their assault before the twilight hours. Despite having no modern night-fighting equipment, the use of artillery-based illumination and handheld pen/rocket flares provided enough light when required for Arco forces to maneuver onto the airfield itself. Initial intelligence estimates for the Novasar garrison was 2 understrength reserve companies of soldiers, who were put there to guard the partially-completed airfield and provide local security. In the day before ''Lightfoot'' was to commence, however, the Cape unknowingly moved 2 battalion-strength units to Novasar, drastically increasing the amount of resistance faced by Arco paratroopers.  
The fighting at Novasar airfield was particularly fierce. Entrenched there a garrison comprised of units of the Cape's Republican Highlanders (2nd Battalion) unit and 4th Armoured Cavalry held out against Arcer forces that had assembled at DZ Alpha, and had begun their assault before the twilight hours. Despite having no modern night-fighting equipment, the use of artillery-based illumination and handheld pen/rocket flares provided enough light when required for Arco forces to maneuver onto the airfield itself. Initial intelligence estimates for the Novasar garrison was 2 understrength reserve companies of soldiers, who were put there to guard the partially-completed airfield and provide local security. In the day before ''Lightfoot'' was to commence, however, the Cape unknowingly moved 2 battalion-strength units to Novasar, drastically increasing the amount of resistance faced by Arco paratroopers.  


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