Cronan Theatre of the Second Great War: Difference between revisions

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== Prelude to War ==

=== Caphirian Affair ===

Urcean intelligence services however had both intercepted telegrams and letters from the Capetian delegation after their arrival in Venceia, but they had also been able to spy on the Capetians during their brief stop in Pelaxia, learning of these plans, transmitting them back to [[Urceopolis (City)|Urceopolis]]. Significantly concerned that this would not only widen the scope of the war, but also severely impact the Western Odoneru, the Urcean Consul in Arcerion provided an intelligence docket to the Arcer Prime Minister, informing him of both Caphirian and Capetian schemes to destabilize Crona. Fresh from their loss in the Ardmori Civil War, the [[Government of Arcerion|Confederate Parliament]] was hesitant to get involved in what was quickly becoming a world war of industrial scale, and quietly sent the Foreign Secretary to Cape Town to personally deliver a letter of protest over the matter, informing the Cape that any actions that were taken in this manner would be considered a direct threat to the economic sovereignty of Arcerion.  

[[File:Arco ports.jpg|thumb|Ships docked at the quay in Chester-on-Moore, [[Moorden Governorate]], [[Arcerion]] in the 1920s load steel and other metal products to be shipped to [[Levantia]]. ]]

On 14 November 1935, a Caphirian submarine that was based out of the newly constructed submarine pens in the Eastern Capetian Peninsula sighted what it assessed as a cargo freighter bound Eastward for Levantia. Based on radio communications that Caphiria had intercepted from the vessel, it was able to ascertain it was indeed an Arcer-flagged vessel, although it was confirmed to be carrying both steel products such as road wheels for tanks, as well as some chemical compounds required to manufacture ammunition. It torpedoed the vessel, the ''SS Finch'', which was lost with all hands and sunk quickly due to its explosive and heavy cargo. Arcerion did not learn of its sinking until two weeks later when the company lodged a formal protest after sailors from a Burgoignesc vessel chartered out of Equatorial Ostiecia found flotsam belonging to the ''Finch''. Enraged, the Arcer government summoned the Caphirian Consul in the New Archduchy to answer for the ship's sinking and the loss of two dozen crew. The Arcer government acknowledged it was carrying weapons and other materiel required for the Levantian war effort, but it reminded Caphiria that Arcerion was both neutral and the ship was privately owned and operated. Embattled, the Caphirian Consul conedd it was unfortunate but that the vessel was a legitimate military target. Arceiron expelled the Consul via rail, however his expulsion was leaked in the Kinnaird Financial Times, and he required escort from members of the [[Royal Arcerion Constabulary]] to avoid being assailed on his exit. The Arcer government also sent telegrams and diplomatic letters to the Capetian government, who were now emboldened with several divisions and a fledgling armed forces, which rebuked the claims as 'Capitalist Slander,' insisting Arcerion had made itself a combatant by supporting Urcea and its allies.  

Arcerion, believing that Caphiria was biding its time until it could finally close off the Songun Straits and use The Cape as its Cronan base of operations, sent a telegram to the Urcean Defense Attache in the New Archduchy, requesting a diplomatic presence in Arcerion with requisite defense officials to begin secret plans for "joint defense of economic and sovereign interests."  

== Early War (1935-1938) ==

=== Outbreak of War ===

==== Arcer Response ====

One of the most critical components to the early Arcer war effort was preparing the nation economically for what lay ahead. Thankfully, a strong national railway system, combined with the New Archduchy being part of Urcea's sphere of influence meant that Arcers would not go hungry and materiel to support their Levantine allies could continue to flow. On the homefront, Arcer industry began retooling for the war effort. manufacturers of circuitry and electronics began to manufacture radios and other important electronics for the war effort whilst larger shipyards and automotive manufacturers built new vessels and armaments for the sea and land forces. The benefit of a strong domestic aircraft industry also assisted Arcerion as they were able to rely on this to generate much of their early war airlift and transport capabilities to supplement their land forces. Where Arcerion truly lacked was heavy and strategic bombers, as most of their forces were oriented to support the infantry and armoured troops with close air support or fight screens. Development of a native heavy bomber was slow progress, and Urcean blueprints and designs were licensed with their Levantine counterparts sending officials to Arcerion to help redesign factories to accommodate the new needs of their ally.  

=== The Ænglic Alliance ===

''Main Article: [[Alstin in the Second Great War]]''

''Main article: [[Operation Lightfoot]]''

As the initial invasion slowly ground to a halt due to harsh weather conditions in the late fall and winter months. Bitter fighting in the central highlands of the Cape, as well as significant urban combat in the city of XYZ characterized much of the late phases of Operation Lightfoot. The Cape by now had burned through much of their Caphirian-trained soldiers, which had been consistently thrown as shock troops to absorb Arcer offensives and blunt their advances, at great losses. Where they were unavailable, regular Arco formations had made gains and slowly enveloped these Capetian units, forcing their withdrawal to prevent being surrounded and cutoff from support and destroyed. Irregular, conscript, or poorly trained Capetian forces would melt away with successive actions by the Arcerion Parachute Regiment, which despite egregious losses early in the campaign, had received some reinforcement and was forcibly keeping Caphirian and Capetian troops on the back foot as they pushed towards Cape Town. the Confederate Parliament again submitted a memorandum to the [[Arcer General Staff]] on Christmas Eve, 1936 calling for the campaign plan for 1937, as soldiers in the Cape settled in for a lull in the fighting.