View source for Attack on Iles du Surèté

{{Infobox military conflict
|conflict=Attack on Iles du Surèté
|partof=[[World War II (Sunalaya)|World War II]]
|image=File:Japanese aircraft carrier shokaku 1941.jpg
|image_size=325px
|caption=Photograph of the Taoist aircraft carrier [[Aircraft carrier Sōkita|Sōkita]] about a day before the attack.
|date={{start date|1941|11|9}}
|place=[[Tostall Base]], [[The Iles du Surèté|Iles du Surèté]], [[Rhodevus]].
|result= Major Taoist tactical & strategic victory
|combatant1={{flagicon|Rhodevus}} [[Rhodeve Commonwealth|Rhodeve Protectorate Program]]
|combatant2={{flag|Empire of the Tao}}
|commander1={{flagdeco|Rhodevus}} Linton Ruben<br>{{flagdeco|Rhodevus}} Wilt Lindon<br>{{flagdeco|Rhodevus}} Alan Dakota
|commander2={{flagicon|Taoist Empire|naval}} [[Rokurō Yuudai]]<br>{{flagicon|Taoist Empire|naval}} Hikari Gorō<br>{{flagicon|Taoist Empire|naval}} Atsushi Shou<br>{{flagicon|Taoist Empire|naval}} Shingo Tomomi
|strength1=≈5,000 infantry<br />3 battleships<br />14 cruisers<br />29 destroyers<br />5 submarines<br />18 patrol boats<br />25 other ships<br />≈260 aircraft
|strength2=≈3,000 marines<br />7 aircraft carriers<br />2 battleships<br />2 battlecruisers<br />10 destroyers<br />≈35 submarines<br />≈440 aircraft
|casualties1=2 battleships sunk<br />1 battleship captured<br />4 cruisers sunk<br />3 cruisers captured<br />5 cruisers damaged<br />1 destroyers sunk<br />5 destroyers damaged<br />12 patrol boats sunk<br />≈200 aircraft destroyed<br />remaining aircraft captured<br />2,687 killed<br />1,873 wounded<br />≈ 5,100 infantry and seamen captured
|casualties2=3 submarines sunk<br />42 aircraft destroyed<br />109 aircraft damaged<br />908 killed<br />2,981 wounded
|}}

==Background==
Tensions between the [[Rhodevus|Kingdoms of Rhodevus]] and the [[Empire of Tao]] since the late 1930s had resulted in trade and oil embargoes by the Rhodeve onto the Empire as well as all Taoist controlled regions. Nine months prior to the attack, Taoist intelligence had been utilizing all of it's best intelligence tools to analyze and understand the defenses at Tostall Base in the Iles du Surèté. Due to the remote nature of the base, and Rhodeve resources being put to other areas, a proper ground-based radar system had not been established at Tostall. This lack of a proper radar configuration meant that the entire base utilized older and smaller ship-based systems, along with frequent patrol boat screenings. Taoist Admiral Yuudai, armed with this information planned to take full advantage of it.

At the same time, the Myann Airforce Base, located on Myann island was undergoing renovations to improve upon the islands' communication and information systems, including the installation of RADAR and SONAR systems. There had been initial push back to the idea by Airforce Commander Alan Dakota, who believed in prioritizing a single unified base and command structure in the territory  over multiple bases scattered around the islands; a plan favoured by Strategy General [[John Binkman]].

==Initial Incursion==
By 9:48am on the day of the attack, Taoist submarines sank multiple patrol boats in the area to reduce likelihood of being spotted and having their locations given to the islands' bases. Protectorate call stations reported in, stating that delays or lack of communications were most likely due to the aging patrol boat fleet, rather than any foreign intervention.

==The Battle==
The battle started with the bombing of Protectorate aircraft hangars, harboured destroyers and cruisers at 10:10. Shelling of anti-aircraft positions began shortly after. Within minutes of arrival to the island, the elite Taoist Red Squadron under the command of ace pilot Sōta Takumi bombed the battleships ''HMV  Sul'' and ''HMV Arei'', causing damage to them both and their surrounding flotilla of cruisers and destroyers. The ''HMV Tuldu'' was struck with three torpedos, the third of which hit and ignited the boiler room, igniting the ship. Within five minutes, it had begun to sink. The ''HMV Sul'' would come under fire once more, leading to its Turret 1 exploding and Turret 2 misfiring a shot directly into a nearby destroyer, the ''HMV Hornet''.

==Forces Involved==
===Taoist Forces===
====aircraft carriers====
Yamanai, Okoyama, Soukita, Kikonai, Yahasato, Sukura, Shōgan
====Battleships====
Sōsato, Tōnobe
====Battlecruisers====
Momiji, Nara