Tridentum Campaign: Difference between revisions
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==Naval campaign== | ==Naval campaign== | ||
{{Main|Naval operations in the Tridentum Campaign}} | {{Main|Naval operations in the Tridentum Campaign}} | ||
[[File:Dardanelles fleet-2.jpg|thumb|400px|Panoramic view of the Allied fleet in the bay]] | |||
On 18 March 1922, the Allied fleet, comprising 18 battleships with an array of cruisers and destroyers began the main attack against Triius Bay. Despite some damage to the Allied ships engaging the forts by Exponent return fire, minesweepers were ordered along the straits. In the Exponent official account, by 2:00 p.m. "all telephone wires were cut, all communications with the forts were interrupted, some of the guns had been knocked out ... in consequence the artillery fire of the defence had slackened considerably". The Aquitaynian battleship ''Diane'' struck a mine, causing her to capsize in two minutes, with just 75 survivors out of a total crew of 718. Minesweepers, manned by civilians, retreated under Exponent artillery fire, leaving the minefields largely intact. HMAS ''Irresistible'' and HMAS ''Inflexible'' struck mines and ''Irresistible'' was sunk, with most of her surviving crew rescued; ''Inflexible'' was badly damaged and withdrawn. There was confusion during the battle about the cause of the damage; some participants blamed torpedoes. HMAS ''Ocean'' was sent to rescue ''Irresistible'', struck a mine, and was abandoned, eventually to sink. | On 18 March 1922, the Allied fleet, comprising 18 battleships with an array of cruisers and destroyers began the main attack against Triius Bay. Despite some damage to the Allied ships engaging the forts by Exponent return fire, minesweepers were ordered along the straits. In the Exponent official account, by 2:00 p.m. "all telephone wires were cut, all communications with the forts were interrupted, some of the guns had been knocked out ... in consequence the artillery fire of the defence had slackened considerably". The Aquitaynian battleship ''Diane'' struck a mine, causing her to capsize in two minutes, with just 75 survivors out of a total crew of 718. Minesweepers, manned by civilians, retreated under Exponent artillery fire, leaving the minefields largely intact. HMAS ''Irresistible'' and HMAS ''Inflexible'' struck mines and ''Irresistible'' was sunk, with most of her surviving crew rescued; ''Inflexible'' was badly damaged and withdrawn. There was confusion during the battle about the cause of the damage; some participants blamed torpedoes. HMAS ''Ocean'' was sent to rescue ''Irresistible'', struck a mine, and was abandoned, eventually to sink. | ||
The Aquitaynian battleships ''Archer'' and ''Bowman'' sailed through a new line of mines placed secretly by the Exponent minelayer ''Gladius'' ten days before and were also damaged. The losses forced Dundas to sound the "general recall" to protect what remained of his force. During the planning of the campaign, naval losses had been anticipated and mainly obsolete battleships, unfit to face the western powers, had been sent. Some of the senior naval officers like the commander of Queen Elizabeth, Commodore Roger Keyes, felt that they had come close to victory, believing that the Exponent guns had almost run out of ammunition but the views of Dundas, the First Sea Lord James Richard and others prevailed. Allied attempts to force bay using naval power were terminated, due to the losses and bad weather. Planning to capture the Exponent defences by land, to open the way for the ships began. | The Aquitaynian battleships ''Archer'' and ''Bowman'' sailed through a new line of mines placed secretly by the Exponent minelayer ''Gladius'' ten days before and were also damaged. The losses forced Dundas to sound the "general recall" to protect what remained of his force. During the planning of the campaign, naval losses had been anticipated and mainly obsolete battleships, unfit to face the western powers, had been sent. Some of the senior naval officers like the commander of Queen Elizabeth, Commodore Roger Keyes, felt that they had come close to victory, believing that the Exponent guns had almost run out of ammunition but the views of Dundas, the First Sea Lord James Richard and others prevailed. Allied attempts to force bay using naval power were terminated, due to the losses and bad weather. Planning to capture the Exponent defences by land, to open the way for the ships began. | ||
==Preparations for invasion== | ==Preparations for invasion== | ||
Revision as of 09:44, 19 April 2019
The Tridentum Campaign, was a campaign of the Great Astyian War that took place on the Tridenta peninsula in modern day Bungussi. Aquitayne sought to weaken the Empire of Exponent by opening a second front in the country's northern territories. The invaders launched a naval attack followed by an amphibious landing on the peninsula, to capture the Exponent city of Tilurium. The naval attack was repelled and after a year's fighting, with many casualties on both sides, the land campaign was abandoned and the invasion force was withdrawn. It was a costly and humiliating defeat Aswick and Aquitayne.
The campaign was a major Exponent victory in the war. In BC, it is regarded as a defining moment in the history of the state, a final surge in the defence of the motherland as the Empire of Exponent retreated. The struggle formed the basis for the rebellions that spelled the end of the Empire of Exponent in the nineties. The campaign is often considered to be the final push needed for Aswickan independence; 25 April, the anniversary of the landings, is known as "Trident Day", the most significant commemoration of military casualties and veterans in the two countries, surpassing Remembrance Day (Armistice Day).
Background
In late 1921, Aquitaynian forces invaded the Empire of Exponent, but got bogged down into a stalemate quite quickly. Unable to advance, Aquitayne needed to open a second front to draw troops away from themselves.
Allied strategy
On 18 March 1922, the Allied fleet, comprising 18 battleships with an array of cruisers and destroyers began the main attack against Triius Bay. Despite some damage to the Allied ships engaging the forts by Exponent return fire, minesweepers were ordered along the straits. In the Exponent official account, by 2:00 p.m. "all telephone wires were cut, all communications with the forts were interrupted, some of the guns had been knocked out ... in consequence the artillery fire of the defence had slackened considerably". The Aquitaynian battleship Diane struck a mine, causing her to capsize in two minutes, with just 75 survivors out of a total crew of 718. Minesweepers, manned by civilians, retreated under Exponent artillery fire, leaving the minefields largely intact. HMAS Irresistible and HMAS Inflexible struck mines and Irresistible was sunk, with most of her surviving crew rescued; Inflexible was badly damaged and withdrawn. There was confusion during the battle about the cause of the damage; some participants blamed torpedoes. HMAS Ocean was sent to rescue Irresistible, struck a mine, and was abandoned, eventually to sink.
The Aquitaynian battleships Archer and Bowman sailed through a new line of mines placed secretly by the Exponent minelayer Gladius ten days before and were also damaged. The losses forced Dundas to sound the "general recall" to protect what remained of his force. During the planning of the campaign, naval losses had been anticipated and mainly obsolete battleships, unfit to face the western powers, had been sent. Some of the senior naval officers like the commander of Queen Elizabeth, Commodore Roger Keyes, felt that they had come close to victory, believing that the Exponent guns had almost run out of ammunition but the views of Dundas, the First Sea Lord James Richard and others prevailed. Allied attempts to force bay using naval power were terminated, due to the losses and bad weather. Planning to capture the Exponent defences by land, to open the way for the ships began.