Second Battle of Seleucia

Second Battle of Seleucia
Part of the Middle East Campaign
The Temple of Athena as it stands, 2016
Date 28 December 1941 – 22 January 1942 Location Seleucia and Nasirilah, Iraqia, Middle East Result Decisive Allied Victory Quenminese Forces begin their eastward retreat
Belligerents
United Kingdom Nihhon-koku Gallia-Bruhl Zanarkand New Akiba Basel-Ebel Erebonian Empire Rubrum Free Bethausia Logistical & Indirect support: Dalmasca and Nabradia Esthar and Balamb Holy Galbadian Empire	Empire of Quenmin Trungdong Archadia-Archedes Rumania Midgar Federation
Commanders and leaders
Archibald Sugiyama Tsukuyo Kushineda Alan MacDonald Friedrich O'Connelly Blaine Sanderson Kotamarou Furakawa Leslie Oliver Morshead James Tozawa Kurt Frediericks Brian Regnitz Magnus Craig Frederick Vander Elliot Testarossa Owen Ouellet Peter Ardur Rashia Zaw Sein Arkar Naing Thuta Maung Yarzar Htun Tun Yaza Sein Khine	Thạch Hung Sõn Chiến Kiều Dũng Quang Taajuddeen el-Nawaz Musaaid al-Hannan Ashraf al-Shahidi Victor Sazabio Giovanni Filiberto Guiseppe Gavallero Enrico Ancelotti Vincenzo Casa Alberto Ricci Henri Darlan Giorgio Ansale
Units involved
78,980 troops 350 tanks 70 guns 450 vehicles	100,540 troops 600 tanks 120 guns 550 vehicles

The Second Battle of Seleucia was a major battle during the Middle East Campaign. Revolving around the ruins and town of Seleucia and the nearby northern town of Nasirilah, the Commonwealth forces were determined to evict the Quenminese out of the Middle East after their victories during Operation Anicetus. The battle ended in a decisive Commonwealth victory after twelve days of heavy fighting.

The result of the battle proved to be a significant event that convinced the Quenminese commanders to commence a retreat eastward onto Afghania. Furthermore, the battle itself abolished Quenminese dominance over the Middle East once and for all.

Course of the Battle

Breakthrough towards the Ruins of Seleucia Superior: 1 January 1942

• Allied troops managed to breakthrough the Quenminese defense lines and push them back towards one part of the ruins: Seleucia Superior.

Battle of Nasirilah: 2-17 January

Yarzar and Testarossa held out here.

Siege of the Acropolis: 10-17 January

What came along subsequently was the siege of Seleucia's acropolis which contained the ruins of the Palace of the Basileus and the Temples of Athena, Zeus, and the Seleucids. This part of the ruins contained the official headquarters of Marshal Chiến.

A spearhead charge lead by troops from Alan MacDonald and Naing Thuta Maung broke through the Quenminese defense lines via the Hodos Basileudon. At that point, the Quenminese had no choice but to retreat from the acropolis and towards the eastern edge of the ruins and at the end of the bridge running along the Hodos Athena.

Flanking Manuever from Nasirilah by General Yarzar: 17 January

At Arkar's request, Yarzar moved forward from the north.

This maneuver significantly bogged down hopes for the Quenminese-Archadian defense line to hold longer and any attempts to launch a counter-offensive into the Allied lines.

Push Toward the Tigris: 18 January

Centurion tanks crossing the Tigris River during the battle.

• Fought along the Hodos Athena and the Tigris River.

Amphibious landing using crafted rowboats and the leftovers of the Rubrumian landing crafts to push the Quenminese and Archadians back to their last bastion: Seleucia Inferior. The crossing sectors were equally divided among the participating forces. They were given code names, namely Tom, Dick, and Harry in order to prevent the enemy from expecting enemy attacks.

Harry Sector

The Commonwealth forces crossed about the same time as the Bethausian forces crossed. The attack was spearheaded by the Lucis Army's new tank, the Centurion tank. They arrived just 5 days before the river crossing and were needed by Sugiyama to replace some tanks lost during the previous days of the battle. During the crossing, 2 Centurions were damaged but were repaired afterwards and was able to cross the river without a single loss of life. On the other side, the Quenminese forces were shocked to first see the Centurion in a tank-on-tank combat. Anti-tank units were dispatched but were not able to destroy the Centurions, prompting Commonwealth infantry to continue advancing and covering the tanks.

Battle of Seleucia Inferior: 20-22 January

• There is a battle at the Southern public baths.
• There is a battle at the Temple of Apollo
• There is a battle at the Southern Amphitheater
  • Heavy tanks sent by Chien, but were destroyed
• There is a fight in the Mausoleum of the Seleucids
  • Arkar sends a combined force of Karens and Tarhaajas in to occupy the ammunition dump.