Third Axiom War

The Third Axiom War was a ten month-long conflict from May to August 1984 between the Federation of South Axiom and the People's Republic of Axiom. It was the last full-scale conflict to occur between major powers, and the second conflict in world history where nuclear weapons were used in anger.

The war began with a surprise offensive against the South Axiomian border provinces of Wralod, Istalar, North Skale, Sovyl and Balagur by the People's Army of Axiom. South Axiom ordered a general mobilization of all available reserves, and an emergency meeting of NATO leaders and commanders invoked Article 5 of the NATO treaty against the People's Republic of Axiom. Despite mainly being a conflict between South Axiom and the PRX, the Third Axiom war also saw extensive direct and indirect support for both countries from NATO and Warsaw Pact nations.

After months of heavy conventional warfare, including the Fall of Kesra, the Battle of Solkar Ridge, the Liberation of Ralis and the Fondor Landings, the PRX forces were pushed back to Lazar, Draxis, South Marat and Qaldur. The air, naval and technological superiority enjoyed by South Axiom and its NATO allies proved vital in turning the tide. The Battle of Kasgar Plains in August 1984 resulted in the encirclement and destruction of an entire PRX armored corps, and was the final large battle of the war, However, the PRX resorted to tactical nuclear weapons to stop the advancing RXA and RXMC divisions, leading to a limited South Axiomian nuclear strike against PRX military installations.

The Third Axiom War would become one of the largest conflicts in history, with over 2.6 million NATO and 4.9 million Warsaw Pact troops participating in the conflict. 275,000 NATO personnel were killed or missing in action over the three-month conflict, along with 605,000 Warsaw Pact personnel. Over a million civilians also died during the war. The use of conventional, chemical and nuclear weapons devastated significant portions of the Axiom subcontinent and pushed the PRX into a three-year civil war. By the time the Federal Republic of North Axiom reasserted control over former PRX territories in July 1987, 480,000 more soldiers and civilians had died due to civil war.

Third Axiom War
Part of Cold War
Advancing South Axiom TX-1 Sabre-cat Tank near Ralis, Istalar
Date May 17, 1984 to August 29, 1984 Location Axiom subcontinent, North Atlantic Result Decisive South Axiom (NATO) Victory
Belligerents
South Axiom Multi-national Force United States United Kingdom Canada Australia South Korea Turkey France New Zealand Greece Belgium Netherlands Philippines Support West Germany Japan Italy Denmark Israel Norway Sweden Taiwan Spain Luxembourg Mexico	People's Republic of Axiom Soviet Union Other Warsaw Pact
Strength
South Axiom 970,000 active troops 1,090,000 reserve troops 3,900 tanks 7,200 armored carriers 2,900 artillery units 1,900 combat aircraft 260 warships Multi-national Force United States 485,000 troops 1,400 tanks 2,500 armored carriers 1,000 artillery units 1,400 combat aircraft 190 warships United Kingdom 20,500 troops 100 tanks 200 armored carriers 60 artillery units 150 combat aircraft 50 warships Canada 9,500 troops 50 tanks 90 armored carriers 30 artillery units 50 combat aircraft 10 warships	People's Republic of Axiom 1,810,000 active troops 3,040,000 reserve troops 7,300 tanks 10,600 armored carriers 4,200 artillery units 2,500 combat aircraft 320 warships Warsaw Pact Soviet Union 52,000 troops 800 combat aircraft 50 warships Other Warsaw Pact 23,000 troops 300 combat aircraft
Casualties and losses
South Axiom 218,597 KIA/MIA 539,365 civilian dead 919,453 wounded 13,504 POW Multi-national Force United States 49,387 KIA/MIA 129,605 wounded 3,407 POW United Kingdom 1,976 KIA/MIA 5,628 wounded 218 POW Canada 749 KIA/MIA 1,852 wounded 40 POW	People's Republic of Axiom 603,982 KIA/MIA 474,453 civilian dead 1,232,064 wounded 203,165 POW Warsaw Pact Soviet Union 1,405 KIA/MIA 3,186 wounded 213 POW Other Warsaw Pact 563 KIA/MIA 1,046 wounded 95 POW

Lead up to War

Since the Second Axiom War thirty years earlier, relations between the Federation of South Axiom and the People's Republic of Axiom had always remained hostile. This was exacerbated by the PRX's development of nuclear weapons in 1970, and the wider Cold War in Europe and the world. Border incidents, military exercises and airspace incursions were common during the 1960s and 1970s. Even during the detente era of the 1970s, the Axiom subcontinent still maintained heightened military readiness. Throughout these three decades an arms race between the two powers had led to the deployment of countless new weapons systems, from tanks and artillery to aircraft and warships.

The start of the 1980s saw the end of detente between the United States and the Soviet Union. The elections of conservatives such as Reagan in the US and Thatcher in the UK signaled a return to the East-West rivalry. The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and the Intermediate Nuclear Forces issue were just two of a growing list of clashes between the capitalist and communist camps. The Able Archer crisis, the shooting down of KAL 007 and the Soviet nuclear false alarm of 1983 all placed the two sides dangerously close to conflict.

The People's Republic of Axiom had concerns that its numerical superiority in air and land forces was being steadily neutralized by the technological, economic and naval edge of the Federation of South Axiom. In particular the road-mobile, 1,840 km range MXM-3 Viking MRBM, deployed in 1982, had the potential to carry out a highly accurate first strike on PRX nuclear and strategic assets.

From February 1984 the PRX Security Bureau (the XSB) started to closely monitor South Axiom forces and government agencies, looking for signs of an impending attack. In early May 1984, South Axiom conducted a civil evacuation drill, closely followed by a military readiness drill. The increased activity on official South Axiom channels and around military bases convinced the PRX leadership that a strike was imminent, and more than 1.7 million PRX troops were secretly readied for a preemptive assault.

MXM-3 Viking TELs in November 1983

The PRX Invasion

At 4:30 AM on May 17, 1984, the PRX Air Force launched a massive conventional air and missile strike on South Axiomian air bases. Meanwhile more than 20,000 paratroopers and special forces troops landed behind RXA lines, aiming to capture important transport links and military positions. They opened up paths for the main armored and mechanized divisions, with heavy concentrations of firepower driving back the RXA forces.

At sea, PRX nuclear and conventional attack submarines attacked RXN ships, sinking a destroyer, two frigates, several corvettes and numerous civilian cargo ships. PRX Naval Aviation bombers attacked the RXMS Golas carrier battle group with supersonic anti-ship missiles, damaging two escorts and the Golas. However, RXN air defenses and carrier air patrols managed to shoot down 8 out of the 14 attacking bombers. The PRX submarine forces also lost two diesel submarines against RXN ASW screens.

In the air and land battles, PRX divisions and air wings used the element of surprise to encircle RXA troops and destroy dozens of aircraft on the ground. In two weeks PRX armored spearheads penetrated up to 200 km into South Axiomian territory, but many RXA units and civilians manage to escape to friendly lines.

South Axiom and NATO Response

On the evening of May 17, the South Axiomian Parliament met in a hardened bunker at RXAF Jurat to formally declare war on the People's Republic of Axiom. Most members were meeting via secure military communication links as they had been dispersed to various facilities nationwide. Prime minister William Taylor then addressed the nation, followed by His Majesty Richard III the next day.

During the confusion of the early battles, South Axiomian forces retreated and regrouped while trying to evacuate civilians from front-line areas. The reserve forces were mobilized and civil defense plans were implemented. The South Axiomian Ministry of Defense considered using tactical nuclear weapons to stop the advance but decided to wait for signs of a PRX WMD strike.

The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation quickly responded to the invasion, with Article 5 being invoked on May 20. A coalition of Western nations led by the United States and United Kingdom pledged military and non-military assistance to the Royal Axiomian Armed Forces. Given the proximity of the Axiom subcontinent to NATO's Western European and North Atlantic flank, NATO commanders were worried that the war could spread and escalate into a general conflict with the Warsaw Pact across much of Europe. Thus, the deployment of the Multi-national Force to South Axiom was accompanied by diplomatic efforts to keep Soviet involvement to a minimum.

The Soviet Politburo and military commanders had also been surprised by the invasion. While they had received some advance notice of the plans, this had not been enough to properly coordinate a response to the rapidly widening conflict. In official statements the Soviet government announced aid and assistance to its allies in Kralas, but also sought to delay the West through diplomacy until Warsaw Pact military forces could be properly deployed and readied.

The rapid PRX advance meant that substantial parts of Istalar, North Skale, Sovyl and Balagur were in PRX hands by the end of May. Despite heavy fighting in and around Kesra, most of the RXA I Corps had to retreat from the city. However, the 3rd Infantry Division and several reserve brigades were encircled by the PRX 19th and 24th Armies by May 29th. The 20,000 troops in the Kesra pocket fought bravely for almost three weeks, but the remaining 8,000 were forced to surrender on June 17th. The Battle of Kesra delayed the PRX advance in the central sector, and bought the RXA Second Army critical time to stabilize the front.

Inital NATO ground deployments to South Axiomian territory included three US Army Divisions and a marine expeditionary brigade along with two Commonwealth brigades from the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. More forces would pour in over the next three months, from both NATO and non-NATO allies. However, the US and Commonwealth provided the most assistance because most NATO ground forces were deployed in Germany to counter a rapidly mobilizing Warsaw Pact. While initial NATO deployments were small in size, they helped man the line against PRX forces and replace recuperating RXA formations.

Stalemate

As the PRX offensive continued, it ran into severe supply issues. The front was now hundreds of kilometers away from PRX supply areas, and logistical columns were often attacked by NATO aircraft or South Axiomian stay-behind irregular warfare units. Their repeated and failed offensives to capture Bryat and Vadyar showed how superior NATO technology and training could overcome PRX numerical superiority.

Newly deployed NATO tanks such as the TX-2 Lion, M-1 Abrams and Challenger 2 showed a clear superiority against the PRX T-62 and T-72 tanks, while the advanced F-15, F-16, F-24 and Tornado gradually regained control of South Axiomian airspace from PRXAF MiG-21, MiG-23 and MiG-25 fighters.

Nuclear Exchange

The Battle of Kasgar Plains had seen the elite PRX 5th Guards and 8th Tank Armies encircled and destroyed by the RXA 1st and 4th Armies and US VII Corps. This left the PRX defenses in front of Qalduril gravely weakened. In the west, the RXA 2nd Army had reached and encircled Baslan. With most elite Category A divisions destroyed or heavily degraded, the PRX high command had no good units to hold back the NATO onslaught. The RXMC and USMC had overrun most of Fondor, and both the air and seas were dominated by the superior NATO forces.

On August 21, the ballistic missile submarine Uztea was sunk by two RXN and USN nuclear attack submarines along with its escort. This loss of underwater nuclear capability was the event that pushed the PRX over the nuclear threshold. They restarted diplomatic peace efforts to distract Western governments while secretly preparing a nuclear first strike. The strike was planned for 2300 hours on August 22. It would begin with salvos of nuclear artillery shells and missiles on NATO troops and include counter-force strikes on various South Axiomian nuclear facilities.

The South Axiomian Intelligence Agency (SAIA) obtained PRX nuclear strike plans at 1800 hours on the 22nd through signals and human intelligence. Prime minister Taylor immediately ordered a nuclear strike, to cripple PRX tactical and strategic nuclear forces. NATO nuclear powers and other allies were informed through secure channels by 1930 hours, but only South Axiomian nuclear forces were deployed to avoid a Soviet counter-strike. The Soviet premier was also discreetly informed minutes before the attack.

The strategic strike began at 2000 hours, when two Strident-class ballistic missile submarines stealthily approached the PRX western and eastern coastlines and launched 24 UXM-8 Raptor missiles at airfields and naval bases. Two of the Raptors have been specially modified, and rise up into the air for high-altitude airbursts. The resulting electromagnetic pulse temporarily blinds PRX radar facilities. Around the same time 38 RXAF B-35 Broadsword bombers took off from their air bases to launch their cruise missiles at other strategic targets. Finally, MXM-3 Viking medium-range ballistic missiles were raised up on their road-mobile launchers and aimed at hardened PRX missile silos and command bunkers.

Tactical weapons were deployed at a similar time, with MGM-43 Saber and MGM-52 Lance missiles targeted at PRX SCUD and FROG launchers. Hundreds of RXAF (and some NATO) aircraft were deployed on 'SCUD sweeps' armed with low-yield B61 bombs. Remaining PRX infantry, mechanized and artillery forces were subjected to intense conventional attack, with nuclear weapons mostly reserved for enemy tactical nuclear weapons and hardened bunkers. At sea carrier aircraft, surface ships and submarines launched cruise missiles, anti-ship missiles and depth charges at PRX Navy ships and coastal targets. Throughout the nuclear assault, conventional forces also engaged in an all-out attack to divert attention and destroy enemy military assets.

The South Axiomian first strike caught the PRX almost completely by surprise. The EMP airbursts were devastating, with already-damaged communications and early warning programs paralyzed. Some units, acting on their own initiative, decided to launch every available bomber and missile they have before they were destroyed by the incoming nuclear attack. With PRX missile defenses highly degraded and failing to intercept most nuclear strikes, 66 submarine-launched warheads, 147 air-launched cruise missiles, 181 ground-launched medium-range warheads and 345 tactical warheads detonate over the People's Republic of Axiom. They destroy 53 strategic and medium bombers, 105 ground-based strategic missiles, several missile defense batteries and the main PRX Politburo bunker. Hundreds of tactical aircraft, ground vehicles and ships are also destroyed by the nuclear and conventional assault, with entire divisions rendered combat ineffective. However, in a deliberate targeting decision, no major civilian residential area or city is hit by South Axiomian nuclear weapons.

Despite being crippled by the South Axiomian first strike, and having lost their only ballistic missile submarine, the PRX forces still launch 34 medium-range missiles, 89 tactical missiles and the remaining 34 bombers. While most were aimed at nuclear delivery systems, NATO units and military bases, some targeted major cities in a desperate counter-value strike. AXM-6 Iron Bolt nuclear-tipped anti-ballistic missiles and Nike Hercules batteries, already on high alert, immediately engaged the missiles and shot all but 5 medium-range missiles down. Patriot PAC-1 batteries and Aegis-equipped warships engaged the tactical missiles and destroyed 67. The Tu-16 and Tu-22 bombers were all shot down by NATO fighters and SAM batteries, but 26 air-launched cruise missiles were still launched.

Terminal-phase SAM batteries and radar-guided auto-cannons engaged the remaining missiles, with three medium-range, 15 tactical and 19 cruise missiles intercepted before detonation. One medium-range missile (with a 500 kt warhead) detonated over RXAF Vandir (a B-35 base) near Coltis, while another was deflected off its original target of Balagur City by 5 km and detonated within Balor Bay. A tactical Kh-22 anti-ship missile detonated over a USN surface battle group, damaging the battleship USS New Jersey and sinking a Perry-class frigate. Another, aimed at the Golas-class carrier HXMS Cape Matapan, manages to sink a Resolution-class destroyer and severely damage (but not sink) the Cape Matapan. 11 tactical nuclear warheads landed on NATO ground units, which only escaped more severe casualties through dispersal and vehicular NBC protection. Three cruise missiles landed on NATO command bunkers, while two others detonated over air bases near Ralis and Bryat. The last one detonated near Golkar Naval Base in Rolagil.