Scuttling of the Syaran Fleet

Scuttling of the Syaran fleet
Purity of Spirit sinks
Date 15 March 1938 Location Scitaria, Syara Result 48 Syaran ships scuttled
Belligerents
Republic of Syara
Commanders and leaders
Dicho Wasilew
Units involved
Syaran National Fleet
Casualties and losses
48 ships scuttled 16 ships captured

The Scuttling of the Syaran Fleet refers to the intentional sinking of 48 ships of the Syaran National Fleet by the Syaran Republican Navy shortly after the conclusion of the Siduri War. Following Syara's official surrender, the Syaran National Fleet was to be interned in Syaran waters and later transferred to Cacerta, where the ultimate fate of the Syaran ships was to be determined. The Syaran National Fleet was to set sail on 20 March for Cacerta, but five days prior and just before the arrival of the Cacertian Center Fleet Fleet Admiral Dicho Wasilew gave the order for the Syaran crews to scuttle their own ships. By the time the Cacertians had arrived 48 ships had been scuttled and were beyond saving, though Cacertian Imperial Marines were able to seize control fo 16 more vessels before Wasilew's orders could be carried out.

Per the treaty of Syara's surrender the fate of the Syaran National Fleet, which by 1938 was still the fourth largest in the world, was to be left up to the nations of the Common Axis. Despite internal discussions regarding the fate of the Syaran fleet no official agreement had been reached by March 1938. Most of the Common Axis nations, namely Cacerta, Quenmin, and Tennai had wished to split up the remainder of the fleet porpotionately amongst themselves, but such considerations had faced strong opposition from some of Tyran's other naval powers, who feared the addition of the Syaran fleet to the Common Axis would severely disrupt the balance of power between the major naval states. By 8 March Fleet Admiral Wasilew had been informed of the Common Axis's desire to sail the Syaran fleet to Cacerta, and began preparations to scuttle his ships. The spotting of the Cacertian Center Fleet off the Syaran coast in early 15 March led Wasilew to transmit his orders through radio and morse code; by the time the Cacertian fleet arrived at Moddra nearly all of the Syaran fleet had been sunk. Communication issues prevented the transmission of the orders to Squadron No. 5, 10, and 14, ultimately leaving 16 ships afloat that Cacertian marines seized control of without incident. Although the Empire pulicly condemned Syara for the violation of the peace treaty and threatened reprisal, the personal reaction of many Cacertian leaders was more muted, with Admiral Andrea Doria commenting "This has saved us all from future headaches".

None of Syara's battleships, battlecruisers, nor heavy cruisers remained afloat; the Nemtya-class cruiser Restless Sentinel was the heaviest ship recovered by the Cacertians. Eleven Syaran ships were eventually refloated, most of which were sold for scrap or broken up within a decade of the scuttling. The wreckage of the fleet remains a popular tourist destination for many diving and maritime enthusiasts.