Battle of St. Maria

Khost Pocket
Part of the Middle East Campaign
Erebonian troops uncouple their AT guns from an M4 Theimer tank.
Date 12 December - 19 December 1942 Location St. Maria Fields, Afghania Result Tactical Allied Victory Escape route across the Kaitu River closed Nearly 50% of Imperial Armour destroyed
Belligerents
Erebonian Empire Rubrum Taoyuanese Provisional Government	Empire of Quenmin Archadia-Archedes Rumania Autocratic East Europan Imperial Alliance
Commanders and leaders
Brian Regnitz Elliot Testarossa Song Li-jen	Mạc Hiếu Quang Phó Minh Duyên Giovanni Filiberto Alexander Sundermann
Strength
32,520 troops 250 tanks 100 aircraft 50 guns	39,474 troops 340 tanks 50 aircraft 25 guns
Casualties and losses
Moderate	Heavy

The Battle of St. Maria (12 December - 19 December 1942) was a battle that took place at the St. Maria Fields just near Kaitu River. It was one of the only two remaining routes of escape for the Imperial forces during the Battle of the Khost Pocket. Here, Allied and Imperial armoured clashed as the Imperials tried to keep the route open while the Allies attempted to destroy and cut-off the Imperials further, denying the St. Maria Bridge to the Imperials.

Although the Imperial forces had their backs against the wall, they still offered strong resistance against Allied forces. ERUAC forces led by Erebonian General Brian Regnitz was tasked with closing the Raitu River route before swinging south to Hill 745 to assist the Bethausians in closing the last remaining route of escape. REAF aircraft commenced bombing raids against the bridge in an attempt to prevent Imperial forces from escaping further. However, the bridge structure was too strong that it took at least 5 days before the bridge finally collapsed on 18 December 1942 after repeated air raids. After the destruction of the bridge, Imperial forces attempted to fight their way to the south where Imperial forces encountered Bethausian forces making their way to Hill 745. Ultimately, the remaining units at the St. Maria plains were forced to surrender after exhausting fuel and ammunition, subsequently allowing Regnitz to swing south to relieve the Bethausians defending Hill 745.