Battle of Zenzeli

Battle of Zenzeli
Part of 2019 Invasion of Vyzhva
Vyzhvan tank abandoned near Zenzeli
Date 19 February - 21 February 2019 Location Zenzeli, Vyzhva Result Kolodorian Victory
Belligerents
Kolodoria	Vyzhva
Commanders and leaders
Rainars Kļaviņš Gothards Dreimanis	Some guys
Units involved
15th Corps 9th Armored Division 29th Mechanized Infantry Division 75th Armored Division 69th Infantry Division (nice) 11th Corps 197th Mechanized Infantry Division 210th Mechanized Infantry Division 71st Infantry Division 25th Corps 201st Armored Division 191st Mechanized Infantry Division 2nd Corps 100th Armored Division 136th Mechanized Infantry Division	II Corps 3rd Armored Division 34th Infantry Division 17th Armored Division (Reserve) 51st Mechanized Division (Reserve) 37th Infantry Division (Reserve)
Strength
270,000 troops 2,760 tanks 1,800 artillery pieces	70,000 - 100,000 troops 1,250 tanks 560 artillery pieces
Casualties and losses
349 killed 1,285 wounded 63 tanks destroyed	~5,000 killed ~15,000 wounded 20,000 captured ~750 tanks destroyed

The Battle of Zenzeli was a three day tank battle that ocurred between 19-21 February 2019, during the 2019 Invasion of Vyzhva, between armored forces of the Kolodorian Ground Forces and the Vyzhvan People's Mobilization. The primary participants were the regular and reserve forces of the Vyzhvan II Corps against the armored forces of the Kolodorian First and Second Army Groups. The battle was the culmination of the opening stages of the Kolodorian invasion, which focused on encircling and destroying II Corps to pave the way for the introduction of Kolodoria's reserve corps for the drive on Prognoi.

With over 4,000 tanks involved overall, Zenzeli was the largest tank battle of the conflict, and the largest tank battle on the continent since the Vinyan War. The Kolodorians succeeded in breaching the secondary lines of the Vyzhvans and proceeded to engage and destroy multiple Vyzvhan regiments over the course of the battle. By the end of the battle around 750 Vyzhvan tanks had been destroyed, in addition to 5,000 Vyzhvans killed and 20,000 captured by the Kolodorians. The battle allowed the Kolodorians to complete their destruction of II Corps and marked the beginning of the march on Prognoi.

Background

Kolodoria invaded Vyzhva as part of an international coalition following the Avallone Bombings. As part of Operation Sidewinder, the Kolodorian First and Second Army Groups had been assigned to destroy the Vyzhvan II Corps along the eastern border and to eventually capture the city of Prognoi. Over the previous few days the Kolodorians had already broken through the Ullan Line along the eastern border, while in the north Second Army Group had reached its objective at Phase Line Korin, pinning II Corps in place. As part of follow up maneuvers, 2nd and 25th Corps were to help swing around and encircle the Vyzhvan forces to prevent their withdrawal further east.

Hoping to ensure the complete destruction of II Corps, the Kolodorians amassed a massive force of some 270,000 troops and nearly 3,000 tanks. Four armored divisions, five mechanized divisions, and two infantry divisions were assigned to the task. In order to maintain pressure on the Vyzvhans, 15th and 11th Corps were to press on from the north and east, while the 2nd and 25th Corps carried out the maneuvers south and west to complete the encirclment. The state of Vyzvhan II Corps at this point during the invasion is difficult to determine. Pre-war strength of II Corps was four divisions, and in theory mobilization of Vyzhva's reserves should have boosted it to eight divisions. Disruption of Vyzhva's strategic command and control however had crippled Vyzhva's ability to effectively employ its reserves, forcing local commanders to execute pre-war plans with limited ability to coordinate with other regional commands. The Kolodorians estimated they faced between 70,000 to 100,000 Vyzhvan troops, supported by more than a thousand tanks and over 500 artillery pieces.