Battle of Kushineda's Hill
 | This article is incomplete because it is pending further input from participants, or it is a work-in-progress by one author. Please comment on this article's talk page to share your input, comments and questions. Note: To contribute to this article, you may need to seek help from the author(s) of this page. |
The Battle of Kushineda's Hill (2 December 2036 - 5 March 2037) lasted for 83 days in 2036 to the spring of 2037, after the Neocon forces under the command of General Grant Vaughan attempted to regain the initiative in Rhodeia by attempting to seize control of the town of Mutoko in order to create a point from which he can take control of the seemingly vital Magnolia-Vandemeersburg Road. Vaughan eyed the capture of the Rhodeian Port of Vandemeersburg, which was the largest port in Africanna, and the largest city in Rhodeia. Vaughan hoped to control the port city in order to open shipping to Neocon supplies coming from Quenmin and Indiae. These supplies would also prove to be of use for his planned invasion of Basel-Ebel, eyeing to reach the Cape of Blessed Hope by mid-2037, expelling the Heimdallr forces and governments, and installing Neocon governments in Basel-Ebel, Rhodeia, and Arithea by the end of the year.
During Operation Claim, the Neocons launched a savage offensive hoping to push the Heimdallr Forces further south from the Arithean border, preventing the link-up of Archadian forces and the rest of the SADC. A garrison based just near Rusape, consisting mostly of the famed Long Range Reconnaissance Group under Colonel Yukio Kushineda V remained behind from the retreating SADC and organised a stand at Surrender Hill to deny the vital highway from the Neocons, preventing them from advancing and reaching Vandemeersburg, while the SADC reorganised and prepared for a counteroffensive.
Historically, Surrender Hill had been the site where the last Domonokian forces surrendered during the Lucio-Domonokian Wars. General Vaughan had hoped to force Kushineda and the LRRG to surrender at where they stood, owing to the name of the hill. The Neocons threw a massive attack on 2 December and it continued for the next 2 months. On Christmas Day and New Year's Eve, the Neocons threw massive attacks on the defenders of the hill but the defenders on the hill still remained unscathed. The occupation of the hill deprived the Neocons of the vital highway that ensured them a dagger-thrust to Vandemeersburg. RRAF and RBEAF fighters provided air support for the defenders while cargo planes dropped supplies and food.
The siege on the hill had ruined Vaughan's timetable for capturing Vandemeersburg. He immediately diverted reinforcements but the garrison still repulsed several Neocon attacks. The outpost was frequently bombarded and armoured reinforcements were frequently sent to the hill as RRAF and RBEAF flew defensive sorties just near at Magnolia. Later on, Vaughan sent Task Force Nicator in an attempt to raid the outpost. In spite of sending special forces units and heavy arsenals, Kushineda still held control of the hill. In 27 February, the SADC had reorganised and launched a counteroffensive against several Neocon positions near the hill. In 5 March, elements of the 4th Basel-Ebelian Armoured Division relieved the defenders on the hill.
The Neocon defeat at Surrender Hill is labelled as the Neocons most humiliating defeat of the war, where General Vaughan's overconfidence over the smaller force became his own undoing. Despite the LRRG's meagre numbers, the small elite patrol force, along with elements of small native groups had successfully held off a large Neocon formation for 3 months, which denied the vital port to the Neocons and also sealed the fate of further Neocon advances to Rhodeia. Following the battle, the LRRG's members were awarded with many decorations. Kushienda was promoted to Brigadier, and the hill was renamed to its present name of Kushineda's Hill after the latter in honour of his extraordinary stand.
Prelude
In 12 November, General Vaughan plotted Operation Claim, which was an ambitious plan which many Neocon planners had believed to guarantee a dagger-thrust to the Port City of Vandemeersburg. The reason for such was to hasten the Heimdallr defeat and fall of Rhodeia and Basel-Ebel, which would then allow the Neocons to transfer manpower, supplies, and reinforcements to Scandinavia, where the Neocons were being bogged down in Erebonia during Case Violet. Vaughan had eyed that Vandemeersburg was to fall by Christmas in order to allow troops to be sent home for the holiday whilst the Neocons opened shipping to South Africanna from Indiae and Quenmin. The only area where the vital highway between Magnolia and Vandemeersburg was accessible from was through the Rhodeian town of Mutoko. It was protected by two high land formations, mainly Point 500 and the famed Surrender Hill. Vaughan chose to attack through Surrender Hill as he deemed it appropriate that the Heimdallr forces would surrender by the following year, and that the steep elevation of Point 500 would render impassable for mechanized movements.
3 days later, Vaughan began an offensive from the Africanna Republic's border with Archadian Arithea and Rhodeia, in which the Heimdallr forces did not anticipate the offensive. By 20 November, Vaughan's forces had reached the sea and the Archadians to the North had been cut-off from the Lucis Commonwealth forces to the south. The SADC dug in just 50 kms north of Mutoko but because the SADC was unable to foresee Vaughan's offensive, they were forced to retreat further south. By 28 November, the SADC dug in just 10kms north of Mutoko, which was the last defensive line before Mutoko. Just 5kms north was Surrender Hill and Point 500. To east lies the small town of Rusape, where a garrison consisting of the famed LRRG and a handful of Ethiopian troops led by Col. Yukio Kushienda V were stationed to guard the SADC's right flank. Although the SADC continued to repulse Neocon attacks, it found that without reorganising and regrouping, they wouldn't be able to attempt to carry out a counteroffensive. A decision was made by Basel-Ebel General Wilhelm Friedricks to pull out from the area and to retreat south of Mutoko to regroup and reorganise.
However, Col. Kushienda analysed that even if Friedricks had pulled out, Vaughan would be able to catch up on the retreating SADC, which would lead to its annihilation and potential encirclement. Knowing how the Neocons utilised aggressive stances, Kushineda radioed Friedricks that he and the LRRG, along with a handful of Ethiopians and natives would stay behind near Mutoko to buy time for the SADC to reorganise and regroup. Although Friedricks was worried that the LRRG would be surrounded, he nonetheless granted Kushienda permission to remain at Mutoko. On 30 November, the LRRG and the elements of the Ethiopian troops and native guards took over the garrison from the Rhodeian 20th Brigade. But instead of choosing to retreat with the SADC, the 20th Brigade volunteered to remain at Mutoko to beef up defences.
With Kushineda in full command, he ordered his troops to dig in at Surrender Hill, which was the only logical passageway to Mutoko and the Magnolia-Vandemeersburg Road. A battalion sized formation held the hill as Kushineda ordered trenches to be built reaching to the medical stations to tend to the wounded for the upcoming battle. Food and Ammunition were stored as Kushineda expected the Neocons to besiege his outpost. A force of 500 men, 10 mortars, and strategically placed machine gun nests stood before the incoming larger Neocon force and the town of Mutoko.