Operation Black Spear

Operation Black Spear
Part of the Middle East Campaign
ERUAC infantry march along the Afghania-Indiae road. A dead Imperial soldier lies on the right side of the road.
Date 19 October - 2 November 1942 Location Afgania-Indiae Road Result Strategic Allied Victory Partial Imperial Success Allied forces close the Pakistania-Indiae Border Remainder of the Imperial forces attempt to escape at Khost
Belligerents
Erebonian Empire Rubrum	Empire of Quenmin Archadia-Archedes Autocratic East Europan Imperial Alliance Rumania
Commanders and leaders
Brian Regnitz Magnus Craig Frederick Vander Elliot Testarossa Owen Ouellet Peter Ardur Rashia	Mạc Hiếu Quang Kiều Dũng Quang Phó Minh Duyên Victor Sazabio Giovanni Filiberto Guiseppe Gavallero Jannick Liebehenschel
Strength
3 Infantry Divisions 1 Armoured Divisions 3 Artillery Brigades No. 523 RRAF Squadron	4 Infantry Divisions 2 Armoured Divisions 1 Artillery Division 1 Luftwaffe Squadron
Casualties and losses
4,704 dead or wounded 37 tanks 21 planes	9,000-10,000 dead or wounded 72 tanks 30 planes

Operation Black Spear (19 October - 2 November 1942) was a military operation involving Erebonian and Rubrumian forces against the combined elements of the Quenminese, Archadian, and East Europan forces. The plan called for the ERUACs to take the pressure off Sugiyama in Kabul and force the Imperials out of the region.

Initial actions saw ERUAC forces attacking the eastern flank of Kabul, where Imperial forces had attempted to conduct a pincer movement in order to encircle Sugiyama's forces in the city, which would unable to have Sugiyama maintain the fight. However, due to the timely arrival of Regnitz' 6th Erebonian Armoured Division, the pincer movement ordered by Marshal Mạc Hiếu Quang never materialised. Instead, Regnitz committed a Blitzkrieg-style of defensive warfare that enabled him to shake Quang's hold on Sugiyama's forces in Kabul. By 21 October, Sugiyama was no longer under the threat and was free to pursue the Imperial forces in the western flank of Kabul. Although the initial plan of Black Spear was only to take the pressure off Kabul, Regnitz attempted to force the Imperials into a corridor towards Khost. At about the same time as his movement, Operation Curtains was taking place with elements of Sugiyama's forces giving chase from the central flank, while elements of General Zaw Sein Arkar's Bethausian forces pursued the Imperials from the south. Although Duyen would attempt to make several counteroffensives and thrusts against Regnitz, ERUAC forces had managed to blunt Duyen's attempts to styme the ERUAC advance. By November 2, the Imperials had been almost forced into a narrow corridor into the Khost region.

Following Black Spear, Regnitz launched Operation LX in order to trap the Imperials into a narrow corridor. Marshal Quang attempted to counter the Allies by attacking the Bethausian southern flank and leaving the central flank to the East Europans, while Duyen and General Quang attempted to halt ERUAC forces in the north. Regnitz and Duyen's armoured forces would clash at Zambar. Although Duyen would attempt to gain the upper hand by ordering Tobedar tactics against Regnitz and taking his armoured formations by the rear, Regnitz still managed to blunt Duyen's thrust, allowing him to attack towards the central flank of the Imperials, marking the start of what would be the Battle of the Khost Pocket, in which Regnitz thrust has caused 75% of the Imperial forces to be trapped within a pocket with the only way to safety being at Khost and to Nepali and Indiae.