Operation LX
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Operation LX (5 November - 21 November 1942) was a military operation involving Erebonian and Rubrumian forces against the combined mechanised elements of Quenminese and Imperial armour. The plan called for a thrust towards the important towns of Bakhtana, Ghalang, and Yakubi, all of where were less than 20kms away from the town of Khost, which would be General Brian Regnitz's objective.
The first actions saw limited advances by Regnitz's armoured column as Quenminese General Duyen was determined to blunt the ERUAC attack at all costs. Putting emphasis on mechanised attacks to slow and blunt Regnitz, Duyen refused to hold his ground and employed offensive means to prevent ERUAC forces. Subsequently, inclement weather would set in and both sides were affected. Regnitz would use this opportunity to conduct a war of attrition against Duyen, as both sides could not use their mechanised and armoured strategies in the midst of the strong monsoon rains. Although minor armoured engagements took place, mechanised infantry attacks would decide the outcome of the operation. However, during the 2nd week of November, Duyen would attempt to conduct several small encirclements on the attacking force despite the monsoon rains bogging both sides in an attempt to styme the ERUAC advance. In response, the 6th Erebonian Armoured Division made a dash towards and swung south to attack the Imperials engaging with the 2nd Rubrumian Division at Bakhtana. This attack saw the two divisions link-up with each other, which promptly enabled the Rubrumians under Testarossa to commence a counteroffensive towards the encircling Quenminese forces on the morning of 18 November. By nightfall, the Rubrumians had prevented the anticipated encirclement that Duyen planned. Immediately, Regnitz swung elements of the 2nd Imperial Guards Division to Ghalang, where Rubrumians were still engaging with Liebehenschel's forces. By 20 November, the Imperials had all but pulled out of the area. Small pockets of resistance held out until 21 November.
Despite slow gains, novel tactics by the 6th Erebonian Armoured Division enabled the ERUAC forces to take control of the 3 towns, trapping at least 200,000 Imperial troops, 1,000 tanks, and 2,500 vehicles within the pocket. The battle that took place within the pocket would come to be known as the Battle of the Khost Pocket.