Central Karana War
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| Central Karana War | |||||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||||
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Supported by: |
Supported by: | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
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some rebel scum an honourable general † |
Unifying Eternal Sun Glorious Grand General Glorious Air Marshal | ||||||||
| Strength | |||||||||
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585,000 (277,000 engaged) 87 tanks 1800 armoured cars 287 aircraft |
510,000 (101,000 engaged) 600 tanks 2200 armored cars 980 aircraft | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
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54,000 killed 95,000 wounded 81,000 captured 261 aircraft lost |
11,000 killed 24,000 wounded 7,200 captured 49 aircraft lost | ||||||||
The Central Karana War was a brief conflict over the course of the Unifying Revival between the forces of [[Makgato|Amayana Makgato Federation}} of the upper Karana Basin and the Itayana Solar Autocracy of the lower Karana Basin. After a steady deterioration of relationship between AMF and ISA over the course of 2000s, the Karana basin political entities started preparation for conflict. When the economic downturn caused by overspending hit the ISA and transformed into political instability, the Makgato Defense Force launched a sudden two-pronged attack, aiming to topple the administration of the Solar Temple of Yanbango.
Although the AMF forces managed to reach the former 8th Governorate in three days, the land force was stopped at the Battle of KKK, while the riverine force was destroyed by air attacks at the Battle of HHH. Itayana Air Fleet conducted several successive air strikes in the operational depth of the AMF forces, and the subsequent counterattack turned the retreat into a rout from the central Karana basin, only stopped by attrition and the rainfall season. By the time enough forces could be amassed by the Autocracy, AMF regrouped and established defensive lines in the highlands at the Makgato plateau. International mediation, particularly by Charnea, caused AMF and ISA to sign the ceasefire agreement on conditions of territorial status quo ante bellum.
Central Karana War is notable for the first combat actions of the 5th generation fighters. It was also the first relatively large-scale mechanized war to the south of Ninva, as well as the first such war in Scipia in three decades. The war saw employment of massed riverine flotillas by AMF and massed air offensive operations by the Autocracy. Failure of AMF to topple the Autocracy solidified the Temple as a legitimate force of the Karana Basin. However, by refusing to advance towards the Makgato Plateau, the Autocracy effectively put the Unifying Revival on hold.
Prelude
Buildup and operational plans
AMF
Operational plans of the Makgato Plateau governorates started being drafted in 2001 with the Proclamation of the Unifying Sun Manifested. Those primarily targeted the Solar Temple of Yanbango as the centrepiece of the Solar Autocracy while avoiding targeting population centers and, to some extent, the aligned military forces. Later plans increased focus on the military, while keeping Yanbango as the primary target. Crucially, the last-minute additions postulated that the captured priesthood was to be kept captive until Yanbango falls.
Makgato Defense Force Staff put emphasis on combined actions of mobile forces and riverine fleet in its planning. The riverine operation, code named Flash Flood, involved sweeping downstream and capturing Yanbango and Aribango by riverine troops. The land operation, code named Landslide, involved traversing central and lower Karana basin by highly mobile prongs of mounted motorized infantry. Within fourteen days at most, the entire right bank of Karana and key members of the solarist priesthood would be captured. That expected to collapse the structure of power completely, which was assumed to allow MDF to secure Imo basin with minimal resistance.
AMF military buildup in 2000s was dictated by trying to match offensive plans and financial limitations. MDF was mechanized with various APCs and armoured cars to be used in the refined version of the ICA long-range raiding column tactics. The MDF River Force was expanded, with over 300 gunboats and ferries launched and armed form 2003 to 2010. Revised tactics of the riverine forces included advancing under the cover of both the air force and vessel-based SAM batteries. With the help of the ICA, the air force was strengthened with surplus fighters from the Ninvite War, mainly K'akmul 5, Fa-21 and Fa-23ML, as well as COIN aircraft squadrons to act in close coordination with the ground assault units.
The buildup, while impressive in size, was not without its shortcomings. Several generals of the Autocracy derisively called MDF "the Scrapyard of Scipia" for its variety of vehicles complicating logistics and maintenance. Although the army possessed sufficient number of MANPADS, medium-range SAM batteries were small in number and obsolete, represented by Kvadrat and Romb systems. In addition to that, the attacking force lacked sufficient number of air surveillance radars, with about a dozen complexes deployed. Finally, despite the efforts, MDF Air Corps was subpar to the Autocracy Air Fleet in numbers, equipment and operational capabilities; crucially, it could not attack fortified airfields in the strategic depth of the Autocracy.
These deficiencies, particularly the lack of air supremacy, were known to the generals of MDF and caused considerable alarm within its ranks. Interviews with high-ranking commanders after the war showed that a few of them had doubts about whether the plan could work, and that the decision to start the invasion was a gamble on internal instability of the Autocracy, with the AMF hoping that the Temple would not be able to rally its forces.
ISA
Information on the internal affairs of the Solar Temple of Yanbango has been scarce, owing to the nature of the cult. It appears as if the Solar Autocracy had no plan of action for AMF invasion of the Karana basin, and its military buildup in 2000s did not betray any kind of defensive intent. Having significantly more resources than AMF, the Autocracy was plagued with competing internal interests, hindering much of its economical advantage.
The Autocracy put extreme emphasis on developing its air force and ocean-going fleet. Over the course of 10 years, the Air Fleet received four squadrons of A16S2 fighters; by then, the strongest aircraft overall in the Karana basin. They was complemented by over 200 refurbished jet aircraft of older models like A8I7 and A11F6 fighters and B7I4 fighter-bombers; about 350 B2M4 and B3G4 bombers were the backbone of the ground attack units. Finally, as the result of previous negotiations with the Oxidentale Jet Works consortium, the Air Fleet received six Harpy Eagle fighters in 2009. As the 5th generation fighters, those represented the most advanced aircraft south of Ninva. Their performance was hindered because inter-service integrated data networks were underdeveloped and the Autocracy had no proper airborne early warning aircraft, but the latter was mitigated through integration with A16S fighters.
By its nature as an oceangoing force, the Unifying Navy did not contribute to the war in the Karana Basin, but listing its buildup is necessary for the context. By July, 2010 it included 14 frigates in its main force, including six of the domestic design, and two more were finishing sea trials. Its submarine program was in its infancy, while its aircraft carrier program met considerable troubles and delays, rendering the completed vessel inoperational. The naval aviation received 18 navalized A16S2 fighters and a squadron of H4T1 patrol aircraft.
In contrast to the full-scale rearmament of the other branches, Amayana National Army focused on maintenance of their large park of motorized equipment, mostly trucks and outdated Elatian and Velikoslavian APCs and IFVs, as well as Zacapine TNT. Token acquisition of modern vehicles did not change the overall trend on maintenance over acquisitions, and most of the new vehicles, such as T70125 MBT, ISV60 Praetorian combat support vehicle and Ọfà IFV, were concentrated in the specialized unit, the 14th Mechanized Division. In addition to that, the 2003 army reorganization cut the officer corps of ANA by over 60%, removing many politically-appointed generals from the former governorate armies. It was noted post factum that by 2010 the ANA officer corps was 4.5 times less total than the one of MDF but the qualitative effect of the reform has not yet been estimated. The riverine fleet under administrative control of the National Army was reorganized and refit in 2007-2008. From the technical standpoint, the riverine forces of the opposing sides were nearly identical, outside of the larger anti-air missile platforms the AMF possessed. However, the MDF River Force outnumbered the one of the Autocracy 5:2. Overall, the ANA forces largely held technical parity with the MDF with local units holding technical supremacy, all while being outnumbered at about 3:1.
Two acts of the ISA could be seen as a preparation to war. First was the relocation of several aircraft formations to the left bank of Karana. Second was the deployment of the majority of the Navy to defensive positions in Oorupaqi ocean. However, with ANA forces largely scattered across Karana and Imo basins, it appears that the Autocracy was not aware of the impending attack, let alone of the scale of it.
Theatre of operation
The theatre of operations encompassed parts of the Karana Basin downstream from the Makgato Plateau that correspond to the area of historical 8th, 10th and 12th Governorates. It is roughly delimited by Agala highlands to the north, Karana river to the south, and two of the largest Karana inlets, Erinle and Kasai, to the west and east respectively. The war got its name from the fact the theatre splits the Karana basin roughly in half.
The area is considered the core territory of the Unifying Realm, having been developed and populated for over three millennia. The landscape is mostly flat at the river itself, but the outward area is dominated by hills separated by small rivers and canals. The area has been extensively transformed with numerous canals crossing to the river and artificial ponds keeping water for the purposes of irrigation. The Temple made successful efforts to rebuild and expand on the system combining older plans with newer additions. Three dominant roads crossed the countryside: the first ran parallel to the river from Aribango to the border and further to Yanomi; the second ran from Aribango parallel to the Trans-Karana Railroad further inland; the third started at Agala highlands and proceeded towards SSS, capital of the 6th Governorate. Three major cities in the area were the regional centres and former governorate capitals ─ KKK for the 8th, MMM for the 10th and TTT for the 12th. Each represented an operational objective to be secured.
The theatre placed certain restrictions on the opposing forces. The hills upstream favoured the defending side while restricting manoeuvrability of the attacker. Canals and other irrigation systems likewise contributed to complicating the war of manoeuvre, for both sides. Finally, the campaign started just about 20 days before the rainfall season started, giving a very narrow weather window to accomplish the objectives.
Operations
AMF advance (03-12.07)
Makgato Defence Force started its campaign at 2200 02.07.2010 when the Flash Flood assault force was assembled and ordered to action. At 0500 03.07.2010, MDF Air Corps conducted an opening attack at several installations, mainly command and communication facilities, and the ground force started advancing at 0600. Border ANA units were overwhelmed in minutes, and MDF achieved complete surprise.