Battle of Kushineda's Hill
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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 Frediericks to pull out from the area and to retreat south of Mutoko to regroup and reorganise.
However, Col. Kushienda analysed that even if Frediericks 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 Frediericks 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 Frediericks 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.
The Battle
2 December - 23 December: Initial Movements & Neocon Attacks
On 2 December, the first Neocon attacks took place as the defenders on the hill dug in. With only 500 troops scattered across the hill, but placed in strategically important positions, Kushineda's defences managed to repulse Neocon attacks for the first weeks of the Neocon attack. In 18 December, Vaughan dispatched helicopters to try and strafe the hill. However, handheld anti-air missiles were fielded by defenders such that the Neocon attack helicopters weren't able to bombard or dislodge the anti-air personnel on the ground. Vaughan decided to throw a simultaneous attack, combining ground and air attacks on the defenders. Despite the constant heavy attacks, the defenders still managed to repulse the combined arms attack ordered by Vaughan. As a result, Vaughan ordered Neocon troops to pull out from the area and regroup for another attack.
25 December - 1 January: Vaughan throws a massive attack and encircles the defenders; Kushineda and the LRRG successfully repulses repeated attacks
In the morning of Christmas Day, the Neocons launched their first massive attack, which focused on bombarding the hill, followed by air attacks, and preceded by a combined infantry and armour attacks. This attack overwhelmed Kushineda's left and right flank, prompting him to order his both flanks to pull out of their positions and retreat further to the top of their positions. As the two Heimdallr flanks to Kushineda's sides advanced up the mountain, Neocon forces immediately swung to Kushineda's position until it was encircled. A heavy firefight ensued between the surrounded troops and attacking Neocons. Immediately, Kushineda ordered troops from the 2 flanks to reorganise and continuously raid the rear of the encircling Neocon forces.
The first Neocon troops breached Kushineda's outpost in 29 December. A firefight within the outpost ensued but the 2 Heimdallr detachments from the 2 flanks attacked the rear of the encircling Neocon troops, prompting the Neocons to engage both their forward and rear flanks. This caused the Neocon forces to be unable to dedicate much needed manpower in breaching the outpost. In addition, Kushineda's forces also regained the strategic positions and began gunning down Neocon troops try to breach the outpost. As a result, Vaughan was forced to call off the attack.
Vaughan renewed his attack by New Year's Eve, hoping to take the outpost or force Kushineda and the defenders to surrender before the New Year. Despite facing overwhelming odds, Kushineda and the LRRG managed to repulse yet another of Vaughan's attack on the hill, spoiling Vaughan's plan to take the outpost by New Year's Day.
2 January - 25 January: RRAF & RBEAF commence sorties and air lifting operations; Vaughan attempts to disrupt the air lifting operations; 4th Battery Regiment hammers Neocon forces
In the first week of 2037, Kushineda managed to establish contact with the Magnolia Air Base, where the RRAF and RBEAF were stationed. Kushineda urgently requested for air support and supplies to be air dropped on a regular basis. With General Frediericks endorsement, Rhodeian Air Marshal Louis Van Keppler agreed to airlift supplies to the defenders while the RRAF and RBEAF periodically flew sorties and air attacks on Neocon positions near Surrender Hill. With this, Kushineda managed to obtain air support and supplies to be taken in on a regular basis.
When the first Heimdallr planes appeared, Vaughan sought to counter and end Kushineda's aid by sending in anti-air personnel and equipment. To prevent the loss of air support, Kushineda ordered a 10 man team to be sent out every night on an aggressive patrol. Each team would take turns on raiding and destroying precious Neocon equipment. Not only were anti-air personnel and equipment were targeted, but also Neocon armour, APCs, vehicles, and camps that were built just near the outpost. This prevented Vaughan from destroying Kushineda's air cover and support.
On 18 January, the first ground support had been dispatched to Mutoko in the form of the 4th Battery Regiment, which provided Kushineda with artillery support from a far distance. The defenders at Surrender Hill were prompted to send coordinates to the battery and by the following day, the regiment began to hammer Neocon forces around the outpost. The position of the defenders provided the regiment with a significant advantage, as they can direct artillery fire where Neocons were attacking from. Determined to destroy Kushineda's artillery support, Vaughan would send a handful of troops, aided by TF Nicator personnel to raid Mutoko and destroy the guns.
However, the only way they can reach the city is through the valley and passes that were swarming with Rhodeian defenders. For the next 2 weeks, the Neocon raiders tried to pass through the valley passes but the Rhodeians and Basel-Ebelians offered stiff resistance and continuously committed counter-raids. It was reported that by 5 February, the raiders could no longer commit a raid to Mutoko due to mounting casualties and of stiff resistance offered by the Rhodeians who dug in near Mutoko. The Neocons had failed to destroy the guns at Mutoko. As a result, Vaughan continued to be battered.
26 January - 20 February: Vaughan sends a mechanized brigade, along with TF Nicator; Defenders continue to inflict heavy casualties on the Neocons
By 26 January, the Neocons still had not pushed Kushineda and the LRRG off the hill, nor could they force them to surrender. As a result, Vaughan decided to send in a mechanized and armoured forces against the outpost. In addition, he requested for the elite TF Nicator to be dispatched to displace the defenders and to capture Kushineda alive. The first of these attacks took place in 30 January, when the first of the Neocon armoured thrusts commenced. Although Kushineda did not possess any armour, the supplies that had been continuously air lifted gave his men anti-tank capabilities. As the hill needed the tank to go up, defenders detonated deep holes to temporary disable the tanks, allowing AT infantry to fully destroy it with rockets. In addition, the act of lodging logs into the tank's tracks also caused the tank go into a complete stop, making it vulnerable to AT rockets and handheld anti-tank infantry equipment.
TF Nicator, the most elite special forces unit at that time was dispatched to help displace the defenders and to capture Kushineda. For 20 days, Nicator managed to breach the outpost for six times but were all repulsed. The position of which the LRRG had placed themselves, as well as the cramped nature of the outpost rendered Nicator to be unable to engage the LRRG inside the outpost, which led to their attacks being repulsed and forcing the unit to retreat. Meanwhile, the defenders sang hymns to boost their morale; the LRRG sang It's a Long Way to Tipperary, while the Aethiopians sang the Selibela Miracle Hymn.
By February, the Neocons, despite sending in their best units, aided with armoured support still had failed to displace Kushineda and the LRRG from their positions. By around this time, the SADC were now finalising preparations for the counteroffensive that was to come in a few days.
21 February - 28 February: TF Nicator throws a final attack on the outpost; Defenders nearly lose control of the outpost as Kushineda and the LRRG regain the advantage; SADC commences counteroffensive operations
In 21 February, Vaughan gambled one final effort to displace Kushineda's position. This called for an all-out attack against Kushineda's outpost on all sides whilst being aided by armour and air support. The combined attack would allow TF Nicator to breach the outpost and subjugate the defenders once and for all. By 24 February, the Neocons began their all out attack and as Vaughan had foreseen, the defenders were stretched to their breaking point, with TF Nicator successfully breaching the defenders and a close quarters engagement ensued inside the outpost. Kushineda and the LRRG were now in danger of losing the outpost.
Kushineda ordered the LRRG to attach bayonets on their RG LAG's and get close to Nicator personnel as much as they can. Although Nicator personnel were also armed with bayonets, the professional training of the LRRG and Aethiopians of Cherenebereck, Gedarm and Desta in close quarters, especially with bayonets proved valuable as the LRRG managed to slowly wind down Nicator's attack. In addition, 2 Rhodeian platoons arrived in time to aid Kushineda and the LRRG. With the close quarters combat and Rhodeian reinforcements pressuring TF Nicator, the commander of the attack force led by Nguyễn Minh Chuyên ordered all TF Nicator personnel to retreat or face being sandwiched between the LRRG, the Rhodeians, and the Aethiopians. With this, the Neocons had already exhausted all their equipment and manpower. The Neocons had been winded to a state in which they could no longer regain the initiative. Minor skirmishes would still prevail after this.
By 28 February, the SADC commenced its counteroffensive operations that slowly began to force Vaughan out of the areas around Mutoko.
1 March - 5 March: SADC pushes Vaughan out of the area; 4th Basel-Ebelian Armoured Division relieves the LRRG; Vaughan pulls out of Northern Rhodeia
By 2 March, although the Neocons still had reserves, Vaughan realised that the 3 month siege had fully depleted his men of supplies and precious equipment. Faced with the ongoing situation, and the fact that the SADC had begun to force his troops out of the region, Vaughan ordered the remaining Neocon forces around the area to retreat. The SADC gave chase to Vaughan, who, despite ordering his men to mounting a resistance against the chasing SADC failed to materialise any form of line of defence. General Frediericks immediately ordered the SADC to force Vaughan out of Rhodeia and reestablish lines with the Archadian Army just north of the border.
By 5 March, elements of the 4th Basel-Ebelian Armoured Division relieves Kushineda and the LRRG defenders, ending the 3-month long siege.