Battle of the Austrumulicis Gulf

Battle of the Austrumulicis Gulf
Part of Vinyan War
VMF destroyer hit by a Kolodorian missile
Date 20 July - 7 August 1976 Location Austrumulicis Gulf, off the coast of South-East Kolodoria Result Strategic Kolodorian Victory
Belligerents
Kolodoria	Tír Glas New Tyran Hallia
Commanders and leaders
Semjons Alksnis	Glasic Hot Redhead Anglian Tosser Spurdo Spärde
Units involved
Kolodorian Naval Forces	VMF Combined Fleet
Strength
1 carrier 1 cruiser 5 destroyers 7 frigates 10 corvettes 5 submarines 112 aircraft	Task Force 11 2 fleet carriers 1 cruiser 1 frigate 4 destroyers Hallian Navy 2 light carriers 2 cruisers 2 destroyers 4 frigates Anglian Navy 1 carrier 2 destroyers 4 frigates
Casualties and losses
1 carrier sunk 1 cruiser sunk 2 destroyers sunk 2 frigates sunk 2 corvettes sunk 29 aircraft shot down	1 fleet carrier damaged 1 destroyer sunk 1 frigate sunk

The Battle of the Austrumulicis Gulf (Known as Operation Taipan to the Kolodorians) was a major naval engagement between the Kolodorian Naval Forces and the Vinyan Multinational Force Combined Fleet.

After months of retreat following their eviction from Zavijava, the Kolodorian Ground Forces unleased twin strategic offensives against the VMF in July 1976; Operation Python south of the Luminovian Canal, and Operation Copperhead which opened the Crainnic Front. The VMF was forced into retreat in face of the heavily mechanized Kolodorian onslaught, which threatened to destroy significant VMF formations still fighting in southern Kolodoria.

In the leadup to Operation Python, the VMF had positioned a sizeable fleet off the coast of Tukayyid, involving four carriers and 20 more surface warships. The fleet had been providing air support and conducting shore bombardment in support of the VMF drive north, but by June the threat of Koldorian airpower and coastal anti-ship missile batteries had forced the VMF to avoid drawing too close to the Koldorian coast. The launch of Python forced the VMF to commit its naval forces to providing air support for the VMF ground contingent to impede the Kolodorian advance, resulting in over 1,000 sorties launched between the four Glasic, Anglian, and Hallian carriers. In response, the Kolodorian Navy deployed the West Fleet, consisting of the carrier Iekarotājs supported by the cruiser Krustneši along with five destroyers, seven frigates, 10 corvettes, and five submarines, to force the Combined Fleet to withdraw further south, out of range of supporting VMF ground forces.

With most of their ships being refurbished vessels from the Pan-Septentrion War, the resulting naval engagement was a lopsided defeat for the Koldorians. The two fleets originally skirmished betwen 20-23 July before the Kolodorian cruiser Krustneši was sunk. Two days later the destroyer Vindikators and frigate Taisnīgums were sunk. The Kolodorian fleet withdrew temporarily on 28 July but returned four days later and launched another attack against the Combined Fleet, resulting in more Kolodorian losses; the carrier Iekarotājs was sunk along with two corvettes and the frigate Asinis. The heavily damaged destroyer Katls-Dzimis was sunk the next day.

Kolodorian Naval Aviation, which launched more than a 100 strikes against the Combined Fleet, proved to be a much more significant threat. On 27 July Kolodorian fighters sunk the Anglian frigate HMS Intrepid, and over the course of battle damaged several more VMF ships. On 3 August the Anglian destroyer HMS Dorchester was also sunk, and on 7 August a Kolodorian raid heavily damaged the Glasic fleet carrier Cailleach. Following these losses, the Combined Fleet was ordered to withdraw further south out of range of Kolodorian air cover, leaving the Kolodorian Fourth Army Group free to pursue the VMF south back into Zavijava.