Case Violet
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Case Violet was the codename for the strategic spring offensive of 2036, which started in 12 April 2036. The primary objective of the plan was to cross the Kongsberg Gulf, capture the vital heavy water producing region of Telemark, and secure a foothold on the southeastern portion of Western Erebonia by attacking the major Western Erebonian city of Kongsberg. This would allow the Neocons to establish bases to be used as a point of further invading the Erebonian landmass through its weakest flank.
After Operation Total failed to destroy the Erebonian Empire as a political and military threat the previous year, the Neocon 5, recognised the need to shift their plans on attacking Erebonia where they are least to be expected, which was the regions of Western Erebonia. They also capitalised the Telemark region's rich resource of heavy water for use in nuclear experiments. Joyonghean General Chang Gwan-mook presented his major plan of attacking Western Erebonia, in which 2 Army Groups would be shipped and paradropped across the gulf and land on the Southeastern region of Western Erebonia. The plan called for 3 Neocon Army Groups to attack the region. Army Group Mangjeol was responsible for attacking through the western flank of Kongsberg and paradropping behind enemy lines and securing routes to the vital heavy water plants; Army Group Saluqus was responsible for attacking the eastern flank of Kongsberg and linking up with elements of AG Mangjeol, while Army Group Trieu would launch an attack of Kongsberg by means of the sea.
The Heimdallr forces were unprepared for such an attack and immediately ordered Allied forces in Kongsberg to establish points of resistance and to deny Kongsberg to the Neocons. As a result, the Neocon forces struggled to attempt to capture Kongsberg. The IQMA and the JAF launched repeated air strikes throughout the city in a bid to flush the defenders out. However, the rubble created by artillery and air strikes created much cover that allowed the defenders to organise ambush formations at Neocon columns in the city. The Heimdallr Forces launched Operation Herald to prevent Neocon forces incursion into the Telemark region and to contain the Neocon forces at Kongsberg. As this took place, Field Marshal Kiriya Kitagawa organised a massive Allied counterattack against Neocon forces at Kongsberg prior to the arrival of Winter. By means of continuous guerilla warfare waged by his second-in-command, Marshal Phùng Minh Thiệu, Kiriya successfully managed to spread Army Group Mangjeol and Army Group Saluqus thinly prior to this counteroffensive such that he widened the defensive perimeter, causing Neocon defensive lines to be too thin to be defended that by the time the counteroffensive began, the Neocons could not retaliate.
At the same time, Lucian Admiral Karl Kretschmann and Erebonian Admiral Richard Walter mustered the strength of the Royal Navy and the Royal Erebonian Navy near Iceland as early as Summer of 2035. As part of Marshal Kitagawa's plan, the two naval powers would engage with the Neocon Navy at the Battle of the Kongsberg Gulf and block the Strait of Oslo, thereby trapping elements of the Neocon Navies in the gulf. The Neocon fleet was commanded by Concordian Admiral Fletcher Allen, desired to use his navy to bring about the total annihilation of the Heimdallr forces at Kongsberg and to hasten the Heimdallr's defeat by launching several strikes aimed at Kongsberg, Oslo, Orbis, and Heimdallr from his command submarine. However, he only managed to launch 1 missile which bought about the destruction of 25% of Kongsberg. Immediately, the Heimdallr Navies did not take the strike lightly and destroyed the Neocon fleet at the Battle of the Kongsberg Gulf, greatly reducing the Neocon's naval power in the region.
At around the same time, in 19 November, as winter was at its peak, Marshal Kitagawa immediately ordered the Allied counteroffensive, which saw a refreshed and reinforced Heimdallr armies attack the Neocons at the entire frontline. No preparations had been made by the Neocons and the response by Army Group Trieu was both chaotic and indecisive. Poor weather preventive effective air action against the Heimdallr offensive. Army Group Saluqus was in disarray and faced strong Heimdallr pressure across in the eastern flanks of Kongsberg while Army Group Mangjeol was effectively surrounded, with only a handful of troops evacuated by air. Shocked at Marshal Kitagawa's offensive, the Neocons immediately ordered the evacuation of Army Group Trieu, which was the only group that was still capable of fighting. Those who were unable to evacuate from AG Mangjeol and Saluqus joined with the remaining elements of AG Trieu in attempting to defend Kongsberg. By 21 November, Kongsberg had been effectively surrounded on all sides. The naval blockade did not begin until 1 December.
Attempts were made by General Chang Gwan-mook to reinforce Neocon forces trapped in Kongsberg by means of destroying the blockade to supply the defenders by sea and by planes, sending in food, water, fuel, and reinforcements. Those that remained in Kongsberg were designated as Army Group Salvation by General Chang. He, along with the Neocon 5 forbade a surrender or a breakout, and instead resupplying the defenders by air and sea while organising another fleet to sail or fly in reinforcements. The Heimdallr forces were successful in denying the Neocons the ability to resupply through the air which strained the Neocon forces to their breaking point. Nevertheless, the Neocon forces were determined to continue the relief operations by paradropping airborne troops and heavy fighting continued for another month. On 21 January 2037, Army Group Salvation, having exhausted their ammunition and food, finally capitulated, making it the first Neocon field army to surrender after months of fighting.
The failure of the Neocon forces at Kongsberg marked the end of any Neocon operations to be undertaken at Erebonia, as General Erwin Neithardt launched Operation Freehall, which saw Heimdallr forces push the Neocon forces out of Erebonia and force the Neocons to go on the defensive. Case Violet would be the final operation carried out by the Neocons against the Heimdallr forces in Scandinavia. The Neocons immediately went on the defensive as the Allies slowly pushed the Neocons back into their borders with the war's remaining years until their unconditional surrender in 2040. The failure at Erebonia also heavily damaged the Neocons prestige and reputation, and lost General Chang Gwan-mook his credibility, being the primary planner of Case Violet.