Southwest Frontier War

Southwest Frontier War
File:Borderwar2.png Clockwise from top left: Songhua soldiers on the march, a Negaran tank commander pursuing mobilisation, Songhua artillery providing fire support, Djinkarta surrenders
Date 2 April 1971 (1971-04-02) – 12 May 1971 (1971-05-12) (40 days) Location Southwest Frontier Result Songhua military victory Status quo ante bellum
Belligerents
Republic of Negara	Songhua Federal Union
Commanders and leaders
Guntur Susiloputra Adi Djinkarta	Bao Aiguo Kang Jianjun
Strength
12,000	60,000
Casualties and losses
3,267 casualties	4,521 casualties
.

The Southwest Frontier War was an armed conflict between the Republic of Negara and the Songhua Federal Union over the disputed Southwest Frontier territory that took place between April and May 1971. In Songguo, the conflict is also referred to as the Sanku War, the name of the valley where much of the fighting took place. The cause of the war was the establishment by the Negaran VIIth Division of a series of outposts in the Sanku Valley, to which the Songhua authorities responded with demands that Negaran troops return to their side of the Line of Control, which Negara refused. The Songhua army managed to secure control of both the Sanku Valley and the Kelat Valley before withdrawing to their side of the Line of Control.

The high altitude and mountainous terrain of the theatre posed serious problems for the Negaran forces operationally, but in the eyes of Negaran leadership it also revealed a number of key problems in terms of logistics and communications that plagued the NRA. This to considerations for serious military reform and the abandonment of conscription. Songguo successfully asserted its ability to defend its territory in the face of Negaran aggression, and the circumstances in which the war developed allowed it to keep the support of the international community throughout the conflict. The war marked the end of an era of Negaran military superiority, and led to the New Policy whereby Negara sought to improve relations with other regional powers.

In Songguo, meanwhile, the war was hailed as a triumph over Negara, seen as the dog of the Euclean foreign imperialists. However, the concerns of some in the government led to a general purge later that year of the military (though Generals Bao and Kang were both spared after intensive investigation). Fears over the potential use by Negara of nuclear weapons also led to an acceleration of the construction of the Jingang-class submarine, and this is believed to possibly have led to a Songhua expansion of their Operation 0185. The war also gave Songguo diplomatic capital in the leadup to the critical Community of Nations vote

Location

Prior to the Negaran Revolution, the Southwest Frontier territory was commonly known as Lakshmi and was an autonomous kingdom of Serong. It remains a sparsely populated territory with diverse ethnic and religious groups, living in isolated towns and valleys divided by some of the world's largest mountains, but connections between some of the valleys allowed for a Songhua national highway to lead into the territory. The Sanku Valley was targeted by Negaran forces partially because the terrain was conducive to a strong defence: had Negaran infiltration managed to cross the valley, the high peaks and rough terrain of Sanku would allow them to enjoy advantages akin to a fortress.

Background

After the Siamati Revolution, tensions between Songguo and Negara had been renewed, especially as a result of both states possessing nuclear arsenals. Skirmishes along the border were generally precluded by the rough terrain and reluctance on the part of both Songhua and Negaran commanders to be responsible for another major war, particularly in the face of mutually assured destruction being a possibility.

However, in 1970, Songguo began pushing for a permanent committee seat in the Community of Nations, which Negara strongly opposed. With the vote mere weeks away and the Songhua position looking strong, Negaran leadership sought to send a strong final message to Tianjing to call off their ambitions. Divisional commander Adi Djinkarta was given orders to secure easily-fortified positions along the border, including launching expeditions into the Sanku valley, which led Songguo to raise the readiness of forces along the Frontier and also raised tensions between the two capitals.

Conflict

On the 25th of March, Djinkarta was given orders to advance to the Songhua side of the Sanku Valley, which he refused, citing insufficient divisional materiel and requesting additional support. On pain of court martial, he was re-issued the same orders on the 28th of March by President Susiloputra, who sought to take a more assertive stance against Songguo. Ultimately, Djinkarta was forced to comply, and on the 30th of March his division crossed into the Sanku valley. By the 2nd of April, Negaran forward divisional units had been engaged and had attacked Songhua reconnaissance and border control positions in the Sanku valley. As a result, Songguo mobilised a portion of the 19th and 20th Group Armies, preparing to cross into the Sanku valley.

Initial reports of a Songhua response were ignored by the NRA at the Corps and Army levels, and Djinkarta was denied the use of Corps-level air and artillery assets so as to not provoke a similar response. Division commander Djinkarta had managed to seize the central Valley, but a heavy-handed Songhua response put him on the defensive. Divisional anti-air and artillery units proved insufficient to hold their current positions, and repeated requests by Djinkarta for Army-level reinforcements were ignored, as Negara was facing diplomatic pressure from DITO to withdraw, both to prevent nuclear war, and as a result of it being the aggressor. As a result, he withdrew to the eastern ridge of the Sanku valley to establish a stronger defense.

Songhua commanders proved their expertise by relying on prepared artillery tables and superior concentration of firepower to provide effective counter-battery fire and eliminate Djinkarta's well-prepared defensive positions, albeit at some cost. Ultimately, Djinkarta delivered a conditional surrender to the Songhua army by the 8th of May, with his troops withdrawing from the Sanku Valley entirely. Songhua troops later withdrew to positions behind the Line of Control after both Negaran assurances that no further advances would be attempted (corroborated by the absence of Negaran mobilisation).

Aftermath

The conflict exposed major inadequacies in the training and equipment of Negaran forces stationed along the Southwest Frontier, as well as an unexpected degree of Songhua military competence. While the outcome of the conflict did not suggest a significant change in the balance of power in the Namkwonese theatre, it led to President Susiloputra professionalising the armed forces.

In Songguo, meanwhile, the military's success was looked on with mixed feelings by the Songhua government. Fears about a challenge to state control led to a general purge of the upper ranks, though Generals Bao and Kang were for the most part spared due to their popularity. Political restrictions were tightened even further. The looming threat of Negaran nuclear bombs also led the government to further accelerate the ballistic missile submarine program.

International reactions generally were favorable for Songguo and swung against Negara, strengthening the Songhua position in the CoN even further and resulting in Songguo being granted a permanent seat on the CoN's committees.