NationStates Jolt Archive

Forces from the Calarcian Gallaga armies have been massing quietly just south and inland of Bombay. by now the regular garrison of the provincial military has been swolen to 120,000 by the addition of 80,000 conscripted native soldiers issued with bolt action rifles and given a fortnight of quick trining in their use.
The regular army of 20,000 includes a Battalion of Heavy armoured cars and four regiments of Artillary supporting eight Battalions of infantry and two regiments of logistical support.

The battalion of armoured cars, supported by three of the regiments of artillery and 60,000 infantry are marching north from the training area near Bombay to assult the south edge of Agrientos Karachi territories, aiming to cause a disengagement from the northern Trucial States front in order to reinforce the south border. Once in contact with Argrientoian forces the infantry will dig in and hold any captured bridges or access points. As the armoured cars make raids into enemy territory until such timea s bridges and roads are unsafe to use.

160 Dervishes supported by 30 Whirlwind fighters are escorting 40 "Devastator" heavy bombers and 30 Bat light bombers on an attack on Karachi, 60 Dervishes and all the Whirlwinds will stay with the bombers while the remaining 100 fighters bounce the enemy planes as they scramble. the Bat light bombers are carrying 2 Torpedos each which will be released in Karachi naval dockyards (think pearl harbour, yeah, I know most of the fleets out (I think) attempting to blockade the bay between gallaga and Africa.) to attempt to destroy any ships in port, nad if an insufficiencey of targets, will be aimed at striking piers and drydocks.
The Devastators will be targetting any enemy airfield, with the intention of removing Agrientos ability to match Calarca in the air. The first 12 C-5 2700Hp fighters have not yet arrived in Gallaga, but will be there soon.



(OOC: Regiments are rear echelon troops, arty etc... that either don't engage the enemy or do it at long range, Battalions are units that engage directly. Also Regiments and armoured car Battalions have internal transport, such as gun trucks to tow their arty. Infantry Battalions don't.

army orgainsation of infantry is platoons of 30, 4 per company of 120 men, 3 companies per Troop of 360 men, 3 Troops per Battalion of 1080 men.
Orgainsations of Arty is 30 per platoon with 2 guns, 10 serving each gun and the rest support, command etc, humping around ammo to the servers, driving ammo trucks, giving orders, watching where shells fall out ahead over the hills and so on. thats 8 guns per company, 24 per troop, and 72 guns per regiment. mostly 75mm gins in Gallaga. these are rapid firers, one shell per 8 seconds rapid, one shell per 12 seconds sustained for one hour. one shell per 20 seconds continuous fire for 24/7 if theres enough ammo.
Orgainsation of Armoured car battallions are. 6 cars per platoon with 3 people in them, driver, gunner, and commander. thats 18 people, the remaining 12 are support, mechanics, tanker truck drivers, etc. 18 armoured cars per company, 72 per troop, and 216 per Battalion. these are all of the large type shown in the armaments thread with the big gun on them.
The logistics regiments are eqipped with trucks, a company of light armoured cars as protection, and a dozen of the tracked mobility vehicle. )

"This theory of indirect co-opeation seems to be working, Wilson! Jerry's got to guard against the British, and now the Ercs have Karachi to look after. I wouldn't be surprised if we make Cairo before anyone notices!"

The Deputy PM gave an "Mh" and a half-hearted nod for the PM's benefit.

Meanwhile Naval Group Ceyloba would continue to do her bit to contribute in any maritime blockade of Karachi and the region, as SOW operatives in the nation were to make efforts to feed information to their Calarcan allies (who frankly are probably better placed to have their own operatives in the area, but y'never know eh?)

Given heart by news of a Calarcan buildup, Company generals again brought up the issue of a foray from the Company's frontier bases near Delhi into Ercolanan Punjab. Commonwealth military men were more hesitant, citing the dangers and the need to keep the Ganges River Basin solidly in Iansislean hands.

Company forces in the area, while numerous (nearly 40,000), are not well trained or equiped. It is currently estimated that the Company runs one hundred and sixty Gallagans for every Shieldian in their army. While the Commonwealth has endevoured to start shipping newer M74A rifles and their ten round magazines to Gallaga, supply problems in Iansisle itself means that the Company relies on the old, bulky, awkward, short-ranged M71B large caliber, slow muzzle velocity rifle. There are some armored cars, but they are mainly used for riot control in Nusheld and Kanpur. 75mm H-1 howitzers are deployed, but the low number of Shieldian gunners trained in their use limits areas where they can be used.

(EDIT: I accidently posted the entire Company Army (190,000, most of whom are in Bengal, Fort Manly, and Nusheld) as being in Delhi. :oops:

Sorry about that.)

The garrision at Karachi is growing increasingly tense as of late. The night before a whole regiment of native conscripts resigned from the service and dissappeared into the mountains of the north. The forces their remain understrength, although well dug in. Karachi itself has been woven with palisades (weak strenght but should slow the enemies advance just enough for the highly mobile forces to engage them. Three divisions of Ercolanan Regulars make up the core of the infantry fighting force (36,000 men), while several reinforced regiments of native conscripts makes up the normal forces (approx. 80,000 men). The Regular divisions are equipped with the newest weapons of the Ercolanan War effort, while the Natives are equipped with lower quality bolt actions. Machine Gun nests are arranged all over the city, but undermanned. Their is very little heavy artillery in the city but many mortar teams scattered around the forces, mixed with the AT crews. Finally two Armored Battalions are also present. They are equipped with mostly light tanks, but some mediums in the mix. Armored cars are also employed, but are considered of lesser strategical value to Ercolanan High Command.

The Air Contigent is made up of approximately 300 "Veltro" Fighters and many light-medium bombers.

(ooc: At the moment this is about as accurate as I can get, I know its all very vague, but in a little bit I should be able to clarify.

BTW you are fighting against Ercolana, I know it is confusing, because I am too lazy to switch nations)

The Calarcian forces moved out from behind their borders as the aircraft roared overhead, the fast fighters of the bounce force streaking off first to catch the enemy on the ground before they could scramble, knowing that if the Macchi Veltros could reach the air then their superior numbers would cause things to go Awry, even tho they could not possibly hope to outturn the stubby little Dervishes.
The foot troops were riding on as many commandeered trucks and lorries as could be rounded up, however that still left over two thirds of the foot infantry marching. The advance forces of the Armoured cars, Artillery and lorry mounted footsloggers pushed rapidly though the independant native kingdoms Calarca maintained as a buffer between themselves and other nations, the native forces not wishing to tangle with such a large force. Once reaching the border of Ecolana, the Artillery ste up over a hill Laagered inside the Armoured cars while the foot infantry dismounted and positioned themselves on the far side of the hills beween themselves and the border crossings.

(OOC: I'm pushing 1/5 of my leading force through each of 5 border crossings, chosen for having hills very close on the native side, once over they'll dig in and wait for the rest to march up on foot or in the lorries which are returning to fetch them. What border forces are there? They'll be able to hear lots of racket on the far side of the hills, but not be able to see more than a cloud of dust.)

The invaders could see from the hill crest artillery spotters emplacements, the ercolanian forces protection the border, at precisely 3pm every gun in the Calarcian invasion force opened fire on the border protection forces, after 15 minutes of fire the troops brust over the hill tops like a breaking wave, flanked by Armoured cars spitting machinegun fire like mad banshees.

The Bat and Devastator bombers and their fighter escort swept over at the same time, following their now distant fighter protection force now strafing hopefully unwarned and unprepared Ercolanian airdromes, keeping down the enemy planes as the bombers sweep in to destroy their airdromes and shipyards.

Most of the border patrols were brought back inside the city to avoid decimation at the hands of the onslaughting enemy troops and artillery. Anti-aircraft cannons were being manned and AAA was quickly filling the air with flak.

Despite being caught off guard high command knew an attack was imminent and began to call for reinforcements. Far off in Punjab tanks were being mobilized from their yards and sent on a cross country race to Karachi with Infantry filled trucks in their wake. Nimble german-made Kubelwagons filled with Ercolanan Soldiers began to emerge from the city on reconassiance missions to determine the enemies full strength.

As the faster Armoured cars burst though the light wooden barrier arms surviving at the border posts, machineguns spitting at anything moving, the thousands of Calarcian troops poured down the hills on foot following, meanwhile two thirds of the artillery mounted up again, hitching their guns to the back of their trucks and following the troops.
as the regular forces in their armoured cars met any resistance from the retreating ercolanians they held them down with machinegun fire frmo their turrents and waited for the foot troops and artillery to do the heavy work of wiping them out.
Shortly after the attack began, the commandeered local lorries drove up fom the southern staging posts with another load of troops, driving across the open border and continuing onwards to meet up with the rear echelons of the armoured cars. these men sought out defenable areas and dug in, the artillery rumbling up and also digging in, one out of every three guns mounted as antitank guns, the rest as AA or Artillery, pointing at the skies.

Up in the air over the enemy Airfields half a dozen Dervishes flew out of control and smashed into the ground trailling smoke, only two parachutes were seen, the rest of the planes flew low over the airfields braving the machinegun nests and spraying bullets and cannon shells at the scrambling figures racing to get their planes in the air, higher up a top cover patrol flew, swooping down to engage any Macchis which managed to get off the ground with thier advantage of height and speed. One of the ground strafing planes was hit by AA fire as it sped across the enemy airfield, the streams of tracer from the ground machine gun sweepign through the cockpit area, the chatter from it's wing mounted cannons stopped as it nosed over and slammed into the ground, skiddign across the tarmac and slamming through the side of the hangar it had been shooting at moments before, flames from the ruptured tank spreading wide and licking up the side of the wooden building. the screams of the ground crews trapped inside could be heard for several agonising minutes, followed by several pistol shots and merciful silence.

Bump,,, Ag, where are you?

"Forza Ercolana" was not the call echoing in the streets of Karachi to rally the troops. All political officers were gone, much more needed on the front. But through the center of the seaside city the silence was broken not by artillery fire or an overpassing airplane but by the voice of the muslim clerics calling the men to war. The citizens of Karachi liked their Ercolanan rulers, particularly for the great freedoms of religion they bestowed and their endorsement of communal works and civil projects. Now men, young and old began to pour out of their houses and homes, hunting rifles in hand, tulwars and hunting knives at their sides. They were not going to give up one ruler for another on this day.

ooc: hope this makes sense...pretty busy at the moment...only thing coherent I can right. Be back soon though.

(OOC: It'll do, but I was wanting to know how many planes were hit on the ground and exactly what AAA mine ran into.)

The loud rumble of Bomber engines was heard from the airbases surrounding Karachi as the Calarcian heavy bomber force came sweeping over the Ecolanian bases at medium altitude, their bomb bays sagging open and releasing hundreds of 250 lb bombs over their targets. Further out over the harbour the shrill rasp of the Bat's straight 18 engines echoed back from the hills as they swept low over the water, the torpedos they carried dropping free to land in the harbour with a series of spashes.

Those members of the Ercolanian Air Force that had managed to get airborne were pounced on from abover by the Bombers escort as they swooped down to aid their lower flying brethren.

Further to the south the armoured cars were making hit and run jaunts from behind the lines the infantry were rapidly digging, the artillery smashing flat any concentration of enemy troops the armoured cars radioed back about that happened to be within their range. The Armoured cars themselves were proving useful, the quad .50s and 2 pounders of the heavy cars backing up the numerous 7x57mm's of the light cars as they flitted around the dry farms and packed dirt roads of the region.
Later, as the final troops arrived from the south there would be another sortie to gain more ground, but for now the commanders were content to wait and be a nusience, attracting attention away from The Trucial States to the north.

Most of the garrisioned Airplanes were destroyed on the ground, numbering around 800 fighters alone. Those that were not destroyed would not be able to take off for some time, as the runways were litered with their burning brethren. However, while the runways were left inoperable the one full-size aircraft carrier and three smaller aircraft carriers just outside of port were still almost completely unscythed. Several destroyers and a battlecruiser, just returning to port turned there guns to defend both these carriers and to provide support to Karachi. 58 Macchis took to the air and began to chase the the bombers and torpedo planes.

The lightly armored enemy cars were no match for the new Martello rocket launchers and their 3.5 kg HEAT rounds. These weapons were very liberally dispersed among both the Ercolanan Regulars and local conscripts.

ooc: You damaged a lot of my ships in the harbor but these ships were returning to port from anti-merchant patrols.

Any pointers as to where your land forces are? I'm not actually penetrating far, just enough to make you divert resources south, I'm not in range of Karachi city itself yet. exept for the airborne chaps.

Any pointers as to where your land forces are? I'm not actually penetrating far, just enough to make you divert resources south, I'm not in range of Karachi city itself yet. exept for the airborne chaps.

Well they are in the countryside immediately surrounding Karachi, our only major holding in the area.

((Can I join in? I'd appriate it!))

Static defense lines are being setup with several fall back positions. Towed 37mm Anti-Tank guns are being moved into position, with more powerful self propelled artillery en-route along with Armored Reinforcements.

Trenches are being dug...slowly as the dirt is not exactly the easiest to work with, or the native engineers the most dedicated.

"Admiral Trang, urgent dispatch from Imperial Command," the comm officer said. "WOrd from t he Provisional council themselves."

Lotus Admiral Trang took the slip of paper and read it slowly. His eyes skimmed over the colorful Islandian characters, reading between and beyond the sparse message Islandian Provisional Military Command had sent.

'Maintain course and heading. Land troops at allied port of Karachi. Prepare for war/end dispatch.'

Trang watched as his fleet, comprising two light aircraft carriers, six swift Fei-Nung class Cruisers, two Insolent Shadow class destroyers, and two Islandian Courage class amphibious assault transports, carrying almost a division of Marine Guards.

Trang did not understand what Command had in mind as he ordered helm to change course, but then again, he was not a politician; just a soldier. He hoped that the bureaucrats were right for once.

Ceyloba

Frazer could again be found gazing into the falling sun.. or was it rising? It barely seemed to matter. Nothing happened either way.

Do I even need three hundred aircraft? He wondered. A naval battle group? And an entire army Corps? Is Ceyloba a back-up Walmington incase someone steals the original?

The skies and seas south of Gallaga idled with Walmingtonian might on hold. Young men wondered if they shouldn't be helping out Iansisle east, or Calarca north west. There was more action back in Norbray.

At most, the island was a fortified check-point for travellers between allied Africa and the Asian colonies.

OOC: EI, where are your ships coming from? They'd have to pass by mine across the bottom of the bay between Africa and India/Gallaga, and I'm swarming through the Indonesian archipelargo and towards India and south to Australia. so to reach Karachi would encounter some of my naval forces first.

Cruiser Group between Cape Town and Bombay heading east by south towards the tip of Gallaga.

The four heavy Cruisers of Battle group three, Bombay, steamed along steadily with their two light cruiser and six destroyer escort flanking and preceeding them. Commadore Tushing was looking forward to docking at Ceyloba for a friendly port vist before putting out again to Bombay to refit for another extended cruise in the seas to the west of Gallaga. It was about time they got shore leave after six weeks at sea.

Forward Artillery Observation post In sight of Ercolanian lines southeast of Karachi.
Sgt Beavers peered through his binoculars at the enemy Anti Tank cannon that had destroyed three Armoured cars already before picking up the handset of the field telephone leading back to the car and the heavy wireless inside.

"Target sighted, Position AC344 - SA153, one round sighting, fire."

After watching the 90mm round land from the battery set up behind the hill to his south where it could not be seen by the enemy he made a few corrections, making his fifth such attack that day.

"Short, North 220, east 75. Fire."

"Over, south 40, west 10, all guns, Fire."

Giving the command for all the guns in the battery to open fire at once at the scurrying soldiers. Shortly afterwards there was a satasfying crump as an incoming round destroyed the cannon and the stacked ready use ammo detonated.

"Target, Cease Fire. Pack and move."

ooc: They are personal launchers...like the bazooka. It is in my Ercolanan's Military Development Thread.

actually.. im not quite so sure about this. Im fighting with Agrigento, but i dont know just exactly what we're supposed to do and whos on whos side. And my forces are coming from the direction of Austrailia.

Ag. editing to be firing at an 37mm AT cannon then. sorry, was thinking of them being like the russian tube rocket arty.

EI, Coming south from bases in Laos and Thai would pass my patrols and planes steaming and flying between Sumatra, Java and Gallaga/india, Crossing north of Aust from the south china sea/mainland china without my knowledge would be next to impossible. and to go south of aust would mean crossing my heavily patrolled supply lines from indonesia/Gallanesia to Calarca/New Zealand. You would have to swing wide out into the pacific and go east and around NZ, then west south of Aust, leaving you short on fuel oil on reaching Karachi, and crossing WoS and my heavily patrolled supply lines between Cape Horn and Bombay/Ceyloba.

"Sir, we need to talk about Artillery", said General Turtella

"How so? Our high velocity 37 mm'ers are ripping the enemy vehicles to shreds...", replied the Theatre Commander, Teodoro Giovanile.

"Not ours sir, the enemy's. They have been hitting our positions, and there isn't a damn thing we can do about it!!", said the General

"But the Self-Propelled Artillery is going to be here...", started Teodoro.

"By weeks end this battle will be over!! We need to act, and we need to act quickly.", he interupted.

"Well, what do you propose?"

"We get the squadrons from up in Punjab down here to take strafe the enemy positions!"

"But they are on reserve!!"

"And when the war is over, when bombs are falling on Troma itself, are they still going to be on reserve?? Sitting in their hangars??"

"I see your point....I will send word to High Command immediately."

"But that will take forev...", he pauses, "Yes sir, thank you sir."


(Terrible Bureaucratic Inefficiency in Action! Hallmark of almost all Italian Operations in WWII!)