113 – Ukrnian Wave (2)
Air Force!
There was a time when the Army Air Corps and the Navy Air Corps were looked down upon as subsidiaries of other armies.
As I had lived in an era when air supremacy was the most important condition for winning or losing a war, I knew very well how strategically and tactically beneficial it was to ‘dominate the sky’.
Wouldn’t it be the same if we just recaptured Manifold right away? No matter how fortified they were, no matter how tightly they built their defenses.
It was helpless against the shelling of the Enoch fire support ship, which floated in the sky and poured shells leisurely.
Three 57mm howitzers, that’s enough firepower to say it’s artillery.
However, whether or not the will of the enemy can be broken simply with that alone is a different issue.
Originally, that’s what war is all about. Uh? It’s worth trying, but I think I can take it easy? The instant you decide, the earthenware pot will break.
That was the case with Nazi Germany in the original history, the United States in Somalia, and most recently Russia, the world’s second largest military power.
A lion must do his best when catching a rabbit.
Moreover, we are not lions, and our enemies are not rabbits.
If a fox wants to catch a poisonous snake, it’s not enough even if it’s life and death, let alone its best.
“Capturing two ironclads of the Azov National Liberation Front?”
“Yes. And with those two ships, we will blockade the coast.”
“A coastal blockade? What does that have to do with recapturing Portmork?”
“Have you heard of Operation Withering?”
There were two issues related to the recapture of Portmork.
First, the enemy’s defense is too thick.
Secondly, there are still quite a few civilians in Portmork.
“Portmork’s port is very narrow. It’s not even easy to land in the first place. According to the testimony of the Coast Guard guarding the city at the time, Azov dispersed its men on small merchant ships to occupy the port.”
So a larger number of civilians were able to escape. As the landing was relatively late and slow, the number of people who successfully evacuated was more than that of Maniopol.
“Thus, even if we proceed with the landing with the help of the remaining navy, it is certain that there will be considerable difficulties.”
And it was clear that the generals in front of him were well aware of this. Rather, it was because they were members of the southern corps that were evaluated as being quite good even within the Ukrnian military, so they were people who could at least self-objectify.
“Then why don’t we proceed with the landing at all?”
“That’s not true. Immediately after the capture of the ironclad ship, our special response brigade will be deployed to the eastern shore of Portmork at the same time as the coastal blockade.”
The operation was like this.
With the help of Diabola and the Ukrnian Navy’s Western Fleet, troops from the Special Response Brigade land and establish a defensive line to the east of the city.
Again, it’s a line of defense.
Proceed with the landing, but after securing a certain area, completely switch to defense. It is to block one side of Portmork while preserving the troops as much as possible.
“The amount of supplies that can be met by looting is limited. If we blockade the eastern port and block the sea route in the western port with two captured ironclads, the enemies who land in Portmork will be completely isolated.”
Operation Gosa is no different.
A strategy that prevents people from entering or exiting while holding on to supplies.
As time goes by, the Azov National Liberation Front, which is running out of food to eat, has the remaining options: to fight a battle of souls or to surrender unconditionally.
Furthermore, if this were to happen, the citizens held captive by the Azovs could have been rescued under the pretext of limited food supplies.
“Certainly, with this strategy, we can minimize the damage to our allies and only force the enemy to bleed.”
Another division commander, who was listening to me, spoke to Lieutenant General Geor. Apparently, this operation was to his liking.
“Leaving aside the recapture of Portmorque, how would you explain the vacuum in the islands that the captain just talked about?”
“Vacuum is also simple. As there are many restrictions on advancing to the Azov Islands right now. In the meantime, there are a lot of things to prepare for.”
The moment the ironclad ship is captured, it is as if the Ukrnians have the maritime rights of this coastal area.
While the forces in Portmorque are dying, the Liberation Front’s headquarters in the archipelago has no way of knowing the situation, so it will continue to send reinforcements and supplies.
If we mobilize ironclad ships and Enoch fire support ships to sink Azov’s ships approaching the nearby coast one by one, that alone can be seen as sufficient ‘war and expansion’.
“Without knowing what is going on on land, Azov will face a fierce counterattack by Ukrnian forces.”
For the first time, the system that has been the bane of the citizens for decades will come fully into the arms of Ukraine.
“We will win a victory that will go down in history.”
The goddess of fate was already smiling at Ukraine.
***
Exactly four days after the recapture of Maniopole.
At the time the bright full moon rose, the members of the 8th Assault Magic Infantry Combat Team gathered again.
“Sergeant Rick Hanson, are you feeling better?”
“I can’t be fine, I’m on the verge of dying. My body is screaming that it wants to shoot me right now.”
“Then are you really being taken to the 3rd company?”
When Rick Hanson returned with a bandage on his arm, his platoon members burst into laughter.
“My classmate is in the 3rd company, and among them, the 1st platoon is really crazy. The place where Lieutenant Berserker is.”
“Ah.”
Although normally timid, second lieutenant Hilton Calia, who became a berserker when he entered battle, was notorious even within the unit.
Even after recapturing Maniopole, they were the first platoon to arrive at City Hall after penetrating all the triple-layered defense lines.
In the meantime, there are zero serious injuries.
I doubted whether the goddess of the battlefield was really taking care of her.
Of course, Rick Hanson was not seriously injured. He really almost died as a scout leader, but he’s alive anyway, so it’s a joke.
With the exception of the two gunshot wounds, all of the scouting crew under his command belonged to the side unharmed, so it was fortunate.
“By the way, Sergeant Rick, have you been hearing some strange rumors lately?”
“What a rumor.”
“Every night a beautiful woman with red hair comes to say hello… ….”
“Boo, the unit commander is here. Sort it out!”
Rick hurriedly put his soldier’s mouth shut, then stood at attention. Just in time, Major Joseph and Captain Enoch appeared, and it was a surprise.
“Gentlemen.”
Garrison covered by moonlight. The Enoch unit commander, standing directly below him, opened his mouth. Although he is said to be a unit commander, in fact he was no different from a battalion commander, so everyone was listening to the young captain’s next words.
“Did you comfortably enjoy the four days of rest?”
“Yes!!”
“After playing that much, it’s time to work.”
It was a simple word.
Fishing guns, killing people, and winning battles have now become something close to simple ‘work’ for the members of the 8th Assault Magic Infantry Combat Team.
It’s been a long time since they’ve become war clerks.
When unit commander Enoch and chief of staff Joseph give assignments, they simply do their best to complete them in their respective positions.
And what about today’s assignments?
The Azov guys were taking the steel toy they were holding tightly in their arms.
***
5Km offshore from Portmorgue’s eastern port.
The interior of the Damascus, one of the two ironclad ships owned by the Azov Navy, was quiet. 4:00 Am, a midnight time when everyone is asleep except for the essential personnel to operate the ship.
After about 2 hours, it was time for us to be active as the sun slowly broke.
The officer who was on watch on Dama Scud’s bridge desperately endured the rush of drowsiness.
Now it was definitely in an exhibition state. It was clear that he would spend the whole day in the engine room cracking joints if he ever did end up facing the captain while dozing off on the bridge.
Besides, the Western Fleet was not completely destroyed, and the 2nd Regiment, which had occupied Maniopole with great vigour, was annihilated.
Of course, being sleepy was sleepy, though.
“Tsk, the land cubs are very fat, but what are we?”
“Still, how fortunate it was that we didn’t land on the Manifold side. All of the 2nd Regiment that landed there died.”
To his grumbling, a sailor who was on duty with him answered.
Was it Abdul Javaddehedan and Sahadin?
The news of the deaths of the two people who were the most aggressive in the Azov National Liberation Front and had positive opinions about the invasion of Ukraine was enough to lower the morale of the Azov Army.
“That’s right… ….”
Like a black devil.
The last time he moored briefly in Port Mork for supplies, he heard from a friend in the army.
However, no matter how black demons were, the story had nothing to do with them floating on the Great Sea.
How can they get close to Damascus when they don’t even have wings.
Even so, the Damascus is an unmatched ship against dozens of Ukrnian Western Fleet.
Even if you bring just a few boats along, you’ll be able to drown them all in the sea before they even land on the ship’s deck.
From noble mtl dot com
“Anyways, I will check the deck side now. It’s patrol time.”
“What is that, wake up the kids at the arsenal. Yesterday, I found out that you were sleeping in front of the captain, so there was an uproar.”
“Yes.”
He was a true soldier. Originally, he had to do it himself, but he himself took the lead and went out.
Thanks to that, I should be able to spend my duty comfortably today.
But the soldier did not return even after twenty and thirty minutes. How big does your belly need to be? It is a distance that can be run from the bow to the stern in two minutes.
‘I can’t be this late.’
If there was an accident on board, it was your responsibility as you were on duty. The moment he thought about that, cold sweat ran down the officer’s back.
“Damn, I guess I should check…” ….”
The moment he was about to stand up.
Correct.
I heard the sound of the bridge door opening.
“You were worried about me. Why are you so late!”
Did you have a late-night snack somewhere? If so, he was about to ask why he hadn’t brought his share.
But the person who opened the door was not a soldier.
A black outfit. All he could see was the ice-cold, brass-colored eyes.
“Surprise.”
Patchut, a purple flash shimmered and the officer’s head fell to the floor.
