Age of Imperialism 2.0: TURN 4| January, 1920 (Week 5) (Turn 4, Part 5 of 12)
Friday, February 5thGeneral Tujoki's
I Infantry Corps resumes marching toward Wuwei. After three miles in light rain and poor conditions, Tujoki sends units from the
Runner's Company to scout the surrounding terrain. With the weather deteriorating once again,
I Infantry Corps will be stuck. Instead, Tujoki orders his men to set up camp on high ground with fires to stay warm. The men are relieved, and all across the western plains small fires light up as men escape the cold.
Throughout the night, Ki-Yuxiang, whose own scouts saw the beleaguered Fusan troops, ordered his men forward for an assault. 55,000 in all, they came forward quietly along hills and ridge lines, the rain pattering off their wool jackets. General Ki-Yuxiang ordered all helmets stowed, so the rain might not
tink-tink-tink off their helmets. When finally they were close enough, the company commanders gave the order to fire at will and the Yuxiang forces opened fired, mostly bolt-action rifles and sporadic Zurrandt-12 machine guns. The Fusans did not return fire. Ordered forward, the Yuxiang forces found the tents uninhabited, the supply crates empty.
Fusan forces under Tujoki moving around the overconfident Yuxiang offensive Tujoki, who understood that the Yuxiang would be tracking his every move across the border, ordered the tents and camp fires up as a ruse. With the tents in place, he ordered his men back to the periphery and up along the north and south tree lines. When the Yuxiang concentrated their forces, the sighted in Type 9a 37mm Cavalry Gun's opened fire. The pincer move started minutes after. The Yuxiang forces, raiders, scavengers and militiamen, were not fit for fighting. They offered some brief counter fire then started a wild retreat back to the east. Tujoki closed the circle, and by dawn, had captured 24,000 men and most of their equipment.
The
Battle of Wuwei had been a stellar victory.
Saturday, February 6thThe
Ferro-Korenian War maintains a static front, but with the weather clearing up, the battle for the skies returns. During the morning of February 6th, a pair of Sinier S.130's and a single Strzelec-1F engage in combat. No planes are shot down.
Sunday, February 7thPrime Minister Bradel of the
Korenian Republic makes an appeal to the
Osladian Empire, sending a pair of delegates to discuss the arrangement of further weapons of war that might help turn the tide of battle. While without any money, Bradel requests a running debt of 20,000,000 Korenian krachts be allowed that may be paid off after the war's fruitful conclusion.
Monday, February 8thGeneral Johann Constantin Bosianu of the Ferrareian 7th Army, with the nominal command of the
Mobile Corps under him, prepares an offensive on the right flank to break through the Korenian line. Nicknamed Operation Silhouette, the army entails an offensive made by 55,000 men after an intensive three day air campaign to achieve air superiority for better reconnaissance.
Ferrareian J2's, 3 days before Operation Silhouette Tuesday, February 9thThe first day of Operation Silhouette commences, with five Strzelec-1F fighters taking off from snowy airfields across the Ferro-Korenian border. They're met by five Sinier F.130's and a brief dogfight ensues where two of the F.130's are shot down.
Wednesday, February 10thA second day of fighting occurs, where over the course of eighteen sorties, six Strzelec-1F and nine Sinier F.130's are shot down. The Ferrareians Air Force not only has a better aircraft, sent to them by the Boletarians, but now outnumber the Korenian Air Force.
Thursday, February 11thOperation Silhouette begins.
XII Corps (55,000 Regulars / 65 Artillery I / 3 Terrible War Tanks) begin their offensive after a two hour long artillery barrage. The Gothpat 105mm proves resoundingly more lethal than the Korenian's Gambio K.19, but is difficult to master. During the two hour barrage, 14 of the 65 guns run too hot and pause firing to cool down. The offensive begins.
The Korenians, who have significantly more tanks than the Korenians, learn that tanks are currently unfit for defensive operations. With 12 of their 20 Osladian bought O-26's in range, the Korenians are unable to stop the incoming J2's. Instead, artillery guns are taken from their position in order to fire at the low sitting tanks. Two of the J2's are destroyed after advancing only 1.2 kilometers, while 5 of the Korenian O-26's succumb to the fire of the Gothpat 105's.
Osladian O-26 during Operation Silhouette
WEEKLY LOSSES--
Imperial Republic of Fuso* -
1,109 Regulars* -
1,099 Rifle I (
Taijima Type 44r)
* -
391 Equipment I* -
1 Artillery I (
Type 9a 37mm Cavalry Gun)
* +
21,964 Rifle I (
Mako Type 1899 Rifle)
* +
24,215 Prisoners of War
Bigger:
i.imgur.com/IfSzGm1.jpgThe World, 1921