Benacian Western Defence Zone
The Benacian Western Defence Zone was an area of fortifications and prepared defensive works, commenced by the Benacian Union and the Benacia Command of the Raspur Pact along the frontiers of Amokolia and Siyachia facing onto the eastern border of Batavia. Work began on the fortifications following the accession of Batavia into the USSO, repudiating the obligations of its neutrality and obliging the allied Benacian powers to begin a build up of armaments.
Southern Sector Defensive Lines
Following the Batavian decision of 24.IX.1702 AN, the Black Legions began to mobilize the civilian population of Siyachia to help prepare the defences. By the end of the tenth month more than 105,000 civilians were at work, that figure rising to 300,000 by Oskalteq, as conscripts from the Benacian Labour Reserve began to arrive. The object of their labours was the construction of a series of defences designed specifically to embroil, channel and 'bleed white' the mass of armour that the USSO were expected to deploy. Under the guidance of contracted ESB engineers, a 'belt' of regimental fire and support positions, anti-tank 'resistance points' and mines linked by an extensive trench system was established. 8.5cm anti-aircraft guns and 12.2cm and 15.2cm howitzers supported by 12.0cm heavy mortars were emplaced in heavily camouflaged circular fire positions to bring rapid and very heavy fire to bear on the potential axes of a hypothetical Batavian advance.
In total, the Black Legions poured in more than 20,000 guns and mortars, 6,000 anti-tank guns and 920 rocket batteries, to support the defences of the "Siyacher Army". During the autumn the Black Legions had laid more than 40,000 mines over the entire western frontier of the Governorate, in fields left muddy and churned following the final harvest and the autumnal rains, rendered their presence invisible. The density of the minefields, particularly between the regimental strongpoints, was remarkably high, with anti-tank mines averaging 2,400 per kilometre and anti-personnel mines 2,700 per kilometre. Trenches linking the strongpoints were dug on a vast scale with a total length for those in the border approaching 3,100 kilometres.
Southern Sensor Network
Based on previous experience with the Vigilamus Network, plans for the defensive works included provision for the construction of a sensor network comprised of the following three layers:
- (0-5km from frontier): Spotter planes, drones, cameras, aerostats, sector intervals of 12km;
- (10-50km from frontier): short-range, low altitude radar network, sector intervals of 36km;
- (50-100km+): solid state phased array radar with over the horizon ability, sector intervals of 72km.
Bastions of Defence
Specialised belts of fortifications, designated as Bastions of Defence, were to be constructed around the middling provincial cities of Daschau and Litkov, enclosing areas that would contain command and control assets for field army and corps level formations, flak towers, MilZig complexes, and hardened silos housing the S-3 Schlächter ballistic missile, ensuring that the Southern Sector is equipped with its own independent first strike capabilities in the event of a surprise attack.
Construction
The belt of entrenchments and prepared defences are to be completed by no later than the second month of 1703 AN, with sensor networks in place and bastions of defence prepared to 75% completion by the final month of 1704 AN.
The planned northern defensive works seemingly never materialised during that period, perhaps owing to the period of confusion in the northern realms following the Scouring.
Interlude
After Batavia unified with Shireroth, a founding member of the Raspur Pact, in 1711 AN, the Benacian Western Defence Zone lost its relevance until the withdrawal of Shireroth from the joint military structure of Benacia Command in 1724 AN.
In spite of the withdrawal of forces from the defensive lines, no attempt was made to demine the border region, with the consequence that in the period 1711 AN to 1729 AN five hundred and twenty-two civilians would be killed by encountering forgotten landmines and a further 2,506 maimed similarly.
Reoccupation and restoration
The State Guard of Elluenuueq and the State Guard of the Unified Governorates were directed to occupy the northern and southern sectors of the Benacian Western Defence Zone respectively as of 10.VI.1729 AN.
