Sanpo-Çakar War

Sanpo-Çakar War
Date 9.V.1716 AN - ongoing Location Beneluccas and Sri Pashana
Belligerents
Sanpantul	Çakaristan
Units involved
Spider Fleet	Green Fleet

The Sanpo-Çakar War is a war between Sanpantul and Çakaristan. It began with a surprise attack on the naval port of Yalpan on the north coast of Sri Pashana. This first attack initially caused much confusion as such an attack was part of the plot for a military exercise.

Background

Names of the Skerry Isles

Since the Sanpantul Empire was reduced to East Sandwich Island, but the population continued to grow, a need for expansion arose. Under the Çakari flag, Sanpantul became an unincorporated territory, with its inhabitants free to settle in other parts of the Çakar Empire. A nationalist movement, Sanpantul Victory Banner, had won the elections overwhelmingly with their message for "Restoring glory to the Empire" and "Room for every Sanpō".

There is a suspicion that Atiya bint Alsalam initiated the war behind the scenes. But direct involvement cannot be proven. Those who openly voice this suspicion in Sanpantul are dismissed as conspiracy theorists. Political opponents who voice this suspicion in front of a wider audience are arrested. To avoid using the queen's name, they are referred to instead as Aka no joō (赤の女王), meaning: Red Queen.

Eastern Horizon

Already years ago, a military exercise called: Eastern Horizon was prepared. This exercise falls in a sequence of military exercises organised in turn by the various military districts. The aim is for the armed forces to exercise jointly and under different conditions. In 1716 AN, it was the turn of the Chattaan Military District, the district encompassing the Beneluccas and Sri Pashana. In this exercise, the Royal Army of Sanpantul was invited to participate.

The plot was that the Royal Army of Sanpantul together with part of the Naarangee Fleet would attack the composite fleet under a fictitious flag. The composite fleet would consist of parts from the Çakari Navy's other fleets and is referred to as the Green Fleet.

Eruption of Mount Broadshaw

The Mount Broadshaw volcanic eruption did not cause major damage for Sanpantul, Beneluccas and Sri Pashana. There were Micrasquakes, but they were not enough to stop the military exercise. Planning exercises continued as there was no expectation of getting permission to provide assistance by military means. Civilian assistance was provided through informal contacts with Nouvelle Alexandrie.

Surprise attack on Yalpan

The first days of the war follow the plot of the exercise "Eastern Horizon". Herewith an overview of the plot versus what happened:

Day	Exercise plot	What happened: Spider Fleet	What happened: Green Fleet	Maps
Day -3	The composite fleet, the Green Fleet, gathers at the naval port of Yalpan. The joint fleet of the Royal Army of Sanpantul and the Naarangee Fleet raise the Spider Flag.	The joint fleet sails to their starting positions.	The last convoy of Green Fleet ships has been delayed. It is expected to arrive a day too late.
Day -1	Nothing scheduled	The Spider Fleet decides to go ahead with the attack.	The men of the Green Fleet are sleeping off their intoxication from the previous evening. The military council decides to postpone the exercise for two days.
Day 1	The exercise is opened by an air strike on Yalpan. The radar is equipped with all kinds of phantom aircrafts as part of the exercise. An amphibious landing on the south-east side of Bell Rock.	Jet fighters take off from two aircraft carriers, northeast of Portpur. Squadrons fly over northern Sri Pashana to Yalpan. The first targets at Yalpan naval base were fired. Among them were the radar and communication installations. Immediately afterwards, the largest ships were attacked and the air base's runway. An amphibious landing on the north-east side of Bell Rock. From the air, the military base on Bell Rock was bombarded. The space centre and nearby airfield were captured. Immediately, anti-aircraft guns and driving equipment were brought in by transport planes. A third wave of attacks with bombing of Yalpan, also hitting the town and the civilian airport.	The commander of military air traffic control is confused about the attack as it had been delayed. Yalpan is not alerted. The anti-aircraft guns were armed with practice rounds. It took a while for the posts to be manned, but real rounds were stored in a bunker as a precaution. This bunker was guarded by soldiers from the Chattaan Military District. The prevented access to the bunker until it became untenable. Thereupon, the bunker was blown up by them. A delayed civil airliner en route to Ruhatyn reports large fireballs and clouds of smoke to air traffic control.
Day 2	A chase by submarines on the convoy of ships including the aircraft carriers.	An advance of troops on Bell Rock, setting up coastal defences in anticipation of the arrival of the delayed convoy of ships. The Bell Rock military base is attacked, but the anti-aircraft defence is operational and fires back. Paratroopers land on the south side of the only land link from Bell Rock to the Island of Duras. They set up a reinforcement to hold this south side. Parts of the Spider Fleet begins a pursuit of the delayed convoy of ships. Submarines launch an assault.	The convoy of ships has stopped and sent reconnaissance drones, until correct intelligence is gathered the convoy holds its position. Land troops from the military base at Kahavatta advance towards Yalpan to come to the rescue. Navy ships set sail from Sri Luthore naval base. These ships were not part of the exercise.