Battle of Krantbuurg

Battle of Krantbuurg
Part of Meckelno–Nü Krantisk War
Date 5.XII.1753 AN–ongoing Location Krantbuurg, Lac Glacei Result Ongoing
Belligerents
Meckelnburgh	Nü Krantisk Repüblik
Commanders and leaders
Yvette Royston Flæmingr Périgord Jules Sneijder	Unknown
Units involved
1st Armored Division 2nd Battalion, Arctic Rangers 12th Fighter Wing 251st Bomber Squadron	NKR study groups
Strength
7 strategic bombers 86 main battle tanks 16,500 soldiers and airmen	Unknown
Casualties and losses
389 servicemembers 1 unmanned aerial reconnaissance vehicle 1 assault helicopter 1 main battle tank 5 infantry fighting vehicles 17 prison camp evacuees	Unknown

The Battle of Krantbuurg was the first major engagement of the Meckelno–Nü Krantisk War, itself part of the NKR insurrection, following a six-month siege against the city of Krantbuurg in insurrectionist-controlled Lac Glacei. The battle was conducted by the Meckelnburgh National Guard, with support by the Royal Meckelnburgh Air Force, against irregular "study group" fighters of the Nü Krantisk Repüblik.

Background

The war was declared in IV.1753 AN by the United Kingdom of Meckelnburgh following various crimes of genocide committed by the Nü Krantisk Repüblik in the wake of its insurrection against the government of Lac Glacei. A rapid attack against western Balduvien resulted in swiftly reaching Krantbuurg in VI.1761 AN. The city is a notable symbol of the NKR, with its namesake in the Crandish people.

Following failed surrender demands in VII.1761 AN from Meckelnburgh to forces of the NKR, the siege against Krantbuurg began with shelling against armed and fortified positions, as well as administrative centers in downtown. The 1st Armored Division of Meckelnburgh took up positions around the city with an especially fortified eastern guard, preventing the resupply of the city by anything other than permitted food, water and other heating supplies.

With the protracted siege, further action was finally deemed necessary, though expected to be a costly engagement. Compounded with the terrorist attack against Salem on 9.IX.1753 AN, patience for a diplomatic solution ran out.

Order of battle

The majority of the offensive was conducted by the 1st Armored Division, the only division in the Meckelnburgh National Guard and operational unit of the Metropolitan Armored Brigade, Western Armored Brigade and 1st Motorized Infantry Brigade. The land forces were lead in the field by Cpt. Gen. Flæmingr Périgord, with Col. Gen. Yvette Royston as commander of all forces on the Krantbuurg Front.

Units of the Royal Meckelnburgh Air Force were commanded in a combined fighter, bomber and assault helicopter task force by Air. Cmde. Jules Sneijder. Further support was provided by the 2nd Battalion, Arctic Rangers and the Army Intelligence Battalion of the Royal Meckelnburgh Corps of Signals.

Course of the battle

Downtown Krantbuurg after a round of artillery fire on 5.XII.

5.XII

In the early morning of 5.XII.1753 AN, aircraft of the RMBAF 251st Bomber Squadron's Flights Alpha and Bravo began a divided attack against southwest and northeast Krantbuurg, attacking communications systems and outlying defensive guard posts, downing local television and radio throughout the city. Elements of the Western Armored Brigade and the 5th Regiment Royal Artillery proceeded into the southern suburbs of Krantbuurg with 44 main battle tanks.

Simultaneously, the Metropolitan Armored Brigade shored up the outlying guard to the north and east of the city. The division artillery, the 7th Regiment (Rkt) Royal Artillery, engaged in tactical strikes against administrative headquarters in downtown Krantbuurg, igniting a two-block blaze around city hall.

Some 30 minutes after the battle began, the RMBAF official Tweeter account posted a lone gif with the line "Surprise motherfucker."

By mid-afternoon, brigade artillery of the Western Armored Brigade launched tactical strikes against management offices of Krantbuurg International Airport south of downtown, before the 351st Helicopter Assault Squadron dropped a battalion of special forces rangers on the outskirts of the airport. Urban combat and hand-to-hand fighting continued for hours as the force of 450 rangers progressed in a costly struggle, aided mostly by the rangers' training compared to the irregular insurrectionists.

Krantbuurg International Airport was secured by special forces shortly before dusk, with the Western Armored Brigade taking up a forward post in the airport. The 1st Mobile Infantry Battalion placed a guard around the airport to resist further attempts to reclaim the airport as night fell. During the evening, up four blocks of downtown Krantbuurg were engulfed in flames.

6.XII

On the second day of battle, light rain fell over Krantbuurg, reducing access for artillery fire and close air support. The Western Armored Brigade focused on airport repairs to support the forward basing of aircraft, resulting in the arrival of the 122nd Fighter Squadron that evening for forward deployment. The Army Battalion of the Royal Corps of Signals began an extensive drone reconnaissance project over southern Krantbuurg, losing one UAV in the process, but identifying the location of a NKR-run prison camp southwest of the city.

7.XII

As the weather cleared on the third day, the Western Armored Brigade Reconnaissance Company in tandem with the 351st Helicopter Assault Squadron launched a raid against the prison camp in southwest Krantbuurg. A light artillery barrage 100 m away against guards on the west side was followed by a charge of Strider CV Combat Vehicles into the fences of the camp. Vicious combat followed, including a focused use of hand-to-hand knives, bayonets and point-blank autocannon fire against the defending NKR forces.

After one hour of attack, assault helicopters landed in the center of the prison camp, beginning the evacuation of over 150 victims and political prisoners of the NKR's genocide. All prisoners who could be found were loaded onto helicopters, with the loss of one carrying 17 prisoners downed by NKR anti-aircraft fire. After a two-hour raid, the Battalion Reconnaissance Company began its planned escape from the camp, arriving back to Krantbuurg International Airport.

Forces of the 4th Regiment Royal Artillery in the Metropolitan Armored Brigade to the north continued shelling downtown against administrative centers of the NKR and against armories in the industrial district throughout the day.

Nimbo B-4 Executioner on bombing raid over Krantbuurg on 9.XII.

8.XII

In the early morning hours, the Metropolitan Armored Brigade began a movement southward into the industrial heart of Krantbuurg, aiming to capture the city's power station and establishing a new base of operations. Much of the industrial area had been leveled by bombing during the siege, attacking stores of any munitions, weapons or other materiel stored there. Close quarters fighting erupted amongst the rubble, making slow forward motion towards the city powerplant with dismounted mechanized infantry units.

Significant casualties were incurred with the loss of five infantry vehicles and 165 troops on the side of Meckelnburgh, out of around 5,000 total in the entire brigade. The armored brigade reached the power station by nightfall. However, a team of NKR irregular soldiers had laid a trap to sabotage the station, causing the deaths of a dozen troops in the explosion and plunging the entire city of Krantbuurg into darkness.

9.XII

With power gone in the city, the Royal Air Force was limited to clear daylight hour bombing raids against NKR positions. Using precision-guided bombs accurate up to 10 m, the 251st Bomber Squadron conducted attacks in downtown Krantbuurg against entrenched NKR forces in barricades along streets in the city centers. Laser-guided bombs were used by the 122nd Fighter Squadron attacked positions on the edge of the suburbs.

The Metropolitan Armored Brigade Reconnaissance Company engaged in a probing mission towards downtown Krantbuurg, finding stiff resistance from NKR forces, but heavily damaged infrastructure and abandoned defensive positions.

10.XII

An attempted high-speed incursion in the east side of Krantbuurg to provide weapons and ammunition to defending NKR forces was stopped by a company of the Royal Tank Regiment on patrol, resulting in the deaths of 32 NKR fighters and the capture of 47 more. The supplies included small arms as well as an assortment of anti-tank weaponry. Those captured were brought to the Metropolitan Brigade headquarters for interrogation and placement in a makeshift prisoner of war jail.

The brigade armored reconnaissance company, on information gathered by the Royal Corps of Signals, found a light-guarded cache of materiel in a warehouse in a small town to the east of Krantbuurg. All resources were confiscated and carried off by the brigade logistics battalion through the early evening.