Aequatian Separatist Conflict

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Aequatian Separatist Conflict Summary
Date: August 12,2006 -
Locations: Localized to the city of Olympus, 120km Northeast of San Allimos, Aequatius Prime
Outcome: {{{outcome}}}
Casualties (approx.)
Military: To be determined dead
Civilian: To be determined dead
Total: To be determined dead
Main Participants
ARJMF and Allies Aequatian Separatist Movement
Aequatio
Cravan







Allah's Chosen Separatist Movement








Overview

The Aequatian Separatist Conflict is a skirmish that arose in and around the city of Olympus, Aequatius Prime between the Aequatian Republic Joint Military Forces (ARJMF) with Cravanian Imperial Military units against the Allah's Chosen Separatist Movement, who had been conducting violence against Aequatian government and civilian populations.

Beginning of Conflict and the Republic's Casus Belli

In early August, 2006, anti-government sentiment began to grow within the region of the Western Desert on the subcontinent of Aequatius Prime. Many of those living in the region, especially in the hub city of Olympus, felt that their mostly Muslum population was being intentionally ignored by the Magna Casa government and were being unjustly ruled by an "infidel" leader, meaning President Kurt Moltke. Problems arose when the group named "The Allah's Chosen" started to target local government institutions and personnel, including Aequatian Republic Joint Military Forces reserve personnel, with bombs and rocket attacks.

It was after a particularly costly attack on a group of reservists returning from a training exercise that cost the lives of 21 and injuring 36 that the local leadership requested the government in Magna Casa to help quell the resistance movement, as civil authorities could do little to halt the attacks. On August 11, 2006, the 1st Brigade, 14th Armoured Division, was mobilized from Fort Webb in San Allimos and deployed to the region overland through the Western Desert.

Aequatian Military Action

The newly-designed M5 Gladiator II main battle tanks and M4 Spartan infantry combat vehicles swiftly transported the brigade's combat elements across the Western Desert until they reached the city of Olympus on August 12. The brigade reached the outskirts of the city and established a forward operating base in the abandoned interregional airport 7km outside the city. It was here that government forces first came under attack when 122mm rockets were fired on the 14th Armoured's positions.

Casualties were light as the brigade's own artillery units, consisting of 18 Sabre self-propelled howitzers managed to conduct quick counterbattery fire and eliminated the Separatist rocket launchers while at the same time deploying light reconnaissance forces to hunt down the rebel forces acting as forward observers. However, many of the hunter forces came under attack as they were ambushed by the Separatist fighters, who then withdrew from the area within the city's limits.

It was then decided that additional forces would be required to conduct operations in the built-up areas of the city and a call for reinforcements was sent out. A nearby unit consisting of the 121st Imperial Airborne Division, Company B from Cravan training alongside the 1st Parachute Battalion, 1st Brigade, 1st Aequatian Airborne Division responded to the call and was rapidly deployed to the Southern sector of the city while heavy infantry forces of the 14th Armoured Division began advanced into the city from the East.

Battle of Olympus Commences

The airborne unit was the first to see action within the city as they came under fire at their landing zone in a park, pioneer landing forces in Aequatian-built MH-20 Shadowcat and Cravanian UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters repelled the Separatist forces, with the support of AH-72 Viper attack helicopters, until the remaining elements of the battalion could arrive in larger CH-47 Chinook aircraft. The paratroopers then deployed from the landing zone via Wolf HMWWVs in order to weed out the surrounding area for enemy combatants and found themselves becoming contained in the streets by Separatist ambushes and roadblocks. Although effectively trapped, the airborne soldiers were able to direct air support in order to eliminate enemy positions and begin moving again. As the fighting in the South wore on, the paratroopers then moved into strategic positions to hold them against capture to protect the Southern flank of the 14th Armoured's advance inside the city.

While the advance was covered by the airborne forces to the South and light reconnaissance elements to the Northern outskirts of the city, the main thrust came from the M5 Gladiator II tanks and M4 Spartans, with the narrow streets and enclosed spaces, the mechanized infantry mvoed slowly as they constantly came under attack by the more nimble rebels. Although in better tactical positions and with the element of surprise, the training and equipment of the Aequatian infantry was able to easily counter the threat as they blunted each ambush and counterattacked with ease, driving off the enemy. One such occasion arose where rebels were using civilians as human shields against the government troops, forcing the elderly, women and children to march ahead of the gunmen towards the 14th Armoured lines. The strategy nearly worked as many units were on their breaking point until Air Force BA-74 Arrow light bombers arrived in the area of operations and provided support with cluster bombs and thermobaric munitions.

As the battle for the city wore on, airborne forces were pushed hard to maintain control of important points while they waited for the arrival of the lead elements of the armoured troops. Aequatian commanders had halted air operations of rotary-wing close air support assets over Olympus due to their vulnerability to ground fire from RPG-7D weapons, leaving many pilots and aircrews anxiously waiting at the forward command post as they monitored the radio channels of the ongoing skirmish within the city.

It was just before dusk though that progress was felt as armoured forces began to relieve the beleagured paratroopers, who were being withdrawn to the forward post for rest, and continue their advance through the city streets. Many of the Separatist fighters had begun to retreat inside the core of the city in an attempt to concentrate their forces, sacrificing ground in order to artificially multiply their numbers. However, the Aequatian air power, including the BA-74 Arrow bombers and newly-arrived F-1C Banshee tactical fighters, began to cut off many routes as they halted many avenues of rebel fighters who either surrendered to the advancing 14th Armoured elements or attempted to fight to the death, leading to their destruction.

This article covers an ongoing conflict and is prone to change as it progresses.