Battle of Mansobaransan

The **Battle of Mansobaransan** was a major combat action of the Liberation of Gresia during the later stages of the War of the End-Times. In it, forces of the Socialist Republic of John and its client states managed to defeat the ICOEF I and Rygard Pact on the territory of occupied Koxor. The Johninian victory delayed the final liberation of Gresia and end of the war by about three weeks. It was regarded as the last major Johninian (and by extension, Fulcrum) victory of the war. It also holds the record for the first- and second-largest number of artillery shells discharged by belligerent armies in a 24-hour time period, at 437,502.

## Situation

ICO Emergency Force I (ICOEF I) was formed in response to the news of Project: Permanence, an apocalyptic series of devices in development by the Socialist Republic of John (SRJ). It was the largest international military coalition in Yulean history, succeeding the allied military formations of the Rygard Pact, which had already been fighting the SRJ in the War of the End-Times. ICOEF I made its first direct assault against the Johninians during Operation Tip of the Spear, which resulted in the rapid liberation of Vestrax and dismantling of the Vestraxi Socialist Republic. The Johninians under Aurelius Vacker hardened their defenses while the ICO marched south toward occupied Gresia. After winning a few uncontested victories, the ICO assisted the Gresian resistance movement in establishing a Gresian Provisional Government under Chrystyan-Mauryce de Bok. This won the ICO widespread local support from most quarters of the occupied Gresian state, where acts of civilian defiance against the Johninians became increasingly common. This was the case everywhere except for Motezor, which was under a unique Fulcrum-Republic government and enjoyed substantial economic and political freedom under the Johninian system.

It was decided in early 1961 that Motezor should be quickly liberated because it was a major supplier of raw materials for Project: Permanence. The victory would then allow for a massive encirclement of the Gresian Autonomy and allow for an invasion of the core territories of the SRJ. On a symbolic level, it would also be a propaganda boost for the ICO if they dismantled the last remaining state in Helinska with a functional Fulcrum-Republic government (the Soeslateral Socialist Republic having been annexed by the SRJ soon after Vestraxi liberation was achieved).

The city of Mansobaransan was a major regional stronghold of occupied Koxor, located a few miles outside the borders of the Fulcrum-Republic of Motezor. At 250,000 people, it was four times as populous as the largest city in the Fulcrum-Republic. The strategic consensus was that Mansobaransan was the stepping stone that would allow for an SRJ invasion of Motezor, Gresia, and the SRJ in that order. The ICOEF I forces already in Western Helinska made the requisite preparations. Troops were flown in via liberated Vestrax, Laberi, and Imperial Kanoria.

The ICO army contained O'Leary, Airolian, and Northern Alliance ground troops, as well as Ospalan troops and aircraft, free Gresian forces under de Bok, and shock troopers from the Republic of Olastvod. Smaller contingents were also offered by the Principality of Volleryn, whose troops were subordinated to Airolian command, and the CETO nations. The ICO force contained over 100 divisions of every shape, size, and composition.

Conversely, the famed Johninian officer Aurelius Vacker, known as "the Wall" for his staunch record against the O'Leary during the Battle of the Neck, organized the troops of the SRJ for a major stand around Mansobaransan. It contained forces from the Johninian homeland, drawing on the JIC, JNC, JAC, JCDC, CIP, and other military organizations as well as collaborators from the Fulcrum-Republic of Motezor and Gresian Autonomy. Numerous escaped pro-Fulcrum officers from Polmaria, Vestrax, Kanoria, and even far-flung countries like the Adeno-Holraesi Federation were among the Johninian contingent.

## Order of battle

### SRJ

* Socialist Republic of John
	+ Koxor Regional Command (Aurelius Vacker)
		- Johninian Infantry Corps: 12 divisions (240,000)
		- Johninian Civil Defense Corps: 32 divisions (640,000)
		- Johninian Aerial Corps: 4 divisions (160,000)
		- Johninian Naval Corps:
			* Johninian Naval Fieldcorps: 3 divisions (60,000)
* Fulcrum-Republic of Motezor: 4 divisions (80,000)
* Gresian Autonomy: 2 divisions (40,000)

### ICO

* ICO Emergency Force I
	+ **Continental Operations Command – Helinska**
		- Union of O'Lear: 240,000
			* 5th Naval Legion (Willem Koett)
			* 13th Naval Legion (Warran Tyrus)
			* 18th Naval Legion (Luka Frederiksen)
			* 21st Naval Legion (Jaeson Taverly)
		- Affiliated Freylan Commonwealth (*Northern Treaty*): 8 divisions (160,000)
		- Republic of Balvala (*Northern Treaty*): 6 divisions (120,000)
		- Gresian Provisional Government: 6 divisions (120,000)
		- Kingdom of Prithania: 5 divisions (100,000)
		- Montelan Federation: 5 divisions (100,000)
		- Rasvetla Slobia: 4 divisions (80,000)
		- Republic of Olastvod: 4 divisions (80,000)
		- Lemetiate of Airolia: 2 divisions (40,000)
		- Peacekeeping Arm: 2 divisions (32,000)
		- Principality of Volleryn: 2 divisions (30,000)
		- Federal Republic of Cardia: 1 division (20,000)
		- Republika Volkdon: 1 division (20,000)
		- Republic of Regit: 1 division (20,000)
		- Federal Republic of Carosthania: 1 division (16,000)
		- Ospheros Dominion: 12,500
		- Second Republic of Polmaria: 10,000
		- Republic of Ospalar: 10,000
		- Kanorian Empire: 2,000
		- *Other ICO personnel:* 1,500