Battle of Nova Bataar Strait

Painiting Commisoned by the Reichland Republic,Commemorating the fallen on both sides. Circa 1650 A.T.F

### Belligerents

Silk Horn Trading CompanyNordwind Trading Company

East Franikan Trading Company

Dethonian Kingdom

VS.

Yurak Horde

### Leaders and Commanders

Tokuda NaroKrahmen Vernsina

Lux Voltaire

Heinrich Liecken

VS.

Vasil

### Strength

HML1 steam ship

4 3rd Rates

30 4th Rates

10 5th Rates

6 6th rates

10 Galleys

vs.

Yurak

2 3rd Rates

20 4th Rates

10 5th Rates

10 6th Rates

10 Galleys

### Casualties

HML6 4th Rates

2 5th Rates

1 6th Rate

10 Galleys

VS.

Yurak

Complete Destruction

## The Prelude to The Battle

The events leading up to the Battle of The Nova Bataar Strait were first kick started by the Yurak sacking of Tigaria. The Yuraks had grown weary of the rising power of the Spiced Empire, and thus Jochi Khan had decided to eliminate the weakest of the merchant state of the Spiced Empire known as The Bravo Company. The Yurak Armada had decisively captured and sacked Tigaria. Unbeknownst to the Yuraks, The Spiced Empire was already in the process of discussing a potential invasion of mainland Reichland. Two key figures, Tokuda Naro and Lux Voltaire had approached the administrator of The Spiced Empire Jacob Brigandine. Tokuda Naro and Lux Voltaire proposed that a unified alliance should be formed to oust the Yuraks, and reunited Reichland. If this Alliance was successful in its endeavors, then Jacob Brigandine's Spiced Empire would not only remain autonomous, but reap the benefits of having a sole monopoly on a unified Reichland Trade through the Southern Seas.

With the attack on the Spiced Empires northernmost holdings, Jacob Brigandine immediately dispatched his most trusted enforcer Luka Mercier to destroy the city of Nova Baatar. Nearly a month before the Battle of The Nova Baatar Strait, Luka had set sail under Jacob Brigandine's orders and reached the Yurak city of Nova Baatar. While the Yuraks possessed a powerful navy, they only possessed one massive fleet. The Yurak Horde lacked the Admirals and Logistics to divide up their Armada into smaller fleets. Thus the entire Yurak Fleet was still positioned north of Reichland and was unable to respond to Lukas Fleet that immediately blockaded the city's ports. Luka then ordered for his fleet to run out the guns onto the city. For nearly two weeks Lukas fleet continuously bombarded the city of Nova Baatar. By the end of the second week, nearly 60% of the city had been destroyed forcing the city into surrender. Although the city was located on the Reichlandian Mainland and was able to receive supplies and reinforcements. The Yuraks Leader, Jochi Khan, had focused a majority of his supplies and resources for the defense of Reichlandia for the anticipated war with the growing alliance that Lux Voltaire and Tokuda Naro were assembling. Shortly after the city of Nova Baatar surrendered, Luka ordered his Marines and Sailors to pillage the city. What followed was considered to be one of the most brutal sackings of a settlement within the Reichlandian Civil Wars that was not committed by the Yuraks.

It was becoming very clear to Jochi Khan that an invasion of the mainland was imminent, Jochi's underestimation of The Spiced Empires strength began to set in. Realizing a successful ground invasion would ensure the defeat of The Yurak Horde, Jochi dispatched messengers to the Yurak Armada that had finally reached the ruined docks of Nova Baatar in late June. Jochi ordered the Armada's Admiral, Vasil Hmelnitiski, to establish a defensive line within the straight. Nearly a month later, Jochi's predictions had come true, as a massive fleet of ships from Tokuda Naro's Alliance had been spotted 20 miles away from the shore, and was approaching the strait. This fleet was comprised of several vessels, with one steamship from The Penal Kingdom of Dethonia, several warships from The Spiced Empire, and a large host of smaller frigates and galleys from The Nordwind Trading Company. Accompanying the warships in the rear, was an uncountable sea of transport ships carrying 140,000 men. Comprised mostly of Warriors from Norkish Settlers from the nearby islands, Pirates from The Spiced Empire, and finally Mercenaries and Employes from the East Franikan Trading Company and The Nordwind Trading Company. The Yurak fleet held its position, and soon aligned their ships to have their guns facing the direction of the on coming fleet, all anchored in place.

The Admirals of The Spiced Empire, and Tokuda's Alliance were Lux Voltaire of The East Franikan Trading Company, Heinrich Liechken of The Penal Kingdom of Dethonia, Krahmen Vernsina of The Nordwind Trading Company, and Tokuda Naro. Opposing them was the Yurak Admiral, Vasil Hmelnitiski, son of Tarkhan Khan and Brother of Ivan Bogun Hmelnitiski.

## The Battle

The Yurak would position their fleet in a Defensive line, facing all their ships horizontally towards the Alliances fleet. The Yuraks placed their strongest ships in the front, while their smaller and more agile ships were designated to guard the flanks. The Tokudas Alliance would organize into 3 columns, each nation leading their own fleet. Tokuda and Heinrich would be on the flanks, as Krahmen and Lux would be in the center. It was agreed that no matter what, the first ships in the coolum would be lost. And as such, the crews of those ships were given extra life boats, and were ordered to sail directly through the line, ramming any ships out of their way if necessary. The whole plan was considered to be "fool hardy" by many of the lower captains, but none dared to go against the daring plan. Tokuda Naro argued that while the vanguard of the assault would take casualties, the ships further down the Yurak line would be unable to pivot and fire on the remaining ships approaching, with some being too far down the line to be inrange. Tokuda Naro estimated that out of the 52 ships apart of this defensive line, only 15-20 would be within firing range.

The Alliances ships began to full sail towards the Yurak line. With favorable winds, and clear sunny weather all was going well for the Spiced Empire and Tokuda's Alliance. The plan the Alliance had devised was a strategy purely based on numbers. The Alliance had come to agree that the strongest of the Yurak Ships were in the center of their horizontal line. Thus by using brute force, and strength of numbers, the Alliance could manage to break through this impentritable line. This would allow their ships to sever the already outnumbered Yurak fleets line, and isolate both the right and left flanks. This would outright avoid casualties that would be taken through both getting into position, and the regular trade of shots between the ships.

As the first two columns approached it soon became apparent that Krahmens fleet of 10 gallys and 7 six rates were not advancing. The two columns that continued forward then came in contact with the Yurak Ship Line. What followed was a near disaster as the two columns were quickly bombarded into oblivion by the Yurak ships. The column formation quickly fell through as the ships apart of the initial break through either tried returning fire or were outright attempting to withdrawal from the assault. Lux Voltaire, who was on the same command Galley as Krahmen. For several hours while the disaterious assault continued to unfold Lux had unwaveringly continued to press Krahmen to commit his forces. After several hours of back and forth between the two Krahmen finally committed his column to the fight.

With Krahmens blunder of not committing his forces, the plan of a breakthrough had been abandoned all together, and the Alliance had now lost 4 ships while the Yuraks suffered light damages to their flagship. Now through sheer numbers and force the Alliance engaged the Yurak navy in a fierce un-coordinated trade of fire. Slowly the Yurak line began to raise their anchor's, and began breaking their defense line. Although the Yuraks had inflicted severe damage to the Alliances fleet during the blunder of the first hours during the Assault, it became apparent that the defensive line wasn't long enough to prevent encirclement. This would surely leave the Yurak fleet at the mercy of the Alliance. Vasil began to see that his defensive line was beginning to break, either to reposition to return fire, or to outright join the ensuing naval battle. Vasil ordered his flagship to dock in the city of Nova Baatar, the writing was clear on the wall. One by one the Yurak Fleet was slowly being grinded down, now no longer in formation, and completely in disarray the relatively modernized Yurak fleet stood no chance against the heavy Reichlandian Vessels they faced against. The situation worsened whenever the Dethonian Duvan Made Ironclad Steamship was committed to the battle. The Steam Ship was single handedly responsible for destroying nearly 4 Yurak ships. By the end of the day the battle had been won, and the remainder of the Yurak Fleet had surrendered bringing an end to the battle by 10:34 PM July the 12th 1635 A.T.F.

## The Aftermath

With the battle being won by the Alliances forces, this marked the beginning of the end of The Reichlandian Civil Wars. Thanks to the efforts of Tokuda Naro, Lux Voltaire, Heinrich Liechken, and Krahmen Vernsina the Alliance's army of 140,000 men were successfully able to reach the shores of Reichland. The Yurak Admiral, Vasil Hmelnitiski, had successfully managed to escape capture and had returned to the Yurak Capital of Reichlandia. The Yuraks who were captured after the battle, were transported to the mainland where they would be held captive for the rest of the war until they were eventually released. Fortunately for the Alliance, many of the Yuraks who surrendered were eager to do so. The last three decades of warfare had caused a massive drop in the Yurak population, and the perpetual state of constant war was beginning to dig into the moral of the Yurak people as a whole. The Battle of The Nova Baatar Strait would further this sentiment of the Yurak Population, and within days of the battle the Alliances forces began the long march to the Yurak Capital of Reichlandia to end The Second Reichlandian Civil War.