11-Day War

The 11-Day War is a conflict that took place from June to July in 1906 between Arkadyetsiya and Dauneach, and resulted in the full annexation of Dauneach.

Summarized report:

Arkady Forces were under the Overall command of Lieutenant General Arkadij Bronislavovych Yaremenko (2/3/3/4). His forces forces consisted of ~65k men, of the 3rd and 6th Combat maneuver divisions, the 12th Infantry division, and the 2nd Brigade of 8th Infantry division. The attack would be launched from all sides, in an attempt to suffocate the defenders, and prevent them from effectively reinforcing/retreating. The men were well trained, and well equipped, Yaremenko having spent the previous 8th monnth drilling his men, and securing supply for the operation. Opposite him was the ~50k strong Dauneach home army, commanded by Major General Eoghainín Ó Dornáin (2/4/2/5). Despite General Ó Dornáins best efforts, his army was poorly equipped. An Arkady ban on the importation of military hardware, as well as deficiencies in domestic industry, left his men without proper artillery support and a shortage of ammunition. The Daun were never the less highly motivated to defend their home.

The attack began on all fronts simultaneously, with Arkady artillery targeting fixed border fortifications and known Daun artillery positions. The Arkady immediately seized the impetus. In the North 6th CM (20k men) drove headlong into the 1st Daun Guards Infantry (15k men). The fighting was fierce. The 1st Guard soon found themselves cut off from the capital however, as the 2nd brigade had successfully captured the line of retreat. In the West, 12th Arkady Infantry swept aside the forces of the 2nd Duan Guards with little effort. They were bogged down in the terrain however, and were unable to prevent their withdraw Daun forces from withdrawing to the 2nd line of defense. 3rd Arkady CM similarly overwhelmed the forces of the 3rd Daun Guards. Due to their extensive training, and superior cavalry, 3rd CM was able to breakthrough and seize several critical road junctures in the Daun rear.

The 1st Daun Guard was now subjected to attacks from two sides. They attempted to breakthrough the force of 2nd Infantry brigade, but were repulsed with heavy casualties. Arkady direct fire artillery massacred Daun infantry in tight formations. The 12th Infantry attempted to assail 2nd Daun Guards at their new defensive positions. As their heavier artillery had not been pre trained, bombardment failed to disrupt the defense. Arkady troops were repulsed after a spirited defense. The 3rd CM moved the liquidate the encircled forces of 3rd Daun Guards, many of whom had been trapped at their starting positions. The desperate defenders put up a valiant stand, but were inevitably forced to surrender as ammunition ran out. With the southern front broken, 3rd CM moved north-northwest towards the capital of Geoghagen, to cut off the western arm of the defense.

Exhausted from its attempted breakout, 1st Duan guards were unable to resist the counterattack of 6th CM. Artillery bombardment broke the makshift defenses emplaced upon the Western road. Armored cars of 1st Cavalry brigade rushed down the causeway, and with the help of dragoons, seized the juncture at Nohoval. With communications disrupted, and being pressured from three sides, much of the division attempted a retreat southwards. While allowing them to circumvent 8th Brigade, it also cleared resistance from the road. 6th CM rushed Eastward and linked up with 8th Brigade, beating 1st Guards to the next critical road juncture eastward. They were now unable to reinforce the capital.

2nd Guards now faced a choice: Stand its ground and be encircled, or retreat to the capital, and potentially get caught out in the open by a superior enemy. Choosing to reinforce the capital, 2nd Guards attempted to reposition off of its ridgeline position to the Northwest. While its rear guard held against the forces of 12th infantry, It found its path blocked by forward elements of 3rd CM. Fully committing to break through to the capital, 2nd guards rushed headlong into 2nd cavalry brigade/3rd CM. Fighting around the town of Ceann Trá turn into a back and forth struggle. Several times infantry were able to reach the central road juncture, only to be repulsed by strong counterattacks. In the meantime: 12th infantry had finally broken the 2nds rear guard, and fell upon the supply train and artillery of the beleaguered defenders. Their headquarters overrun, and with no access to ammunition, the units of 2nd Guards now also surrendered.

Now the final push towards the capital began. Geoghagen was being defended by a force of 5,000 regulars of 1st Capital Guards, supplemented by 7,500 militia of questionable quality. Attacking them from opposite sides were the 12th Infantry and 3rd CM divisions, along with elements of the 6th CM division (45,000 men in total). Probing attacks on the city perimeter failed, with the attackers begin caught off guard by prepared positions. A second massed attack also failed to breach the perimeter, with the defenders successfully filling in gaps in the line at the last possible moment with reserves. A third and final attack by all three attacking elements brought down the full brunt of the Arkayd military. Heavy artillery smashed concrete bunkers, and prevented the maneuver of critical reserve forces. The fighting in this last offensive war the most intense of the war. Despite their poor training and equipment, many militia units held their ground until the last shot was fired, and sometimes after. The Arkady would not be denied however. Infantry broke through in several spots in the south, which were quickly exploited by the Cavalry of 3rd CM. These advance forces rushed into the city, while the outer perimeter was still engaged in fighting. The Bear and Halberd of Arkadyetsiya was hoisted over the national assembly house, after a short skirmish with poilce holed up inside.

General Ó Dornáin issued an order to surrender by 16:40, however most of his army had already been captured or outright destroyed. The refusal of the Daun forces at the capital to retreat most likely hastened the end of the battle; as once the perimeter was broken, there were no forces left in the rear to hold the city iself. Additonally: insistence of Daun forces to protect the entire length of their border gave room for the attacking troops to create breakthroughs in their thinly stretch line. Pictish forces had suffered ~3,000 dead, and another 11,470 wounded. Arkad losses were proportionally light, with 1,900 killed and 4,917 wounded. The campaign lasted only 11 days.