1st Battle of Saltstraumen

## Overview

The 1st Battle of Saltstraumen was fought on Y4137 between Colonel Leeland Stoltenkamp's Ironside Navy and forces of the Pax-Viribus Theocracy's Holy Navy led by Archmendicant Yarin Vascon. While the battle was a grievous cost for both sides, it cemented the PVT as a serious threat to the Iron Coalition's hegemony, significantly shifting the balance of regional power.

### Opening Moves

The Colonel Leeland Stoltenkamp had been appointed supreme commander of the Ironside Navy by Grand Executorian Trevor Corsair himself. He decided to go on the offensive, hoping to win a quick victory that would tear apart the PVT forces formed against him.

Attempting to drive a wedge between his enemies, Stoltenkamp forded through the Saltstraumen whirlpool at nightfall, attempting to use the whirlpool's pull and power as added speed to leverage a surprise attack at sunrise. This ploy failed however, with Stoltenkamp miscalculating the sheer force of the whirlpool. A large chunk of his forces were destroyed in his blunder before he arrived to his position at dawn. Despite his mistake, he still managed to catch the PVT forces off guard, inflicting significant casualties to the PVT's rear guard. That same day, Vascon beat off a separate IC attack on the Northwestern PVT strongpoint. But the collapse of the PVT's rear guard meant he also had to retreat or risk being outflanked and overwhelmed. This defeat might have been more decisive had not Stoltenkamp lost a grievous amount of forces before the battle began in earnest.

### Retreat to Polaris Bay

Pursued by Stoltenkamp’s main force, Vascon fell back towards the waters of Polaris Bay, North of the Saltstraumen. Unknown to the Ironside Navy, the rear guard, although defeated, were still in good shape. They retreated northwards towards Vascon’s position and were able keep in contact with him. The 23,000-strong rear guard was experienced and professional, a mix of veteran, militia and reserve units. Its strength lay in the officer corps, especially its General Staff, who managed to reorganise its ranks and move to Polaris Bay within 48 hours of its defeat at the Saltstraumen. Emboldened by their promise of reinforcements, Vascon and his forces decided to stand and fight until the fractured rear guard could arrive.

### A Master Tactician

The Ironside Navy had their greatest military commander in Leeland Stoltenkamp. The Colonel was loved by his loyal troops, demonized by his enemies, feared and respected by all. His navy was composed of veterans who had rallied to his cause upon his return from Diluvia. Having detached 12,000 men and 236 vessels to follow the rear guard after Saltstraumen, Stoltenkamp had 25,000 men and 436 vessels at Polaris Bay. Vascon also accepted that Stoltenkamp’s presence on the battlefield made a huge difference to the morale and performance of his troops.

### Positions

Vascon drew up his navy along the Western edge of the Bay close to the City of Bulwark. Using tactics that he had perfected during the Slaghuis Skirmishes only years before, he positioned most of his forces beyond the horizon line, so they were out of sight of the enemy and sheltered from artillery fire. The rest of his navy guarded three strongpoints in front of the coast.

To the Northeast stood Louwlardia Point, which Vascon radioed for PVT command to garrison with Golgathan Heavy Mortar Units and Crusader Cannons. At the head of the defenses was a Vermilion Token Apparatus, manned by more PVT special operations units. At the east end of the point lay the lesser town of Sanguina, where a small garrison of Vigilance Cruisers was docked.

Stoltenkamp’s plan was simple. He would conduct a diversionary attack against Louwlardia Point. Then, once Vascon had sent reinforcements there, a main attack against the bulk of the PVT navy would begin.

### Commencement of Battle

At dawnbreak, following a huge artillery bombardment - partly negated by Vascon’s position and ample fog cover - Stoltenkamp launched his diversionary attack against Louwlardia. The Ironside navy destroyed the defensive parapets at the head of the Point but were sunk as they attempted to regroup. A small group of L42D Derecho-Class Corvettes managed to bombard the Point's ammo depots, which had been left open to facilitate resupply. But the defenders managed to shut their blast doors and sink them before severe damage was done. The stronghold remained in PVT hands all day. Moments later, the Ironside navy attacked the PVT's right flank. They drove back the PVT's center Halcyon detachment. But as they crested the horizon, they were stopped by a cadre of PVT Cultic Black Destroyers and then counter-attacked by Inheritor Sniper Ships. The Sniper Ships routed the Ironside attack, but lingered in their positions for too long. They were then counter-attacked by Ironside L22 Speedsharks and cut to pieces.

### Arrival of PVT reinforcements

   As the day wore on, news of the scattered PVT rear guard's arrival forced Stoltenkamp to form a defensive line on his right. Soon afterwards, believing the PVT was pulling back, the Ironside navy's detachment of L16G Tirolat Fast-Attack Boats (FAB) charged the artillery block of Vascon’s right center who immediately formed defensive squares.

Although more FABs were committed to the charge, poor weather hampered their success. They could not make an impression on the defensive squares, which held firm despite suffering casualties from the relentless attack.

Meanwhile, the rear guard continued to arrive on Stoltenkamp’s right, forcing him to drain more forces to steady the situation. by sun's down however the Ironside navy managed to disable the PVT's Vermilion Token Apparatus, severely weakening Vascon’s strategic intel.

Under withering fire, Vascon’s center began to collapse. The Ironside commander Admiral Sarkus called for reinforcements to push home his advantage. But Stoltenkamp decided first to send troops to recapture the Kismetic Islands from the PVT's rear guard. This gave Vascon time to strengthen his position.

### Defeat of The Strike Honed Fleet

At nightfall, in a last bid for victory, Stoltenkamp called on finest troops, the Strike Honed fleet. Piloting L64S Lance Vipers, they stealthily moved toward the disabled Vermilion Token, but had chosen instead to attack where Vascon was strongest. Under withering fire from entrenched PVT Anchorite Frigates, the Strike Honed Fleet halted, wavered, and finally broke. Their defeat sent the rest of the Ironside navy into a panic and they eventually retreated. This continued all night, with their crumbling forces harassed by rear guard cruisers. Stoltenkamp lost nearly 26,000 men, along with 343 vessels, including 2 division flagships. The PVT suffered 17,000 casualties. Stoltenkamp was defeated. He spoke of fighting on, but was forced to abdicate when the PVT drove him back across the Cartesian Channel, to the edge of Fort James only days later. For his bitter failure, he spent the rest of his life imprisoned on Walcott's Island in B43-12, Stalwart Penitentiary Of His Excellency.