Raid on Laizuva

The Raid on Laizuva was a naval raid executed by the coastal forces of the Armada de Antargentina during the War of the Fourth Coalition. The raid took place in the early hours of March 10, 1805.

### Planning

Following the Battle of Rezekniai, the coastal fleet of the Royal Liotainian Navy dominated the southern end of the Gulf of Argent. In the Nestorian Sea, however, the situation was approximately equal. The two fleets had rough parity in numbers and manpower, although the Liotainians head more resources to use for shipbuilding. With this in mind, Rear Admiral Luis-Antello Murguia composed a raid by the Antargentine coastal forces on Laizuva, which served as the main port city for the capital of Neris.

Murguia planned to attack Laizuva with the coastal warships of the Antargentine and Valpoan littoral squadrons. The fleet organized in Navaro early in March of 1805.

### Raid

The Antargentine forces arrived off Laizuva shortly after dusk on March 9th. The weather proved highly favorable to their approach, with a gentle offshore wind and low visibility to the east, masking the approach of the flotilla. Murguia ordered an immediate assault.

The Liotainian defenders were caught completely off-guard by the attack. Much of the garrison of the two Martello towers guarding the eastern entrance to the harbour had received overnight leave to return to their houses in preparation for church the following morning, and one of the two guard-boats was docked awaiting repairs. The Antargentines were not challenged by the second guard-boat until it was too late.

Murguia's larger ships, including six littorias, dropped anchor in the mouth of the harbour, and dispatched small boats to attack targets ashore. Although the Antargentine marines had been briefed in advance about their targets, the attack plan broke down at this point.

The landing parties focused their efforts on the Laizuva Quay (where a number of merchant ships and two Liotainian *perlinéai* were anchored), the shipyard, and the warehouse district.

One group of attackers, spearheaded by Valpoan sailors fighting under the Antar imperial flag, advanced on the shipyard and seized it with minimal opposition. A sizeable group of Antargentine marines assigned to the assault on the Quay, however, mistook the shipyard for their own target, and formed up to assault the Valpoans, presuming them to be Liotainian defenders. In the darkness, the Valpoan marines presumed the arriving troops were Liotainians, and the two parties opened a general fire on each other. Both raiding parties took heavy casualties during the exchange of fire. Liotainian sharpshooters occupied a nearby stone basilica and caused further casualties

Sections of the shipyard were left in flames during the attack, with three warships under construction damaged. However, the fire did not spread to the shipyard's lumber or cordage stockpile. The Liotainians, upon the withdrawal of the attacking troops, extinguished the fires after about six hours of effort.

With a portion of the marines assigned to the Quay attack instead distracted with the shipyard, the Antargentine marines attempting to seize and burn the shipping found themselves facing heavy resistance. The crew of the perlinés *Turkis*, under Frigatiekapitaine Jessica Vynmedis, formed the core of the resistance here. The Antargentines lit several ships on fire, but were forced to abandon their assault on the rest, instead retreating to their boats.

### Results

Overall, Murguia claimed the raid as a general success. The shipyard at Laizuva was put out of commission for several months and multiple warships on the stocks were damaged. However, two of the vessels were salvaged and repaired, and the shipyard's supply warehouses remained untouched.

Antargentine casualties among the landing party were heavy.