Operation HOLDUR
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| Operation HOLDUR | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Fourth Succession War[1] | |||
|
|||
| Factions | |||
| Attacker Lyran Commonwealth |
Defender Draconis Combine |
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Contents
Background[edit]
Operation HOLDUR was the codename for a military action conducted in 3029 by the Lyran Commonwealth during the Fourth Succession War.[1]
The Operation was created by General Jack Sphire to break the deadlock in the Ryde Theater. Named after the Scandinavian god of winter, it was designed to seize worlds using all available troops, even planetary militia. Though the plan was risky, General Sphire thought swift and aggressive attacks by his 'Mech regiments would leave the enemy too little time to counterattack. The main goal of the Operation per General Sphire was to secure the world of Altair.[1]
Archon Katrina Steiner approved the plan and approving the use of several 'Mech regiments that had been held in reserve. The Archon's proviso that these reserves be used at the Terran end of the front so they could be shifted to blunt attacks from the Free Worlds League if they occurred. This forced General Sphire to change the nature of his offensive by allocating more forces to worlds closer to Terra than originally intended.[1]
Operation HOLDUR began on June 1, 3029, with the departure of almost 100 regiments from the Federation of Skye for eight worlds controlled by the Draconis Combine.[1]
Key Engagements[edit]
Dromini VI[edit]
- Attackers: Ten Commonwealth armored and infantry regiments aided by three militia infantry
- Defenders: Eleven Kurita militia regiments
- Outcome: The planetary defenders were unprepared for any invasion. The conventional LCAF forces quickly secured the world for Commonwealth.
Yorii[edit]
- Attackers: Conventional LCAF forces
- Defenders: 16 infantry and conventional regiments
- Outcome: The conventional defenders were better prepared to meet the Lyran invaders, but the DCMS lost the world to House Steiner.
Lambrecht[edit]
- Attackers: 3rd Regiment - Twelfth Star Guards
- Defenders: Planetary Militia
- Outcome: The Lyran mercenaries destroyed the entrenched defenders and conquered the world.
Asta[edit]
- Attackers: 7th Regiment - Twelfth Star Guards
- Defenders: Planetary Militia
- Outcome: Like its sister regiment, the 7th destroyed all Kuritan 'Mech forces on the planet with little opposition.
Altair[edit]
- Attackers: Always Faithful, 17th Skye Rangers, and their RCTs
- Defenders: 18th Dieron Regulars
- Outcome: The planet was important to the Dragon because of the minerals on the surface. The world was defended by the elite 18th Dieron Regulars. The initial landing was uncontested. The Lyrans could encircle the Regulars after several minor skirmishes. The 2nd Battalion of the Regulars tried to use a valley to get behind the defense perimeter of the LCAF forces. However, a patrol discovered this movement and called for reinforcements. In the following fight, the Combine Battalion was destroyed, but allowed the remaining units to escape into the desert. The LCAF tried to catch them over the next several weeks, but without success. The Lyran High Command gave the order to retreat back to Commonwealth space.
Dyev[edit]
- Attackers: 17th Donegal Guards and Gray Death Legion (reinforcement)
- Defenders: 22nd Dieron Regulars
- Outcome: The battle for the planet was initially undecided. The Dieron Regulars had control over a strategic point and the 17th Donegal Guards found no way to break through. Both Commanders requested additional forces, but only the LCAF was able to send units. With the arrival of the Legion, the Regulars were outnumbered. The CO of the 22nd gave orders to break out. The Guards were unprepared for such a move and the 22nd Dieron Regular Guards escaped from the world.
La Blon[edit]
- Attackers: 1st Royal Guards and two companies of Barrett's Fusiliers
- Defenders: 4th Proserpina Hussars
- Outcome: The LCAF planned to recover this world from the Dragon. The 1st Royal Guards together with 6 lances of Barrett's Fusiliers landed on the planet. Within 24 hours, the DCMS defenders lost over 36 'Mechs in combat. Fort Minotaur, the main base of the defenders, was captured after fierce fighting. The main body of the Hussars retreated to the countryside. For several days, the Lyrans tried to find the Proserpina Hussars, but found nothing. The commanding officer of the Royal Guards then decided to set a trap. The Hussars believed a false transmission that the Fort Minotaur was underdefended. In a bold attack, the Hussars charged to the Fort and the Guards awaited them. The DCMS survivors retreated after 3 hours, but in the meantime the Fusiliers had set a trap behind the Hussars. Only a few Lances were in any conditions to escape to their awaiting DropShips and life off.
Sabik[edit]
- Attackers: 24th Lyran Guards RCT
- Defenders: Kingston Caballeros
- Outcome: The local weather conditions were in favor of the defenders. The 24th Lyran Guards landed far away from its initial drop zone. Then the planetary militia began to harass the flanks of the invaders. The Caballeros chose to fight the enemy in open terrain and lost. After suffering serious losses the mercenaries retreated off world.
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 2, p. 73
- ↑ NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 2, p. 74
- ↑ NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 2, p. 75
- ↑ NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 2, p. 76
- ↑ NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 2, p. 77