Battle of Slagharen
| Battle of Slagharen | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the First War in Vulkaria | |||||||
| File:Khe Sanh Bunkers and burning Fuel Dump.jpg A burning fuel dump after a mortar attack at Slagharen | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
| Federal Vulkaria | Malvarian Liberation Front | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Rathvon Lownds | |||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
|
Zamastan losses: Vulkarian losses: 229 killed, 436 wounded Total (21 January – 9 July): 12,000+ casualties(1,800–2,500 killed, 9,000+ wounded, 7 missing, 250+ captured) | Unknown (1,602 bodies were counted, Zamastan official public estimated 10,000–15,000 KIA) | ||||||
The Battle of Slagharen (21 January – 9 July 1985) was conducted in the Slagharen area of northwestern Vulkaria during the Second War in Vulkaria. The main Zamastanian forces defending Slagharen Combat Base (SCB) were two regiments supported by elements from the Zamastanian Air Force (ZAF), as well as a small numb.er of Vulkarian Army troops. These were pitted against two to three divisional-size elements of the Malvarian Liberation Front rebel forces
The Zamastanian command in Vulkar and Amstelveen initially believed that combat operations around SCB during 1984 were part of a series of minor offensives in the border regions. That appraisal was later altered when the rebels were found to be moving major forces into the area. In response, Zamastanian forces were built up before the rebels isolated the Marine base. Once the base came under siege, a series of actions was fought over a period of five months. During this time, SCB and the hilltop outposts around it were subjected to constant M.L.F. artillery, mortar, and rocket attacks, and several infantry assaults. To support the Marine base, a massive aerial bombardment campaign (Operation Redemptive Grant) was launched by the ZAF. Over 100,000 tons of bombs were dropped by Zamastanian aircraft and over 158,000 artillery rounds were fired in defense of the base. Throughout the campaign, Zamastanian forces used the latest technology to locate rebel forces for targeting. Additionally, the logistical effort required to support the base once it was isolated demanded the implementation of other tactical innovations to keep the Marines supplied.
In March 1985, an overland relief expedition (Operation Sheer) was launched by a combined Marine–Army/Vulkarian task force that eventually broke through to the Marines at Slagharen. Zamastanian commanders considered the defense of Slagharen a success, but shortly after the siege was lifted, the decision was made to dismantle the base rather than risk similar battles in the future. On 19 June 1985, the evacuation and destruction of SCB began. Amid heavy shelling, the Marines attempted to salvage what they could before destroying what remained as they were evacuated. Minor attacks continued before the base was officially closed on 5 July. Marines remained around the city of Slagharen, though, and fighting in the vicinity continued until 11 July until they were finally withdrawn, bringing the battle to a close.
In the aftermath, the M.L.F. proclaimed a victory at Slagharen, while Zamastanian forces claimed that they had withdrawn, as the base was no longer required. Historians have observed that the Battle of Slagharen may have distracted Zamastanian and Vulkarian federal troop attention from the buildup of M.L.F. forces in the south before the early 1985 Amstelveen Offensive. Nevertheless, the Zamastanian commander during the battle, General Rathvon Lownds, maintained that the true intention of Amstelveen was to distract forces from Slagharen.