Kalistan

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Archive-  War Dispatches:  Kalistanis finally break Kundrati defenses in St. Jackson
More than 17,000 Kundrati soldiers killed, 2,300 captured in battle
St. Jackson, Norwalk Occupied Likatonia
March 21, 5613


Kalistani Infantry from I Corps launch mortars vs. Kundrati Positions during battle

The monthlong battle of St. Jackson ended this week with a final surrender of about 2,300 Kundrati Defenders, whose positions were over run after several weeks of fierce block to block fighting in the Central Norwalk town of St. Jackson.  Of the estimated 20,000 Kundrati partisans who were ordered to defend the town, Kalistanis killed more than 17,000 soldiers in the brutal battle.  Frontline commanders also report than about 650 Likatonian and 2,300 Kundrati prisoners were taken alive.  The Kundratis have been sent to field detention units where they are expected to be debriefed before being summarily tried for their crimes against the Empire.  Kalistanis lost more than 8,000 infantry taking the key town which was an important supply and communications hub for the Norwalk front.

Kalistani and Lodamese reconnaissance, which has been occurring mostly at ground level through the mountains due to the difficulty of air recon through heavy coniferous forest, first made contact with forward units of the Kundrati Partisans in Mid February.  The Recon units were running well ahead of the main body, who had advanced from North Bend earlier in the month, and reported the enemy contact.  At this point, the main body of mechanized infantry halted, and attempted to probe the Kundratis at several points.  It soon became clear that the Kundrati units were mere pickets for a much larger body of forces which were dug in in St. Jackson.  At this point, the Southern Branch of the offensive called light and medium armor in from the Northern Branch, as well as Kalistani Artillery.  Shelling of the town began in earnest on March 3.

As the barrage continued, Kalistani Infantry moved forward to emplace mortars that ranged key targets in the city, and could be adjusted according to calls from forward observers who began inching their way toward the city.  When Kalistani and Lodamese Infantry were ready to attack, they began storming the city, quickly capturing several points on the outskirts of town including the power station and the water supply facilities, which were cut off.  Many of the residential area on the edges of the city had been evacuated, but several key positions were heavily defended by Kundratis, and required additional indirect fires, as well as the use of incendiary devices, to clear.  Allied casualties were light while the outlying areas were cleared of their defenders. 

The urban battle, which turned out to be through very well defended territory, lasted for more than 2 weeks.  The primary tactic was to encircle the city, and close the noose over its defenders with artillery and tank fires.  Another tactic Infantry used was to burn buildings ahead of them to start fires to flush troops out.  Several ammo dumps were located this way.  Casualties on both sides of the battle were high as Kundrati and Likatonian forces fiercely defended the city, but the combination of deadly accurate indirect fire and the Infantry's scorched earth tactics in the city center eventually proved to be too overwhelming for the defenders, who surrendered on the evening March 20.  

The Kundratis had been without running water for more than 3 weeks by this point, and most of those interviewed after the battle simply asked for water.  Likatonian forces were separated from Kundrati forces at various impromptu field detention facilities, because in some cases, Kundrati forces surrendered, only to throw grenades at those who were attempting to disarm them.  The Likatonian forces were provided with water, and in what is becoming a Kalistani calling card, one shoe was removed and tossed into a fire, so Likatonians would be disinclined to run away.

Kalistani commanders of I Corps, the main unit of Kalistani Infantry that was involved in the assault on St. Jackson, reported upwards of 6500 battlefield casualties, of which 4,367 died in the battle.  Another 3,500 reported respiratory distress from fighting for a prolonged period of time in a city that was burning around them, and nearly all are expected to make a return to the battlefield after some recovery.  There was an additional 2,600 wounded in the fighting.  The intense battle at St. Jackson has slowed the advance of the Northern Flank, being most of Kalistan's tanks and artillery, along with much of the Lodamese Component of the invasion--support requirements meant that a significant number of tanks and artillery were required to advance up the Jackson River valley to join the infantry in the encirclement.

The Infantry is expected to remain in St. Jackson for as much as a week to bury dead, handle the prisoners, and resupply before continuing the advance into Western Norwalk by the beginning of April.  Armored Reconnaissance with working with Lodamese Air to located the enemy ahead of the main body once more, and warn of any pending counter offensives into the valley.  So far the battle has not been an unmitigated success but a success so far.  There were estimated to be 30,000 Kundrati Partisans in Likatonia.  Following this battle, 2/3rd of those forces have been accounted for.

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