Reunification

[israel]

The 1st Czech Army Group based along the Slovakian border at Zlin and Hradiste had been placed on alert for a matter of days. The 20,000 troops were getting ready for 'large operations'... presumably of a training nature.

General Drachensfeld of the 3rd Division was of the German minority in the Czech Republic, and had risen to become one of the highest ranking officers in the army.

The 12,000 troops based in Zlin were now on the move. Well supported, professional troops with good equipment and air support. As the columns advanced down muddy roads, several new Mi-171SH helicopters buzzed overhead. It was similar in Hradiste, and there were more troops on the way, over 8,000 reinforcements, with further armoured support and air support.

The mission was to retake Slovakia with force.

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The lead recon unit reached the border, where a group of Slovakian troops were waiting for them. The lead troop opened fire with his VZ.58v assault rifle...

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*Encoded Contact*
To: All Regional Defense Command Centres
From: Czech General Staff, Prague

All DC centres are to instate recruitment programmes, the government in Prague has declared war on Slovakia in the interest of reunifying our once great nation, and increased manpower is neccessary for sustained conflict. The General Staff have issued targets of 5000 conscripts per region, you will find that funding has been diverted from social equality in order to train these troops. Also attached is a list of ex-conscripts of fighting age, target these people, as they already have military experience.

Good Luck,

The Office of Ivan Kirancec

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***Czech statement to the world***

Today our armed forces attacked the nation of Slovakia. Our aim is to reunify our nation, and once again bring Czechoslovakia to prominence as a central European power. We mean no harm to our neighbors in Poland, Germany, Austria or Hungary let it be known. This war will be conducted in an organised fashion, and civilian casualties will be kept to an absolute minimum.

[israel]

ooc: Would anyone be interested in RPing the opposition?

[United Balkan Republic]

Hungary, while currently fighting their own battle to unify the Balkans, urges the Czechoslovakian people go no further than Slovakia.

The Republic of Hungary, despite the full military alliance that the two share, will take military action should this restricted zone be crossed.

OOC: If no one else takes it, I'll log onto RotW and RP it for you.

[israel]

ooc: Thanks,

ic:

We assure our friends in Hungary that the war will not be carried beyond Slovakia, whilst we have neither the will or the means to do so.

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Groups from Zlin had reached the border, and now so had the force that had set out from Hradiste. Here, the terrain was less wooded, and the border could be seen, groups of advance recon units were exchanging fire near the border, before the an Aero L-139 attack aircraft swooped over and offloaded a bomb into the enemy position. More gunfire crackled in the distance, as Czech troops began arriving in greater numbers...

[Rest of the World]

OOC: Okay, did my research.

SLOVAKIAN ORDER OF BATTLE
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

* = Signifies This Unit is Elite

ARMY

[Mechanized Infantry]
- 10,000 Men in 1st Mechanized Infantry Brigade [Mobilizing]
- 8,000 Men in 2nd Mechanized Infantry Brigade [Mobilizing]

[Artillery]
- 1,000 Men in 1st Artillery Brigade, Manning 50 155mm Howitzers [Mobilizing]

[Guards]
- 8,249 Men in 1st Guards Infantry Batallion [Retreating] *

AIR FORCE

[Fighters]
- 1,000 Men in 1st Fighter Wing, Manning 10 MiG-29 Fulcrum [Fighting]

[Attackers]
- 500 Men in 1st Close Air Support Wing, Manning 5 L-39ZA Albatros [Fighting]

[Helicopters]
- 800 Men in 1st Attack Helicopter Wing, Manning 8 Mi-24 HIND Attack Helicopters [Mobilizing]
- 1,300 Men in 2nd Attack Helicopter Wing, Manning 13 Mi-17 HIP Attack Helicopters [Mobilizing]




Although the Slovakian efforts to repel the invasion had been delayed, the 1st Guards had already engaged the Czechoslovakian forces. Vastly outnumbered, they pulled back from the wood regions to meet up with their brethren in the capitol to organize a large counter-offensive.

The L-39s the Czechs had deployed would now be met with force. The 1st Fighter Air Wing had been scrambled, and was currently in the air armed with R-33 Amos missiles. They flew over to the indicated reports of bomb droppings, ready to take any threats. A lone L-39 could be seen in the sky...

[israel]

ooc: thanks! here's a Czech Orbat:

ORBAT:

Army:

The 1st Army Group: 10,000 Troops, 10,000 Logistics
The 2nd Army Group: 8,000 Troops, 6,000 Logistics (Still En-Route)
The 4th Army Group: 15,000 Troops, 10,000 Logistics (Reserve Unit - Under Formation)
The 5th Army Group: 5,000 Troops (So far) 6,000 Logistics (Reserves - Still En Route)

Weapons:
Army:
VZ.58v Assault Rifle
CZ Pistols/ ZKR-551 Revolvers
Skorpion SMGs

Reserves:
AK-47
OC-14 Groza
AK-74SU
Skorpion
ZKR-551 Revolver

Airforce:

1st Fighter Wing: 12 Saab JAS39 Fighters
2nd attack fighter regiment: 20 L-139 Attack Fighters
3rd attack fighter regiment: 20 L-139 Attack Fighters
4th attack fighter wing: 12 L-139 Attack Fighters

14th Transport Flight (Aux.): 4 (Ex-Czech Airlines) TU-154
15th Attack Helicopter Regiment: 13 Mi-35 Hind
16th Attack Helicopter Regiment: 18 Mi-24 Hind
17th Transport Helicopter Regiment: 20 Mi-171SH
18th Transport Helicopter Regiment: 20 Mi-8
19th Light Attack/ Recon Helicopter Regiment: 2 Mi-2 Hoplite, 8 PZL W-3A



ic:

The Czech Armed Forces had not forseen the threat posed by the powerful MiG-29 fighters. In the airbase at Brno, on the Czech side of the border, 12 Saab JAS39 fighters were scrambled, immediately, they began powering towards the conflict zone, armed with AIM-120 missiles as well as AGMs.

The fighters were heading for the front... if only they could arrive in time...

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The recruitment programs had already had some effect, after only a few hours. The last conscripts - discharged only a year ago, had found themselves quickly reinstated. Of about 1200 contacted in the first hours, 1000 turned up to defence centres. 300 were put into recruitment efforts, whilst other were driven to their nearest airfield and put on the next Czech Airlines TU-154 to BRNO. Despite this, it would be a few days before the troops were fully combat ready...

---------------

The L-139 pilot soon noticed the MiGs, moments after having seen them, a radio message further clarified that these were indeed enemy planes. Whilst the Czech SAM units were only really effective against helicopters and subsonic targets, the pilot knew he stood little chance against powerful MiG-29s.

"The Saabs are on the way... Hang in there" The radio spoke, but already a missile lock had been detected. The pilot looked round to see the missile streaking towards, he fumbled flipped the cap on the buttons to his right and slammed the red button... just in time, the pilot shot up in his ejector seat as the L-139 was obliterated by a Slovakian missile. The JAS39s were only minutes away... heading straight for the MiGs, this would be a dogfight to remember...

'I just hope I land over the Czech lines' thought the pilot as the seat descended...

------------------------------------------

The Czechs on the ground pressed ahead, with the Slovakian rifles disintegrating infront of them. By evening the Czech 1st army group had reached Trencin, and to the north other elements of the 1st army group were pressing hard towards Zilinin...

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The three motorised columns were heading towards the suburbs under heavy fire. As the tanks and OTR APC units drew nearer, the firefight became more intense. Overhead, an Mi-35 Hind helicopter headed to the city, with fuselage mounted weapons pylons bristling with weaponry, the gunship began emptying a missile pod into the already ruined buildings. After about 30 seconds, the chopper turned and headed to a new target, leaving whatever was left in that particular building to the mercy of five advancing T-72CZ tanks, each with a group of well armed infantry moving behind.

The troops fanned out, and engaged their Slovak enemies in a brutal streetfight on the western side of the town of Zilinin...

[Rest of the World]

At 40,000 feet, both oppenents a mile away from each other, the first official battle of the Czecho-Slovak war was about to begin. Through the skies, came the first words of the combat:

"Viper 1, engage!" He yelled. The formation of 10 MiG-29s rolled from 40,000 feet and dropped to 20,000, dropping directly onto the climbing JAS-39 Gripens. As one man had a lock, he fired his R-33 Amos. "Weapons free, I got lock! Tone! Viper 4, Fox 2!"

The missile came from the hardpoint and adjusted to its target...

- - - - - - - - - - -

By now, the Slovakian Guards division had taken close to 100 casualties of their original 8,300 men. Apart from one Mi-24 HIND helicopter and 10 MiG-29s, the entire Slovakian military had set up a large defensive perimeter around Lucenec. The hills to the south provided accurate firing lanes for the 1st Artillery division, while the 1st Guards, 1st Mechanized and 2nd Mechanized set up large defensive perimeters around the city. A few platoons of anti-tank equipment soldiers had also set up large defensive structures to knock out the tanks, while the two attack helicopter wings were refueling and arming, ready to scramble at a moment's notice. In Kolice, nearly twenty miles away, five L-39A Albatross attackers also stood by, ready to deliver their 1,500 pound free fall bombs on any Czechoslovakian attackers.

[israel]

The Gripens were taken by surprise, and one of them was blown out of the sky immediately. The other pilots had twigged a split second later, and now the onboard computer systems had all of the enemy fighters on a missile lock.

"This is Gripen 1" Spoke the lead fighter "All units fire!"

The advanced fighter planes each loosed off two AIM-120 missiles, before letting rip with BK127 cannons as the MiGs drew nearer. The MiGs dashed past and now the Gripens began to climb and turn to re engage their enemies...

--

The Czech troops on the ground were miles from the perimeter, but already a flight of L-139s had spotted the build up of forces around Lucenec. Trencin and Zilina were in Czech hands, and now the Czechs had to act.

The Czech 1st Army group in Zilina and Trencin dug in, and made a powerful defensive line, stretching from the Slovak Border in the north, down to Zilina, through Bistrice and Zilina, and encompassing sparsely populated areas of the Zapadoslovensky region in the south. A large area had already been secured, and now the Second Army Group had arrived in Hradiste and were already heading south - straight for Bratislava.


---

The Tanks and Trucks of the 2nd Group were powering towards Bratislava. Most of the enemy resistance was to be found in the south, and after an afternoon of mostly problem free driving, the Czech tanks rolled into the town of Trnava, only 20 miles or so away from Bratislava.

---

In the north, whilst most of the 1st Group had been assigned to manning a defensive line, others had gone on to chase the Slovak guards - but no further south than Prievidza. The Guards were easy to catch up with, some simply running on foot down roads. All those caught up with were simply taken prisoner...

[israel]

ooc: I guess this is on hold til you get back Hungary

[israel]

The 5th army group was now in position, and more recruits flooded to join it from across the Czech Republic. As all of Slovakia's powerful fighters were engaged in a dogfight with the Czech's elite, more Czech L-139 ground attack bombers were moving into position. In the north, the Czech army rolled into Martin, whilst in the south, tanks powered along the road to Bratislava, meeting little resistance.

Other 1st army units had pushed the line forward. Troops from Trencin had nearly reached Bystrice as Drachensfeld's force implemented a blitzkrieg style offensive, with helicopters and artillery smashing resistance from afar, before tanks and motorised infantry push through. Two days after declaration of war, the Czech front line had reached Trnava, up to Piest'any, up to Bystrice, further north still to Ruzomberok and then on to the polish border.

[israel]

The next day, Czech forces had consolidated power over the northwestern regions of Slovakia. In Trencin, a small airfield had used a flight of Let 410 transports to deliver troops to the frontline, whilst reserve tank units had been bought to the town, ready to attack Bratislava, capture the government buildings and force a surrender on the Slovak republic.

4500 troops of the hastily formed reserve corps were assembled in Trencin, along with over 90 T-72CZ tanks had built up for the assault. If successful, this would win the war with Slovakia...

-----------

The formations began to move, with Lieutenant Madovik at the head. The tanks were getting closer and closer to the suburbs of the city, the troops clutched their CZ-2000 assault rifles and began to prepare for a fight, as artillery began exploding around them. Air reports showed the main build up to the east of their position, so taking the town would effectivel flank the enemy.

[United Balkan Republic]

As Lieutenant Bruns stood in the broken down house with mortars raining down around him, he noticed the Czech tanks beginning to move into the hills. He motioned for the men with Gustav rocket launchers to prepare their weapons, and a claddering of metal began to form. Hoping to take out the lead column, Bruns radioed to the 1st Artillery, 4th Battery HQ Radio Post that was detached from the main Slovak fighting force to help with the defense in the west.

"Uncle Baker 1, Fire Mission. Azimuth 01940, from Easy Roger 7. Left 200, Add 50. Armor, will adjust. Over." He said. He put down his radio, and artillery rained in on his position. Unable to see through the smoke, he was unsure if he had knocked out any Czech tanks, but with the devestating firepower, he was certain.

"Uncle Baker 1, Adjust! North 20, Add 30. Fire for effect. Over!" He screamed again. The artillery rained down on the Czech forces, which were slowly marching into the "kill-zone" of anti-tank rockets. With luck, the elements of the infantry and the 1st Artillery would save Bratslavia's suburbs.

- - - - - - -

In the air, the MiG-29s had all been shot down, only scoring one direct kill. Only one pilot had escaped unscathed, and the rest were dead and buried. He hid, waiting to be rescued by his hopefully victorious comrades.

[israel]

Madovik could see that this victory would not be so clear cut. The tanks, 3 of which had been knocked out by direct hits were running into trouble, so he radioed the leader and called them back to a safe distance.

"Get air support in here now!" He yelled into the radio... "There are Slovak artillery positions due northeast of this position... get something over there now, otherwise our tanks are history!"

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Czech Airforce Command, Trencin...

"Northeast?..."

"You got a fix on that?"

"I think so, one of our L-159s picked it up on a recon mission"

"Ok, Co-ordinates locked... we've uploaded to III flight's systems, they are ready to go..."

Outside, 4 pilots scrambled to the only newly arrived L-159 Attack Fighters, which began preparations for flight. Fuel was pumped in, whilst pilots checked systems, and ground crew loaded bombs and missiles. Two of the aircraft also had guns added in pods under the fuselage.

After 15 minutes, the fighters roared off, to find the artillery that had been so problematic.

Inside, Madovik had launched another request. Infantry in the buildings were also causing trouble. 2 Mi-35s were dispatched to check out the problem.

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Back at Bratislava...

The infantry were out of range, and the artillery was still pounding the original ground. Trough heat sensitive goggles, it could clearly be seen that there were people inside the ruins. The tanks levelled their guns, and began to shoot at the suburbs, trying to knock out as many infantry as possible.

Meanwhile, the two Mi-35 helicopters drew closer to their target...

------------

Now that enemy supersonic aircraft were out of action, the JAS39s were re dispatched to Trencin, from where they could attack Bratislava. Although they wouldn't arrive for a while, they would be welcome arrivals...

[United Balkan Republic]

OOC: Try reading.