Laotian Incursion

[Greywall]

OOC: all posts regarding the situation in Laos will go here 

 

The Cambodian air force bombed several LSF encampments near the Cambodian-Helzan border. Reports show that while the militia have large numbers, they're easy to scatter and look undisciplined. An estimated 40,000 are assembling near Attapu  and that a large group have been reported digging in near the Helzan border, Cambodian Air Command forwarded the scout reports to Helzan to warn it of the enemy digging in trenches and make shift defenses to stop them North East of Attapu.

 

 

Aerial photo showing miles of trenches being built to repel the Helzan forces, photo and scouting report forwarded to Helzan to coordinate against the LSF. 

[Mr Director]

Classified except for Cambodia and Helzan

The Burmese military has sent Special Operations forces and helicopters into Northern Laos to scout out enemy positions in preparation for an air strike against the Laotians.

[Greywall]

Battle for Attapu Day 1

 

                                                                                       

Cambodian Army   vs.   Laotian Socialist Front militia forces

 

                                 Cambodian Army numbers: 45,000                                             LSF numbers: Estimated 40,000 or more armed militants

                                             30,000 infantry                                                                                      38,000 infantry 

                                             500 T-62 Tanks                                                                                      134 T-55 tanks

                                             4 Mig 21 squadrons                                                                               1800 Technicals (Improvised combat vehicles)

                                            152 mm howitzer long rage D-20 guns (up to 34 guns)

                                             9000 additional support personal

 

 

 

 

The Cambodian army came within 32 miles of Attapu when scouts reported that a large LSF force was amassed near the city to defend it, aerial strikes were then carried out to soften up the enemy before the Cambodian army launched its assault. D-20 guns pulverized militia defenses and forced many of them to fall back into the outskirts of Attapu, Cambodian armor and infantry made quick work of any militia trying to fight out in the open. Militia forces led a large counter strike against Cambodian forces using most of their armor and hundreds of technicals, Cambodian forces were pinned down and bogged by the sudden charge but managed to whittle the LSF forces down before having their own armor break them into retreat. Cambodian armor then began pushing into the outskirts of town backed up by thousands of infantry, the Cambodian army then ran into intense resistance within the city where LSF forces fought savagely for street after street. Cambodian forces managed to cut the city off and evacuate civilians in areas of the city that had fallen, as of now LSF forces are deeply entrenched in the center of the city with hundreds fighting to defend city hall where it is believed that a top ranking member of the LSF is currently holding up in. After one day of fighting the Cambodian army has inflicted heavy casualties on the LSF and destroyed most of their armor, it is believed the city will fall within a day or two given the progress made thus far. 

 

 

                                      Cambodian losses: 97 infantry dead or wounded 2 T-62 tanks destroyed         10,000 diverted from Attapu to secure surrounding area. 

                                 

                                      LSF losses:  13,456 infantry dead or wounded, 104 tanks destroyed, untold number of technicals destroyed. 4,000 surrendered during fighting.Thousands fled North when the city was breached, Mig-21 fighter "Black Dragon" traced them heading towards Pakxe. 

 

Outcome: Overall victory for Cambodian Army

                                            

[Kevin Kingswell]

The Helzan military command would send a request to the Cambodian military asking for more detail on the enemy defenses on the LSF forces and fortifications near to the Helzan border. Only on receipt of this would any military action be taken by Helzan. 

[Mr Director]

Classified

The air strikes would proceed as had been planned. A total of five Laotian bases would be destroyed in Northern Laos. Meanwhile, the Triangle Military Command would begin a full ground assault into Northern Laos, with the objective of clearing the militants out of the Bokeo, Luang Namtha, and Oudomxay regions. The Triangle Command would be split up into two groups, one for Bokeo, and one for Luang Namtha. Once those two regions are captured, the two groups will both make a drive into Oudomxay. Assault Helicopters are still flying over Laos, and an estimated total of 63 Laotian militants have been killed.

[Kevin Kingswell]

With no further contact from the Cambodians commands were issued to the Helzan military forces. All Cambodian forces were to be treated as neutrals at best, Helzan forces were not to interact with them and if they intruded on any Helzan operation areas they were to be ordered to leave at once. Refusal would have them designated as hostile and dealt with appropriately. 

 

The first stages of the Helzan operation would begin with a massive aerial operation using the many Helzan fighter planes and ground attack aircraft. With Helzan fighters providing protection against any hostile interceptors the ground attack planes would begin attacking the LSF trench systems, priority would be placed on destroying enemy air defenses and radar systems with secondary priority going to engaging enemy troop concentrations and supply points. The idea was to smash enemy numbers and equipment to reduce the LSF fighting capability and morale of their soldiers in preparation for ground assault.  

[Greywall]

Attapu fell, after days of bloody fighting, it finally fell to Cambodian troops. The LSF grew desperate fighting intensely for the central square and city hall. But Cambodian forces crushed them due to better equipment, armored support and training. Over 432 are dead from both sides and Cambodian forces found the body of a top ranking official among the ruins of a shopping district. Attapu has been left in utter ruin, the city looks like a disaster zone thanks to the fighting. Cambodian forces are now marching North to cut off the LSF's retreat and to seize the city of Salavan, high command pledged to use better tactics to prevent another bloody urban battle like Attapu. Several thousand engineers stayed behind to run relief camps for the civilian population while the majority of the Cambodian army pressed forward. 

 

Cambodian aircraft launched a series of relentless air strikes against the LSF forces crippling their supply lines and destroying most of their encampments West of the Helzan operations. 

 

 

classified

 

//Scouting report to Helzan, Burma, Tianxia//

 

LSF forces have made the city of Ban Xeno their headquarters and have pulled large numbers from their Northern takeover of Laos to engage Cambodian and Helzan forces in the South. Helzan forces should be made aware of a counter attack being launched toward them from the North West, estimated 14,000 additional militia massing towards them armed with small arms likely off model AK-47's and RPGs. Bulk of LSF forces are near the Xe Banghiang river, massive encampment over 40,000 armed militia with armor support. Burmese forces have all but broken their hopes of taking the Laotian capital by the end of the year, LSF influence in the North has severely dwindled since. 

Edited July 6, 2014 by Greywall

[Mr Director]

Classified(Except for Cambodia, Helzan,and Tianxia)

 

With the LSF moving south, Burmese forces would quickly gain control over the three northern provinces that had been originally targeted. Attention would be turned to the myriad of drug organizations that had for so long troubled the Republic. Opium production especially would be targeted.

 

A series of small skirmishes would occur between the drug lords, the LSF, and the Burmese military, and fourteen servicemen would be killed, along with dozens of enemy fighters. An Infantry Fighting Vehicle would also be seized from the LSF. In Sagaing, the Burmese capital, discussions between high ranking Burmese officials would begin on whether to continue the advance and permanently destroy the LSF.

[Kevin Kingswell]

The LSF counter attack would become the new focus for the aerial attacks and the LSF soldiers would find themselves constantly under attack by missiles and bombs. The ground attack aircraft of the Helzan air force would not give up, after one squadron emptied all of its missiles and bombs another would take its place so that the first could return and rearm. It would only take a short amount of time for the counter attack force to be broken and the battered surviving elements sent scurrying back to their hiding places. 

 

The trench lines would now find themselves under light artillery bombardment by air lifted Helzan artillery pieces, these artillery pieces had been brought up by Chinook helicopters and were now in dug in positions where they could engage the LSF defenses. The artillery would be protected by Helzan soldiers who had dug their own trenches around the artillery guns to better protect them. 

[Kevin Kingswell]

Helzan air force would switch to operating hunter teams of four planes per a team with three being F-15 ground attack variant with a single F-16 fighter interceptor providing cover against aerial attack. With the LSF having no air force to be seen these hunter teams would begin to reap a terrible cost among the LSF ground forces. Air to ground missiles would be used to destroy singular targets such as command vehicles, artillery positions and supply caches as such whilst when such targets were running low in operation areas unguided bombs would be used instead to bomb LSF command centers, bunkers and pill boxes. Priority would be placed on destroying enemy anti aircraft defenses or enemy armour when they were encountered.

 

Aircraft losses were light due to the low level of enemy combat experience and due to the skill and technology of the Helzan pilots and planes. So far only two F-15 planes and a single F-16 had been lost and all three pilots had ejected safely and been recovered. In fact losses due to equipment failure were much higher with four F-15 planes and three F-16 planes being rendered to a non-flyable state due to equipment failure.   

[Markus Wilding]

Classified

 

Through the most secure and secret means, North Korean arms, tanks, and aircraft would begin pouring into the hands of the Laotian Socialist Front. In addition, North Korean trainers who had been whitewashed from all DPRK records would begin appearing in Laos as well, assisting and sending regular secure updates to Pyongyang. Some, if they felt brave enough, would even fight on the front lines and directly fly with their new comrades. While it wasn't impossible to detect where the arms shipments were coming from, removed serial numbers, markings, and proxy ships and companies would make direct North Korean involvement very difficult to prove.

[Mogar]

Siam's border with Laos and Vietnam would be heavily patrolled and closed for the time being.

[Mr Director]

Classified

 

With Burmese troops now in complete control of Bokeo, Luang Namtha, and Oudomxay, the Burmese government would begin to set up a temporary protectorate in the region, which would remain in place until the fate of Laos could be decided cooperatively with Helzan and Cambodia. Messages would be sent to the Helzan and Cambodian governments, inquiring as to what their opinions on the future of Laos were. Moving Burmese troops further south would be ruled out, for the time being.

[Kevin Kingswell]

Classified

 

Helzan would respond to Cambodia and Burma. Helzan would make it very clear that they would not accept any nation taking control of Laos be it Cambodia, Burma or Helzan. The LSF would be defeated and the people would be allowed to govern themselves without joining any other nation. Helzan would be willing to allow other nations to give assistance after the conflict however. 

[Greywall]

Cambodian forces have reported increased intensity from the lsf forces in central laos, better equipped militia have started beliefs that another faction is supplying the lsf. Who or where the supplies are coming from is unknown at the time. Ong Minh promised to send more troops into laos and crush the lsf by winter.



Classified to helzan and Burma

The Cambodian union agrees that prolonged occupation of Laos is out of the question and that once the lsf were destroyed Cambodian troops would march home.

[Mr Director]

Classified to Helzan and Cambodia

While we respectfully disagree on the matter of occupying Laos, we will not attempt to create a long-term protectorate, and will withdraw as soon as the LSF is gone.

[Triyun]

Tianxia cautions against expansion by its southern neighbors into Laos and would retain the right to safeguard Laos.

[Greywall]

Ong Minh responded to publicly to concerns of expansion into Laos.

 

"The operations being carried out are not for the expansion of the Cambodian Union but to seek and destroy a faction residing in Laos. We understand the concerns from other nations but our resolve remains, the LSF will be destroyed and our army will carry out its mission to bring stability to the territory."

 

 

Cambodian forces engaged a large LSF force South of Xe Banghiang river, Cambodian forces are trying to cut off Central LSF troops from Eastern and Northern combat groups engaged with the Burmese and Helzan armies. In a stroke of blind luck Cambodian troops caught the LSF off guard near the shore line of the river and launched a massive assault. Scouts are reporting that the entire LSF central army is at the river and that destroying it could speed up the conflict to an end leaving the city of Ban Xeno exposed and allow Burmese and Helzan forces to finish off LSF forces easily without receiving aid from the river encampment. 

 

Starting off the assault, Mig-21's relentlessly bombarded the North shore of the river going in and out as fast as they could to destroy LSF troops and tanks, artillary then rained unholy hell on the Southern bank massacring the LSF militia unaware of what was happening. Infantry and tanks then bull rushed in an all charge seizing the Southern bank and capturing and kill the militia on the Southern shore, LSF forces dug in the Northern shoreline and launched a counter attack stopping the Cambodian forces. The sheer tenacity and firepower of the LSF on the Northern shore managed to stop the Cambodian army, artillery began shelling the Northern shore decimating LSF forces till several aircraft appeared attacking Cambodian forces, catching the Cambodian army by surprise these aircraft stopped the artillery barrage until Cambodian fighters came and fought them off. So far it has became a stalled battleground, Cambodia occupying the Southern shore and LSF forces holding strong on the North. 

 

Classified to Helzan, Burma, and Tianxia

 

Our forces were attacked by unknown aircraft near the Banghiang river, our intial sources showed the LSF were not capable of fielding aircraft due to lack of resources and training, also LSF forces are better equipped and have more armor support than a few weeks ago. With no real ability to produce arms and munitions it is our firm belief an outside party is aiding the LSF. We have no choice but to escalate the war on our end in order to defeat the LSF.

[Mr Director]

Classified response toCambodia

We too have seen an increase in the LSF's capabilities. As such, we have decided that we have no choice but to push south and finish this.

Classified

Burmese troops and armor would begin to prepare to push south. Air strikes would be planned.

[Mr Director]

Classified response toCambodia

We too have seen an increase in the LSF's capabilities. As such, we have decided that we have no choice but to push south and finish this.

Classified

Burmese troops and armor would begin to prepare to push south. Air strikes would be planned.

[Markus Wilding]

Classified

 

Reports sent to Pyongyang indicated increased Cambodian assaults, thus it was decided that anti-air munitions and vehicles would be sent to the LSF to assist in their struggle against the imperialists. The decision was made to send members of the North Korean Special Warfare Command, who had all been purged from North Korean records and honorably discharged from North Korean military service. One hundred of these men would be sent and would be instructed to procure uniforms of their own, although they still retained their Type 88s, being of course scrubbed of any North Korean markings or serial numbers. Also included in this transfer were BM-24 Grad self-propelled rocket artillery systems, as well as of course the usual weapons shipments. Especially added in this were sniper rifles and rocket launchers.

 

The 100 Special Warfare Command soldiers would be instructed to train and give their comrades in the LSF as much experience as was possible, but also to assist them in conducting guerrilla warfare operations against the imperialists and to disrupt their supply lines, often via attacking convoys or probing raids on camps and outposts. Combined with frontline assistance via the Special Warfare Command soldiers, the LSF would be trained and encouraged to use the jungles to their advantage. Conventional warfare was now totally out of the question.

[Greywall]

"I want the LSF destroyed this week" 

That was the message sent to the Cambodian army, over 40,000 troops were in the territory of Laos. With permission from parliament, an additional 25,000 would march North to eradicate the LSF. Increased barrages rained over the Northern shore of the Banghiang river, constant aerial bombardments wrecked the LSF forces until finally the bombardment ceased, the Cambodian army then made its full frontal assault. 16,000 strong backed by tanks firing from the Southern shoreline the LSF were quickly cut down and forced to retreat. Cambodian forces had finally taken the Banghiang river and quickly brought up engineers to build makeshift bridges for tanks and trucks to cross into the North. Nothing but broken militia now laid before the Cambodian army and Ban Xeno. 

While the Cambodian army celebrated defeating the LSF once again in open battle, troubling reports of raids in the South pushed the reinforcements from Cambodia to remain to secure the region. Supply lines were being attacked and reports of sudden attacks on outposts were on the rise. 

 

Classified to Burma, Helzan and Tianxia

 

Our troops have recovered a type 88 light machine gun, this wouldn't be odd if not for one thing, the markings have been removed in a matter not similar to the other weapons recovered from the LSF. Weapons recovered before had serial numbers removed in a crude way a fashion common with most black market sellers, but this is clean professional, we believe an established nation is aiding them. We will be sending special forces into Laos to investigate this further, we ask you keep vigilant from anything entering the nation. 

[Mr Director]

Classified

 

The Burmese Air force would once again launch a highly successful series of air raids on suspected militant positions, killing hundreds of LSF fighters. Unfortunately, two Mi-28 helicopters would be lost to heavy anti-aircraft fire. The strikes would be followed up by a push of 15,000 soldiers into the Louangphabang and Sainyabuli provinces, with the final goal of reaching the borders of the Vientiane Province. Almost as soon as the assault into the two provinces began, Burmese troops would find themselves fighting numerous skirmishes with Laotians militias, who seemed to be almost suspiciously well armed and trained. Several times, Burmese troops would find themselves under heavy artillery fire by militants, and armored support for the assault would be heavily increased. A total of eighteen T-99 tanks would be lost, in exchange for dozens of the LSF's armored vehicles. A total of sixty Burmese troops would be killed, in exchange for hundreds of Laotian militants.

 

Eventually, after about a week of on and off fighting, Burmese troops would reach the outskirts of the regional capitals, where it was reported that hundreds of militants were holed up and prepared for urban warfare.

 

Classified Reply to Cambodia

 

We too have received reports of a sudden increase in the LSF's capabilities. Rest assured that our borders with Laos have been tightly sealed for some time now, and we have made every effort to prevent arms from being smuggled into Laos. We will also be investigating the matter.

[Greywall]

Ban Xeno has been laid to siege by the Cambodian army, any LSF forces in the central region have either been broken or utterly destroyed. Not wanting to risk the lives of the Cambodian troops artillery and aerial bombardments rained down on the city to soften up the LSF forces. In a massive crackdown in the Southern region hundreds of LSF insurgents were arrested and put into questioning.

 

classified 

 

Insurgents are being put through viscous interrogation to discover whose been supplying the LSF with weapons and training. 

[Markus Wilding]

Classified

 

Pyongyang was furious - the LSF was still attempting to engage the imperialist coalition in open combat. Pyongyang made one demand before sending the next shipment - cease direct warfare and switch to guerrilla tactics, or be cut off from North Korean aid. After reports came in indicating the LSF leadership both understood and would begin carrying out this change, the next North Korean shipment came in. This would also arrive with 50 soldiers from the Jeongchaldae, recon teams of two men with a Type 88 rifle and Chogyok-Pochong marksman rifles, both of which would appear to match with former Yugoslavian specifications. 50 soldiers from the Yuckjeondae would also be sent, these men armed with AKS-74u carbines and RPD light machine guns, both of which would appear to match Russian specifications. ATGMs, anti-air missile launchers and RPG-7V2s would also be sent, along with enough explosives to create deadly traps wherever the imperialists may attempt to get into.