By: Hoaseng Thao

*Note: This is a work of fiction. This story is set in a fictional world where there are countries at war.

Background

On July 9th, 2020, the Republic of Nashua declared war on the island nation of Foseta on the basis of the nation harboring anti-Nashuan militant groups which threaten Nashua’s national security. But from the beginning of the war, the Nashuan military were unable to set foot on the Fosetan mainland due to the large Fosetan navy that constantly defended the western coast.

The main naval defenses of Foseta was concentrated on the western coast, which saw the majority of fighting during the war, however this concentration of ships and military personnel in the west would see the eastern coast to be left undefended by the main fleets of the navy. This factor would be exploited by the Nashuan navy as they were getting desperate for a victory after countless defeats off the western Fosetan coast.

Prelude

At 400 hours, Central Vaserian Time, on September the second, 2020, two ships belonging to the Ridge fleet of the Nashuan navy, the dreadnought NRS (Nashuan Republican Ship) Vitician and the landing ship NRS Julupe, are ordered by Admiral Se Gull to capture the Fosetan coastal defenses on the southern tip of the island of Hosi, which would allow the Nashuan ships to cross the Tsuvuki Strait and land troops onto mainland Foseta.

“Flag of the Fosetan Commonwealth”

“Flag of the Republic of Nashua”

Stationed on the island are a small detachment of Guardsmen from the Fosetan 110th coastal battery unit of the Coastal Corps, and a company of 200 marines from the 8th Marine regiment. Despite the low number of stationed troops on the island, the small detachment was armed with an array of artillery pieces, including two 305mm twin turret coastal artillery pieces but only one was operational.

At the time, both the NRS Julupe and the Vitician were unaware of the presence of the two 305mm pieces stationed on the island as the artillery pieces were originally meant to be decommissioned a year prior in a public press conference, but for unclear reasons, one piece was left intact and operational.

Battle

At 700 hours, the NRS Vitician, just 16 miles off the coast of Hosi, fired its four fourteen inch caliber guns off its port side, their intended target being the coastal guns located on the island, not including the two 305mm artillery pieces. As planned, the NRS Julupe began to depart from the Vitician but due to miscommunication between the Viticians captain, Karl V. Dimo, and Julupe’s captain, Diamon Gein, the NRS Julupe’s path coincided with the path of the Viticians next barrage from its guns.

Realizing that the Julupe was in the incoming path of the Viticians guns, the Vitician ceased her firing, giving the Fosetan marines and guardsmen time to prepare a counter barrage. One Lieutenant from the Fosetan Coastal Corps, Lieutenant Viron Ick, was asleep when the first barrage from the Vitician was fired; however the ceasing of her guns gave him and his men enough time to arm one of the 305mm coastal guns.

At around 715 hours, the Julupe landed the 28th Nashuan Marine Regiment onto the shores of the island, but their landing point was facing towards a steep hill that made it difficult for the marines to overrun, leading to the deaths of many marines as they were gun downed by the few Fosetan marines that dared to fire down the hill.

While the 28th Marines began to make ground around the shoreline, Lieutenant Viron Ick quickly calculated the distance and elevation needed to target the NRS Vitician and at 730 hours, the 305mm gun fired at the dreadnought. One shell missed the ship completely, however one did hit the stern of the Vitician. Completely caught off guard by the 305mm gun, the Vitician, whether it be out of fear of being hit once more or to target the 305mm gun, began to blindly fire at the coastline, damaging the 305mm gun but also committing several friendly casualties as the impacts would hit near the 28th Marines position.

Although damaged, the 305mm gun was able to fire once more upon the Vitician, this time both shells hit the lower parts of the hull, sealing the fate of the dreadnought. Captain Karl V. Dimo, assessing the situation, quickly orders his men to abandon the Vitician and at 750 hours, the dreadnought sunk to the bottom of the strait. With the loss of the Vitician, the remaining marines of the 28th alongside the NRS Julupe and the Vitician surrendered to the Fosetans at 800 hours.

Aftermath

Within only an hour of fighting, 62 Fosetan military personnel were killed in combat while 45 Nashuan Marines and 5 Nashuan sailors of the Vitician were killed. With the failed landing of the island, the Fosetan navy quickly began to protect the eastern coastline to prevent any more Nashuan ships from exploiting the low numbered coastal defenses. For his actions at the battle for Tsuvuki Strait, Lieutenant Viron Ick would receive the Hernikan Cross for his actions in sinking the NRS Vitician.

Facing humiliation, the Nashuan naval command fired and publicly executed Admiral Se Gull for his failure for not accounting for the presence of the 305mm gun. Just five weeks after the battle, Nashua would sue for peace with Foseta as they had failed to conduct landing operations on the Fosetan mainland.

On November 9th, 2045, the Vaserian Federation Defense Forces would declassify a document that contained information about a Vaserian submarine, the VSS (Vaserian Sailing Ship) Commerth’s role in stalking the NRS Julupe and the NRS Vitician before and during the battle of Tsuvuki Strait. The document would note that the submarine was well aware of the Nashuan ships destination but did not notify Foseta of this information, which would sour relations between the two nations.