Operation Cardenal

Operation Cardenal, also known as the xxx Offensive, was a series of combined attacks by Tiberian and Tiperyn forces during the Grand Campaigns, beginning on 14 November 1923. The operation consisted of a major push by Tiberian forces along the Amelia line and the Urrunaga landings.

The main overland push was codenamed Operation Mantis, and was designed to draw Teutonic forces away from the coastal city of Urrunaga, thus allowing Tiperyn forces to land and secure a beachhead on Southwestern Boaga from which further offensives could be launched.

Strategy
Early Crown Alliance plans had already called for Tiberian forces to draw forces away from the Teuton offensives in Vallis and Boaga in a two-pronged strategy. To the north, Tiberian mountain troops were to keep constantly harrassing Teuton forces and eventually force the Teuton commanders to commit troops there. Meanwhile the bulk of the Royal Army was to advance east, along the so-called Amelia line, cutting off Teuton access into the Eurybian and eventually rendezvouzing with Boagan forces for a final push north.

The initial Tiberian offensive had bogged down in late 1921, with both sides resorting to trench warfare for the next 2 years. The Tiberians used this time to prepare for the renewal of the offensive by bringing in freshly raised troops, better trained and equipped, and a new, reformed and professional officer corps, making use of their experience gathered during the early years of the war. This pause was especially important to Tiberian cavalry regiments, which, despite their overall successes, had suffered massive losses in the early years of Tiberian involvement as they adapted to the new kind of warfare being fought.