Sorland War

The Sorland War (Norsk: Sørlandskrig) was a conflict fought in 1975 following an intervention by the Confederate States of Northern Avalonia in the ongoing civil unrest in the Ringeriker Dominion of Sorland.

Prelude
In the late 1960s Sorland experienced a revolution in the agriculture sector with the discovery that the could be made suitable for industrial crops by adding the correct mix of Lime and Phosphorus. This led the government of Ringerike to establish large scale farming operations, often seizing land from local farmers to do so, which eventually led to the rapid growth of a popular independence movement. Which at the time was was covertly supported by the KNA Government with the view to incorporating the territory post independence, this was based on the assumption that Sorland would struggle to maintain it's relatively high living standard as an independent nation. There was however significant portions of the population that would remain loyal to the Ringeriker Crown.

Unrest began in 1974 with the vandalism and sabotage of government property, notably the burning of large areas of the new crops. This eventually led to the deployment of a number of non-colonial troops to maintain the security of the operations. This was seen by many in Sorland as an attempt to demonstrate and exert outside force to quell unrest, which inspired the first direct armed action taken by the independence movement. Over the next year ambushes and bombings became increasingly frequent, however the decision was made to involve mostly colonial troops in the operations against them, as it was feared larger troop deployments brought the risk of provoking a full scale rebellion.

Ringeriker ORBAT, 1 June 1975
At the outbreak of the War, Ringeriker Forces in Sorland consisted mostly of colonial units and the by the reinforced rotational garrison force that had been a long standing presence in the Colony, these were: Sorland Garrison The ground component of the Sorland Garrison was formed around a brigade sized force that changed over on a five year manpower rotation, with most equipment remaining in place between rotations.
 * 51 Armored Brigade 8 months into their rotation as the garrison force, fielded a battalion of Stridsvogn 2s and Lettstridsvogn 35s and represented the best equipped Ringeriker Forces in the region.

Sorland Colonial Forces The Sorland Colonial Forces were officially a component of their counterpart branches of the Ringerike Armed Forces, however were stationed and operated within the Colony of Sorland, except in times of crisis where they were required elsewhere, they were usually last in line to equipment upgrades and some of their equipment was considered to be of secondary quality, having been completely retired from other parts of the military, at the time of the invasion its forces consisted of:

44 (Sorland) Division made up the bulk of the regular ground component of the colonial forces, and consisted of two mixed armoured/light brigades (The 66th and 71st) formed around a core of Stridsvogn 1s and as well as a light infantry brigade (88th Brigade).
 * 44 (Sorland) Division

The Sorland Jeger Battalion represented the best of the colonial forces, having been trained at the Jeger School in Ringerike before returning to the Colony to specialize in fighting in it's unique terrain, it was also well acquainted with airmobile and parachute operations.
 * 17 (Sorland) Jeger Battalion

21 Independent Jeger Company was a Jeger trained formation along the lines of the 17th Battalion, but recruited and formed entirely from the native population of Sorland, who were renowned for their survival and tracking skills, which made them invaluable as long range reconnaissance patrol specialists. The Sorland Colonial Guard was made up of 13 independent light infantry battalion battlegroups, each formed of part time volunteers and capable of fully sustaining their own operations, each was nominally assigned it's own recruiting region.
 * 21 Independent Jeger Company
 * Sorland Colonial Guard

Sorland Air Group, RRAF The composition of the Sorland air wing varied and was usually formed around older airframes, but at the outbreak of the war consisted of:
 * 101st Strike Squadron, operating the Strike Aircraft
 * 16th Tactical Fighter Squadron, operating the J.71 Torden Fighter
 * 34th Tactical Fighter Squadron, operating the J.60 Spurvhauk Fighter-Bomber
 * 35th Tactical Fighter Squadron, operating the J.60 Spurvhauk Fighter-Bomber
 * 36th Tactical Fighter Squadron, operating the J.60 Spurvhauk Fighter-Bomber
 * Sorland Support Wing, RRAF, operating a number of fixed and rotary wing transport and utility aircraft

KNA ORBAT, 1 June 1975
At the outbreak of the War, KNA Forces on the border of Sorland were comprised of 3 divisions from the KNA Federal Army as well as a number of supporting units.

 KNA Intervention forces  3rd (KNA) Division made up the bulk of the armoured ground component of the KNA forces, and consisted of one armoured brigade (The 4th) and one mechanised infantry brigade (9th) equipped with the New Type 74 tanks and ratel 20 IFV's, the 3rd represented the most powerful KNA offensive unit.
 * '''3rd (KNA) Division

8th (KNA) division is made up of 2 guards infantry brigades (122nd and 34th) with attached 1st Teutonic hussars which were equipped with the upgraded Type 61 B tanks
 * '''8th (KNA) division

45th (KNA) division was made up of 3 infantry brigades (33rd, 67th, and 68th) making up the bulk of the KNA infantry forces
 * '''45th (KNA) division

used during the landing of prince elrand island Gexie national guard a brigade sized formation of national guardsmen, used mainly as a security forces.
 * '''100th (KNA) Marines brigade

Southern Air Group, KNAF The composition of the southern air wing was made up of the new S-12 fighters, at the outbreak of the war consisted of: Gexie national guard a brigade sized formation of national guardsmen, used mainly as a security forces.
 * 1st Strike Squadron, operating the J-2 Strike Aircraft
 * 4th Tactical Fighter Squadron, operating the J-2 Fighter
 * 10th Tactical Fighter Squadron, operating the J-2 Fighter
 * 6th Tactical Fighter Squadron, operating the J-2 Fighter
 * 17th Tactical Fighter Squadron, operating the J-2 Fighter
 * 18th Tactical Fighter Squadron, operating the J-2 Fighter
 * 19th Tactical Fighter Squadron, operating the S-12 Fighter
 * 30th Tactical Fighter Squadron, operating the S-12 Fighter
 * 67th Tactical Fighter Squadron, operating the S-12 Fighter
 * 1st Air Assault Squadron, operating the cobra attack helicopters
 * 100th Air Utility Squadron, operating the heavcopter
 * 88th air Utility Squadron, operating the heavcopter

Initial Invasion
The initial phase of the invasion completely caught the Sorlander forces off guard as they were dispersed and away from their heavier equipment, with several units entirely encircled and captured or destroyed. The first coordinated resistance came as 17 (Sorland) Jeger Battalion was ordered to go to ground and disrupt KNA rear areas, allowing other elements of the Sorland Colonial Forces to reach their heavy equipment before launching the first major defensive operations. These consisted mainly of delaying actions fought by the battalion battlegroups of the Colonial Reserve, who found themselves outmatched. These operations were intended to provide 44 (Sorland) Division and 51 Armored Brigade an opportunity to link up and launch a more coordinated counter offensive.

Reaction In Ringerike
News of the Invasion reached Ringerike almost immediately, prompting the then Premier Nicolai Krog to address both houses of the Storting and the wider nation simultaneously by way of Television and Radio. The reaction was one of shock and anger, with a cross party motion being passed in both houses of the Storting demanding an immediate effort to relieve and reinforce the forces fighting in the colony and declared a state of military readiness, recalling all Regular Troops to Barracks and activating the Home Guard, members of the secondary reserve were recalled also to service within certain formations. The Navy began activity to coordinate the requisitioning and refitting of suitable merchant ships under the Maritime Registry Act in order to provide extra logistical capacity.

Reaction in K.N.A
The reaction in K.N.A

Task Force Gungnir
Task Force Gungnir was the name assigned to the main force assembled to sail to the relief of the embattled troops in Sorland, formed around the three HMK Morkinskinna, HMK Fagrskinna and HMK Hulda-Hrokkinskinna, as well as the battleship. Supporting these were a large array of frigates, destroyers, submarines, auxiliary ships and landing ships, as well as a flotilla of requisitioned Merchant Ships acting as troop transports, hospital ships and replenishment ships. Embarked ground forces included:


 * The Marine Jeger Regiment
 * Coastal Jeger Regiment
 * Elements of the MSK (Marinespesialkommando)
 * 15 Airborne Jeger Regiment
 * Elements of the HSK (Hærens Spesialkommando)
 * 24 Airmobile Brigade
 * 30 Marine Brigade
 * The Guards Armored Brigade

The aim of this force was to relieve pressure on in-place forces to make time for a larger reinforcement effort.

Battle of Gullhavn
Following a series of rear guard and delaying actions the decision was made to withdraw the remainder of 44 (Sorland) Division onto Prince Erling island, with the hope of being able to repel any attempt by the KNA to launch an amphibious assault and provide a safe landing point for relief forces. 51 Armored Brigade and what little remained of the Colonial reserve would withdraw to the hills outside of the Capital City of Gullhavn in order to draw the KNA into a costly assault on the defensible terrain around the city and if necessary, on the city itself, in order to make this more feasible the civillian population was forcibly evacuated to Prince Erling island and in some cases from there to New Valentina.