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
Following the end of the Grand Campaigns, the Ringeriker Government enacted a sweeping reform of it's colonial policies across the board, most relevantly gaining the desire to see the population and productivity of Sorland rapidly expanded. Agricultural development was seen as key to this effort and and to encourage this it was decided that a state owned corporation would be established and most agricultural products (excepting only a few items, notably beef) and with farmers being required to sell their produce to only the aforementioned entity. The aim of this was to both protect the farmers from market international fluctuations and provide a larger profit margin in general to stimulate growth.

To start with the policy was fairly well received with only minor opposition. During the spillover from the Valentine Emergency Anti-Government forces attempted to use the policy as an example of the Ringeriker government exerting power by decree upon the people of Sorland. This changed however in the early 1970s as 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.

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 m62s and Lettstridsvogn 35s and represented the best equipped Ringeriker Forces in the region.

Sorland Army The Sorland Army was officially tied by policy to the Ringerike Armed Forces, however were stationed and operated within the Dominion of Sorland, except in times of crisis where they were required elsewhere, they were usually last in line to equipment upgrades not directly funded by the Sorlander Government 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 m/62s and as well as a light infantry brigade (88th Brigade).
 * 44 (Sorland) Division

The Sorland Jeger Battalion represented the best of the Dominion's forces, having been trained at the Jeger School in Ringerike before returning to Sorland 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 Territorial 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 Territorial 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
 * 134 Flight, 34th Intercoptor Squadron, operating the KF J.60 Gungnir Interceptor
 * 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

Royal Sorland Air Force The RSAF was a small force consisting of several squadrons of J.60 Fighter-Bombers and support aircraft as well as much more dated J.44 Aircraft that had been upgraded and converted into COIN/Attack platforms during the Valentine Emergency.

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 Goetic 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 civilian population was forcibly evacuated to Prince Erling island and in some cases from there to New Valentina.

Operation Revolvermann
Concurrently to the first engagements of the battle of Gullhavn it was decided that Jegers and Special forces would insert behind KNA lines in order to wreak havoc which it was hoped would provide a much needed morale boost for forces in theatre, targets included fuel storage depots and other notable infrastructure.