ABC War
A failure, a tight escape. And why are pirates involved.
Naming
The ABC war, is named after the shorthand for the islands: Aruba, Bonaire & Curaçao. Which are collectivally known as the ABC-islands.
Prelude
The political leadership of Venezuela claimed that the three islands should belong to Venezuela, due to their close proximity to the coast.
MIVD
The MIVD picked up on this news, which was said publically in an interview on live tv. But it coincided with an assembly of force in the Venezualian ports close to the islands.
The Netherlands not taking any changes secretly started raising their presence on the islands, by sending soldiers over with commercial airlines disguised as tourists.
Also, they prepped their naval ships, send out their submarines to lay and wait between the islands and the Venezualian coast. It's better to be prepared for nothing, then be too late.
Actions
Venezuela did not waste energy and effort with fake attacks or small pinpricks, but launched a full scale invasion from the start, in an attempt to quickly gain controll and flood the local security forces with greater man power.
A first problem they encountered from their side is that the airforce was not able to contribute to the attack. Later investigation found that due to widespread corruption, there was no aviation fuel available.
The plan was for the navy and marines to form a beachhead, on the island's beaches, and then ferry the army over to occupy and control the islands, and then fend off a possible coutner attack.
The Venezuelian intellegiance service, completely missed that the Dutch had severly increased their military pressense on the islands. And within hours of the start of the invasion, the Royal Netherlands Navy appeared on the horizon. The Venezuelian forces had barely left their ports, and where caught midway.
The attackers scored the first success in sinking one of the Dutch frigates. But then the Dutch submarines got to work, sinking first the landing ships, and taking a big chunk of manpower out of the possible invasion force.
That turned the war into a naval combat.
Part of the Bolivarian Navy of Venezuela raced across the seas towards the other (former) Dutch islands (Saba, St. Eustatius and St. Maarten). Even though the Dutch suspected that that was probably a diversion, they couldn't let them continue. And a part of the navy was sent after them. The battle ended with a one versus one between the Almirante General and the Zr.Ms. Willem Barentsz. Where the Zr.Ms. Willem Barentsz got saved by the Sunset Dawn at the Battle at Klein Curaçao.
For more reading about that, see here:XIII Almirante General
Second wave
In a second attack at night, the attackers managed to come ashore and push trough into a port, a large fight evolved that lasted several days, but the attackers never got full control over the port, and were pushed back into the sea. Most casualties happened here.
Results
With the failure of an established beachhead, and the sinking of twenty-seven of the twenty-eight ships that had set out. Venezuela decided to stop their efforts and pull back.
The Royal Netherlands Navy kept a patrol around the islands going. But it appeared the short but savage war was won.
Victory
After the diplomats had finished their bureacratic paperwork, and a peace treaty was signed. The Dutch Navy organised a Victory Ball where also Rose made an appearance.
Belligerents
The Netherlands
Venezuela
Strength
Vessels
Crew
Marines
Army
Total man power
Vessels
Crew
Marines
Army
Total man power
Casualties
Vessels
Crew
Marines
Army
Civilians
Total casualties
Vessels
Crew
Marines
Army
Total Casualties
Objectives
Keep the ABC islands within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
To bring the islands Aruba, Bonare, and Curaçao, winthin the country bourders of Venezuela.
Man, Venezuela really weren't prepared for this.
nope they overplayed their hand.