Second Channel War

Enough talking, let's get rid of the Arwishs!

— Encouraged Irgian sailors, 48 VE

The Second Channel War is an ongoing war around the Irgian Channel, serving as the continuation of the first war. It was started by the Irgia Republic attempting to reclaim the Colony of Sria in the Ronminar Isles from the Maritime Kingdom. The result of the war can determine who will dominate the sea.

According to Irgian, the kingdom ambushed their merchant ships, sending the ultimatum to pay for the cost. As they refused, the republic sent fleets to blockade the city of Sria. Unlike the predecessor, the republic has got aid from the biggest alliance, the Valonia Empire, to wage them with cutting-edge weapons and unlimited supplies.

The Conflict

Prelude

For the past century since the Treaty of 110 BVE, both Irgia Republic and the Maritime Kingdom tried their best to up against each other. In fact, the treaty disadvantaged more to the republic. It led them to cede the colony of Sria to the kingdom, meaning that they couldn't fully control the channel and the sea trades - along with the better kingdom's navy, the possibility to up against were even lower.

During that time there were only minor sea conflicts that had been easily resolved by local authorities. However, it was until one day in 45 VE, when one of the Irgian's richest merchant fleets were severely ambushed by pirates.

According to Irgians, one of the survivors claimed to see the sudden turn of one of their ship, stopping the entire fleets before the upcoming triremes rammed at high speed. The republic sent the ultimatum demanding the price for the damage. The kingdom refused.

As a result, the only way they have to do was the violence, and where they chosen were obvious. They were going to invade the Sria!

Deployment

As a immediate response to the declaration, the kingdom deploy their best fleets from the Gulf to defense the city as well as the patrols fleets around the isle so it won't that so easy.

The Maritime navy were being known as the best, preceding everyone by miles. They had a sturdier design based on their flagship, capable of sailing across the ocean. It had stronger hull with more sails and particularly less oarsman; The less people to operate, the more ship they could built, the more efficient organization. They also came with powerful catapults shooting cannonballs and harpoons, abling them for long ranged attacking.

The Irgian navy, on the other hands, lack all of these; A questionable quantity but outdated traditional triremes with sailor aboarding tactics. However, they introduced new weapons as a response to weaponry that the enemy would never had; guns.

Musket by Adcheryl

Powered by the Catastropium, tonnes of powerful cannons, capable of penetrating any barriers like a butter, were installed on every warships; More powerful than catapult, and more destructive than only ramming. This didn't include the upgrated for the deployed Irgians army to be like gunner legion. This cannot be possible without the help of their oldest alliance, Valonia Empire.

In the annual meeting that year, the emperor Rondius V signed an agreement that allowed the Irgian army to access a supplies of the crystal-powered weapons--something they would never give in the next thousand years, surprising everyone on the meeting. He said he tried to reclaim they relationship that detained 20 years ago.(See in Perlude) Even though the agreement include the yearly fee to be given for the explosive powders, but he surely guaranteed that it's going to be worth every prices.

The Engagement

In the first Battle of Sria, the kingdom ships deployed from the port of Sria. The fleet, 6 galleons, was getting closer to the republic's 10 smaller triremes. Nothing to be worried about as those were about to be in catapults' range, or the hull could easily torn those ships apart. This was until one of them popped the purple smoke before the distance, and in just a moment, one of their galleons exploded. It was the opening shots which then following by several shots more. The kingdom managed to retreat in time, but lost 3 of them.

Afterward, the kingdom send more ships from the Gulf of Arcwood to patrol around the isle. And everytime they encounted, either win or lose, the damaged they dealt with are severed.

Included under Conflict

First Channel War

Conflict Type

War

Battlefield Type

Naval

Start Date

25th May, 45 VE

Location

Irgian Channel

Belligerents

Offenders

• Irgia Republic
• Valonia Empire

Defender

• Maritime Kingdom

Strength

60 - 80 total warships
4,000 sailors
8,000 - 10,000 legions

110 warships
2,400 sailors
8,000 soldiers

Casualties

15 ships sank
~1,000 sailors/soldiers killed or captured

24 ships sank/captured
~2,000 sailors/solders killed or captured
~5,000 civilians lost

Objectives

Eliminate the Maritime Kingdom's influence over the channel

Reclaim the Colony of Sria

Retain the power over the Irgian Channel

It's been five years since the first battle. It's been proven successful that Irgian could be on the winning side. Sria was occupied within the first year. By either the enemy gunboats or troops deployed from the city, Paccia were destroyed, and Eukala was being besieged. Despite that effort, the kingdom seemed to not surrender that soon, even though it mean the cost was increasing.
Little do they know, the more Irgians advanced, the more fishy things started to appear...

— To be continued