[M] Lack of any efficient manpower means resolutions are stupidly hard to come by.

CONGO

[by Alonso]

In 1960 a Crisis struck the newly Independent United Republic of Congo. The mutiny of the Armée Nationale Congolaise and subsequent Belgian intervention and withdrawal bought Chaos to the new nation. The Southern Provinces of Katanga and South Kasai both broke off from the Republic, the latter declaring itself an Autonomous region within the Congolese Republic. While the Belgian forces would eventually pull out (taking almost the entirety of the Congo's with population with them) and the ANC would be reigned in and placed back under government control, the secession Crisis could not be solved. January 1961-January 1963.

Following the Belgian withdrawal the situation in the south of the country was largely uneventful. The Katangese Separatists bought in Belgian and Rhodesian Mercenaries to supplement the Katanga Gendarmerie, and eventually formed the backbone of its army, utilising the provinces cast and rich economic resources to buy weapons and ammunition. Meanwhile South Kasai saw the bulk of the fighting, as ANC troops already in the region clashed with Katangese forces for control. However the government soldiers, lacking in equipment and capable officers, were driven out by the end of the year suffering 400 Killed and a further 700 injured. Lumumba's government made no further attempts to reclaim the southern provinces in these years, instead calling upon a UN task force to be deployed in a peacekeeping operation to the region. 1963.

1963 was to be a year of disappointment for the Congolese. The UN peacekeeping force promised by the UN never materialised and Lumumba's refusal to accept Soviet, or any foreign military aid, disillusioned many officers in the Army. The military situation would deteriorate heavily in what would become known as the Kasai offensive. ANC troops would make a consolidated attempt to recapture South Kasai. Plagued by equipment, morale and leadership issues the offensive was a disaster and resulted in a counter offensive led by Belgian Mercenaries, capturing the city of Kabinda for the Rebels. The total collapse of the ANC in the area would prompt a second Mutiny over pay, equipment and conditions, with Chief of Staff Victor Lundula openly supporting the mutinying troops on the issues. Whilst military disaster continued, a political Crisis was forming. Prime Minister Lumumba's failure to deal with the crisis has sparked tension in the senate and National Assembly. Many are calling upon President Kasa-Vubu to dismiss what many view as a failed man, all while Lumumba and his supporters declare their intention to fight dismissal all the way. All while a new crisis erupts on the Eastern Border. Rwandan Revoloution

Despite the decolonisation of the Congo Belgium maintained its control over Ruanda-Urundi, and despite increasing unrest had yet to set any sort of date for independence. Since receiving the mandate in 1918 Belgium had maintained control through the rule of Tutsi kings and a Pro-Tutsi policy, much to the annoyance of the Hutu Majority. In the late 40's and 50's a Hutu Counter elite developed, causing race relations to deteriorate. Now in 1963, with Belgian troops still occupying Ruandan Soil, the Hutu began to revolt. Rumours, later proven false, spread that a Hutu chief had been killed by Tutsi activists prompting rapid response from the Hutu populace. Attacks on Belgians and Tutsi's across the territory began. By mid December the Belgian Army had largely evacuated the white populace from the area, and much of the Tutsi population was on the run, fleeing across the porous and into the jungles of Eastern Congo, where they established makeshift refugee camps, the presence of these camps placing great strain on the Congolese governments already extended lines. Meanwhile with the Belgians driven from the region the Hutu leadership have proclaimed the Republic of Ruanda-Urundi under the rule of President Grégoire Kayibanda.

LEBANON

[by Nightingael]

Tripolitan Front

• Turkey: 1st Infantry Division (15,000), 160 M48 of 1st Armoured Brigade. Air Force and Navy support.
• Nasserites: 3rd Army (30,000 Infantry standard 40s/50s gear and hardware, similar to Maronites but in greater quantity)
• Christian Militia: A force of 30,000 to the south ready to assist the Turks.

The Turkish landing on Tripoli starts off with a stalemate right from the start. Unbeknownst to the Turkish military intelligence, Nasserite forces had fortified the city well and equipped its forts with strong AA and anti-naval capabilities. Simultaneously, infighting and conflict among Maronite leadership on the topic of trusting Turks in the first place, as well as low experience in higher-level strategic planning, delay any Maronite assistance from the force of roughly 30,000 in the area. The first strike on Tripolitan coast fails completely, with Turkey losing 4 squadrons of bombers [32 of whatever you use] as well as 2 cruisers and 4 destroyers. 1,500 of the 1st Infantry Division perish in the failed attempt to make a landing. Lebanese defenses suffer practically no losses.

Regaining their composure after a quick ReOrg, the Turkish forces double down on Lebanese positions on the coast. Although with lessened firepower, the second attack came fast enough to not allow Lebanese positions to be moved, offering knowledge of AA gun locations to the Turkish planners. Sufficient aerial strikes are carried out on coastal batteries for a naval attack and an amphibious landing. A section of the city's coast is occupied by Turkish Infantry after a fierce few hours of fighting, yielding another 500 Turkish casualties and 400 Nasserites dead.

The Turks push to occupy the rest of the coastal areas quickly with the support of naval bombardment, suffering 1,500 losses and inflicting 3,000 on the Nasserites. The coast cleared, the Turks are ready to bring in the Armoured Brigade's units under their Division for a blitz through the city.

A counter-attack by the Nasserite forces rains shells on the Turkish positions only hours later, followed by Mechanized Infantry charges into key points in the Turkish-held coastline. After a brief fight, the Turkish units are separated from each other and Nasserite forces turn to the conquering phase. A stalemate succeeds this development, with Nasserites holding off from charging under Turkish naval bombardment and the Turks unable to continue their operation with a severely weakened Infantry Division in the city and no proper means to bring in their armour.

The Maronite forces and Christian militia south of Tripoli finally agree on a charge on Tripoli following reports from their Turkish allies on weak progress in the city. Even this however is carried out poorly, with a practically full frontal charge employed on the fortified city. While no more than 10,000 Nasserite fighters are busy with keeping the Turks at bay, the other force of nearly 20,000 mount a formidable defense against the Maronite charge, crippling the Maronite 1st Army's mechanized and aerial capabilities entirely and costing the attackers 9,000 lives, all the while suffering infantry losses of their own to the extent of a mere 1,500 men.

With this defeat, the Christian militia scatters and 3,000 of the Army's trained Maronite fighters desert, effectively disabling the operational capability of the northern Maronite forces and leaving the north mostly open to a Nasserite takeover.

LOSSES IN TRIPOLI

• Turkey: 36 Bombers, 2 cruisers, 4 destroyers, 7,000 Infantry and counting in the Beirut Coastal Siege.
• Maronites: Northern forces destroyed (30,000 effective casualties/desertions)
• Lebanon: 5,000 Infantry, some batteries.

Beirut Front

• Turkey: 7th Infantry Division (15,000), 160 of the Armoured Brigade, Maroon Berets (10,000)
• Nasserites: 1st Army (50,000)
• Maronites: 20,000 Christian Militia 2nd Army (30,000) ____

The Turkish charge on Beirut starts with a costly landing, granting the Turks a beachhead after several hours of fierce fighting. With the Maronite support once again delayed, the Nasserite attention is centered on the Turkish advance. 1,400 Turks and 3,000 Nasserites perish.

The landing of the Turkish Armoured Brigade swiftly turns the tide in their favour. Armour dashes through coastal defenses with heavy aerial and naval support, continuing towards the center of the city.

The Maronites launch a somewhat succesful diversion attack on the western and southern sides of the city, managing a somewhat costly breakthrough in the latter.

Surrounded on 2 sides, the Nasserite forces in the city begin to be sabotaged by the city's Christian population whose political view is quite clearly anti-UAR. Within a few days of fighting, the Turkish and Maronite forces take outpost after outpost from the Nasserite resistance, forcing them further to the northern end of the city.

A breakthrough is attempted by the Nasserite forces seeing their clear loss of the country's capital, but Turkish aerial bombardment, pursuing hostile forces and the Christian militias roving everywhere to the north of the capital make good work on their retreat, costing the Nasserites speed and lives and routing them from the city entirely.

LOSSES IN BEIRUT

• Turkey: 5 bombers, 7,000 Infantry, 300 Maroon Berets
• Maronites: 15,000 Infantry, variety of assorted hardware
• Lebanon: 21,000 Infantry, variety of assorted hardware

SIDON FRONT

• Turkey: 9th Infantry Division (15,000), 150 of the 1st Armoured Brigade
• Lebanon: 30,000 Infantry

The Turks take the coast at Sidon with tolerable casualties, but no corridor can be established into the city to take in the significant armoured force, with Lebanese bombardment of the coast and Turkish failure to create a wider safezone.

The following assault into the city meets rather heavy resistance, with the Lebanese forces determined to hold their ground. Here in the south the Lebanese airforce finally has a chance to use their might, but to no effective results, as the Turkish pilots display their superiority and keep the Lebanese from harrassing Turkish land and naval forces.

However, a full-scale assault into the city is halted by several serious blunders by the Turkish commanders, which are immediately fully abused by the Nasserites, striking quick and hard into operationally important units left defenseless. The Turkish forces are quickly brought to a standstill and are forced to go on the defensive instead, with the Lebanese surrounding their positions within the city and separating them from naval support. While aerial dominance still remains in Turkish hands, its efficiency is crippled by Lebanese anti-air capabilities deeper in the city.

A renewed Turkish assault towards the beach is attempted to break out of the Lebanese circle, but it fails with heavy casualties, leaving the Turks within the heart of Sidon. Foot by foot, the Lebanese begin beating down on their outnumbered foe.

LOSSES

• Turkey: 10,000 Infantry and counting, 8 bombers
• Lebanon: 7,000 Infantry, 12 bomber-fighters

The North

After halting the Turks and destroying the Maronite 1st Army near Tripoli, the Nasserite forces are left with a reserve to employ in occupying the traditionally Maronite northern third of the country. The few Christian militias and Maronite deserters in the area prove to be no serious foe to the 15,000 strong mechanized force swiping through the north. The Northern Army establishes a connection to Syria, requesting assistance. They cite their control of the north and the beaten Turkish assault on Tripoli and assure that entry to the north of the country is safe. They claim it to be crucial to have assistance now, rather than later, as a crucial moment has been arrived to in the war.