Part of the Soviet Invasion of South-East Asia

Date: 18-25 August 2016

Location: 224 kilometers west of Ubon Air Base

Belligerents:

Soviet Federation

VDV
Army
Air Force
Local communist guerillas

Paternian Republic

Marine Corps
Army (logistics only)
Air Force
Navy
Scout Rangers
Local anti-communist militia

Commanders:

Soviet Federation

Turov Vladmirovich

Paternian Republic

Jamie Wilson

Strength:

Soviet Federation

8,000

Paternian Republic

3,100

Losses:

Soviet Federation

1,500 paratroopers
227 armored vehicles
21 helicopters
7 VD-20

Paternian Republic

98 Marines
15 howitzers
6 helicopters
1 F-7 Viper
2 AT-5 Guardian Angel

Result:

Tactical Soviet Victory
Strategic Paternian Victory

Summary:

The Battle of Lima Station was a major battle between the Paternian Republic and the Soviet Federation in the opening stages of the Soviet Invasion of South-East Asia, over a forward observation station known as Lima Station. Lima Station was manned by the Paternian Marine Corps, and served to coordinate movements and strikes in the area. The station's location was ideal for observation and coordination purposes.

The Soviet military knew of Lima Station's location for a month thanks to communist guerrillas. However, the guerilla units were hard-pressed to do anything about it because of effective local counter-insurgency operations by anti-communist militias, supported by Scout Rangers on the ground Paternian Air Force and Marine Corps in the air, as well as the installation's own firepower.

General Turov Vladmirovich, commander of the VDV paratrooper units in the area, convinced Soviet High Command that his paratroopers could take the position on their own in a combined assault from the east with light armor and air support.

While the insertion of three regiments on 18 August were undetected, their maneuvers were detected by local militias and Scout Rangers, and the Paternian High Command knew of their movements and deduced an attack against Lima Station. Between 19-20 of August, General Jamie Wilson ordered the partial evacuation of the staiton, and sensitive or vital equipment and personnel were moved away from Lima Station. In addition, the base was reinforced heavily with additional Marines. While this movement was noticed, it was ignored as insignificant.

The VDV assault on Station Lima began on 21 August. Despite a massive combined arms assault against a force vastly outnumbered and outgunned, the Paternian Marines, supported by the base's artillery and substantial air support by the Paternian Air Force, Marine Corps, Army Aviation, and Navy, clung to the station stubbornly for three days, inflicting massive casualties among the paratroopers.

On 24 August, VDV forces set up a perimeter, and Colonel Vladmirovich relented to accepting Army support. However, Paternian Marines withdrew at night, carrying their wounded and dead through Soviet lines undetected. However, their artillery could not be carried out, and all the artillery and ammunition were destroyed.

Impact:

It was the first major engagement between Soviet and Paternian forces, and remains controversial on both sides. The loss of the base would leave forces in the area without effective air, ground, and artillery coordination until Station Lima's reestablishment 100 kilometers east 8 days later. Wilson would be criticized for this, but her reputation as an effective commander would be restored in the following days of fighting.

However, the high Soviet casualties inflicted by the under-equipped and outnumbered defenders resulted in the sacking of Vladimirovich and a more cautious advance toward Ubon Air Base, allowing Malay forces to establish effective defensive lines in Burma and for the Paternians to evacuate Ubon relatively intact.

While the Soviets undeniably achieved all of their objectives, their demonstrated inability to hamper Paternian operations during and after the battle, the disproportionate casualties taken to achieve the objectives, and the slowed advance that resulted meant that the Paternians were in a more favorable strategic position afterward.