Sinking of the NRN Constantino Buccio

This page (or section) is a work in progress by its author(s) and should not be considered final.

Sinking of the KKS Konstantin Böhm
Part of the Karolingian Crisis
Date July 29, 2020 Location Johannes Bay, off the Karolingian coast Result Exacerbation of geopolitical tensions Tretridian and Arkian military on alert LN-mandated independence referendum Eventual Karolingian collapse
Belligerents
Unknown	Karolingia
Commanders and leaders
Unknown	Erhardt Armbruster (WIA)
Units involved
Unknown submarine	KKS Konstantin Böhm
Casualties and losses
None	1 frigate lost 51 dead 39 wounded

The sinking of the KKS Konstantin Böhm was perpetrated in the early morning of July 29, 2020, by an unknown party flying the Arkian flag. The attack took place in Karolingian territorial waters in Johannes Bay, in what would have amounted to an act of war. This came after Arkalarius pressed territorial claims on land that formally belonged to Karolingia, and allegedly moved troops into Karolingian territory.

The effects of the attack were almost immediate, with Tretrid accusing Arkalarius of perpetrating the attack. Arkalarius denied these claims and instead argued that the attack was a false flag operation, which would amount to a violation of international maritime law. Arkalarius pointed to their naval records, which claimed that they had no submarines in the area at the time of the sinking. Independent investigations of the sinking remain inconclusive.

The League of Novaris, called upon to mediate the increasingly tense situation, condemned the attacks, though they did not believe Tretridian claims that Arkalarius was responsible. The League also accepted Arkian demands to hold an independence referendum in Karolingia, which would lead to political violence and the eventual collapse of the country.

The incident has largely been considered a watershed moment in contemporary Novaran history, due to its reigniting West Novaran political rivalries as well as precipitating the establishment of a new government in Schlesia, the formation of the Tolinsk Accords, and Tretridian entry into the North Concordian Economic Forum.

Background

Arkian Civil War and Neu Arkia

Main article: Arkian Civil War

After the Arkian Confederation fractured into two warring factions in 2002, about a quarter of the former country's territory broke away when Ostarkeland declared independence as Neu Arkia and when Tretrid seized and occupied Schlesia.

After the Arkian Civil War ended, the victorious Arkian Empire claimed Neu Arkia's territory as rightfully Arkian. The unpopular oligarchic regime of Neu Arkia likely would have collapsed or been toppled by Arkalarius if Tretrid had not moved to ally itself with the country, propping the state up. Tretrid sought to prevent a resurgent Arkalarius from reclaiming its former territorial extent, to effectively prevent it from regaining its pre-Civil War strength.

This was highly controversial, even in Tretrid itself. Opposition politicians denounced the move as propping up a corrupt, ineffective regime, especially in light of the increasingly unpopular continued occupation of Schlesia. After members of the Neu Arkian Council were implicated in the corruption scandals around then-Prime Minister Æthelred Wulfricson in 2016, continued Tretridian support of the regime was denounced as corrupt and fueled by bribery from Neu Arkian officials. By the time Eoforwine Æthelstanson became Prime Minister at the end of the year, he noted his "reluctance" to continue supporting the state but believed that it was "absolutely necessary" for Tretrid's foreign policy.

Karling's coup

On July 24, 2020, the Prätorianer assassinated the entire ruling council of Neu Arkia. Backed by the Prätorianer, Field Marshal Julius Augustus Karling seized control of the country and declared himself king of the newly proclaimed state of Karolingia.

While the coup was well received within Karolingia, whose populace had languished under the kleptocratic government of Neu Arkia, international opinion was rather more mixed. Mere hours after the coup, Tretridian Prime Minister Eoforwine Æthelstanson formally recognized Karolingia as the legitimate successor state to Neu Arkia and renewed the Tretridian alliance with the state. The Prime Minister promised to cede Schlesia, which still lay under Tretridian military administration, to Karolingia once the state consolidated. The League of Novaris was also quick to recognize Karolingia, determining that, as the successor state to Neu Arkia, they would hold the formerly Neu Arkian seat in the Novaran Council.

On the other hand, Arkalarius denounced Karling as a "dangerous revolutionary," and sent soldiers to the border between Arkalarius and Karolingia. Furthermore, Arkalarius laid claim to lakes on the Arkian-Karolingian border. Almost immediately, allegations that Arkian soldiers had been sent into Karolingian territory cropped up. Karling placed the army on alert in response, though Arkalarius stringently denied these claims, insisting that the soldiers were Karolingian.

The sinking

The KKS Konstantin Böhm was a frigate that patrolled the Johannes Bay. In the direct aftermath of Karling's coup and the reported Arkian incursions, the ship was placed on alert due to the possibility of Arkian ships encroaching on Karolingian territorial waters.

At 2:23 on the morning of July 29, a submarine was detected by the frigate. Captain Erhardt Armbruster ordered that the ship attempt to contact the submarine to order it to leave Karolingian waters or risk being fired upon. The submarine did not reply, and markedly refused to move from its position.

The naval ensign of Arkalarius, which the unidentified submarine was flying at the time of the attack.

At about 2:28, the submarine was spotted surfacing. Reports indicated that it flew the naval ensign of Arkalarius. Armbruster once again tried to contact the ship to order it to leave Karolingian waters. Once again, the submarine did not respond.

At about 2:33, the submarine fired two torpedoes at the Konstantin Böhm. Armbruster would later report that he was about to order that the frigate fire a warning shot at the submarine when the torpedoes were spotted. Both torpedoes struck the Konstantin Böhm—one in the center of the ship, and one in the bow. Armbruster was knocked unconscious by the first explosion.

The ship incurred numerous casualties from the explosions, mainly shrapnel injuries, though several sailors suffered burns. The Konstantin Böhm sank very quickly after it was torpedoed, being completely submerged in about five minutes, though most of the crew managed to evacuate to lifeboats in that time.

Aftermath

International reactions

Volscina: Empress Ilse Erika von Freyaelv called the attacks "beyond any reason or plans we could have had," and called the submarine "rogue." She condemned the attacks while denying that the submarine was Arkian, claiming that they had no records of any Arkian submarines. Von Freyaelv promised to declassify Arkian records of submarine activity to clear up any suspicion.

Antora: Prime Minister Gabriella Orellana termed the sinking a “distressing and entirely dishonorable violation of the respect for law that civilized society depends on.” The Prime Minister further gave recommendations for Corric nationals to avoid the Arkian and Karolingian territories. King Sebastián II gave orders to the Royal Corric Armada to monitor shipping in the area of the sinking.

Durakia: In a statement made by the Council of Trade Unions that included a condemnation of the sinking, the position was taken that a lack of substantial evidence clouded the crisis, criticizing both Tretrid and Arkalarius for rushing to accusations which could "endanger the fragile peace in the region." Secretary of Diplomacy Sergei Alov expressed advocation for an investigation led by an independent body, however noted Durakia's intentions to " object to any Arkian advances into Karolingia." In his last major public appearance before his death, Direklieter Horis Adley noted the crisis as a cause for his loss of belief in the possibility of regional solidarity, hinting at it as one of the causes for the creation of the Durakan Nuclear Arms Program.

Ekvatora: Direklieter Ivica Petrovich stated the attack appeared, in no indefinite terms, an "Act of Arkian Aggression and Imperialism" and called for Arkalarius to "accept what would be the necessary consequences of their actions." However, Ekvatora took no hostile diplomatic action against Arkalarius other than the condemnation of the action accredited to them.

Katyunon: A statement on the matter to the Katyunion Congress of Soviets by Premier Aino Jokinen he condemned both sides for "escalating tensions within the region", stating "acts like this will led to war, which will bring the death and suffering of thousands of innocent people in the name of Imperial ambition". Elliusha Helena leader of the Marxist Vanguard also denounced both sides of the Incident as Imperialists only out to suppress the Proletariat and called for an increase in defense spending to "defend the revolution and our comrades of Novaris.

Lapinumbia: Doge Enrico Dandolo released a statement condemning the attacks in "the harshest possible terms." He stated his hopes that Tretrid, Arkalarius, and Karolingia would seek mediation in the League of Novaris before further escalating the situation.

Nagato: Although neutral in much of the world's conflicts, Grand Duke Kyon and Prime Minister Moka Akashiya have agreed to support Karolingian sovereignty while Grand Advisor Daniel said publicly that he, along with Kyon and Akashiya will, "condemned any attacks that can violate Karolingian sovereignty to their claimed land."

Tavaris: While noting that "the exact details of this event are still unclear," Tavari Minister of External Affairs Õtani Delora Tanvani released a statement saying that it would constitute "an unacceptable violation of Karolingian sovereignty." Delora Tanvani "unequivocally and whole-heartedly" condemned the attacks.

Transnalpia: When asked of the matter in a press conference, Prime Minister Æðelræd Ecgbehrtson expressed his "grave concern" and stated that "Karolingia is a sovereign state recognized by the League of Novaris." He harshly condemned the perpetrators as a "violation of the rights of a sovereign state."

Tretrid: Prime Minister Eoforwine Æthelstanson immediately pinned the blame for the sinking on Arkalarius, stating that the attack was "a blatant attack on Karolingian sovereignty by the Arkians" and that claims that the attack was a false flag operation carried out by a different party were "completely unsubstantiated."