Kalistani Major History

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Reprinted from
Republican Dispatches-  News from the Front
Kalistani Naval units take it to the Dragon
Reports moderate success against Indralan Naval Units
Anantanese Ocean, off Ananto
December 12, 3986


Kalistani LAFA ship, part of the 42nd Kalistani LAFA Pack, off the coast of Ananto, Last Month

Kalistani LAFA forces scored some minor successes against the vastly larger Naval forces of Indrala last month.  The successes mostly consisted of quick attacks against naval personnel aboard Indralan ships, and at least one successful strike against the steerage of an Indralan patrol boat.  While completely out numbered and outgunned at sea, the quick maneuvering and speedy approach of the small ships give Kalistan a degree of parity at sea, especially as Indralan ships draw closer to the shore.  Within about 4 nm of the beach, Kalistani LAFA packs form a fairly lethal strike force against the much larger Indralan ships, who are less maneuverable, and can sustain a lower rate of fire than the LAFAs. 

A direct hit from an Indralan gun will, at best, capsize a LAFA, but a seasoned crew can turn the boat back over.  At worst, it will destroy the ship and kill everyone aboard.  And thus, in the opening weeks of the war, Kalistan has already counted 14 LAFA crew members as casualties, lost at sea.  But despite this, the LAFAs are still highly effective at swarming Indralan ships and claiming casualties of their own, including, according to Kalistani Navy source, 8 unconfirmed Indralan navy deaths and one crippled Patrol vessel who was separated from a larger group and then hit hard by a full LAFA pack.

The LAFAs represent Kalistan's best sea defenses at current, as the larger ships in Kalistan's tiny navy have been moved outside of the war zone and hope to avoid conflict until they can mount an adequate defense of the waves.  There has been some rumor of possible aggrandizement of the Naval fleet, but at the moment, a Kalistani light aircraft carrier and 6 light cruisers in the war zone are sitting ducks, and so the Naval High Command has decided to send the fleet to a much more pacific zone in international waters west of Mikuni.

Naval spokesmen confirm that all zones of the Anantanese Ocean south of Ananto are active, and have cautioned Kalistani Commerce to not attempt transit through the region.