OPERATION BLACK PEARL
Jan 25th-31st 1995
Jan 25th-31st 1995
Prelude
The capture of the AJP Tanker, the Corvus, on October 11th 1994 was seen as a pivotal moment for the CMP-CAPTF (Combined Maritime Patrol - Caribbean Anti-Piracy Task Force). It allowed for an international embarrassment to morph into a firm commitment to the removal of privacy from the Caribbean.
The main benefactors of the Task Force, the British, Californian, Texan, Mexican and Brazilian Navies needed a win in the fight against the pirates. On October 19th, the British Government would order the Light-Aircraft Carrier Hermes and it’s support to sail to the Caribbean to provide further stability in the volatile region. They were further provided a boost with the capture of Jacque Horvath (Code name Eight of Hearts) by a Cuban Naval Patrol on November 1st. Leading to the location of Jorge Toro (Code name King of Spades), who had made his base of operations out of Kingstown in St Vincent, installing a small private army of militia to turn the island into his own private kingdom.
Invasion of St. Vincent
At 2:00am on January 25th 1995, the British Naval Patrol that had set sail from their Caribbean base at Guantanamo reached their staging point. Several sorties of RAF Tempest Jets aimed to destroy any of Toro’s ships laying in harbour as well as any military cashes. This was combined with another series of sorties from the Royal Bazilian Navy, headed by their Aircraft Carrier Sao Paulo.
The initial reports of these strikes were somewhat sub-par with the limited intelligence the CMP-CAPTF was able to obtain prior to launching the attacks, however they were able to confirm that the largest ships in the harbour of Kingstown were ablaze.
At 13:30, Royal Brazilian Marines were able to take several of the Grenadine islands without much resistance, this was followed by a joint effort between British Royal Marines landing at Layou and Barrouallie and Paratroopers capturing the crude Airport at Argyle later on in the day at roughly 14:30. By 18:00 the British Royal Marines had complete control over the Leeward Highway that linked Layou and Barrouallie with only token resistance from Toro’s Militia.
On January 26th, the Royal Marines moved to take the Pembroke heights above the city of Kingstown, with the Royal Navy Destroyers Exeter and Coventry moving to cover the Harbour, although their orders were to stop any ships leaving as opposed to any direct attack onto the city itself. By 15:30 the combined force of RAF Paratroopers and Royal Brazilian Marines, who had been airlifted to Argyle Airport had moved to take the Eastern outskirts of Kingstown.
January 27th to 31st saw the systematic invasion of the city itself. Toro’s Militia who had at the start put up fierce resistance against the invading forces quickly melted as the street to street firefights grew to their most intense on January 28th. Arnos Vale quickly fell late in the evening of the 27th allowing the combined force to unite as they moved into the city center. Just as Horvath had provided, Jorge Toro was captured attempting to flee the City in a fishing boat at 12:44 January 31st.
Timeline Key
1 - Sorties of 12 RAF Tempests from HMS Hermes hit Kingstown Harbour, destroying several ships many attributed to members of Toro’s Pirate Fleet. Another airstrike by 9 RBAF F-29N from CV Sao Paulo aiming to hit several military installations of Toro’s Militia.
2 - HMS Exeter and Coventry arrive just outside of Kingstown, to intercept any escaping vessels.
3 - Royal Brazilian Marines land quickly at Port Elizabeth, first landing at Hope and Spring bay. They only meet a token resistance from Toro’s Militia
4 - British Royal Marines land at Barrouallie.
5 - British Royal Marines land at Layou, quickly taking control of the Leeward Highway thus taking control of Eastern St. Vincent.
6 - British Paratroopers, flying from Barbados land at Argyle Airport, they are quickly supported by the Brazilian troops the following day after the capture of Port Elizabeth.
7 - Upon hearing of the Allied landings, Georgetown revolts against the Pirate Occupation removing any threat of Toro’s Militia from Northern St. Vincent.
8 - British and Brazilian Troops quickly move into Arnos Vale, while the Eastern Forces take Pembroke Heights forcing any remaining troops loyal to Toro into Kingstown.
9 - Between January 27th-31st Kingstown is systematically captured with Jorge Toro being captured while attempting to flee on a fishing boat at 12:44 thus ending the invasion of the St. Vincent.
====[AUTHORS NOTE]====
Hi All! - My PC had broke which meant I lost all my maps I had been creating. Luckily I've got a new PC but it means pretty much re-starting from stratch.. oh well.This is just a section of the ongoings in the "Calvarse" Timeline I've been creating over the years, something quick to stratch that map-making itchy. A bit basic I know but I need to get something out. If anyone has any questions please do ask them!
- Jordi