On November 27th, the complacent Imperial Army in Cape Sunset was taken completely by surprise. All 5 Gunboats that consisted of the Republic Kriegsmarine (People's Navy) at the time were destroyed or heavily damaged. Only one was salvaged after the attack. Of the 14 Merchant Ships in port at the time, more than half belonged to the Kingdom of Hylia. This was used as a major excuse for the Hylians to go to War so shortly after suffering heavy losses Liberating Harotia.
Diana Air Force base had suffered considerable damage, with most aircraft caught on the ground, preparing to take-off. Only a handful of new bf109E1 Fighters had survived intact. Many hangers had been hit, including the Control Tower. Base facilities had suffered moderate damage, as the attack had been focused on destroying the bulk of the Luftwaffe on the ground. A squadron had been based at Camp Maria's Air Strip, and managed to inflict considerable damage to the Diana Attackers.
The sheer number of Anti-Aircraft Batteries around the Darkangel Temple was critical in repulsing the attack there. By the time that Diana reported they were under attack, the sirens had already sounded in aHalyia, and their crews rushed to their guns as the Radio at each Battery informed them that this wasn't a drill. The moment they had settled, enemy aircraft appeared and the gunners immediately went to work. Out of 37 enemy aircraft over aHalyia, 21 had been shot down. Damage to the Temple was minimal with only two Bomb Hits to the outer wall. Several buildings in the village had been damaged, as well as several vehicles strafed. Casualties were light, but an entire family of 5 had been killed when a Bomb struck their house dead-on.
After chasing off the Attackers at Diana Airbase, bf109's of 3rd Squadron of the 2nd Air Group known as "Falcon Squadron", turned toward aHalyia and took on the Second Wave bent on killing the Darkangels. Only half the attackers reached their targets, and came face-to-face with a sheer wall of FLAK. Only 2 aircraft returned out of the second aHalyia wave.
Flight Lieutenant Kirstin Geofferies earned her nickname as the 'Red Falcon' after becoming the first Republic Fighter Ace ever, personally downing 12 aircraft that day.
As the Republic was picking up the pieces and dowsing the fires that burned out of control on the Cape Sunset Docks, a messenger arrived, informing that a large formation of Tanks had pressed deep into Lostwolf den. These tanks were identified as T-32's, manufactured in secret by the Gryphon Warlords. They were part of the arsenal they provided to Swiftencounter Den and the Darkangel Rebels.
Immediately, the First Panzer Battalion was dispatched out of Fort Mikhil in northern aHalyia including two companies of Panzer IV's fresh from the Factories in the Westa Province, a handful of Panzer VI Tigers, and a Platoon of Panzer III's modified with 100mm Anti-Tank Guns. A pair of Infantry Battalions supported this in an effort to halt or at least slow the Advance.
Task Force Panzer linked up with the survivors of the Lostwolf Den Army in the town of Rosethorn, 20km north of the aHalyian Boarder. They met the advancing Swiftencounter in Combat on December 3rd, 2376.
The First Battle of Rosethron was brutal. Forty-Eight hours of fighting resulted in heavy losses for both sides. By sunset of the second day, Task Force Panzer had been decimated with 100 percent losses in vehicles, and 80 percent losses in personnel. A half-strength Infantry Company was trapped behind enemy lines under the supervision of Major Lia Nightwolf for almost a month, finally being rescued by a Hylian Ranger Company at the turn of the year, during the Third Battle of the Line.