Battle of Vukar Tag

From Wing Commander Encyclopedia

The Battle of Vukar Tag occurred in 2667 in the Vukar Tag System of K'vt Tag Quadrant in the Vukar Tag Sector. It was an ambush designed by the Confederation to annihilate a portion of the Kilrathi Home Fleet. Through guile and ruse and an understanding of the Kilrathi sense of honor, the Confederation convinced the Kilrathi that all their heavy carriers were elsewhere and that Vukar Tag was being held and developed as a forward base for the Confederation. Neither of these facts were true. The Kilrathi were led to believe as well that the Confederation had been trying to make an attempt on the life of the Emperor's mother, Dowager Empress Graknala. This caused an immense loss of face that needed to redeemed.

Only a full-scale mobilization of the Kilrathi Home Fleet could avenge this loss of face. Ten Imperial carriers along with legions of Imperial Guard landing troops were to correct the situation. The Confederation intended to first, split off a portion of the Home Fleet through the use of Strike Force Valkyrie, second, convince the Kilrathi their carriers were far from Vukar Tag and that only small carriers might be in the area, and third, to engage the Kilrathi in a close range "battle of annihilation" in the words of Admiral Bainbridge. In his briefing to his commanders prior to the start of the engagement he stated:

"Gentlemen, I expect to tear the guts out of the Kilrathi Home Fleet, smash their carriers, and shatter their ground assault legions in their transports or while trapped in their landing assault craft."

The Kilrathi arrived with seven carriers and their assault forces. In the ensuing battle the Kilrathi lost five carriers and two so heavily damaged they were out of action for a year. In exchange, the Confederation forces lost the Trafalgar and the Gettysburg spent a year in dry dock.

The battle was one part of Operation Back Lash. The other, Strike Force Valkyrie destroyed an additional six carriers at Kilrah.