Operation Armbreaker was a major offensive in 20 BBY launched by the Galactic Republic against the Confederacy of Independent Systems during the Clone Wars. It targeted portions of the Inner Rim, Expansion Region, and Mid Rim in the southern galaxy, much of which had previously been conquered by the Separatists, specifically by the forces of Marshal General Yosip Zagoonga.
The offensive began after the Republic victory at the Battle of Foless and was spearheaded by the 96th Legion led by Jedi General Jon Ternath. The Republic first focused on Separatist planets along the Corellian Trade Spine, soon pushing the CIS out of the Inner Rim Territories. The second stage captured numerous Confederate star systems in the Expansion Region, with Operation Armbreaker concluding at the Battle of Vradorn.
With the Confederacy losing most of their territory in the targeted regions, the offensive was a full Republic victory. Operation Armbreaker was one of many offensives that gave way to the Outer Rim Sieges, where the Separatists were pushed to the brink at their remaining worlds.
Prelude[]
In 22 BBY and 21 BBY, the Confederacy of Independent Systems made significant gains across a number of sectors, bringing millions of systems under its control. Marshal General Yosip Zagoonga, who commanded the strategic Separatist Droid Army formation known as the 39th Region Army, secured a number of major systems in the galactic south, including many along the Rimma Trade Route and Corellian Trade Spine.
The Battle of Foless was a turning point that ultimately resulted in the end of the Confederate offensive. Separatist forces under Zagoonga tried to invade the Colonies planet of Foless in order to gain a foothold near the Core of the Republic, but failed and suffered heavy casualties.
At the same time, the Republic was becoming more aggressive in the war, especially after a Separatist attack on Coruscant, which led to the Galactic Senate approving increased military spending. A few billion additional clone troopers came into the war, and industries were increasingly diverted to military production. This provided the Republic Military with the resources it needed to begin a major offensive against the Confederacy.
The offensive[]
Three standard weeks after the Battle of Foless ended in early 20 BBY, Republic High Command ordered the beginning of a major offensive in the galactic south, aimed at retaking as many systems as possible. This offensive was codenamed "Operation Armbreaker," a name which was widely interpreted as mocking Yosip Zagoonga, whose species had four arms.
Inner Rim[]
The offensive first focused on Confederate-controlled worlds located in the Inner Rim Territories. During the Recapture of Jakol, Republic Battle Group Iota-4 managed to easily defeat Separatist ships present. On the ground, clone legions including the 96th Legion fought against battle droids as well as Sergon Security Services mercenaries. Jakol was soon under Republic control, and the Confederate-aligned government which had been established only about one year earlier was immediately dissolved.
After their defeat at Foless, Task Group Xeron had retreated to Mechis III, a planet home to many heavily automated droid-manufacturing factories. These facilities had been converted to produce massive numbers of Separatist battle droids, making Mechis III a high-priority target for the Republic. During the Battle of Mechis III, the Republic, rather than attempting a costly all-out ground invasion, used electro-proton bombs and cyberwarfare to neutralize Confederate droid defenses. Confederate naval forces fled shortly thereafter.
Yag'Dhul, which was of significant strategic importance due to it being located at the intersection of the Corellian Trade Spine and Rimma Trade Route, was later secured by the Republic.
Expansion Region[]
Once all major Confederate systems in the Inner Rim were captured, the focus of Operation Armbreaker shifted to the southern sectors of the Expansion Region. Not many major battles occurred during this stage of the offensive, largely due there being few valuable systems in the area. All of the Confederate 39th Region Army was ordered to regroup in the Mid Rim Territories, and the remaining Separatist forces in the Expansion Region were easily defeated.
Mid Rim[]
The Confederacy put up much more resistance as the Republic moved into the Mid Rim, specifically to systems along the Rimma Trade Route. On Alakatha, a moon known for being a subtropical vacation destination, became a large-scale battleground once the Republic arrived with the 96th Legion and 53rd Aqua Corps, the latter of which specialized in aquatic combat. Zagoonga had already deployed many aqua droids and Manta droids to oppose the Republic invasion. The Battle of Alakatha lasted several days and ended in a Republic victory.
The Battle for Felinia had already been going since the early months of the Clone Wars, but it became part of Operation Armbreaker as it was the next major system targeted by the Republic. A large droid army commanded by Confederate General Schkakerro had been fighting the Felinian Militia for nearly two standard years, and the conflict had caused tens of millions of Felinian deaths and the devastation of the planet. Once the Republic Military arrived in full force, the Separatist blockade of Felinia was broken and clone forces were sent to the ground. The 96th Legion attacked Schkakerro's fortress on the planet, although he managed to escape.
Vradorn was the site of the final battle of Operation Armbreaker. It was the last major world in its sector to remain under CIS control. The planet was very well-defended by Separatist forces, but the Republic brought an equally powerful force. The ensuing engagement was very costly for both sides, but the Republic ultimately emerged victorious. With this, Marshal General Zagoonga ordered all his forces to retreat to the Outer Rim, allowing the Republic to proclaim the success of Operation Armbreaker.
Aftermath[]
Operation Armbreaker was a component of the Galactic Republic's galaxy-wide offensives that pushed the Confederacy of Independent Systems almost entirely into the Outer Rim Territories by 19 BBY. This gave the Republic the upper hand in the Clone Wars and marked the beginning of the Outer Rim Sieges, the final major campaign of the Clone Wars, where the Republic assaulted the Confederacy's remaining holdings.