On May 26, 2016, at about 0100 EVE Time, there was a major engagement between the forces of the Vanguard and Stainwagon coalitions. The battle was fought in the W4E-IT system of Immensea over a sovereignty timer in the nearby Y-N4EF system. A large force of Vanguard Rattlesnakes supported by two carriers and several dreadnoughts fought and defeated a similarly-sized force of Stainwagon Machariels assisted by a joint Pandemic Legion – Northern Coalition Sleipnir fleet.
The battle was a result of continued fighting in the region over the Y-N4EF system. Originally a staging system used by Stainwagon, the system was taken by Vanguard forces about a week ago in a bloody battle which saw over one hundred Stainwagon nightmares destroyed.
Fighting began after negotiations between the two coalitions broke down over ownership of a constellation in Detorid. Vanguard forces quickly attacked the Stainwagon staging system of Y-N4EF, with Stainwagon quick to respond. It took several engagements and, eventually, assistance from Legion of xXDeathXx and their allies, for Vanguard to take the system initially, and the system has remained a flashpoint in the region.
A Vanguard coalition representative claimed that the focus on staging systems and other areas of importance was primarily to force an engagement, noting the difficulty in forcing fights over unimportant areas since the introduction of so-called “FozzieSov.” The most recent fight occurred over a timer in the recently-taken Y-N4EF system, with Stainwagon possibly looking to retake their forward staging.
The battle began with Vanguard forces arriving early in the W4E-IT system via a titan bridge, after they received intelligence that Stainwagon forces were using stargates to reach their destination. The system was a chokepoint in a dead-end pocket, forcing Stainwagon to travel through them.
Because of this, the Vanguard coalition Rattlesnake fleet was able to set up in perfect position to engage Stainwagon’s Machariels as they jumped into system. Stainwagon aggressively jumped the gate, willing to risk heavy casualties as they attempted to burn out of the Rattlesnakes’ range. However, Vanguard were able to destroy about a dozen Machariels before they burned out of range.
After burning out of range, a Stainwagon cyno was lit and five triage Apostles jumped into system. The Vanguard fleet warped to a ping, and then directly on top of the Apostles, before lighting their own cyno and bringing in several dreadnoughts and combat carriers. However, the counter-escalation never came.
Instead, a third cyno was lit about three hundred kilometers away, with a joint Pandemic Legion – Northern Coalition Sleipnir fleet bridging into system to reinforce the beleaguered Stainwagon battleships. Both fleets reengaged the Vanguard Rattlesnakes, but they lacked the firepower to inflict significant damage and Stainwagon were either unable or unwilling to counter-escalate with capitals.
At this point, with the battle all but over, Stainwagon disengaged. The battle was a heavy defeat for the primarily Russian coalition, with Vanguard forces ebullient after their victory. Fighting in the region is sure to continue as the hotly-contested system remains in Vanguard hands.
You can view the battle report here.
Special thanks to Cpt Patrick Archer of Triumvirate for providing valuable information about the events of the battle.
