Battle for the Great Bay

The Battle for the Great Bay was a major naval battle in the Great Naval War between the navies of the Rainlands and the Woodlands. At the time, these were the only navies large enough to contend for total dominance of the seas and the Great Bay formed the border between the two warring countries. At the time, the Navy of the Woodlands controlled all areas east of the Great Bay and the Rainlands all the areas west. By capturing and controlling the Great Bay, the Royal Navy of the Rainlands were able to assure total dominance of all the world's oceans.

Background
Following the Rainish annexation of the Red Desert, using only land forces, the international climate turned to one of wariness concerning the Rainlands and their spread of their language over the entire continent. While most of the world spoke (and still speak) Vesk, the most powerful Vesk-speaking country remained the Woodlands. As such, plus its relative proximity to the Red Desert, Vesk-speaking forces worried that the Rainish expansion would soon encroach on the Woodlands and, therefore, result in the collapse of the world's main Vesk-speaking power. King Owain of the Woodlands felt severe political pressure from court to act to sure up the most northern point of his kingdom and sent thousands of soldiers, plus a naval escort to the northern shores, from which the Red Desert is clearly visible over a small inlet. There are varying different reports of exactly how the initial steps in the conflict took place but the logbook of Captain Hamilton-Swift, who was aboard the HMS Kelsier, notes:"'We had received intelligence from the Royal Expeditionary Force, and from our Embassy in the Woodlands, that Owain was to send a maritime and a terrestrial force to shore up the northern shore. However, the vessels sent hither were no mere defensive force; the Woodish armada stretched to the horizon and their landing crafts avoided their shore completely, instead making ground in our territory. The outpost of Castaway was bombarded by cannon and we were outnumbered significantly. I ordered our own landing crafts from half our present fleet be deployed to evacuate the town, and opened fire on the enemy vessels.'"