Airpower

"Your Highness, we will arrive in Tarnovo the day after tomorrow," Admiral Courtois, the Minister of the Sixth Army and now Chief of Staff of the Romanian offensive army, informed Crown Prince Edel as they sat together in the same carriage.

Crown Prince Edel, looking directly at Admiral Courtois who sat opposite him, nodded appreciatively. "This campaign will once again require the distinguished command of your admiralship to defeat the Bulgarians and compel them to acknowledge the reality of their situation."

Admiral Courtois, slightly uncomfortable with the direct compliment, hesitated to accept the praise fully. He understood that this was the Crown Prince showing favor to the officers aligned with King Carol's faction. Despite their advancing age and the wear it brought, their influence remained significant. As the king's representative within the military, Courtois was also privy to the king's deteriorating health and his contemplations of retirement once the new king ascended to the throne. Thus, he believed that as long as he avoided any major mistakes during the war, he would remain in good standing. Reflecting on this, Admiral Courtois responded cautiously, "Your Highness, warfare has evolved significantly. The strategies that were effective a decade ago might no longer be applicable today."

Crown Prince Edel, finding the Admiral more evasive than a slippery loach, decided it was best to consult Deputy Chief of Staff Major General Prosi for more direct advice. He suspected that this was precisely why Puleshan had chosen Courtois for the position.

Two days later, the Romanian army reached the outskirts of Tarnovo. The local garrison put up a brief resistance before retreating to the fortified position of Tsarevets outside the city. Observing the formidable defenses mounted on the hill, and upon the advice of Major General Prosi, Edel ordered the Romanian forces to regroup and await the arrival of the 11th Heavy Artillery Regiment, guarded by the 12th Division. This regiment boasted Romania's formidable 21-cm howitzers, each weighing nearly 9 tons and requiring ten Dongfeng trucks for transportation. A special engineering group was also deployed to facilitate their movement. Despite the logistical challenges, these heavy guns, capable of firing 12 kg shells to a range of 11800 meters, were considered invaluable for major battles.

As the Romanian setup was underway, the main force of the Bulgarian army, led by King Ferdinand I, also converged near Tarnovo. Lieutenant General Savov, the Minister of the Sixth Army, briefed the defense strategy focusing on the strategic importance of Tsarevets Mountain, the commanding height outside Tarnovo. He emphasized the necessity of holding this position and outlined the deployment of various divisions to secure the area effectively.

The Bulgarian forces, aware of being surrounded on three sides and with Montenegro also declaring war on them, knew they were in a precarious position. Despite the dire circumstances, the Bulgarian generals, including King Ferdinand I, were determined to defend their territory vigorously.

Lieutenant General Savov, noting the attentiveness of his officers, continued detailing the defensive arrangements, assigning key divisions to critical sectors around Tsarevets Mountain. He placed a newly formed independent brigade in a less vulnerable southern position and kept additional divisions within the city for rapid deployment as needed.

After the briefing, Lieutenant General Savov, sensing some lingering doubts among his officers, decided not to elaborate further and concluded the meeting. He then asked Lieutenant General Kudinchev, commander of the First Army, to stay behind for a more detailed discussion on the defense of Tsarevets Mountain.

King Ferdinand I, anxious about the impending confrontation, inquired about the possibility of a preemptive strike against the Romanian forces, similar to previous successful operations. However, Lieutenant General Savov explained the impracticality of such a strategy given the superior training, responsiveness, and armament of the Romanian army, particularly highlighting their substantial advantage in machine guns and artillery.

Understanding the gravity of the situation and the limited options available, King Ferdinand I reluctantly agreed with Savov's strategy to defend Tarnovo with a determination reflective of their dire circumstances. Both leaders knew that the battle for Tarnovo would be pivotal and potentially devastating, but it was a sacrifice they were prepared to make to preserve their nation's integrity.

As the military leaders dispersed, the air was thick with a mix of determination and apprehension, each aware of the challenging days ahead. The defense of Tarnovo was not just a military obligation but a testament to the resilience and spirit of the Bulgarian people.

On July 11, the 11th Heavy Artillery Regiment arrived at the front line, marking the assembly of all participating troops. With this, Edel convened a critical Romanian military meeting.

"Our objective in this battle is to defeat the main force of the Bulgarian army in Tarnovo and shatter their morale," declared Major General Prossi, the Deputy Chief of Staff, as he stood before the gathered generals in the command headquarters' conference room. "The key target is the position on Mount Tsarevets just outside the city."

Given that Crown Prince Edel, the commander-in-chief, was not well-versed in military strategies and General Courtois, the chief of staff, preferred not to interfere, the responsibility of briefing fell to Prossi. "At precisely 10:20 on the 13th, we will initiate our offensive against the Bulgarian defenders on Mount Tsarevets. Prior to the assault, our four heavy artillery regiments will conduct a three-hour bombardment targeting enemy fortifications and fire points. The Second Army will spearhead the attack while the Third Army's 14th Division and the First Army's 12th Division will secure our left and right flanks respectively."

After outlining the plan, Prossi inquired, "Are there any questions?"

The room remained silent. The generals understood the plan, crafted by Lieutenant General Prieshan of the First Army and approved by Crown Prince Edel. Prossi's question was merely procedural. The strategic importance of Mount Tsarevets was clear to all; its capture was essential for taking Tarnovo.

Seeing no objections, Prossi looked towards Crown Prince Edel for approval. With a nod from Edel, he announced, "The meeting is adjourned."

As the generals dispersed, Edel approached Prossi, offering a supportive pat on the shoulder. "Well done," he commended before exiting to inspect the troops and boost their morale, acknowledging his own limitations in direct combat leadership.

Meanwhile, preparations were underway on both sides. The advent of aviation had brought reconnaissance to the forefront, and both Romanian and Bulgarian forces were keen to leverage this new technology.

"Push the plane over quickly!" commanded Lieutenant Colonel Ankerdra in a village near the frontline, as Romanian soldiers maneuvered a Pilot II aircraft into position. This new model, exclusive to the Romanian army, featured an additional seat and reinforced steel rims. It was equipped with the latest land **** engine by the Seguin brothers, a 140-horsepower marvel that propelled the aircraft to speeds of 178km per hour.

Lieutenant Colonel Ankerdra, commander of the Romanian Air Force, was determined to demonstrate the strategic value of aerial reconnaissance. With 22 of his 32 aircraft deployed, he aimed to expand his fleet by showcasing their effectiveness in battle.

The aircraft was soon ready for its mission, piloted by the dashing Captain Ilascu, who was accompanied by his partner Brolku. Equipped with a modified Kodak camera with Zeiss lenses and a Madsen machine gun with an extended barrel for improved accuracy, they were well-prepared for the task.

"Good luck, Captain Ilascu," Ankerdra wished, aware of the dangers ahead.

Ilascu, confident and ever-charming, replied with a grin, "It'll take some cooperation from Bulgaria for that!"

With a laugh, Ankerdra dismissed the pair, "Go, and maybe bring back a Bulgarian plane while you're at it."

Ilascu and Brolku saluted and boarded their aircraft, soaring towards the Bulgarian positions at Mount Tsarevets.

Simultaneously, in a Bulgarian airfield, Lieutenant Bebkov was gearing up for his own reconnaissance mission towards the Romanian lines. Confident from previous successful missions against the Ottomans and Serbians, Bebkov was eager to confront any Romanian aircraft.

As Ilascu and Brolku approached the Bulgarian positions, they managed to capture valuable photographs of the enemy's artillery and machine gun placements. Despite the Bulgarian troops' attempts to shoot them down, their aircraft, flying over a thousand meters high, remained out of effective range.

Suddenly, Ilascu spotted another aircraft approaching—it was Bebkov's. Seizing the opportunity, Ilascu directed his aircraft towards the enemy.

Bebkov, recognizing the threat posed by the armed Romanian aircraft, attempted to retreat. However, the superior speed of the Romanian Navigator II allowed Ilascu and Brolku to close in. As Brolku fired the machine gun, Bebkov made a desperate maneuver, diving towards the ground to evade the gunfire.

The steep dive proved too much for Bebkov's aircraft, which crashed tragically, ending his life upon impact.

From their vantage point, Ilascu and Brolku could only watch as their adversary plummeted to the ground. They continued their reconnaissance mission, marking a somber but historic moment in aerial combat.

This encounter would be recorded in history as the first aerial combat, though Lieutenant Bebkov would never know of his posthumous fame.