Varmint Punic War

The Varmint Punic War was a conflict between the Raccoon-Possum Commonwealth, and the newly formed Skunk Federation , which had split off from the commonwealth two years prior. The war ran from May 1981 to August 1982, and took place mostly in northern Michigan and Wisconsin. The war was motivated by the Commonwealth's jealousy of the massive profits generated by Skunk Bombs. The war seemed to go well for the Commonwealth at first, due to the fact that they had been receiving quantities of tanks from their allies in Section 18. But the Federation developed increasingly effective tactics using Skunk Bombs, and gradually turned the tide in their favor.

Prelude
April 9, 1969 had seen the Skunks secede from the Commonwealth, a motion which was not challenged, due to Dictarch Rafael Racmonolis ' opinion that the skunks were useless vermin that should not recieve the benefits of being part of the the union. However, when Skunk Bombs were invented, the Commonwealth feared that they would be used against them, and sought to destroy their manufacturing capabilities with one quick stroke. Little did they know that they were made in secret underground bunkers, not in large factories, as Skunk propaganda suggested. So on May 18, 1971 the Raccoon-Possum Commonwealth declared war on the Skunk Federation.

First Actions
See Also: Battle of West Branch

A Raccoon arrmored brigade attacked the skunk outpost at West Branch just hours after war was declared. A large column of Panzers streamed down the highway known as M-55 and struck deep into skunk territory, breaching defenses guarded only by infantry and outdated light armored vehicles, crushing the defenders in a tactic that became known as Rutalrappen, raccoon for "lightning strike". Soon the order was given to abandon West Branch and fall back to the hamlet known as Edwards, leaving the elite 7th Stink Ranger Battalion as a rear guard. The brave Stink Rangers fought bravely, delaying the Raccoon forces for over 12 hours, using guerrilla tactics and urban terrain to their advantage. 60% of the Rangers that reported for duty on the 18th were dead, wounded or misssing on the 19th. But their sacrifice was not in vain, for their delaying action bought critical time for evacuating troops and war materials from the Grey Road Magazine, including several thousand canisters of compressed skunk spray, a crucial component of Skunk Bombs and other odiferous weapons.