View source for Battle of Phall

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{{IronWarriorsPortal}}
{{Battle
|Name         =The Battle at the Phall system
|Image        =Shadows_of_treachery_cover_clean.jpg
|Image caption=The Imperial Fists and the Iron Warriors in battle over the Phall system.
|Conflict     =[[Horus Heresy]]
|Date         =007.[[M31]]
|Location     =[[Phall system]]
|Outcome      =Imperial Strategic Withdrawal
|Combatant1   =[[File:IW Icon.png|30px]] [[Iron Warriors]]
|Combatant2   =[[File:Aquila1transparent.png|30px]] [[Imperium]]
|Commanders1  =[[File:IW Icon.png|20px]] [[Primarch]] [[Perturabo]]<br>[[File:IW Icon.png|20px]] [[First Captain]] [[Forrix]]<br>[[File:IW Icon.png|20px]] [[Space Marine Captain|Captain]] [[Berossus]]<br>[[File:IW Icon.png|20px]] [[Space Marine Captain|Captain]] [[Erasmus Golg]] (KIA)<br>[[File:IW Icon.png|20px]] [[Warsmith]] [[Varrek]]
|Commanders2  =[[File:IF Icon.png|20px]] [[Space Marine Captain|Captain]] [[Alexis Polux]]<br>[[File:IF Icon.png|20px]] [[Space Marine Captain|Captain]] [[Amandus Tyr]] (KIA)<br>[[File:IF Icon.png|20px]] [[Space Marine Captain|Captain]] [[Pertinax (Captain)|Pertinax]] (KIA)<br>[[File:IF Icon.png|20px]] [[Space Marine Captain|Captain]] [[Scallus]]
|Strength1    =[[File:IW Icon.png|20px]] [[Iron Warriors]] [[Traitor Legion]] totaling 400 ships{{Fn|3}}
|Strength2    = [[File:IF Icon.png|20px]] 1/3rd of [[Imperial Fists]] totaling 363 ships and 20,000 Legionaries{{Fn|3}}<br>[[File:Imperial Army Symbol.jpg|20px]] [[Sol System]] [[Imperial Army]]<br>[[File:Imperial Army Symbol.jpg|20px]] [[Saturnine Fleet]] Reserves
|Casualties1  = Heavy
|Casualties2  = 2/3rd of Fleet Destroyed
}}
The '''Battle of Phall''' was fought between the [[Iron Warriors]] and [[Imperial Fists]] early in the [[Horus Heresy]]. The engagement resulted in a draw, which is attributed as a major cause for why the Horus Heresy was prolonged over several years rather than ending in months with a Horus victory.{{Fn|4}}

After intercepting the [[Death Guard]] ship ''[[Eisenstein]]'', Imperial Fist [[Primarch]] [[Rogal Dorn]] was informed that Horus led the [[Sons of Horus]], Death Guard, [[Emperor's Children]], and [[World Eater]] legions in rebellion after slaughter any loyalists within their forces. Dorn responded by creating a "Retribution Fleet" that would strike against the traitors and bring them to heel. The fleet, representing 1/3rd of the Imperial Fist forces, was set upon by turbulence in the warp and lost many ships before becoming becalmed in the [[Phall System]].

Unable to leave, the Imperial Fists were set into a routine of drilling and preparing for combat. After 141 days, the Iron Warrior fleet appeared and immediately proceeding to attack their hated rivals. The battle went poorly for the Iron Warriors; though they outnumbered the Imperial Fists, they suffered substantial losses. Before the advantage could be pushed by the Imperial Fist, communications from Dorn made its way through the storm and ordered all Imperial Fists to return to [[Terra]]. The Imperial Fists, loyal to their primarch, immediately departed from the system and suffered substantial losses.

Although the Battle of the Phall System seemed like a victory for the Iron Warriors, the Imperial Fists showed that they were a stronger force with an aptitude for battle tactics. The win was a bitter reminder to the Iron Warriors of how the Imperial Fists always overshadowed them, and the moment weighed heavily upon the mind of the Iron Warriors' Primarch [[Perturabo]].