Zulus-thousands of 'em!

Last night,Brian,Graham,Paul and I had a "classic" Zulu game,based on Chelmsford leaving his camp at Isandlwana,and moving into the Mangeni Valley looking for the main Zulu army!-Brian and Graham were British commanders,whilst Paul and I took the role of Zulu commanders.

I seem to have "lost" a couple of photo's,but the British had stopped for an early morning break,out-spanned their wagons and have off-loaded a bit of good quality barricade type items-just in case!!-The photo above shows a bit of panic as the first wave of Zulus appeared-in fact both "horns" -Graham grabbed all the barricade items to protect his troops,leaving Brian in a bit of a predicament.

Both "horns" forming up in classic Zulu style-the centre regiments also appeared at this time,sending both British commanders into "meltdown"-instead of forming a typical defensive formation(ie a square) they opted to fight the Zulus in the open-that is apart from most of Graham's troops who were now safely(?) behind the wagons and ammo boxes etc.etc.

Two shots of the Zulu Left Horn(commanded by me) and the very vulnerable British line-haven't they spotted the mass of warriors advancing from the Zulu Centre? In the background Paul's Right Horn is making contact with Graham's troops-and doing very well too!!

Top photo shows the British right about to be "eaten" by the Zulus,bottom photo shows the advance of the Zulu Centre-has the British commander gone blind?-look to your flank,sir!!!!

Top photo shows the "trap" being sprung-bottom shows the sad state of Graham's troops!

The end!-even Melville and Coghill couldn't wriggle their way out of this one!!-even though we both took horrendous casualties getting into the British lines,correct Zulu tactics(and some horrible dice throws from Brian and Graham!) won the day for Paul and I-and yes,Brian did ask for a draw!!!!

 

Battle of Magfar 1882.

Last night we donned our pith helmets and polished our sandals and marched into Egypt,fighting red-coated British against an entrenched Egyptian army.

Top photo is the scenario,bottom is the table before any movement.Paul commanded the left and centre of the British line,whilst I commanded the right.Brian was in charge of the troops in the town,and Graham commanded the troops in the isolated fort next to the canal.

I was in charge(?) of the rocket troop-this is how it was supposed to look when being fired:Next photo is what happened when I ordered it to fire on the Town..............................

Bloody thing exploded on takeoff!!! killing all the crew.................................

Whoops! sorry lads it was an accident!!

Top photo shows my attack against the Town,bottom shows Paul's attack against the isolated fort,both Brian and Graham were looking worried!

Every club has one-ours is called Paul!-you know,, the guy who always throws high dice,lucky dice,always hits his target,kills opposing officers etc. etc.!!!-well last night the "King" of dice-throwing was reduced to a quivering wreck by throwing low dice all night!!!-and managed to get two out of three companies of the Naval Brigade slaughtered-his attack was not going well.

My cavalry are moving onto Brian's flank,whilst my infantry are moving forward,but taking casualties from the Egyptian guns.As he was outnumbered,Brian moved two companies from his right flank onto the centre of his position,in readiness to support the town if needed,leaving Graham with no hope of reinforcements!!

Paul's remaining Naval company supported by the Black Watch and Marines are storming forward,hoping to take the Fort and defensive wall-come on Paul,redeem yourself!!

My troops are fighting hand-to hand at the Town walls,and winning!!-I am just about to attack Brian's defensive wall......................

I did and the melee went my way,after a tremendous struggle-Graham's troops decided to retire(it's good being retired!) which left Paul free to dismantle the Dam and claim a victory,and with the Town in my hands the game was over-Brian had the audacity to ask for a draw!!!!
I enjoy Colonial games,they are fast and furious affairs,this was no exception-well done lads.
Roll on next week-possibly an Ancients,but who knows?

Fort Invincible-1896.

Last night we had the most interesting and near run thing,pitting a Dervish army against the might of the British Empire,in the Sudan.

This is the terrain map and scenario-Brian was "thrust" into commanding the Fort alone as Dave couldn't make it,but he proved he was more than capable of the task.Graham commanded the right of the Dervish army,Paul the left,and me the centre-what a game it turned into!!

The look of intrepidation was replaced by "smug" satisfaction as soon as Brian realised the effect his massed rifle/gatling/artillery fire had on the Hadendowah and Ansar troops charging at the Fort!!...........................

With screams and yells,the first attack goes in-only to be stalled by "Stalwart Irving", defender of the Empire!!

Top photo shows the second attack developing,bottom photo shows,despite Brian's shouts of "you dusky rascals won't get into my Fort!", THEY DID!!!!-hurrah.

This shows the "returning" 21st Lancers cutting a swathe through Graham's out-flanking Ansars-unfortunately Brian elected to turn the Lancers around and continue the fight-resulting in getting them wiped out!!!(the Lancers had been out scouting and could return,on any move from the bottom left hand corner of the board!!)

By now the Fort was all but surrounded by "dusky rascals" but Brian was doing well to keep them out by "dint" of bayonet,and bloody good dice throwing!!

This shot shows Graham's attack on the rear of the Fort,whilst he is still putting Brian under pressure from the flank-Paul has now defeated the troops in the smaller compound,and things are not looking good for the British.

This shows the larger compound,and the mass melee that followed Graham's assault on it-what he thinks he is going to do with his cavalry,I don't know!!

Brian has,some how,managed to win the mass melee,and the larger compound is secure again!!!
But the smaller compound has been taken by Paul.......................

This shows the sorry state of the smaller compound! With Brian still maintaining his grip on the rest of the Fort,and Graham's troops well and truly beaten(not to mention mine!) a draw was the best result we could hope for!-A great game,we all had to go and have a lie down in a darkened room to recover!!
We won't be playing next Sunday,as we are going on a "road trip" to York-full report will follow.

Battle of Fort Gordon 1896.

Last night we had a 100% turnout for this fascinating,fast and furious,colourful and exciting Colonial game.

Top photo is scenario,bottom is the table layout.I was the British commander(!) Paul was the Egyptian commander(!!) whilst Dave took charge of the Haddendowah,and Graham the Dervishes-all was set for one hell of a game(depending which side you were on!!)Brian opted to referee,and what a grand job he made of it.

Graham started proceedings by launching his Dervish hordes against Paul's Egyptians,who inflicted multiple casualties on the advancing warbands,causing Graham to shudder to a stand-still,initially-great stuff,but the Egyptians had now expended all of their ammunition,and would have to rely on the bayonet from now on!!!-Brian can be seen to be taking his refereeing responsibilities seriously,by looking at the garage floor!!

On the other flank,Dave has also launched his ,thousands, of troops against my still forming British,however my well-aimed artillery and rifle fire has given him a bit of a shock,and his casualties are mounting very early on in the game-do I smell success(or is that Graham forcing us all to smell something else??)

Graham's out-flanking move,by his cavalry,against the Egyptian flank,has been "thwarted" by my Lancers-hurrah!! But there are more and more enemy advancing in all sectors!!

Is this the calm before the storm?-Graham's troops are ,once more,advancing on the fort-is Paul up to the challenge,will his demon dice throwing get him out of trouble??

On my flank,I am holding on,but just! Dave is  sending his second line in a wide arc,against my exposed right flank(which begs the question,why did I send my Lancers against Graham's cavalry??-I need them to protect my own troops now!!)

Paul's cavalry is being over-whelmed by Graham's cavalry,and the referee is thinking about what he can have for his supper!!-this is serious(cheese on toast or a portion of fruit??-decisions,decisions!)
Meanwhile,back at the game............................

I am in all kinds of bother!
Graham is attacking the fort in a furious manner,Dave is attacking the British in a furious manner,and Brian is yawning in a furious manner!!

I am "undone"-Dave has managed to get round my exposed flank! with my Lancers lying in bloody tatters on the nearest sand dune,I now have no protection from the " Fuzzy Wuzzies"
who are all over my position-can I rely on Paul to send me help??

No,he seems to be pretty well tied up at the moment!-The Egyptian did well,initially,but their poor fighting/morale points eventually forced them to fall back in some dis-order!

This shot is taken from behind the Haddendowah lines,and shows the sorry state of my British-all is over I fear!

Questions will be asked in Parliament!!!!
This was a typical Colonial game,full of fun and laughter(unless you were Egyptian or British!) lots of fast moves and nail biting melees-great stuff!!
Roll on next Sunday,we will,once again, be fighting the game we are putting on at Falkirk in May-a few new things have been added!