Scenario
A group of slave-traders (who were thought to be operating out of Marzibar) set up a temporary base inside an old abandoned coastal fort on the border between the Britannic Colony of New Surrey and Fezian Madasahatta. The area was disputed territory. According to the Fezians the fort was in Fezian Madasahatta, but maps produced by Britannic surveyors definitely showed it as being part of New Surrey.
The slaver-traders – who were led by the infamous Ali Yusuf – had arrived by dhow, and quickly restored the old fort. They stationed two Field Artillery Units (each armed with smooth-bore cannon) within the fort along with a Unit of Infantry armed with single-shot rifles. A similarly armed Infantry Unit occupied a nearby abandoned native village whilst a third Infantry Unit remained aboard the dhow.
In order to stop any possible slaving raids into Britannic territory the Governor of the Colony – Sir Reginald Goodman – had ordered military units to eject the slave-traders ('Remove that nest of Sea Rats!') and destroy the fort so that it could not be used for such a purpose in the future. The forces he had allocated to the task comprised:
News of the impending movement of Britannic troops into the disputed territory caused consternation amongst the Fezian hierarchy in Madasahatta. The Governor – Abdullah Rahman – immediately ordered his military subordinate – Colonel Saleh Usman – to assemble a force with which to 'protect the sovereignty of Fezian territory'.
Colonel Usman mobilised two Infantry Units (armed with single-shot rifles) and a Field Artillery Unit (armed with rifled field artillery) as well as the armoured gunboat Osman III (commanded by Lieutenant Harun Mohamed). He also requisitioned two dhows to transport his force to the disputed area.
Turn 1
The Britannic force sailed down the coast towards the disputed area, led by HMS Indolent.
Turn 2
Whilst the two steam-powered passenger ships moored so that they could begin unloading their cargo of soldiers and military equipment, HMS Indolent sailed further along the coast to investigate the fort.
Turn 3
As soon as she came in sight of the fort, HMS Indolent was fired upon, but suffered no damage. She returned fire with her heavy armament ... and inflicted casualties upon the Unit of Field Artillery that had fired at her.
In the meantime the first Britannic Units had been unloaded from their transports.
Turn 4
HMS Indolent continued to trade fire with the fort with the result that HMS Indolent suffered some minor damage and the Unit of Field Artillery was destroyed!
By now the Britannic force was unloaded from its transports ...
... but the slave-traders had not been idle and two of the Infantry Units began to advance to meet the 'invaders' ...
... whilst the dhow manoeuvred so that she could sail out to engage HMS Indolent.
Turn 5
Before the advancing slaver-traders could get into single-shot rifle range they were engage with artillery fire from HMS Indolent and the Britannic Field Artillery Unit. This not only caused casualties amongst the slaver-traders but also forced one of the Infantry Units to retreat.
The Britannic Infantry Units used this opportunity to advance towards the fort.
The slave-traders countered by moving forward and firing at the leading Britannic Infantry Unit (The Madasahatta Rangers) ...
... whom they decimated!
In the meantime the slave-traders in the dhow were slowly making progress out of the small harbour they had been moored in and towards HMS Indolent.
Turn 6
The casualties cause to the Madasahatta Rangers showed that the slaver-traders were not going to be an easy enemy to defeat. As the main advantage enjoyed by the Britannic force was its firepower, Colonel Wells ordered HMS Indolent and the Field Artillery Unit to fire at the advancing slave-traders. The Field Artillery Unit's fire destroyed the leading slave-trader Infantry Unit and HMS Indolent's gunfire inflicted a casualty on the other slave-trader Infantry Unit, which seriously depleted its strength.
As this was happening the Fezian convoy came into sight, heading towards the fort.
The slaver-traders in the dhow immediately crammed on all available sail and made their escape seaward, leaving their compatriots to fend for themselves!
The remaining slave-traders (led by Ali Yusuf) fell back towards Fezian territory ...
... and the Britannic troops again began to advance on the fort.
Turn 7
As there were no suitable targets, neither side fired their artillery at their opponents. The slave-traders occupied the jetty near the fort ... and proceeded to surrender to the Fezians!
The Britannic troops continued to advance, led by the Madasahatta Rangers who were intent upon exacting their revenge on the slave-traders for the casualties they had suffered.
Turn 8
A Fezian Infantry Unit stormed ashore from the dhow that had been transporting it whilst the second dhow moored next to the fort prior to landing the troops it carried. The gunboat Osman III - carrying Colonel Usman – steamed towards HMS Indolent and signalled that the Colonel requested an urgent meeting with Colonel Wells, whom he rightly assumed was aboard the Britannic warship.
Realising that the situation had drastically changed and that there was a distinct possibility that fighting between the Britannic and Fezian troops could break out at any moment, Colonel Wells signalled the Britannic troops to stop advancing with immediate effect. This order was not well received by the Madasahatta Rangers, but they grudgingly obeyed it.
Turn 9
Whilst the Fezians rounded up and disarmed the slave-traders …
… the Britannic and Fezian commanders held a conference aboard HMS Indolent.
Colonel Wells knew that the fort was situated in disputed territory, and did not want to risk starting a war without approval from his government. His force had achieved its aim – the removal of the slave-traders – but he wished to make sure that they could not return at a later date. Colonel Usman realised that his force was out-gunned by the Britannic troops and gunboat, and he looked for some way in which he could ensure that he protected 'the sovereignty of Fezian territory' without risking an all-out fight with a potentially stronger adversary.
After some considerable discussion the two Colonels agreed that the fort should be destroyed by explosives. These would be provided by the Britannic Marines and the fuse would be lit by a Fezian officer. The slaver-traders (or 'traders' as the Fezian Colonel insisted on calling them) were taken into 'protective custody' by the Fezians, who returned them to Marzibar.
Turn 10
After the explosives had been set, the fort was destroyed in a huge explosion.
It is rumoured that an independent Boundary Commission is to be set up to adjudicate where the actual border between the Britannic Colony of New Surrey and Fezian Madasahatta lies ... but who knows how long that will take nor what could happen in the interim?
Conclusion
I was very pleased with the way this play-test went because:
A group of slave-traders (who were thought to be operating out of Marzibar) set up a temporary base inside an old abandoned coastal fort on the border between the Britannic Colony of New Surrey and Fezian Madasahatta. The area was disputed territory. According to the Fezians the fort was in Fezian Madasahatta, but maps produced by Britannic surveyors definitely showed it as being part of New Surrey.
The slaver-traders – who were led by the infamous Ali Yusuf – had arrived by dhow, and quickly restored the old fort. They stationed two Field Artillery Units (each armed with smooth-bore cannon) within the fort along with a Unit of Infantry armed with single-shot rifles. A similarly armed Infantry Unit occupied a nearby abandoned native village whilst a third Infantry Unit remained aboard the dhow.
In order to stop any possible slaving raids into Britannic territory the Governor of the Colony – Sir Reginald Goodman – had ordered military units to eject the slave-traders ('Remove that nest of Sea Rats!') and destroy the fort so that it could not be used for such a purpose in the future. The forces he had allocated to the task comprised:
- The armoured gunboat HMS Indolent (commanded by Lieutenant Commander Barrington Muir)
- A unit of Marines (which will be transported aboard HMS Indolent)
- An Infantry Unit of the Scotia Highlanders (armed with magazine rifles)
- An Infantry Unit of the Madasahatta Rangers (armed with magazine rifles)
- A Machine Gun Unit
- A Field Artillery Unit (armed with rifled field artillery)
- Two steam-powered coastal passenger ship that will each carry an Infantry Unit and the Machine Gun Unit or Field Artillery Unit
News of the impending movement of Britannic troops into the disputed territory caused consternation amongst the Fezian hierarchy in Madasahatta. The Governor – Abdullah Rahman – immediately ordered his military subordinate – Colonel Saleh Usman – to assemble a force with which to 'protect the sovereignty of Fezian territory'.
Colonel Usman mobilised two Infantry Units (armed with single-shot rifles) and a Field Artillery Unit (armed with rifled field artillery) as well as the armoured gunboat Osman III (commanded by Lieutenant Harun Mohamed). He also requisitioned two dhows to transport his force to the disputed area.
Turn 1
The Britannic force sailed down the coast towards the disputed area, led by HMS Indolent.
Turn 2
Whilst the two steam-powered passenger ships moored so that they could begin unloading their cargo of soldiers and military equipment, HMS Indolent sailed further along the coast to investigate the fort.
Turn 3
As soon as she came in sight of the fort, HMS Indolent was fired upon, but suffered no damage. She returned fire with her heavy armament ... and inflicted casualties upon the Unit of Field Artillery that had fired at her.
In the meantime the first Britannic Units had been unloaded from their transports.
Turn 4
HMS Indolent continued to trade fire with the fort with the result that HMS Indolent suffered some minor damage and the Unit of Field Artillery was destroyed!
By now the Britannic force was unloaded from its transports ...
... but the slave-traders had not been idle and two of the Infantry Units began to advance to meet the 'invaders' ...
... whilst the dhow manoeuvred so that she could sail out to engage HMS Indolent.
Turn 5
Before the advancing slaver-traders could get into single-shot rifle range they were engage with artillery fire from HMS Indolent and the Britannic Field Artillery Unit. This not only caused casualties amongst the slaver-traders but also forced one of the Infantry Units to retreat.
The Britannic Infantry Units used this opportunity to advance towards the fort.
The slave-traders countered by moving forward and firing at the leading Britannic Infantry Unit (The Madasahatta Rangers) ...
... whom they decimated!
In the meantime the slave-traders in the dhow were slowly making progress out of the small harbour they had been moored in and towards HMS Indolent.
Turn 6
The casualties cause to the Madasahatta Rangers showed that the slaver-traders were not going to be an easy enemy to defeat. As the main advantage enjoyed by the Britannic force was its firepower, Colonel Wells ordered HMS Indolent and the Field Artillery Unit to fire at the advancing slave-traders. The Field Artillery Unit's fire destroyed the leading slave-trader Infantry Unit and HMS Indolent's gunfire inflicted a casualty on the other slave-trader Infantry Unit, which seriously depleted its strength.
As this was happening the Fezian convoy came into sight, heading towards the fort.
The slaver-traders in the dhow immediately crammed on all available sail and made their escape seaward, leaving their compatriots to fend for themselves!
The remaining slave-traders (led by Ali Yusuf) fell back towards Fezian territory ...
... and the Britannic troops again began to advance on the fort.
Turn 7
As there were no suitable targets, neither side fired their artillery at their opponents. The slave-traders occupied the jetty near the fort ... and proceeded to surrender to the Fezians!
The Britannic troops continued to advance, led by the Madasahatta Rangers who were intent upon exacting their revenge on the slave-traders for the casualties they had suffered.
Turn 8
A Fezian Infantry Unit stormed ashore from the dhow that had been transporting it whilst the second dhow moored next to the fort prior to landing the troops it carried. The gunboat Osman III - carrying Colonel Usman – steamed towards HMS Indolent and signalled that the Colonel requested an urgent meeting with Colonel Wells, whom he rightly assumed was aboard the Britannic warship.
Realising that the situation had drastically changed and that there was a distinct possibility that fighting between the Britannic and Fezian troops could break out at any moment, Colonel Wells signalled the Britannic troops to stop advancing with immediate effect. This order was not well received by the Madasahatta Rangers, but they grudgingly obeyed it.
Turn 9
Whilst the Fezians rounded up and disarmed the slave-traders …
… the Britannic and Fezian commanders held a conference aboard HMS Indolent.
Colonel Wells knew that the fort was situated in disputed territory, and did not want to risk starting a war without approval from his government. His force had achieved its aim – the removal of the slave-traders – but he wished to make sure that they could not return at a later date. Colonel Usman realised that his force was out-gunned by the Britannic troops and gunboat, and he looked for some way in which he could ensure that he protected 'the sovereignty of Fezian territory' without risking an all-out fight with a potentially stronger adversary.
After some considerable discussion the two Colonels agreed that the fort should be destroyed by explosives. These would be provided by the Britannic Marines and the fuse would be lit by a Fezian officer. The slaver-traders (or 'traders' as the Fezian Colonel insisted on calling them) were taken into 'protective custody' by the Fezians, who returned them to Marzibar.
Turn 10
After the explosives had been set, the fort was destroyed in a huge explosion.
It is rumoured that an independent Boundary Commission is to be set up to adjudicate where the actual border between the Britannic Colony of New Surrey and Fezian Madasahatta lies ... but who knows how long that will take nor what could happen in the interim?
Conclusion
I was very pleased with the way this play-test went because:
- The rules – including the latest additions that covered the use of ships – worked without a hitch.
- The six-figure Infantry Units were far more aesthetically pleasing on the eye than the 4-figure ones.
- The use of Hexon II enable me – in a very short amount of time – to set up an attractive-looking terrain over which to fight this battle.
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Absolutely splendid game Bob!
ReplyDeleteTradgardmastare,
ReplyDeleteI am glad that you enjoyed reading the battle report. I certainly enjoyed fighting the battle!
All the best,
Bob
Your game looked sharp. I especially liked the ships. The denser figure units get a thumbs up from me. Well done.
ReplyDeleteDon
Brigadier Dundas (Don),
ReplyDeleteMany thanks for the complimentary comments.
I agree that the 6-figure Infanty Units do look much better than the 4-figure ones, and I intend to include the change to larger units in the next draft of the rules.
All the bet,
Bob
Hi Bob,
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely top hole! The scenario was hugely enjoyable and full of period flavour - gunboat diplomacy indeed!
The 6 figure units look so much better as well and as for those ships....amazing!
Methinks that Madasahatta will be seeing more 'encounters' in due course and the whole piece was hugely inspirational.
Very well done Bob and more of the same please!
All the best,
DC
David Crook,
ReplyDeleteI am pleased to read that you enjoyed this battle report ... and yes, I do hope to have the opportunity to write more in the very near future. As long as 'real life' doesn't intervene too much I am aiming to fight at least two wargames per month this year.
Choosing Madasahatta as the location for this battle was a sort of tribute to Eric Knowles as without his encouragement I doubt if I would have ever begun colonial wargaming.
I hope to build some more model ships in due course, and intend to use this style of model. I doubt if I will use Fimo again, although it does have quite a few advantages over other modelling materials.
All the best,
Bob
PS. I am definitely going over to 6-figure Infantry Units and 4-figure Cavalry Units in the next draft of the MOB rules.
Looks like it was a 'fun' game Bob. Glad you blogged it!
ReplyDeleteNow enough of this frivolous enjoyment and get on with the 'serious' business of your Spencer Smiths!!
Jim Duncan,
ReplyDeleteI am glad that you liked it!
I am almost at the stage where the rules are pretty well finished. Once they are I intend to start painting figures to use with them.
All the best,
Bob
A very nice report, with great pics and lots of "flavor".
ReplyDeleteA delightful battle report of a great looking game. It all fits together really well.
ReplyDeleteI especially liked the various boats.
Did you dice for reactions of the "traders" and the opposing colonial powers? or perhaps just role play what seemed like the most likely course?
Fitz-Badger,
ReplyDelete'Flavour' is exactly what I was trying to achieve!
I am glad that you enjoyed reading this battle report ... and thank you for your kind comments.
All the best,
Bob
Ross Mac,
ReplyDeleteI was very pleased to find that all the elements of the game came together so well.
I made the boats quite a few years back, and I have used them once or twice before.
When it came to tactical decisions during the battle, I tried to come up with a couple of alternative choices and then used a D6 to 'decide' which was chosen.
The turn in which the Fezians arrived was determined by a D6 being thrown at the beginning of each turn, with the Fezians arriving the turn after a '6' was thrown.
All the best,
Bob
An inspiring tabletop setup and write-up!
ReplyDeleteJust last night, after reading a few different sets of your rules, I was fiddling around with 3 vs 4 figure infantry units but found neither filled a 3" square exactly as I'd like. I upped the count to 5 and still found it lacking for regular troops (it didn't look bad for a "warband") - but instead of going to 6, I moved back down. I'll have to try 6 tonight. If they look half as good as yours do on the Hexon tiles, I'll be very pleased.
So, count me as yet another person that thinks the 6-figure units look great. I look forward to seeing the next version of the rules that incorporate them.
-John
A great read - much gunboat flavour.
ReplyDeleteDanjou's Hand (John),
ReplyDeleteThanks for your kind comments.
In the past I have tried several different figure strengths for infantry units, and ended up with 4-figure units almost by default. The move to a 6-figure unit is going to cause me a few problems, but aesthetically it looks better on the Hexon II hexes than a 4-figure one.
I have yet to see what a 6-figure unit looks like on my 3-inch squared terrain, but I suspect that like you I am going to find that the slightly larger unit will look better.
I hope to get the latest draft of the rules finished by the end of this week at the latest.
All the best,
Bob
Pat G,
ReplyDeleteMany thanks for your kind comment ... and I hope that a gunboat (or two) will be featured again in at least one forthcoming colonial battle!
All the best,
Bob