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Saturday 26 January 2013

A Taxing mission

This weeks game was a colonial skirmish.

The Scenario involved a district commissioner, with a scratch force of contingents, being dropped off by steamer near the princedom of N'putku, which had failed to pay its taxes this year.
The commissioner planned to persuade the prince to make the requisite payments by the gentle application of Imperial military force...

Unknown to him though, the prince had gathered a small force of warriors and intended to drive the foreign devils back into the river!
The Imperial force consisted of some Askaris, armed with percussion muzzle loading rifles, and some police, unused to warfare, armed with smoothbore muskets.

A quickly assembled barricade made from the expeditions supplies.
 The open terrain of East Africa.
 A group of Colonial police deployed in skirmish order to await the enemy.
 Some more police manned the barricade, with the askaris to their right.
 A small group of archers appeared, shooting ineffectively. 
 The princes guards  deployed opposite the police.
 ..with some lesser warriors on their left.
 A swarm of musket and bow armed warriors deplyed in front of the askaris.
 ..with a body of warriors moving to attack the askaris flank.
The Guard troops advanced with the other warriors supporting. 
The native skirmishers advanced shooting at the askaris. 
Seeing the mass of warriors approaching, the police commandant led half his men towards a small knoll on the left flank. 
 The askaris, seeing the main force moving on the police, moved to face them by filling the gap in the line left by the police redeployment, the police in the redoubt covering the move .
 The skirmishers seeing the askaris move, advanced aggressively, shooting.
 Even at this long range, they luckily killed 2 askaris!
 The redoubt police moved back and fired at the skirmishers as they got line of sight.

 The police reached the knoll, but some of them, harassed by the archers, broke ranks to fire back.
 The main body of skirmishers continued to press the askaris. 
 ..who turned and fired, but not at the skirmishers. A few native warriors fell but continued advancing.
 The police on the knoll rushed out to maul the archers before the guards reached their position.
 ..then bemused the remaining archers by falling back to the knoll!
 The archers made good their escape, but the guardsmen advanced through a hail of lead towards the police on the knoll, who were loading fiercely to receive them.
 Fortunately for the police, half the askaris were shooting at the guards!
 The police in the redoubt were left to deal with the massed skirmishers.
 ..they did quite well!
 Back on the left, the white head dressed guards retreated, allowing the other unit to continue the attack on the knoll.
The police, having helped stop the 'White' guards, loaded rapidly before the 'Red' guards attacked.
Meanwhile, the redoubt police continued to hit the skirmishers..
 ..ignoring the massed warriors attacking their flank.
The police, finally, seeing the warriors about to charge, reloaded quickly to get a shot at them. 
 
Back on the far side, the 'White' guards reformed, to support their brother warriors.
 ..who closed with the police, who held their fire till the last moment.
 
The devastating short range volley scattered the natives, who fled.
 The askaris meanwhile, were busy shooting up a band of warriors attacking them!
 The redoubt was assaulted as the ragged police volley failed to stop the attack. 
 The police fought valiantly.
..and gradually beat back the natives, though not without loss. 
 The native guards decided not to renew their attack.
 Now supported by some askaris, the redoubt defenders routed their attackers.
 The natives now all began to retreat, as the askaris now advanced, the day was won! 

The battle was quite close, both police units, being raw, were lucky to win, and the askaris, despite taking some casualties, were able to hold their own position, and aided the police on the flanks.

The natives took about 30% casualties, but escaped largely intact, so probably would have agreed to pay their taxes...until another opportunity to revolt presented itself!

Players:

Askaris- Lawrence and Ian.
Police- Me.

Natives- run by the rules solo system. Rules download page - Tyneside Wargames

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