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AAR: 11th October 1992
 

Battle Report: 11th October 1992

Late Russian ~vs~  Late British

(Nog Norgren ~vs~ Robert Avery)

.

Late Russian
Brigade

Unit

 Fig.'s Org. Class Weapons Pts/Fig Points
  CinC

1

         100
Infantry 1st Bttn 48 4x12 RegC mlr*   472
  2nd Bttn 48 4x12 RegC mlr*   472
  3rd Bttn 48 4x12 MilD mlr*   376
Cavalry Dragoons 16 4x4 RegB s,blc   296
  Hussars 24 4x6 RegC s,blc   376
Artillery Battery 3 1x3 RegC light mlrb* FA    
              2359
.

Late British

Brigade

Unit

Fig.'s

Org.

Class

Weapons

Pts/Fig

Points

 

CinC

1

 

 

 

 

 100

Foot

Highlanders

40

8x5

RegB

blr

   520
  24th Foot 40 8x5 LightsB blr

 

 600
  Naval Brigade 24 8x3 RegB blr   344
Cavalry

17th Lancers

16

4x4

RegC

s,l,p,blc

 

 360
Artillery

1st Battery

3

3x1

RegA

light blrb FA

 

 321
  2nd Battery 1 1x1 RegA hmg   102
              2347
.
. Late Russian Late British
Foot 2880 2080
Horse 800 320
Guns 6 8
 

Report

Having out-scouted the British, the Russians set up in almost the same formation: infantry in line behind skirmishers;  reserve infantry in column; cavalry on the flanks; and artillery at one end of the line. The only difference between the two, was that both sides had their artillery on their right flank.

Both sides moved forward. The British artillery, after wasting a round of fire being out of range, opened up on the Russian guns: destroying two sections and forcing the other to flee. The Russian guns managed to destroy the British Gatling section before their untimely demise.

At the same time, the British Lancers and 24th Foot moved forward rapidly on the right flank: in an attempt to outflank the Russian line.

Now with superior artillery, the British prepared to back away: letting the Russian take casualties as they advanced. Seeing that this was the British plan, the Russian commander launched his Hussars at the Naval Brigade who, along with the Highlanders, were forced to change their orders and stand their ground: stirred but not shaken!

Unfortunately, the Russian commander had underestimated how far the Hussars would have to go to make contact: and their charge petered out 40 yards short, right under the guns of the jolly sailors. The Jack Tars fired: and three squadrons of Hussars were annihilated.

Meanwhile, on the Russian left, the Dragoons had charged the British Lancers that were supporting the 24th Foot. The Lancers disengaged successfully, attempting to draw the Russians under the guns of their infantry, but had not anticipated the effect this would have on the morale of their colleagues: the huge numbers of enemy cavalry thundering past their flank shook the 24th Foot. To add insult to injury, the shots fired by the Dragoons into the back of the 17th Lancers were enough to so demoralise the British horse that they fled off the field!

Quickly the British artillery pivoted round and, firing into the flank of the Dragoons, routed them. Seeing this success, the 24th rallied, and prepared to advance again.

The situation for the Russians was now desperate: no artillery or cavalry left! The Russian infantry was sent forward for one desperate attempt to break the British.

As the infantry emerged from their skirmish line, however, they were faced by 3 sections of artillery and almost 2000 infantry - all in line and ready to volley fire. The Russians stood for a full fifteen minutes under withering fire, but then, as the 24th charged, fled the field.

Casualties

The Russians lost 240 Hussars; 54 Dragoons and 546 infantry.

The British lost 180 infantry; 12 Lancers and 40 artillerymen. 

Results

A total victory for the British.

Analysis

The Russian commander didn’t really make any major mistakes except to attempt a forward advance into superior firepower.