Battle Report
 

Battle Report: 18th January 1991

Late British  ~vs~  Mahdist

(Robert Avery ~vs~ Richard Avery & Nog Norgren)

.

Late British

Brigade

Unit

Fig.'s Org. Class Weapons Pts/Fig Points
  Gen. Sir H. Flashman

1

        100
  2inC 1         50
Army 90th Foot 40 8x5 RegB blr   520
  78th Highlanders 40 8x5 RegB blr   520
  17th Lancers 16 4x4 RegB s,blc,p,l   328
  Camel Corps 8 2x4 RegCMI blr   124
  1st Btty Royal Artillery 3 3x1 RegB medium blrb FA   390
Naval Naval Brigade 24 8x3 RegC blr   320
Brigade NB Support 1 1x1 RegA hmg   102
  Ammo Wagon 1         50
              2504
.

Mahdist

Brigade

Unit

Fig.'s

Org.

Class

Weapons

Pts/Fig

Points

 

CinC

1

 

 

 

 

100

 

2inC

1

 

 

 

 

50

Henandoah

White

36

1x36

FanB

sp/sw,sh

 

267

 

Brown

36

1x36

FanB

sp/sw,sh

 

267

Ansar

Red Flag

32

1x32

IrregB

sp/sw,sh,sbm

 

207

Tribal

Blue Flag

32

1x32

IrregC

sp/sw,sh,sbm

 

286

Support

Green Flag

32

1x32

IrregC

sp/sw,sh,sbm

 

286

 

Horse

20

1x20

FanA

l,sw,sh,blr,armour

 

395

 

Artillery

3

1x3

IrregB

medium blrb FA

 

495

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2504

.
. Late British Mahdist
Foot 1600 3360
Horse 480 400
Guns 8 6

 

Report

The two forces quickly deployed: with the British forming a long firing line opposite the Mahdists, who were screened by skirmishers. The Mahdist General put his Henandoah tribesmen on the right flank, supported by the Horse; and his  Ansar tribesmen on the left, supported by the guns.

The Mahdist skirmishers quickly moved up and began exchanging fire with the British line. After two volleys, five companies of the 90th Foot ran out of ammo, and dropped out of line in order to replenish supplies. The reserve of three companies of Naval Brigade took their place.

On the British left flank, half the Lancers charged the Mahdist fanatical tribal horse: both sides effectively ruling themselves out of any further action. The rest of the Lancers and the Camel Corps began moving to their right:  trying to outflank the Mahdist left flank.

Meanwhile, an artillery duel had developed and, horror of horrors, the British guns were put out of action by the Mahdist artillery!

With their artillery destroyed, one third of their infantry out of ammo, and having survived one Henandoah assault, the British had to advance: or face gradual annihilation from the enemy guns. The situation was exasperated when the Lancers and the Camel Corps were thrown into confusion by the Mahdist artillery during their outflanking manoveur, and had to retreat from the field.

So the British infantry line went forward. On their left and centre, the Naval Brigade and 90th Foot were halted by skirmisher and artillery fire, and the renewed threat of another Henandoah assault. On the right, however, with skirling pipes and swirling kilts, the Highlanders inexorably on: closing with the tribal infantry and routing them off the field.

As the Highlanders began to swing round and roll up the Mahdist battle line, the Mahdists realised that the day was lost, and broke and fled.

Casualties

The Mahdist force had most of its units shaken or routed at the end of the battle. Total Mahdist casualties were about 1800.

The Highlanders lost 139 men. The 90th Foot took 40% casualties to companies A, D and E, but were otherwise relatively unscathed. The Lancers took 240 casualties out of 320 men. The Camel Corps was largely wiped out. The Naval Brigade lost about 60 men from companies A, B and C.

Results

A victory, hard fought, for the British.

Analysis

The British were most unlucky to lose their artillery, and thus be forced to advance rather than volley fire a charging enemy.

However, once the two Henandoah units had made their charges and been recoiled, it was merely a matter of time before the British won. It should be noted that the Mahdist player complained that the British had been too cautious throughout...damn right!