Battle Report: 4th August 1991 Early British Indian  ~vs~  Early Afghan (Andy Purcell ~vs~ Robert Avery)

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Early British Indian Brigade Unit Fig.'s Org. Class Weapons Pts/Fig Points   CinC 1         100   2inC 1         50   94th Foot 16 4x4 RegB mlr   240   54th Foot 32 8x4 RegB mlr (2 Co's LI)   416   24th Punjab Foot 40 10x4 RegC mlr (2 Co's LI)   476   3rd Ghurka Foot 40 8x5 LightsC mlr   520   17th Lancers 16 4x4 RegB s,l   280   3rd Dragoon Guards 16 4x4 RegB s,mlc   280   14th Sikh Horse 16 4x4 RegC s,mlc   248 1st Btty RA 3 3x1 RegB light mlsb FA 249   1st Btty RHA 3 3x1 RegB medium mlsb HA   369   Ammo Wagon 1                            3328

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Early Afghan Brigade Unit Fig.'s Org. Class Weapons Pts/Fig Points CinC 1 100 2inC 1 50 Pathans Foot 1 36 1x36 FanB sp/sw,sh 267 Foot 2 36 1x36 FanB sp/sw,sh 267   Foot 3 18 1x18 MksA sp/sw,sh,blr 195   Foot 4 18 1x18 MksA sp/sw,sh,mlr 195   Foot 5 18 1x18 IrregA sp/sw,sh,mlr   169   Foot 6 18 1x18 IrregC sp/sw,sh,mlr   133   Horse 1 10 1x10 FanA sp/sw,sh,mlr 155 Horse 2 10 1x10 FanA sp/sw,sh,mlr 155   Horse 3 10 1x10 FanB sp/sw,sh,mlr   142 Waziri Foot 1 32 1x32 IrregB sp/sw,sh,mlr 239 Foot 2 32 1x32 IrregB sp/sw,sh,mlr 239   Foot 3 32 1x32 IrregB sp/sw,sh,mlr 239   Foot 4 32 1x32 IrregB sp/sw,sh,mlr 239   Foot 5 32 1x32 IrregC sp/sw,sh 143    Guns 2 1x3 IrregB medium mlsb FA   314     1     light mlsb FA       Ammo Wagon 1          50   Works        40" medium works   40                   3331

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. Early British Indian Early Afghan Foot 2560 6080 Horse 960 600 Guns 12 6

Report The battle opened with both sides advancing at top speed towards a crooked ridge that dominated the centre of the battlefield. With their CinC spurring them on, the Afghan skirmishers and fanatics shot forward: surprising the British commander with the speed of their advance and, as was later revealed, preventing the British getting their horse artillery onto the ridge-top. This left the British largely bottled up behind the ridge. To break out, the 17th Lancers charged a unit of Pathan Marksmen: who opened fire at them for the first time and under the direct control of their leader. The Lancers were utterly destroyed by devastating jezzail fire! Encouraged by their success, the Afghans moved forward slightly, and generally engaged the enemy line, also further bottling them up behind the ridge. Meanwhile, the rest of the Afghan force began, on the right, to outflank the British, and begin enfilade fire. For about an hour, the British commander suffered losses all along his line and then, realising that he would soon be softened up enough to allow the fanatical Pathans easy charge targets, ordered a general retreat. Casualties The Afghans lost 106 men. The British lost the whole Lancer regiment (320 cornets); about 100 native infantry; 86 British infantry and 40 Dragoons. Results A complete victory for the Afghans. Analysis The British commander played straight to the Afghan strengths - fighting in close terrain instead of out in the open. His artillery were hardly used at all, he threw away his Lancers, and he was unable to think his way out of a dangerous but not impossible situation. One tactic that might have been employed was to move the horse artillery to cover his exposed left flank, formed square with his infantry, and dared the Afghans to charge! The Afghan commander took full advantage of the terrain and his enemy’s mistakes.