Battle Report: 5th October 1996

Zulu ~ vs ~ Prussian

(Robert Avery ~vs~ Richard Avery) .

Zulu
Brigade	Unit	Fig.'s	Org.	Class	Weapons	Pts/Fig	Points
.	CinC	1	.	..	.		100
	2inC	1					50
Veteran	1	36	1x36	FanA	sp, sh		225
Tribesmen	2	36	1x36	FanA	sp, sh		225
	3	36	1x36	FanA	sp, sh		225
	4	36	1x36	FanA	sp, sh		225
	5	36	1x36	FanA	sp, sh		225
	6	36	1x36	FanA	sp, sh		225
Unmarried	7	36	1x36	FanB	sp, sh		225
Men	8	36	1x36	FanB	sp, sh		225
	9	36	1x36	FanB	sp, sh		225
	10	36	1x36	FanB	sp, sh		225
	11	36	1x36	FanB	sp, sh		225
	12	36	1x36	FanB	sp, sh		225
	13	36	1x36	FanB	sp, sh		225
	14	36	1x36	FanB	sp, sh		225
	15	36	1x36	FanB	sp, sh		225
	16	8	1x8	FanA	sp, sh, blr		119
							3644

.

Prussian
Brigade	Unit	Fig.'s	Org.	Class	Weapons	Pts/Fig	Points
	CinC	1					100
1st	Guards	48	4x12	RegA	blr		664
Brigade	Jaegers	48	4x12	LightsB	blr		664
	1st Line	24	2x12	RegC	blr		260
	2nd Line	48	4x12	RegC	blr		580
Cavalry	Uhlans	24	4x6	RegB	s, p, l		424
Brigade	Dragoons	16	4x4	RegB	s, blc		296
	Cuirassiers	24	4x6	RegB	s, p, blc, armour		309
Artillery	Battery A	3	3x1	RegB	light blrb FA		309
							3783

.

.	Zulu	Prussian
Foot	10960	3360
Horse	0	1280
Guns	0	6

Report

In their attempts to impose German rule on a small part of the Dark Continent, the Prussians sent a strong column of troops out into Zululand.

Camped near a large farm, the Prussian cavalry scouts reported a huge force of Zulus moving in for the kill, so the column deployed for battle.

Massing his cavalry far out on the wings, the Prussian commander hoped to out-flank the Zulu “horns of the bull”:  driving the Zulus onto his strong infantry centre.  The Zulus deployed as expected : with the head and loins of the bull comprised of their unmarried warriors, with the veteran warriors forming the horns.

The Zulus had intended to pick on the weak targets (ie the Prussian line infantry) first but, as they came within charge range, saw that the Prussian Guards had not yet formed square.  Seeing an opportunity to catch the Prussians off guard, the Zulu Induna ordered the charge.

This was a mistake:  the Prussians snapped into square, their guns fired double canister, and the warriors were turned into mincemeat!  Although they forced the Prussian gunners to flee their pieces, two Zulu regiments were all but destroyed, and two more routed.

Meanwhile, on the right, the Zulus had prepared to storm the farm - invested by the Jaegers and dismounted cavalry.  Forward the warriors ran but, dismayed by the failure of the central thrust, ravaged by fire from the Prussian infantry, they failed to charge home.

At the same time, on the left, the Zulu horn had succeeded in forcing the Prussian cavalry to withdraw.  Seeking a new target, they crossed the donga and assaulted some Prussian infantry on a small hill.  By now, however, the Zulus were beginning to lose heart:  and the attack was easily beaten off.

With their regiments broken and battered, the Zulus fled the field. 

Casualties

The Prussians lost 60 Jaegers:  victims of the Zulu sharpshooters who, for a change, has a very good day! 

The Zulus lost 2380 warriors:  a spear thrust to the heart of the nation!

Results

A win for the Prussians.

Analysis

When will I learn?  Don’t charge the enemy’s strongest unit at the beginning of the battle:  pick off his weakest units and save the strongest until their morale is suffering.