Battle Report: 9th March 1999

Crimean British ~vs~ Crimean Russian

(Robert Avery ~vs~ Rupert Avery) .

Crimean British
Brigade	Unit	Fig.'s	Org.	Class	Weapons	Pts/Fig	Points
	CinC	1	.	..	.		100
Infantry	2inC	1					50
Brigade	Grenadier Guards	40	10x4	RegA	mlr	12	580
	57th Regt	40	10x4	RegB	mlr	10	500
	66th Regt	40	10x4	RegB	mlr	10	500
	Extra for Light Co's					2	48
	Rifles	16	4x4	LightsA	mlr	15	280
Cavalry	Light Dragoons	10	2x5	RegA	s, mlc	17	190
Brigade	17th Lancers	10	2x5	RegA	s, l	17	190
	11th Hussars	10	2x5	RegA	s	16	180
Artillery	1st Battery	3	3x1	RegB	light mlsb FA	73	249
Brigade	2nd Battery	2	2x1	RegA	light mlsb HA	98	216
	3rd Battery	1	1x1	RegA	rocket launcher	88	98
							3181

.

Crimean Russian
Brigade	Unit	Fig.'s	Org.	Class	Weapons	Pts/Fig	Points
.	CinC	1					100
Moscva	2inC	1					50
Regt	1st Bttn	48	4x12	LightsC	mlr	10	520
	2nd Bttn	48	4x12	RegB	sbm	8	424
	3rd Bttn	48	4x12	RegD	sbm	6	328
	4th Bttn	48	4x12	RegD	sbm	6	328
	Cossacks	48	4x12	RegD	sbm	6	328
Cavalry	2inC	1					50
Brigade	Uhlans	16	2x8	RegC	s, l	15	260
	Hussars	24	4x6	RegC	s	14	376
	Cossacks	10	1x10	IrregD	s, l	10	115
	Dragoon Guards	16	2x8	RegB	s, mlc	17	292
Artillery	1st Battery	3	3x1	RegC	light mlsb FA	69	237
	2nd Battery	2	2x1	RegB	heavy mlsb FA	112	244
	Ammo Wagon	1					50
							3750

.

.	Crimean British	Crimean Russian
Foot	2720	4800
Horse	600	1320
Guns	12	10

Report

A set piece battle with the two sides fighting over a village on the Crimean peninsular.

The British set up in two divisions: the Rifles, Guards and Hussars under command of the CinC aimed directly at the village, with the rest of the force moving forward over the open ground to the left.

The Russians sent a small force to occupy the village, but concentrated their main thrust in the centre of the battlefield.

As battle commenced, the Russians let loose an almighty cavalry charge at the British horse artillery that had advanced rapidly to the front-left. The RHA were, however, unlimbered and ready for action: and blew the first rank of Russian horse from the field. The others followed: shaken by the carnage.

On the right, the British elite column was confronted by some Hussars and D-class Russian infantry. Impatient for combat, the Guards charged, in column, but were counter-charged by the Hussars and, horror of horrors, thrown back. This was doubtless due to the fact that the Guards had disordered themselves by charging through a line of Rifles that had already KO’d one squadron of Hussars.

This meant that the British right flank elite force spent the rest of the battle re-organising behind a screen of Rifles that were inflicting heavy casualties on the Russian infantry. As the battle ended, the Guards were advancing once more, and the Russians beginning to crumble, but the Rifles were also starting to look a bit shaky: having been under constant artillery fire for two hours.

In the centre, the two lines continued exchanging fire and, as the battle ended as the short Russian day drew to a close, the three Russian and two British battalions had fought each other to a standstill.

With the British right flank force about to break through; the Russian right stalled due to the threat from flanking cavalry; and the Russian centre crumbling faster than the British centre: it looked grim for the Russians. Despite this, and despite the disparity in forces, due to the fact that the battle had to end at this point, the battle was declared a draw.

Casualties

The British lost 140 Rifles; 20 Horse Artillery crew; 260 men from the 66th; 20 men from the 57th; 20 Field Artillery crew; 100 Lancers and 80 Guards. A total of 640.

The Russians lost 140 Dragoons; 200 Hussars; 40 Cossacks; and 780 infantry. A total of 1160. 

Results

The Russians escaped with a lucky draw.

Analysis

Warning: remember that a small number of inferior troops can hold up your elite flanking column in a town or other enclosed space!

Whilst the British would undoubtedly have eventually crumbled the Russian forces, it is doubtful whether they would have had enough men left to do anything about it. Oh, for those missing 600 points!