Battle Report: 9th April 1991 Early British Indian ~vs~ Indian Mutineer (Robert Avery & Andy Purcell ~vs~ Rupert Avery & Richard Avery)

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Early British Indian Brigade Unit Fig.'s Org. Class Weapons Pts/Fig Points   Sir Henry Havelock 1             2inC 1             72nd Highlanders 40 8x5 RegB mlr (2 co's LI)       3rd Ghurkas 40 8x5 RegB mlr (2 co's LI)       Naval Brigade 15 5x3 RegC mlr       17th Lancers 16 4x4 RegB s,mlc,l       Dragoon Guards 16 4x4 RegB s,mlc       1st Battery RHA 3 3x1 RegB medium mlsb HA       Ammo Wagon 1                         2900

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Indian Mutineer Brigade Unit Fig.'s Org. Class Weapons Pts/Fig Points CinC 1   2inC 1   Mutineers 1st Bttn 40 10x4 MilD mlr (2 Co's LI)   2nd Bttn 40 10x4 MilD mlr (2 Co's LI)   Cavalry 16 4x4 MilC s/mlc     Artillery 2 2x1 MilD medium mlsb FA     Tribal Red Flag 38 1x38 IrregC sp/sw,sh   Support Blue Flag 38 1x38 IrregC sp/sw,sh     Purple Flag 18 1x18 FanC sp/sw,sh,sbm     Horse 10 1x10 FanC sp,sw,sh     Horse 10 1x10 FanC sp,sw,sh       Camelry 8 1x8 FanC sp,sw,sh     Artillery 1 1x1 IrregC heavy mlsb FA   + elephant teams   2900

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. Early British Indian Indian Mutineer Foot 1900 3480 Horse 640 880 Guns 6 6

Report The battle started well for the Mutineers, with very heavy casualties being inflicted by artillery on a squadron of enemy lancers (65%). Incredibly, these survived all morale checks, and merely moved into cover behind the Ghurkas. On the Mutineers left flank, the infantry units advanced slowly towards the Highlanders, but no shots were exchanged throughout the game: the plan being to destroy the enemy artillery and Naval Brigade with the Tribesmen, and then concentrate everyone left on these difficult-to-kill infantry. Thus the Tribal units advanced quickly behind a huge skirmish screen. As they got nearer to the enemy line, they took a few casualties, and were almost in a position to charge when an unexpected piece of good fortune occurred. The Naval Brigade, largely shaken from the attentions of the ancient Tribal heavy cannon, panic fired so rashly that they ran out of ammo. Despite the fact that the infantry were not quite ready, the Tribal cavalry charged. The first unit swept the Naval Brigade aside, routing every company bar one, and then thundered down on the British cavalry sheltering behind a nearby hill. Incredibly, the British Lancers, receiving their charge shaken and at the halt, won the impact and bounced the tribal cavalry back! The second unit of tribal horse charged the guns, but were nigh on annihilated before impact. Seeing their comrades rout, the final unit of tribal camelry couldn’t even summon up the courage to begin their charge. Meanwhile, in the centre of the field, the Mutineer cavalry had charged Ghurka skirmishers attempting to flank fire the Tribesmen. Ending up in the middle of the battlefield in disorder, they were then charged in turn by the remainder of the Lancers, who had suffered so grievously earlier in the battle, and the Dragoon Guards. Once again proving the excellence of the British cavalry, the Lancers routed two squadrons of the Mutineer cavalry, although the Dragoons had their charge halted by heavy smallarms fire. On the Mutineer right flank, however, the routing cavalry had infected their comrades: and the whole Tribal contingent turned tail and fled! The Mutineer commander ordered a general retreat. Casualties Surprisingly light on both sides. The Mutineers lost about 150 infantry, mostly skirmishers, and about 200 cavalry. Their force routed before serious damage could be done! The British lost about 60 Lancers and 50 Dragoons, all from artillery fire. The Ghurkas lost some 50 men, mostly to skirmisher fire. The Naval Brigade lost about 75 men: all to cavalry fire and cavalry hacking. The British CinC was also lightly wounded.  Results A victory for the British. Analysis An excellent battle. The use of the domino effect rule produced a fast and realistic result with, once again, the clever use of artillery greatly affecting the outcome. Had the Mahdist Tribal infantry been ready to charge at the same time as the Tribal cavalry...well, who knows?