Battle Report: 11th March 1997

Crimean British ~vs~ Crimean French

(Robert Avery ~vs~ Nog Norgren) .

Crimean British
Brigade	Unit	Fig.'s	Org.	Class	Weapons	Pts/Fig	Points
.	CinC	1	.	..	.		100
Infantry	Grenadier Guards	40	10x4	RegA	mlr (2 co's LI)		588
Brigade	Berkshire Regt	40	10x4	RegB	mlr (2 co's LI)		508
	Middlesex Regt	40	10x4	RegB	mlr (2 co's LI)		508
	Rifles	8	2x4	LightsA	mlr		124
Cavalry	11th Hussars	10	2x5	RegA	s		180
Brigade	17th Lancers	10	2x5	RegA	s, l		190
	Heavy Dragoons	10	2x5	RegA	s, mlc		190
Artillery	Rocket Battery	1	1x1	RegA	rocket launcher		98
							2486

.

Crimean French
Brigade	Unit	Fig.'s	Org.	Class	Weapons	Pts/Fig	Points
	CinC	1					100
Infantry	1st Bttn	36	6x6	RegC	mlr		384
Brigade	2nd Bttn	36	6x6	RegC	mlr		384
	3rd Bttn	36	6x6	RegC	mlr		384
	Zouaves	36	6x6	LightsB	mlr		492
Cavalry	Guides	12	2x6	RegA	s, p		224
Brigade	Cuirassiers	12	2x6	RegB	s, armour		200
	Lancers	12	2x6	RegB	s, l		200
Artillery	Battery A	1	1x1	RegB	light mlsb FA		83
							2451

.

.	Crimean British	Crimean French
Foot	2560	2880
Horse	600	720
Guns	2	2

.

Report

Tensions mounted between the allies as the Crimean winter deepened: not helped by Lord Raglan’s continued references to the French as the enemy. Finally, with a foraging force on both sides discovering a village with food, the men could take no more, and battle was joined.

Both sides advanced strongly: but with the British attempting to envelope the French by having a longer line. The British rocket battery disrupted the French advance by disordering the 1ere and 2ieme Ligne so, in order to avoid allowing the British troops to get into position as he was re-ordering his troops, the French CinC ordered the 3ieme Ligne to charge.

Quickly the British Guards snapped into line: managing to prevent the 3ieme coming to impact, but not routing them. The 3ieme punished the Guards at point blank range with devastating fire, causing them to go shaken.

Looking to capitalise on this situation, the French commander launched his entire cavalry brigade against the Guards. Fortunately for the British, the Middlesex regiment had formed line and managed, with the help of the Guards, to halt the cavalry: sending most of them off the field.

Now it was the turn of the British commander to throw away his cavalry. Thinking that the French were now weakened, he sent in the Heavies and the Lancers against the 1ere Ligne. Forward the cavalry charged, but the French fire wiped out both squadrons of Heavies and a squadron of Lancers.

The French CinC knew that soon the British line would re-organise and begin advancing: remorselessly, towards his battered troops. Taking the lead, he led the Zouaves in a charge against the Berkshire regiment, now forming up against a hedge surrounding a Russian village. Forward he led his men, but their charge was halted.

With the French cavalry off the field, his infantry battered and bruised, and the British advancing, the French Commander capitulated. 

Casualties

The British lost 320 horse and 380 infantry. 

The French lost 160 horse and 420 infantry.

Results

A win for the British.