Battle Report: 11th September 1993 Early Russian & Afghan ~vs~ Early British Indian (Richard Avery & Rupert Avery ~vs~ Robert Avery & Nog Norgren)

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Early Russian Brigade Unit Fig.'s Org. Class Weapons Pts/Fig Points   CinC 1         100   2inC 1         50 Line 1st Bttn 48 4x12 RegC mlr   424 Regiment 2nd Bttn 48 4x12 RegB sbm   424   3rd Bttn 48 4x12 RegD sbm   328   4th Bttn 48 4x12 RegD sbm   328   Attached Militia 48 4x12 MilD sbm   280 Cavalry Dragoons 16 2x8 RegB s,mlc   260   Hussars 24 4x6 RegC s   376   Cossacks 1 15 1x15 IrregC s,l   180   Cossacks 2 15 1x15 IrregC s,l   180 Train Ammo Wagon 1         50               2980

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Early Afghan Brigade Unit Fig.'s Org. Class Weapons Pts/Fig Points   CinC 1         100   2inC 1         50 Pathans Pathan 1 36 1x36 FanB sp/sw,sh   267   Pathan 2 36 1x36 FanB sp/sw,sh   267 Waziri A Waziri 1 32 1x32 IrregC sp/sw,sh,mlr   207   Waziri 2 32 1x32 IrregC sp/sw,sh,mlr   207   Waziri 3 32 1x32 IrregC sp/sw,sh,mlr   207   Waziri 4 32 1x32 IrregC sp/sw,sh,mlr   207   Waziri 5 32 1x32 IrregC sp/sw,sh,mlr   207 Waziri B Waziri 6 18 1x18 IrregC sp/sw,sh,mlr   141   Waziri 7 18 1x18 IrregC sp/sw,sh,mlr   141   Waziri 8 18 1x18 IrregC sp/sw,sh,mlr   141   Waziri 9 18 1x18 IrregC sp/sw,sh,mlr   141 Horse Fanatics 1 20 1x20 FanB sp,sw,sh,mlr   225   Fanatics 2 20 1x20 FanB sp,sw,sh,mlr   225 Artillery Tribal Artillery 1 1x1 IrregC heavy mlsb FA   133               3016

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Early British Indian Brigade Unit Fig.'s Org. Class Weapons Pts/Fig Points CinC 1 100   2inC 1         50 Queens Guards 40 10x4 RegA mlr (2 Co's LI)   588 Brigade Berkshires 40 10x4 RegA mlr (2 Co's LI)   588   Rifles 8 2x4 LightsA mlr   124 Naval 1st Bttn NB 24 8x3 RegB mlr   320 Brigade 2nd Bttn NB 24 6x4 RegB mlr   300 HMEIC Sikh Bttn 40 10x4 RegC mlr (2 Co's LI)   476 Brigade Sepoy Bttn 40 10x4 RegC mlr (2 Co's LI)   476 Cavalry 11th Hussars 10 2x5 RegA s,mlc   190 Brigade Sikh Cavalry 16 4x4 RegC s   232   Bengal Lancers 20 4x5 RegC s,l   300 Artillery 1st Battery 3 3x1 RegB medium mlsb FA   357   2nd Battery 3 3x1 RegB light mlsb HA   312   3rd Battery 1 1x1 RegB rocket launcher   94 Train Ammo Wagon 1         50               4609

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. Early Russian & Afghan Early British Indian Foot 10880 4320 Horse 2200 920 Guns 2 14

Report The British forces were out-pointed but defending a river that had only 3 crossing points. The British set up first, with the British infantry defending the left flank bridge, the Sepoy forces defending the right flank ford, and the naval brigade and medium artillery defending the town that stood by the central bridge. The allied force set up with the Afghans on the right, facing the British regulars, and the Russians splitting their force between the central town and the ford. Although a very large battle , the action was quite simple on a strategic scale. On the British left, the Berkshires and half the Guards watched the Afghans creep slowly forward: held back by their slow moving heavy gun. Indeed, it was not until the battle had been largely decided elsewhere that the Afghans did anything constructive at all: perhaps cunningly leaving their Russian allies to take all the casualties whilst they remained fresh to loot at their will! On the British right, the Russians advanced strongly on the ford. A massive firefight began between the 3rd Russian Line Battalion and the Sepoys: won by the Sepoys as they had the initiative on the advancing Russians. Seeing his infantry retreating, the Russian commander slammed his Hussar cavalry into the ford, who were promptly counter-charged by the Bengal Lancers. With a massive splash the two horse units met in the middle of the ford, with the Hussars being bounced back shaken, unable to penetrate the moving abattis of lances. Unfortunately, this left the Bengal cavalry under the guns of the Cossack Militia who, after working out which end of their muskets went ‘bang’, blew them away at point blank range. Under cover of this action, the Russian commander then moved his 1st Battalion into a firing position on the Sepoys. They exchanged volleys - both sides taking horrendous casualties - and the Sepoys, shaken by the decimation of their cavalry, turned and fled! As the battle ended, the Sikhs were preparing to enter a firefight with the Russian first battalion. It was, however, in the centre that the battle was to be decided. The two Naval Brigades, the medium artillery battery, and half the Guards watched as the Russians advanced towards them. The Russian second battalion, supported by Cossack cavalry, advanced into range, but were routed by heavy defensive fire. The Russian commander, seeking to find an opening, sent the Cossack cavalry over the bridge, but they were repulsed by fire from one of the Naval Brigades. It seemed impossible for the Russians to shift the defenders of the town and bridge. Unfortunately, however, the Naval Brigade defending the town had been so scared by the Cossacks coming over the bridge that, despite the fact that the Cossacks had been driven back, fled the town in full rout: taking the guns with them! Quickly the Russian commander lined the river bank with his infantry: getting into position where he could prevent, with covering fire, any British forces safely occupying the town. At this point, the battle ended: it being 1.30am! Casualties The Afghans lost 273 tribesmen: symbolic of how little a part they played in the battle. The Russians lost 652 line infantry, 14 Cossack infantry, 200 Cossack cavalry and their CinC. The British lost 61 artillery crew, 41 sailors, 50 Berkshires and 16 Guards. The Bengal Lancers were nigh on annihilated. Results Although officially a draw, it was agreed that the allied forces would eventually have carried the day. A winning draw to the allies. Analysis The battle was a very good one, with fortunes swinging backwards and forwards throughout. Firstly, it must be said that the Afghans advanced too slowly. They let about 110 points worth of British troops hold up an army of 3000 points. When, at the end, they slammed forward, it was immediately obvious that they could have forced a British retreat from the bridge. Otherwise, the British would probably have repulsed the Russian attack in the centre if they hadn’t had the incredible bad luck to have the naval brigade and medium artillery rout straight off the field! The central troops could then have reinforced the flanks. Having said that, the Russian commander was tactically very sound: sending his troops forward in extremely effective waves always threatening a firefight that he would have won through weight of numbers. In all, it can be seen how fair the points system is:  the difference between the forces points-wise really showing. Overall, the allies beating the British;  but, tactically, 3500 points of British holding off 3000 points of Russians until bad luck left them with only 2800 points.