Last weekend I had my second game of the year over at Reject HQ, Posties Shed-O-War, and the result was very close and very enjoyable. Stuart decided to recreate a historical battle from the Anglo Zulu War and chose one that would bring out a significant portion of his vast Zulu War collection of figures. Once again the young Padawan joined us for the game and this time she found herself alone commanding the British while myself and Surjit commanded the Zulu's against her.
The Setup
After the disaster at Hlobane, Colonel Evelyn Wood prepared to resist an attack by the entire Zulu impi of over 20,000. Many of the Zulu regiments were veterans of Isandlewana and Hlobane and were armed with rifles taken from British dead. The defences at Khambula however were strong with laagered waggons, parapets and trenches on high ground overlooking clear lines of fire.
Order of Battle
British (2,100 Men) - No4 Column C/O Col Wood (Emily)
90th Foot 9 - 8 Companies
1/13th Foot - 7 Companies
No 11 Battery 7th Brigade Royal Artillery 6x7pdrs
Mounted Infantry - 1 Squadron
Frontier Light Horse - 2 Troops
Raafs Transvaal Rangers - 1 Troop
Bakers Horse - 2 Troops
Kaffrarion Rifles - 1 Troop
Weatherleys Border Horse - 1 Troop
Mounted Basutos - 1 Troop
Natal Native Horse - 1 Troop
Royal Engineers - 1 Section
Dutch Burghers - 1 troop (left battlefield before start of battle)
Woods Irregulars - 1 Company
Rocket Teams - 2 Batteries
Zulu's (23,000 Warriors) - C/O Chief Kangqengelele (BigLee), 2ic Chief Kamahole (Surjit)
Right Horn
inGobamkhosi - 4000 Warriors
uVe - 2000 Warriors
Centre Right
uDhloko - 2500 Veteran Warriors
uDududu - 1500 Warriors
iSangqu - 1500 Veteran Warriors
uMbube - 500 Warriors
uThulwana -1500 Veteran Warriors
iNdluyengwe - 1000 Warriors
iNdlandlo - 1000 Veteran Warriors
Centre Left
uNakhenke - 2000 Warriors
uMbonambi - 2000 Warriros
Left Horn
Khandempemve - 2500 Warriors
Amakwenke - 1000 Warriors
The Action
Khambula - A strong British position ready to resist a massive force of Zulu's |
The Encircling Zulu army had a lot of exposed ground to cover and their commander (me!) expected to take a lot of casualties on the way in. |
The Padawan and Surjit are the image of Nonchalance...but this will be a tough fight for both sides. |
Some of the British and Boer Cavalry. These units were a constant annoyance to the advancing Zulu'd on the Right Horn. The iNgobamkhosi in particular were harassed relentlessly throughout the battle. |
Equally effective were the British Rocket teams firing on the Zulu Left Horn. Rocket after rocket rained down with unerring accuracy causing significant casualties to the kHandempemve Regiment. |
The Padawan seems unmoved by the Zulu advance. |
As the Zulu's got closer they opened fire however poor marksmanship reduced the effectiveness of this fire. Some casualties were scored and this weakened the British positions before the main charge. |
All the British positions are firing now and Zulu casualties are mounting. At last the Padawan starts to move some of her unoccupied infantry to support the threatened front. |
The Padawan; Cool, calm, collected (and calculating!). Once the Zulu's started closing in her defence of the hill was textbook and well handled for the most part. |
Gunfire and bloodied spear tips! |
Surjits troops are also in a final decisive melee which could see them sweep the British defenders from the rest of the hill. |
Cool as a cucumber, the British commander asks her batman to prepare afternoon tea and turning to the retreating Zulu army utters those famous words "Get off my Lawn!". |
Analysis
Well after that battle I am tempted to hang up my dice bag for good! And as for the Padawan, I'll have to stop calling her that from now on. This so called trainee wargamer saw off two members of the Rejects, with hardly a wrong move made. Her dice rolling can only be described as phenomenal. The British guns should hit their targets roughly 50% of the time but her average through the game had to be well into the 70% range, and then she started rolling for damage...oh my.
A very well deserved win for the British in an exciting and thoroughly enjoyable game that closely mirrored historical events (the Battle of Khambula was a turning point for the British).
Most impressive Zulu attack, what a spectacular and great looking game!
ReplyDeleteThe Apprentice has done well
ReplyDeleteGood God, two veteran Rejects soundly thrashed by a 13 year old girlie!!! You should be utterly ashamed of yourselves!!!!
ReplyDelete