I'd set up the terrain and promised to GM, but as I'd had a sleep or two since I read the rules I'm not sure I was much help. However, we muddled through.
The first game involved a punitive British expedition to burn down a few Afghan dwellings.
James had three units of Regulars (A Co. and B Co. of the 99th Humberside Regiment, together with a Co. of the Royal Dilshad Rifles) and a well drilled Field Gun.
Ranged against him Mad Mullah Matt commanded two units of Tribal Infantry and four units of Irregulars.
Meanwhile the Humbersiders began to force their way up the pass.
Though the Dilshads at first seemed reluctant to join the advance.
Commanded by one of the CO's favourite nephews the sharpshooters of A Co. made good progress.
Soon, however tribesmen came swarming down from the mountains
A Co. were caught by the Pathans!
Fortunately the field gun came to their rescue
Though their rifles were obsolete, their aim was pretty good and the Pathans in the village manged to rout B Co. from the board.
Soon more tribesmen had arrived to defend their homes.
Apart from these laggards.
Ominously the field gun came within rifle range.
And more fire from the buildings took its toll.
With the crew being picked off the gun soon fell silent, and the British decided to withdraw.
On reflection James pushed on a bit hard with the British. Trying to close the range just meant the Afghan firepower began to tell. More softening up (and concentrating on the buildings) would have forced Matt to advance when British range and rate of fire would have told.
Second Game
We had time for another go. James had the same force, Matt had to drop some Irregulars.
This time the Pathans were defending a hill at the far end of the table.
The Humbersiders ploughed forward.
With the gun keeping pace.
A Co. took the lead.
With the Dilshads again lagging behind.
Soon the Pathan defenders on the hill came under steady fire.
Backed up by sharpshooting from A Co.
B Co., keen to recover their reputation, also pushed on.
Wily Mad Mullah Matt kept his fighty tribesmen behind the crest of the hill, like a Northwestern Wellington.
The rifle armed Afghans took cover among the spectacularly coloured flora.
But the Field Gun took a dreadful toll.
The British firing line kept up a murderous rate of fire.
Whilst remembering to stop for a cuppa.
Finally judging his moment James ordered the Humbersiders to fix bayonets and take the hill!
Despite B Co. being thrown back as the battle ended neither side controlled the heights.
However British fire had wiped out a single Afghan unit and not suffered any reverses themselves and so James was able to claim the victory.
At around turn ten I think we all (including James himself) thought the British had left it too late for their final assault. However some fortuitous pinning meant they were just able to contend the objective as night fell.
Two good fun games. TMWWBK cracks along at a fair old pace and all the toys looked very jolly.
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