Two nights ago Myself, Brian Buskell, Dave Lowes and Jeff Smith got together and started a small Sudan Campaign using the VTAG and a few other rule sets mixed in to make the game a little more spicier. After the troops were placed out on the map we rolled to start the uprising and started our first moves. By the end of the night we had played two small actions and one good sized battle. Each battle lasting just 20 to 30 minutes but loads of fun and enjoyed by the boys. Even the new Nile River forts I made got a good run.
A first small battle took us to Akasha where an Egyptian paddle steamer and its crew were trying to break past the Mahdist shore battery and garrison. Dave commanded the paddle steamer and Brian and Jeff the Mahdist forces. It was a tight run battle for the Egyptians as the paddle steamer took two direct hits, got stuck on a sand bank twice and all his supporting infantry became casualties by the end of the game. However they did finally manage to get past Akaska and the 2nd Cataract to Wadi Halfa.
Dave’s paddle steamer approaches Akasha, which is now in Mahdists hands
The Mahdists shore batteries open fire and score two direct hits on the paddle steamer.
Small arms fire from the shore is intense and all the Egyptian infantry are hit. But they make it through.
Our second battle saw a combined English and Indian task force head down to Trinkitat and expel a small local force held up in a small village. Three companies of KRRC, three companies of the 15th Bengal Infantry and a squadron of the 9th Bengal Cavalry were tasked for the assault. Only two Beja warrior units were at hand for the village defence, which they defended with vigour and inflicted a few causalities on the assaulting troops. However the numbers and fire was just to much and they were forced out of the village and into the awaiting lances of the 9th Bengal cavalry.
The village of Trinkitat with its surrounding zereba and garrison
The allied force approaches from the sea in two lines. KRRC leading followed by the 9th Bengal Infantry
Within two moves the village comes under assault and our Beja warriors after a short hand to hand fight are pushed out of the zereba by the point of the bayonet and good English steel.
Hand to hand fighting over a zereba and against mad Mahdists could have been much fun
With the fighting in the village over all that was left for the 9th Bengal Cavalry was to clean up the stragglers.
The final battle for the night was for the British River Column to move up the Nile and capture Wadi Halfa from a strong Mahdist force. The River column was supported by two steamboats, five companies of infantry, a naval detachment and two machine guns….nasty. While the poor Mahdist were left to defend with only five warrior units and gun. But they did take the fight to the British and gave them a bloody nose before the town fell. They manage to force the Naval Brigade away from their machine guns and shoot down a company of infantry before the combined fire power of the steam boats and remaining infantry forced them from the field.
The gallant Mahdist forces defend Wadi Halfa
A freshly made Nile fort goes into action against one of the paddle steamers
Small arms and artillery shells strike the paddle steamers
The Mahdist gun is destroyed but the Nile fort is re-occupied by riflemen, who place some well directed fire onto the approaching British infantry.
The British column approaches and is immediately attacked by Mahdi forces
The sudden unexpected assault pushes the English line back and away from the machine guns
Two companies of infantry disembark from the paddle steamers and help in the assault on Wadi Halfa
Finally the British re-establish a new line and counter charge the Mahdi line, re-capturing the lost guns and inflicting heavy casualties of their forces, which in turn for them from the battlefield. Another victory to the Allied forces in the Sudan.
Lovely figures and impressive set up and boats! What are the rules? I don't know the abbreviation.
Good looking game!
Simply brilliant!
David the rules stand for 'The Virtual Armchair General'
Regards
Nathan
Beautiful pictures as always, a real pleasure to look at, very atmospheric…
Oh wonderful! I do like this Batrep.
Lovely figures and terrain…and the nile river forts look great!
Fantastic Minis & terrain.
Excellent stuff once more
Ahhh fabulous
Three splendid-looking games, Vinnie!
Wonderful game – every part of it crammed with impressive details. I see the fruit stand already in the mix too.
Superb looking games and that I would dearly have loved to have been a part of.
Excellent armies, lovely terrain and a great write up!
Jealous…. who me? :>)
Darrell.
Great stuff all round!
As always, a rich source of inspiration. Many thanks for the post, and for all of your recent responses to my inquiries!
Greg
Thank you everyone for the great comments it was a great night of gaming and we are hoping to play some more actions next week.
All the best for Easter
Nathan
Top looking game, figures and scenery!!!
Awesome stuff Vinnie!
An amazing looking game 🙂
So many great comments thank you all again. I will try and get some more games in before I head off again in a couple more weeks.
All the best
Nathan
Looks great. Great skin tones on Mahdists. How do you do dark skin tone.
I say, what a stroke of luck finding your wonderful blog. As good as it gets. I hope you don't mind but I've taken the liberty of saving your pics to serve as a painting guide for my intended Sudan Field Force though I cant pretend to aspire to your level of expertise with a brush.
Not a drama my good chap you can use as many images as you need. Skin tone for our Mahdi chaps I will have to follow up on as I did not paint them however Brian Buskell is your man. I will certinally find out soon for you.
Regards
Vinnie
Damn fine show. Must get myself some river boats.