Relief Column - Mahdist War Battle Report

A game in the Sudan, finally, after getting all of the project finished, painted and done! Took about................4 years, on and off (mostly off), to get everything done for it.

Now, I did do some smaller games for the Sudan a couple of years ago, really as we had some time and space to play - these can be found here: https://themosquitoonthetenthfloor.blogspot.com/2019/08/enter-sudan.html

Scenario for this involved a smaller party of British being forced off the river by the Mahdists and holing up in a town, under siege, until a larger relief could arrive to extract them. The majority of the Mahdists were in the vicinity, marching to intercept.....

Initial table set up and deployments, with the Mahdists attacking the town from a single side.

British Relief arrives on the far side.

Whoever the Mahdist leader of the initial force was not having a good day............

First command roll for Mahdists and a blunder sends some skirmishers running straight into the front of a machine gun.

A warband subsequently runs straight up and gets shot to crap, whilst everyone else watches this and promptly refuses to move for basically the rest of the game..........

Gendarmerie advance out and scout for the columns.

Form into line and get ready for the advance, while those Mahdists haven't gotten their act together

Uh, whats that appearing in the corner behind us, chaps?

Good god, the rest turned up early!

Impressive looking cavalry, about to undermine themselves completely by sitting on this hill acting as observers for the ENTIRE GAME.

Main Mahdist force eyes up those columns ahead of them......

Camel Corps dismount and put some fire into the backs of the beseigers (who deserve it, frankly, after another couple of blunders)

British form line, in response to the arrival of the Mahdists on the flank

Second column continues the advance to the town.

"how's it look to be going for us, Carruthers?"

Gatling gun laying down the law.

"Form up, we may be making a break for it soon!"

The lines begin to engage

Mahdists rush the first line, attempting to divide the two forces.

As well as finally making it into the town.

Fierce hand to hand in the town sees off the cavalry for the moment, but gives the opportunity to make an escape for the British.

Still a big fight in the centre, only a matter of time till the wave hits.

Which does and busts straight through the first line, into the guns of the second.

Are they going to get through this firepower though?

Lots of casualties mean the Mahdist charge begins to lose pace and falter.........

Wheres the cavalry? Oh right, still sitting on that hill up there behind us..........

At this point, the Mahdist line finally broke and began to retreat.............while the British managed to extract successfully.

Win to the British

A good close game, not helped by the appalling command of the Mahdists, rolling something like 5 or 6 blunders throughout the game. I take full responsibility for that. 

However, the complaining about "theres too many of them for us to possibly take on!" from the British lines meant they certainly felt the heat somewhat, so not a total loss.