Sunday 5 February 2012

The Battle of MacKenzie Heights 1854 - A Fictional Crimean War Batrep p1



Seven Rejects met up at Reject HQ on Saturday morning for a day of gaming, fun and general pi$$ taking.
Postie the GM had set up a fictional Crimean War battle, named The Battle of Mackenzie Heights.
The sides were:
Russian C/O L/G  Kretzinski- Fran
Russian Cavalry 2in C MG Khaletzski -  BigLee (See Lee's batrep here)
Russian Inf 3inC MG Schelkanov - Ian

British C/O  HRH Duke of Cambridge- Ray (Me)
British 2inC LG Sir George de Lacy Evans - John
British 3inC BG Scarlett - Surj

The Battle of Mackenzie Heights 10 Oct 1854


British, French and Turkish forces have been digging siege trenches around Sebastopol since September, after their victory over the Russians at the Battle of The Alma, cavalry scouts have been sent out to locate any Russian forces in the area that could be a threat to the siege lines or may try and reinforce Sebastopol.
Messengers have hurriedly arrived at headquarters with news that Russian forces have been seen on Mackenzie Heights 8 miles North East of Sebastopol. A large scouting force is quickly assembled to investigate Russian activity on the heights.
Thus the scene is set as British troops begin to arrive at Mackenzie Heights and discover Russian readouts being hastily prepared for defence, artillery and Infantry can be seen manning the partly completed defences. the British commander at this point turns to his Aide de Camp and says "I think we shall be attacking again old boy! Prepare to advance!
At the same time on the heights the Russian commander turns to his Aide and confidently says "We can win this Battle today, for they have Surj on their side, (Sorry Surj, see the Battle of Samsat)

So let battle commence.........................


The Initial set up

The 2nd Infantry Division commanded by LG Sir George de Lacy Evans 
with the 1st Dragoons commanded by BG Scarlett on the hill

 A close up of the artillery of the 2nd Division.


The 1st Infantry Division led by HRH the Duke of Cambridge
The 79th Highlanders lead the way followed by the 93rd Highlanders


The Russian, busy trying to finish their redouts.


The Russian right.


 The Russian left, note the three stands of pioneers busy trying to complete their work. 


Each turn the Russians had to throw an average die for each base of pioneers, the number would be recorded and added to try and reach a certain number. When reached (later we found the No to be 20) the extra piece of redoubt would be complete.  
             


The 1st Dragoons, Surj's only troops on the table at the start of the game


The 30th Foot along with the 55th and 95th, made up the 2nd Battalion of the 2nd Infantry Division


 The 53rd Don Cossacks on the extreme Russian right. An 18 figure regt that has 
been split into two units, one of 12 and one of 6 figures.


Before we decided who would go first Postie told us there would be a roll off, If the British won the roll they were allowed to re-deploy their troop up to 2 foot in, now this was extremely important, as the British were in march column and it would take us a few turns to redeploy for battle, giving the Russian a few free turns to complete their redoubts. As the Brits were attacking we had a +1 to our die. So as the CnC it was up to me to throw, I threw a 2 giving the Brits a 3, but poor Fran the Russian CnC also threw a 2, giving the bonus to the Brits who quickly redeployed for battle.



A now, very depressed looking 3 Russian's



The Higlanders now redeployed.


My artillery setup to give fire to the Don Cossacks on the hill, who are threatening my flank.


The entrenched Russian's, the grey stones denote a sheer face on the hill.


 John's command advance with the Rifle Brigade out in the front, John made a mistake, pushing the artillery out in the front, the Russian's gave fire and destroyed one of the medium guns



And there's the whole where they used to be!


 Fran's 1st Brigade on the right of the hill 4 units of the Vladimir regt.

 The Highlanders advance toward the newly arrived Russian re-enforcements
Ian's 2nd Brigade 4 units of the Kazan regt and the 6th Schutzen skirmishers.


 John other medium gun gets hammered and loses 2 figures from 4 and gets pushed 
back after failing its morale.


 A closer look at Ian's re-enforcements.


 An overall shot of the heights, coke and Pringles!


Aha! British re-enforcements, I'd been hoping these would turn up, 
the 1st Infantry Division 1st Brigade...The Guards!!


The Scots Guards lead the column, followed by the Grenadier Guards.


And finally the Coldstream Guards

 
The Rifle Brigade move up and give fire to the Russians in the open, 


 An awesome site, I didn't fancy attacking that!!



The entire  British front line shoot at the redoubts, using their superior firing range to 
the best of their ability. The white markers denoted that the unit has not yet used its first fire bonus.



Russian Heavy artillery pounding the Highlanders.


BigLee moves the Don Cossacks over the hill towards the wood, 
just what I didn't want him to do!!!


The Battlefield


 A close up of the 53rd Don Cossacks


Decisions, Decisions??
Each turn we had to throw for initiative, the indecisive Russians won it several times, 
but didn't know what to do. Give the Brits first movement and first fire 
or go second and have the ability to react to out movement.


Damn....more Russians


BigLee's 6th Cavalry Division, 6th Hussar Brigade. The 11th Keiv Hussars 
and the 12th Ingermannland Hussars, with a Horse Artillery battery. 
Lee had a choice, he could either keep the units as they were 2 x 24 figure regts 
or split them into 4 x12. He chose to go the XXL way and left them as 24 figures.


And just look where they turned up???
Behind the British right flank!!!

p2 later this week


48 comments:

  1. Now this is a fun read! Seeing a game pull through is much fun, the explanations are great. Mega enjoyed, can't wait for part 2 :D

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  2. Great pictures thanks for sharing.

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  3. Ray , you are keeping as waiting !! I have got to go and do some work this week ,how can i give my all if i don't know the out come.

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    Replies
    1. All will be revealed in time young man!!

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    2. Can you advise were the figs 15mm or 28mm and the size of table you were gaming off . Love the report.

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    3. The figures are all 15mm from Minifigs and the table is 8x6!

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  4. Great fun! BTW: Mr. Pringle, and Mr. Coke have also visited a game or two I've been in. Waiting for part #2.

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  5. Great report and fab pics Ray.

    Can the stout Brits overcome the Russians in their rear? Bring on part 2!!

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  6. Very nice batrep. Very well written and very nicely photographed. Your batreps just keep getting better and better. But how could you leave us with the Russians in the rear? Yow! Looking forward to part 2.

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    Replies
    1. And nobody wants the Russians in their rear do they??

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  7. Great game and great write up!

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  8. You've left us with a cliffhanger Ray!! Do you really trust Fran not to tell us how this all ends before you do?

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  9. Great looking pics Ray and that flank attack looks ominous!

    Christopher

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  10. Great report Ray. Excellent photos too. Some very very nice troops there also.

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  11. Great game and excellent looking table

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  12. Awesome start Ray! More, we want more!

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  13. THough I already had a foretaste thanks to Lee, I just want more ;)

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  14. Good read for a Monday morning (or any time really). Now waiting for part 2!

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  15. Great write up mate, looking forward to part 2.

    I really enjoyed this game. I'm getting used to these rules and finding it easier to play each time. Not that it helped this game!

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  16. BTW, I loved your picture titled "Decisions, Decisions??"... there was some serious tonnage on the Russian side of the table. I'm surprised the Shed-of-War didn't topple off its foundations!

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    Replies
    1. It did make me laugh, a great big cheer from all 3 of you because you won the die roll, then we had at least 10 minutes trying to decide if you'd keep the initiative or give it to us.

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    2. I agree about that Russian side tonnage, but how was it on the other side. A comparison is needed here ;-)

      Greetings
      Peter
      http://peterscave.blogspot.com/

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  17. What a defensive position! Great report and table...see you next week!

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  18. You rolled a 1 at the beginning, the same as I rolled.....

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  19. Well there he is Ray! He blew the ending for you in his post. First he eats your biscuits, then he blows your ending. This is a man who needs to go to confession!!

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    Replies
    1. Yep! He's a spoilsport! But in p2 you'll get the real result, not the ramblings of a depressed Irishman!

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    2. You're a saint for putting up with him Ray. I don't know how you do it, really I don't.

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  20. Great report, but you're such a tease.

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  21. Lovely game - just love those Minifigs...

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    Replies
    1. My pal Richard painted these many moons ago, I think he did a great job on them.

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  22. great report so far Ray. How's the back? Wallet to heavy for you, I take it? Hmmmmm. You need to guy out and buy some more mini's then.

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    Replies
    1. Back bloody killing me still!! As for the wallet, its as empty as empty can be!

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  23. Great report and pictures! And what a lot of nice painted figures!

    Greetings
    Peter
    http://peterscave.blogspot.com/

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  24. Very nice table and battle report, Ray. I will expect for the second part and (I think) the moment of glory of the Russians.

    Best regards.

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  25. Looks like it was good game guys. Come on Brits sort out those Ruskies

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  26. Very enjoyable read and pictures. Superb looking collection.

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  27. Thanks for the detailed battle report. I've never played anything so large, maybe someday. It looks like a lot of fun.

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  28. Highlanders and The Guards oh my.......swoon............

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  29. Great report there and a nice looking battle. Where did the flags come from?

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    Replies
    1. Some are hand painted, not sure about some of the others, I'll speak to Postie.

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  30. There's no real decision here, give them cold steel and sweep the Russians off the hill! I love the old minifigs, it's a good looking table.

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  31. This looks like so much fun! I can tell a great deal of strategy and time has gone into this... I love it!

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  32. Oh, those Russians.... Great report and a really fine looking game. Looking forward to part 2!

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