The Battle of Ronshin 1884 - A Sudan batrep by Postie

Posties at it again, he doesn't want a blog himself, "Computers give me a headache" he moans. So another guest post it is then!

The Battle of Ronshin 15th March 1884 using  UP EM Rules by me Postie!

Yes its me, Postie, doing another guest post on Ray's blog, helped and typed by my son Ray, (whenever we go out, everyone thinks Ray is my boy????)

Part of the Gordon relief force under General Graham is advancing towards Berber on the Nile 100 miles away, running low on water the relief force has made a small detour to try and find water at a small village called Ronshin. Enemy scouts have sent word the Mahdi of the columns progress and position, will the Mahdi's force intervene or just watch the columns as they grow weaker with thirst and then attack.

The Game
The only forces on the table that are visible are the British and Egyptian columns as they head towards the village of Ronshin, can the British find water, if so can they secure it and hold on to the precious (my precious?) supply, Will the enemy attack, how confidant will they be after the defeats suffered already. Watch and find out????

  Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum

How longs an inch???

The village of Ronshin

Some units of mounted Fuzzy Wuzzy's guard the oasis. My precious.....

More Dervish troops have been spotted and have now deployed from their hidden movement card. 

After spotting some hostile troops, the British begin to deploy.

A very lucky long range shot from Richard's hidden Krupp gun severely damages one of the camel mounted artillery pieces and is then destroyed the following turn.

A small unit of Egyptian Camels try secure their rear and flank.

A good job too as they spot Dervish Cavalry advancing onto the rear of their lines.

Sujit manages to throw a 10 on a D10 and spots a rather large force of Fuzzy Wuzzy's by the

 village, I think "Oh Damn!" were his words!! But obviously that's not what he actually said!

The British Cavalry did quite well spotting more Dervisher's and have now withdrawn back to

 the relative safety of the British Infantry.

British forces advance and give the Dervishers a taste of lead!!

Masses of Fuzzy Wuzzy's head towards the British and Egyptian position.

Meanwhile in the rear, the Egyptian Camel unit has dismounted but receives a ferocious onslaught from Richard's Dervish cavalry. Richard wins the melee and routs the Egyptians, he then follows up and destroys the retreating unit.

The situation looks pretty dire for the allies????

A dervish assault is temporarily halted, they then decide to go to ground, so they are not

 such a big target for the British to fire at.

Yes Surjit DID place his Gatling gun in a nice position, so nice that he couldn't fire the bloody thing!!! Idiot!

Dervish force continue to press the attack with mush vigour.

Due to good British fire power the Dervishers were forced back.

Smiffy's Egyptians were taken over by the Dictator Supreme Sujit and what a mess he did make!!! Unlimber the gun, limber the gun , unlimber the gun and so on........................

Dervish camelry attempt to take out the Egyptian artillery but receive close range fire support

 from an Egyptian line battalion.

The British Cavalry are sent out to attack the enemy, a poor group of Jihadiya Riflemen

 receive a charge and get wiped out.

After destroying the Rifle unit a Dervish unit surprises them in the rear with a ferocious charge!!!

The Cavalry are wiped out......

John's forces manage to finally reach the British line, with 1 unit of Dervish infantry, they charge the flank of a British line unit. The Dervishers are destroyed for their troubles!!

Meanwhile at the rear, Richard never one to give up, sends more units of mounted Dervishers to

 attack the vulnerable Egyptians, who have been fighting on 2 fronts.

British and Egyptian troops have secured the sand dune

and palm tree?!?! Yipee! 

I think they forgot they were supposed to be advancing to the oasis??

Richard's forces start to pull back so as not to suffer too many casualties from British fire power.

Most assaults by the Dervishers were repulsed but they amazingly carried the day as night had begun to fall.
It was a close game, the Dervishers only needed to lose 3 more stands of troops and they would have been forced to retreat from the table. They lost 13 stands in total, roughly 30% of their army, but they still won a victory, mainly I'm afraid due to the British Commander being a bit of a plum!

Well done to the Victors Richard & John, I know you were both sweating and it wasn't just the heat!! Mark and Sujit.....what can I say?????