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Saturday 7 June 2014

Tricornes in East Africa

Today, we did a game based in East Africa, during the Seven years War, with a French held town being attacked by an East India company force. Both sides had native allies and mercenaries.
Ian had a group of Zanzibari mercenaries, I had a force of local African tribesmen, Lawrence and Phil split the English regulars.

Our opponents were run by the solo rules, and comprised a Metropolitan regular infantry company, supported by a mixed bag of local musket armed tribesmen. They held the edge of the town.


Native lookouts guarded the edge of the town.
The main tribal body split into 2 parts, defending the road into the town. 
More tribesmen covered the right approach into the town. 
 They held the buildings using the several levels to present as many muskets as possible towards the Company force.
 The French deployed in line next to the town.
 From the English side, the road into the town looked deserted and safe.
 (The view from the English line of approach) 
 The Zanzibari Bashi-bazouks took the English right, trying to outflank the French.
 My natives took the left of the road, having been detailed to demonstrate against the enemy right.
The English regulars began to form their line opposite the French. 
The French company, unaware of the strength of the English force facing them, waited patiently in their ranks. 
 My archers scouted in front of my spearmen. I was not going to charge across the open ground into massed musketry!
The Regulars reached the dried river bed, and dressed their line. 
The Zanzibaris  pushed round the right, planning to attack the French left in concert with the regulars.
 As my archers cleared the trees, they were spotted by the men in the town.
 One of my men was wounded by a ball.
 On our other wing the Zanzibaris continued their advance, out of sight of the French.
 The regulars also advanced towards the French line. 
 
The French saw the English right...
 The French began to shoot by rank.
2 English soldiers fell. 
 Back on my flank, I shot a native off the roof of a building.
His companions fired back!
Back in the centre, more French fire wounded several regulars. The right of the formation suffered in particular! - still, the English advanced, reserving their fire. 
When they were in position, the English halted and fired a full volley. 
 The French left platoon was hit heavily. 
 The French redressed their line.
Another French volley ripped into the English line.
 The other English platoon was suddenly attacked in flank by troops from the town.
The end of the English line redeployed to face this new threat...
...A volley stopped the native advance. 
 The natives stood the their ground bravely, however. 
 Back on my flank, the natives in the town were still shooting.
My archer who had been wounded was hit again, and killed.
 Ian's Zanzibaris stood back from the battle in the centre, which had begun before they had got into their attack position. 
The regulars had driven off one French platoon, and now fired at the second... 
...which had turned to engage them. The salvo was devastating.
 The other English wing had got more men to bear on the natives attacking them. 
 My men were beginning to lose their shooting match, the muskets were more effective than my hunting bows! 
 My men bravely stood their ground, though.
Losing their firefight, the remaining French and natives charged the English infantry. 
The French were beaten back. 
..the natives were heavily beaten. 
The French broke and ran. 
 The few remaining natives broke as well on the red wall of bayonets.
 The regulars then began to attack the natives in the town.
 Despite taking losses, the English assaulted the first building.
 The rest of the English and the Zanzibaris volley fired at another building...
 The men on the roof were swept away.
 After a couple of reverses, the men attacking the house broke in.
 The surviving natives broke out of the building and ran for their lives.
The remaining natives now retreated, not now having enough men to defend the town. The English had won!

The game had been an easier victory than we expected, the collapse of the French regulars took the heart out of the defenders it seems.

If anyone is interested, the lovely buildings are from the The Colonial Steamboat company

3 comments:

  1. Great report, beautiful minis and fantastic buildings, you're right!

    ReplyDelete
  2. A great looking game with troops I'd not expect to see in that terrain. Except for the Natives, of course. Very nice!

    ReplyDelete