Chapter 33: Battle Commences

Date: 16 October 1899
Location: Two Miles From The Escarpment Camp
Situation: Imperial Battle Line Formed Eight Hours After The Sunrise Battle Of The 16th
BTW: Images expand amazingly if clicked 1-2 times

KHAN'S DEPLOYMENT

KHAN'S Left Flank: Safe and secure on a ridge above a shallow stream. Combatants crossing the stream will become disordered. Clever KHAN!

KHAN'S Center: What's this? Riflemen across the shallow stream benefiting from a reverse slope! The previous photo is off screen at the bottom of this image.

KHAN'S Right Flank: As the Red Sash Rifles mass on the right. They will cross in a moment. After they do....

The 1st Indian Mountain Battery fires at them in the distance (upper left) while the ancient 12 Pdr. nearby fires at the enemy center. The Seaforth Highlanders ready themselves.

The Red Sash Rifles continue forward using cover along the creek. Their purpose? A spoiling attack. (The 1st Indian Mountain Battery and Seaforths are off screen upper right.)

Imperial artillery continues fire into The Red Sash Rifles (off screen upper left). The 12 Pdr. shifts to fire into them as well. The rear of the Imperial left flank is guarded by the 10th Hussars.

We shift our viewpoint to the center. Note the 12 Pdr. in the upper left as your reference point. The 1st Sikh Battalion has marched forward in the Imperial Center.

And in a moment gives fire at The Red Sash Rifles with the two left-hand flank companies. Imperial artillery also continues to fire.

The Sikhs and Seaforths (bottom) press forward. The Red Sash Rifles fall under 50%, lose morale and rout back to the stream.

The Red Sash Rifles fall back behind the shallow stream and....

KHAN'S center has fallen back as well to conform and establish a new battle line.
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Let's now turn our attention to the Imperial Right Flank, if you please where....

A bit earlier the 66th Berkshires formed square preceded by a screen of Bombay Miners and Sappers. To their right on a side table we find....

The 15 Pdr. Elephant battery screened by more Bombay Miners and Sappers and most of the 9th Bengal Lancers. The wing is commanded by Cavalry Brigadier Blackiston (binoculars).

Blackiston's wing moves forward and gives fire.

Blackiston's opponents open fire.

To Blackiston's left, the square presses forward.

Back in the Imperial Center, The Bombay Miners and Sappers attain the reverse slope of the ridge adjacent to the shallow stream and....

We turn back around concluding this episode from KHAN's perspective. In the foreground are the Bombay Miners and Sappers. Behind them the Berkshire square has crossed a ridge into the center of the battlefield whilst the 1st Sikhs (upper right) continue to fire. Return soon for the next installment.

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Imperial Losses: (7)

1st Moutain Battery: 5 crew caused by murderous fire from The Red Sash Rifles.

Bombay Miners/Sappers: 2 caused by fire from the Tug left flank on the side table.

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Tug Losses: (30 + one small smooth bore cannon)

Red Sash Rifles: 14 from Indian Mountain Battery, The Seaforths and Sikhs

Artillery: Gun destroyed and 9 crew caused by the ancient 12 Pdr.

Gray Sash Jezails: 2 caused by the 12 Pdr.

Green Sash Rifles: 5 caused by the 15 Pdr. Elephant Battery

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CLOSING REMARKS

1. The Imperials deployed for battle in full view by yours truly on 8 April 2010.

2. Chuck freely deployed the Tugs on 9 April 2010 starting Game Session #1.

3. Seven turns were played from 7:30pn to 09:50pm.

4. Session #2 is scheduled for 13 April 2010.

5. Come back soon forour exciting conclusion.

6. Remarks welcome below. Click on the word comments.

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Chapter 32: Imperial Deployment

Date: 16 October 1899
Location: Two Miles From The Escarpment Camp
Situation: Imperial Battle Line Formed Six Hours After The Sunrise Battle Of The 16th
BTW: Images expand amazingly if clicked 1-2 times

Left Flank: Seaforth Highland Battalion refused wing, 1st Indian 2.5" Mountain Battery, an old 12 Pdr. smooth-bore and Lt. Gill's troop of lancers forming a screen on the stream's left bank.

Left Center: 2/10th Hussar reserve behind the Seaforths and the 1st Sikhs in the upper right.

Center: 1st Sikh  Battalion with baggage behind a reverse slope.

Center Right: 1st Sikhs still in view with the 66th Berkshires in square. General Pettygree is in the upper center listening to his ADC Major Mitchell as Lt. Col. Preece (10th Hussars) rides up.

Major Mitchell: "No enemy in sight General except...."
General Pettygree: "Except for that cheeky KHAN and his standard on the ridge."
Major Mitchell: "A point de veu, surely?"
General Pettygree: "Aye."

Center Right: Berkshires in square.

Right Flank: On a side table a detachment of 9th Bengal Lancers, the 15 Pdr.. Elephant Battery with a screen of Bombay Miners and Sappers await orders.

While KHAN watches the Imperial deployment apparently with unconcern. 

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CLOSING REMARKS BUT THERE IS MORE AND IT IS IMMINENT

1. Seaforths kindly on loan from Der Alte Fritz.

2. The first part of the battle has been played and photographed.

3. Return soon to learn what happened.

4. Remarks welcome below. Click on the word comments.

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Chapter 31: Pursuing KHAN!

Date: 16 October 1899
Location: Two Miles From The Escarpment Camp
Situation: Imperial Pursuit Three Hours After The Sunrise Battle Of The 16th
BTW: Clicked images expand amazingly. Try two clicks too.
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Previously The Khyber Field Force pursued the Tug Army to a sheer escarpment on 15 October. KHAN attacked the next morning from behind but retreated. Resolved to engage the foe where found, General Pettygree immediately broke camp and gave chase with the brigade of cavalry. The farthest in front are 1/10th Hussars....

Pvt. Jones: "Nothing to the left Sergeant."
Pvt. Thornton: "Or to the right."
Sgt. Bourne: "Aye but you blind chaps, look...."

The rest of the 1/10th Hussars (red guidon) provide close support in case of mischief. Behind them....

On a rise of ground is General Pettygree (centered on the grey) with staff. From right to left, ADC Major Mitchell, Correspondent Pearson, Lt. Col. Preece (10th Hussars), General Pettygree, Cavalry Brigadier "Blacky" Blackiston, Major Trevelan (10th Hussars) coming in to be greeted by cavalry ADC Forsythe III.

2/10th Hussars escort the staff.

To the right a squadron of 9th Bengal Lancers peer into the distance seeing nothing.

The rest of the regiment is massed to the left of the general.

Way out to the left is Lt. Gill with a troop of lancers screening the whole Imperial Force.

Looking past Lt. Gill's troop we see General Pettygree and staff on the rise of ground.

The scene to the front of the brigade of cavalry.

A wider view. Something is out there in the distance as we return to....

Sgt. Bourne: "Well my blind malingerers...there 'e is, The KHAN. An' wait'n fer us...sure."

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CLOSING REMARKS
1. The surprise attack by KHAN this morning might as well have been months ago.
2. What lies behind that distant ridge?
3. Will the Imperial infantry and artillery arrive to give battle today? They are coming. Turn around in your imagination to observe the brigade square marching toward you; dust rising in the sky, jingling equipment mixing with the voices of unhappy supply animals and their handlers.
4. You may have heard the general say, "If the infantry comes up soon, we will cross the river and attack today. That chap KHAN won't get away again if he stands."
5. The tabletop game will be fought in two sessions on 9 and 13 April - hopefully to conclusion.
6. What would you do if you were KHAN or Pettygree?
7. Comments welcome below at the word "Comments."
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Între Acte {B} BKCII Game Conclusion

Location: Halfaya Pass, Cyrenaica, Libya
Date: August 1942
Situation: Deutsches Afrika Korp's 21st Panzers Attacking Halfaya
Rules: Blitzkrieg Commander II {+50% movement/weapon ranges for 15mms}
Modifications: Added FOW dust cloud rules.
Suggestion: Click on images to make them larger.
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While General Pettygree and Muljadhi are in limbo in 1899, please view concluding photos of our Colonial BKCII activities of 30 March 2010. We return to Halfaya to the right side of The Pass where....

7th Armoured Division Crusaders have dashed into a maelstrom with DAK panzers. The ensuing combat went against 7th Armoured especially after....

A pair of Stuka JU-87 dive bombers caused mischief. BKCII uses dice on the ground indicating hits. Four red dice reveal one hit per vehicle. No paperwork! "Saving Throws" can reduce some damage. (One red die formerly had two pips/hits showing.) Hits might cause suppression too. Hits could carry over (optional rule) or as we prefer, they are removed at the end of each Active Player Turn. Easy and fun. 

Meanwhile behind The Pass on the back table, panzers approached the village and supply dump. A forlorn hope of Marmon Herrington Armoured Cars attempted to put up dust clouds to discombobulate this DAK group. It failed to do anything significant especially since the Grant tanks that had been in reserve to use the cover of dust to attack were ineffectual in numbers and range.

Surviving Crusaders retreated to the left side of The Pass gaining the advantage of two more 2 Pdr. AT guns fortified there. The lone surviving Grant (of three) joined the group. This was a good defensive position which might have caused a lot of trouble to the foe but....

Twas to no avail. The 7th Armoured reached "break point" (one over actually) and failed the subsequent and mandatory 2D6 throw to remain in combat. A 1 through 7 throw was needed. Nope. The retreat commenced back to the wire on the Egyptian Frontier. The Pass is off screen at the top as are....

Surviving members of the DAK 21st Panzer Battlegroup consolidating on the ridge to the right of The Pass. The Pass is offscreen to the bottom. Well done Chuck L. and John B. commanding DAK forces!

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CLOSING REMARKS
1. Game concluded 30 March 2010.
2. Try a table covering with almost anything underneath to simulate near real topography.
3. You can do it.
4. House Rule: Dust reduces the probability to hit in the open from 1D6 = 4-5-6 to 1D6 = 5-6.

5. 7th Armoured's battle plan was completely scrapped in Game Session #1 on 23 March because of DAK maneuver. The plan was to mass the nine Crusaders on the LEFT of Halfaya Pass hidden by a loooooong ridge. They would hide waiting for the Marmon Herrington Armoured Car Squadron (6 cars) to zoom out to create dust to cover their eventual advance. Once the dust was up, the Crusaders would dash forward en-masse at 37.5 cms per command throw, assisted by two Hurricanes, a captured and mobile Italian 20mm AA, one 2 Pdr. AT gun and an eight gun battery of off-table 25 pdrs. The hope was to utterly crush one end of the DAK force blitzkrieg style. All rubbish! The problem was...the foe had nobody there to attack.

6. The 21st Panzer Battlegroup massed all forces to attack the ridge to the RIGHT of The Pass. Their right rear flank was protected by a battery of two 88s, a mobile AA and  three 37mm AT guns. Once my Armoured Cars realized this they withdrew. Clever DAK chaps, eh?

7. Hence all units above except the 2 Pdr. raced toward The Pass to engage the foe as seen in Între Acte {A and B}. I positioned four dug in 2 Pdrs. there to slow any DAK attack in a refused wing style. Slowing them with these did happen since they are very hard to knock out when dug in.

8. General Pettygree et al return before the end of April.
9. Comments welcome below.
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Între Acte {A}

Location: Halfaya Pass, Cyrenaica, Libya
Date: August 1942
Situation: Deutsches Afrika Korp's  21st Panzers Attacking Halfaya
Rules: Blitzkrieg Commander II {+50% movement/weapon ranges for 15mms}
Modifications: Added FOW dust cloud rules.
Suggestion: Click on images to make them larger
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While General Pettygree and Muljadhi are in limbo in 1899, please view a few photos of our BKCII activities of 23 March 2010. We commence with a dreaded....

Battery of 88mm AA guns configured for anti-tank operations. They guard the right rear of the attacking panzers which have exited the area in your direction.

Viewed from the rear now, we better see the 88s guarding the right rear of the DAK attack. The tanks have disappeared over the distant ridge. Some kicked up dust clouds are still visible. One panzer is in flames.

Crossing and descending the same ridge the panzers have been surprised by dug in 2 Pdr. AT guns and a squadron of Crusaders in the Pass itself. One AT gun was knocked out after it took out a DAK armoured car in the upper right.

RAF Hurricanes try to stop the panzers but it is up to....

A squadron of Crusaders trying to get closer. The 2 Pdrs. near you are out of range.

That's it lads! Come on and good hunting!

A Crusader on the left has been lost to 88 fire but the rest used cover and dust to escape more losses. The red dot toward the upper right is a point of light from a laser pointer. We use actual slopes and line of sight just as if we are outside. No conventions. LOS is real for us and fun. Usually our eyes are enough but occasionally we use a laser pointer.

This is the British rear directly behind the Pass and the Crusaders - on a back table. A squadron of Marmon Herringtons have retreated to the village. Looks like they will block the RHA 25 Pdrs. in front of them if they don't move out of the way soon. In the village are three Grant tanks, one of  which is out of action from the panzers on the ridge off screen to the upper left.
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CLOSING REMARKS
1. Game resumes 30 March 2010.
2. Try a table covering with almost anything underneath to simulate near real topography.
3. You can do this too.
4. Comments welcome below.
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