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Miniatures Adventure => Colonial Adventures => Topic started by: DintheDin on October 08, 2017, 09:25:17 PM

Title: Zulu wars-Crossing the Nyezane
Post by: DintheDin on October 08, 2017, 09:25:17 PM: Last Saturday Miltiades and I played the Nyezane crossing scenario, borrowed from the Matakishi’s blog which is for years our constant source of inspiration:

http://www.matakishi.com/zulusgamereport.htm

with some tweaks as the game was played with Miltiades’ colonial rules

A lot of inspiration we had also from Matakishi's The crossing of the Nyezane river thread:

http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=80767.0

22 January 1879

History: The British coastal column moving up the north coast towards Ondini via Eshowe, crossed the Nyezane River and was about to commence its advance up the track towards Eshowe when the Zulu army was observed. The British launched an attack and the Zulus retaliated but the British were able to repulse it.

Here is the map as drawn from Matakishi and a copy of Miltiades' colonial rules
Title: Re: Zulu wars-Crossing the Nyezane
Post by: DintheDin on October 08, 2017, 09:25:49 PM: ZULU! Scenario: The crossing of Nyezane

Terrain:

-Table 1,80x1,20cm
-Nyezane river. Crosses the West and South table edge. Has one single crossing
-A Zulu Kraal at NW edge
-One road crossing the table from S to N.
-Two hills, 60x30cm each side of the road at the North
-Five bush clumps
-Three tree clumps (woods)

Forces:

British:
North of the river:
3 infantry units (16 figs each), 1 cavalry unit (6 figs), one Gatling gun (4 figs)
South of the river:
1 infantry unit (16 figs), 1 cavalry unit (6 figs), 1 artillery unit (4 figs), 2 wagons (4 figs), 3 mule wagons with supplies (4 figs). Cavalry can dismount and fight as infantry

Zulu:
10 impis (20 figs each), one of them is Veterans, Half impi (10 figs) guarding the Kraal and
4 rifles units (8 figs each)

Victory conditions:

British:
To exit 2 out of three supply units (mule wagons) from the North edge of the road or to destroy the Kraal. For the Kraal to be destroyed at least 6 British figs must be inside, (infantry or dismounted cavalry) without hand-to hand fighting for at least 2 rounds.
Or to destroy 10 Zulu units

Zulu:
To eliminate 60 British figs, or to have destroyed all three supply wagons.
Title: Re: Zulu wars-Crossing the Nyezane
Post by: DintheDin on October 08, 2017, 09:35:11 PM: Gatling scenario rule: 1: no kill. 2,3,4,5 kills respective number of figs. 6: Gatling jams

Troops deployment:

British:
North of the river: 3 infantry units and the gatling, up to 30 cm from the crossing. One cavalry unit up to 40 cm from the crossing.
South of the river: 1 infantry unit, 1 cavalry unit, artillery unit, άμαξα νο1, wagons. Each round, one unit passes the river and is obliged to stop at the edge of the opposite side. Which unit will pass the river, is at the option of the British player. The last unit to cross, must be the infantry.

Zulu:
6 impis or rifle groups are set at NW and NE corner (near the white arrows) as well as the guards in the Kraal. Each round after the third, one D6 is thrown. 6: One Zulu unit enters from both arrows. 2,3: one unit from SW. 4,5: one unit from SE. 1 fails. Which unit enters (regular impi, veterans, rifles) is decided by the Zulu player.

Terrain-Visibility:

At the start, all Zulus are invisible. The Zulu player has 10 counters, 6 of them real, (impi or rifle units) and 4 dummy. He sets them up near the white arrows and moves them.
The British player can spot the real Zulu unit strength either if he approaches at 15cm distance or if the Zulu unit shoots. Then the Zulu player reveals his counter . The dummy counters symbolize a few scouts, with no fighting strength, who have been sent there for decoy. Then the counter is withdrawn and the Zulu player deploys his real force around it.
Bushes, woods and the Kraal offer soft cover from shooting.
Any figure fighting uphill or defending the Kraal fence, gets a +1 hand-to-hand bonus.

Zulu morale:
Whenever a Zulu unit reaches more than half of its figures lost, a D10 is thrown. If the number is greater than the figures remaining, this unit flees and is eliminated next round. Exception: If the fleeing unit is 15 cm from the Kraal, seeks refuge in it.
But in no case the Kraal may contain more than 20 Zulu figs.

Here are the counters I made for the game. The reverse shows an impi. The face: 7 regular impis, 1 veteran, 4 rifle units and 4 dummy.
Title: Re: Zulu wars-Crossing the Nyezane
Post by: DintheDin on October 08, 2017, 09:37:15 PM: The British troops North of the river and the Zulu Kraal
Title: Re: Zulu wars-Crossing the Nyezane
Post by: DintheDin on October 08, 2017, 09:40:31 PM: As Miltiades is always seeing the Queen in his sleep, he took the British and the bad guys remained for me.
I started spreading my counters left and right, trying to envelop the head of the British column.

The rightmost counter in the first pic (the right horn) were the Veterans, among the rest counters were four dummies and two rifle units who would stay under concealment behind the bushes.
Title: Re: Zulu wars-Crossing the Nyezane
Post by: DintheDin on October 08, 2017, 09:47:01 PM: The British advance. One more impi enters from the Northwest corner.
Title: Re: Zulu wars-Crossing the Nyezane
Post by: DintheDin on October 08, 2017, 09:56:00 PM: First contact: Zulu riflemen reveal their presence from the bushes and two British fall. The British volley sends two Zulu riflemen to the other world.
The Veteran impi rushing to attack!
Title: Re: Zulu wars-Crossing the Nyezane
Post by: DintheDin on October 08, 2017, 09:59:19 PM: The British fanning out to take full advantage of their devastating firepower...
Title: Re: Zulu wars-Crossing the Nyezane
Post by: DintheDin on October 08, 2017, 10:03:29 PM: As the British approach the bushes and the woods, more and more Zulu units are revealed!
Moreover, I managed each round to bring one more Zulu group from NE or NW...
Title: Re: Zulu wars-Crossing the Nyezane
Post by: DintheDin on October 08, 2017, 10:10:34 PM: Hundreds of Zulu warriors emerge from the woods in a wild charge!
Title: Re: Zulu wars-Crossing the Nyezane
Post by: Malamute on October 08, 2017, 10:12:13 PM: Splendid stuf, it's great to see the story unfold. :)
Title: Re: Zulu wars-Crossing the Nyezane
Post by: DintheDin on October 08, 2017, 10:29:46 PM: Quote from: Malamute on October 08, 2017, 10:12:13 PM
Splendid stuf, it's great to see the story unfold. :)

Thank you! Hold your breath, the end is a thriller!
The two first impis to emerge, as well the Veterans, were decimated and fled, but the British had their own toll...
One time, I was afraid that Miltiades was possessed by the Queens spirit, after bringing a handful of aces-deuces, he banged his hand on the table and shouted that he'd never allow the British to lose and that my scenario tweak was favoring the Zulus... lol The real truth is that I made some economy to my forces throwing the impis is successive waves, sacrificing the first, so the second remained intact, plus some devil's dice I had in some rounds :D
Title: Re: Zulu wars-Crossing the Nyezane
Post by: DintheDin on October 08, 2017, 10:33:10 PM: But also Miltiades used a clever tactic. Shooting, falling back, dressing his lines, shooting again...
The cannon made a carnage and the gatling never jammed, but I managed to neutralize them and my last impis are entering the table...
Title: Re: Zulu wars-Crossing the Nyezane
Post by: DintheDin on October 08, 2017, 10:34:57 PM: The wagons are still crossing the river. One more British infantry unit will be the last to cross.
Title: Re: Zulu wars-Crossing the Nyezane
Post by: DintheDin on October 08, 2017, 10:36:03 PM: The peak of the fight!
Title: Re: Zulu wars-Crossing the Nyezane
Post by: DintheDin on October 08, 2017, 10:40:25 PM: Agitation in the Zulu Kraal! Seeing their kinsmen being cut down, but the Kraal guards cannot intervene!
Title: Re: Zulu wars-Crossing the Nyezane
Post by: vodkafan on October 08, 2017, 10:41:16 PM: Gosh this is nail-biting stuff
Title: Re: Zulu wars-Crossing the Nyezane
Post by: vodkafan on October 08, 2017, 10:43:13 PM: That red perimeter is shrinking and there seem more Zulus than ever :?
Title: Re: Zulu wars-Crossing the Nyezane
Post by: DintheDin on October 08, 2017, 10:44:47 PM: Quote from: vodkafan on October 08, 2017, 10:41:16 PM
Gosh this is nail-biting stuff

It was a hair-raising carnage! I tell you this for sure, I was a witness! lol
Title: Re: Zulu wars-Crossing the Nyezane
Post by: DintheDin on October 08, 2017, 10:46:00 PM: Quote from: vodkafan on October 08, 2017, 10:43:13 PM
That red perimeter is shrinking and there seem more Zulus than ever :?

This is the truth (bless my dice ;) ), but wait to see the end!
Title: Re: Zulu wars-Crossing the Nyezane
Post by: DintheDin on October 08, 2017, 10:49:22 PM: The last wave of Zulus, in a last effort to break the thin red line...
The British casualties are rising, they are ready to reach the 60 figs casualties which was the Zulu victory condition!
Title: Re: Zulu wars-Crossing the Nyezane
Post by: vodkafan on October 08, 2017, 10:54:07 PM: But crucially the British do not seem to be being forced back to the river, just in a long line besieged on both sides. Is discipline holding? :o
Title: Re: Zulu wars-Crossing the Nyezane
Post by: DintheDin on October 08, 2017, 10:58:09 PM: The final stage of the battle

Last round: Miltiades is disappointed: Two more casualties and the British army breaks.
In the last melee, three more British fall, they also lose two wagons...
Zulu victory condition!

Miltiades, until now, thinks he had lost the battle...

In their last volley, the British aim at two Zulu rifle units and cause one casualty to each!
They take a morale check and break!
The British victory condition was to eliminate 10 Zulu units. With these two, they eliminated 11!

Tell me, who won???

Reminding the victory conditions:

British:
To exit 2 out of three supply units (mule wagons) from the North edge of the road or to destroy the Kraal. For the Kraal to be destroyed at least 6 British figs must be inside, (infantry or dismounted cavalry) without hand-to hand fighting for at least 2 rounds.
Or to destroy 10 Zulu units

Zulu:
To eliminate 60 British figs, or to have destroyed all three supply wagons.

It was a bloody, bloody, bloody DRAW!!!
Title: Re: Zulu wars-Crossing the Nyezane
Post by: DintheDin on October 08, 2017, 11:06:00 PM: Quote from: vodkafan on October 08, 2017, 10:54:07 PM
But crucially the British do not seem to be being forced back to the river, just in a long line besieged on both sides. Is discipline holding? :o

The pics don't show well, but actually the British were forced half way back to the river (shooting, stepping back, shooting again).
At this point, the last Zulu wave was out of steam, but both armies were in shambles!

As it concerns his rules, Miltiades is still thinking of putting morale to the British also lol

But we had so much fun!!!
Title: Re: Zulu wars-Crossing the Nyezane
Post by: vodkafan on October 08, 2017, 11:07:25 PM: Wow! I was very excited by your battle report as it came bit by bit. Thanks for that DintheDin ! Must have been a fun game. Any plans to perhaps replay it once or twice, as you have the table set up? It looks like it will never be possible for the Brits to win a truly crushing victory or to get the wagon train off the other end.
Title: Re: Zulu wars-Crossing the Nyezane
Post by: DintheDin on October 08, 2017, 11:13:47 PM: Quote from: vodkafan on October 08, 2017, 11:07:25 PM
Wow! I was very excited by your battle report as it came bit by bit. Thanks for that DintheDin ! Must have been a fun game. Any plans to perhaps replay it once or twice, as you have the table set up? It looks like it will never be possible for the Brits to win a truly crushing victory or to get the wagon train off the other end.

With so many impis on the table, maybe no, I proposed that we replay this game reducing the impis from 10 to 8.
But... I have also to remind you of my great ;) (dice) strategy!
After the sixes I brought, Miltiades is still in a state of delirium tremens lol lol lol

We decided that this scenario must be played by two other players, then the outcome may be completely different!
Thank you greatly for your comments!
Title: Re: Zulu wars-Crossing the Nyezane
Post by: DintheDin on October 08, 2017, 11:18:06 PM: Thanks and references

Our greatest thanks and respect to Matakishi, for his original scenario.
Thanks to Miltiades, for providing all the stuff needed, his beautiful figures, terrain and all.
Thanks (or boohs) to me, for the scenario tweaking :D

Good for looking:

Excellent e-book:

British Infantryman vs Zulu Warrior: Anglo-Zulu War 1879
By Ian Knight

https://books.google.gr/books?id=h42HCwAAQBAJ&pg=PT50&lpg=PT50&dq=Zulu+crossing+Nyezane&source=bl&ots=5DldDstaMu&sig=xDGE7Sqgyx3XDkT6SGX7qKWUvxo&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwin6Z2W4OHWAhWNOsAKHatvAF0Q6AEIPjAF#v=onepage&q=Zulu%20crossing%20Nyezane&f=false

National Army Museum, Chelsea, London
Zulu War

https://www.nam.ac.uk/explore/zulu-war
Title: Re: Zulu wars-Crossing the Nyezane
Post by: Plynkes on October 08, 2017, 11:36:51 PM: Quote from: vodkafan on October 08, 2017, 11:07:25 PM
It looks like it will never be possible for the Brits to win a truly crushing victory or to get the wagon train off the other end.

The British won the real battle, at least partly because only about a third of the Zulu force actually engaged. To make the game match the historical conditions I guess you need to impose a harsher entry roll on the Zulu player, with a much lower chance of units entering the fray.

Lovely report, DintheDin. Thanks for posting!
Title: Re: Zulu wars-Crossing the Nyezane
Post by: DintheDin on October 08, 2017, 11:42:47 PM: Quote from: Plynkes on October 08, 2017, 11:36:51 PM
The British won the real battle, at least partly because only about a third of the Zulu force actually engaged. To make the game match the historical conditions I guess you need to impose a harsher entry roll on the Zulu player, with a much lower chance of units entering the fray.

Lovely report, DintheDin. Thanks for posting!

Agreed :)
Thanks for your comments!
Title: Re: Zulu wars-Crossing the Nyezane
Post by: matakishi on October 09, 2017, 01:12:53 AM: That was great.
I've played this battle many times with different rules sets, it's one of my favourites.
Title: Re: Zulu wars-Crossing the Nyezane
Post by: FierceKitty on October 09, 2017, 01:36:37 AM: Declare the Boers the victors.
Title: Re: Zulu wars-Crossing the Nyezane
Post by: miltiades on October 09, 2017, 02:37:58 AM: It was one of the most exciting games I ever had. Although the result was far from historical we had a great time. However, as Plynkes remarked, the real battle was an easy victory for the Brits-but it would not give an exciting game !
Matakishi's scenario was simply great and Dinos' clever ammendments made a wonderful game.

Quote from: matakishi on October 09, 2017, 01:12:53 AM
That was great.
I've played this battle many times with different rules sets, it's one of my favourites.

Matakishi you are right. Thanks for the scenario. It gives a wonderful game.We will try to play it again sometime using TMWWBK ruleset
Title: Re: Zulu wars-Crossing the Nyezane
Post by: miltiades on October 09, 2017, 02:41:37 AM: Quote from: FierceKitty on October 09, 2017, 01:36:37 AM
Declare the Boers the victors.

lol
Title: Re: Zulu wars-Crossing the Nyezane
Post by: DintheDin on October 09, 2017, 06:27:25 AM: Quote from: matakishi on October 09, 2017, 01:12:53 AM
That was great.
I've played this battle many times with different rules sets, it's one of my favourites.

Glad you liked it! Your original scenario was very inspirational!
Hope we play it again, with a closer match to historical conditions - but nobody can exorcise the dice demon :)
Title: Re: Zulu wars-Crossing the Nyezane
Post by: DintheDin on October 09, 2017, 06:47:48 AM: Quote from: miltiades on October 09, 2017, 02:37:58 AM
It was one of the most exciting games I ever had. Although the result was far from historical we had a great time. However, as Plynkes remarked, the real battle was an easy victory for the Brits-but it would not give an exciting game !
Matakishi's scenario was simply great and Dinos' clever ammendments made a wonderful game.

Matakishi you are right. Thanks for the scenario. It gives a wonderful game.We will try to play it again sometime using TMWWBK ruleset

Sorry I ragged your nerves old dog! You saw how exciting the game was!
I want to thank you once more for the effort you made to prepare all this stuff we saw on table! Looking forward for such enjoyable games!
Title: Re: Zulu wars-Crossing the Nyezane
Post by: fred on October 09, 2017, 08:52:27 AM: Great report - and sounds like a very good game. I'm slowly (very slowly) painting figures for this conflict, so can only aspire to such a big battle, but soon! (well maybe not soon, but some day).
Title: Re: Zulu wars-Crossing the Nyezane
Post by: DintheDin on October 09, 2017, 08:56:28 AM: Quote from: fred on October 09, 2017, 08:52:27 AM
Great report - and sounds like a very good game. I'm slowly (very slowly) painting figures for this conflict, so can only aspire to such a big battle, but soon! (well maybe not soon, but some day).

I wish you soon play this battle or a similar one and post your AAR and pics!
Good luck with your project!
Title: Re: Zulu wars-Crossing the Nyezane
Post by: DintheDin on October 13, 2017, 08:58:35 PM: The counters in action. We played the hidden Zulu movements without needing to shift tons of figs around
Title: Re: Zulu wars-Crossing the Nyezane
Post by: DintheDin on October 13, 2017, 09:00:24 PM: A few more pics
Title: Re: Zulu wars-Crossing the Nyezane
Post by: DintheDin on October 13, 2017, 09:05:27 PM: And some more. Contribution of Socrates. Thanks Soc!
Title: Re: Zulu wars-Crossing the Nyezane
Post by: Plynkes on October 13, 2017, 09:10:00 PM: Socrates? He's my favourite footballer! :)

Thanks for the bonus pics.
Title: Re: Zulu wars-Crossing the Nyezane
Post by: DintheDin on October 13, 2017, 09:28:55 PM: Quote from: Plynkes on October 13, 2017, 09:10:00 PM
Socrates? He's my favourite footballer! :)

Thanks for the bonus pics.

Socrates? I see we have the same memory souvenirs from a legendary football period ;)
But our Soc, old bean, has only a... philosophical connection with football lol

Glad you liked the pics, encouraged to post some more of Soc's pics from the heat of the battle!
Cheers!
Title: Re: Zulu wars-Crossing the Nyezane
Post by: Plynkes on October 14, 2017, 10:21:55 PM: Quote from: DintheDin on October 13, 2017, 09:28:55 PM
But our Soc, old bean, has only a... philosophical connection with football lol

Nice. Top drawer. :D
Title: Re: Zulu wars-Crossing the Nyezane
Post by: SABOT on October 14, 2017, 10:25:37 PM: Cracking job and takes me back many moons when I used Jacklex 20mm metal mixed with plastic.
Title: Re: Zulu wars-Crossing the Nyezane
Post by: Alcide Nikopol on October 15, 2017, 12:46:47 PM: Inspiring stuff. Well done.
Title: Re: Zulu wars-Crossing the Nyezane
Post by: Golgotha on October 15, 2017, 02:44:18 PM: Fantastic looking game and great to see 1/72 scale minis in action. Where or how did you find or make the Zulu huts?
Title: Re: Zulu wars-Crossing the Nyezane
Post by: miltiades on October 15, 2017, 04:49:37 PM: Quote from: Golgotha on October 15, 2017, 02:44:18 PM
Fantastic looking game and great to see 1/72 scale minis in action. Where or how did you find or make the Zulu huts?
thank you. The Zulu huts are Hovels 15mm, but they fit perfectly with 20mm plastics.
they are still available I think.
http://www.hovelsltd.co.uk/Rorkes15.html
Title: Re: Zulu wars-Crossing the Nyezane
Post by: DintheDin on October 17, 2017, 06:32:28 PM: Miltiades, what do you think?
Battle of Khambula next?

http://www.britishbattles.com/zulu-war/battle-of-khambula/
Title: Re: Zulu wars-Crossing the Nyezane
Post by: Barry S on October 18, 2017, 03:04:35 AM: Great report!

Thanks for taking the time to upload the photos :)
Title: Re: Zulu wars-Crossing the Nyezane
Post by: DintheDin on October 18, 2017, 07:10:02 PM: Quote from: Barry S on October 18, 2017, 03:04:35 AM
Great report!

Thanks for taking the time to upload the photos :)

Thank you!
Here are some more unpublished
Title: Re: Zulu wars-Crossing the Nyezane
Post by: miltiades on October 19, 2017, 05:39:19 PM: Quote from: DintheDin on October 18, 2017, 07:10:02 PM
Thank you!
Here are some more unpublished
wow Dinos ! Didnt know you had so many pics from our battle! [Anyway they are Amazing]
Title: Re: Zulu wars-Crossing the Nyezane
Post by: DintheDin on October 20, 2017, 06:44:33 AM: Quote from: miltiades on October 19, 2017, 05:39:19 PM
wow Dinos ! Didnt know you had so many pics from our battle! [Anyway they are Amazing]

This second series of pictures is a kind contribution of Socrates. And I think they praise your well painted figures! If any LAFer would like to see the game from other angles, I may post more (although I think I overdid it) ;)
Title: Re: Zulu wars-Crossing the Nyezane
Post by: fred on October 20, 2017, 07:43:59 AM: More is good!
Title: Re: Zulu wars-Crossing the Nyezane
Post by: DintheDin on October 20, 2017, 10:29:04 PM: Quote from: fred on October 20, 2017, 07:43:59 AM
More is good!

Promise kept!
And there are still more ;)
Title: Re: Zulu wars-Crossing the Nyezane
Post by: Alcide Nikopol on October 21, 2017, 06:13:00 AM: Quote from: Barry S on October 18, 2017, 03:04:35 AM
Great report!

Thanks for taking the time to upload the photos :)
+1
Title: Re: Zulu wars-Crossing the Nyezane
Post by: DintheDin on October 21, 2017, 12:50:03 PM: Quote from: Alcide Nikopol on October 21, 2017, 06:13:00 AM
+1

Much obliged! So...