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Miniatures Adventure => Colonial Adventures => Topic started by: miltiades on September 17, 2017, 09:03:16 AM

Title: Anniversary of The Battle of Omdurman... wargaming the battle
Post by: miltiades on September 17, 2017, 09:03:16 AM
This Saturday, after a long preparation, we managed to play the famous battle of Omdurman that put an end to the Mahdist State on September 2 1898. The spectacular terrain is made by George Panopoulos [https://www.ecwid.com/store/pedion/]. So here are some pics from the  battle [most of them picked by our friend DintheDin who supported in many ways the whole project]. Oh! a few remarks:
1. As you will notice, there were not enough bushes in our terrain, so Kitchener ordered to fortify hastily the battlefield using boxes and sandbags. No time to build a zareba this time. [...so the defenders were more vulnerable].
2. We had no maxim guns in this game. We used gattlings [and the jamming rule of course!]
 
  
Title: Re: Anniversary of The Battle of Omdurman... wargaming the battle
Post by: miltiades on September 17, 2017, 09:57:12 AM
the first pics
Title: Re: Anniversary of The Battle of Omdurman... wargaming the battle
Post by: miltiades on September 17, 2017, 09:58:48 AM
The Command of Osman Azrak attacks !
Title: Re: Anniversary of The Battle of Omdurman... wargaming the battle
Post by: miltiades on September 17, 2017, 10:06:08 AM
But the combined fire and the defences proved too hard for the attackers and they retreat with terrible losses
Title: Re: Anniversary of The Battle of Omdurman... wargaming the battle
Post by: miltiades on September 17, 2017, 10:21:40 AM
final stages of Osman Azrak's [the White flag] attack
After a hard and costly fight they are dispersed
Title: Re: Anniversary of The Battle of Omdurman... wargaming the battle
Post by: miltiades on September 17, 2017, 10:37:45 AM
...But now Lord  Kitchener gives the order for a general advance to Omdurman.
He thought the main army of the enemy was defeated and he
wanted to prevent them from reaching Omdurman.
The 21st Lancers was given the order to attack south and secure the main access to the city...
Title: Re: Anniversary of The Battle of Omdurman... wargaming the battle
Post by: miltiades on September 17, 2017, 10:49:47 AM
the 21st manages to disperse the Devishes and clear the field-but with heavy losses. And suddenly the Dervishes attack ! Two fresh Commands the Black and the Green Flag attack the unprotected infantry...The Egyptian Command was overwhelmed by the enemy masses frontall and from the flank! The gattlings jammed twice... but finally they managed to  repulse the enemy. A clear [although a bloody] victory for the Queens colours
Title: Re: Anniversary of The Battle of Omdurman... wargaming the battle
Post by: FierceKitty on September 17, 2017, 10:58:24 AM
Two years ago we did the whole Sudan shebang (except that we left out the Italians) as a campaign. Omdurman was the climax; the British player didn't know the history, and to my delight the 21st pranged straight into the hidden wadi.
Title: Re: Anniversary of The Battle of Omdurman... wargaming the battle
Post by: miltiades on September 17, 2017, 03:30:38 PM
Two years ago we did the whole Sudan shebang (except that we left out the Italians) as a campaign. Omdurman was the climax; the British player didn't know the history, and to my delight the 21st pranged straight into the hidden wadi.
It must have been a very enjoying campaign! In my case Dinos who commanded the British knew what really happened. But the main rule of the game was that every single subgeneral had to obey the orders. That is, he had to advance to the other edge of the table and disperse the enemy in front. He did so, but with heavy casualties... :D
Title: Re: Anniversary of The Battle of Omdurman... wargaming the battle
Post by: Codsticker on September 17, 2017, 04:59:43 PM
It looks spectacular.*thumbs up*
Title: Re: Anniversary of The Battle of Omdurman... wargaming the battle
Post by: DintheDin on September 17, 2017, 05:27:08 PM
Well, it was a great game!
In some phases of the battle, the Mahdists appeared from any direction!
Especially the Egyptians had a hard time to hold them!
Here, I would like to include some pics from the final stage of the game.
I'd like to mention also this fine article, which helped me to understand what happened in the actual battle
http://obscurebattles.blogspot.gr/2015/11/omdurman-1898.html
Title: Re: Anniversary of The Battle of Omdurman... wargaming the battle
Post by: Traveler Man on September 17, 2017, 05:34:03 PM
Superb!  :-* Thanks for sharing.
Title: Re: Anniversary of The Battle of Omdurman... wargaming the battle
Post by: DintheDin on September 17, 2017, 05:41:45 PM
Superb!  :-* Thanks for sharing.

Thank you!
I feel I saw the battle on table as I had imagined it!
Some pics from the critical point of the battle:
Here is the right British flank, MacDonad's Egyptian brigade fell back, refused flank and took the characteristic L-shape form, as mentioned in the actual battle. Next to it, at the right, Broadwood's Cavalry and Camel Corps dismounted. It was a very thin line and... only very good dice prevented its demise!
Title: Re: Anniversary of The Battle of Omdurman... wargaming the battle
Post by: DintheDin on September 17, 2017, 08:11:53 PM
The idyllic  :) village of Egeiga.
To its left and right were the hospital tents.
We had the tents, but Miltiades kindly asked to remove them, rightly so, because they would clutter the table.
Title: Re: Anniversary of The Battle of Omdurman... wargaming the battle
Post by: Guldor on September 18, 2017, 09:05:50 AM
Very nice boys

Next time i will be with you

i like the river.... 

Title: Re: Anniversary of The Battle of Omdurman... wargaming the battle
Post by: DintheDin on September 18, 2017, 10:49:52 AM
Very nice boys

Next time i will be with you

i like the river.... 



From time to time, it can be the sea  lol
Title: Re: Anniversary of The Battle of Omdurman... wargaming the battle
Post by: DintheDin on September 18, 2017, 04:49:32 PM
Eh Miltiades! What do you think? Now that Omdurman is secured, where are we going to send the British army?
Delhi? Peking? Or... Khartoum... again?  lol
Title: Re: Anniversary of The Battle of Omdurman... wargaming the battle
Post by: miltiades on September 18, 2017, 09:18:06 PM
Eh Miltiades! What do you think? Now that Omdurman is secured, where are we going to send the British army?
Delhi? Peking? Or... Khartoum... again?  lol
we will see...so many wonderful options.
Title: Re: Anniversary of The Battle of Omdurman... wargaming the battle
Post by: DintheDin on September 20, 2017, 08:39:06 AM
we will see...so many wonderful options.

Just to tease you, remember that you are in the middle of your 55 days Peking project, it is time to reassume it!
And I promise to join my efforts so that we can play it in 2017!
Title: Re: Anniversary of The Battle of Omdurman... wargaming the battle
Post by: Deedles on October 20, 2017, 07:48:53 PM
Ooh nicely done
Title: Re: Anniversary of The Battle of Omdurman... wargaming the battle
Post by: FifteensAway on October 22, 2017, 06:31:04 AM
It's near the end of October, 2017.  Methinks Militates better get cracking on his 55 Days in Peking project - only about 80 days left!     :D
Title: Re: Anniversary of The Battle of Omdurman... wargaming the battle
Post by: miltiades on October 22, 2017, 12:23:27 PM
It's near the end of October, 2017.  Methinks Militates better get cracking on his 55 Days in Peking project - only about 80 days left!     :D

Ok. Thanks time to wake up and get to work...
I will do my best to finish the project
Title: Re: Anniversary of The Battle of Omdurman... wargaming the battle
Post by: DintheDin on October 22, 2017, 12:27:15 PM
Ok. Thanks time to wake up and get to work...
I will do my best to finish the project

I'll lend a hand (or two)  ;)
Title: Re: Anniversary of The Battle of Omdurman... wargaming the battle
Post by: miltiades on October 22, 2017, 08:59:52 PM
It's about time...
Title: Re: Anniversary of The Battle of Omdurman... wargaming the battle
Post by: JBaumal on November 13, 2017, 11:24:33 AM
Miltiades, beautiful set up! Wonderful toys and terrain. Great AAR, I would loved to have played in that game. Your blog and collection are awesome. I can't wait to see what you do with the 55 Days at Peking project....
Cheers,
JB
Title: Re: Anniversary of The Battle of Omdurman... wargaming the battle
Post by: miltiades on November 13, 2017, 12:15:18 PM
Miltiades, beautiful set up! Wonderful toys and terrain. Great AAR, I would loved to have played in that game. Your blog and collection are awesome. I can't wait to see what you do with the 55 Days at Peking project....
Cheers,
JB
Thank you so much JBaumal for your kind words,
I try to do my best dividing my spare time between different periods of our hobby. I hope to complete the "55 days" project  and post a report of the game by the end of this year. It was a very big project-bigger than I thought when I started it ::)...