Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => Colonial Adventures => Topic started by: Shikari Sahib on August 31, 2012, 10:01:51 AM
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In this last months I was thinking to refight the battle of Adowa, founght in Ethiopia (at that time called Abyssinia ) the 1st March 1896 between the Italian Army and the Negus Menelik’s army.
So I spent my holiday re-reading all the books I have on that argument.
It was one of the big battles of the colonial history.
The Italians were around 14.000 and the Abyssinians a numbers between 100,000 and 140.000.
It ended in a terrible defeat of the new Italian Royal Army, due to lack of generalships, wrong strategic and nasty tactical decisions.
The wrong approaching points , from our HQ, were:
-Night march in an area partially unknown , full of mounts, and with the help of not trustworthy guides; this cause also tiredness on our troops, expecially the white soldiers, as the movement started at night 09.00 PM of the 29th February.
-Decision to divide the Corp of operation in 4 independent Brigades;
-Brigades’ s Heliographs left at main camp without any reason;
-Reduction of ammo for soldiers and guns and reductions of transport (mules) for speed of the units;
-Lack of orders from the CinC Gen Baratieri, he had not in his hands , never, the control of the battles ( we’ll see later that any Brigades will fought his personal battle);
-Not bringing with the Corp of operation the cavalry, available and expert. The Abyssinian ‘s Galla irregular cavalry made a tremendous impact on our forces during the retreat, and this could have been avoid if our cavalry was at hand. Our Penne di Falco (hawk feathers ) was made of askaris with Italian officers, and has already shown capacities against the Dervishes;
-Map given to brigades Commanders was a sketch , with wrong name, wrong position of some mounts and without a scale:
- Understimation of our enemy, our spies reports that the army of Menelik were between 40-60.000 men, with few food and low morale;
Apart the above points, which will have bring any army to descruction, must be added that new fresh troops arrived from Italy were made of inexperienced soldiers taken from various Home Regiments and put togheter in new formations.
So lack of cohesion and also the officers doesn’t know their soldiers.
Last but not least, the Italian Government pick up the Moschetto 91, a new rifles, and gave to these soldiers the old Vetterly; just to make uniform rifles and ammunitions with those of the Askaris.
So we fight against an enemy that in many cases had better weapons than ours.
Incredible to say, but with all these problems and mistakes our only expert brigade made of Askaris with 2 batteries of mountain artillery fought and repulse a force ten times is numbers for hours.
Around 09.00 am after more than 3 hours of fight the Abyssinian army was repulsed for the third time and most of the warriors returned back to Adwa camp.
Seems that a victory could arose to the Italian but ….legend said that Taitu’ Queen and wife of Menelik esorted his husband and the warriors not to be coward.
Apart the legend the Menelik Negus decide to put in the battle the Guard, another unit of around 34.000 soldiers.
They were repulsed too, but at 10.30am Italian artillery was out of ammunition and so start the end of Albertone’s Brigade.
The Menelik’s army attacked the central Brigades enveloping them and later , in another separate battle, butchered the Dabormida’s Brigade, get lost in a valley instead give an help to Albertone’s Brigade.
In the battle and following retreat Italians lost more than 7.000 men , and the pursuit of the enemy followed for another 2 days. About 2.000 white and askaris were taken prisoners, mostly of the 800 askaris suffered cut of right arm and left leg, for have fought against the Abissynians.
Abyssinian army lost 7-8.000 warriors killed, plus a number between 10-12.000 wounded of whom mostly died .
Obviously to refight Adowa should start with a different approach; so ok for the Vetterly instead the 91, so ok for fresh new troops from Italy, but here the changes:
- CinC will be Gen. Baldissera , who was on travel to Massaua ( our capital city in Eritrea ) to replace Gen. Baratieri just on the same hours of the battle ;
- No night march , the Corp of Expedition will start his movement in the morning of the 1st of March ;
- Use of heliograph attached to each Brigades, and cavalry unit on the reserve;
- Use of reconnissance done by our irregular units with Italian officers, to explore the area just ahead of our tropps;
- No split of the brigades as a separate and independent corps;
- More mules for transport ammunitions for guns and rifles;
Here the composition of the Corp of Operation:
CinC Gen. Baldissera
Native Askaris Brigade Gen Matteo Albertone
1°Battalion .Askaris ....(magg.Turitto).......rifles 950
6° "" ""....................( "" Cossu).........." 850
7° "" ""....................( "" Valli)............." 950
8° "" ""....................( "" Gamerra......." 950
Iirregular bands of Asmara,Dechi Tesfà e Tigray ,Lt. Sapelli e Lucca rifles 376
Prima Brigata Artiglieria da Montagna (magg.De Rosa):
1^Batt.Indigeni..............(capitano Henry).....guns 4
2^ " "....................I Sez.(ten.Vibi).........." " ...2
3^ " "....................(capitano Bianchini)..." "...4
4^ " "....................( " " Masotto)...." "...4
_________
Total :rifles 4076-guns 14
1st Infantry Brigade (generale Giuseppe Arimondi)
1°Regg.Stevani:
1°Batt.Bersaglieri............(De Stefano).........rifles 423
2° " "....................(Compiano).........." 350
2°Regg.Brusati:
2°Batt.Infantry ................(Viancini)................" 450
4° " "......................(De Amicis)............" 500
9° " "......................(Baudoin)..............." 550
1^Coy Askaris of V battalion (ten.Pavesi)......." 220
8^Batt.da Mont................(Loffredo)............guns 6
2^ " " "...................(Franzini)............. " 6
_______
Total :rifles 2493-guns 12
2nd Infantry Brigade (generale Vittorio Emanuele Dabormida)
3°Reggimento Ragni :
5°Batt.Fant.........(Giordano)...................rifles 430
6° " "..........(Prato)......................... " 430
10 " "..........(De Fonseca)................ " 430
6°Reggimento Airaghi:
3°Batt.Fant.........(Franchi)......................." 450
13° " "..........(Raineri)........................" 450
14° " "..........(Solaro)........................." 450
Batt.Militia of Askaris (De Vito)....................." 950
Chitet Asmara (Sermasi)...................." 218
2^Brigata Artiglieria da Montagna (Magg.Zola) :
5^Batteria..........(Mottino).....................guns 6
6^ " ".............(Regazzi).................... " " 6
7^ " ".............(Gigla)........................ " " 6
________
Total :rifles 3808-guns 18
3rd Infantry Brigade (generale Giuseppe Ellena)
4°Reggimento Romero :
7°Batt.Fant..........(Montecchi)...............rifles 450
8° " "...........(Violante)...................." " 450
11° " "...........(Manfredi)..................." " 480
5°Reggimento Nava :
Batt.Alpini...........(Menini)......................" " 550
15°Batt.Fant........(Ferrero)...................." " 500
16° " ".........(Vandiol)...................." " 500
3° Askari battalion (Galliano)...................." " 1150
1^Batteria..........(Aragno)................guns.....6
2^ " ".............(Mangia)................ " ".....6
half coy Genio(sappers) ......................rifles....70
Total :rifles 4150-guns 12
Composition of Menelik’s Army
Negus Menelik (Scioa) from 34.000 to 38.000
Iteghiè Taitù (Queen ) (Semièn) 5.000 to 6.000
Ras Makonnèn (Harràr) 15.000 to 16.000
Ras Michael (Wollo-Galla) 14.000 to 15.000
Uagscium Guangùl (Lasta) 10.000 to 11.000
Fitaurari Gabejehù 13.000 to 14.000
Fitaurari Mangascià Atikim 5.000 to 6.000
Ras Taklà Haimanòt (Goggiàm) 5.000 to 6.000
Ras Oliè (Ieggiù) 6.000 to 7.000
Ras Mangascià e (Tigré)
Ras Alula (Hamasèn) 3.000 to 4.000
Total from 110.000 to 123.000 warriors, mostly armed with rifles , plus some batteries of artillery , but in the battle they didn’t gave any results, small caliber at long distance.
The rule I think to use is Kitet (call to arms for Abyssinian warriors) an amatorial set taken from an original idea of Mr. Richard Brooks, who published many years ago “Eritran Roulette “ and “ Besieged by the Mahdi “ on Wargames Illustrated.
The scale is a grand tactical with 1 stand of infantry 1 Italian Battalion or half Native Battalion, 1 stand of artillery 1 battery.
1 stand of Abyssinians 1000 warriors.
The field of battle will be a table of 100 x 120 cms, that will suit well my project.
Turning to the ground , many reports of the time mention about a ground broken, with many mountains that will not allow to see in distance; full of ravines, gullies.
I believe that this feeling was due to the night march and influenced by the chaos of the battle.
Modern visitors , (an Italian photographer in 2009 visit the area of the battle ), mention of a ground with many mountains but with open valleys and easy hills between ; where a brigade could gather and maneuver for a battle. Certainly not like the Omdurman plain, but neither the Lunatic ground described after the battle.
So using modern technologies, eg Google earth, I ’ll reproduce the ground with the principal mountains and leave the ground as it is.
Some strategical tips for the game, in order to left unkown the movement of the Abyssinians to the Italians , I made a simple system to test randomly when the Menelik’s army decide to move and on which direction.
With the order to move of the Italian Corp at 06.00 am , and considering their speed, I’ll make tests randomly to see when and where the Abyssinians will be.
Apart the morale section, already included in the set of rule , I have worked another system , general morale, for the Abyssinians. As the hate and envy were sentiments very common for the Ras Makonnen and Ras Mangascia against Menelik , (both of them reclaimed the throne of the Negus ), if 1 or more units of Menelik’s Guards will retreat, both Ras will leave the battlefield with their armies.
As Negus Menelik was in the eve of the battle in the opinion to withdraw due to lack of foods and disattisfaied by his Ras , and he came into battle just because at 05.30 am an advanced party of 1st native Battalion arrives at the outskirt of Adowa, and this caused a general mobilization; I have decided to keep this option with a special test done in the early morning of the 1st march, to see if Menelik decide to withdraw or to engage the coming Italian army.
Historically b oth armies were in front of each other, spaced less than 20 klms , for 2 weeks, both of them undecided on what to do , both of them with the fear that a retreat could be seen as a defeat.
After all more than a refight this should be a study of what could have happened .
The armies are quite ready, just to paint some more strips of Abyssinians warriors.
The figures are all Irregualar Miniatures in 6mm.
In the close future I’ll post pictures of the troops and ground , then start the battle.
Hoping that this big project will be of interest for some of you, more news will follow.
Ps sorry for my English, good for short sentence, not so good for longer lol
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Don't worry about your English, I am a native English speaker and I butcher the written word all the time. lol
Looking forward to seeing some photos of the battle.
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looking forward to seeing this...just bought a book on the subject ...wll
let you know the name
regards
Ged
www.gringo40s.com
www.gringo40s.blogspot.com
and 28mm
ps great detail from you!! ;)
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Will watch this with interest.i have a ton of stuff on the battle, it has long been a dream of mine to recreate this in 15mm.
It would also be interesting to see how the battle might have gone if the Italians had kept their units closer together.
John
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Will watch this with interest.i have a ton of stuff on the battle, it has long been a dream of mine to recreate this in 15mm.
It would also be interesting to see how the battle might have gone if the Italians had kept their units closer together.
John
What books do you have in your stuff ?
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Sounds interesting so I am looking forward to photos too. Your English is fine by the way.
Don't worry about your English, I am a native English speaker and I butcher the written word all the time. lol
Looking forward to seeing some photos of the battle.
Haven't a clue what you're saying though...
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first pictures while I'm finishing paint last units and arranging terrain.
Brigata Indigeni
(http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa305/pieropredator/wargame%20coloniale/CIMG1251brigataAlbertone-1.jpg)
Artillery
(http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa305/pieropredator/wargame%20coloniale/CIMG1254Albertonecloseview.jpg)
Menelik's Army, a part
(http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa305/pieropredator/wargame%20coloniale/CIMG1245MeneliksArmy.jpg)
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really neat!! quite a set up already :)
regards
Ged
www.gringo40s.com
www.gringo40s.blogspot.com
and 28mm
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How brill a rastafarian army, dread how long it takes to get together.
Top Ranking .
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1st March 1896, at 05.00 am from the Sauria'-Enticcio' bases the Italian brigades under the order of Gen Antonio Baldissera move to engage against Negus Menelik's army.
at 10.00 the Albertone's brigade, entirely made of askaris(fast runners ) reach the Erara' hills; between 10.30 and 11.00 the other three Brigades reach their designated positions.
on the left on Erara' Hills Albertone Brigade; in the centre around the slopes of Mount Rayio the Arimondi Brigade, on the right on the Belah hills the Dabormida brigade; back in reserve Ellena brigade between Mt. Rayio and Rebbi Arienni hill.
Adwa 09.00 am , some spies reported to the Negus that columns of Italian soldiers are moving towards the Semaiata-Rayio mountains .
Negus Menelik harangue all his Ras, some of them are not realiable, so the discussion go on for more than one hour. then the Negus , after promise of lands and money to the Ras not yet convinced, move his sterminate army to face the Italians.
general view of the field of battle
(http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa305/pieropredator/wargame%20coloniale/fotoCIMG1275.jpg)
the Italian Brigades deployed
(http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa305/pieropredator/wargame%20coloniale/fotoCIMG1271.jpg)
Ellena Brigade on reserve
(http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa305/pieropredator/wargame%20coloniale/fotoCIMG1272.jpg)
Abyssinian army advancing, view from Dabormida position
(http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa305/pieropredator/wargame%20coloniale/fotoCIMG1269.jpg)
(http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa305/pieropredator/wargame%20coloniale/fotoCIMG1278.jpg)
at 11.30 the two armies are facing , ready for an epic battle.
More to follow soon
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the Menelik's army is moving to attack the Italian positions.
the Megus guards and Gabrejehu warriors on the left, Ras Makonnen and Ras Michael the centre, Ras Mangascia'. Alula and Olie, the right.
(http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa305/pieropredator/wargame%20coloniale/fotoCIMG1275.jpg)
the attack on the right
(http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa305/pieropredator/wargame%20coloniale/fotoCIMG1283.jpg)
Dabormida artillery start to bombard them.
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Albertone Askari's brigade is deployed ready for the coming negus's Guards
(http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa305/pieropredator/wargame%20coloniale/fotoCIMG1284.jpg)
the central attack on Arimondi brigade
(http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa305/pieropredator/wargame%20coloniale/fotoCIMG1300.jpg)
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Dabormida artillery and the infantry are shooting on the Ras Mangasha' and Alula warriors.
(http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa305/pieropredator/wargame%20coloniale/fotoIMG_4132.jpg)
ras mangascia' and Alula were repulsed, ras Olie' warriors try to attack the Dabormida positions under heavy fire
(http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa305/pieropredator/wargame%20coloniale/fotoCIMG1320.jpg)
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Meanwhile in the Centre Arimondi brigade are under heavy pression
(http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa305/pieropredator/wargame%20coloniale/fotoCIMG1314.jpg)
(http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa305/pieropredator/wargame%20coloniale/fotoCIMG1315.jpg)
(http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa305/pieropredator/wargame%20coloniale/fotoCIMG1319.jpg)
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while Albertone brigade is frontally engaged, a column of Abyssinians moved behind Albertone postions, but was soon engaged by tropps from Ellena reserve,
Cavalry and Askaris
(http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa305/pieropredator/wargame%20coloniale/fotoCIMG1316.jpg)
(http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa305/pieropredator/wargame%20coloniale/fotoCIMG1330.jpg)
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most of the Abyssinians units are now repulsed, some in rout , others going back ; the heavy artillery fire has asked the toll.
(http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa305/pieropredator/wargame%20coloniale/fotoCIMG1333.jpg)
when even the Negus' guards retreat, after three unsucesseful attacks the battle is over
(http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa305/pieropredator/wargame%20coloniale/fotoCIMG1304.jpg)
(http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa305/pieropredator/wargame%20coloniale/fotoCIMG1332.jpg)
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Albertone askaris parading and doing "fantasia" when the negus' army retreat
(http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa305/pieropredator/wargame%20coloniale/fotoCIMG1336.jpg)
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full details of the battle will follows soon.
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really looking forward to seeing this!!
regards
Ged
www.gringo40s.com
www.gringo40s.blogspot.com
and 28mm :)
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here the report of the wargame battle
At 11,30 the two armies where facing each other.
The Abyssinian launch a general attack, a column of Negus Guards and Queen Taitu’ warriors try to outflank the left of Italian front, turning behind the Albertone’s brigade.
The Italian artillery start a general bombardment on the advancing units.
The first to receive fire where the units of Ras Mangasha’ and Alula on Italian right. When these warriors reach fire contact they were under heavy artillery and rifles fire . it was impossible to resist , and when Ras Alula was killed the unit fall back in disorder.
In the centre the main attack where brought by warriors of Ras Michael (infantry and Galla cavalry behind) and Ras Makonnen warriors.
Their movement converged on the central brigade of Arimondi, triyng to insert some units in the gap between Arimondi and Dabormida brigades.
Here too the artillery shrapnel fire were impressive but despite that the warriors of Makonnen try to charge the guns and the infantry at the centre of Arimondi brigade.
The Galla cavalry too try to charge , as they were without cover, as another unit of RAs Michael was in retreat.
The fight were severe but the artillery of the Arimondi and Dabormida brigade firing grapeshot repulsed the enemy units.
On the left (of the Italian front ) the main attack was brought by Fitaurari Gabrejehu followed by the Negus guards.
One of the Gabrejehu unit was stopped by artillery fire, the other unit try to advance until rifle range but losing the Fitaurari himself ,but reaching high losses were repulsed too.
The Negus guards reach quickly, skirmished by the Gabrejehu warriors, the front line of the Albertone brigade, but the massive artillery grapeshot and the fire from the askaris stopped them, the Guard became shocked but still resist shooting back to the enemy, when another volley of artillery and rifles put them in flight.
The Negus column ,that try to outflank the Albertone brigade , climb the hill on the far left flank and engaged against the Turitto Battalion and the Irregular band of Lt. Sapelli.
Another Guard unit ,covered by the first ,turned around Albertone brigade just to found the Italian cavalry ( Hawk feather) and one battalion of Askaris ready for them.
The use of heliographs secure a good communications for the Italian this time.
This was the end of the Abyssinian attack, most of the units were in flight or unwill to fight.
The total casualties of the Abyssinians were around 20.000 warriors.
The Italians lost 800 soldiers; It was a completely different battle from the historical one.
The good point for the Italians were the decision to move on daylight, I calculated some kind of penalties, but they reached their positions in time and deployed without the hurry to be attacked.
Another aspect was the use of heliograph , this keep the 4 brigades in contact, also the movement of them as a division, and not as independent brigades, was another good aspect.
What happened on the wargame field doesn’t seems so different from the real battle.
When the Italians were in positions and use the artillery most of the enemy units were stopped or forced to retreat. (These happened three times for the Albertone Brigade.)
Preventing the Abyssinians to outflank the Italians units has bring the fight to the Italians side.
56 artillery guns deployed on good positions , with enough ammunitions were too much for any proud warriors.( expenditure of guns ammunitions was ¾ of the available shots ).
For the strange things that happened on a wargame table , an Italian unit retreat when charged by the Abyssinians , without having taken any casualties , ( this show the inexperienced of various Italian white Battalions.) the rule provides test for the units charged too .
The Negus guards, unit N. 1 of around 12.000 warriors, lost half of the figures and still toss 1 two times ( the best die result for morale purpose).
The performing fact of valour was done by the 1 batt. Askaris of Maj. Turitto, that were charged by the double of his numbers, resisted and repulse the enemy down the hills in a rough firefight. His advantage was to be uphill, and a good die! In fact they were awarded to do “ fantasia” at the end of the battle.
I have already refight Adwa, with some friends of mine, just on the 1st march of 1996 , centenary of the battle. We decide to refight the same battle, dividing the columns, and making all the wrong decisions taken that day.
We achieve the same result, a disastrous for the Italians, we just managed to save a full brigade from the massacre retreating it in good order.
All in all an interesting battle, 4 hours battle time, done in the days of Thursday, Friday and Saturday, except the time that my wife and my work took myself.
I hope you liked my photos and my efforts.
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Che meraviglia!!!!
Congratulation Piero (giusto vero?). You have realized a very likely account both in terms of table and in terms of account of this "great" battle, I'm absorbed in readings of that years and eager to wargame those battles.
see you soon (magari dal vivo)
luca
http://peanadipiombo.blogspot.it/