Anniversary of The Battle of Omdurman... wargaming the battle

[miltiades]

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!]
 
  

[miltiades]

the first pics

[miltiades]

The Command of Osman Azrak attacks !

[miltiades]

But the combined fire and the defences proved too hard for the attackers and they retreat with terrible losses

[miltiades]

final stages of Osman Azrak's [the White flag] attack
After a hard and costly fight they are dispersed

[miltiades]

...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...

[miltiades]

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

[FierceKitty]

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.

[miltiades]

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...

[Codsticker]

It looks spectacular.*thumbs up*

[DintheDin]

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

[Traveler Man]

Superb!  Thanks for sharing.

[DintheDin]

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!

[DintheDin]

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.

[Guldor]

Very nice boys

Next time i will be with you

i like the river....