Zulu - Test in 1/72

[Koppi]

Some test miniatures for a Zulu scenario in 1/72. Short introduction in English. If you want to read the whole report you can easy translate it with GOOGLE translator.
Have fun.

https://thrifles.blogspot.com/2020/12/zulu.html

[skirmisher]

Hi Koppi, nice work on the 1/72 plastics.

I wargame the AZW in 15mm. Reading your blog post (in Google translate), I understand that you are disenchanted by the one-sided results of the larger battles of the Anglo-Zulu War:

"Basically, all the battles described are just a ceaseless blast of mercilessly superior British firearms against Zulus who are marching in great combat formation, but who basically have no chance,"

While this perhaps makes the main battles less appealing for wargaming, there are several engagements that are not the typical 'man the defences/form square and mow down the natives'. If you are looking for scenarios where the forces are less static/pre-ordained in their movements & outcomes, then here are some examples:

Inzeyane (Jan 22nd) is a large ambush with the Imperial forces in motion and having to react to the unfolding ambush (though Zulus impeded by poor co-ordination between the Left and Right horn).

Intombi Drift (Mar 12th) has the British infantry in prepared position but surprised and overrun (with a fighting withdrawal by survivors).

While the regular infantry were employed more on the tactical defensive after the shock of Isandlwana, before this the British were confidently employing Cape Frontier tactics with regular infantry manoeuvring in the open and attacking in skirmish order (which makes for more flowing battles for us tabletop generals), so Batshe Valley (Jan 15th) and Zunguin Nek (Jan 24th) sees General Wood's infantry on the offensive (the latter action has the General's wagons exposed by the over-enthusiastic advance of the infantry and vulnerable to a flanking Zulu force, and saved only by for the timely arrival of the Frontier Light Horse).

Btw, for the Batshe skirmish see See P. 33 of THE STORY OF THE ZULU CAMPAIGN BY MAJOR ASH  http://www.gutenberg.org/files/42956/42956-h/42956-h.htm.

Sirayo's Kraal (Jan 12th) and Talenberg(in May) has the Imperial forces (of infantry, mounted volunteers and native levies) on the offensive against strongholds stoutly defended by local Zulu forces (with the British forced to retreat in the second example).

See https://ianknightzulugallery.com/collections/sold-item-archive/products/zulu-isijula-throwing-spear-collected-by-lt-john-gawne-during-anglo-zulu-war

On the southern coast, the Zulu have skirmishes with raiding columns and road-building parties from the Eshowe garrison, again with fighting withdrawals required by the British in the face of Zulu pressure.

There is even a coastal Zulu attack on a naval survey party (which retires under covering fire from its ship).

If you look at the activities of the mounted Imperial forces, there is a further array of scenarios to wargame:

There is the Zulu ambush near Fort Tenedos (May 5th) of both a convoy escorted by mounted volunteers and the fort's nearby cattle herd.

There is the Feb 14th Zulu rear-guard action near Intombi River as a raiding party attempts to escort its captured cattle against pursuing Boers seeking to recapture them (see p. 99 of THE STORY OF THE ZULU CAMPAIGN). 

There are numerous actions in which Buller and the Frontier Light Horse (FLH) conduct bold and devastating raids on Zulu military encampments, villages and cattle-herds, Some raids were more stubbornly resisted than others and these give rise to a number of engagements of interest to wargamers.

Buller's raid & reconnaissance near Zunguin Mountain of Jan 20th results in a determined stand by the FLH & allied Boers and then a fighting withdrawal in the face of the energetic Zulu counter-attack, using Horn of the Buffalo flanking tactics.

Hlobane (Mar 28th) provides an elaborate scenario of manoeuvre, misadventure, attack & counter-attack involving mounted infantry & irregulars, native levies, & rocket artillery, against Zulus defending their stronghold and cattle-herd, resulting in a bloody rout for the Imperial forces.

The engagement at iUpoko (June 5th) is an engagement in which a Zulu force failed to defend their umuzi from destruction but successfully forced the retreat of the FLH under Buller and then the Lancers, through skilled skirmishing, use of terrain and flanking.

There were many cases were Zulu forces set ambushes for the British & Colonial forces, but the latter refused to bite, but the large-scale ambush of Buller's pre-Ulundi mounted reconnaissance on July 3rd, at the White Umlizoi River is a case where they almost got badly bitten.

The above action gives varied Imperial objectives that include recon, cattle seizure, clearing enemy from the bluffs overlooking the Imperial camp and then extracting the force from the elaborate trap. Although it achieved its main recon objective, it was forced to make a fighting withdrawal / helter-skelter retreat.

Note: in recon/raid scenario light casualties of either men or horses for the Imperials are still crippling / potentially demoralising as it hinders their retreat if threatened with superior force/encirclement. Several engagements only needed light losses to induce a retreat as the regulars needed to consider the impact on their ability to move and manoeuvre with wounded or shared-mounts.
 
This is just a selection, culled from newspapers, memoirs, and history books both contemporary and modern.
So there is scope to employ your Zulu and Imperial forces in a variety of missions, large and small, both offensive and defensive, with manoeuvring on both sides, and with chance of success for the Zulus (where it is not a case of having to achieve an Isandlwana scale victory).

Hope you get some inspiration! 

p.s. my own refight of Gingindlovu was a close run thing: the square held...just!