The TransCaspian Episode - a LoEK battle report

[Ignatieff]

Good morning chaps

This weekend saw The League of Extraordinary Kriegspielers gather for their traditional pre-Christmas dust up.  I designed this game (very) loosely around the battle of Dushak, which was the central action in General Wilfred Malleson's 1918 campaign in TransCaspia (modern day Turkmenistan). British intervention in the region had been sparked off by fears that the Germans and Turks were close to capturing Baku (this was the summer of 1918, when things were not going at all well for the allies) and hence the road to India would be open (the rail junction at Krasnavodsk on the eastern shores of The Caspian had a railway line that ran all the way to the Afghan border, only a few days away). There was also the small matter of the large supplies of gun cotton at Merv and the surrounding area, which the allies didn't want falling into the German (or for that matter the Bolshevik) hands.  Malleson's invasion provoked a furious response from the Tashkent Soviets, who retained all the traditional Russian fears of British intentions in the region.  The Tashkent Junta was also under enormous pressure at home, with plot and counter plot threatening to remove them from power, and so a useful external distraction was thought to be a 'good thing' to prop up support on the home front.

The actual campaign was fought along the main railway line from Krasnavodsk to Tashkent, and so, somewhere along this hot dusty track in the summer of 1918 two empires collided on Russian soil for the first time since the Crimean War......


View looking east at Dushak railway juntion.  The Bolos are deployed on the right hand of the picture, and are attacking southwards.  British and their dubious allies on the left.  As you can see, the Bolshevik bacillus has been at work, leaving cheap gaudy symbols of their twisted ideology all around the board

Next up army lists!

[Ignatieff]

The TransCaspian episode – Allied Army List

Allied commanders are considerably more competent that in real life.  This is the League after all!  British have been made v.powerful, to reflect the fact the Bolos were terrified of them (there were rumours of a mythical Highland regiment in the actual army at the time), and the fact that they did it against the odds (wait to see the Bolo list).  The list reflects what figures we have, and not Malleson's force, which was basically Indian army infantry and cavalry...

Cinc Shep  Malleson (+2, lucky)
2IC. Neil B (+2, lucky) CinC Turcomens
White Russians – Rory and Jamie, both +2 lucky
Social Revolutionary Railway workers - Dave (+2 lucky)

British

1. Infantry Brigade

1 x ADC (+2). Can act as spotter.
1 x 10 Punjabi infantry. C2 M2. Ferocious. 1 LMG, bombs
1x 10 Hampshires C2 M2, stubborn, marksmen, 2 LMGs, bombs
1 x 10 Argylls C2 M2, stubborn, marksmen, 2 LMGs, bombs
1 x Punjabi sniper.  C2 M2, stubborn

1 x Argylls HMG C2 M2 stubborn

1x British mortar C2 M2 stubborn

2 x British QF 18pdrs, C2 M2, stubborn, motor pulled.

2. Cavalry Brigade

1 x 10 Bengal Lancers C2 M2, 1 LMG, bombs
1 x 10 South Notts Hussars C2 M2, 1 LMG, bombs

2 x Duke of Westminster's AC's Rolls Royces. C2 M2, 1 LMG 


3. Independent Units

1 x pusher aircraft C2 M2. 1 LMG

1 x Bristol Bullet. C2 M2 1 LMG and four light bombs

1 x AA gun. C2 M2

2 x rounds of off-table HE. Can be pre-planned or opportunity fired (on a -1 to hit)


4. Turcomens

1 x ADC (+1)
9 x regular cavalry C3 M3, bombs
2 x 9 irregular cavalry C3 M4, obsolete rifles
1 x sniper C3 M3
1 x obsolete artillery piece C4 M4
1 x HMG C4 M4


5. White Russians

1 x ADC (+1)
1x 10 White Russian officers. C3 M3, ferocious. 1 LMG, bombs
1 x 10 White Russian conscripts. C3 M4, bombs
1 x 9 White Russian cavalry. C3 M3, 1 LMG, bombs
2 x (modern) 77mm guns. C3 M3
1 x HMG C3 M3

6. Social Revolutionary Railway workers

1x Commisar (+1)
1 x white armoured train. C3 M3. Field gun, 4 HMG's, 2 x 20 irregular railway worker infantry units C3 M4, bombs.  Off table to begin with.  Need to throw to get on.
2 x 16 irregular railway workers C4 M4, bombs.
1 x 10 white regulars. C3 M4, 1 LMG, no bombs.
1 x obsolete field gun C4 M4
1 x HMG C4 M4

[Ignatieff]

The TransCaspian Episode - Bolsheviks

V. big army, but not very high quality.  Reflects the early revolutionary period when political fervour made up for a lot else.  Looked great on the table though!

CinC - Blackers +2 lucky
Bolsheviks- Paul Eaglestone and Ted (both +2 lucky)
Railway workers - Peter (+2 lucky)
German/Austrian ex-POW’s – Cooperman (+2 lucky)


Bolsheviks

4 rounds of off table HE. Max 2 rounds per move. C4 M4.  Must be pre-planned

1. 1st Special Action Brigade

1 x Commissar +1
2 x 10 Latvian Rifles. C3 M3, 1 LMG, bombs
1x 10 Red sailors C3 M3, 1 LMG, bombs.
1 x 10 Cheka C4 M2, 1 LMG, bombs
2 x Tchankas C3 M3, 1 LMG (mtd) HMG (dismounted)
1x 9 mounted officer cadets C3 M3, 1 LMG, bombs
1 x 9 Red Avenger Cavalry C3 M4, 1 LMG, bombs
2 x Red Naval armoured cars C3 M3, 1 LMG
1 x field gun C4 M4
1 x Junkers ground attack aircraft (armoured) C3 M3, 2 light bombs, 2 LMGs


2. Tashkent Soviet Shock Action Brigade

1 x commissar +1
4x 10 C3 M4, no bombs
2x 10 Red Guards.  Irregular C4 M4, no bombs.
1 x 9 Red Guard Cavalry. Irregular C4 M4, no bombs.
1 x armoured car C4 M4 2 LMGs
1 x field gun C4 M4
1 x HMG C4 M4

3. Tashkent Red Martyrs Brigade

1 x commissar +1
4 x 10 Red Guards. Irregular C4 M4, no bombs
2 x 10 Regular infantry units C3 M4, bombs.
1 x 10 Regular Red Cavalry, C3 M4, 1 LMG, bombs
1 x Red Guard Armour: Mk IV tank. C4 M4, 2 field guns, 1 LMG (front mounted)
1 x field gun C4 M4
1 HMG C4 M4


4. German/Austrian ex-POW's

1 x officer, (Paul)
2 x 10 German POW's C3 M3, bombs.
3 x 10 Austrian POW's C3 M4, bombs.
1 x sniper C3 M3
1 x flame thrower C3 M2
1 x field gun C3 M3
1 x HMG C3 M3

5. Bolshevik Railway workers

1 x officer (Peter)
2 x armoured trains. C4 M3. Field gun, four HMGs, and capacity to carry twenty troops (dice to see if they are on board) one armoured car (included) and a separate HMG and crew (included)
2 x 16 irregular C3 M3, bombs
1 x HMG C3 M3
1 x field gun C4 M3

[Ignatieff]

The TransCaspian episode - special rules.

1. Deployment

The board is divided into six deployment zones, nos. 2-6 on table, no.1 off.

The British player may deploy his two British Brigades plus the White Russian Brigade where he wants.  The other two formations (Turcomens and Railway workers) must be diced for.  A D6 is thrown to establish where these are deployed.  A one means it is off table, and needs to throw over its class to come on. It gives one move notice to the other side that it is coming on.

Bolshevik higher unit command and control in the summer of 1918 was almost non-existent in the TransCaspian theatre.  Only one Brigade, The Special Action Brigade, can choose its deployment zone.  All others must be diced for.

2. Armoured trains.

Each side dices each move to see if the train comes on.  In actual fact we are only going to allow one train on (one of the Bolshevik ones) at the start. Noother trains will be allowed on before Move 6.  however throw 3 D6 each move to keep the players thinking they are coming on.  From move 6 onwards, there is a possibility the one white and other Bolo train get on on a throw of 18 on 3D^, then 17, then 16, etc.  This reflects the fact that they rarely did venture onto battlefields and the fact that if all three trains did come on, they would fill the entire board!

3. Railway workers- defections

Both sides railway workers were in reality very close politically.  The white ones defected on account of the excesses of the Tashkent Soviet, but later on rejoined the Reds.  To reflect this instability, if the railway workers of either side come into small arms fire range of each other, then either (or both) commanders can attempt to lure one unit of the other side to defect.

A throw of a 9, 10, 11, 12 on 2D6 immediately makes the nearest unit defect at a rate of 3D6 to the enemy lines (throw right away, and it doesnt mattering they have already moved or fired).  They must move directly to the nearest opposing railway worker unit, and cannot stop to fire, etc.  Each side can only throw once in the game (the assumption being that vigilance, in the form of a 7.62mm Nagant rifle, would preclude multiple attempts).

If however the throw fails, the player attempting to lure his former comrades must throw to see if the manoeuvre backfires and one of his units joins the enemy.  A roll of 2,3 on 2D6 causes this to happen.  A particularly bad sets of rolls could see a player lose two units to the enemy.  Be careful what you wish for therefore!


Next up, battle reports and lots of pics!!!

[Hombre]

Wow, that looks amazing, as ever
i like your  gameboards and especially your detailed Background stories are fantastic!!

regards 

Mike

[H.M.Stanley]

Was about to say that i'm planning on nicking this idea for a game v Bolshy until i saw the number of troops involved ... 

[coggon]

The League has been busy!  And now posting bat reps on 2 "fronts".  Let's see if you can sustain it

[Ignatieff]

Was about to say that i'm planning on nicking this idea for a game v Bolshy until i saw the number of troops involved ... 

I'm writing up the cut down version for our first scenario supplement.  Should be out for Salute...

[Ignatieff]

The League has been busy!  And now posting bat reps on 2 "fronts".  Let's see if you can sustain it

Well observed.  Time will tell.  This one is easier as its a one off.  I think the campaign will be a weekend excercise

[coggon]

  I think the campaign will be a weekend excercise

I'm guessing someone somewhere once said that right before invading Russia

[H.M.Stanley]

I'm writing up the cut down version for our first scenario supplement.  Should be out for Salute...

Now these i'd buy .. 

[Ignatieff]

Imagine our surprise, when 'Black Ken' Kurilov dropped by, complete with Social Revolutionary Railway workers outfit, red and blue flags and a very annoying and very loud tin whistle.  The Bolsheviks became doubly determined to have him up against a wall, as did most of his now side due to the scale of hangovers we were all carrying.....

All photos by that wonderful man, V.I.Blackwood O.B.E

[Ignatieff]

Initial deployments and battle plans

The Bolshevik command were students of the Great Napoleon.  Late period.  Waterloo to be precise, and decided upon a massive central thrust from their two best Brigades, The 1st Special Action and Zimmerman's German/Austrian POW's.  This pic shows the 'plan' (red arrows) and the central deployment of the allies.  As both sides soon realised, the railway junction was the key to the game.

[Ignatieff]

The Bolshevik left, under Red Ted (seen here top left) was to seize the secondary objective in the game: the railway bridge.  Ted had been reading the rules (the mark of a card in my opinion), so was well greased and ready for action. He commanded the Tashkent Red martyrs Brigade, which though numerous and with the games only tank, was mostly comprised of irregular red guards.  The allies (blue arrows) planned to occupy the trench defences once the Red's had spent their off table artillery.

[Ignatieff]

The Bolo left wing (red arrows) comprising the Tashkent Shock Brigade ("the shock was they turned up" from an allied wag) plus the Tashkent Bolshevik railway workers (far left flank), were to sweep down on the allied right wing (Black Ken, his whistle and the Social Revolutionary Railway workers), who through random deployment started the game outside the trench lines.  The intriguing prospect of a stand off between the two railway factions loomed large!