First Blacklands War - Battle of Vladicin Han

The events of the first month of the First Blacklands War had on the whole gone well for the Turcowaz Empire. Though battered by several invasions, the Turcowaz armies, against all expectation, had beaten them back. No Hellenican or Chervenian now stood on Imperial soil; the Black Mountains and Bejelan forces, their invasions already repulsed, were each attempting a second. The Black Mountains had the remote and isolated city of Scutari under a none-too-secure siege, and the Bejelans, having consolidated their two badly mauled armies into one, were marching south, through Vardar, into Northern Macedonia, in the hope of taking Monastir City, the provincial capital.

Situation and moves, first week of November

By now, a degree of mutual exhaustion seemed to be settling over the whole conflict. During the first week of November, two of Chervenia's armies were retreating into their own country for rest and recuperation, as was Hellenica's sole army after their defeat at Kozani. Indeed, the Hellenic government of Ephtherios Overzelos was beginning to wonder whether the campaign was worth continuing. Embarrassed in one naval action and worsted in two subsequently, the campaign at sea was going as badly as that on land. Now a fast Turcowaz commerce raider - ITS Hamidiye - was at large in the Eastern Mesogesean Sea.  

Battlefield of Vladicin Han.  

For their part, however, the Turcowaz armies were, too, becoming badly worn down.  Having seen off the Hellenes, Second Army had to turn about, retrace its steps and attempt to take on the freshly reconstituted Bejelan Army. So far Ali Riza Pasha, not known for his martial capacity, had performed well above expectations with two victories to his credit. Could he pull off a third?

After the mauling received near East Thrace, Fourth Army was retreating to Salonika. The equally damaged First Army was abandoning its raid into South Chervenia.  Apprehending a contact with an Army issuing forth from Sofia, Nazim Pasha elected at once to retire into Rhodope, rather than take the longer route into North Macedonia. Probably that was just as well, for he might well have run into the much more powerful Bejelan force, or even the Ist Chervenian Army marching from Sofia.  For the moment, and for the next fortnight, only the Second and Third Armies would be available for operations. There was certainly no prospect of relieving Scutari at any time soon. Turcowaz was scarcely better off than the Allies.

General view of the battlefied, looking northwest, 
as the heads of the armies march up.

With most of the armies of both sides retreating, or marking time, the only battle of note to begin November took place in Northern Macedonia.  The Bejelan Army had taken the route to Vladicin Han, a small town but important crossroads, whence the west road would carry the army to Monastir.  It was to intercept the Bejelan Army that Ali Riza Pasha directed his own forces thereto.

Head of the Tucowaz column.

The Second Turcowaz Army comprised this order of march:

Turn 1:

• 2nd Cavalry (trained) = 3SP
• 3rd Infantry (veteran) = 3SP
• 3rd Field Artillery (trained) @ 1SP with Army Command @6SP = 7SP
• 26th Bashi-Bazouk Infantry (green) = 4SP

Turn 2:

• 9th Infantry (trained) = 3SP
• 10th Infantry (trained) = 3SP
• 4th Field Artillery (trained) = 1SP
• 15th Infantry (trained) = 3SP

Turn 3: 

• 16th Infantry (trained) = 3SP
• 7th Medium Artillery (trained) = 2SP
• 3rd Transport Column = 1SP
• 4th Transport Column = 1SP

Turn 4: 

• 25th Bashi-Bazouk Infantry = 3SP

Totals:

• 14 Units: Median 7-1 ('Poor' general) = 6 Activation Points
• 37 Strength Points: Exhaustion Point = -13SP

Head of the Bejela Column.

They had a formidable foe to face, the Bejelan Army comprising:

Turn 1:

• 1st Cavalry (trained) = 2SP
• 2nd Infantry (trained) = 4SP
• 3rd Infantry (trained) = 4SP
• 1st Machine Gun Company (trained) @ 1SP plus Command @6SP = 7SP

Turn 2:

• 1st Field Artillery (trained) = 2SP
• 4th Infantry (trained) = 4SP
• 5th Infantry (trained) = 4SP
• 6th Infantry (trained) = 4SP

Turn 3:

• 2nd Field Artillery (trained) = 2SP
• 10th Medium Artillery (trained) = 2SP
• 1st Transport Column (pack horses/ mules) = 1SP
• 2nd Transport Column (pack horses/ mules) = 1SP
• 3rd Transport Column (carts and wagons) = 1SP

Turn 4:

• 8th Infantry (green) = 4SP
• 9th Infantry (green) = 4SP

Totals:

• 16 Units: Median = 8 + 1 ('Good' General) = 9
• 46 Strength Points: Exhaustion Point -16EP.

Bejela occupies the town...

Route march along a road gave an extra movement allowance to all troops provided the entire move was along the road. I made no allowance for the proper depth or intervals of individual units, and even allowed two units into the same grid area if they could fit (not possible with the horse drawn units of course). As the columns stretched along 12 grid areas of road or thereabouts, I figured that was enough to represent our route marches. On reflection, though, it might have been more 'realistic' to allow but one unit, of any type, onto 1 road hex whilst on the march - a thought for another time, perhaps.

... as the rest of the column moves up behind.

The successive sections of troops off table but following on from the first arrivals, did not require activation to enter the table, it being assumed that the route march was their 'default' state. Once having arrived, though, then they did require activation. This method permitted a fairly rapid deployment of the heads of the columns, which would be slowed as the reinforcements arrived.  

Move 2, and the Turcowaz column has yet to deploy.

So it was that armies clashed at the crucial crossroads around Vladicin Han, the Turcowaz arriving just in time to intercept the invaders. The heads of the Turcowaz column quickly seized the ridge southwest of the town, at the moment the leading Bejelan units were entering the place, the cavalry exiting by the south road. The Turcowaz cavalry covered this move by charging their counterparts and chasing them into and beyond the town.  

Turcowaz seizes the ridge and lines it with 
infantry and field guns.

The following Bejelan units were more circumspect. Second Infantry lined the riverbank whence they could bring under fire the southern approach road and eastern end of the ridge beyond.  The 3rd passed through the town to take up positions in a small wood to the west, whilst the machine gun company established itself in the fields close by the built up area. First Field artillery took up a battery position upon the outskirts of the town facing the ridge, whilst 5th Infantry carried on through to clear the pass between ridge and river - the victorious Turcowaz cavalry having withdrawn, betimes. Forcing 9th Turcowaz Infantry back beyond the bend that took the south road behind the ridge, the 5th turned to flank the ridge itself, where stood the veterans of 3rd Turcowaz Infantry. 

Bejela establishes a bridgehead about the town. 
Although their cavalry have taken a drubbing,
the Army extends the bridgehead west and south.

The ensuing firefight between 3rd Turcowaz and 5th Bejela proved costly to both sides - neither able to retreat on account of obstructions behind them. Meanwhile, both sides extended their lines to both flanks. Led by 25th Bashi-Bazouks, 15th and 16th Infantry penetrated the wood west of the main ridge, overlooking the Monastir road. The Bashi-Bazouks actually reached that road and began advancing along it towards Vladicin Han itself.  Flanked by 3rd Bejela Infantry and faced by machine guns, that advance was quickly halted. The Bashi-Bazouks fell back with some loss.

The battle develops...

To the east, 2nd and 4th Bejela lined the riverbank either side of the railway bridge.  Unwilling themselves to make the crossing, they awaited the approach of the enemy.  So far, nowhere along its length, was the river found to be fordable (This was decided by a die roll for every river grid edge except where there was a bridge, a 'six' revealing a ford.  Do you know, for not one of the ten river edges, did I roll a 'six'.  As the onus of effecting crossings came down upon the Bejelans, that rather cramped their style... a little).  The enemy were, however, content in this sector of the field to maintain a watching brief.

Firefight! 3rd Turcowaz vs 5th Bejela

Ninth Turcowaz Infantry and the cavalry stood at a distance from the railway bridge, ready to contest the crossing. The Bejelans brought up a field battery in support of 4th Infantry, but soon found themselves caught up in an artillery duel with Turcowaz field guns standing between the main ridge and 9th Turcowaz's wood.  

Both sides pinned down in the centre...

For a time, so matters stood: a small, but bloody, battle taking place at the east end of the ridge, the Turcowaz flanking move from the west stopped and driven back, and the Bejelan left flank waiting along the riverbank. Losses had so far redounded to the advantage of Turcowaz, but not so much as to offer a predictor of victory... 

Event slow to develop on the flanks...

To Be Continued...

First Blacklands War: The War at Sea - Battle of Tekke Koyu (1)

 

Turcowaz Battle Squadron exiting the Dardanelles

On the last day of October, the Turcowaz fleet set forth once more through the Dardanelles Strait to face the Hellenic Navy. On the previous occasion, they had got the better of the encounter, and broken the blockade. Yet, owing to the narrowness of the point of egress into the Mesogesean Sea, the maritime strategic situation remained unfavourable to the Turcowaz Navy. To be sure, there was the whole of the Turcowaz Orientalis littoral to be considered, but large seaports and anchorages were wanting - the narrow bays at Smyrna and Marmaris being equally susceptible to blockade.  

To wipe out the Hellenic fleet reckoned as beyond the capacity of the Turcowaz Navy, nevertheless, the Admiralty at Ionople were pleased so far with the results obtained.  They were resolved as soon as may be that a powerful, well trained and fast vessel break out, past the Hellenic watchers over the Dardanelles, and into the open sea. However unlikely that the enemy heavy cruiser HNS Georgios Averof would yet have been fully repaired, it could only be a matter of weeks or months. If the light cruiser TNS Hamidiye should induce Georgios Averof away from the northern Thrakean Sea, so much would be to the advantage of Turcowaz. To get past the Hellenic watch upon the Dardanelles, Hamidiye would need the protection of a powerful squadron. Two battleships and a couple of destroyers were available:

Turcowaz Battle Squadron:  Admiral Basmati Reis

Hayreddin Barbarossa - Pre-dreadnought Battleship, Admiral's Flagship
Muhtesem - Ironclad Coastal Battleship
S167 Numune - Destroyer/ Torpedo Boat
S168 Gayret - Destroyer/ Torpedo Boat
Temporarily under command:-
Hamidiye - Protected (Light) Cruiser

Hellenic Inshore 'Squadron': Ironclad battleship
Spetsai, and destroyer Leon.

Embarking in the early hours of 31 October, the Battle Squadron, led by Muhtesem with Hamidiye bringing up the rear, and flanked by the destroyers to port, began to exit the Straits into the open sea. At once the whole force altered course to due west, the plan being, once well clear of the Gelibolu Peninsula, to turn nor'west by north, and escort Hamidiye through the strait between Gokceada Island and the Gelibolu shore. Once the cruiser was through and well on its way, the main body would return to the Dardanelles, and thence to their Sea of Marmara anchorage. Of course, it was unlikely that this could be achieved without a fight, but the Admiralty's attitude, shared by the Turcowaz crews, was that a fight would be so much the better.

Fleets approaching, still well out of gunnery range.

Following the setback of the Battle of Imbros, the Hellenic Navy kept more a watch over, than a blockade, of the Dardanelles. HNS Hydra under extensive repair, and HNS Psara sunk, Rear Admiral Pavlos Poliomyelitis appeared inclined to favour that class of vessel for maintaining an inshore watch. On this occasion, the coastal battleship HNS Spetsai had a single destroyer, HNS Leon, in attendance. So exiguous had Hellenic naval resources become, that the offshore watch comprised just the lone battleship HNS Lemnos, also accompanied by just the one destroyer, HNS Aetos. The orders to Spetsai were to engage at once any enemy force they came down the Dardanelles. The Offshore Watch squadron would come up the moment they heard the guns.

Opening salvos, the far greater Turcowaz firepower
scores but one hit - and that critical!

For the following battle I incorporated the ideas I suggested in my Naval Chromium posting. I wish I had taken the trouble of re-reading it, because I clean forgot my suggestions for the torpedoes, and treated its results the same as for gunfire critical hits. But I played it that torpedoes (patterns of 3 each salvo) hit only on a '6', but were always treated as critical hits. We'll see how that worked as the battle unfolded. Strangely enough, the torpedo boats of both sides played a major role in the unfolding events.

Spetsai loses its forward 10.8-inch gun.

As the Turcowaz Battle squadron nosed out from the mouth of the Dardanelles strait, lookouts aboard Muhtesem at once espied the smoke of the Hellenic Inshore 'squadron', far to the sou'west by south.  Turning briefly westward, then upon the more northerly course, the Turcowaz ships were more than happy to see HNS Spetsai close the range.  Although the Hellenic ironclad was able to bring its more powerful forward batteries into action against Hayreddin Barbarossa, they were far outmatched by the combined salvoes of the pre-Dreadnought and the ironclad Muhtesem.  For all that, Turcowaz gunnery was to prove woeful for most of the action.  Just one 11-inch shell struck its target - but proved critical.  Striking upon the starboard upper hull it started a fire close to Spetsai's forward magazine. Quick thinking by the guns crew flooded the magazine (card, 6S), but that meant that after the next salvo, starboard main gun would be out of action. 

 

First salvos

In the following, I switched to using white dice for Hellenic Navy gunnery; green for the Turcowaz, and red for both sides' torpedoes. Larger dice represented primary armament; smaller dice the secondary. Instead of placing the card for a critical hit beside the critical hit die (as in the above picture), I placed it beside the vessel affected.

Further exchanges as Hellenic vessels steer towards
Turcowaz fleet

Turcowaz course alterations rather reduced the number of main guns that could be brought to bear upon the Hellenic ironclad, but another lucky hit knocked out the latter's after turret. From now on, only the larboard 10.8-inch gun remained in action of Spetsai's main armament. For its part, a 5.9-inch shell struck Hayreddin Barbarossa close to the waterline. The battleship began to take on water.

The arrival of the Hellenic 'off-shore watch'.

The battleship Muhtesem about to cross the 'T' of the Hellenic ships, the lookouts became aware of the approach from the nor'west of two more Hellenic vessels: the powerful battleship Lemnos, and its destroyer consort. About to engage Spetsai, Sea-Captain Abdul Hamid ordered the forward main turret to engage Lemnos instead. The rear turret unable to traverse yet to engage the pre-dreadnought, continued firing at Spetsai.  

Note: The rules state that no ship may fire its primary armament at more than one target per turn. I felt that in the circumstance in which two targets were available, but one could not be engaged by both turrets, there was a case for splitting the fire. In this instance, both turrets could have engaged Spetsai, and maybe that's the way I ought to have played it. Yet I also felt that, Lemnos being such a powerful unit, it was in Mehtesem's interest to engage early, even with limited available firepower.  There seemed to be no reason to lift altogether the primary gunfire against Spetsai, if that were available. Now, I accept that if both turrets could fire at Lemnos and at Spetsai, then it's an 'one or the other' thing. I'm still not sure whether or not I was right to take the line I did.

'Engage the enemy more closely!'

Leon's torpedoes all miss.

The results of these exchanges were 'honours even', but proved rather less fortunate for the Hellenic fleet. The secondary salvo from Spetsai scored three hits upon Hayreddin Barbarossa, for two in reply, but the destroyer Leon also took a couple of hits.  The first salvo from Lemnos scored a hit upon Muhtesem, but the latter got the better of the encounter - a lucky shot knocking out a gun from the Lemnos forward turret. Having got itself, still afloat, within torpedo range Leon fired off its starboard tubes.  The whole 'pattern' missed their target!

Once the Lemnos and Aetos had arrived, the sea battle descended fairly rapidly into a wild melee.  So far, the Turcowaz destroyers, along with the light cruiser, Hamidiye, had kept out of the action.  Whilst it was not in the interests of Turcowaz that Hamidiye get itself too involved in the battle, there was nothing - apart, perhaps, from enemy fire - to stop the destroyers joining the fun!

HNS Lemnos loses a primary gun!

We'll see what happened next time...
To be continued.

The Blacklands War - Beginnings.

One might have been forgiven, perhaps, for supposing that, after having fought for and won their freedom and independence, certain states within the Blacklands region might have been content to develop their constitutional forms, infrastructures, industries, and such wealth and resources available to them. But the territorial appetites of the newly nascent states had been merely whetted by success. There seemed to be scarce room enough in the region accommodate four independent states and half an empire.
(Note: for the first postings in this topic, here's the link)

Initial locations of armies, and the first moves 
by the Black Mountains Army and the 
Turcowaz armies.

Squabbles among themselves proving bootless, the 'four independent states' settled upon the formation of a bloc, calling itself 'The Blacklands League', comprising Bulg Chervenia, Serb Bajela, Monteneg The Black Mountains Principality, and Gree Hellenica. Their primary aim: to secure more lands from the western half of the Ottom Settee Empire of Turcowaz. The King of Chervenia had his gimlet eye, withal, upon the greatest prize of all, the ancient city and capital, Constan Ionople.

The first page of my Campaign Journal -
an unused exercise book from my daughter's
schooldays.

Given the socio-religious tensions in the region, it was not hard to find a casus belli - not when four states out of five desired war - and that at the expense of the fifth.

It was Prince Nikola of the Black Mountains who declared war first, on 1 October 1883. Already his small army was on the march for the adjoining province of Kosovo, which it entered on the day following (see map above). At once the alarm bells were sounded in Ionople. This act of aggression signalling a likely general mobilisation of the Blacklands League, of which the Sultan and his advisers were acutely aware, the word went out at once to set his armies of the Western Imperium in motion.

First Army was ordered from Northern Abaloni into Kosovo to throw out the intruders. Second Army - the most powerful of the Turcowaz forces - was directed to safeguard the Vardar province; and Fourth Army was directed to abandon Epirus, and march into East Macedonia to safeguard Salonika from the likely move by the Hellican army marching up from Athens. 

(Note:  I had invited the Mad Padre to make the Turcowaz moves, but, it turned out that, perhaps unsurprisingly, he had a life.   Even before I figured that out, I had decided what moves I wanted the Turcowaz to make.  Perhaps another time, Michael!)

The First Army Turcowaz, advancing, in 
oblique order, up the railroad.

So it was that Kosovo was the scene of the first combat. Made aware that the approaching Turcowaz army was twice the strength of his own, and that it possessed a cavalry arm, General Zorghucz chose what seemed to him a fine defensive position in the mountainous region about the villages Istocno (east of the river Sitnica) and Zapadno on the west bank. A railroad, built a few short years previously, crossed the river just north of the twin villages.
(Note: the road, rail and river don't precisely follow the map, on account of the design of the pieces.  Just put it down to slight cartographical inaccuracies).

The small Black Mountains Army - defending
the river crossings.

Mountainous country:
The terrain for this map was created using 
Bob Cordery's battle-map generation system, 
slightly modified for the 10x10 grid area.

The above map was generated using the generating method outlined in Bob Cordery's book The Portable Colonial Wargame, slightly modified for my 10x10-square table. The region I deemed to be mountainous, and so the terrain was to be pretty dense.  The plain green circles are low hills, the concentric circles higher hills, and the ones with the white star (snow!) were mountains, and impassible. The 2nd 'Reserve' Infantry Regiment augmented its hilltop position east of Istocno with fortifications. The river was deemed to be a major one, crossable only at the road and rail bridges.

I should point out a habit that I formed long ago against the eventuality of the meeting of mismatched forces. It seems to me that a badly outnumbered force would seek out if it could a position that would at least partially offset its quantitative or qualitative disadvantages. One doesn't want, of course, the disparity to be cancelled outright - just enough to encourage the defence, and not so much as to discourage the attack. Hence the choice of a promising looking position, given the 'randomised' generation of the map.

Early Turcowaz advances.  No shilly-shallying here!

The whole Turcowaz army advancing up the east back of the Sitnica River, the Mountaineers formed a line based upon village, fortified hill and the cover of forest on the eastern flank. The open flank further on was a concern, but lacking the means to fill it, General Zorghucz hoped for the best. Flanking the likely attack against the line, the veteran 1st Rifle Regiment - the Royal Guard - occupied Zapodno village on the west bank. North of the village, placed so as to cover the approaches to his defence line, lay his sole battery of mountain guns, and there the General kept his own person, to supervise the practice.

The dangers of an open flank.

The Turcowaz infantry advanced in almost an oblique order system - the veteran brigade (1st and 2nd Infantry) on the right, two trained brigades (7th/8th and 13th/14th) echeloned  back in the centre, and the irregular ('green') Bashi-bazouks (23rd/24th) further back still on the left. The cavalry advanced behind the veterans. It was not long before the action became general along the whole front east of the river.  The unfortunate 23rd Bashi-bazouk Infantry, assaulting the east village, had to endure a galling rifle and gun fire from across the river. Early Turcowaz losses were already considerable, some 4 Strength Points (SPs) lost for no hurt to the defenders.

General view, looking towards the northwest.

Turcowaz determination was paying off, though. The veteran 1st Infantry forced its way athwart the Mountaineers' flank, placing the green 4th Mountain Infantry under pressure from front and flank. Although 13th Infantry were handily repulsed by the fort garrison (2nd 'Reserve'), the defenders were also beginning to feel the heat of action. Concerned about how the attack was going, Nazim Pasha, whose enthusiasm for a fight at least partially made up for a lack of military competence (classed as 'poor'), joined in 7th Infantry's fight for the forest. By this time losses were already heavy on both sides: Turcowaz 6SPs lost; the Mountaineers, 4.

13th Infantry repulsed, but 1st and 7th Infantry
attacks going in.

Very soon, 4th Mountain had been driven out of the woods, and 1st Infantry began an attack upon the hilltop fortifications.

1st Infantry forces the woods...

It was not the wisest of choices. (As it happened, it was 1st Infantry that drove the mountaineers from the woods, at which they followed up. I have an idea that at that point, Nazim Pasha had run out of 'activation points', otherwise, he might have sent in the fresher 7th Infantry instead).

...only to be thrown back out again.

The wooded area changed hands twice, 1st Infantry being flung back out again by 4th Mountain, which in turn were evicted, for good, by 7th Infantry. Nor were the mountaineers able to recover the place as the Turcowaz infantry continued to press them back. Now the fortified hill was under attack from front and flank. 

Led by Nazim Pasha in person,
7th Infantry carries the forest for keeps.

Gradually, the  Turcowaz riflemen edged the mountaineers from the whole position east of the river. 

Losses had been heavy on both sides, the Turcowaz having lost 8 SPs, the Mountaineers losing 6, including a loss to the Royal Guard in the town. Then the 'score' was suddenly equalised when the Turcowaz medium artillery's counter-battery fire scored two successive direct hits that silenced the enemy mountain guns. Dusting himself off, General Zorghucz joined the Royal Guard in the town, where he began directing the defence.

The whole line east of the river has been driven 
in.

Until now, the artillery fire on both sides had been indifferently effective, but now the Turcowaz gunners hit their straps. The Mountain guns silenced, medium and field batteries turned their attention upon Zapadno, with devastating effect (both scored sixes, and both hits inflicted losses).  

Amazingly effective Turcowaz gunfire!

Possibly now was the time for the Black Mountain Army to pull out, whilst the pulling out was good. But the General elected to remain and to continue to engage the Turcowaz across the river.

1st Mountain Infantry reduced to 25% strength.

The pressure on the defenders is unrelenting.

This was something of a rearguard action, as the main body streamed towards the railway bridge crossing, followed in rather lackadaisical fashion by Turcowaz infantry. The Mountain Army were lucky enough to get a rare 'win' of the initiative, hereabouts, which helped them distance themselves - a little - from pursuit.  The retreat was not helped by the bridge being set at a diagonal, which meant the crossing was slower than it might have been (an therefore giving a more 'realistic' effect of retiring through a narrow defile).  

At this moment, General Zorghucz's luck ran out. Already he had survived four salvoes from Turcowaz artillery (two whilst with his guns, and the two the previous turn). Not this time. Another stonk from Turcowaz artillery caused the disintegration not only of the Royal Guard, but also a masonry wall under which the good general was standing. The collapsing rubble occasioned his demise.  In rolling for his fate, he threw double-sixes!

Devastating barrage eliminates 1st Mountain 
Infantry, and General Zorghucz as well.  

The remnants of the Black Mountains Army
make for the railway bridge crossing.

There was nothing for it, but for the remnants of the Black Mountain Army to retreat. The disaster to the Royal Guard and their general pushed the army well beyond its exhaustion point. The damage to their adversaries had barely taken then halfway.  

For the moment, the mountaineers have distanced pursuit, 
and the action ends.

This was an undoubted Turcowaz victory, and, in the event, a fairly easy one. But they could count themselves lucky their own losses were not worse:

Turcowaz losses (E.P. 17SP):

     Infantry: 9 SPs 

Black Mountain losses (E.P. 9SP):

     Infantry: 10 SP 

     Artillery: 2 SP

     Command: 6 SP. 

Comments on the conduct of this campaign:

1.  Losses to the armies may be partially replaced, on a pro rata basis by arm, and generals replaced for free, dicing for their quality: 1-3 'Poor' (inexperienced), 4-5 'Average', 6 'Good'.  

•     Turcowaz receive 5SP of infantry as recruits or troops returning to the colours
•    Black Mountain receives 5SP of infantry, 1SP of artillery, and a General Bogotan. (Out of curiosity, I rolled for General Bogotan: a six!  So the Army of the Black Mountains now has a brilliant commander!)  

2.  In this battle, the Turcowaz won a good two-thirds of the initiative rolls over maybe ten or a dozen turns.  Now, Nazim Pasha was rated 'poor' and General Zorghucz 'average'. It occurred to me that perhaps not only should this affect the activation rolls, but the initiative roll as well, 'poor' generals taking a -1, 'good' generals a +1 on the pip score. This was tried out in the next battle, fought in the nearby Vardar Province...

3.  I am starting to wonder if maybe I have included too much artillery with these armies....  

To be continued.

Long Live the Revolution: The Capital City

Early Revolutionary moves, developing rapidly on the left.
Already, though, the 3rd Revolutionary Rifles have taken some
hurt.

Upon a tide of unbroken success, the Revolutionary army, growing in size all the while, closed in upon the greatest prize of all, the Nabob's capital, Nawabisbad, with all the instruments and accommodations of government, including the Army Barracks and Arsenal, the Model Prison, and the Administrative seat of government power. Not merely a figurehead, the Nabob, Maibiwih Khan served as a mask for the exercise of Imperial power - not a role he enjoyed, but accepted as the alternative was to have no power at all.

Map of Nawabisbad battle, with BARF planned assault.
For a change, the Government defenders have
improved defences.

The Government right, protected by barbed wire,
anti-tank obstacles, and field fortifications.

The Government forces were meanwhile determined, even at this late hour, to resist the Revolutionary tide to the last. Was the Battle of Nawabisbad to be the climax of an episodic, linear narrative; the turning point of a circular return plot; or the pivotal point of a contrast plot?  Time and events would tell.

In view of the importance of this action, the local Ruberian Governor General, Major-General Lord Lionel Redmond, assumed the command himself. He had available:

Government Forces:

Command:  CO, staffs and scout vehicle:  .....6SP
22nd Punjanjoodi Infantry:
     3 Rifle Coys @ 4SP
     1 Vickers MMG Pln @2SP .....14SP
31st Kashinkari Battalion:
     3 Rifle Coys @4SP
     1 Vickers MMG Pln @2SP .....14SP
6th Bananaramaputra Hussars:
     3 M4 Sherman medium tank squadrons @3SP .....9SP
1st Tchagai Artillery (2 batteries only)
     2 25pr gun/howitzer Batteries @2SP with Quad tows @2SP .....8SP
Anti-tank batteries:
    2 2pr AT guns in fixed positions (can not be moved) @2SP ....4SP

Totals:
18 units, Median = 9
55SP, Exhaustion point -19SP.
(Determined by adding 42 + 4D6 = 42 + 13 (not a good roll) = 55SP)

Government left, a minefield covers the flank of the field
fortification some distance from the city.

For his part, Colonel Peenut Buttahjars, the leader of the Baluchistan Armed Revolutionary Front (BARF) found himself in command of a well motivated and powerful army, confident in the justice and destiny of their cause.  This confidence was not abated by the uninterrupted tide of success.

He had with him:

Revolutionary Forces:

Command:  Colonel Peenut Buttahjars, and HQ vehicles: .....6SP
1st 'Sons of Revolution' Battalion:
     4 Rifle Companies @4SP
     1 Medium Mortar battery @2SP
     1 Carrier @2SP .....20SP
2nd 'Volunteers of the Revolution' Battalion:
     4 Rifle Companies @4SP
     1 Medium Mortar battery @2SP
     1 Carrier @2SP .....20SP
3rd 'Revolutionary Rifles' Battalion:
      4 Rifle Companies @4SP
     1 Medium Mortar battery @2SP

     1 Carrier @2SP .....20SP

1st 'Scimitars of Revolution' Armoured Regiment:
     3 Sqns (A, B, C) M3 Stuart light tanks (poor) @3SP
     1 Sqn (D) M3 Grant medium tank (poor) @3SP ..... 12SP
Battery, Anti-tank:
     1 6pr medium AT gun battery @2SP
     1 Portee mount @2SP ..... 4SP
Totals:
25 Units, Median = 13
82SP, Exhaustion point - 28SP
(Determined by adding 66 + 6D6 = 66 + 16 (terrible roll) = 82SP.

The BARF forces on their start line.

So far in these battles, the government troops, defending, have not enjoyed much help from improved defences. In two battles, one battery or company had a fortified position, and there have been advantages of defending built up areas and higher ground. But very little in the way of larger scale field works and obstacles. On this occasion I thought I would give the Government forces at least some defensive improvements by way of field works, minefields, barbed wire and anti-tank obstacles. I gave the Government half, rounded up, the difference in Strength Points by way of such improvements, that is: 14SPs.

Overall view eastwards from behind the Government left flank.

They prepared:
1 Minefield @2SP
4 Barbed wire entanglements @1SP
2 Anti-tank obstacles @1SP
3 Field fortifications @2SP
Total: 14SP

The minefield and one barbed wire obstacle protected the flank of the field fortification garrisoned by C Coy of 31st Battalion supported by 2pr AT guns. This position guarded the extreme left wing of the Government defence line. The rest of the field fortifications and obstacles stretched across the open flanks of the city, leaving the distant right flank open. Lord Redmond hoped his tanks would stop up that possible ingress to his position. He was also aware that by placing his gun/howitzers so far on the left flank, there would be little or no artillery coverage on the right.  

Noticing this, Colonel Peenut  Buttahjars laid his plans...

To be continued...
(Sorry about the delay: this was fought out about 3 weeks back, but I've had a little bit of an injury since that rather curbed by enthusiasm for typing up narratives).