Battle of Chongzhou: - a mostly Jacklex 20mm game

When I first got my diagnosis of cancer and was given ‘months’ I thought it was time to have a sort out of the figures and down size.  Jack had made me a number of ships over the years which were really great but difficult to sell on line because of their fragility and subsequent packaging.

I contacted gamers who I had been in touch with over time to see if they were interested in the models and more importantly could they physically collect them from my home.  Payment was a voluntary contribution to Cancer Research UK of what they thought the models and figures were worth.

One gamer Richard Wells came up from Kent to collect some ships and other bits and I have stayed in touch with him and his progress towards getting his table sorted out.  I am delighted to say that the models have finally hit the table and Richard has kindly sent me some pictures and a description of his game which he has agreed that I can post on my blog.

So I give you the Battle of Chongzhou:

A British force under the command of General Wells were instructed to relief a German and French force, running out of supplies and tied up in a fort next to the River Sonlung very close to the Chinese held town of Chongzhou.

First the much larger Chinese navy had to be defeated, before a dangerous landing could be attempted. The British navy consisted of HMS Daring and HMS Endeavour and a machine gun armed launch. Against them were arrayed 6 Chinese junks and 3 smaller dhows. Alas the Chinese navy proved no match for the much better armed British boats and after some extraordinary dice throwing the entire Chinese fleet was sunk in 3 moves, with very little damage to the British ships.

  

Landing boats with the Marines were then launched to make a bridgehead.

The Chinese commander  General XunTsu realising it was imperative to stop the landing sent all his cavalry and a unit of boxers to drive the Marines back into the sea before they could establish the bridgehead.

Richard's son Sebastian looks on as the Marines land.

The Marines and their Gardner gun only had time to clamber out of their landing craft and fire one volley before they were hit by the charging Chinese cavalry. That one volley managed to sweep away nearly half of the Chinese cavalry at close range but the charge was carried through and the Marines were beaten back into the sea, although they caused much damage to the cavalry, which was also forced to retire and re-group.

Two Highland regiments were fast approaching the shore, while the Boxers were closing in on the beach. The Marines in a dis-organised state were driven back a second time into the Scots whose firepower made some holes in the Chinese attackers. The Scots managed to land and the Boxers after one round of fighting fled.

Meanwhile the Germans and the French, despite being low on rations decided to launch their own  attack on Chongzhou - a risky operation at best. Chinese fire from the perimeter houses was highly inaccurate, as it was prove to be throughout the battle. The French and Germans fought their way through the houses forcing the Boxers into the open, but they had not realised that a unit of the crack Tigermen were waiting on the other side. These charged forward and despite loses forced the French and Germans back with their own heavy loses.

The patrol boat that General Wells had sent up the muddy river was now approaching the fort and relief was at hand. The British infantry started their advance on Chongzhou with a regiment of cavalry in support. The Navy’s ships poured fire into Chongzhou taking a particularly heavy toll of the Chinese gunners and guns on the battlements.

The regrouped Chinese cavalry decided to give it one more go and moved forward to meet the British cavalry. In a battle that seesawed backwards and forwards the British Cavalry eventually got the upper hand although both Cavalry forces were forced to regroup after 2 rounds of combat.

A small force of German snipers who had been ashore on the right side of the battlefield had now advanced within range of the town’s fortifications and started to lay down a withering fire.

While the Germans and French were fighting in Chongzhou, a small group of Chinese attacked the fort and one of them managed to force his way in killing the last French soldier.

Unfortunately for him the naval launch had by now arrived at the fort and it’s commander plus one rating confronted the Chinese and killed him after 2 rounds of combat.

Things were looking grim for the Chinese commander, so he decided to launch an attack against the German snipers

 His artillery were hopelessly inaccurate and were starting to take hits from both the naval launch’s machine gun and the approaching British infantry as well as a well placed German artillery piece which was firing from the fort. The Chinese stormed out and managed to finish off the remaining Germans before turning their attention to the Navy’s Gardner gun, which had started raking the city’s battlements. Despite taking what they thought was good cover they were mown down by the Gardner gun in two rounds of deadly fire, failing to score a single hit themselves.

 

General Wells now decided to go for the kill and sent his remaining Cavalry and himself up to the City’s main gate, armed surprisingly with previously unknown explosives. They received casualties from the Chinese defenders, but were able to lay the charges and then detonated them successfully. The Chinese commander realised the situation was now utterly hopeless and was forced to surrender.

I think we will be having a review of the rules next time to ensure the allied force do not have too many machine guns and artillery as these were an overwhelming factor in their victory. Although this was combined with some exceptional rifle fire by the British and a worse than expected performance by the Chinese infantry. In hand to hand battle they generally did quite well, but in a gun battle they were beaten every time.

However, it was a very enjoyable game and the buildings looked magnificent.

Most of the British figures are Jacklex 20mm available from Jacklex Miniatures  https://www.jacklexminiatures.com/ .  The Boxers are mainly plastic figures from Orion, there are also some 20mm metal figures, including the Tiger Men but the make is unknown. 

Jacklex 20mm Russians, Pathans, British and Indians fight it out

Jack came over and he, Bob and I had a game with his 20mm Jacklex figures.  

The scenario was that Russians were coming to support a Pathan uprising on the North West Frontier.  An initial force of one infantry regiment and a battery of artillery were in the main Pathan village with 2 brigades of infantry, Cossack and Regular cavalry and another battery of artillery moving to support.

The British made up of an Indian Brigade, one British and one Highland Brigade together with supporting artillery and cavalry were to take the village and force the Russians back. Jack and I commanded the Anglo Indian force, whilst Bob took charge of the Russians and Pathans.

Jack was unfamiliar with the rules so we played the basic Black Powder game moving in inches.  We played 'up the table' giving us a 7 ft long by 4 ft wide playing area.

The Russian starting position.

The Russian/Pathan front line formed along a walled field and some broken terrain occupied by Pathan riflemen.  This patch of rock and scrub land was to prove a major obstacle for the Anglo Indian force.

The Anglo Indian force started with only the Indian Brigade in line the British and Highland Brigades were in column advancing in support.

The Anglo Indian force need to take the initiative and Jack quickly moved the Indians forward with 3 moves.

The supporting British Brigade decided not to move and this in turn stopped the Highland Brigade from advancing up the road!  The Indians were on their own!

The Indians start to take casualties.

Bob struggled to get his Russian brigades moving 

Next move the British and Highlanders quickly advance to support the Indians

The Russians also started to advance.  Jack launched his Indian lancers in an attempt to stem the advance.

The high watermark of the Indian advance.  The Indians get to grips with the Pathans who were the front line.

The Indian cavalry suffered badly from the Russian rifle fire but still managed to get past their Break Test and plough home.  They couldn't survive the subsequent melee and broke and fled.

In the centre the Indian Infantry who had already suffered casualties from rifle and artillery fire broke after the melee.

Bob's Russian artillery and Pathan riflemen saw off the Indian battalions.  Only one Indian battalion remained in the line.  The rest were broken and fled the field.

The supporting British and Highlanders deployed to advance.

Bob moved forward his Pathan horsemen supported by his Russian cavalry.

My lancers charged forward to take on the Pathans.  Readers will recall from other games involving the lancers that Carstairs and Carruthers serve with this unit.  Both were awarded the VC after their heroics in an earlier engagement.  They were joined in this battle by their friend Arbuthnott. The lancers forced the Pathans to retire.  

Jack decided that having driven off the Pathans and the Russian cavalry withdrawing my lancers should charge the supporting Russian Infantry.  Carstairs, Carruthers and Arbuthnott with the rest of the regiment charged forward into a hail of Russian lead!

Somehow the lancers managed to make it. After the melee their were still there!

However, Bob and I thought this was an implausible outcome and agreed that although not broken Carstairs, Carruthers and Arbuthnott  should retire.

On the hill the British and Indian artillery batteries fired turn after turn to no effect!  It was only after the game that Jack and I agreed that we should have advanced the guns as they proved hopeless throughout at long range.

The Hussars followed up to hit the disordered Russian Infantry driving them back.

In the centre the British and Highlanders reached the scrub land and walled field.  The Pathans who had suffered from the earlier Indian assault were driven from the scrubs and the British and Russian Infantry were exchanging hot fire across the field.

But now Bob's artillery came into their own time and again they poured successful fire into the advancing British and no amount of rifle fire or long range artillery could silence them.  They just ripped into the British and Highlanders sending regiment after regiment back in disorder and fleeing the field.

The first of the British regiment leaving the field

Soon followed by others!

Jack looks concerned

Bob look pleased - possibly even smug?

Meanwhile, Bob's Russian Cavalry pushed back my disordered Hussars 

Bob then repositioned his guns to fire on the British troops closing on the village. Hitting them with close fire and driving them back in disorder.  Is there no depths to which the Russians will not plunge! 

In a moment of sheer bravado, Bob ordered his cavalry to charge home against the Highlanders on the left flank. The British who could have laid down some supporting fire to help their Scottish friends decided instead to lay more fire into an already weakened Russian Infantry regiment.  As a result the cavalry made it home forcing the Scots to retire. 

It was all up for the British.  The Indian Brigade was smashed, Several British regiments were fleeing the field and although the Russians lost one Brigade and the other was temporarily halted they retained the village.

The Russian artillery had been vital and although one battery was slow to get into action, once they both opened up and consistently found the mark the Anglo Indian forces were doomed.

Following the battle the Czar (Bob) made the unusual award of the Order of St George the Martyr Fourth Class to the officers and enlisted men of the artillery battery, who in the Czar’s words “performed with great heroism despite being under constant artillery and rifle fire from the British. They lived up to the inscription “for bravery” on the badges they can proudly wear at their necks”.

Courtesy of Wikimedia http://www.vippresent.ru/

The decoration was to be conferred solely “for exceptional prowess  displayed for the greater glory of the Russian arms.” It remained until its abolition in 1917 the most sought after decoration.

We had a good time and Jack was on form.  All the figures British, Indian and Russian forces were painted by Jack over 40 years ago and have stood the test of time.  All the lining of belts etc were done with a black pen.  Jack said it was quicker than trying to paint lines!   The Pathans which are also Jacklex were painted by myself over 20 years ago!

It was great to see so many Jacklex figures on the table and to realise just how many more there were in the boxes and could have been put out!