"Gunboat! The Cairo goes into action (Sudan Campaign)" Topic

The Cairo is making its way to Atbara and runs into an ambush. I hope you enjoy the AAR.

Last Stand Dan

link

Great AAR with fantastic photos! MORE!!

Wow, awesome AAR & pics as usual, Dan! Really can't wait to see what comes next on your version of the Nile!

This is a favourite period & your excellent AAR did not disappoint.

Fabulous AAR and wonderful ships! I love this period/gere.

Very well done. Looks like loads of fun.

Brilliant Action, Sir!

Yes, Johnny Dervish will have to throw more vessels at the "Cairo," and likely need more guns from the banks, as well.

And thanks again for including the part that wind and current play in these actions.

And to the crew of the "Cairo," continued Good Hunting!

TVAG

Neat--perhaps a sacrificial dhow with a small muzzle loader gun in the bow would have taken some of the pressure of the Mahdi's forces.

Rob

Love the AAR!

A few ideas you might use…

1. Instead of swords give the Dervish boarding party spears. Spear armed units have extra spears they can throw, even if the grappling fails they are still slightly dangerous.

2. Give the Dervish some hand hurled flammables they can throw from their dhows.

3. A fire ship, basically a dhow loaded with combustibles, tar and pitch for ramming. ( if it takes a hit it might go kaboom)

4. A line of ropes or chains stretching across the river, they must be cut for the gunboat to proceed.

5. A line of Dhows chained together and anchored blocking the river like in the movie Sand Pebbles.

Dragon Gunner its funny because when I made the Gunboats #4 and #5 are what I had in mind. But couldn't find any instances regarding the Nile. I like the idea of the spears but the new TSAF rules don't allow them to throw unless they charge home. But we can always modify it for this kind of contact right? Thanks for the ideas!

And thanks to for the nice comments regarding the boats, my blog, etc. I really appreciate it!

I am going to try and design/build some dhows next. I love a challenge.

Last Stand Dan

OK guys. I'm the Mumbasa in the campaign. We have been taking it in the shorts lately. Let's have a little respect for the Dervishes who are defending their homeland against the dirty, nasty Red/Kaki coats. How about some more ideas for our side like Dragon Gunner has suggested!!
Dan, great job, but how about a Dervish win once in a while, huh??
Mumbasa ;)

@ mumbasa.

I don't game the Sudan….yet. However I'm often commanding the poor Redcoats et al against the mighty Zulu using TSATF.

The crafty Zulus use the hidden movement rules to the fullest: can't see them/can't shoot them.

Using the firearm units, they snipe away at my British & suffer but every incapacitated Tommy Atkins is a blow.

The charge home (with the penultimate spear throw) generally settles a British platoon.

Oh & avoid machine guns as far as possible.

Does any of this apply?

Hi Ochoin,
Most of the above was done in humor to harass my good friend Dan. He has put an incredible amount of work into this campaign and deserves a hearty thanks from all of the Colorado Military Historians (our club) who have participated. Well done Danno!!
Thanks for the advise Ochoin! My friend, Terry, and I have an ongoing Zulu campaign that started in 1980 when TSATF came out. We play a game or two every year.
Now, Dan, about that next Dervish victory ;)

Campaign Note: A lot of the campaign behind the scenes actions like turn point count, troop orders, movements, reinforcements, etc. are communicated directly to the Commanders and Warlords. When this campaign is over I will comment on what was going on.

The Victory conditions

Dervish amass 400 points they win. Points are tallied after every turn.

The campaign ends when all regions are out of revolt (indexes reduced to 0), Dervish get to 400 pts or after 20 turns.

Turn 1 (25) + Turn 2 (30) + Turn 3 (30) + Turn 4 (30) + Turn 5 (30) + Turn 6 (45) + Turn 7 (40) = 230 of 400 (Points are what they hold each turn).

Brits last 20 Turns British win OR British completely silence the rebellion in all regions before then Or its mathematically impossible for the dervish to amass the points needed before turn 20 then I will end the Campaign.

Don't worry Mumbasa, I have plans for you, Dougna and Jahan! The Dervish although it doesn't feel like it are fighting a vicious campaign. If this was early war and they were fighting Egyptians the campaign would have been filled with Egyptian Disasters for sure.

This ain't over yet…but getting close…

"Most of the above was done in humor"

This is very clear in the AAR & is what wargaming should be about.

Good luck with those pesky British!

outstanding!!! Sal Sr out!!

I have a couple more ideas…

#1 When the French invaded Dahomey the natives conducted a night attack. The French barely had time to form up and fix bayonets it was a close battle. Perhaps the Dervish could perform a similar feat?

#2 Egyptian and Sudanese ex soldiers (officers) could offer instruction on how to build actual fortifications. They could be POWs forced to offer their expertise.

#3 Sir Charles Wilson lead 1000 men from the desert column on an attack against Metammeh and actually called off the attack when he saw how fortified it was. Could a similar town be protecting an oasis that has to be taken for the advance to continue?

#4 Hicks column was defeated for a variety of reasons. One of those reasons was the terrain (forest). Perhaps the Dervish can pick the time and place of one of their battles under optimal conditions for them (i.e. let the Dervish set up the terrain.)

#5 Dervish rifle armed units could have extra unarmed men waiting to pick up the rifles of their fallen comrades.

I do know the Mahdists captured a lot of Anglo-Egyptian hardware.

I've seen a model of a machine gun (Gatling, I think) with a Dervish crew.

It's a bit "fantasy" but why not?

Sounds to me as if there are a couple of Amirs that should be shown the inside of Omdurman's dungeons! They're obviously lacking in faith and have failed to instill in their followers the proper fervor necessary to defeat the British.

Dan, it's always a joy to read the latest AAR and see photos of the game. I hope you and the Colorado Military Historians never tire of the Sudan and other colonial subjects. Your scenarios are always inspiring.

Danno,
Another amazing AAR! Your AAR's flow like a movie, they are so much fun and inspirational. The custom Gunboats you fabricated are Awesome brother!!!! The Liebster award Mad Guru bestowed upon you is definitely appropriate.

**I've got some great pics of a custom built dhow I got from Richard Huston via TVAG.

Cheers,
Jeff