"Ost Afrika game action - Relief of Saisa, Northern Rhodesia" Topic

Hi All,
I finally got my WWI East Africa project up and running this past week with a first scenario – "The Relief of Saisi". The game setting was inspired by an action fought primarily by a Belgian Force Publique relief column, as it attempted to break through the Schutztruppen lines north of the besieged strongpoint called Saisi, which was located on the northern border of Northern Rhodesia. This close action, fought on 28 July, 1915, presented the type of bush war skirmish I could field units for with my modest figure collection completed so far.
Hope you like the pics here. The game will be played again this January, at our local game con coming up (Command Con) in St. Louis, Missouri.

Looks great! What rules did you use?

Handsome game, well done!

Astonishingly cool looking table !

Uber cool table and minis!

love it. Where did the empty ammo boxes come from?

What a game to play!

I highly recommend making it to Command Con to play in this one!

That is a great looking game!

Great looking game and minis!!! I hope you can provide more of the scenario data, more pics, and even an AAR????
Cheers,
JB

Great idea for an all-Belgian force. the main action was a siege with artillery on both sides and mixed Belgian-British defenders. The Brits had an old 7 pdr mountain screw gun.

"Gush"…..but you know I like it guys, so thanks a ton for all the compliments!
I used this article in the Harry's War section of the Kaisers Cross website for the scenario's basis:
link
Super-interesting articles there, even for non-fans of the period or theater:
link
I made the ammo box counters, because my rules require units to replenish their loads from a finite amount of supply [pts.] being carried by supply units (porters here). This was one of the game features I needed to test out, and I've just ordered some pack mules to augment the Belgian's supply numbers, which in the second running of the scenario will be exclusively carrying artillery shell ammunition. Having to manage reloading from a limited supply train theoretically puts pressure on each player side to "take the good shots", and spare the "golden BBs"…..it didn't always work out that way in this game, but the rule mechanic was a new experience for the guys playing too. What I also like about the resupply requirement, is that an action winds down over the turns, and then the final exchanges (if any) resort from the clash of cold steel (here I've rated the German Feldkompagnie askari as fierce with the bayonet attack).
The ammo box pieces were made from square plastic tubing, and sheet plastic for their lids, stuck into "twist-epoxy" on washers.
Guys, I'm really juiced about this period! It's got much of the "colonial flavor" from the 19th century, mixed in with the integration of modern weaponry (now down to the tactical level), and all taking place in the rough and rugged lands of East Africa – oh, and with the numerous accounts and fascinating historical record to draw upon from of a war that was fought for four years – in Afrika!

I like your terrain, how was the grassland achieved?

GP, for the tufted effect (like for the "pori" [bush] country appearance), I used a sheet of fun foam cut from a roll I had (something like an 18 X 24 inch working section), then using 3 different sizes of washers for drawing outlines, I made a varied series of circular cutouts which served as a template to place over the teddy bear fur. Then section by section across the mat where desired (not on the hills or wadi stretch for example), I pulled the teddy bear fur through the template's holes and thoroughly colored the tufts with acrylic spray paint. Applying the spray completely around the tufted "bushes" before allowing the paint to dry and then removing the template, gives these tuft pieces a bit more stiffness than the surrounding fur – thus the undulating, bumpy-bush look.

That is quite amazing. What fun!

Brilliant, spectacular pictures!

Thanks Guys!
Btw, I did get that mule train painted that I'll need for the 2nd-running of this scenario. These are Tiger Miniatures which I get from Recreational Conflict (good service) here in the US. They match pretty well with Copplestone and Brigade Games 28s.

For the past few years, as I've gotten into 28mm figures for doing Colonials, I knew I would have to figure out a way to paint these as promptly as possible, or I'd never get anything onto the tabletop. The Army Painter "tone" paints and technique made this possible. It works by first painting the figs with a white base coat, and then uses the tone (shades/washes) to colorize over the primer. It's a pretty fast method, that uses the relief detail of the miniature to do much of the shading work (by flowing/collecting downward into the cracks) and somewhat mimics what more skillful painters than me can do by layering on successful coats of lighter and/or darker hues.

I'm watching Lancashire Games for their developing German East Africa range in 15 mm. If it moves along far enough fast enough I might have something to add to my list (completed collecting figures but for one gun and some buildings as of yesterday!).

And from what I see of that line it would be great for SW Africa and the Herero War!

I ran my Saisi scenario at Command Con this past weekend, and it went off well, and the players say they all had a good time.

Here's the able German Schutztruppe Commanders -

And their command in action -

The Belgian Force Publique contingent, also ably commanded -

In the months ahead I hope to use the mat again for another scenario, either as East Africa, or maybe…..Zululand.

Outstanding game, report and pics.