"My Newly Painted 1890s Central African Rifles" Topic

I recently finished putting together a force of Central African Rifles for use with The Men Who Would be Kings rules. The Central African Rifles were the military force of the British Central African Protectorate (now the country of Malawi). As its quite an obscure topic I've posted up a wargamers history to my blog that can be found here

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I've also created a field force list for use with TMWWBKs with pictures of my painted units that can be found here if you are interested

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Wow – the info and pics are so good they should be headed with a warninng "Danger of being sucked into a fascinating new period if you read further…" !!

Thank you sir 🤣.

Honestly though it is a good theatre for colonial gaming the battles are generally small when compared to the Sudan or the Zulu war. The forces are interesting Arab slavers, Yao tribes, Ngoni warriors, Sikh regulars, African Askari and smaller allied tribes and, at least in the early years, quite even the British suffered several reverses in the early years of establishing their protectorate.

Very nice-looking figures!
Throughout much of east Africa campaigning was limited by rainy season, heat, or other weather problems. Was this the case in Central Africa as well? If so, when was the campaigning season?

Grelber

Lovely! Who makes the minis you used?

Grebler@ Harry Johnston mentions that the slaver warlord Mlozi, who lived at the northern end of Lake Nyasa, timed his attacks against the British during the rainy season which started in January. this was when Malaria effected the Europeans more than his own followers and the conditions made moving supplies and artillery hard. To counter this 1895 Johnston moved against Mlozi in the November in an attempt to beat him before the rains started.

At the southern end on the protectorate the Shire Highlands seemed to have been the favoured place for European settlement the higher altitude made the weather cooler all year round and cases of malaria and Blackwater fever were much less common

abelp01@ Most of them are from Wargames Foundry Darkest Africa British range. Apart from the early pattern Maxim gun which is from Northstar with converted Foundry crew and the mountain gun which is from Artizan miniatures with an extra Foundry officer.

Thanks, Prince Rupert! Looking at your lists of units and your photos, it dawned on me that I have many of the figures necessary for gaming these campaigns.

Grelber

Great work and thanks for sharing!

Grelber@ the British main opponents aren't to hard to represent if you have a decent Darkest Africa collection. The Ngoni can be represented by Zulus at a pinch. If you have some Arabs or Ruga-ruga they will be perfect for Mlozi and the North end Arabs and the Yao could be represented by tribal musket men or Askari in a wrap around skirt.

Frederick@ thanks 👍