Today, we did a colonial game with a difference!
Many people see the colonial expansion period of European history as Spanish, Portugese, French and British.
The Belgians were there too, amongst others.....
We decided to play a game leading African tribesmen against a company of the detested Force Publique.
The scenario envisioned a company of Belgians moving on a punitive raid against the chief settlement of a Congalese tribe. We had a scratch force including allies, to try and stop them.
The Belgians would be run by our rules solo system.
Many people see the colonial expansion period of European history as Spanish, Portugese, French and British.
The Belgians were there too, amongst others.....
We decided to play a game leading African tribesmen against a company of the detested Force Publique.
The scenario envisioned a company of Belgians moving on a punitive raid against the chief settlement of a Congalese tribe. We had a scratch force including allies, to try and stop them.
The Belgians would be run by our rules solo system.
The Battlefield- the ford where the ambush was set.
La Force Publique advanced toward the ford.
The first section spread out to clear the crossing point.
At the column rear, the troopers were cautiously looking around.
Around them, unseen, the tribes gathered!
On the far side of the ford, more warriors.
The Warriors edged forward...
Things looked black for the Belgians!
One of the chiefs nephews kept the eager warriors from shooting too soon.
The Belgians saw some warriors across the ford and fired!
On their right, more warriors moved into attack positions.
The Chief's son, commanding here, kept his warriors hidden...
..and moved some of his men towards the ford.
Finally, the warriors sprung their trap.
The rest of the warriors advanced to the attack.
The Belgians, surprised fell back to form line and fire..
Warriors appeared on the Belgian flank.
..and across the ford in increasing numbers.
Most of the Belgians faced the flank attack.
The rest tried to hold the ford.
The assault on the ford began!
On the flank, the Belgians ceased firing and charged the warriors as they appeared!
After a hard fight, the natives were driven back from the hill.
..and after a desperate fight one unit broke.
The Belgians pursued the retreating natives.
Back at the ford, more warriors crossed the ford, after a first attack fell back with heavy losses from accurate Belgian fire.
These reserves met the same fate.
On the Force Publiques left flank, the last reserves of the natives attacked.
A small group of Belgians at the ford got isolated, but put up a spirited defence.
The main Belgian body destroyed the native attacks with disciplined volleys.
The Chiefs son, seeing the mounting losses, called off the ambush to preserve lives.
The natives lost about 40 dead and wounded, as opposed to 5 or 6 Belgians, despite our best efforts, the colonial powers were victorious!
Players:
Chief's son: Me
Chiefs nephew: Lawrence
Rules downloadable from: Tyneside wargames club downloads page
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