The Reds are Holding the Village

As we continue to try out the Rule Set "Set the East Ablaze", the scale gets a little larger. The 'Bolshies' (which I've learned was a British term used for their opponents) are housed in the town, trying to stay warm indoors on a typically chilly Russian winter day. There are troops in the Manor House (mid-right); an Austin-Putilov AC you can just make out parked in front (seen above the Church onion-dome); more troops in  the smaller Dacha across the road to the left; with a Cavalry unit (horses tied up outside) in the house between that Dacha, and the second across the street (with more troops) towards the bottom of photo. Finally there is a detachment of Kronstadt sailors housed in the Station House at the bottom along with an Armored Train (with two gun cars, a MG car, and an external MG at end of train). This photo actually shows the end of the first turn and the sentries are alerting the garrison. You can make out two dead horses at the crossroads, and that will be explained in the next photo...

Looking over the attacking White forces. Left to right we have a detachment from the Kornilov Division (Crack troops they); two Cavalry units (at the head of the column, Don Cossacks); below the cavalry and to the right of the Kornilov men, two infantry units supported by a Maxim MG; a truck-towed Howitzer; dismounted Kuban Cossacks and a dismounted Don Cossack unit bottom right. An Austin-Putilov AC is advancing down the road and has opened fire at the string of horses it can see at the crossroads (the result you saw in previous photo)... 

Now the Whites are advancing all along the battle field. To the left, Kornilov along the flank, and Infantry to the perimeter fence of the Manor House. In the center, the mounted Don Cossacks made the mistake of plunging straight down the main road when unexpectedly, the Bolshevik AC came roaring down through the gate of the Manor House ploughing into them and spraying them with MG fire! All very costly to the Cossacks. The 2nd White Cavalry is peeling off the road to the right side of town while the Kuban unit is pushing forward as well. The Howitzer fires at but misses striking the Manor House...

Next you can see the Reds reaction. At the bottom the Kronstadt sailors are manning the various positions on the Armored Train. In the center, the slaughter of the Don Cossacks, while to the left Red Infantry is moving to the left while their cavalrymen have mounted up.

Turn three, the Red's AC finishes off the unfortunate Don Cossacks, while the second White Cavalry and the Kuban continue to advance...

The Whites are bringing pressure up on the Manor House, while the two ACs pelt each other with MG fire. The Whites actually get a suppressed marker on the 'Bolshie' which means that they cannot advance...

On the other side of town, there is a large melee involving White Cavalry against Red Cavalry and Infantry. The Whites get the worse of the fight especially against the Reds behind the fencing and are nearly wiped out (the remains are seen retreating in the upper left).  White infantry however gain the upper hand with the Red Infantry inside the Dacha (top center) and succeed in suppressing them. They also shoot down a number of the Red Cavalry (lower right). What the Reds wouldn't know right away is that the White unit with two red caps has just run out of ammo!..

Unfortunately for the Bolsheviks back at the Manor House, accurate MG fire has broken the Reds stationed inside the Manor House, and they have been completely routed. Even threatened by their Commissar (you can just see him on the porch of the Manor House) has failed to stop their flight, and they are out the battle. The Kornilov detachment is just reaching the other side of the House (upper right)...

...yes he has a megaphone, don't all Commissars!

I wish I could take credit for setting this picture up but I simply used the opportunity when someone opened the blinds on the west facing shop windows creating this effect! (literally the setting sun) It looks so Dr Zhivago. Anyway, the routing Red unit from the Manor House are running so fast they are leaving their Commissar far behind. Above the very angry Commissar you can make out the remnants of the Reds who were stationed inside the Dacha routing as well (3-yellow caps) while their AC has pulled back to the crossroads (mostly obscured by the Church Dome again...

A better view of the deteriorating situation for the Reds on the other side of town. Their lone surviving Cavalryman (upper left in road) and the AC at the crossroads with the routing infantry to its right. The final Bolshevik unit is seen along the fences (upper center) facing the White infantry closing in from the right...

With the Whites pouring in, the Bolshevik command decided it was time to retire. BTW, the Armored Train had virtually no affect on the fight. In fact, the die rolls for the Red Players were almost completely bad with the exception of the Infantry unit that smashed the White Cavalry at the fence. We are finding the Rule Set gives a fairly quick and fun game and we're planning on more. Dasvidaniya til later...