Japanese versus the Moro

In our continual saga of the Lost Continent, we find the Japanese having colonized the city of Tamil on an island also inhabited by the Moro. In an earlier confrontation, a Japanese landing force was driven back to their ships by overwhelming Moros. Now, several weeks later, the Moro sultan has launched his men against the depised Hindu of Tamil, and their Japanese supporters.

The young Japanese Lt in command has decided to place 13 of his 25 man garrison along the edge of Tamil. Backing them up are the remainder of the Japanese stationed on rooftops. The battle begins with the Moro charging into deadly rifle fire which will actually break the lead element before it even makes contact!

The Moro continue their attack, bringing up two additional elements (totally some 60 odd warriors and five riflemen of the Sultan's personl guard. The first melee takes place as the Japanese suffer their intial casualties:

One Japanese (obviously a descendant of the samurai!) shoots down one charging Moro then finishes off two more in melee!

A second Moro element breaks! One remaining pushes on, destroying the Japanese along Tamil's edge. Some of the Moro climb onto the roof to engage the Lt in melee. He and his bugler will fight for their lives:

The brave Lt is seriously wounded but his bugler drops two Moro...and they break! The city is saved...Banzai!

Japanese casualites were severe, with only five soldiers left standing unharmed. 5 were KIA, 15 moderate/serious WIA, and 6 lightly WIA. Moros paid the price in defeat with 23 total casualites out of the force of 98. The fight for this little island will continue!

The Belgians at Berhampur

Our campaign has seen the rise of an Indian Confederation led by the ruler of Sitapur. (see the Battle of Pabna). To the north of our fictional subcontinent is the land of the Afghans. They too have been motivated to throw out the invaders, and their leading prince, the Emir Dost Mohammed, as led a strong force against the Belgians located along the coast at the city of Berhampur. What follows is the AAR of that battle.

To begin with, this is finished project of an Afghan hill fort. It will be the Belgians stronghold that the Afghans must take for their victory:

A view of Berhampur from the south, with the fort seen in the upper right:

30 Belgians garrison this, their colonial capital. They have in addition, one Gatling gun with a two-man crew.  Earlier in our campaign, a small Belgian force of nine men was overwhelmed by the Afghans who did not remain after their victory. Now the entire Belgian colonial force would fight desperately to hold on to their city as well as their 'lives'.

The Emir began shelling the main gate just before sunset as the Belgians manned one bastion (upper left of above photo) with 4 brave men. The remainder were housed in the newly restored fort. After the gate was blown in , and under the cover of darkness, the army of the Emir entered the town and awaited dawn for their attack.

Two Afghan elements rushed the fort with scaling ladders (note the Gatling gun in tower at left. It would drop five tribesmen with it's first burst!):

A third element moved against the isolated Belgians in the bastion (located just off picture above,  to the upper right) . In round two, an Afghan volley dropped three of the Belgians while their charge into melee finished with the last. One lone tribesmen was brought down, a great start for the Afghans!

The Belgians manning the forts wall however poured deadly fire onto the attackers and by round three both elements had been broken:

But unfortunately for the Belgians, the Emir was not yet done with them. Two further elements of tribesmen poured out with their ladders while a 9lber smashed at the main gate (which would miraculously hold for three additional rounds before it was finally shattered!) Afghans by the start of round 7 were pouring over the walls and through the gateway. It looked dire for the defenders:

A brave Belgian lit the fuse leading to the powder storage room (in tower at bottom center) and it detonated, blowing him up along with six tribesmen, the the second wave of Afghans beat another retreat!

Yet again, the Emir sent his men forward and their numbers now began to overwhelm the stout desperate Belgians. In the tower to the left, a Belgian manning the Gatling missed three out of four tries when he rolled those miserable 1s. He was soon depatched in melee combat by two Afghans. Three Belgians remained:

...and then there was one final man surrounded on all sides, with no thought of surrender! (not to those tribesmen!):

...and...

The Afghans had taken the city. The Beligians had been wiped out, although 10 wounded were taken prisoners, not something they would look forward to. Afghan losses amounted to 14 KIA, 8 moderate/serious WIA, and 11 lightly WIA. The Emir was pleased. The first step in ridding his lands of the infidel had been taken!

Middle East (and perhaps beyond?) Buildings

Just finished painting up some beautiful models I received from Kobblestone Miniatures. They are fantastic. They come unpainted in resin; if you're looking for some examples of more complex urban buildings rather than the usual mud brick, check these out:

The facades (front and back) come away from the building core, giving you numerous options for different buildings. Gates and doors can come loose as well. I've come some pots inside the shop on right that can be removed also.

The Mosque is an incredible model (although I could shoot myself. If you notice the lean of the central  tower: it got to warm in the sun after I basecoated it in black!)

The four facades come away in this model as well but they aonly fit to one spot. The only model to do this.

The friendly people at Kobblestone have numerous ranges including European and Celtic, but I've only purchased the Middle East. Technically, these are listed as modern, but leave off the propane tanks, airconditioning units and light fixtures and away you go!

Siege of Pabna

In our campaign of the Lost Continent: High Adventure, the Russians are one of the Colonial Powers involved in India. After enslaving an entire town belonging to one of the Princes, and following another attack upon a Sikh holy city (bad choice that!), a Confederation has been formed to drive out the invaders. The Russian colonial capital is about to besieged by a massive force from five different states.

The city of Pabna from the west:

...and from the east (the blocks of buildings represent the slum districts of Pabna which I was preparing the night before when I ran out of paint! Finished blocks can be seen at upper portion of photo):

...and from the south (which includes the unfinished walls):

On the outskirts of the city are two Hindu temples (compliments of Petsmart!):

The defending garrison, including 46 Russian soldiers and assorted other official types:

You may notice two Golov guns, two Ruga Ruga and a 9lb smoothbore cannon manned by Egyptians (both on loan from the friendly Khedive):

A portion of the avenging Indian armies:

The 'festivities' will commence tomorrow morning and will provide the story.

DAY OF BATTLE!
There were five Princely states ranged against the Russian garrison. The last to join were the Sikh who saw their holy city attacked earlier by a Russian force although the inhabitants were able to escape. In our game some 650 Indians were to attack the approximately 55 Russians! It began with a three day bombardment which leveled several sections of the walls and bastions. (you will notice I used a new product offered at Michael's called 'Kenetic Sand' for the breaches...I recommend it) On the fourth day the assault begins!

The view of the southwest perimeter at the end of turn 3 shows the Sikh who have already seen one element of 30 men fail their morale while a second close to the unfinished wall has taken severe casaulties. The regular Khalsa (army) has moved up in support while their ally, the Gurkha, are attacking further to the right:

Along further to the right (above) in the southwest sector the Prince of Lahore was sending his army into the breach. (on the right corner of the wall is the rubble of a destroyed bastion)But there were Russians hiding in those buildings who would inflict severe losses on the Prince and his men!

Here in the east, Agra's forces are pushing towards the gate. A Russian Gorlov gun has been dropping large numbers of the attackers! Their large force of Ghazis are sheltering now in the lee of the wall, but there were 30 who originally started the assault but being those pesky fanatics, they have survived three morale checks!

In the northwest sector the men from Ramagar are meeting with only light resistance offered by the second Russian Gorlov and the Egyptian 9lb smoothbore. The green and blue caps represent further troops that we will pull from the casualites as I was about 100 figures short) On the far right is an element of Hindu religious fanatics that I just received from Indus Miniatures in time for this fight:

With heavy fire brought to bear by the element behind the destroyed section of wall, the Russian Gorlov crew suffers 67% casualties!

By turn 5, Agra's Ghazis have poured into Pabna and just destpatched two Russians who were attempting to fall back from the wall. The Golov will, unfortunately for the men from Agra, pivot around and blast the Ghazi crowded below!

Back in the northwest sector, the Indians are pouring into the city to be met by the four Egyptians and their two Ruga Ruga guards (center of photo), provided by the Sultan of Zanzibar (part of our story) The brief fight will be over in two turns as the defenders were overwhelmed:

More Ramagar forces are pouring into the E section of Pabna and overrunning the handful of Russians trying to resist. A devastating volley from the Indians at the lower photo, have just dropped 4 of 5 Russians baring the street. (The two Hindu fanatics seen on the roof are actually inside the building charging against the Russians seen at bottom of photo):

The last fanatic goes down before the Russian bayonets, but they too are overwhelmed:

By turn 6, the forces of Lahore (SE sector) after suffering heavy casulaties and the breaking of two out of four elements, are struggling in the narrow streets of the slum district:

The view from the N by turn 7, with hordes of men from Ramagar reaching the center square. Another group has moved to recover the Golov gun after the final crewman was despatched:

A view from the east down the main street. The men seen on the roof of the building in center are pouring fire down on 3 Russians in the courtyard below:

The view of that same courtyard with only 2 Russians left standing and no where to go!

The final 10 Russian soldiers are grouped at the western end of Pabna where they have successfully driven off the forces of both Lahore and Agra. But more Indians are charging them!

The first wave is actually broken although more Russians go down as well. One element remaining to drive off, can they hold? (or so hoped the Russians):

A view of the destruction: 

Sadly for the Russians, another force drives against them (another 75 men!) and sensing the end, 3 Russian Monks and 3 Specialists (Engineer, Doctor and Geologist) run out of their cover (in the Mosque!) and go down in the final spate of violence. The Princes have their revenge!

 

The game which took approximately 6.5 hours to complete, was enjoyed by six players involved. The Russian player hoping right to the bitter end that he would hold out but the numbers were just too great. The Princes losses were 'acceptable': 61 lightly wounded, 66 moderate/serious wounded, and 57 dead. Ramagar is now a proud owner of a Golov (the second was destroyed by Agra artillery fire) and a 9lb smoothbore. It will be seen if the Confederation can remain united after this fight. The Campaign goes on! May you make all those critical rolls!

Natives Part III Chinese through Indians

Only a small portion of the Chinese forces waiting for the coming of the Colonialists:

Another cultures waiting to be 'discovered", Dahomey. First some male fighters:

And the infamous female warriors:

Another small sample of a large force, the Dervish:

including some of Kipling's 'Fuzzy Wuzzies":

Of course you need some Egyptian and Sudanese to resist them:

A few of the fearsome Gurkha:

Because of the development in our club's campaign, of a united Cionfederation being raised against the invaders, the Inidan contingent has become my largest. It ranges from the Thuggee types (if you've seen the classic film 'Gunga Din', you'll recognize the man in front of Kali's shrine):

to numerous different warriors:

and the Leader types:

to non-combatants:

Now just added today are the newly arrived Hindu religious fighters (the temple just discovered at Petsmart!):

Will continue the Indians at a later time. Until then, may you make all those critical rolls!