The Spoiling Attack AAR - Bonus The Russian Are Coming Campaign Game

Well finally an AAR for my 'The Russians are Coming Campaign'! Yes the Great Game continues in the Antipodes with the Russian Empires tentacles attempting to envelope Australia. This is an extra Campaign game to reacquaint myself with the Colony at War Rules, the scenario finds the South Australians on the attack against a weak defending unit that is reinforced. That's about it for my preamble over to the game and I hope you enjoy the AAR for 'The Spoiling Attack!'...

The Russians defend their entrenchments against the rampaging Volunteers of the the Adelaide Rifles!

The History

Wednesday August 27 1879

Captain Beach blew his whistle and the brave lads of the Adelaide Rifles advanced as one from their jump off positions along Taylors Road! Ignoring the random shots of their foes and cheering the red clad Colonials moved rapidly toward their objective Captain Beach urging them on every step of the way!

Meanwhile Captain Mordvichev cursed under his breath, he commanded a few wretched Sailors drawn from from the fleet whom he thought would be lucky to score in a brothel let alone score a hit on one of the Colonials with their rifles! He was worried as he considered his options, withdraw was out of the question yet he doubted his ability to hold, as the bullets whizzed around him he looked about frantically while trying to keep his Sailors in line and firing.

The South Australian Riflemen quickly came upon the Russian's position and so far only Private Earle Page had fallen from their ranks, he was wounded by a lucky shot from one of the Russian Sailors! Beach and his men were ecstatic and quickened their pace to close in for the kill.

Mordvichev damned Satan and feared for his life as the Colonials approached, but Lady Luck smiled on him he spied two sections of Russian infantry in their heavy green tunics marching just to the rear of his position, he promptly summoned them to march to the sound of the fighting and once they were close enough gave them orders to immediately attack the advancing Red Devils!

Beach's Force had reached the Russian entrenchment and he ordered them to move to encircle it! Whilst two sections approached frontally Sergeants Chris Watson and George Reid's men advanced to engage the Russians flanks! The advance then continued and much to the South Australian's surprise Russian Infantry appeared on before them, the attack stalled just as it was about to snatch a victory!

A fierce firefight broke out! The Russian Sailors buoyed by the arrival of the Regulars doubled their efforts. The South Australians were halted by the Russians furious defence! The air was now filled with lead and the screams of the wounded and dying...Sergeant Chris Watson's section suffered heavily and pulled back to be replaced by Sergeant Cook's boys, all along the line the Riflemen were checked!

Ignoring the hail of fire Captain Beach personally intervened, he exclaimed 'For the Queen!" Then he drew his sabre, emptied his revolver into the massed Russians and lunged forward into the their entrenchment! Inspired by their Officer the South Australian Riflemen were drawn irresistibly forward! A desperate melee took place for control of the trench, men fell on both sides and the carnage to the left and right of the melee was fearful as the close range shooting continued. The intense fighting seemed to last but a moment and it was followed by an eerie silence...the Russian's defending the trench broke the Colonials had prevailed! A great hussah rose from the South Australians as the Russians Sailors fled whilst their accompanying Infantry retired alongside them.

Captain Beach was elated and gathered his section commanders together to regale them, it was only moments later after the conflab as everyone calmed down he looked around and was confronted with the horrors of war, the dead and dying of both sides were piled in the entrenchment and its surrounds, Beach under his breath cursed this damnable war and its evil bounty...

The AAR

The Battlefield at the start of play with the South Australian Militia in the foreground deployed along Taylors Road and the Imperial Russians in the distance!

Captain Beach prepares to launch his men forward to GLORY!

Nervous Russian Sailors man their positions in response to the Colonial sortie...

Turns 1, 2, 3 & 4

The South Australians advanced in open order...

...whislt the Russian defender fired but unfortunately for them scored only one effective hit!..

Turn 5

Once the Riflemen were in charging distance of the entrenchment Captain Beach formed his centre troops into line and ordered the left and right sections to continue in skirmish order and flank the Russians!

Unseen by the South Australians Russian Infantry were fast approaching to assist the Sailors in their defence of the entrenchment!

Sergeant Watson's section takes a pounding from the Russian Regulars with half their numbers casualties they retire, luckily for Beach Cook's section was in place to replace them!

Turn 6 & 7

Beach's main assault section led by Andrew Fisher come to grips with the defender, this vicious melee would continue for two turns!

To the right of the main assault Cook's fresh section gave the Russian a couple of turns of volleys!

Whilst to the right of the melee for the trenches Reid's section engaged the Russians they faced!

Turn 8

Success for the Colonial Force the trenches were taken after a hard slog!

Captain Mordvichev and his Aide comer face to face with their foes as they occupy the Entrenchments!

The melee lost the final few Russian Sailors break!

Turn 9

Captain Beach in the occupied Russian entrenchment!

An overview of the battlefield at the end of Turn 9...

Victory to the South Australians as they hold the entrenchment and the Russians are on the run!

This scenario played well if the Russians had had a little more luck with the dice they could well have been successful as the close up firefight and the melee were both very evenly balanced. I've got my head around the Rules again, they work well for games like this but the last scenario in this Campaign is going to involve all the available figures I have and that will stretch the them to the limit as each figure on figure fire/melee requires a dice throws with anything from D4s to D12s! It'll work but it will be a long game!

Next time: Background on the Final Campaign Game, 'The Big Show - Assault on the City Of Adelaide'

The Spoiling Attack Set Up Details - Bonus The Russian Are Coming Campaign Game

Here are the set up details and special rules for the bonus scenario I've now included in my The Russians Are Coming Campaign. This game will not be play tested as it is simply to reacquaint myself with the Colony At War Rule Set, it should be pretty balanced I've played similar sized games before (famous last words there!). Also it will be good to have the South Australians 'having at' the Russian Invaders again!

The Volunteers of the Adelaide Rifle's under the Leadership of Captain Beach form up to assault the Russians, Hurrah!

The Forces:

Russians Defending with Three Units:

Officer (Captain Mordvichev) fires and melees as Trained

Scratch Fleet Section 10 Sailors fire & melee as Raw, 1 Army NCO fires & melees as Trained

Reinforcements from the 141^st Infantry regiment 3rd Company

Army Section 1 NCO (Sergeant Viktor Sokolov) 9 Privates fire and melee as Trained

Army Section 2 NCO (Sergeant Andrey Pankin) 9 Privates fire and melee as Trained

South Australians Attacking with Four Units:

Officer (Captain Beach) fires and melees as Trained

All the below fire as Trained and melee as Raw

Adelaide Rifles Section 1 NCO (Sergeant Chris Watson) and 11 Privates

Adelaide Rifles Section 2 NCO (Sergeant George Reid) and 11 Privates

Adelaide Rifles Section 3 NCO (Lieutenant Andrew Fisher) and 11 Privates

Adelaide Rifles Section 4 NCO (Sergeant Joseph Cook) and 11 Privates

Deployment:

South Australians: All Section deploy along Taylors Road

Russians:

Fleet Section with the Officer Deploy in and around the Entrenchment

Army Section 1 Enters Turn 3 Table Edge behind the Entrenchment

Army Section 2 Enters Turn 5 Table Edge behind the Entrenchment

Game Length:

The game ends after 10 turns then victory conditions are checked unless a sides units are all broken before this time

Victory Conditions:

At the game end if it plays out for a full 10 turns the South Australians MUST have complete control of the Russians Entrenchment with no intact Russian Unit within 15cm of it, any other result is a Russian Victory!

Special Rules:

Note there are no Special rules for this Scenario.

 Next time the Spiling Attack AAR

Bonus Campaign Game Details - The Russian are Coming Campaign

I'm getting ready to play the Seventh Game of my Russians Are Coming Campaign! This game covers a final great assault by the Russians on the South Australians as they attempt a major attack to capture the metropolis of Adelaide, it includes every figure I have in my South Australian Colonial collection. As it’s been so long since I've used my Colonies at War rules I’ve decided to play a small refresher game before going onto the larger one. So yes an extra scenario in The Russians Are Coming Campaign but is won’t yield any Victory Points to either side.

Captain Beach of the Adelaide Rifles considers his option on the morning of August 28 1879...

Background…

The early morning of Thursday August 28 1879 was fine and the day promised to be clear and very hot! Captain Beach of the Adelaide Rifles was surprised to hear gunfire to the south of his position along the Great Taylors Road Defence Line he had been given no information of any offensive action for the day in his orders. As his men eagerly devoured their breakfast he thought hard and used his spy glass to survey the situation, he could see gun smoke on and around Hill 15. He looked pensively at his fob watch and frowned in deep thought. After mulling on the situation he decided to act! On his own initiative he decided to launch his men forward in a spoiling attack to pin the Russians facing him, this would ensure they could not redeploy to assist their brethren who were currently under attack nearby! He hollered summoning his Sergeants he told them they were to assemble their men as soon as their repast was complete and form them up for action, they were going to launch an assault on the Russian line! The excited NCOs moved off quickly to gather the men of the Adelaide Rifles, their chance for glory had arrived and they were eager to take it!

Within half an hour later the massed force of the Adelaide Rifles under Captain Beach's command cheered then rose as one from their entrenchments at the shrill sound of Captain's whistle, they then advanced westward with the Sun at their backs…

Some Stuff!

The OOBs and AAR are to follow soon! On a slightly different topic I’ve realised I never posted the AAR for game Six in The Russians are Coming Campaign 🫨 I’ll need to rectify that as soon an I can find the pictures, they must be on my old phone 😟!

Next Time; Most probably The OOBs and AAR of the Bonus The Russians Are Coming Campaign Scenario, but maybe even the OOB and AAR of Game Six of The Russians Are Coming Campaign, all depends on finding those damn pictures 😀!

Campaign Game 6 The Big Gun! - The Russian are Coming Campaign

This is the background of the sixth of the seven scenarios of a skirmish campaign covering a Russian Invasion of the Colony of South Australia in 1879, in this action both sides are advancing on the same objective and both are determined to be successful;

Russians of the 141^st Infantry Regiments 4^th Company man their newly constructed redoubt on Hill 15 Thursday August 28...

The Big Gun

Background

The East Siberian infantry rejoiced their victory over the Colonial South Australians after the capture of Hill 15 with resounding cheers but their celebrations and excitement were short lived as Staff Officer Captain Pushkin instructed them to down their weapons gather tools and fortify the high ground now in their possession.

While the soldiers toiled in blazing heat, naval personnel arrived from the fleet ships. These sailors were bringing up to the front one of the Imperial Russian Invasion forces secret weapons, a Gorloff gun. It was to be placed in a redoubt currently under construction on the  hill. This entrenchments location ensured that the rapid-fire machinegun maximised the high grounds fields of fire. The crew and ammunition supplies for the gun were not deployed immediately they would arrive once work on the fortifications were completed. The highly trained crewmen and munitions for the Gorloff gun were as valuable as the weapon itself so their deployment was not treated lightly by the Russian Staff.

The work on Hill 15 continued into the night and fresh European Infantry replaced the East Siberians early in the morning of Thursday August 28. Captain Pushkin remained in charge of the position so oversaw the relief of his attack force with the season men of the 141^st Infantry regiments 4^th Company. These men quickly picked up where the Siberians had left off, the redoubt must be ready for daybreak!

****************************************************

As the sun set with bruised egos after their recent defeat the South Australians of the Unley and Norwood Volunteer Rifle Companies watched anxiously as the Russians moved their ‘rapid fire’ gun onto Bill’s Hill. Lieutenants Murray and Torrens were very concerned with the enemy’s progresses, they believed once the rapid-fire gun was entrenched on the heights above them it would be able to wreak havoc on much of the South Australians frontline that ran north to south in line with Taylors Road. While the Officers considered their options a dashing Captain from Lieutenant-Colonel Downes staff arrived to write him a report for him on how the Russian attempt to capture the Hill had fared. It was Captain Darling. He was shocked to see the Russians in possession of the high ground and the dispirited defenders in their original dugouts. He discussed the situation with Murray and Torrens and quickly came to the same conclusion that the they had. He promptly ordered a counter attack had to be launched before the Russians completed fortifying the hilltop! Captain Darling was a man of action and seized the moment. His enthusiasm was contagious and morale of the militia was restored. Darling summoned reinforcements to help in the offensive and the nearby men from the Willunga Rifles eagerly rallied to his call to join with the surviving defenders of Bill’s Hill to form a storming party. The plan was laid out, while the Unley and Norwood Rifles would attack the hill from their South Road positions Darling himself would lead the Willunga Militia in a flanking movement to south of the Russians and take them in the flank, his keen eye has noticed a gully that would allow a discrete move to be carried through dead ground right under the invader’s eyes! The Willunga men would move off at 4:00am and the daring attack would commence some 15 minutes after daybreak. Pocket watches were synchronised and the Colonial Officers moved their troops to their jump off positions…

******************************************************

Thursday August 28, the sun rose with a special brilliance in the clear and bright blue sky to announce the new day. Now bathed in sunlight Hill 15 was still, the Russians having completed their work during the darkness and only a handful of sentries were now on duty. The sleepy peace of the morning was broken by whistles and shouts which roused the Russians. His eyes bleary Captain Pushkin was awakened by one of the guards and rushed to see what the ruckus he could hear was all about. Russian soldiers were running back and forth in confusion as Putin looked about keenly while coming to terms with the events that were unfolding. The Colonials had rallied surprisingly quickly Pushkin thought and he could see them advancing from the east as he squinted into the sun. What was more of a concern to him was more Redcoats could be seen approaching Hill 15 from the south west! Where on earth had these Devils come from? He cursed under his breath and immediately issued the order for the hilltop garrison to stand to arms but before he could give any specific commands to his subordinates a bullet struck him! Staff Officer Captain Pushkin was dead before he hit the ground moments later and command of the defenders fell to the section leaders...

The stage was set, leaderless and surprised the Russians of the 141^st Infantry Regiments 4^th Company have to come to grips with freshly enthused South Australian Militia lead by a tiger, Captain Darling!

Next Time, some terrain stuff building a redoubt and a new Sarissa building...

Hills Are For Heroes AAR - The Russian are Coming Campaign

It's been a while but my 'The Russians are Coming Campaign' is back! This is the fifth scenario in the series and it pits both sides against each other in a meeting engagement. Enough said I hope you enjoy the AAR for 'Hills are for Heroes!'...

The Russians, led by Staff Officer Captain Pushkin  are surprised as they see Colonials loom into view on the 'unoccupied' hill...

The History

Wednesday August 27 1879

Captain Pushkin flipped open the cover of his pocket watch and grimaced, the strain on his face showed as he watched the seconds tick by and noon approach. It was hot, his orders were vague and no attempt had been made to reconnoitre the area surrounding his objective. He was about to step into the unknown! He blew his whistle at exactly noon and his detachment rose as one with him and in open order they moved out toward 'Hill15'.

Lieutenants Murray and Torrens heard a faint whistle in the distance as they ushered their militia from the Norwood and Unley Volunteer Rifles forward. They had been ordered to capture a slight rise known as 'Bill's Hill'. Locals had approached them earlier in the day and  had informed them that Ruskies had been seen in the area to the west of the hill that morning. Bearing this in mind they drilled their men on deploying into line from march column several times. The sun was high in the sky and there was no wind, Lieutenant Murray quipped 'Perfect day for a picnic on yon hill me thinks!." Torrens replied with a board smile, "You're an idiot" and with that drew his revolver and they headed off.

The Siberian infantry and Russian seaman trudged forward for what seemed and eternity and as they began to negotiate the gentle slope they were surprised! At the crest of the hill in the brilliant sunlight a line of men in red appeared. The shimmering line of scarlet was then engulfed in smoke and the crack of gunfire abounded. "The Devils Mother!" cursed Pushkin as he heard screams of agony and saw some of his men crumple to the ground. Stunned the Russian troops return fire without awaiting orders. Their shooting was wild and scored no hits on the defenders. Captain Pushkin ordered his second line sections to advance and seek cover whilst screening those that had been shot up. He contemplated his options.

Sergeant Wakefield had always taken pride in his men's musketry prowess and they did him proud as their first volley hit several Russians. He could hear orders from Murray to keep up rapid fire and hold the crest so urged his men on in a booming voice!

Meanwhile as hot lead whizzed all around him Captain Pushkin seized Sergeant Korf by the shoulder and ordered him to flank the the left of the Colonial line. He roared, "Korf the fate of this operation is in your hands, get around these Devil's flank and make your Tsar proud!" He then formed his other three sections into line and prepare to cover Korf's move.

Several South Australians fell to Russian fire after they reorganised while the Colonial's own fire was becoming more ragged. What worried Lieutenants Murray and Torrens was that in just a short time their men had almost expended all of their ammunition, they both hoped their remaining rounds would be sufficient to finish the job...it was at this crucial point they both heard a great 'Huzzah!'. It was clearly audible over the musketry and signaled the Siberians on the Russian right charging the Norwood Volunteers. The militiamen fought fiercely but their well trained opponents were just too much and they suffered a heavy defeat and wavered.

Pushkin seeing the success of the attack by Korf urged his men on but it was too late the Colonials realising the day was not theirs decamped in good order their officers deciding discretion was the better part of valour. The Russians occupied Hill 15.

At 12:45pm silence reigned on Bill's Hill, Pushkin scanned the carnage and ordered an Imperial flag raised immediately he then commanded his men to dig in as these damned Colonials could return!

The AAR

Turns 1, 2 & 3

Both the South Australians and Russians entered the 'field of glory' and made a beeline to the hilltop, the Colonials entered in column formation whereas the Siberians came on in skirmish order. Covering ground more quickly than their opponents the Australians redeployed in line in their second action phase of turn 3 while ascending the hill.

Overall view of the battlefield, the hill well more of a mound really dominates the centre of the tabletop...

 The Colonial columns advance!

Deployed in skirmish order Captain Pushkin's men move forward...

Turn 4

The Australians winning the initiative gained the crest line of the hill and opened fire on the Siberian infantry and Russian sailors who were now in plain view. The extreme right section of the Australian line from the Unley Company commanded by Sgt. Wakefield scored an impressive 3 'kills' with their first volley. In response to the accurate Australian fire the Russians moved to take cover allowing them a level better 'protection" (i.e. they hit the dirt) they then fired on the Colonials albeit with little effect. The Russians passed their required moral checks easily.

The two sections of the Norwood Volunteers open up on the advancing Russians...

...they were quickly followed by the boys of the Unley Volunteer Rifles...

After Sgt. Kellers men took losses (bottom left) and they were leap-frogged by fresh men...the advantage of concentrated firepower as a result of the South Australian men being in line against the spread out Siberian infantry and Russian soldiers shows out in the overhead view...

Turn 5

Both sides exchanged volleys with the Russians getting the worst of it, their skirmish formation was not allowing them the same amount of firepower as the Australians in their lines and their casualties mounted. One Siberian section was reduced to less than half strength but with a Staff Officer on the table boosting force morale they passed their own morale roll comfortably.

The battle lines face off...

Turn 6

The Russians changed formation into line allowing them to pour more fire into their enemy and several Colonials were hit. But under pressure the Australians maintained their resolve despite losses and continued their fire taking out even more Russians. All units again survived their morale tests (only just in the case of one of Sgt. Wakefield's Section!). At this point both sides losses were even so victory could go either way.

Captain Pushkin gets his men into lines to contine the firefight on more equal terms...

Korf's section moving to the flank...

Overall view at the end of turn 6.

Turn 7

Again to reduce losses the Russians moved to 'take cover' and reloaded their weapons ready for the final turn. The Australian's fired again but accumulating casualties and a lack of ammunition were reducing the effectiveness of their volleys (they experience several weapons jamming and one even double jammed resulting in no fire for that figure for the rest of the game!).

Sgt.Korf's section right out to the left launch a last turn charge on the Colonials line.....

Turn 8

The South Australian's winning the initiative fired first hitting a couple of the Russian sailors.

In a final throw of the dice the Russians used three units to continue firing whilst their only intact section on their extreme right led by Sergeant Korf charged! The firing was particularly ineffective but their charge against a section of the Norwood Company proved spectacular! The trained Siberians even though at a disadvantage as they were downhill of the Colonials were far superior in the melee inflicting 3 casualties while taking only one loss, this result proved crucial as it gave the Russians a slim victory! Both sides suffered around 30% casualties, all a bit nasty!

Last turn and the Unley Company volunteers continue to stand up to the Siberian Regulars...

The two sides engage in a serious bit of 'biffo' on the left flank of the Colonial's line.. 

The fight goes in the favour of the Siberians...

Overview at the end of the game...

Victory Calculation;
Russians within 25cm of the objective 23

South Australians within 25cm of the objective 22

So despite their success the Russian aggressors are still trailing in the Campaign score 3 to 2 with two games remaining. 

Finally the Russians rolled a 2 for their 'Lieutenant-General Lazarev Heart Attack Roll' so he's still hanging in and there'll be no special morale rules in play for scenario six!

In summary this is a scenario 'idea' I've used many times with different rules in different era games featuring a central objective, a short time limit and a requirement to have as many living figures close to that objective at the games end. It normally ensures a lot of movement and combat. This game was played three times and this AAR is from the first game, the other two were quite boring with both side hovering on their side of the hill and the action occurring only in the last couple of turns. To negate the LOS obstacle, i.e. the hill it will need some tweaking giving one side more 'lesser' troops so there is incentive for the smaller but 'better' side to engage them as they will need to to reduce their numbers significantly for the last turn victory calculation. This will take out the option of both sides loitering until the very last turns.

Next time; hmmm once again I'm not sure...

Campaign Game 5 Set Up Details & Special Rules - The Russian are Coming Campaign

Here are the set up details and special rules for the fifth of the The Russians Are Coming campaign scenarios. This game won't require more than a single play test I hope as its a situation I've used several times before. A map of the play area is included. Please feel free to try this scenario with your rules (I am using an adaption of State of War) and if you do please let me know how you went!

The Forces:

Russians four units:

Siberians including NCOs fire and melee as Trained

Fleet Sailors fire and melee as Raw, their NCO fires and melees as Trained

Staff Officer fires as Veteran and melee as Trained

1 Army Staff Officer (Captain Pushkin)

Army Section 1 NCO (Sergeant Fyodor Keller) 8 Privates

Army Section 1 NCO (Sergeant Andrey Korf) 7 Privates

Army Section 1 NCO (Sergeant Sergi Kamensky) 6 Privates

Army Section 1 NCO (Sergeant Nikolay Krasnov) 8 Sailors

South Australians four units:

Uniformed Privates fire as Trained and; melees as Raw

Plain Clothes Privates fire and melee as Raw

Officer and NCOs fire as Veteran and; melee as Trained

Unley Company Section 1 Officer (Lieutenant Alan Murray) and 7 Privates

Unley Company Section 2 NCO (Sergeant Norman Wakefield) and 7 Privates

Norwood Company Section 1 Officer (Lieutenant Peter Torrens) and 7 Privates

Norwood Company Section 2 NCO (Sergeant Reginald Finke) and 7 Privates

Deployment:

South Australians: All units must enter Turn 1 along the eastern board edge

Russians: All units must enter Turn 1 along the western board edge

Game Length:

The game ends after 8 turns then victory conditions are checked unless a sides units are all broken before this

Victory Conditions:

At the game end count up the number of figures each side has within 25cm of the 'marked centre' of Bill's Hill the side with most wins, if it's a draw the side with fewer wounded figures wins, if that's a draw extend the distance by 10cm and repeat the count keep doing this to you get a result. On the extreme circumstance this still results in a draw still roll a die (reroll ties) until someone wins!

Special Rules:

* The Russians have played their 'Staff Officer' option in this game morale effect for this are in play

* Figures on the hill may spend an action to go prone and when prone they increase their protection from fire by one level but melee against a standing figure at -2, it takes one action to get back up again

* The Bill's blocks line of sight and give those uphill on them a melee advantage, it costs no extra movement to climb as the slopes are gentle

* The rough ground areas cost double movement when actually traversing them and offer no cover

* The dense scrub areas cost triple movement when actually traversing them and offer no protection

The map below of the battlefield deployment compiled from dispatches regarding the battle issued by Lieutenant-Colonel Francis Downes staff including a Legend:

 Next time the Hills Are For Heroes AAR...