Robinski came down like a wolf on the fold...

Continuing with the subcontinent theme for games here in GHQ while I am inconvenienced by my foot injury Phil and I unexpectedly decided on a return to the Rhanzlistan campaign which we both thought had run it's natural course. Our game therefore sees the opening of a second campaign in the far flung reaches of the Empire, otherwise the fictional Rhanzlistan; home of the legendary warrior tribe of Bhurpas, policed for the King-Emperor by Brigadier 'Tubby' Bykleigh and the Rhanzlistan Field Force, constantly threatened by the shenanigans of Comrade General Robinski and his red hordes. In this first game Robinski has news of a tax gathering expedition in the foothills and determines to extract his share with the help, or otherwise, of the F.A.R.T.S. ~ the Foreign Auxiliary (Rhanzlistan Tribal Section)! The rules are loosely Bolt Action V2. So, on to the action via the usual annotated photomontage ~

The peaceful village of Phalanjees in the foothills of the Rhanzlistan Ranges has been the focus of Brigadier 'Tubby' Bykleigh's most recent posting as escort for the annual Tax Collection from the 'willing' Bhurpas. The game opens with the Tax Collection and escort leaving the village and heading south.

Escorted by Aston's Scouts, the  Royal Tandoori Rifles and mounted Bhurpas the camels carrying the hard won taxes seem safe as houses!

Away to the west enemy activity has been reported. The 'enthusiastic' F.A.R.T.S. press forward on Phalanjees ever mindful of their Soviet allies with fixed bayonets in close support.

Meanwhile Robinski finds himself still enjoying the comforts of his camp, serenaded by Comrade Natasha!

Despite their leader's tardy approach the Red infantry, with the Siberian Riflemen in the van, is making good progress and is advancing rapidly on the ruins of a small farmstead.

Already early in proceedings the run of dice is not being kind to Bykleigh's plan of action, rendering it closer to inaction.

A number of villagers have been pressed into Imperial service as cannon fodder. They must realise their fate as they are reluctant to commit, preferring the local entertainment of the fire walking fakir.

At last Robinski tears himself away from Natasha and arrives at the scene of the enfolding action to oversee his forces 

The F.A.R.T.S. continue to be 'encouraged' in their advance on the exposed western flank of Bykleigh's force.

Supported by a horde of Cossacks the Siberian Riflemen occupy part of the ruined farmstead. More Red infantry is advancing in their support too.

The Jaxzi leads forward the contingent of mounted Bhurpas warriors confident of dislodging the unbelievers!

Bykleigh oversees the Imperial dispositions: Aston's Scouts, the Royal Tandoori Rifles and the Jalfrezis make a proud showing of the King Emperor's might.

Away on the far right of his position Bykleigh's Gurkhas have made heavy going in their attempt to flank the Reds. Their supporting Bhurpas are far behind, just when they will be needed too!

Concerned already by adverse developments to his front and left Bykleigh orders the Tax Collector's party into the cover of a stand of tall trees 

Not a moment too soon either as the mounted Bhurpas are bested by the wild Cossacks and flee away!

The Cossacks, mad with the blood of their defeated dies, crash into the Royal Tandoori Rifles. The infantry cannot get off an effective volley having moved and are swiftly despatched by the Cossacks!

More Reds occupy the remains of the farmstead threatening the left of any Imperial advance. Things are not looking good for the safe delivery of this year's tax revenue...

Desperate measures are called for to stem the Reds' advance. Aston's Scouts lower their lances and crash into the exhausted Cossacks.

The Scouts carry the day, but at great cost to their number. Supported only by the Jalfrezis they now face the combined fire of several Red infantry formations.

Despite their tardy native supports Major Hardly-Standin VC leads his Gurkhas against the leading F.A.R.T.S.

Despite his valiant efforts the remaining F.A.R.T.S. and the Red 'supports' have reached the high ground overlooking Bykleigh's route out of Phalanjees. The Imperial treasury may not see this year's tax revenue he fears 

Too late the 'loyal' Bhurpas reach the Gurkhas' position just as the last men fall for the last time.

The situation is dire and Bykleigh orders a general retreat of the survivors back into the village of Phalanjees. It may be he can hold out there until the arrival of relief under Colonel Horace Utterly-Barking...

A splendid eventful game played in great spirits by both sides, punctuated by some terrible runs of Bolt Action dice for both sides and some devastating outcomes to combat or firefights again for both sides. In the end Bykleigh saw his plans fail due to overambitious manoeuvres and lack of cooperation from many of the villagers and the 'loyal' Bhurpas. For the Reds and Robinski the debut of the F.A.R.T.S. was a real bonus. But, can be get his hands on the tax revenue...?

The Campaign's Climax ~"Towards the High Peaks!"

Well, the dust has settled over the field of battle, the dead have been buried, the wounded treated and reports written and forwarded to a higher authority. As usual I've included a few pictures intended to give a flavour of how things developed over eleven turns. We used Rapid Fire2 for a change with a couple of modifications to artillery fire which proved effective. Now, off we go to Rhanzlistan ~

The Gordons advance towards the cover of the ruins and come
under fire immediately from the SPIFF artillery.

Supporting the Gordons, the Gurkhas advance on the SPIFF
infantry positions, in their turn coming under galling fire.  

As the Gurkhas crest the low ridge the South Staffords advance
in their support. The SPIFF  artillery is taking a heavy toll.

Artillery fire from the RFA battery and fire from the Gordons
has driven the SPIFF from the ruins of the Red Fort and cavalry
are poised to roll up the enemy’s flank.

The Gordons are pinned in the ruins and the decimated Gurkhas
and South Staffords must withdraw to cover. With no infantry
support the cavalry fall back.

On the RFF's left flank infantry casualties have been severe and
they too fall back, screened by the Tandoori Horse.

Its all up for the RFF as the RFA battery limbers up to withdraw.

Recriminations begin almost at once!

Meanwhile, Comrade General Robinski receives news of the
RFF's withdrawal.

Rapid Fire !2 seemed to us to work quite well for the battle and produced a believable result we felt. Perhaps we might have prolonged the game beyond eleven turns if we had split the RFF into three sub sections for Morale purposes. I survived four turns of consecutive Morale checks before succumbing and Phil survived two. Once you have minus 4 to begin with the writing is on the wall, or in my case the High Peaks!

Well, that's that for Rhanzlistan for another year. We shall have to wait a while now to see what 2020 will bring for the characters who populate our imaginations and our tabletop. Perhaps Brigadier Bykleigh will be posted to the China frontier, we shall have to see...

With their backs to the high peaks

For the latest instalment in our series of loosely related games set near the NW Frontier in our fictitious province of Rhanzlistan, a Province permanently located in the early 1920’s, I devised a scenario where the Rhanzlistan Field Force would take the offensive to drive the Soviet Peoples International Field Force once and for all from the Jewel in the Crown’s possession. However, thanks to agents working amongst the Bhurpas, whose loyalty to the Crown is somewhat elastic shall we say, General Robinski has got wind of the attack and has been busy preparing his defence...

View from the East along the SPIFF'S front

View from behind the SPIFF's left flank

Now you have a general idea of what the field of conflict looked like let's see how the SPIFF deployed for action ~

Defence in depth for the SPIFF

The front line with its flanks secured
and with Cossacks in support

More Red Cavalry support the infantry
in the old Red Fort

Covering the right flank

General Robinski surveys his dispositions

Bringing the truth to the masses!

Pop back towards the end of the week for the AAR.

Death in the Red Fort...

Apologies for leaving Rhanzlistan on the back burner for so long, life and other hobby interests just passed it by I’m afraid. I hope this account of Monday’s spiffing game with Phil here in GHQ will prove some consolation to my loyal reader! The game was played using Bolt Action Second Edition rules.

The scenario I devised was a three handed game for two players. The R.F.F. - the God Guys you recall - had a force of 7 units to pick from their complement, the S.P.I.F.F. - the Bad Guys of course - a force of  8 units from theirs, while there were 6 units of Bhurpa warriors. All three forces had the same objective, namely to seize military supplies left behind in the ruins of an old village and fort. The Bhurpas were activated by their own dice and controlled by whichever of the other two sides had drawn the previous dice for their force.  If the Bhurpa dice was drawn out first in any turn it was disguarded. Thus either side could utilise the Bhurpas in their own support, to thwart the enemy's ambitions, or just seize the supplies for the Bhurpas themselves if that was the best choice to hobble the enemy. In addition to these dice, their was a red 'End of Turn' dice, whose title describes its function in the game of course. The game length was set at 12 Turns before nightfall was declared and the game concluded. Now, as ever, as series of pictures and captions to capture the essence of the struggle for any interested passersby ~

Hardly-Standin oversees the arrival of the advanced guard of

the Rhanzlistan Field Force in Turn 1.

Comrade Colonel Corbinski ushers the first of the S.P.I.F.F.

along the road.

The draw of the dice sees the Bhurpas on the move towards

the Soviet incursion on their homeland.

The Bhurpas seize the low hills to the Soviet's left flank and

wait in ambush!

Lead by their Prophet, Mustapha Leake, the fanatics break from

cover of the low hills and charge the Siberian Rifles! Cries of

"Allah Akbah!" rent the air!

Not the best of outcomes for the Bhurpas! The Siberians see 

them off in a brisk combat!

Hardly-Standin's command moves forward to occupy the ruins

at the edge of the village.

More of the S.P.I.F.F. moves to their left flank in an attempt to

deter any further aggression from the troublesome Bhurpas.

The run of the random dice controlling the Bhurpas swings

ever more to favour the S.P.I.F.F. and bands of warriors surge

towards the lower river crossing on the R.F.F.'s right flank.

The Tandoori Rifles occupy the ruins in support of the

armoured car's advance on the bridge crossing the river.

In the meantime, the forces of the S.P.I.F.F. are massing for an

attack on the ruins of the Red Fort.

A band of fanatical Bhurpa warriors have rushed the bridge in

a bid to seize the cases of rifles and ammunition in the Red

Fort.

Sustained fire from the Tandooris destroys the fanatics, but the

firefight distracts the attention of the R.F.F'.s commander for a

moment and more Soviet inspired Bhurpa warriors move

around his right flank.

The Tandooris finally realise the danger to their flank and move

to occupy the ruins of the Red Fort. This turned out to be a bit

of a poisoned chalice as fire from flank and front soon whittled

them down and saw mounting Pin Markers and the death of

their gallant commanding officer!

With the demise of the Tandooris and the 3rd Foot and Mouth

being held off in the village ruins by heavy enemy fire, the

Siberian Rifles are able to enter the Red Fort ruins and seize

the military supplies.

As darkness fell {at the end of Turn 12} The S.P.I.F.F. held the

Red Fort of Death while the Ghurkas held the other ruin holding

more cases of rifles and boxes of ammunition. The Bhurpas, who

had proved decisive in aiding the Soviets were left with nothing!

The mechanism for random control of the bands of Bhurpa warriors worked really well we both thought. In the early moves, the draw of the dice favoured the cause of the R.F.F., while in the latter stages the control of the warriors entirely passed to the cause of the S.P.I.F.F.! This enabled them to utilise the fire of the bands of warriors to destroy the Tandooris holding the fort's ruins and concentrate their own efforts on holding back the advance of the R.F.F. If the game had beyond the agreed 12 Turns it is probable that the Soviets wold have emerged victorious, but the fall of night comes quickly in Rhazlistan and thwarted their efforts at the last, allowing the R.F.F. to slip away with half of the contested supplies.
 I do hope it will not be so long this time before we return to Rhanzlistan and the ongoing tales of daring do which take place amongst its mountains, valleys and villages...