Border Troubles - from the Chronicles of Harad

 Long time readers may recall from a few years back a campaign set in the arid Nawabate of Tchagai in which a revolutionary army led by one Colonel Peenut Buttahjars came within an ace of capturing the capital, Nawabisbad, seizing the reins of government, and doing away with the Nawab, Maibiwih Khan himself. A long campaign led eventually to the crushing of the revolt, the dispersal of such revolutionaries as had survived, and the disappearance of the revolting Colonel into the desiccated mountains of Nimruz. 

I don't use this playing surface often, but it is just right for 
battles in arid regions. Nimruz infantry going in, alongside
the Support Group.

At the time, Tchagai was still subject to the suzerainty of the Ruberian Imperium of Rajistan, the grip of which, however, had been for some time weakening. Turbulent events led to Sangria's independence from Ruberia, Stanispak's independence from Sangria, and Tchagai's independence from Stanispak. To the north of Tchagai lay a region of stubbornly independent hill peoples who refused outright to acknowledge Tchagai's overlordship, and who eventually form a nebulous confederation of tribes styling itself the People's Republic of Nimruz. 

As the years went by, a great deal of interest, domestic and abroad, began to centre upon the northern fringes of Tchagai, where the Nawab's writ extended into the foothills of the border mountains. Much had been discovered there in the way of potentially lucrative minerals, ores and, of course, the ever sought-after oil and natural gas - in other words, to interest Western mining conglomorates. Inevitably, the tribal leaders of the Nimruz got wind of this interest, as did a much more powerful realm far to the north, the Communal Confederation of Collaborative Peoples. Certain agents from the CCCP whispered tempting whispers into the ears of the tribesmen, offering vast wealth, and 'Ooo, look: we can offer you some shiny new weaponry with which to take and to keep what is rightfully ours - we mean, of course, yours'. 

Any and all dissent from succumbing to the wiles of these foreign agents being overborne by sharp reproof, keen wit, and pointed argument - not difficult among the war-like tribal leaders - those in power proved rather more eager than the CCCP agents expected or desired to test the metal of their nascent military. At once they planned by coup de main to seize and to hold the Tchagai mining town of Jawanabit, a few miles inside what Tchagai claimed to be its frontier (and, naturally, the corresponding distance within the territory claimed - with more doubtful legitimacy - by Nimruz). 

Staff Battle Map. Pink is Nimruz

Little of these developments passed by the aged, but still wick, Nawab, whose well paid agents kept him well informed of the inner workings of Nimruz governance. He had already established at Jawanabit a garrison of all arms, including a squadron of his newest tanks - Centurions, upgunned versions with the powerful 20pr main gun. The garrison, commanded by Brigadier Ebeneser Mugglethwaite* comprised:

'A' Squadron/ 5th Aagravaa Armoured Regiment, Centurions (superior) = 3SP 
31st Kashinkari Rifles with:
    4 Rifle Companies (A-D) @ 4SP
    'HQ' Coy with 3-inch mortar @ 2SP
        attached: 17pr AT gun @2SP
          prime mover @2SP ... = 22SP
1st Muddi River Horse with;
    'A' Squadron, Saladin Armoured Car @3SP
    'C' Rifle Company @ 3SP
    Spartan APC @2SP ... = 8SP
1st Regiment, Tchagai Artillery
    Batteries A, B/ each with 25pr gun/howitzer @2SP
          and Quad prime mover @2SP ... 8SP

In addition, the Brigadier could call up a flight of fighter aircraft - Spitfires (SP3) - for ground attack or, if need be, air cover. He also had time to prepare defence works:
two fortified posts, enough field works to cover the extended front of three companies, and a minefield covering the nearest approach to the railway station.

Overall: 
12 Units (including aircraft), median 6, activate 5-7
50SP: Exhaustion point = minus 17SP; Rout point =  minus 25SP.


Moving with undue haste as they were, the Nimruz high command managed to gather considerable intelligence of the Tchagai garrison. Focusing on mobility, they rushed forward a reinforced brigade of troops, one Imzamam el Jhamjhars commanding. However, minus artillery and air support, the brigade augmented its battalion mortars with a battalion sized support group of assault guns. This Expeditionary Brigade comprised:

Force commander Imzamam el Jhamjhars, staff, CCCP 'advisers' and HQ vehicles = 6SP 
Tank Battalion with 
    BA64 armoured car, MG only, 2SP
    4 T3/85 tank @3SP ... = 14SP
1st Rifle Battalion with
    3 Rifle Coys @ 4SP
    1 82mm Mortar @2SP
    1 truck @2SP ... = 16SP
2nd Rifle Battalion with
    3 Rifle Coys @ 4SP
    1 82mm Mortar @2SP
    3 truck @2SP ... = 20SP
3rd Rifle Battalion with
    3 Rifle Coys @ 4SP
    1 82mm Mortar @2SP
    1 truck @2SP ... = 16SP
Support Group with
    1 Su76 assault gun @2SP

    1 Su85 assault gun @2SP
    1 Su122 assault gun @ 2SP ... = 6SP

Totals: 
26 units, median 13, activate 12-14.
78SP, Exhaustion Point = minus 26SP: Rout Point = minus 39SP

The Battle Narrative: to be continued...

* A note on Ebeneser Mugglethwaite. A prominent figure in opposing the revolt of the Baluchistan Armed Revolutionary Front (BARF) ( See 'Long Live the Revolution'), Lt-Col Mugglethwaite was offered and accepted service in the Tchagai Army following independence. A brief visit to his Ruberian homeland persuaded him to wind up his affairs there - such as there were, considering his long Imperial service in Sangria - and to settle finally in his adopted homeland. A grateful Nawab soon awarded his full colonelcy, and not overlong afterwards the third pip to go with the crown on his shoulder. Though not far short of his retirement, the Brigadier was still on active service when the Border Troubles began...