Long Live the Revolution: The Capital City

Early Revolutionary moves, developing rapidly on the left.
Already, though, the 3rd Revolutionary Rifles have taken some
hurt.

Upon a tide of unbroken success, the Revolutionary army, growing in size all the while, closed in upon the greatest prize of all, the Nabob's capital, Nawabisbad, with all the instruments and accommodations of government, including the Army Barracks and Arsenal, the Model Prison, and the Administrative seat of government power. Not merely a figurehead, the Nabob, Maibiwih Khan served as a mask for the exercise of Imperial power - not a role he enjoyed, but accepted as the alternative was to have no power at all.

Map of Nawabisbad battle, with BARF planned assault.
For a change, the Government defenders have
improved defences.

The Government right, protected by barbed wire,
anti-tank obstacles, and field fortifications.

The Government forces were meanwhile determined, even at this late hour, to resist the Revolutionary tide to the last. Was the Battle of Nawabisbad to be the climax of an episodic, linear narrative; the turning point of a circular return plot; or the pivotal point of a contrast plot?  Time and events would tell.

In view of the importance of this action, the local Ruberian Governor General, Major-General Lord Lionel Redmond, assumed the command himself. He had available:

Government Forces:

Command:  CO, staffs and scout vehicle:  .....6SP
22nd Punjanjoodi Infantry:
     3 Rifle Coys @ 4SP
     1 Vickers MMG Pln @2SP .....14SP
31st Kashinkari Battalion:
     3 Rifle Coys @4SP
     1 Vickers MMG Pln @2SP .....14SP
6th Bananaramaputra Hussars:
     3 M4 Sherman medium tank squadrons @3SP .....9SP
1st Tchagai Artillery (2 batteries only)
     2 25pr gun/howitzer Batteries @2SP with Quad tows @2SP .....8SP
Anti-tank batteries:
    2 2pr AT guns in fixed positions (can not be moved) @2SP ....4SP

Totals:
18 units, Median = 9
55SP, Exhaustion point -19SP.
(Determined by adding 42 + 4D6 = 42 + 13 (not a good roll) = 55SP)

Government left, a minefield covers the flank of the field
fortification some distance from the city.

For his part, Colonel Peenut Buttahjars, the leader of the Baluchistan Armed Revolutionary Front (BARF) found himself in command of a well motivated and powerful army, confident in the justice and destiny of their cause.  This confidence was not abated by the uninterrupted tide of success.

He had with him:

Revolutionary Forces:

Command:  Colonel Peenut Buttahjars, and HQ vehicles: .....6SP
1st 'Sons of Revolution' Battalion:
     4 Rifle Companies @4SP
     1 Medium Mortar battery @2SP
     1 Carrier @2SP .....20SP
2nd 'Volunteers of the Revolution' Battalion:
     4 Rifle Companies @4SP
     1 Medium Mortar battery @2SP
     1 Carrier @2SP .....20SP
3rd 'Revolutionary Rifles' Battalion:
      4 Rifle Companies @4SP
     1 Medium Mortar battery @2SP

     1 Carrier @2SP .....20SP

1st 'Scimitars of Revolution' Armoured Regiment:
     3 Sqns (A, B, C) M3 Stuart light tanks (poor) @3SP
     1 Sqn (D) M3 Grant medium tank (poor) @3SP ..... 12SP
Battery, Anti-tank:
     1 6pr medium AT gun battery @2SP
     1 Portee mount @2SP ..... 4SP
Totals:
25 Units, Median = 13
82SP, Exhaustion point - 28SP
(Determined by adding 66 + 6D6 = 66 + 16 (terrible roll) = 82SP.

The BARF forces on their start line.

So far in these battles, the government troops, defending, have not enjoyed much help from improved defences. In two battles, one battery or company had a fortified position, and there have been advantages of defending built up areas and higher ground. But very little in the way of larger scale field works and obstacles. On this occasion I thought I would give the Government forces at least some defensive improvements by way of field works, minefields, barbed wire and anti-tank obstacles. I gave the Government half, rounded up, the difference in Strength Points by way of such improvements, that is: 14SPs.

Overall view eastwards from behind the Government left flank.

They prepared:
1 Minefield @2SP
4 Barbed wire entanglements @1SP
2 Anti-tank obstacles @1SP
3 Field fortifications @2SP
Total: 14SP

The minefield and one barbed wire obstacle protected the flank of the field fortification garrisoned by C Coy of 31st Battalion supported by 2pr AT guns. This position guarded the extreme left wing of the Government defence line. The rest of the field fortifications and obstacles stretched across the open flanks of the city, leaving the distant right flank open. Lord Redmond hoped his tanks would stop up that possible ingress to his position. He was also aware that by placing his gun/howitzers so far on the left flank, there would be little or no artillery coverage on the right.  

Noticing this, Colonel Peenut  Buttahjars laid his plans...

To be continued...
(Sorry about the delay: this was fought out about 3 weeks back, but I've had a little bit of an injury since that rather curbed by enthusiasm for typing up narratives).