Centurions of Tchagai

With the departure of Brian  ( A Fist Full of Plastic) to greener (and more stable) North Island pastures, my part in his Harad project has been taking a seat in the vehicle so far back, it's sitting on the tailgate of the trailer. But over the last couple of days I thought I would do something about the squadron of Centurion tanks.

My two Centurion tanks.  One's a kit, the other a toy...

 One of these is a second hand kitset vehicle, originally painted green, that I have spray-painted over with a tan/khaki colour.  The other was a shiny green toy with wheels that had its whole tracked drive assembly suggested by printed transfers on the sides.  After a bit of work bringing it up to (my rather liberal) war game standard, it, too got rough black undercoating and a spray-paint.  Can you tell which is which?  

With a little bit of work, the toy vehicle looks much
improved and usable.

How the toy vehicle was adapted into a usable
war games AFV.  Rough and ready, but it will do, I think. Still
undecided about flooring the vehicle.

To make use of the latter, I tried (and failed) to remove the transfers, roughly shaped the tracked drives with balsa wood, and glued cardboard circles to suggest sprocket drives and road wheels.  The sides upon which the transfers hasd been glued, I trimmed back with scissors to make into side skirts.  

The tracks themselves I cut from some non-slip matting that I then wrapped longitudinally around the balsa, overlapped the ends, and fastened down with a thumbtack.

Having removed the wheels and cut back the lugs that held the axles, I then jammed the tracked drive assembly between the sides and what remained of the axle lugs.  As the sides tended to curve inwards owing to the lack of anything to stop this, I shoved in a small block of balsa to hold them out.  Finally I added pieces of sheet balsa to form the lower hull, fore and aft. I am not sure whether to floor the thing with more balsa or cardboard.

The gun I also had to replace.  This is simply a plastic tube, inserted through a short piece of wider bore tubing by way of a fume extractor. Into the gun mantlet I bored a hole that would accept a piece of wire over which the gun assembly could be fitted and held rigid.  I haven't actually glued the gun on, yet, so it still slides off if I'm careless.

There is still a bit of work to do on this vehicle, but the guts of it has been done.  Although far from identical, this pair makes, in Command Decision terms, a fine little Centurion Tank Squadron for the Army of the Nabob of Tchagai.

Toys: Part 1...

The other day, I received a shed load of toys that were surplus to the requirements of a fellow wargamer and blogger.  Thanks, Brian!  Not overfond of resisting temptation, I accepted quite a lot of them, and now find myself somehow involved in Brian's Empire of Harad project.  Among other things.  A lot of what came my way was over-scale for his purposes but looked as though it would 'fit' quite well with my 'Jono's World' project.

But let's see what came my way.  First, for this posting, an overview of the toys that will become part of the Army of Tchagai.

 Motorized Battalion:  After a bit of discussion and further thought,  a tentative organization seems to be:
HQ: 1 command stand, 1 utility command vehicle, 1 staff radio vehicle (the Humvee), and 1 'heavy' technical (probably air defence).
3 x Motorized Infantry Company each with:
1 command stand, 2 infantry stands, 1 'weapons' stand; 1 light truck, 1 medium truck, 1 'heavy' technical (with some sort of RCL or something), 1 'light' technical (HMG, perhaps).

At first the trucks were going to be all 'lights' but I noticed a number of 6x4 or 6x6 vehicles in there.  As they were also a whisker bigger than the others, it seemed not unreasonable to make them mediums carrying 2 infantry stands.

Motorized infantry battalion in the service of the Nabob of Tchagai

 Next is the 'Rapid Response Reconnaissance Battalion'.  I see this unit as a 'seek and develop' force, there to uncover the enemy but also to force him to develop some of his strength.  At present it comprises:
HQ: 1 command stand, 1 command utility vehicle, 1 recon AReconV (This is a locally designed and built 'Bagheera' light tracked AFV, bearing an astonishing resemblance to a miniaturized Panther tank).
Recon Company: 3x Saracen APC, 1 command weapons stand, 2 recon infantry stands (both of which may be split into patrol stands).
Assault Company: 2x APC, 1 command weapons stand, 1 infantry stand.
'Stryker' Support Company:  Not until 21st century I discover to my horror.  There will have to be something else in the 'big gun' armoured car line for earlier.

The Rapid Response Recon Battalion, in process of forming.
The Saracens and the 6-wheeled APC have received a grey undercoat...

The third item is an Artillery Regiment comprising 4 batteries each with 1 stand, and 1 prime mover.
HQ: 1 command utility vehicle.  I'll need to form at least one Forward observer team as well.
What to use as artillery? British 25pr gun/howitzers were mentioned.  I am very tempted to form a composite formation comprising 2 field batteries, 1 medium battery and a medium (120mm) mortar battery.  That might mean a lot of observer teams, though...

Prime movers and command vehicle of the Artillery regiment.

 These 3 heavy trucks I'm not sure about.  They could carry 3 infantry stands apiece, and therefore the best part of a battalion all together.  But I may just leave them as is, to be commandeered when a second battalion is needed at the front.

3 heavy trucks.  How best to employ them is the question.

 Finally there remained this little collection (see infra).  The paramedic vehicle will I think be retained in its humanitarian role, probably with a Red Crescent symbol within a white roundel on the roof.  The 6-wheeled truck will become a staff radio vehicle perhaps, though I'm also thinking of the container as a truck-carried temporary HQ for that purpose.  The tilt also requires a truck underneath it, but it doesn't fit the one available.  The boat trailer is also unclear as to future.  One assault boat doesn't seem especially useful (I could be wrong), but local air defence might be an option.  At any rate, what we are looking at here is the 1st 'Mechanized' Brigade HQ...

Brigade HQ... A lotta work needed here!

 Finally, not included in the pile, were these specimens that have been sitting in my 'man drawer' for the last yonk or two.  I think they were meant to be Walker Bulldog tanks.  Could they be resurrected as tracked recon vehicles?  Seems doubtful, I have to admit.

Can any use be made of these?

Of course, what is really wanting is armour - main battle tanks.  I was thinking something a bit different: French AMX30s.  But given the variegated collection obtained so far, this seems to me to take eclecticism just a bit too far.  I'm now thinking in terms of Soviet T-55 tanks.  I was a bit reluctant at first to accept this suggestion of Brian's, but research indicated quite a few countries have these still in first line service.  As most of Brian's project is set in the early 1980s, then it would be more than appropriate.  (I have sat in a T55, and I'm here to tell you they ain't what you'd call 'roomy'!)

It was while sorting through this stuff that Brian and I discussed what the map of 'Greater' Harad and its environs would look like.  Here is a tidied up sketch of the 'Middle East' as we envisaged:

I was thinking of reorienting the map with the west end at the top, the Arabic directions being exactly the same as on the map - with 'north' (شمال) pointing to the right. But the thing seemed simpler to leave as is.

Among all the toys were seemingly hordes of WW2 Russians. In each of the nine containers pictured are 31 figures - 1 battalion, less 'weapons', assuming I can place 3, instead of the standard 2, figures on a base.  Of the rest, there must be at least 2 more such battalions, and plenty left over (especially the 'miscastings') for gun and mortar crews and the like.

 Omitted from the above pictures were these two rather cute die-cast metal Shermans.  I had some thought to adding them to the 5 ROCO M4A4 Shermans that currently serve as a Medium Tank Battalion in my Soviet Army.

 These plastic Shermans are very nearly as big as the Airfix M4, and were certainly almost of a size with these Chinese metal numbers.  But it seems to me we might also be able to accommodate these guys in the Nabob's army as kind of second line armoured forces.  Whence comes to that, I have several T34/85s that (with post-WW2 upgrading) might form another armoured battalion.  So the elite 1st Mech Bde I'm thinking will get a 5-tank battalion of T55s (1st Armoured Battalion), and be supported by the 2nd Arm'd Bn (Shermans - dating from a time when relations between Tchagai and the Union of American States were more cordial than later they were to become), and the 3rd and 4th Arm'd Bns (both T34/85).

 While I think of it, some time ago, Brian flicked my way a metal King Tiger, pictured below.  The running gear is kinda wrong, and the scale seems a rather small 1:76 (more like a 1:80, I suspect), but it will be a useful addition to my German army at any rate.  The tank commander we called Roland, as he resembled the headless Thompson gunner of the same name.  Roland Mittoutkopf I called him.  A Matchbox grenade guy gave his life to provide Roland with the necessary extra features once more to face the enemy...

 Slightly underscale as I suspect this AFV to be, he still has a certain presence in the face of herds of Sherman tanks!  Roland's head transplant was secured by drilling holes in the trunk of the original, and up the neck of the replacement head, and inserting and gluing a short length of modelling wire.  It looks a bit rough, still, but a paint job should sort that.

 I will probably replace the gun - or modify it at least.  Just to confirm my impressions, I compare the 8.8.cm L/71 with one of my Matchbox Jagdpanthers.

 The final two photos I think confirm it beyond doubt.  The gun needs to be lengthened somehow.

My thanks to Brian (A fist full of plastic) for this vast increase in my inventory.  And a new project to think about.  The 'Jono's World' stuff I will show in another posting.

Acknowledgements:  My thanks and welcome to the 94th (James Fisher, FINS) and 95th (Son of York) followers of this blog.

Border Incident at Oasis Hakeem - Part 4

What happened to the Diesela Khann technicals?

A half hour after their relatively inexpensive victory over the Garrison ARV Squadron, most of the Diesela Khan Light Group technicals and command vehicles were smouldering wrecks, great smudges of smoke  polluting the clear desert air.  What had happened?

The map gives the answer (in the absence of clear pictures of the events).  As what remained of the Garrison ARVs fell back to deplore their losses, the Relief Column squadron, accompanied by the mule mounted TOW platoon sped into the gap between Hakeen itself and the Village of the Infidel.  Perhaps they were unwise to ignore the mortar platoon they bypassed, but the Squadron Commander's primary aim was to take out the PLFK Saladins if he could. 

A brisk exchange of HEAT rounds ensued at long range, but the Imperialist had drawn the attention not only of the mortar platoon little more than 100 meters off, but the Light Group of technicals, and shortly afterwards, the Heavy Group as well, lurking about the small village. 

Grimly enduring the incoming from all directions - Anti-tank, mortar HE, machine-gun and finally RCL - the ARVs fired off their HEAT rounds at the enemy Saladins.  The latter, having played their part in the earlier action against the Garrison Squadron, ran out of HEAT first, meanwhile losing some of their number.

Imperial ARVs attacked in rear by Diesela Khann
heavy technicals

Then it was the turn of the mortar and the technicals.  The light HE rounds remaining to the ARVs soon drove off the mortar platoon, its survivors making off into the Village of the Infidels; and the Diesela Light Group suffered the fate depicted in the leading picture.  The survivors of the Garrison ARV squadron returned to add what help they could to the fight.  As the Light Group began to burn, elements of the Heavy Technical Group sneaked into the ARV right rear, and let fly.  The Imperialists' luck held: the tribesmen's nervous shooting went wide, and the return fire sent them scurrying whence they came.

By this time, the situation within the town was reaching its climax.  The Imperialist troops had now occupied or cleared close to 80% of the place.  Just the Mosque and the southern edge of the CBD remained in insurrectionist possession.  The relief Column Infantry company were now setting up firing positions under the walls of the Mosque itself.  In the vicious short range shooting that ensued, both sides suffered heavy losses, but the Imperialists seemed to be getting the upper hand.

Then, with victory almost within his grasp, Col Mustafa made his crucial and disastrous error.  Anticipating for some time a push by the PLFK fighters towards his HQ compound, he ordered his citizens' militia to side-slip to their left in support of the loyalist desert tribesmen still lurking among the streets and alleys of the CBD.  This left a gap between the militia and Major Iqbal's regulars.

Relief Column infantry locked in firefight with
the Brotherhood of the Faithful

The insurrectionists took full advantage.  Instead of advancing in a northward direction, the PLFK fighters swung west, right onto the left flank of the Imperialist company.  Though giving a good account of themselves, and hanging on grimly for a quarter of an hour, the regulars found the odds  too great.  

The Citizens' Militia (nearest camera) inadvertently allow a gap
 to develop between themselves and the Relief Column infantry

Defeat for the Regulars. 
The garrison troops' help arrives are too late.

Taking heavy losses and overwhelmed by numbers, the scant survivors drew back from the Mosque.

The desert riders advance into the area of town left by the PLFK
 - too late!

The Commandant's effort to help the Relief company by advancing the militia and tribesmen, supported by his own 3rd Platoon, struck empty air (the 2" range rule for built up areas), nor was he prepared to commit them to action once the Relief Column Company had fallen back.

Situation at the close of the action. 
Imperial and loyalist troops still hold 50% of the town, but that hold is none too secure

Recalling his troops, he began to set his mind about how he might yet retrieve the situation.

At this point, as if by mutual consent, the action (game) ended.  I was never quite sure whether the subsequent discussion between Brian and me was by way of a roleplay, debrief, or a claim (by him) for victory.  I knew I had fallen short, and had already a pretty good idea why (a certain rustiness with the rules contributed more to my style of play, but it was that tactical misjudgement at the end of the day that proved the turning point, I think), but to the Arch-Mullah's offer of safe passage provided the Imperial troops quit the town, I (and the Colonel) was disinclined to accept.  The situation was bad, and night fighting would have been a problem against the fanatical Brotherhood of the Faithful (that Morale 12 thing - the Regulars were rated at 9, which was pretty good, but 12 is near unstoppable).  All the same, I felt that the Colonel - as I chose to portray him - would stand to his duty.  At that, he still had something to fight with, and even had he lost the town, I now feel that he would have had enough in hand to own the surrounding desert...

At any rate, Brian rated the day's result as a draw, which seems to me about right.  One of the upshots of the day's action was the report sent in to the Harad Imperial Army Capital Headquarters suggesting a thorough recalibration of the sights for the main armament of the Saladin armoured cars.  Their shooting performance was dismal all day - both sides, which suggested to Colonel Mustafa Mustash the answer to the mystery whence the PLFK got their ARVs. 

Overall, that was one of the most complicated and enjoyable games I've had in quite a while.  Great fun! 

Border Incident at Oasis Hakeem - Part 3

As the Garrison ARV (Saladin) Company rounded the east end of town, they could see in the distance the Khand Separatists (PLFK) close to and about to enter the central business area of the town.  Of greater interest, they could also discern beneath a crawling cloud of dust a sizeable group of technicals streaming off towards the southeast.  Farther off still, a mortar group seemed to be preparing fire positions.

.

About a mile - 1600 meters -  due south of their position,  a squadron-sized group of ARVs (Armoured Reconaissance Vehicles - Saladin Armoured Cars) seemed to be milling about - clearly they would be out of action for a while.

    The Squadron commander gave the order to  advance; the tribesmen took up the challenge; and soon a brisk clash of vehicles developed in the desert southeast of Oasis Hakeem.  Helped by the PLFK Saladins' HEAT rounds coming in upon the Imperialist flank -  the Khandist Separatists having rallied betimes -  the tribesmen soon got the upper hand.

A touched up picture depicting the loss of vehicles on both sides...

The tribesmen have lost their RCL-carriers, but the Garrison Squadron more than two-thirds of their strength

Before long the desert was littered with burning vehicles, but most of those were the Imperialist ARVs.  Defeated, more than two-thirds of the Squadron lying in wrecks across the desert, the scant remnants fell back to the east end of the town.

The Diesela Khann tribesmen were reluctant to follow.  A good quarter of their own vehicles were no better than scrap metal, they had lost most of the limited anti-armour capability they began with, and they had received good reason to apprehend a team of TOW weapons at large in the eastern suburbs.  They would stay for now right where they were...

Meanwhile, the Diesela Khann's Heavy Group, after their initial success against the Relief Column ARVs (see previous postings), had come under fire from the lorry drawn RCLs.   The ARV Squadron had moved forward under the lee of a projecting part of the town, discovering as they did so the Relief Column's RCLs deployed and ready.  In a trice, the Heavy Technicals had lost most of their vehicles.  The survivors fell back to the Village of the Unbelievers, and there set about restoring order to the few survivors. 

Out in the desert the Mullah had sent his team of mortars, together with a band of porters carrying extra ammunition.  This group was to prove of minor nuisance value throughout the day.

The action in the town had by this time sputtered out into a lull.  To begin with, the firefight between the Desert riders, assisted by the Garrison's 1st Platoon against the Mullah's Faithful had ended with some success for the Loyalists.  But the advent of the PLFK swung the fight in favour of the Insurrectionists.  The tribesmen drew back further into the middle of the town, some even emerging out the north side, and the Garrison Platoon fell back, badly hurt.

Second Platoon replaced the 1st, but it, too, found the going tough, and soon rejoined the Garrison Company at the Military Government compound.

Colonel Mustafa Mustash was reluctant yet to commit his 3rd Platoon.  Although his hitherto piecemeal commitment went rather against his instincts, he realised that he had to support his allies whilst at the same time maintain a secure hold upon the compound buildings.

The confused situation in the town

PLFK Saladins waiting. 
In the distant haze, Imperial ARVs are rapidly approaching

As his regulars and militia continued their advance through the bazaar and the western residential areas a lull also developed in the surrounding desert after the defeat of Mustafa's ARVs.  They remained nevertheless a force in being, however weakened.  But now a new element entered the arena.  The Relief Column's ARVs were now sweeping from the west side into the open spaces south of the town.

The stalled Diesela Khann Light Group. 
Out of the picture to the left, Imperial ARVs
 are sweeping behind them. 

The PLFK Saladin Company, still rallying a kilometre to the southeast, soon saw in the distant haze west of them the approaching clouds that heralded a fast-moving force.   The Diesela Khann Light Group, looking back, also saw them.  Disorganised by their earlier victory, and reluctant to commit themselves to further action for the moment, they hoped that maybe - just maybe -  the Imperial ARVs would pass them by...

To be continued...

Border Incident at Oasis Hakeem - Part 2.

Clear to the Military Governor, Lt-Col Mustafa Mustash, that a confrontation was not only inevitable, but imminent, he quickly formed and communicated his plans.  The narrow streets being no place for his armoured cars and larger vehicles, they would have to operate in the desert outskirts of the town.
Right.  The loyalist Citizen's Defence militia, already assembled amongs the storage sheds and loading bays in the Northwest sector of the town, he instructed to sweep in a southeaster direction, through the bazaar and in towards the commercial district (see Map).  The Relief Column's Motorised Company, less the mule, would drop in behind the militia, but carry on a sweep down the West Side, swinging eastwards towards the Arch-Mullah's lair: the Mosque.  The remainder of the column would protect their desert flank whilst carrying out what the Commandant hoped would be the right pincer of his plan of envelopment.

The following sketch map outlines the Military Governor's plan, and the manner in which he expected (hoped) events would develop...

Meanwhile, the Garrison Armoured Car Squadron would move at once to the east end of town, and, sweeping around it would engage whatever motorised enemy they found.  In support of them, he sent his TOW platoon.    When further clouds of dust and sand boiled up from the south, the Colonel once had recourse to his well-known fatalism: the wine was drawn - he was no very abstemious man - and now must be drunk.  Besides: those technicals, lacking in armour, they'd be no match for his Saladins, surely...?

[Picture: the Lighter Group of Diesela Khann tribesmens' technicals head for the west side of the town...]

Before resuming the narrative, it behoves me to outline the forces available.  Note that Brian has posted this encounter on his own blogspot (See 'Fistful of Plastic' in the links list to the right), and details the manner in which the scenario was presented to me.  When looking over the various forces before making my choice, I did not know that I was looking at only part (about 2/3 to 3/4) of the final strength of any of them; the motorised tribesmen and their technicals were not on the table at all, and I was not told of the possible consequences of my choice (shifting alliances and what have you).  That made for an involving beginning, right there.  Having made a choice (based on what toys seemed to be available), then I was briefed as to the general and overall situation.

It meant you were suddenly faced with unexpected complications, and had to stretch the resources available to deal with them.  An interesting way to begin, and already I found myself thinking in terms of the situation as a problem, and how to tackle it with the resources at hand.  Instead of  listing these TO&Es in Command decision format, I'll use platoon or Company, or similar expressions.

[Picture: The Relief Column begins to carry out its orders, but is at once confronted by the Diesela Khann's Heavy Technicals in the distance.  In the brisk exchange of fire that follows, the Imperialists lose a third of their Saladin armoured cars.]

The forces available to or loyal to the Imperial Government were:
1. Imperial Garrison, Regular Army troops commanded by Lt-Col Mustafa Mustash himself:
        - Infantry Company of 3 platoons and a platoon-sized TOW team;
        - Armoured Car Company (Squadron) of 3 troops.

2. Loyalist Citizens' Protection Militia
        - Company-sized force, trained in arms, but neither as confident or as well armed as Regulars.

[Picture: Regular garrison troops begin their sweep: 1st Platoon directly towards the Mosque; and the TOW team to the east of the town (the arrow was knocked...).  Cautiously, the Commandant retains 2 platoons within his compound...]

3. Relief Column, Regular Army troops, commanded by Major Tirif Iqbal:
        - Lorried Infantry Company, with a platoon-sized unit of mechanical mule-mounted TOW weapons attached;
        - Squadron Saladin Armoured Cars;
        - Support Company with two troops of towed 106mm recoilless (RCL) rifles;

4. Desert tribesmen mounted on horses and camels - about company strength.

[Picture: The Garrison Saladin Company moves to the east end of town (the 'full advance' arrow token),  The faint arrow you see rounding the eastern outskirts is the intended further move by these vehicles.  Col Mustash planned a pincer movement.]

About to confront them in a contest for command of the Oasis Hakeem, was a polyglot but powerful force gathered under the overall leadership of the Arch-Mullah Addullah Dafullah:
1. Brotherhood of the Faithful - a band of highly experienced and fanatical (Morale 12) fighters:
         - a strong company-sized force of gunmen and infiltrators (3 infantry and 2 patrol stands)
         - a troop of 81mm mortars with extra ammunition being carried by a platoon of porters.

2. People's Liberation Front of Khand (PLFK)
         - Company of  infantry with a platoon-sized RPG-7 team attached;
         - Company of Saladin Armoured Cars.

[Picture: the PLFK forces press up against the southeastern CBD; the loyalist mounted tribesmen having faded betimes within its back streets and alleys.  The PLFK foot followed them in, but the Saladins could not follow.  In the brisk firefight was to develop shortly within the town,  the loyalists  - the tribesmen supported by the Garrison's 1st Platoon - got the better of the firefight, and contained the PLFK in a fairly confined sector.  The PLFK armoured cars withdrew discreetly about a kilometer of so south of the town.]

3. Diesela Khann Motorised Tribesmen:
         - Light Group of technicals with 3xHMG platoons and a 106mm RCL platoon;
         - Heavy Group of technicals with 2x40mm AGL and one 106mm RCL platoon.

[Picture: the Light Technicals of the Diesela Khann tribesmen sweepng around the southwest corner of the town]

First blood went to the insurgents, when Major Iqbal's armoured cars came under a brisk fire at about 1200 meters from truck mounted RCLs.  Their return fire ineffectual - a feature of the shooting be Imperial Saladins all day - the armoured cars moved forward into an angle in the town's outskirts, the duel being taken up by the Relief Column's towed RCLs...

To be continued...

Border Incident at Oasis Hakeem - Part 1

The PA loudspeakers crackled dustily into life.

"Citizens of Oasis Hakeem!  This is Commandant Mustafa Mustash speaking.  Owing to continued unrest and public disturbances in recent days I am declaring a state of Martial Law, effective forthwith!  Citizens!  You are required to retire into your homes and off the streets.  My men will be making a sweep of the town in fifteen minutes.  The law abiding will of course obey this ordinance at once; those still in the streets after those fifteen minutes will risk being detained and questioned as suspected insurrectionists.  Armed dissent will be met with armed force.  That is all."

The PA clonked into silence.  A halcyon haze seemed to descend upon the desert town; a peaceful, somnolent air that belied the seething factional passions that were about to burst into violence...

This weekend just gone, Brian (A fist full of Plastic) and I got together for a bit of a stoush based on his Harad project.  It seems that political and religious unrests and discontents were reaching a head in the remote desert town of Oasis Hakeem (Hakim), sufficiently serious for the local Governor-Commandant Lieut-Col Mustafa Mustash to call his superiors at the Provincial Capital to send him help.

During the morning of dd/mm/1979, the situation was indeed complex: the Commandant, with his company of regulars in the Police Compound cum Governor's HQ, another of militia and a company (squadron) of Saladin armoured cars, was alert, ready for trouble.  But so was the Arch-Mullah Abdullah Dafullah and his fanatical horde of fighters, swarming in and around the mosque in the south of the town.   Just outside the town, a group of armed desert riders uneasily debated among themselves their options and loyalties.

As the Government and Insurrectionist forces waited tensely for the spark that would ignite the flame of armed rebellion and repression, the situation suddenly became more volatile and, for the harassed Commandant, more complicated and difficult.  Beneath the dust cloud approaching from the northwest no doubt rattled the relief column he had requested from the Provincial Governor the morning before.

Well and good, but his relief was unpleasantly alloyed by word arriving of a mobile column approaching at speed from the southeast.   Khandist Separatists!   They could be none else.  As matters now stood, it was clear that the renegade Arch-Mullah had contracted some sort of traitorous deal with them...

The worthy Colonel, getting on in years, and aware that his Governorship was the plateau of a career that could never more aspire to greater heights, was fatalistically determined nevertheless to carry out his duties as he saw them.  Entrusted to defend the town against enemies within and without, and to maintain the rule of law and order, that would he do.

That the band of armed desert riders had responded to his PA announcement by a offer of help, he accepted with thanks to Allah the All-merciful - an unlooked for aid in time of need.  Perhaps he could quell this insurrection after all...

Such was the situation (more or less) as Brian presented, having laid out the table at the Woolston Club with the terrain and forces you see in the pictures.  Then he offered me the choice of any of the forces - Separatists, Insurrectionists, Desert Riders, Garrison or Relief Column.  Had I examined them in a different order I would probably have chosen differently.  The Relief Column I saw last; the Relief column I chose.

Then Brian laid out the remainder of the forces... I should explain right here that everything you see, bar the Club's base cloth, was from Brian's collection: terrain, vehicles and figures. 

All I had to do was figure out how I was going to handle this situation.  Well: I had made a start.  The PA announcement I had suggested proved plausible, and had brought in the horsemen (a die roll), an unexpected bonus...

To be continued...