A Desperate Defence!

To end the year's gaming here in GHQ Phil and I decided on a return to the Sub-Continent and to our Tales from Pendawar imagination games, pitting Lord Rawnsley and the forces deployed to the Pendawar Presidency against the rebellious and cunning Typoo Bykha, the Tygre of Pendawar! The scenario I developed sees Typoo with very much a scratch force caught napping by Lord Rawnsley's bold advance. In 12 Turns Typoo must prevent Rawnsley exiting one Regular Unit through the gates of the Old Red Fort, while also avoiding outright defeat if possible! As usual, an annotated photomontage follows hopefully capturing for the reader the tension generated by both General's attempts to wresting a win to end the year ~

Lord Rawnsley deploys his small Light Cavalry Brigade supported by his Light horse Artillery to cover his left flank. Scouting has not revealed any enemy to his front and he is hopeful of getting behind Typoo's right flank.

His main thrust will be by his two infantry Brigades, the Pendawar Presidency's Brigade on the left, his Regular Brigade on his right. They are supported by elephants drawn 12lbers. His objective, the Old Red Fort, can just be seen in the far distance.

Typoo has been caught unprepared by Rawnsley. Hurriedly he has mustered whatever forces are locally available. He has one stroke of fortune in that Rawnsley's scouts have not been able to penatrate his right flank. The Great Gun of Bhyklabad and the Voluntaires de Bykli are not quite alone...

Bhurpa hill tribesmen are luckily in the area. Gold changes hands and they mount their hardy hill horses ready to join the fray...at least for now.

Typoo's best chance lies in directly opposing Rawnsley's infantry advance in terrain which favours his bands of fanatical Badmash and more Hill Tribesmen. They have few muskets but many wicked looking two handed swords and the like!

The Hill Tribesmen are sent by Typoo to protect his left flank, where a break in the inhospitable forest may allow formed infantry to turn his flank.

What Rawnsley's scouts have failed to detect are elements of the Raja's Guard ~ his foot and mounted Household Guards and Heavy Artillery on Typoo's right blocking any planned attack in that area.

Typoo is heavily out gunned and outnumbered, so decides attack is his best option. Coordination of such a motley force is of course a serious problem, but every check to Rawnsley's advances buys Typoo more time.

Discovering too late that his left flanking move is opposed, Rawnsley deploys his Light Horse Artillery to drive off the enemy gunners. The Pendawar Peacocks stand ready to take advantage while the 20th Light Dragoons protect their flank from surprise attack.

Typoo sends elements of the mounted Hill Tribesmen attack the advancing Native Infantry. Although Disordered by ragged closing fire they charge home! Sadly they cannot break the Sepoys and fall back!

Their losses were not in vain though as a band of Typoo's fanatical Badmash smash into the fragile Sepoy line, which breaks under the whirlwind attack!

Buoyed up by bloodlust the Fanatical Badmash rush headlong into the South Essex who fail to deploy into line. Vicious hand to hand fighting sees the South Essex Broken. Rawnsley's attack is breaking down all too soon.

Threatened by the Badmash's victories the Heavy Artillery withdraws towards safety on the left flank leaving the wavering Native Infantry unsupported as they press their attack.

The Voluntaires de Bykli drawn up in Firing line emerge from the undergrowth blocking their line of attack. Despite being outnumbered Typoo's defence is proving resilient and frustrates Rawnsley's plans at every juncture.

A firefight between the Voluntaires and the leading elements of Rawnsley's infantry proves drawn out and indecisive. Losses mount slowly for both sides, losses Typoo can sorely afford.

Despite his considerable numerical advantage Rawnsley just cannot get the breakthrough he seeks. The dogged defence of the Voluntaires is aided now by the Foot elements of the Raja's Household Guards. 

Despite successes against the Native Infantry the Badmash fanatics are caught exhausted by the Pendawar Native Grenadiers. They have little fight left in them and are destroyed in a brief but bloody fight. Rawnsley is at last making progress towards his goal of the Old Red Fort.

His Heavy Artillery can now deploy ready to support the final attack which Rawnsley hopes will break Typoo's resistance and open the route to victory.

Typoo throws the last of his reserves in the centre in a mad, headlong attack to break the advancing enemy. The mounted Hill Tribesmen fail to charge home!

And the remaining Badmash fanatics are beaten and driven off in route. Typoo has lost his first Brigade and his centre is open to attack.

Rawnsley's attempt to turn Typoo's left flank has not gone as well though. The Hindoostan Regiment has been caught in column by will charging Hill Tribesmen.  They regulars fight with grim determination, but cannot drive off their foe!

In an extended melee the Hindoostan Regiment are steadily driven back. Rawnsley is spared from defeat though as the heavy fighting in the centre finally sees a second of Typoo's Brigades Broken, and with it his resistance crumbles. 

It is Turn 10 and Rawnsley has two remaining Turns to exit a Regular Unit through the Old Red Fort and claim a decisive win. His nearest unit needs five moves in two turns. The dice roll and, would you believe it, a Blunder? One move to the right ends their and his chances of reaching his objective and claiming a hard fought win. So, despite loosing his army, Typoo claims a Draw by preventing Rawnsley achieving his objective. A desperate but enthralling defence indeed and a splendid day's wargaming with Phil to end the year here in GHQ!