The 2nd Anglo Boer War broke out in 1899, after the failure of the Bloemfontein Conference when Boer irregulars and militia attacked colonial settlements in nearby British colonies. Starting in October 1899, the Boers placed Ladysmith, Kimberley, and Mafeking under siege, and won a string of victories at Colenso, Magersfontein and Stormberg. In response to these developments, increased numbers of British Army soldiers were brought to Southern Africa, and mounted largely unsuccessful attacks against the Boers.
In response to the mobility of the Boer the British maximised their own use of mounted forces, and this the North Durham Yeomanry were brought up to strength and shipped to the Cape, being subsequently deployed in "bandit country"
My games will focus on those legendary enemies Kommandant Quincy Van Trompe and 2nd Lieutenant Herbert Farthingdale.
Its January 1899. A British Expeditionary force under General Buller is intent on marching straight up the railway line to relieve the siege at Ladysmith. The North Durhams have sent out the Yeomanry along the Tugela river. I expect some skirmishing. |
| Table needs some work! |
BRITISH FORCES
MARK YOUR TARGETS!: Each British Regulars unit does not take Fatigue to perform its first Defensive Fire each turn.
Lieutenant Leader 0 Pts
Repeater Pistol Move 4”
Cmd. Range 8” Cmd. Pts. 1
TRUE GRIT: May reroll failed Melee Save results.
SHOOT 6 (10”)
MELEE 6
SHOOT/SAVE 5
MELEE/SAVE 7
RESOLVE 5
INITIATIVE. 1
A typical British Junior Officer.
North Durham Yeomanry,
Mounted Infantry. 7pts
Repeater Rifle Move 4”
CAVALRY - Free advance.
TRUE GRIT: May reroll failed Melee Save results.
SHOOT 7/6 Unlimited
MELEE 6
SHOOT/SAVE 7/6
MELEE/SAVE 6/7
RESOLVE 5
UPGRADES
NCO UPGRADE 5 PTS.
Designate a single model to be a Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO).
The NCO’s unit counts as being in command range as long as this model is still part of it.
A In Formation with an NCO gains a -1 bonus to its Resolve.
The NCO can maximise the Leaders command by taking control of a unit.
MUSICIAN UPGRADE 10 PTS.
Add a single model to the Leader unit to act as a Musician.
The Leader’s command range is doubled while this model is part of the unit.
Armed as modeled.
Extends a Leader's Command effectiveness over the noise of Battle.
The North Durhams
Lt Herbert Farthingdale. @0
Sergeant Proudpole @5
1st Troop 8 men. @56
2nd Troop 7 men @49
3rd Troop 7 men @49
Royal Yeomanry Artillery. 15pdr. @30
Mounted Infantry. 6pts
ABL Rifle Move 4”
CAVALRY - Free advance.
Ruthless
SHOOT 7/6 Unlimited
MELEE 7
SHOOT/SAVE 7/6
MELEE/SAVE 6/7
RESOLVE 6
Veteran Burghers, upgrade to Marksmen @1pt. Upgrade to Mauser Repeater @ 1pt
Kommandant. @15
LEADER 15 PTS.
Repeater Rifke Move 4”
Cmd. Range 8” Cmd. Pts. 2
TRUE GRIT: May reroll failed Melee Save results.
SHOOT 7/6 Unlimited
MELEE 6
SHOOT/SAVE 7/6
MELEE/SAVE 6/7
RESOLVE 5
Kornet (as NCO) @5
The Boer
Kommandant van Trompe @15
Kornet van Satchmoe. @5
1st Groep. 6 men the burghers, upgraded. @48
2nd Groep. 6 men, the veterans upgraded @48
3rd Groep 6 men, the old fellas, upgraded @48
4th Groep 6 men, the boys, not upgraded @36
Scenarios
I like the "objectives" idea in Blood and Steel but also feel it needs some scenarios that reflect the theatre of operations.
1. The Armoured Train
2. The Blockhouse
3. Piet's farm
4. The drift
5. The Kopje
6. The Veldt
Additional Actions
Rapid Fire
Empties the units magazines in a "mad minute." The group may aim and fire twice in succession for two initiatives during this turn. Each Rifle armed British unit may order this once per game. The Mauser armed Boer may use this for the whole game.
Because of the differences between the Lee Enfield /Lee Metford rifles used by the Imperials and the Mauser many of the Boer used the latter seem to have had a much higher rate of fire. The Lee rifles reloaded cartridges singly into the magazine, the Kaiser used a clip.
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