Last game in 2023 - Mandara 13 March 1801 (part 2 of Aboukir & Mandara)

 I outlined the start of the British invasion of Egypt in 1801 in my previous post, which you can see here.

This post covers the battle of Mandara, as the British push on to the Egyptian capital of Alexandria.  

Firstly, here's the map again:

The game uses the top 4 rows of squares, with the British deployed in three columns, needing to cross the difficult terrain and drive the French from the ridge.  If the British took casualties at Aboukir (as I did) you can recover some of these (as I didn't) when you deploy your troops for the start.

Starting positions - the British all deploy in column.  Orange cubes = devastating volleys - some British troops were ex-militia, so not as great at firing as the regulars (thus don't get the devastating volley bonus). 

In the middle of the picture you can see the British guards (green cube = aggressive, blue cube = spent, orange cube = devastating volleys).  This unit had suffered in the landing and taken 66% casualties, this did affect the British in the second game as this was the best unit.

The British slowly move forward.  The disordering terrain meant that it took forever to close with the French and start to deploy into line.  The British only have 5 turns to take the objectives, 4 turns if they had taken an extra turn at Aboukir.

The battle was then in two halves.  The British left struggled to deploy and then assault the French right on the ridge.

The British right managed to close with the French left in the ruins, but the French inflicted enough shots to disrupt the British and slow the assault.

General view at turn three/four - British advances on the right not matched on the left.

A view of the British rear, showing units that had to retreat and recover from the left hand assault.

The battle ended in a draw, the British took the ruins, but failed to take the ridge or clear the road to Alexandria.  

Conclusion

This was a really fun game, two medium sized battles setting different problems for both sides.  The British out-number the French 2:1, but need to be aggressive if they are to take objectives in the given time.  The British keenly felt the losses taken by the Guards brigade, who were their biggest and best unit.

Highly recommended and many thanks to Mark for a diverting couple of hours!

Last game in 2023 - Aboukir 8 March 1801 (part 1 of Aboukir & Mandara)

 The last game of 2023 was put on by the excellent Mark Smith from his forthcoming Africa Scenario book - Aboukir & Mandara.  

These linked battles are the amphibious assault upon the French in Egypt and subsequent start of the march towards the Egyptian capital of Alexandria.  

The British forces were led by Sir Ralph Abercrombie and featured good inter-service co-operation on the British team between the Navy and the Army, meticulous planning and professionalism for one of the most complicated military operations that can be undertaken - invasion of an enemy occupied coast.

Firstly, here's the map - we used the bottom half for the Aboukir game.

On the day we used the bottom three rows for the Aboukir game, with the French lurking in the sand hills in the middle of the map, the Army assaulting from right to left, backed up by the British fleet firing over the top of the assault boats.  Very D-Day Normandy.....

Here's the set-up:

British boats lined up ready to start, the single 3 decker represents the Navy giving covering fire.

Row boys, row!  Boats could travel using the normal BBB rules - full move 9" and 6" half move, with a low risk of swamping and taking casualties.

The British have reached the shore and some units are already charging inland, whilst others are still arriving.

Once ashore, the British piled into the French.

The centre British unit took casualties on the way in and then got hammered by the French, so have retreated into the surf to recover.  More of this later.

The French retreating away from the beach.

This part of the game was completed in 4 turns and resulted in a British victory.  It was not one-sided, as the boats took casualties going in and once they had landed, especially as the French could avoid the Naval support by staying on the land side of the dunes.

It was a really fun game, with plenty of excitement and interest as the boats crossed the bay and the Brits stormed ashore.  Apart from the ships and small boats, all the troops were standard British and French models.

So - on to part 2 ....