Isandlwana - the refight - 28mm wargame

 Evening All

Last night we took the opportunity to refight my Isandlwana scenario which was last fought over seven years ago in the old shed. A lot has changed since then , not least of which I have so many more Zulus painted (almost 1000 at last count), and as such it only seems right to share this with the larger readership and on the various forums.

Aside from the number of Zulus available I have also upgraded the terrain and tweaked the scenario rules. To all intents and purposes this is a new scenario and I felt it played much better and even gave a chance for the British to rewrite the history books.

The original post can be found HERE

The table for this game was L shaped with the two long edges each 15ft long. In the corner of the L lay the mountain top with the British cam nestled in its foothills.

Full table (game has started with Zulus advancing)

The British companies (6) were strung out as per history away from the camp, and Durnford's horse division lay in the Donga to the east. A lone Rocket battery occupied the gap between the Donga and the camp.

British Order of Battle

Number 2 Column -

Number 2 Column -	Commanded by Durnford 9+
11 Battery 7th Brigade R.A. - 3x 9pdr Rockets.	One Rocket Units
Sikhali Horse	One Unit Sikhali (Small Unit)
Edendale Troop - 50 men. Hlubi's Troop - 50 men.	Two Unit Boers (Small Unit)

Number 3 Column commanded by Colonel Glyn	Commanded by Glyn 9+
N Battery 5th Brigade R.A. - 2x 7pdr Guns	Two Artillery Battery
1/24th - 5 companies - 415 men.	5 units British Infantry
2/24th - 1 company and detachment - 180 men.	1 unit British Infantry
1/3rd Natal Native Contingent - 2 companies - 200 men	N/a
2/3rd Natal Native Contingent - 2 companies - 200 men	N/a
No.1 Squadron Mounted Infantry - 27 men. Natal Mounted Police - 34 men. Natal Carbineers - 29 men. Newcastle Mounted Rifles - 17 men. Buffalo Border Guard - 8 men.	Unit of Natal Mounted Police (Small) Unit Mounted Infantry (Small) (For game purposes this will be transferred to Number 2 Column)

 Notes: 

All Units have a local commander with a rating of 8+ thereby allowing each unit to act independently

All British regular units have the drilled ability ie they can make one order regardless of whether successful or not

All British regulars have the steady & stubborn ability

All Units have finite ammunition - if the unit rolls more 1's than 6's a firing pip is lost, Resupply can be made by runners to ammo wagons (two in camp)

Once British units have been shaken they may NOT rally. They can continue to fight but at a disadvantage.

Zulu Forces

Zulu Units and their approximate strengths.

Whilst searching for unit descriptions of the Zulu Army I discovered that an Impi is just a generic term for an Army/Regiments. Regiments were actually called IButho’s and these were made up of several units called Amaviyo’s.  Amaviyos ranged in size from fifty to three hundred men. The Amaviyo will become my standard warband and each warband will represent 300 warriors.

Zulu Forces (actual Deployment)

Right Horn
Regiment	Number of Men	Warbands
uDududu	1500	5
iMbube	500	2
iSangqu	1500	5

Left Horn
Regiment	Number of Men	Warbands
uVe	2000	7
iNgobamakhosi	6000	20

Centre
Regiment	Number of Men	Warbands
uNokhenke	2000	7
uKhandempemvu	2500	8
uMbonambi -	2000	8

The Zulus have a total of 52 units in play which gives them a 4 to 1 numerical advantage

 

Once a regiment has lost more than half its strength the regiment must retire. Zulu units may NOT rally once shaken

Cards for all of the Zulu Regiments were produced to aid identification of the units.

The Zulu player will receive one commander for each regiment. These are all +8 commanders.

Zulu units all have the initiative ability that allows them to move forward one move provided they have not been ordered.

All the Zulu units were standard warband units as described in the book  with no differention between married and unmarried units.

The Battle started with the Zulus bringing on 50% of each regiments forces (the remainder would join in turn 2) This was done so we could get them all on the table !!

As expected the rocket battery was quickly overrun in the first turn and the left horn swept into Durnford's horse in the Donga. Some of the mounted units got away, other weren't so lucky

The Zulu centre and right horn make their appearance...

The Donga was the scene of fierce action as the mounted units tried (badly) to make a fighting retreat. Had they been mounted they could have evaded the restless natives.

More Zulus appear on the field. It looked epic.

The hordes began to rush forward. Some desultory fire from the camp failed to hinder their progress.

The centre and right horn began to mass their attack against the besieged redcoats.

As the fight progressed the Zulu commanders taunted the defence....

 By now the Zulus had swarmed across the Donga eliminating 50% of Durnfords force. The Sikhali horse put up a brave stand but fell to the sharpened assegais

The British edged their way backwards to the camp. Hoping to trade distance for time.

The British prepared their volley fire..... 

A lone unit of Boers is forced to flee....

The Zulus crashed in and the line held, driving back the first wave.

But no sooner could they draw breath more Zulus were rushing forward.

As the Battle reached its climax the British had delivered withering fire on three of the opposing Zulu regiments forcing them to retire from the field.

With all three Zulu forces closing in the British were starting to falter. To begin with the British left collapsed as two companies succumbed to the spears

The right of the camp held firm and delivered more punishing fire on the Zulu force

Again the Zulus charged and again they were driven back.

But it was all too late - the loss of the British Left gave the Zulus the opportunity to hit units in the flank

By now the Zulu left horn had closed in for the spoils. Bouyed by their victory in the Donga they came steaming into the camp.

It was alost over...

The Zulu forces flooded into the camp

A gallant stand by the last two companies of redcoats. The King's Colour held aloft in the dying moments of battle.

A Zulu victory but at what price?

The British had managed to drive off just under 30% of the Zulu force. Was their a chance they could have done better? Possibly if the dice gods had been kind but this was not going to be their day.

More soon