The Anglo-Russian War: Skirmish at the Border, Part 1

The 21st Imperial Russian Frontier Guard Company is sent to interdict smugglers in Russian territory near the border of Afghanistan . . . or is it Russian territory? The map says so!

As mentioned in an earlier post, It was agreed that the Amu Darya River would form the border between Afghanistan and the Russian empire. Unfortunately the Pamir Boundary Commission did not adequately survey the Amu Darya river and there was no clear boundary between Russia, Afghanistan, and some of the Princely States of India to include the Princely State of Chaimbellistan . . .

A tributary of the Amu Darya River that flows through one of the rugged, but beautiful valleys into Chaimbellistan.  The 21st Guard Company is looking for ideal choke points to stop the bandits.

Our first encounter of what history would record as The Anglo-Russian War was fought using Skirmish Kings, one of the optional rules from The Men Who Would be Kings. Nothing changes in the basic rules using Skirmish Kings except there are no crew served weapons; the only difference is that the units are half sized. We though this would be ideal for starting with Scenario E: Run for the Hills! as a group of smugglers/bandits are bringing weapons, contraband, gold and you name it into the Princely State of Chaimbellistan.  But is it for rebels in Chaimbellistan or Russian territory? A small border skirmish with misunderstandings becoming a full fledged war? Who would have thought. 

The tributary flows out of the woods . . .

. . . into the rich and fertile farmlands of Chaimbellistan.

The Russians will be the attackers and the smuggler/bandits the defenders. Here are the Russian Forces:

1. Kapitan Karol Agorov's Section.

     a. Regular Infantry: 6 points.

     b. Elite (Discipline becomes +2): +1 point

     c. Fierce (Fighting becomes 4+): +1 point  

     d. Total Points: 8

Kapitan Karol Agorov

One of the aspects of The Men Who Would be Kings that is like is that you are never quite sure what kind of leader your units will be saddled with! The 21st are elite troops so let's roll a D6 on the Leadership Value (LV) table for Regulars and hope for the best . . . a "6"! The Kapitan has a LV of 5+ which is darn good. Now to the Leadership Traits table. The roll is a "3" and a "5" which makes him a Keen Shot; in other words, his section may reroll (once) a miss every time his unit fires. A good start for the the Russians.

1. Sergeant Onisim Zaytsev's Section.

     a. Regular Infantry: 6 points.

     b. Elite 

     c. Fierce (Fighting becomes 4+): +1 point  

     d. Total Points: 8

Sergeant Onisim "Papa" Zaytsev

The roll for the LV also ends up giving Sergeant Zaytsev a LV of 5+.  And his Leadership Trait is "Destined for Greatness". Yep. This is a long term soldier who knows how to fight! His unit can make a free action and then test for a second (different) action every turn. Not looking good for the opposition. 

Speaking of the oppostion, all three Bandit groupd 

1. Bandit Group #1 and #2.

     a. Irregular Infantry: 4 points.

     b. Well Armed (Modern Rifles): +1 point

     c. Fieldcraft (not slowed by Difficult Terrain): +1 point  

     d. Total Points: 6 each.

I think I see a pattern here of a loaded die as each of the LV for Bandit Leader 1 and 2 are both +5. Bandit Leader #1's Leadership Trait is "Lucky" (reroll in entirety one set of dice in the game by any player once in the game) and Bandit Leader #2's Trait is Keen Shot (now where have we seen that before?)

Bandit Leader #1 personally checking the route.

2. Bandit Group #3. This is the group that has the goods. In addition they have a donkey and handler to represents the loot that adds no value to the unit and is simply used as a marker.

     a. Irregular Infantry: 4 points.

     b. Obsolete Rifles and no extras.

     c.. Total Points: 4

Bandit Group #3

And Bandit Leader #3 has a LV of 5+! I'm going to keep an eye on that die. And another Leadership Trait of Keen Shot. Okay, we are swapping out the dice.

The scenario is simple - the bandits start at one end of the table and need to get units of the other end. The Russians start with one unit each on the wide end of the table and need to stop them. Oh, I almost forget. There also happens to be a detachment from the 19th Punjabis (Regular Infantry, 6 points) escorting a British "tour" of the frontier.

The British delegation visiting a Chaimbellistan frontier fort near one of the towns near the border.

As the defenders the bandits setup first and must have at least one figure from each unit must be touching the table's edge.

Bandit Groups #1 and #3 are north of the river.

Bandit Group #2 is south of the river; Bandit Leader #2 is in the center of the group.

Now the 21st Frontier Company sets up and they must have at least one model touching the table edge. One unit must be in the half of the table that is closest to the bandits and the other unit must be on the other half furthest from the bandits on the opposite edge.

Sergeant Zaytsev's section is closest to the bandits on the southern side of the river since he is destined for greatness.

Captain Agorov is north of the river further away from the criminals.

The forces are in place and the stage is set. In the next part we find out:

1. Wow. Bandit Leader #1 is tough and ruthless.

2. Nothing like cold steel.

3. Should we go this way? No let's go this way. No let's go this way! We can't activate anyway.

4. Sergeant Zaytsev loves fighting bandits . . . wait, all of the bandits?