Episode Three: "Clear the Pass!" A Mr. Babbage Adventure

So far it has been a confused and ferocious fight for the forces of the British Raj. A carefully planned operation to clear the pass fell into disarray with a group of stubborn tribesman holding a key piece of high terrain and the unexpected appearance of a large body of tribesman to their rear. 

At first I was going to have the Gordons as my first move and then decided to wait.

"Lads even though we are not moving first, we still look good!"

"Okay lads, that will be our objective to take that high ground when the Colonel gives the command to advance (or is he just using this as an excuse to take pictures?).

"Volley Fire!"

"We are definitely putting a hurt on them men - and another pin marker."

"Highlanders! The Colonel has ordered that we WILL take the high ground!"

"AAAIIIEEE - BAGPIPES!"

"Run Away!!!" (and they did get pinned)

Both the Lancers and Pioneers fire at the tribesman but to no effect.

The tribesmen are required to attempt a rally.

And they do remove one pin marker.

Another required rally - it's looking good for the Indian Army as the tribesmen cannot do anything except attempt to rally and remove the pin.

And they rally - but who has the high ground now?

The Pioneers come under more fire from the high ground . . .

To no effect.

The 1st Madras Pioneers move out and no tribesmen appear. Is the pass almost cleared?

"Volley Fire!"

 And that's all she wrote for these tribesman; but, since Mr. Amir Saiad Akbar Babbage is a wily opponent, the tribesmen will be recycled and appear randomly during their turn.

"We will advance and finish the buggers off!"

"Suh! Mission complete and no casualties!"

"Very good."

The lancers cover the rear of the 1st Madras Pioneers and stand ready to support the next movement of the 20th Punjabis.

"Gae et yaldi! Where did they come from?"

As expected more tribesmen - but these are shooters!

Anticipating an attack, Mr. Amir Saiad Akbar Babbage decides to have his shooters on the high ground attack the 20th Punjabis.

The 20th Punjabis are still in close order and easily see off their now pinned enemy. Yep, looking good for the Indian Army.

And then disaster struck!

"See I told you they were wearing underwear under their kilts!" (Gratuitous and blatant reference to the hilarious movie Up The Khyber. If you game the NW Frontier, it's required viewing!)

" Well the haggis has really hit the fan."

Next time: Disaster for the Indian Army?

Episode Two: "Clear the Pass!" A Mr. Babbage Adventure

 

Melton Prior: "Dr. Watson. I thought you send the 20th Punjabis were part of this columns?

Dr. (Captain) Watson: "They are."

Melton Prior: "Then what unit is that?"

Dr. (Captain) Watson: "Why that is the The Queen's Own Guides, Infantry, Punjab Frontier Force. Oh. I see what you mean."

Yep. I've got the wrong unit on the battlefield.

The Queen's Own Guides, Infantry, Punjab Frontier Force.

Now entering the field of battle (and should have been there from the beginning), The 20th (Duke of Cambridge's Own) ( Punjab) Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry.

Now that I got that sorted out, on with Turn 2!

The Gordon's move (finally).

"Laddie! Get you're @#*&%#$ drum pointing in the right direction!"

"Yes Corporal."

More Tribal shooters appear to block the movement of the skirted devils.

With a resounding blast of the bugle, the 10th Bengal Lancers get to show the Tribal Infantry (which has a pin marker) what a real charge looks like.

"AAAIIIEEE AND OUCH", scream the tribesmen as they do their performance art as a pin cushion"

And that's all she wrote. But Mr. Babbage has a way of bringing Tribesmen back.

The 20th Punjabis (the REAL 20th Punjabis) fire at the tribesmen on the high ground in the rocks but to no effect.

The 1st Madras Pioneers continue their march with their tools of the trade.

Yikes! Tribesmen have worked their way behind the Pioneers.

Yikes! A huge force of Tribal hack and slash guys supported by Tribal shooters are behind them!

"Fire!"

"Okay. Next time we shoot at the Highlanders, use bullets, not just powder."

Meanwhile on the other side of the battlefield, the 20th Punjabis are charged.

The 20th Punjabis have to give ground, but are not pinned, after a brutal melee.

More bad news to come as the 1st Madras Pioneers come under fire from the Tribesmen firmly established on the high ground to their right. Captain Hugh "Hughie" Templeton Cottontale Broswell - Smythe, Royal Engineers, takes a bullet in the wrong spot that stops all of his bodily functions, to include breathing and the heart pumping blood. Well, his Leadership trait was weakling as if he was a strong, British officer he would have just sucked it up.

"Hee hee hee. We've got the high ground."

The situation at the end of Turn 2 which was not good for the Indian Army.

"Form Close Order!" yells the Subader Major - "And fix bayonets."

(Karma. I discussing the Leadership Trait "Musketry" for the 20th Punjabis and wrote that I doubt that they will need to go to Close Order. In hindsight, the majority of my games of TMWWBKs have featured the Indian Army of the British Raj against the Russian Imperial Army. Two modern forces that would cut to ribbons with fire any unit in Close Order . . .)

The Gordons continue to move toward the Tribal Shooters on the high ground.

"Uh boss. They are getting closer - and you know what large weapons they have!"

As the lancers move to support their brethren in the rear, the Madras Pioneers fire at the enemy on the high ground. 

Score one for the Pioneers! In addition to a casualty, the unit gets pinned (whew!).

The Situation at the end of the Indian Army's turn.

Dang they rallied. That didn't take long.

Sepoys of the 20th! There will be no retreat!

The 20th takes casualties but inflict more on the Tribesmen forcing them to retreat and pinning them.

Meanwhile, the shooters behind the Pioneers decide to shoot.

And another comrade falls. (No actual miniatures were harmed in the playing of this game.)

"Fire with bullets this time!"

Uh oh. Unexpected casualties but they are not pinned.

With a pause in the action, and the smell of pizza in the air, Melton Prior makes a sketch of the battlefield.

Next Time: Turn 4! (Really Colonel Obvious?) More thrills - More chills - and more Hollywood action!