British Operations In darfur 1916
A wargamer's Guide
Darfur Scenario 1:
The Wells
Situation: 18
May 1916. The Sultan, Ali Dinar,
has sided with the Ottoman Turks and so is in open rebellion against the
Governor of Sudan. He is assembling
his forces at his capital, el Fasher in Darfur.
A British led column, the western or Darfur Field Force has been
despatched to deal with this threat.
The Sultan’s forces have been withdrawing in front of the
British for two days skirmishing to buy time for the main army to assemble.
The Wells are vital to both sides The British need the water to continue
their advance otherwise the column will fail its objective while the Sultan’s
forces need the water to mount any sort of a counter attack and also they need
to deny the water to the British column thus forcing them back.
Ground: The wells lie in a small
cluster of buildings that are largely ruined.
Around the buildings are a few trees and bushes.
These desert water-holes have small openings about two feet square to prevent
sand falling in and the water lies at considerable depths. The water is
drawn up in a skin bladder on the end of a long thin rope and it takes
considerable skill to bring up sufficient water to sustain the men and animals
in a column.
The ground around the Wells is undulating desert with stony outcrops and
occasional patches of soft sand.
British Forces:
2 Command figures, 2 companies of the Camel Corps, 1 company of
mounted infantry, 1 mule carried Maxim
gun platoon, 1 supply camel company carrying water, rations and ammunition,
1 DH2 biplane
.
British Mission: to capture and hold the Wells.
Execution: The
Camel troops may enter from the east end of the table while the mule and pony
mounted troops may enter behind them or at any point within 24” of the north
eastern corner. This order is to be
written before the British player sees the table!
The graveyard is regarded as Holy Ground.
Sultan’s Forces:
2 command figures, 1 banner, 2 bands of cavalry or camelry, 3 bands of
foot (mainly spears and a few rifles), women, baggage, flocks and herds.
Sultan’s Mission:
to hold the Wells. It is not
permitted to destroy or foul the water.
.
Execution: The
infantry may be dug in or in fortified houses.
Any troops occupying positions or houses must be marked on the map.
You may not occupy the graveyard.
Playing the game:
·
Set
up the playing area as shown.
·
The British write their plan and order of arrival.
·
The Sultan’s forces write the location of any concealed troops and then deploy
their forces.
·
When the British are spotted the Sultan’s forces may react the following turn.
Flocks may be driven at the rate of an Average Dice in
inches per turn.
The Umpire may place the graveyard anywhere within 6” of
the ruins at the Wells.
Special Rules:
The Sultan’s cavalry at the Wells take 1 turn to get
ready and another to mount.
An attack by the DH2 forces a morale test on the Sultan’s
troops.
Winning the game:
The side that possesses the Wells with no enemy within
24” at the end of the game is the winner.
The British may claim a marginal success if they hold the
Wells but the Sultan’s forces are within 24”.
The Sultan’s forces may claim a marginal success if they
hold the Wells but the British forces are within 24”.
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