The Battle of Nihayat Almataf: a Sudan scenario for Black Powder

 The day after the Phalanx show at St Helens Steve usually hosts a game and this year it was a very impressive Sudan game on a 12 x 6 table.  An Egyptian garrison was stationed at the river port of Nihayat Almataf.  They had been sending reports back to headquarters of an increase in the number of and severity of clashes with local tribesmen.  In the C.O.'s opinion "something was brewing", so he sent support forward; a brigade of mounted infantry, a brigade of infantry and a brigade of cavalry.  In addition, naval blue jackets were sent forward by Nile steamer and train.  The Egyptian commander had divided his force, part garrisoning Nihayat Almataf and part holding a village inland from the river.

The steamer and train move forward

The defenders of Nihiyat Almataf

The Dervish gather for the attack

People drew lots and as a result Chris commanded the Egyptians, David the British infantry and Will the mounted infantry and cavalry.  The Dervish forces were commanded by Dave, John and Andy, with Steve acting as umpire/advisor and I fulfilled the same role for the Imperial troops with the additional responsibility of command of the train and steamer.

Dave's contingent of Dervish were heading for the inland village and although Chris managed to stop the first wave a second one closed to contact.

This too was repulsed but a third attack proved more successful and a prolonged struggle for the village ensued.

Meanwhile Andy's dervish troops were attacking Nihayat Almataf.  After a prolonged struggle the dervish managed to seize control of the Victoria Hotel, which served as the Egyptian HQ.

The Egyptian reserve unit attempted to retake the hotel but failed totally.  The British commanders did not win many friends among the Egyptian troops by deciding to halt, deploy  and form a firing line behind the front line positions.  This gave them a clear field of fire but did little to help the Egyptian troops who were overwhelmed unit by unit.

What of the naval troops?  Well this particular day the dice gods decided that my command dice would roll high.  This meant that neither the train nor the steamer had more than 1 action per turn.  Coupled with a restriction on the steamer (which was to represent the flow of the Nile) this meant that the infantry out-marched both types of powered transport.  Needless to say there were several comments from Chris, Dave and Will suggesting that I needed to "put a bit more coal on".  

By the time we had to stop play the inland village had fallen to the dervish, the Egyptian forces were all but wiped out, but the British line was established and had beaten off an attack by John's camelry.  British troops were in Nihayat Almataf and the train and steamer had almost reached the station and landing stage.

All in all an excellent day and many thanks to Steve for setting up the scenario.  All being well we will all meet up once again next June.

Phalanx 2026

 This year's traditional Gentlemen Pensioners outing to the Phalanx Show at St Helens took place last weekend.  We were blessed with the usual good weather and once again members of the club were on hand to help with transporting troops and scenery to the table.

There were a good selection of games on offer and photographs of a selection of them follows.

Liverpool Wargames Association had a very well represented Ramillies game

Old Guard Wargamers put on a Zorndorf SYW game using Rank and File rules

Close by were All Independent 54mm Wargames Club with an eye-catching Culloden game

Also eye-catching was the Furness Warlords game naval game with some very impressive fortifications

East Lancashire Wargames Association provided a Samurai game

Hobbyshed had an Operation Sealion game with a touch of "Dad's Army" using Bolt Action rules

Beacon Gaming Club presented the Battle of Nantwich from the English Civil War using their own version of the "Pikeman's Lament" rules.

Our game was a "what if" scenario from the 2nd Barons War, set just before Evesham.  The result often depending on the survival of the rival commanders.

My thanks, as ever, to my fellow 'pensioners' and members of the public who helped/joined in the game.  Andy, Chris, David, Jim, John, John, Neil, Peter and Steve.  Also Dave who provided the vital tea/coffee to keep us hydrated.

We had a good day and the bring and buy seemed as busy as usual, but generally attendance seemed down on previous years.  Certainly, after lunch the hall was noticeably quieter.  The Spartans put a lot of hard work to run the show and hopefully it will continue for a long time. 

Partizan 2026

 Once again Steve and I made our way south and east to Newark for the Partizan show.  We set off an hour later than in the past and timed our arrival to perfection; there was no queue waiting to gain admission.  A glance at the car park when we arrived showed that the show was as popular as ever and when we got inside we could see that this popularity was fully justified with a brilliant collection of demo and participation games and a broad range of traders.  Not only that but it also provides for that other vital part of the hobby, the social side.  It gives many the one chance in the year to meet up with friends in person and catch up on what they have been working on.

What follows is a selection of the photographs I took, it reflect my interest in historical gaming and there is a bias towards the larger sort of game, the ones I aspire to.  These are in no particular order.

First, the Ruckusteers Border Reivers

Westbury Gamers, Minden

The Iron Brigade, Assault on Kawajima Castle

Shrewsbury Wargames Club also had a Japanese game, actually two taking place on the same large U shaped table.

Chesterfield Old Boys had an AWI scenario Battle of Bemis Heights (2nd Saratoga)

The Boondock Sayntes, The 2nd Relief of Lucknow

The League of Extraordinary Kreigspielers, The God of War Baron von Ungernsternberg

Another League, The League of Augsburg had a late 17thC game

Bramley Barn; 2nd Kernstown

 Like a Stonewall, Action off Cape Finisterre

The Bodkins also presented an ACW game, Mcpherson's Ridge

Steve's Paintingshed, The Battle of Chatterton's Hill 1776

I managed to get a couple of photos of Simon Miller's "Lust for Glory" War of Spanish Succession Game

Morris and Chums, The Battle of Lewes

Friends of a Military Gentleman, Seven Years War

My sincere apologies to the many clubs and individuals whose games I haven't featured.  All the games were of a high quality and everyone is to be congratulated on the standards achieved.  Thanks should also go to the organisers, who once again have produced a memorable show, a brilliant day out for the wargamer.