Jabat Urrq - a Sudan scenario

This week we return to the Sudan.  The background to the scenario is that the Egyptian command have sent out a sizeable force to try and capture the rebel leader Makkan Ali.  This individual has been responsible for several hit and run raids on border posts and supply columns over recent months and become a thorough nuisance.  On the basis of supposedly reliable intelligence a force under Mehmet Bey had been sent to capture Makkan Ali.  For the last two weeks the Egyptians had followed one lead after another, never even seeing the rebel force, let alone capturing Ali.  Their trail has led them to the isolated village of Jabat Urrq, where once again they have come up empty-handed.  With supplies dwindling, Mehmet Bey has decided that they will now head back to base in the morning

As dawn broke a message came to the village from the scout posted on a nearby hill, a large cloud of dust was approaching from the south.   A second report came in from another scout that a large force of infantry were approaching from the south east. Orders were issued to rouse the men and prepare to defend the village.

A general view of the table, with the Dervish attack developing

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It quickly became apparent that the force approaching from the south was a mass of cavalry.  The scout determined that there were at least 4 units heading his way and turned to get back to the village as fast as his rather weary mount could manage.  This wasn't quickly enough.  The Dervish cavalry commander was determined to retain the initiative and attack the village before the defence was set.  Sweeping forward, the leading unit of cavalry flowed over the hill and towards Jabat Urrq, catching the unlucky scout just as he reached the outskirts of the village. 

The scout is caught

With the speed of attack there was no fire from the Egyptian infantry as they were still getting into position.  Sensing a quick victory, the Dervish cavalry swept into the square.  Here they found a unit of Egyptian cavalry ready to oppose them.  In no time, the centre of the village became a mass cavalry melee.

The Egyptians drive off the Dervish cavalry

The speed of the leading unit had left the remainder of the Dervish cavalry a long way behind.  Makkan Ali decided not to send further units straight forward as Egyptian infantry could now be seen manning the village walls.  Instead he directed them to move west, behind the hills and approach Jabat Urrq from the west.  The Ansar, which were approaching from the south east had also disposed of a scout and now the leading unit surged towards the walls of the village.  They came under rifle and artillery fire, but still got to the walls; but once again they had outrun their supports and on their own they were too weak to break into the village.  As the Ansar retreated the Egyptian infantry manning that section of the defences sent desperate pleas for more ammunition as supplies were dwindling rapidly.  In addition the artillery had also expended almost all their available ammunition and required re-supply.  Fortunately for the defenders, the remaining Ansar units would take some time to come forward and so fighting on this front died away.

The first Ansar attack thrown back

Dervish cavalry moving to the left, while the first Ansar attack on the south east goes in

In the village the cavalry melee continued.  Mehmet Ali saw that his first unit of cavalry was wavering and sent in a second unit to reinforce it.  These fresh troopers arrived in the nick of time, as the first unit broke and routed.  The Dervish cavalry had suffered heavy losses themselves and the charge by the fresh Egyptian cavalry proved too much.  They too routed, fleeing back over the hill, where Makkan Ali rallied them.  Mehmet Ali had sent his third cavalry unit, of Bashi Bazouks, to the east to counter the advance of the Ansar.  A report then came in from a third scout, who had seen the remaining Dervish cavalry heading west towards him and had returned to the village.  With the infantry now holding the perimeter of the village, Mehmet Ali now sent the second cavalry unit over to the west to cover access from that direction.

The Ansar riflemen on the central hill

Makkan Ali was also experiencing some problems.  He had wanted the Ansar riflemen to take up a position on the central hill, from where they could fire at the defenders of the southern face of the village.  Orders had been confused and the riflemen had strayed into broken terrain, slowing their advance.  As their leaders shouted at them to get going quickly, the men surged forward, but advanced too far.  They left the hill and charged the village.  Fire from the defenders stopped them in their tracks and they retreated back to the hill to rally.

The cavalry 'right hook' was also hitting problems.  Once again a coordinated advance proved beyond the Dervish cavalry.  Instead of keeping behind the hills one unit strayed onto the summit of one and immediately came under fire from the Egyptian machine gun.  Reeling from its losses it swerved left and blocked the advance of another unit, leaving the leading unit on its own.  Undeterred,  they continued and were met by the Egyptian cavalry.  The ensuing  melee was an even fight, with both sides losing heavily, but it was the Dervish who cracked first and had to retreat.

The decisive attack on the south east corner of the village

Mehmet Ali was feeling quite positive.  He had repelled two infantry attacks and the regular cavalry had also performed well.  The Bashi Bazouks had been forced back by the Ansar, but at least all the infantry and artillery were now well supplied with ammunition.   Then news came from the eastern wall, more Dervish infantry were approaching.  With the Ansar preparing to advance against the south east corner of the village once again, the defences were really stretched. He couldn't pull infantry from other sectors because there were several units of Dervish cavalry just waiting for gaps to appear.  Indeed the machine gun was busy firing at one unit trying to keep it at a distance.

A wave of Beja infantry surged towards the walls of Jabat Urrq.  Another Ansar attack had already gone forward.  The Egyptian artillery and infantry did their best but could not stop the attacks.  First to break were the artillery crew, the few survivors heading towards the centre of the village.  To their right the Egyptian infantry wavered and then broke, a wave of Ansar flowing over the defences into the village.  With his left crumbling, Mehmet Ali had to order the remainder of his force to retreat.  The remains of his cavalry were to try and hold back the Dervishes long enough for the Egyptians to escape.

The final attack

An enjoyable scenario, where I played the Dervish for a change.  It certainly presented a challenge after becoming used to the more predictable behaviour  of the Imperial troops.