More from the Journal of General Sir Bartholomew Archibald Tiberius Henry Norman Wells. Today I'm looking at the defense of Sittangbad (from Charge! (1967) by Brig. Young & Lt. Col. Lawford, in case you didn't know!)
 |
| Slightly edited Map from Charge! |
I laid an 8x12 grid over the original map of the battlefield and created a plan for a Portable Wargame version of the classic scenario. I also added names to two features that hadn't been named in the original. |
| The Plan |
 |
The Reality - buildings by Monopoly (trademark)
|
The pre-battle situation, as detailed by General B.A.T.H.N Wells, is summarized as follows:After a failed incursion into Red territory, the remnants of Blue's Army are camped between Sittangbad and Eisenberg. General Wells has been sent with a small force to take command of Army Blue, and to hold Sittangbad, or at the very least defend the river crossing from an approaching Red Army, commanded by General Kernel.
The opposing forces are as follows:
Army Blue
2 Units of Cavalry @ 3SP (1 unit starts in Sittangbad)
1 Unit of Light Infantry @ 3SP
3 Units of Line Infantry @ 4SP (1 unit starts in Sittangbad)
1 Unit of Artillery @ 2SP (starts in Sittangbad)
General Wells @ 6SP (starts in Sittangbad)
Total 28SP (EP at 19SP)
Army Red
3 Units of Cavalry @ 3SP
1 Unit of Light Infantry @ 3SP
4 Units of Line Infantry @ 4SP
2 Units of Artillery @ 2SP
General Kernel @ 6SP
Total 38SP (EP at 25SP)
The objective of both sides is control of the East end of the bridge by Turn 16.
The Affair at Sittangbad
 |
| Blue's preliminary position |
After a wet night in the field, General Kernel ordered Army Red to march towards Sittangbad at first light. Having spent a comfortable night in an hotel in the town, General Wells sent orders to his men to the West of Eisenberg to begin moving back towards the town, leaving a Regiment of Line Infantry to harry the approaching Red force from the village. |
| The position at daybreak |
Red's Artillery began to bombard Eisenberg on arrival. The defenders themselves fired at the Red Cavalry who were swinging by to their North, under orders to ride around Sittangwald forest and out flank the retreating Blue troops. General Wells, wise to this had already sent some of his own cavalry to head them off.Despite all of Red's troops now being on the battlefield, the early attack on Eisenberg was proving to be ineffective. General Kernel's cunning outflanking manoeuvre had also been countered and a cavalry melee had begun.
As the morning ground on, the attack on Eisenberg Village finally began to wear down the defenders, however the Cavalry fight was going Blue's way despite Red's superior numbers.To avoid the village, Red began moving forces up and over the steep sides of the Grimmberg.Once past this obstacle they could begin the assault on Sittangbad. The Blue Regiment in Eisenberg stubbornly held on.And continued to hold on, whilst General Kernel committed his artillery to pounding the village.
Finally Eisenberg fell to Red, however the defense of Sittangbad was proving to be even more staunch. Blue's Light Infantry in particular were firing steadily and accurately, inflicting heavy casualties. |
| The Assault on Sittangbad |
By mid-afternoon, both sides were nearing Exhaustion Point and Red was still a long way from his objective.
Finally Red managed to get some artillery up onto the Grimmberg where it could fire down onto the town, but too late...Army Red's cavalry finally broke through on Blue's left flank, but EP had been reached. Blue's accurate firing from the town had cut down the attackers making further progress impossible.By turn 16, Blue had suffered almost 30% casualties, whilst Red had 42% dead or wounded.Another victory was chalked up by General Wells who had saved the honour of Army Blue.
