Those Damn Cossack Women!

New month new campaign.  The Russo Japanese War 1904, chosen as it has generals that are looking at technology they dont know how to use. I wanted players to command armies and divisions.  The players give map orders and the battles are being played by me as umpire.

Battles are being played I went for the Great War Spearhead Rules. Players can improve their troops with minor changes to TOEs, training ideas and of course hindsight.

First battle was a bit of a test to see if the campaign would work, Mishchenkofuelld by vodka challenges Baron Stackelberg to a field exercise.  Stackelberg's Siberian Cossack Divison has it's own sotnia of women cossacks.  Mishchenko's Brigade of Cossacks and a brigade of infantry verses the Siberian Cossack Division.

Scenario Ragu River Fords was the scenario title.   Mishcenko made no attempt to look at the ground for a second ford was at the temple.  He went for a flank attack with a shock frontal assault with infantry covered by artillery over the river then a flank attack with his Cossacks.  

Kossakowski focussed on a plan of defence based on firepower sitting back to get the benefit of his artillery.  The female cossack sotnia crewed the MG covering the ford.   The artillery was off board.

Mishenko’s artillery pounded the centre village for three turns, got some suppressions but no kills.  Kossakowski’s artillery observer, his son in law, Boris  was wired up with a telephone directly to the off table batteries, sighted on Hill C.

In 2hours fighting the result was a resounding win for Kossakowski , losing two bases of Cossacks but inflicting 8 infantry (7 to MG and artillery fire on the ford) and 5 Cossack casualties on Mishcenko whose command broke.  His artillery were out of ammo

flank attack goes in

more cossacks from the east

MG lined up on the ford

companies of dead