Ruritanian Force Massacred

 Although the Ruritanians were mowing down the hordes of advancing Zoohoos they just kept on coming.


The Zoohoos even cleared some advancing warriors out of line of site to fire two ancient cannons. They managed to inflict casualties before one of the cannons had its crew mowed down by return fire. The Ruritanian cannons did some damage before coming under fire from the Arabs who moved into their shorter range. The artillery were then withdrawn.

BELOW: Count Ostburger receives reports of his flanks coming under serious pressure.

Vultures always seem to know where to get a meal. Colonel Von Striker holds the gap - for now.

Von Striker's men decimate the attacking White Robes. The latter did not even pause to shoot back but just continued towards the Ruritanians until a single man remained. Then he was shot down... and another mass of Zoohoos charged.

The arabs behind cover shot down a few of the Ruritanians but the real danger to the latter came from more shield and swordsmen crossing the shallow river.

Meanwhile, on the Ruritanians right flank the elite White Shields charged but most were shot down before retreating.

In the background is the Zoohoo command, Mahommad Lupi Loop the Third. he has a bodyguard of Wahbanga bowmen. The bowmen later scaled a rock cliff and added shot arrows into the Ruritanians. The ancient cannons move into closer range.

Secure so far the Ruritanian left flank forms close ranks. (In the swamp, to their right can be seen a flamingo and also a large swamp slug, this latter being a local delicacy).

The reduced Ruritanian artillery withdraw.

The Ruritanian guard arrived from reserve and briefly inflicted significant casualties from their accurate shooting. However, they came under fire from at least three Zoohoo units (including some who infiltrated the forest nearby) and withdrew after being heavily reduced. The Second lancers also suffered heavy casualties and withdrew.

Last  moments for the Ruritanians on their left flank.

The last of Colonel Striker's men fight to the last man, some reports saying they sang an old Ruritanian battle song as they died.

AFTERMATH

The general and a few others survivors got back to the gunboat and were taken aboard. These included the guns and some cavalry. The fate of the infantry in the swamp is unknown but after repelling the White Shields they were about to be attacked on their left flank by more warriors. 

  RECRIMINATIONS

The Ruritanian press ran stories about bad organisation. The force should have taken an additional cavalry regiment and machineguns. The ammunition crates, were not prepared for easy opening and so on. General Ostberger was accused of incompetence, and so on. demands are being made for a fresh expedition to save Ruritanian honor.

ASSESSMENT

The thick vegetation had been a two edged sword for the Ruritanians. It channelled the attackers, and limited their immediate access of to the Ruritanians. However, once the Zoohoos on their right flank crossed the river the Ruritanians would be overwhelmed. It also, paradoxically, limited the movement of Ruritanian cavalry and reduced the amount of combined firepower they could manage. The gunboat also lacked a clear field of fire.

FIGURES

Ruritanians were made from old hollow-cast figures. The ones with havelocks were converted and based on Uruguayans but could double as early ACW Confederates. others were made from Armies in Plastic Prussians and Airfix WW2 Germans. The main changes were the putty slouch hats and metal backpacks. The flags are from the Virtual Armchair General. There are a couple of old French made aluminium cavalry there in the headquarters unit.

  The Zoohoos are made from Armies In Plastic and A Call to Arms as well as assorted other brands and converted Red Indians. The native army, as compensation for less fire power, generally needs o be bigger than the colonists. For this reason I combined Arab and black African tribesmen.as I did not have enough of one or the other alone.

NEXT BATTLE

A rematch, possibly with some additional forces for the Ruritanians.