Sudan 1880 & 90s

[paulr]

What about 2nd El teb as a starting point?  2 infantry brigades plus a cavalry brigade with independent commands of Naval brigade Gardner guns, royal artillery and engineers against 6-8000 Dervish with artillery  add in imaginary cavalry and a pretty good starting force.

That is the sort of "typical" forces I'm looking for

Given the cost of postage to NZ I try and do one order projects  ...I did say try

So I will want to include some extras that I can sub in to get some variety, Guards, Camels and Egyptians being the obvious candidates for the British
Cavalry and Camels for the Mahdists...

Inspired by your pictures I did some calculating last night and came up with 924 figures

That includes a couple of Bengal infantry battalions and a unit of Bengal Lancers and about 12,000 Mahdist

How widely were the Bengals involved, nice to have the variety but I could save over 70 figures if I drop them

[Maenoferren]

The 15th Ludhiana Sikhs battle of Tofrek 1885 and Suakin 1888
28th Bombay Infantry as above ( if I remember correctly some of these chaps broke and ran at Tofrek causing a bit of a hole. The Sikhs and the Berkshires held firm. A squadron of the lancers heard firing and advanced. Seeing a maelstrom of men and baggage animals fleeing towards them went into extended order to allow them through and then counter charged the pursuing Dervish.
9th Bengal lancers basically Feb to June 1885. 150 officers and men (3rd Squadron) were ordered to remain in Suakin until November 1885. So if you are doing 1884 you won't need them.

Hope that helps

[Maenoferren]

It wasn't the 28th,  it was 17th Bengal I got North and South of the Zeriba muddled up, but to be fair the cavalry evading the Dervish rode straight through them followed by 2000 plus enemy warriors, a couple of ragged volleys isn't going to stop that lot.

[paulr]

Thanks again for all the help

What size bases did you use, 40x20mm?

Did you consider RT7 Turkish Bashi-bazook for your Bbashi-bazook? Which ACW Zouaves did you use, old RM15 Zouave, battle line or new ACW21 Zouaves in turban?

[Leman]

This is all good stuff - keep it coming. I think I am coming down on the side of 10mm.

[Maenoferren]

Thanks again for all the help

What size bases did you use, 40x20mm?

Did you consider RT7 Turkish Bashi-bazook for your Bbashi-bazook? Which ACW Zouaves did you use, old RM15 Zouave, battle line or new ACW21 Zouaves in turban?

40x20 for infantry and 40x30 for everything else.
I hadn't realised there was RT7 which is why I went for AC21.
I must get my Egyptian cavalry done. I didn't go for Egyptian artillery and as I am doing the earlier period I am not going to bother converting any Egyptian camel corps.

[Maenoferren]

Paul, sent you a PM I think... Can't see any evidence of it being sent though. Give me a shout if it doesn't appear.

[paulr]

Paul, sent you a PM I think... Can't see any evidence of it being sent though. Give me a shout if it doesn't appear.

Shout, no evidence of PM arriving

I did however get a rather useful email from you

Many thanks

[Maenoferren]

Doh! No wonder the PM didn't appear. Thanks for letting me know.

[paulr]

No problem

[sjwalker51]

If you're just getting into Sudan gaming, the early period is definitely more fun, more of a challenge for the Imperial forces and offer a greater variety of troop types and uniforms.

Graham's Suakin Field Force (El Teb 2 etc) is a good basis for a typical British expedition. Once you've been lured in, 'Go Strong into the Desert' (Snook) is a great introduction, and the 2 Sudan Source Books produced by TVAG contain a wealth of information, including every orbat you're likely to need.

[FierceKitty]

AND you get to use the thin red line one last time.

[Maenoferren]

AND you get to use the thin red line one last time.

But not with 2nd Durham's who left theirs in Cairo

Which is why I have one battalion in red and one highland in red ( just for the look of the thing)

[FierceKitty]

I don't use them anyway. The 54th Hampshire and the 33rd Sussex are in unimpeachable scarlet. I defy anyone to prove that they were in khaki.

[Maenoferren]

Supposedly the New Zealand troops arrived in Scarlet into Suakin, but for the life of me I can't remember where I read it. They were cheered down the gang plank by the British troops who were in grey or khaki.