Boxer Rebellion: The Allies take the field- The Relief expedition Part 1.

    The dusty plains of northern China...summer of 1900.......

The allied contingents under the command of Admiral Seymour have launched the expedition to relieve the besieged allied legations at Peking. Forced to disembark off the train, the various contingents deployed, and prepared to attack the common enemy- the Boxer, who were backed up by Imperial troops!

    A multiplayer game using the Men Who Would Be Kings rules- and all players- six in fact all on the same side.

    Ralph played the Austrians and Italians, Ross the British and Americans, Geoff the Germans, Paul the French, Richard the Russians and Phil the Japanese. Each contingent was given specific objective on the table - but then given a briefing card that they could not show the other players.  (see the end of the Blog)

Table with the Allied contingents ready to go.

The table- Allied troops deployed on the left 

The US Marines

British sailors .

Blue Jackets ( in white!) with the Nordenfelt. 

The French- Paul has said a week before the game- I don't want to be ze French ..those pom-poms looks silly....guess which allied card he drew from the command allocation deck...???

The Russians- and their very drunk commander- tanked on Vodka for most of the game.

The Japanese- who hoped to cover themselves in glory!....but didn't

The Austrians

The Italians

Ze Germans!!

BIG Chinese bombard- this gun caused casualties amongst the Germans and Russians. Most of the casualties on it were inflicted by Russian counter-battery fire- but the Germans took the points for wiping out the last crewman...the Russian commander was not happy.

Inside the foreign concession compound

Full picture of the concession

Rocky terrain on the western edge of town.

Imperial troops awaiting the 'Foreign Devils'

More of them waiting!

This gun would cause casualties on the French troops- and be taken out in a blaze of Gallic fury as Paul launched his sailors in a bayonet charge.

Center of the town

Boxers in the foreign trade concession- these guys would throw the Japanese out, and be destroyed by the Russians.

The central part of the village, Boxers holding the centre, imperial troops in the bottom center.

Boxers emerge from hiding

Imperial Army guns. These guys caused the allies a lot of casualties. In the end, the British destroyed one, the Russians damaged one, but the Germans took the credit for destroying it, caused damage to  a second, but the Austrians got the credit  for destroying it and the French got the last one.

AT start for the Allies.

The US marines skirmishing with the Tigermen. The Tigermen were motivated, fanatic in fact, and were not daunted by the fact that they only carried swords and shields. Had they got into contact they might have done some damage. Alas, lack of firepower and abundance of magic are no substitute for breech loading rifles.

Boxers amongst the rocky hills at one end of the table- the area that the Americans had to clear.

The US Colt machine gun trundling along.

French sailors dealing with troublesome Boxers- this group had achieved 'Spirit possession', and believed that they were immune to bullets and cannon shot- so no pinning tests and no failed morale. The French shot them all.

The Japanese scale the walls of the foreign trade concession, thus scoring points for getting into it first ...but are thrown out by a Boxer counter charge- much to the delight of the Russians- who then captured it.

The Russians sneak along the wall of the foreign concession compound. Their artillery in the background.

Germans advanced to the edge of the center of town and took up a defensive position. The German troops had the Russians on one side and the French on the other...just Geography really!

The Japanese attacking the Boxers

....And being beaten....

The Austrians take their first objective!

Into the village.

The Italians form 'CLOSE ORDER' and then 'Volley fire!'

The Russians,  charging into the concession area took points from the Japanese....yes and that is a Bear... one special event card required the Russian troops to attempt to catch a rogue bear.....you know the honour of Russia and all that ....the Russian bear etc......anyway..they were successful..if they hadn't....it would have been more dead Russians....and he became the mascot. ( who thinks up this sh*t anyway?)

The last of the French in a defensive position. The French commander realised that he was vulnerable in melee, but could outshoot most Chinese units.

Italians and Austrians- a leisurely advance

WTF?....one Special Event card had several Chinese units running away from an 'apparition'!!

It can't be...????.....It is!!

We had 7 players: Ross was the British and Americans, Paul was the French, Geoff was the Germans, Richard  was the Russians, Phil was the Japanese, and Ralph was the Italians and Austrians. I ran the Boxers as an umpire. Contingent selection  was done totally at random so I couldn’t be accused of favouritism. They each picked a card from the pack I had made and read one of the briefings( see below) .

Each player was also then given a number of objectives to capture on the table- and they were off.

Each turn a number of cards were drawn which gave special events.  Some were fun ( the Russians had to capture a bear) others serious- ( loss of ammo, guns exploding etc) and some just downright stupid ( Italians ran out of vino and refused to move for two turns!)

A LOT of Boxers were killed….but hey this is Hollywood!

In the end points were awarded for objectives captured/ Enemy units destroyed/ enemy guns overrun etc (some contingents getting more than others for various things)

RESULTS

The Americans failed to achieved their objective but destroyed a lot of Boxers units (10 points) 

The British achieved their two objectives and destroyed some Boxers units as well as an Imperial artillery units (13 points)

The Austrians killed a few Boxers, finished off an artillery Unit that the Russian had done the most damage to, so got the points, took one objective – and kept 80% of their men alive  ( their main objective)– 21pts.

The Russians failed to capture their own objective- but captured the Japanese objective thus getting half of the Japanese points ( which were doubled because it was the Japanese objective) – (15pts)

The French killed, I think, destroyed the most  Boxers besides the Americans, destroyed an imperial artillery unit and captured their one objective (13pts)

The Japanese failed to secure their own objective and had to share it with the Russians (10 pts)

The Germans took the objective that they were supposed to share with the Russians, didn’t get too many Boxers, took the credit for destroying an Imperial artillery unit that the Russians had mostly damaged and in a ‘Blue on Blue” incident were shot at by Russian artillery. (11pts)

The Italians sat around doing nothing- shot up one mob of peasants and ALL survived (their aim!)– 20 points.

Winners: The Austrians followed by the Italians-: Ralph!! 

ALLIED BRIEFINGS

 

GERMANY

You are upholding the honour of Imperial Germany and you are aware that the Kaiser himself has launched the East Asia Brigade which will arrive soon. He has instructed Imperial German troops to “like the Huns, sweep all before them” and you intend to do just that.  You will ignore any requests or orders from other Allied contingents. It is important that you prove the value of the German Seebattalion fighting man. Capture as many objectives as you can regardless of losses. Show the world how a true German fights.

 

JAPAN

You are upholding the honour of Imperial Japan and the oldest Royal House in the world. The other Allied nations are merely Europeans and you especially despise the Russians, who are Japan’s rivals for influence and control in this region. In fact you have decided that you will not only capture your own objectives – but those of the Russians as well- regardless of losses. You will ignore any requests or orders from other Allied contingents. Show the world how a true Japanese fights!

 

 

AUSTRO-HUNGARIAN EMPIRE

You are upholding the honour of the Dual Monarchy- that pinnacle of civilisation and stability in Central Europe. Your contingent is one of the smallest along with the Italians. You are here as a political gesture to the solidarity of the Allied Cause. Although you have been able to supply a couple of artillery pieces and hope to support the Allied assault, but your primary mission is to keep your men alive.

 

 

ITALY

You are upholding the honour of Italy- her people and Monarch. Your contingent is the smallest along with the Austrians. You are here as a political gesture to the solidarity of the Allied Cause. Your mission is  to support the Allied assault, but your primary aim is to keep your men alive.

 

FRANCE

You are upholding the honour of the French Republic. You are expected to be involved in the fighting and to partake in the Allied assault. Take as many objectives as you can- and outdo those damned German thugs and British scoundrels. You may assist the Russians, Italians or Austrians, but under no circumstances should you assist the British or Germans! You can ignore the Americans and Japanese.

 

  

BRITAIN

You are upholding the honour of Her Britannic Majesty and the world’s greatest empire. As one of the largest contingents and the fact that you have so many vested interests in China you are out to prove that the British fighting man is still the greatest. Your force of sailors and Marines should seek to outdo the other Allied contingents. None of them have the pluck of the British. Ignore all requests for assistance or orders from anyone else.

 

 

RUSSIA

You are upholding the Honour of Imperial Russia. As one of the largest contingents you intend to make an impression on the other Imperial Powers of the alliance.  You especially despise the Japanese,  who are your rivals for influence and control in this region. You are to make sure that you capture your objectives and any others - especially the Japanese ones- that you can!

 

 

USA

You are upholding the Honour of the United States of America. Your Marines are the best in the world. You really don’t care what anyone else thinks, certainly not those pompous Europeans or the Japanese. You are to make sure that you capture your objectives and any others that you can! Ignore all requests for assistance or orders from anyone else..