THE BATTLE OF TANGA 1914
By Legion Wargames
Background
The Battle of Tanga, sometimes also known as the Battle of the Bees, was the unsuccessful attack by the British Indian Expeditionary Force "B" under Major General A.E. Aitken to capture German East Africa during the First World War in concert with the invasion Force "C" near Longido on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro. It was the first major event of the war in Eastern Africa and saw the British defeated by a significantly smaller force of German Askaris and colonial volunteers under Lieutenant Colonel Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck.
By Legion Wargames
Background
The Battle of Tanga, sometimes also known as the Battle of the Bees, was the unsuccessful attack by the British Indian Expeditionary Force "B" under Major General A.E. Aitken to capture German East Africa during the First World War in concert with the invasion Force "C" near Longido on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro. It was the first major event of the war in Eastern Africa and saw the British defeated by a significantly smaller force of German Askaris and colonial volunteers under Lieutenant Colonel Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck.
Game System
The game is fun and easy to play, I particularly like the hex size of 30 mm and counters and markers size of .75”. This hex to counter size ratio prevents the game getting too fiddly at crucial points.
Objective
The British forces must capture the German town of Tanga.
Scenarios
There are four scenarios: The Initial Assault, Invasion, The Big Push and the Campaign Game.
The game is fun and easy to play, I particularly like the hex size of 30 mm and counters and markers size of .75”. This hex to counter size ratio prevents the game getting too fiddly at crucial points.
Objective
The British forces must capture the German town of Tanga.
Scenarios
There are four scenarios: The Initial Assault, Invasion, The Big Push and the Campaign Game.
SCENARIO 1, Start Scenario 1: The Initial Assault. I played this scenario first. As I was formulating the solitaire system during play, the game was all over the place!
SCENARIO 2, Nov 2, 10pm Scenario 2: Invasion
Armed with a decent solitaire system, I played this scenario next. The first turns were a bit haywire and disadvantageous to the British as I tweaked the solitaire rules. The game then settled down and I could actually start focusing on commanding my German forces defending against the endless waves of assaulting British companies supported by their intermittent artillery fire. All the main action took place from dawn to dusk during the 3rd November 1914.
Following is a list of the assault times and consequent collapse of all the British battalions involved in the attacks:
06:00 61st KGOP first collapse.
06:00 13th Rajput first collapse.
09:00 2nd LNL first collapse.
10:00 2nd Jam & Kas first collapse.
12:00 61st KGOP second collapse.
12:00 13th Rajput second collapse.
12:00 3rd Jam & Kas/3rd Gwalior first collapse.
14:00 6th Sch. K. first collapse.
16:00 2nd Jam & Kas second collapse.
16:00 2nd LNL second collapse.
Armed with a decent solitaire system, I played this scenario next. The first turns were a bit haywire and disadvantageous to the British as I tweaked the solitaire rules. The game then settled down and I could actually start focusing on commanding my German forces defending against the endless waves of assaulting British companies supported by their intermittent artillery fire. All the main action took place from dawn to dusk during the 3rd November 1914.
Following is a list of the assault times and consequent collapse of all the British battalions involved in the attacks:
06:00 61st KGOP first collapse.
06:00 13th Rajput first collapse.
09:00 2nd LNL first collapse.
10:00 2nd Jam & Kas first collapse.
12:00 61st KGOP second collapse.
12:00 13th Rajput second collapse.
12:00 3rd Jam & Kas/3rd Gwalior first collapse.
14:00 6th Sch. K. first collapse.
16:00 2nd Jam & Kas second collapse.
16:00 2nd LNL second collapse.
SCENARIO 2, Nov 3, Noon Solitaire Rules Card
I decided to play the Germans while the British would use an artificial intelligence system. Following are the solitaire rules including the updates required to play. The player commands the Germans while the British are controlled by an AI system.
I decided to play the Germans while the British would use an artificial intelligence system. Following are the solitaire rules including the updates required to play. The player commands the Germans while the British are controlled by an AI system.
| Tanga 1914 Solitaire Rules Card |
SCENARIO 2, Nov 3, 6pm Reference Card
As an aid to rules reference, I have designed a Reference Card which displays special rules in an abbreviated form. This card also includes some minor game changes, clarifications and additions. There are two new components to be found with the card. A set of 40 new counters and markers to be used in conjunction with the solitaire rules and a Sequence of Play Template which is placed on the map in ocean hexes between the Germans Broken Formation box and Toten Island.
As an aid to rules reference, I have designed a Reference Card which displays special rules in an abbreviated form. This card also includes some minor game changes, clarifications and additions. There are two new components to be found with the card. A set of 40 new counters and markers to be used in conjunction with the solitaire rules and a Sequence of Play Template which is placed on the map in ocean hexes between the Germans Broken Formation box and Toten Island.
| Tanga 1914 Reference Card |
Conclusion
As always, just as I knock up a decent solitaire game, I have to move on. I must get back to Tanga 1914 at some point though and play the Campaign Game!
As always, just as I knock up a decent solitaire game, I have to move on. I must get back to Tanga 1914 at some point though and play the Campaign Game!
More information on the game available at: legionwargames.com.
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