Save the Missionaries

I've sadly neglected this blog and it's one of my favorite periods. So I've dug into my game files to present another episode of the unfortunate Colonel Klink who has a rather lackluster performance again. 

 

Another mis-adventure for Colonel Klink, this time trying to rescue some Western civilians who have managed to get themselves trapped by hordes of Boxers at the Missionary complex. The rules are the reliable The Sword and the Flame (TSATF) with twenty man units. Allied units include one platoon Office and one sergeant or other NCO. Boxer units have only the one tribal leader. In this game, Colonel Klink must advance from the North edge of the table and rescue the civilians at the Mission before they are massacred. No time limit is given and it is either a win or loose proposition. 

 

 

  Forces used are given on the Scenario map below. Feel free to substitute with whatever Allied forces you have. Since this is Colonel Klink's story, I was compelled to include some Germans, but use what you have. Boxers should generally be short on ranged weapons as they had a disdain towards modern European weapons. The Mission Complex has high walls so troops inside cannot fire out nor be fired upon except by artillery. Boxers must move up to wall and stop. The next turn they can climb to top of wall and can melee troops inside. If they win, they are assumed to be inside the compound the next turn.Optionally, you can assume the allies would make loopholes in the walls and allow them to fire at any Boxers outside who have not yet reached the walls.

 

A view of the Mission with ten French Sailors, ten French Naval Brigade and the Civilians inside. The Sailors are actually inside the building and can fire out any windows. Naval Brigade is in the courtyard. A machine gun manned by German East Asia Brigade figures is in the redoubt at the front gate.

The Boxers advance towards the Mission refuge. Colonel Klink's relief column arrives on the road, but it looks like some Boxers have popped out of the walled enclosure to stop them. Boxers are leery of European firepower and advance slowly, waiting for their artillery to deploy.

Colonel Klink's Relief Column is ambushed by three Boxer units that were hidden in the terrain. Two Boxer units fail to go home and the third looses its melee with the German Marines.

Boxer bravery is no match for modern European firepower. Thirty two Boxers lay dead for cost of ten Allies. Two Boxer units are reduced to below Critical strength and route back. A third Boxer unit decides to head for cover after failing to charge.

Another view of the Relief Column after the firefight devastated the Boxer blocking force.

Boxers are moving up to the Mission walls. Next turn they can attempt to climb on top of the walls. Notice how the boxers avoid the rear of the Mission where the allies can fire out the windows.

Colonel Klink has his relief Column advancing but at this rate he'll never be in time.

A closer view of the assault on the Mission Compound. The French Naval Brigade has had to reinforce the Machine Gun crew reducing the number of troops defending the Courtyard.

French Sailors have moved to the Courtyard to help defend the walls. MG crew is still alive because all the Boxers charging them fail to go home.

Boxers are on the walls now on both sides, Doesn't look good for the Mission. Boxer muskets move to engage the Relief column. One Boxer group gets ready to charge the Machine Gun rather than the walls. There is only so much room on top of the walls.

Colonel Klink can hear the battle at the Mission, but he is too far away to help. He has eliminated all of the Boxer blocking forces and has only the Boxer muskets in front of him.

Too late! Boxers are inside the Courtyard. One Boxer attack was beaten off but the other one made it in. Allied troops shown out side the Mission are all casualties. Only the Machine Gun crew remains.

Klink hears the cries from the Mission, but there is nothing he can do.

Sadly, the Missionaries are left to their fates at the hands of the Boxers. We won't go into the details. The Machinegun has hosed down the Boxers who were contemplating charging them, but there are plenty more around. If the crew can beat feet before a Boxer unit can charge them they might be able to get away.

   

Colonel Klink will return to base and report that the Boxers overran the Mission before he could get there. The Boxers try to celebrate their victory, but having lost half their number, the rank and file were not in the mood for it. Many are beginning to doubt their invincibility to Western firearms. Regardless there will more battles to come.

 

This was a relatively short game, just under two hours. Although it looks like Colonel Klink was moving awful slow, the fight at the mission actually progressed very rapidly. The Boxers were able to get into the Mission too easily and the high wall prevented effective use of firepower by the allies inside. If playing this scenario, it would be best to assume the allies made firing loop holes in the walls. That should even up things a bit,

 

Hope you found something enjoyable in this AAR. Colonel Klink will return in another misadventure. I've been giving some thought to trying "The Men Who Would Be Kings" rules for this period. Played a game at 2017 Historicon and thought they worked well for this period.