Battle of Talana Hill

Battle of Talana Hill

Designer: Jon Newton
Type: Wargame
Status: Free
BGG entry: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/32813
Available from: http://web.archive.org/web/20000817224846/http://www.geocities.com/TheTropics/Cove/6846/

A wargame depicting the Battle of Talana Hill -- October 20, 1899.

From the Wikipedia entry:

The Battle of Talana Hill was the first major clash of the Second Boer War. A hasty frontal attack by British infantry drove Boers from a hilltop position, but at the cost of heavy casualties, and without resolving a poor strategic position.

The British had won a tactical victory at high cost. They could have suffered a disastrous defeat had Meyer and Erasmus in particular not been cautious and indecisive commanders.

Yule's men were unable to contemplate attacking Impati Mountain, which held Dundee's water supply. They marched and countermarched beneath the hill for two days under intermittent shellfire. Other Boer forces had cut the British line of supply and retreat. Finally, despairing of help, the British force retreated across country at night. After a four-day march of 64 miles, they reached the temporary safety of Ladysmith.

"I don't have a clue what these pieces are, except I suspect they're turn of the century and either British or South African," says Jon. "To give you an idea of scale, a standing trooper is 2 3/4" tall."

A deck of playing cards determines who does what and when (if a red card is drawn, the British player activates one counter. If it is a black card, the Boer player activates one counter.)

Players win by obtaining more victory points than their opponent. Victory points are obtained for inflicting casualties.