Using a DBN Ottoman army

 Saturday 31st October 2020 - Ottoman Turks v 1802 French

Ottoman Forces:
2     Ms(M)          (Janissaries)                                                         1
1     LI(M)           (Light Infantry trained by Janissaries)                0.5
2    Ms(M)          (Sekhans - Irregular Provincial Militia)               1
2    Ms                (Sekhans - Irregular Provincial Militia)               2
1    Jg                  (Rayas - Skilled Peasant Huntsman)                  0.5
8     LEM            (Fellahin - Mass Conscripted Peasant Militia)     2
1     HC               (Suvarileri – Regular Guard Cavalry)                  1
2 *    LC             (Suvarileri – Regular Line Cavalry)                     2
2 *    LC(M)      (Sipahis - Militia Cavalry)                                     1
2     FA(M)                                                                     

12 AP but 23 elements

 

Initial dispositions - I split the fellahin into 2 groups with 4 'sacrificial' elements on the left.  In the centre I put the HC/LC Suvarileri (as required by the rules).

 

Midway through the game I had lost all my fellahin (but only 2 had run away).  It's a good job that they don't count for losses.  My left flank was no more.  On the right I had gained ground and was slowly picking off the French.

 

It was a tense ending where both of us were waiting for the last, crucial, loss.  The French were beaten.

The fellahin had been surprisingly useful but brittle - if they didn't flee after the first fight they got a shaken marker then died in the following round.  Best to use them to absorb all those nasty metal slugs I think!  

A far bigger restriction was for the Suvarileri - they never got into action.  I could have set up with them in the front line but the enemy would have just cut them down.  The next time I field this army I will leave them at home.  The points can be better spent elsewhere - maybe some Mamlukes!

As regards the Janissaries - one element became fellahin whilst the other stayed as Ms(M).  Surprised that these are compulsory given the number of Ottoman forces that were under regional leaders - who did not use them.  May need to develop a separate list.

Will definitely keep the Rayas (and probably double them) - very effective shooters.

An interesting scrap that took about 2 hours to play (a lot of rule checking took place).  

For comparison here's a couple of battle reports from Mr Farrow:

https://mrfarrow2udba1519k.blogspot.com/2016/03/dbn-ottomans.html
http://mrfarrow2udba1519k.blogspot.com/2012/07/dbn3-brits-vs-ottomans-1811-2nd-battle.html

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It's been a long time since I last blogged (3 months) so, maybe, I need to catch up a bit!