von Lettow-Vorbeck in East Africa

German Schutztruppe
German Schutztruppe 1905-1918

Another of the World War I ‘side shows’ I’m keen on is the campaigns in East Africa against the German East Africa Colony (today primarily Tanzania). I have had some units for this (and pre-war 1890-1914 Colonial actions) for some time (i.e. about 2 years), albeit waiting for basing to be completed… This theatre has lots of opportunity for variety, both in pre-war Colonial actions against native tribesmen, and the Great War period, where the action spilled over into the areas of modern Kenya, Uganda, Rhodesia, Mozambique, & Zambia. This is an excuse to put up some initial pictures of them (albeit with unfinished basing), and the figures depicted are from the first unit each of European and Askari Schutztruppe, and the unit of Seebatallione Marines.

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Kofler’s “kommt zum Abendessen”

DAOG Askari.
DAOG Askari

In Kofler’s previous adventure (Kofler “befehle die Marines”) the forces of the Kaiser were endeavouring to suppress the activities of an (apparently large) band of Zanzibari Sklavenhändler – this they were only partially successful in doing, although they did avoid the very angry Rhinos’ who didn’t appreciate their lunch being interrupted by a battle! However things were sufficiently peaceful for the column to return to base and nothing untoward occurred until the news that a German Archaeologist, his Austrian Mistress, and Hungarian assistant, had all gone missing and were apparently being held by a rather disreputable tribe! It would be up to Kofler, Muehlbauer, and company, to come to their rescue!

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Kofler “befehle die Marines”

Kofler & Feldwebel Orange-Haare.
Kofler & Feldwebel Orange-Haare.

You will recall from the details of Kofler’s last adventure (Kofler “im Hinterhalt auf Kwuzlundi) we left him bleeding amongst the casualties of his Askari, as the African Tribesmen threatened to overrun the camp, and to add insult to injury half the surviving Seebatallion marines, including Hauptmann Muenst, had fled routing out of the camp… As it turns out the staunch Askari did not disappoint, led by Feldwebel Buergerhoff they managed to drive off the tribesmen inside the camp then reform to guard the perimeter, while Oberst Stuehmer rallied the 3 remaining Seebatallion marines to assist them, and Herr Riedel kept up regular sniping at the surviving Zanzibari.

Seeing this the remaining coalition of Natives quickly dispersed, and knowing the game was up the Zanzibari once more dispersed off into the African jungle…

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Kofler “im Hinterhalt auf Kwuzlundi”

Seebatallion Maxim MG team
Seebatallion Maxim MG team

After Kofler’s (forgettable) first experience of colonial action in Darkest Africa (Kofler “benetzt seine Hose), the column had regathered itself and slowly moved further into the hinterland, following the trail of the suspected Zanzibari Sklavenhändler (slavers). The trail led them towards the village of Kwuzlundi, near the edge of the regularly travelled parts of East Africa. Word was that the Zanzibari were due to pass by this way in the next few days heading to the coast with their victims, having stirred up the local tribes enough to preoccupy the Kaiser’s Imperial Forces!

Further assistance had arrived to the column in the form of two experienced and well travelled Hunters & Adventurers, Herr Hans Deutschlaender and Herr Arno Riedel – the latter famous locally for his garishly bright shirts & hunting jackets!

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The Sword and the Flame [TSATF]

Larry Brom wrote TSATF in 1979, and 30 years later it’s still going strong with very little changes! Having played TTG’s Soldiers of the Queen* [SotQ] fairly extensively since it was published in 1987 (in my earlier wargaming years) until a long hiatus from all colonial gaming in the early 1990s, I was only introduced to TSATF in recent years for the first time…

* Not to be confused with the Victorian Military Society’s Journal “Soldiers of the Queen“!

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Kofler “benetzt seine Hose”

Oberleutnant Kofler
Oberleutnant Kofler

Arriving in German East Africa Oberleutnant Kofler is immediately summoned, along with his superior, by the Colonial Governor – some Zanzibari slave traders have been stirring up the local tribes in the area of the German Colony, and have stirred them up with stories of the Germans taking all their women! The Governor wants an immediate show of force in the area to settle things down and ensure these verabscheuungswürdigen Sklavenhändler are found and dealt with. No-one casts aspersions on the Kaiser’s newly acquired empire!

Setting out, the column consists of a company from the Seebatallion detachment with a Maxim MG team, and a Deutsche Ost-Afrika Gesellschaft Askari company, which Kofler is told off to, his first command in Darkest Africa! Supporting them is a small river boat steamer which will ferry supplies forward as needed should their expedition take more than the week or two expected.

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