Zulu

[RLucid]

These battles are reminiscent of events in classical times, with complacency being rewarded in usual way.

Wiki :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rorke's_Drift
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Isandlwana
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zulu_Dawn (Film - which whilst attempting to be accurate, shows some ideas overturned by battlefield archaeology).

"The British saw obvious parallels between their own position and that of the Roman Empire after the Battle of Teutoburg Forest. Until then, one of the arguments against a war with the Zulu was that the costs could not be justified, but if the Zulu victory at Isandlwana encouraged rebellion elsewhere in the Empire, then committing the resources necessary to defeat the Zulu would in the long term prove cheaper than suppressing other rebellions in other parts of the Empire."


Rorke's Drift - prepared defensive position. Guess the Zulu's would have done better with some field artillery, or sappers with charges.

Isandlwana - non prepared positon. Small force skirmish force expected, hit by main army and caught by a flanking envelopment maneuver.

"hard ground and a lack of belief that they were in any danger, did not fortify the camp"

"Pulleine, left in command, was an administrator and had no experience of front-line command on a campaign."

"The Zulu attack then developed in the traditional horns and chest of the buffalo, with the aim of encircling the British position. From Pulleine's vantage point in the camp, at first only the right horn and then the chest (centre) of the attack seemed to be developing. Pulleine, therefore, rather than bringing in his troops into a tight defensive position, near the ammunition and with the Isandlwana feature protecting his rear, instead sent out first one, then all of his six companies of the 24th Foot into an extended firing line, with the aim of meeting the Zulu attack head on and checking it with firepower"


One thing I found interesting, was the suggestion that manpower shortage for harvest, would put the "non-civilised" nation at a disadvantage. Supply and being able to keep a standing army in the field, were key advantages of the imperial powers compared to native nations. Something that's been missing from TW games, so tends to mislead the player about campaign realities.