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Post by Sublime Porte on Feb 20, 2015 18:47:55 GMT
Following the Ottoman attack up the Don river, and the arrival of the Yellow Army in Russia, the two armies head towards the garrison at the city of Tsaritsyn. The entire yellow army marches, supported by a thorough screening and scouting by their Tatar allies, and begin to surround the city, preparing for a siege. The siege bombards are trained on the city, but the rest of the artillery is used to destroy any vessel attempting to supply the city by river, and two great chains prepared specifically for the campaign are used to close off the river on either side of the city. The army's objective is to take revenge for the Circassians. The only offer of surrender is:
The Russian garrison may save their own lives, if they agree to surrender the city and hand over every general, captain and lower officer that played any part in the devastation of Sochi. The commanders are to be put to trial by the Circassian contingent with the Yellow Army, and punished as they see fit. The rest of the army will surrender their arms and be allowed to leave the city unharmed and unhindered.
The siege works are set up on the right bank of the river, surrounding the land walls of the city, by the Yellow army, who have crossed the river to the south, crossing a pontoon bridge transported across the portage for the purpose. Across the river, on the left bank, the Kirim Ordusu set up camp, to assist in the siege and defend the supply train. The bombardiers from the Kirim Ordusu join the siege on the right bank, with the Kirim Ordusu.
Sarı Ordusu, the Army of the Grand Vezir, on campaign in Russia:
Accompanied by 100 Crimean demi-cannons.
-20,000 janissaries
-5,000 Azabs
-10,000 Foot Artillery
-10,000 timaraiots
-10,000 Sipahis
-5,000 bombardiers
(part of the Kirim Ordusu, joining the Sari Ordusu for the siege)
-300 demi-cannons
-500 siege bombards
Kirim Ordusu, commanded by Bozoklu Mustafa, on campaign in Russia :
-10,000 janissaries
-10,000 foot artillery
-1,000 timariots
-5,000 sipahis
-100 demi-cannons
-200 siege bombards
In addition, 5,000 Tatar cavalry scout on the right bank, hunting down any stray enemy units and providing an early warning of any approaching forces. The 5,000 Crimean dragoons perform the same duties on the left bank, and patrol the route of the supply train.
If the garrison refuse surrender, bombardment is to begin immediately, and the right bank is to commit to undermining operations too.
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Post by Pyotr Alekseevich on Feb 20, 2015 19:05:00 GMT
The army of the Caucuses will not surrender. They have been preparing to undergo a siege for more than a year and will resist the Ottoman invader for many more years. Supplies have been stockpiled and defences prepared. The barren and desolate countryside will provide no support for the Ottoman dogs.
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Post by Sublime Porte on Feb 20, 2015 19:20:39 GMT
The bombardment and undermining efforts begin, and the Ottoman commanders begin discussing their options for the siege. It is generally believed that if the Russian stockpiles are great, then it will take the breaching of the walls and an effort to storm it. Without a starving populace, it will also be difficult to use the Mongol strategy of using putrid smelling rotting animals to poison and demoralise the population.
Determining that the chains will hold off any river supplies long enough to redeploy artillery, all cannons large enough and siege bombards are focused on the walls of the city. The Ottoman commanders are unconcerned about collateral damage or the state of the town once it is taken. The priority is to pummel the walls and its defenders.
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Post by The Viceroy (AdminM) on Feb 21, 2015 17:03:02 GMT
Several breaches opened up in the walls, the Ottoman force would have the opportunity to attack, if they wished.
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Post by Sublime Porte on Feb 21, 2015 17:36:27 GMT
The assault is ordered by the Ottoman command. The armies gather on the right bank, leaving only the artillery, 5,000 janissaries and 5,000 sipahis to defend the siege camp on the left bank, trusting in the ability of the Balkan Ordusu to reinforce if needed and the absence of any nearby Russian force.
The rest of the army prepares to storm the city. Taking advantage of numerical superiority, the attack shall occur in waves. The Azabs and 10,000 Foot Artillery will make the first attempt to clear the breeches and make it into the city, being replaced by a second wave of 10,000 foot artillery and 5,000 janissaries to keep up the pressure. The recuperated survivors of the first assault shall then take the offensive again. If the defenders still hold out anywhere in the city, the remaining 20,000 Janissaries, the disciplined core of the army, will make an assault, fresh to battle against the fatigued Russians, who will be afforded no rest by continual assaults. The cavalry will be kept back to cut down any enemy attempting to sally forth, and to assist in storming the city once the infantry are safely inside the walls.
If victorious, the army will be granted three full days of looting, including the capture of the city's population as slaves. As usual one-fifth of the armies loot belongs to the Sultan. The soldiers are asked to keep religious buildings intact, but are free to enslave those hiding within and to claim all mobile wealth stored there. This right to loot is publicised before the assault, to motivate the men.
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Post by The Viceroy (AdminM) on Feb 21, 2015 19:58:48 GMT
As the first wave advanced, Russian irregulars and line infantry merged from shelter and started to clog up the breaches. Shots were fired and the forts fixed artillery began to shoot down the advancing infantry. Despite the noise, a gargantuan clash could be head as the Azabs crashed into the troops lining the breach. The foot artillery held back, fixing any breaks in the line left by fallen Azabs. Unfortunately, their hand artillery (grenades to you and me), which had to be thrown over the Azabs to reach the Russians, inflicted minor casualties on the Azabs. (3500 Azabs dead, 1500 foot artillery dead, 1000 irregulars dead, 500 line infantry dead).
After around 30 minutes from the initial close combat began, the horns began to sound, signalling the second wave. The remaining Azabs and foot artillery retreated in order to regroup and form the third wave as the Janissaries and (yet another) 10,000 foot artillery approached. As the first wave retreated, some of the more undisciplined irregulars tried to follow them out, only to be chopped down by a rapid charge of Sipahis. The second wave began to storm the breach. The janissaries faired much better than the Ottoman Azabs, and dealt death to many an irregular. The Russian line infantry plugged the gaps, but were beginning to feel fatigued as their compatriots continued to fall. (2,000 janissaries dead, 6,500 irregulars dead, 2,500 foot artillery dead, 2,000 line infantry dead, 100 sipahis dead, 500 Azabs dead.)
The remains of the first wave had regrouped and marched back into the breach. Combined with the second wave, they were able to force gaps in the Russian lines and began to flow into the city. With momentum on their side, the Ottoman soldiers cut down the remnants of the defenders holding the breach. The Russians weren't going to give up so easily, however, knowing certain death faced them if the city fell. As the 20,000 janissaries marched forward, the fixed guns on the walls continued to fire. Additionally, field guns from within the city started firing upon the entering forces, killing many of those involved in the first two waves. Cavalry charged the Ottomans also, though a combination of friendly fire and the discipline and strength of the elite Janissaries meant the the charges did little to sway the battle. (3,000 Janissaries dead, 1000 Azabs dead, 5,000 foot artillery dead, irregulars and line infantry wiped out, cavalry wiped out)
As the Ottomans swept through the city they offered the remaining Russians no chance to surrender, driven by their desire to strip the city of all its wealth. Sporadic fighting continued, but as the field gun positions were attacked by the Janissaries the battle had been won.
Ottoman casualties:
-5,000 Azabs dead
-14,000 Foot Artillery dead
-10,000 Janissaries dead
-150 Sipahis dead
Russian Casualties:
-13,000 Line infantry dead, 2,000 captured
-8,000 Irregulars, 2,000 captured
-1,000 Engineers captured
-5,000 militia cavalry, 1,000 captured
-1,000 hussars dead
-800 dragoons, 200 captured
-150 Field Guns destroyed
Result: Clear Ottoman Victory, Tsaritsyn is occupied and the Russian garrison is either dead or captured. Though a serious number of casualties have been suffered.
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Post by The Viceroy (AdminM) on Feb 21, 2015 19:58:51 GMT
As the first wave advanced, Russian irregulars and line infantry merged from shelter and started to clog up the breaches. Shots were fired and the forts fixed artillery began to shoot down the advancing infantry. Despite the noise, a gargantuan clash could be head as the Azabs crashed into the troops lining the breach. The foot artillery held back, fixing any breaks in the line left by fallen Azabs. Unfortunately, their hand artillery (grenades to you and me), which had to be thrown over the Azabs to reach the Russians, inflicted minor casualties on the Azabs. (3500 Azabs dead, 1500 foot artillery dead, 1000 irregulars dead, 500 line infantry dead).
After around 30 minutes from the initial close combat began, the horns began to sound, signalling the second wave. The remaining Azabs and foot artillery retreated in order to regroup and form the third wave as the Janissaries and (yet another) 10,000 foot artillery approached. As the first wave retreated, some of the more undisciplined irregulars tried to follow them out, only to be chopped down by a rapid charge of Sipahis. The second wave began to storm the breach. The janissaries faired much better than the Ottoman Azabs, and dealt death to many an irregular. The Russian line infantry plugged the gaps, but were beginning to feel fatigued as their compatriots continued to fall. (2,000 janissaries dead, 6,500 irregulars dead, 2,500 foot artillery dead, 2,000 line infantry dead, 100 sipahis dead, 500 Azabs dead.)
The remains of the first wave had regrouped and marched back into the breach. Combined with the second wave, they were able to force gaps in the Russian lines and began to flow into the city. With momentum on their side, the Ottoman soldiers cut down the remnants of the defenders holding the breach. The Russians weren't going to give up so easily, however, knowing certain death faced them if the city fell. As the 20,000 janissaries marched forward, the fixed guns on the walls continued to fire. Additionally, field guns from within the city started firing upon the entering forces, killing many of those involved in the first two waves. Cavalry charged the Ottomans also, though a combination of friendly fire and the discipline and strength of the elite Janissaries meant the the charges did little to sway the battle. (3,000 Janissaries dead, 1000 Azabs dead, 5,000 foot artillery dead, irregulars and line infantry wiped out, cavalry wiped out)
As the Ottomans swept through the city they offered the remaining Russians no chance to surrender, driven by their desire to strip the city of all its wealth. Sporadic fighting continued, but as the field gun positions were attacked by the Janissaries the battle had been won.
Ottoman casualties:
-5,000 Azabs dead
-14,000 Foot Artillery dead
-10,000 Janissaries dead
-150 Sipahis dead
Russian Casualties:
-13,000 Line infantry dead, 2,000 captured
-8,000 Irregulars, 2,000 captured
-1,000 Engineers captured
-5,000 militia cavalry, 1,000 captured
-1,000 hussars dead
-800 dragoons, 200 captured
-150 Field Guns destroyed
Result: Clear Ottoman Victory, Tsaritsyn is occupied and the Russian garrison is either dead or captured. Though a serious number of casualties have been suffered.
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Post by Sublime Porte on Feb 24, 2015 10:37:23 GMT
The Grand Vezir takes the Sultan's one-fifth in the form of able-bodied children wherever possible, no older than seven in appearance, to be trained as Janissaries. The Church of St John the Baptist is cleared of the dead, purified, and used for Friday prayers by the conquering army, rechristening it as the Mosque of the Conquest, the Fatih Camii. The rest of the Sultan's booty is distributed to all the men, not just the Janissaries, to thank them for their unwavering sacrifice.
No effort or finance is to be spared in the upcoming year to replenish the armies to full pre-siege levels.
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Post by Pyotr Alekseevich on Feb 24, 2015 13:58:34 GMT
OOC: I've just noticed that my militia cavalry are still here. I sent a private message to the Admins on the 17th of February requesting that 8 of the 12 militia cavalry regiments be redeployed to the Ukraine. Are they destroyed or moved? Just a little confused.
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