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Post by The Viceroy (AdminM) on Oct 19, 2016 15:44:34 GMT
Al-Husayn I ibn Ali, the newly recongnised Bey of Tunis, had finally arrived to join with the North African armies in Europe. He brought with him loyal janissaries, the order through which he had cemented his own reputation, though his retinue consisted mostly of North African Mamluks. His arrival has finally provided real leadership to the African soldiers serving under the Ottomans, and they were ready to execute their plans at last.
Marching into Wallachia, they received word of a Russian army stationed on the North side of the river around Rovinari. With Al-Husayn's arrival, the two armies appear as follows:
The North African Coalition Army
7,000 Azabs
5,000 Foot Artillery
5,000 Janissaries
2,000 Sipahis
500 Timariots
1,000 Mamluks
150 Demi-Cannons
The Army of the Rus, Boris Sheremetyev
15,000 Irregulars
5,000 Line Infantry
2,000 Engineers
150 Field Guns
50 Howitzers
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Post by Pyotr Alekseevich on Oct 19, 2016 17:25:34 GMT
Boris shuddered at the sight of such a large army assembling before him. Maybe his intelligence wasn’t as good as he though it was. The small force of Ottoman vassal troops was in fact a sizeable army... Oh well, no worry. Retreat wasn’t an option anyway, not with all those cavalry....
“Men! Soldiers! Soldiers of the Russian Empire! Soldiers of God! Soldiers of Tsar Pyotr! Today we will fight a battle, not a grand battle, not a great battle. But an important battle! Your Tsar is leading his great Imperial Army against the Ottoman Sultan, that devils whore who has dared make war on Russia! We are a long way from that fight, but today we can make sure our Lord wins! This horde of dark skinned demons wants to batter down the very gates of Moscow and defile the Holy Icons. They want to break into your homes and rape your wives, daughters and mothers! These filthy cunts think that their prophet has made them unbeatable! Well my boys, let us show them how wrong they are! Fight now for everything you love, everything you have ever held dear, and above all, fight to show these little pricks that no soldier on earth is as brave and murderous as a Russian Soldier!!!”
Boris trotted back to the waiting cadre of Officers "To your duties men!"
With these last words Boris drew his sabre and brandished it at the approaching army. The troops broke out into cries of ‘Ohra!’ and general noises made by men who are about to do a lot of killing. Boris waited a few seconds before lowering his sabre, on which cue the artillery opened fire and drowned out the cheering.
Men rushed to their positions, Sergeants called the ranks to order and Officers shook hands and stood before their men. Banners fluttered and jerked in the wind as crosses were planted into the earth. Men fixed bayonets and quickly took a piss. They were outnumbered, but by god they would make those bastards pay for every inch.
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Post by The Viceroy (AdminM) on Oct 19, 2016 21:03:29 GMT
The North African Coalition Army, commanded by Al-Husayn I ibn Ali (5/10)
7,000 Azabs
5,000 Foot Artillery
5,000 Janissaries
2,000 Sipahis
500 Timariots
1,000 Mamluks
150 Demi-Cannons
The Army of the Rus, commanded by Boris Sheremetyev (8/10)
15,000 Irregulars
5,000 Line Infantry
2,000 Engineers
150 Field Guns
50 Howitzers
Both sides began their artillery barrage. The Russians had decided to fight on two separate fronts: the larger detachment was on the road to Rovinari which ran alongside the South banks of the river, a smaller contingent of guns and irregulars were deployed across the bridge, preventing the Ottoman vassal forces from crossing the river and heading north. Or at least that was the plan. Although the Russians had a greater number of better quality guns, those on the northern banks of the river could not yet find any suitable targets. As such, Al-Husayn’s forces gained an early advantage. After some time, this attritional conflict led to thinning of the lines of Russian irregulars covering the artillery.
Al-Husayn’s patience began to wear thin, he ordered his Sipahis and Mumluks, which had lined up on his left flank, to charge the irregulars. This was devastating, as 3,000 heavy cavalrymen hit the Russian lines at full tilt. The Irregulars had managed to cause some damage as they approached, but only a few salvos were able to be fired while the enemy bore down upon them. Sensing a quick victory, Al-Hussayn then ordered the advance of his right flank. This was smaller, and of lower quality, consisting of 7,000 Azabs and 500 Timariots. This advance was less successful. The guns on the north bank of the river were now able to fire at the oncoming infantry. Although the Timariots were mobile enough to avoid the artillery, they were charging against 5,000 Russian line infantry that had lined up on the left of the Russian main force.
The Timariots were quickly scattered and most were killed, as the Azabs split into two. Some attempted to hold back the line infantry as the rest attempted to cross the bridge to prevent a flank attack later in the battle. Like the Timariots, the Azabs fell into some trouble. The Russian line infantry was of a much greater quality than they, and the Russian musket volleys, combined with artillery salvos, caused a serious number of casualties. Eventually the Azabs were also forced back. Still Al-Husayn was optimistic, his cavalry were continuing to harrass the bulk of the irregulars that the Russians had fielded in their main force. Feeling that he could still win a great victory, he ordered his foot artillery and janissary corps to prepare for an advance. The only thing that stood in their way was a dwindling number of irregulars and 5,000 Line Infantry. Al-Husayn would make his numbers count. With many of the irregulars occupied by the Sipahis and Mamluks, the Ottoman infantry would only have to deal with the Line Infantry before advancing across the bridge.
They advanced and, although the gun emplacements on the north bank of the river were firing into the oncoming troops, the tide seemed to be turning the way of the Ottomans. Sheremetyev himself had grabbed a musket and joined the line to encourage his officers to stay the course. Russian irregulars from across the bridge began their attempts to cross, but their efforts were more of a hindrance than a relief as they restricted the view of the artillery. Nevertheless, the Janissaries were forced to turn and face the oncoming rabble.
Al-Husayn was impressed, he had expected the Russains to break by now. Their continued stand was not only admirable, but practically delightful. The more Russians killed here today, he thought to himself, the less he shall have to kill later. He looked on as the irregular force which had borne the brunt of the cavalry charges began to lose more and more ground. The Ottomans were beginning to encircle the Russians who now found themselves desperately clinging to every scrap of land lest they be forced into the river. The irregular division continued in their attempts to cross the bridge, but they were forced back after every advance. Sheremetyev could no longer see his opposing general, indeed he could see little beyond the mass of oncoming infantry. As the melee fight engaged, he reluctantly drew his sabre.
Sheremetyev quietly mourned his best laid plans. Not everything he had hoped for had come to pass. He tried to conceal his despair, as he personally fought back a few Turks who had gotten too close for comfort. Then, as soon as he was about to give up hope, he heard the bugles sound. Out of the heavy forest about a quarter of a mile south of the battle, Sheremetyev’s ambush forces finally arrived.
5,000 Irregulars
1,000 Militia Cavalry
2,000 Dragoons
Al-Husayn rode out to his Mamluks and led them in a charge against the arriving forces. Although the Russian cavalry was of a worse quality, their dragoons were armed with carbines, allowing them to fire a volley before engaging the already fatigued mamluks in the charge. The Militia cavalry diverted, instead aiming to hit the Ottoman infantry from behind, Similarly the Irregulars advanced slowly, not entering into anything resembling a line, but instead hoping to harass the enemy into breaking ranks. This gambit proved successful, the Ottoman infantry began to flee. This allowed the Irregulars on the North banks of the river to finally cross and aid their comrades. Al-Husayn cursed the fates, as he himself was forced to leave the field of battle, followed by the rest of the Ottoman army.
Losses
Russia:
6,000 Irregulars
2,500 Line infantry
50 Field Guns
Ottomans:
3,000 Azabs
2,500 Foot Artillery
1,500 Jannissaries
1,000 Sipahis
500 Timariots
500 Mamluks
50 Demi Cannons
50 Demi-Cannons (Captured)
This was a close battle all in all, but the Russians had a superior commander and well concealed forces. Still their losses were high as the Ottoman heavy cavalry caused some serious damage when charging the greatly inferior irregulars.
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Post by Pyotr Alekseevich on Oct 19, 2016 22:17:33 GMT
Boris wiped his brow. The cleanup was still in process, although he already knew the extent of his losses. A victory had been won today, and the dead men would soon be replaced.
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Post by The Viceroy (AdminM) on Oct 20, 2016 19:31:33 GMT
Despite the Russian victory, it seems that Sheremetyev's army has abandoned Wallachia. Following this, the North African army has been able to pillage and occupy the Romanian principalities.
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