India Seven Years War Campaign

India Seven Years War Campaign

The following campaign has been developed by Mike Kirby.

Supporting material can be found in his book "The Campaigns in India During the Seven Years War".

Contents:

Summary of Campaign Rules
Orders of Battle India Campaign 1756-1764
Special Campaign Rules
Topographical Notes
Naval Rules
Campaign Map

Introduction:

The use of this basic campaign system is as detailed in the ‘Battles of the ACW’ source book. Some mechanisms have been borrowed from the ‘Jacobite’ source books and others are my own inventions.

Basic Manoeuvre Units:

Each basic manoeuvre unit in the campaign is under the command of a named leader. The size of a unit may be any size from Brigade to Army. Scouting units are the exception to this rule; they may be composed of a 1SP SKO unit only and do not need a leader.

Campaign Length:

The entire campaign will last from 1756 to 1764. Individual campaign modules have a specific length detailed in each scenario. Each campaign year consists of 10 turns. Each turn represents 1 month (2 months in winter) or 2 weeks, dependent upon the scenario. In some theatres there are two months in each year, which are designated winter months (monsoon in India). In these months the Armies will go into quarters and no actions will take place, except for replacement of casualties and allocation of reinforcements.

Locations & Lines:

City / Location boxes are connected by Transportation Lines. Transportation Lines may be Road (marked in Grey), Mountain Road (marked in Red) or River (marked in Blue). City boxes may also be marked as Ports and may contain Fortifications. Boxes containing fortifications are as noted in each scenario. These may be permanent fortifications or fieldworks.

Movement:

Manoeuvre units may move 1 box per move using road lines and 2 boxes using ‘friendly’ river lines. ‘Cavalry only’ units may move 2 boxes per move using road lines. Units may be moved from port to port if the sea route is ‘friendly’. Units may use 1 march per move in order to fortify with earthworks.

Scouting and Intelligence:

Manoeuvre units may gather fragmentary intelligence reports only, at a range of 1 box. Scouting units may gather fragmentary, complete or detailed reports at a range of two boxes. Roll one die per move 1,2,3 a fragmentary report will reveal the total number of SP’s. 4,5 a complete report will reveal the number of SP’s broken down into Infantry, Cavalry and Artillery. 6 a detailed report will reveal the entire Order of Battle.

Supply:

Manoeuvre units must be in supply to avoid attrition. A supply line must be traced through friendly boxes back to a supply source. All supply source boxes are named in each scenario. Manoeuvre units can break an enemy supply line. Scouting units may not break an enemy supply line.

Daylight Hours:

The number of daylight hours is dependent upon the time of year.

	JAN / FEB	MAR / APR	MAY / JUN	JUL / AUG	SEP / OCT	NOV / DEC
DAWN	6 am	5 am	4 am	5 am	6 am	6 am
DUSK	6 pm	7 pm	8 pm	7 pm	6 pm	5 pm

Battles:

Field battles occur when both sides accept battle for the same location box. Battles begin at dawn plus the roll of one die (in hours). Eg. Dawn 5AM, die roll 4, therefore the first move is 9AM.

Sieges:

Sieges occur when a manoeuvre unit moves into a fortress box which is occupied by an enemy garrison. If there are enemy manoeuvre units also in the fortress box, then the owner of the garrison may elect to fight a field battle, place the manoeuvre unit in the fortress and accept a siege or retreat the manoeuvre unit along a friendly transportation line. Sieges may be resolved on the table-top or by using the siege resolution chart.

Casualty Replacement:

After a battle, some casualties may be returned to their units. If both sides are in possession of the battlefield at the end of the battle then both sides recover two thirds of their casualties.

If one side retreats with a rearguard it recovers one half of its casualties. The victorious side recovers two thirds of its infantry and cavalry casualties and all of its artillery casualties.

If there is no rearguard then the retreating army recovers one third of its infantry and cavalry and none of its artillery.

A rearguard must be intact and neither routed nor exhausted and equal to at least one quarter of the army’s original formed troop stands.

In some scenarios, there may be special conditions applied to casualty replacement, for instance, campaigning in disease-ridden areas such as the Caribbean, Ukraine or India in the Summer months.

Orders of Battle India Campaign 1756-1764:

The British January 1756.

Force at Fort William, Calcutta. OiC Major Carnac, (CC)

IR. Bengal Btn EIC. M6 [ ][ ][ ] Sh
IR 1. Bengal Sepoy Btn. M5 [ ][ ]
IR 2. Bengal Sepoy Btn. M5 [ ][ ]
IR 3. Bengal Sepoy Btn. M5 [ ][ ]
IR 4. Bengal Sepoy Btn. M5 [ ][ ]
IR 1. Buxerries M4 [ ][ ][ ] Mil
IR 2. Buxerries M4 [ ][ ][ ] Mil
AB 1. Bengal Bty EIC M6 [ ][ ][ ] Fld
Commodore James EIC. 5 SP Battle Fleet

Force at Fort George, Madras. OiC Lt. Col Stringer-Lawrence, (AC). 2iC Major Forde, (CC)

IR. Madras Btn EIC. M6 [ ][ ][ ] Sh
IR 1. Madras Sepoy Btn. M5 [ ][ ]
IR 2. Madras Sepoy Btn. M5 [ ][ ]
IR 3. Madras Sepoy Btn. M5 [ ][ ]
IR 4. Madras Sepoy Btn. M5 [ ][ ]
IR 1. Peons M4 [ ][ ] Mil
IR 2. Peons M4 [ ][ ] Mil
AB 1. Madras Bty. EIC M6 [ ][ ] Fld
AB Madras Siege Bty. EIC M6 [ ][ ] Sge

Force at Bombay. OiC Lt. Col Clive. (AC)

IR. Bombay Btn EIC. M6 [ ][ ][ ] Sh
IR 3. Buxerries M4 [ ][ ] Mil
AB 1. Bombay Bty. EIC M6 [ ][ ] Fld
Admiral Watson RN. 13 SP Battle Fleet

Force at Trichinopoly. OiC Cpt. Caillaud. CC.

IR 5. Madras Sepoy Btn. M5 [ ][ ]
IR 6. Madras Sepoy Btn. M5 [ ][ ]

Force at Arcot. OiC Yusuf Khan. CC.

IR 7. Madras Sepoy Btn. M5 [ ][ ]
IR 8. Madras Sepoy Btn. M5 [ ][ ]

Garrisons:

Calcutta

IR. Bengal Europeans. M6 [ ]
AB Garrison M6 [ ][ ] Hvy

Bombay

IR. Bombay Europeans. M6 [ ]
AB Garrison M6 [ ][ ] Hvy

Surat

IR. Bombay Europeans. M6 [ ]
AB Garrison M6 [ ][ ] Hvy

Madras

IR. Madras Europeans. M6 [ ]
AB Garrison M6 [ ][ ] Hvy

Fort St. David

IR. Madras Europeans. M6 [ ]
IR. 3. Peons. M4 [ ][ ]
AB Garrison M4 [ ] Hvy

Arcot

IR. Sepoy Co. M5 [ ]
AB Garrison M6 [ ][ ] Hvy

Trichinopoly

IR. Sepoy Co. M5 [ ]
AB Garrison M6 [ ][ ] Hvy

Reinforcements by Sea

The following units are available at any friendly port.

February 1756

IR.39 Aldercrons. M6 [ ][ ] Sh
AB 1. RA. M6 [ ][ ] Fld
AB 2. RA. M6 [ ][ ] Fld

August 1758

IR.79 Drapers. M6 [ ][ ][ ] Sh
AB 4. RA. M6 [ ][ ] Fld

May 1759

Lt. Col. Eyre Coote. AC.
Admiral Stevens RN. 8 SP Battle Fleet

September 1759

IR.84 Cootes. M6 [ ][ ][ ] Sh
Major Adams. CC.

September 1760

IR.89 Highland. M6 [ ][ ] Sh
1 SP augmentation each for 84^th and 79^th Regts.

July 1764

Col. Monro. AC.

The following units are carried by the British RN fleet and may be landed to support a friendly force.

IR. Marines. M6 [ ][ ] Sh
IR.Sailors. M5 [ ][ ] Sh
AB 1. Naval. M6 [ ][ ] Fld
AB 2. Naval. M6 [ ][ ] Fld
AB Naval Siege Bty. M6 [ ][ ] Sge

Other Reinforcements:

July 1757

IR 39 Aldercrons leaves, replaced by 1 SP augmentation each for all EIC Regts.

March 1759

Lt. Col. Stringer-Lawrence leaves, replaced by Major Brereton. CC. If Madras is still held by the EIC.

April 1759

All EIC Sepoy Btns. become M6 [ ][ ][ ] Sh

May 1759

CR.European Horse. M6 [ ] Med.

January 1760

CR.De Becks Hussars. M6 [ ] Med.

September 1760

IR.89 Highland. M6 [ ][ ] Sh
1 SP augmentation each for 84^th and 79^th Regts. If Madras is still held by the EIC.

January 1763

IR 9. Madras Sepoy Btn. M6 [ ][ ][ ] Sh
IR 10. Madras Sepoy Btn. M6 [ ][ ][ ] Sh

December 1763

IR 84 Cootes leaves, replaced by 1 SP augmentation each for all EIC Regts. If Calcutta is still held by the EIC.

March 1764

CB Mughal Horse Regt M5 [ ][ ][ ][ ] Lt

The French. January 1756.

Force at Pondicherry. OiC Marquis D’Auteuil, (CC)

IR 1 Indies CdI. M6 [ ][ ][ ] Sh
IR 1. Sepoy Btn. M5 [ ][ ]
IR 2. Sepoy Btn. M5 [ ][ ]
IR 3. Sepoy Btn. M5 [ ][ ]
IR 4. Sepoy Btn. M5 [ ][ ]
IR 5. Sepoy Btn. M5 [ ][ ]
IR 6. Sepoy Btn. M5 [ ][ ]
CR Cav. Des Indes. M5 [ ][ ] Med
AB 1. Compagnie Bty. M5 [ ][ ] Fld
AB 2. Compagnie Bty. M5 [ ][ ] Fld
AB Compagnie Siege Bty. M5 [ ][ ] Sge

Force at Nellore. OiC Marquis De Conflans, (AC)

IR 2 Indies CdI. M6 [ ][ ] Sh
IR 7. Sepoy Btn. M5 [ ][ ]
IR 8. Sepoy Btn. M5 [ ][ ]
AB 3. Compagnie Bty. M5 [ ][ ] Fld

Force at Hyderabad. OiC Marquis De Bussy, (CC)

IR. Vol. De Bussy. M6 [ ][ ] Sh
IR 9. Sepoy Btn. M5 [ ][ ]
IR 10. Sepoy Btn. M5 [ ][ ]
CR Cav. De Bussy. M5 [ ] Med
AB De Bussy Bty. M5 [ ][ ] Fld

Force at Patna. OiC Monsieur Law, (CC)

IR 3 Indies CdI. M6 [ ][ ] Sh
IR 11. Sepoy Btn. M5 [ ][ ]
IR 12. Sepoy Btn. M5 [ ][ ]
AB 4. Compagnie Bty. M5 [ ][ ] Fld

Garrisons:

Fort D’Orleans, Chandernagore

IR. CdI Europeans. M6 [ ]
AB Garrison M5 [ ][ ] Hvy

Patna

IR. CdI Europeans. M6 [ ]
AB Garrison M5 [ ] Hvy

Masulipatnam

IR. CdI Europeans. M6 [ ]
AB Garrison M5 [ ] Hvy

Nellore

IR. CdI Europeans. M6 [ ]
AB Garrison M5 [ ] Hvy

Permacoil

IR. CdI Europeans. M6 [ ]
AB Garrison M5 [ ] Hvy

Wandiwash

IR. CdI Europeans. M6 [ ]
AB Garrison M5 [ ] Hvy

Pondicherry

IR. CdI Europeans. M6 [ ]
IR. Sepoy Co. M5 [ ]
AB Garrison M5 [ ][ ] Hvy

Negapatnam - (Neutral)

IR. Dutch Europeans. M5 [ ]
IR. Sepoy Co. M4 [ ]
AB Garrison M5 [ ] Hvy

Reinforcements by Sea:

The following units are available at any friendly port.

September 1757

IR. Lorraine. M6 [ ][ ][ ]
AB 1. RA. M5 [ ][ ] Fld
Compte De Soupire, (CC)
Compte De Crillon, (CC)

April 1758

IR. Lally. M6 [ ][ ][ ]
AB 2. RA. M5 [ ][ ] Fld
AB 3. RA. M5 [ ][ ] Fld
Compte Lally-Tollendahl, (AC)
Marquis d’Estaing, (CC)
Admiral D’Ache. 14 SP Battle Fleet

Other Reinforcements:

November 1758

CR Sepoy Hussars. M5 [ ] Lt

The following units are carried by the French fleet and may be landed to support a friendly force.

IR. Marines. M5 [ ][ ]
IR.Sailors. M5 [ ][ ]

Native Forces:

If either commander has influence at the following locations, a percentage of troops may be recruited as ‘allies’. Roll a D6 in order to influence the leader, a 6 will suffice. Roll a D6 in order to determine how many men that leader will bring as ‘allies’, 1,2 none, 3,4 half, 5,6 all. Each Campaign turn, roll a D6, on a roll of 1 or 2 the Native Leader will stop at his current location, on a roll of 3 or 4 the Native Leader’s troops will disperse.

Delhi. The Great Moghul. AC. 50,000 men. 200 SP
Murshidabad. Nawab of Bengal. AC. 25,000 men. 100 SP
Hyderabad. Viceroy of the Deccan. AC. 20,000 men. 80 SP
Mysore. Sultan of Mysore. AC. 20,000 men. 80 SP
Nagpur. Mahratta Peshwa. AC. 30,000 men. 120 SP

When a force of Europeans is in the same location for more than 2 Campaign Turns, the owning commander may attempt to ‘woo’ the local Poligar. If successful, the Europeans add his native forces to their army. The total number of these troops is decided by adding 1D6 where each pip is 4SP. The composition of this contingent is made up using the typical army list for their nationality. Each Campaign turn thereafter, roll a D6, that number of SPs drift away.

Special Campaign Rules:

The Full Campaign begins with Turn 1 (January 1756) and ends with Turn 118 (December 1764).
Any British Naval units passing through Bombay may be diverted to attack the pirate base at Gheriah. Each Turn that a fleet is at Bombay, roll one D6, on a roll of 6, the fleet and all the troops carried will be delayed for one D6 turns. This event will occur only once.
North of Hyderabad, the monsoon will occur during July and August. Hyderabad and all areas South of this, the monsoon will occur during October and November.
At the beginning of Each Campaign Turn, (not Monsoon) roll one D6, on a roll of 6 there will be a possibility of an Afghan invasion. For the next three Campaign turns, roll one further D6, on a roll of 5 or 6 the Afghans are sighted near the frontier. All Mahratta, Bengali and Mughal forces will immediately proceed to Delhi, where they will stay for one D6 Campaign Turns.
On every Monsoon Turn, roll one D6 per fleet. On a roll of 6 that fleet is hit by a severe storm and will take one D6 damage in SPs (one SP=a 20 gun rate).

Victory Conditions.

The French must take and hold Madras and Calcutta. As soon as this happens, the Campaign will end in a Major French Victory.
The British must take and hold Pondicherry. As soon as this happens, the Campaign will end in a Major British Victory.
If the French hold either Calcutta or Madras, by the end of the campaign, this is a Minor French Victory.

I would suggest using the Summarised Campaign Rules and either an umpire or common sense when required.

Topographical Notes:

The following is intended to be an aid to players who wish to either fight the battles described or play the campaign system.

India can be described roughly as divided into two halves by the regional monsoon patterns.

The North of the sub-continent is bordered by the Himalaya Mountains which form a natural barrier to the rest of Asia. The smaller Vindhya Mountains separate Gujerat from the Mahratta States. Beyond these mountains is to be found the Great Indian Desert. Two more ranges of significant hills run down the West and East of the country, these are known as the Western and Eastern Ghats. Several unfordable rivers cross the country, however at the time few of these were suitable for deep draught vessels. Hills, such as in the case of Wandiwash, often possessed cliff faces or extremely rocky sides. The Red Hill near to Pondicherry is an area of sand dunes and valleys, predominately red -brown in colour.

All areas of woods are to be considered ‘open woods’ and will allow the passage of infantry with some small measure of disorder. The cultivated groves of mangos and tamarinds and all areas of jungle should be treated as dense woods, which provide good cover to infantry but will impose significant movement penalties. It should be noted that some of these groves ( eg. Plassey ) were surrounded by thick earthen banks.

The water tanks which were, and still are, an important feature of the Indian agriculture system may have been dry at the time of the battle. The monsoon rains would be the only source of water for most of these reservoirs. These tanks were invariably surrounded by thick banks of earth.

Rice paddy fields were not usually of the wet variety found in south east Asia. Most of the Indian varieties of rice growing happily in quite dry soil. Indian maize fields such as the one at Condore grew taller than a man and will obviously conceal troops behind, or in, them. Adobe buildings are universally to be found in villages and towns, as are pagodas, temples and mosques. Many religious chortens and statues decorate roadsides near to centres of habitation.

Most of the forts in India were mud walled interspersed with towers of varying designs. The better of these forts were strong enough to mount cannon on their ramparts. Any forts held by a European power for a reasonable length of time could have been improved with the addition of one or more earthern redoubts or bastions of European design and earthen ‘fause bray’ may have been dug around the perimeter. Some forts were of stout stone or brick construction, such as the multi walled fortress at Agra. The European built forts such as Fort St. George, Fort William and Pondicherry were of typical simplified ‘Vauban’ style. Other forts were built on naturally strong features such as the rock forts at Permacoil and Trichinopoly. Many of the smaller forts, and Pondicherry in particular, possessed an encircling thorny ‘bound hedge’.

Jaipur, Rajputana.

One final point, most of the battles in this campaign were fought on flat plains. These were not dry dust bowls as is usually thought of by westerners, but either a mixture of sandy soil and grassland for the Bengal theatre, or lush grassland and vegetation for the South of the country.

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