Prussian-Boer War (PT 1880s/Open)

[Prussian Volksreich]

For a significant period of time, the Boer states have been a major obstacle in the way of the two great powers of Prussia and the United Kingdom, both of whom have a strong vested interest in the South African Cape. The Prussian Cape Colony has been striving to extend its territorial boundaries beyond their current limits. However, this has been coming at the expense of the South African Republic and the Orange Free State, who have formed a closely-knit confederacy known as the Union of South Africa, but more informally referred to as the Boer Republic, for the purposes of defending themselves against external aggressors.

In order to bring the Boers under their control, the Prussians and English have sent an ultimatum, which offers them only two choices: submit to colonial rule and be annexed by the two colonizing powers or face the prospects of a devastating war. The proud and fiercely anti-colonial rulers of the two Boer states have naturally rejected the prospect of submitting to colonial rule and have instead opted to fight.

The Prussians have swiftly dispatched brigades to their borders to prevent any incursions by the weak, but numerically superior Boer troops. The Hannover Accords, a mutual friendship pact, has been signed between the English and Prussian, cementing their alliance and mutual support in this conflict. The Prussians have launched naval invasions on the Union, while the English have formed a constabulary specifically designed to fight the Boers.

In addition to the Boer Union, the Natalian Republic is also of great interest to the English. However, the Prussians have shown no particular interest in it.

ORBAT:

Prussian African Guard
Overall Leader: Erwin Heilbronn

Cape Colony Militia

- 250 infantry militiamen, poorly trained and poorly equipped
- 50 professional soldiers, well-trained and well equipped
- 65 corpsmen and doctors, well-trained

Eastern Colony Militia

- 100 infantry militiamen, poorly trained and poorly equipped
- 25 professional soldiers, well-trained and well equipped
- 15 corpsmen and doctors, well-trained

[Mareyland]

The people and government of the Republic of Mareyland both have sympathies for the Boer republics. Not only are they seen as bastions of White Civilization in Africa, but their anti-colonial struggle resonates with Mareylanders, who fought their own war of independence against a colonial power in the 1770s. Therefore, the urge to support the Boers in their fight is strong within the Mareyland government, and public pressure to do the same is mounting.

Mareyland does not boast a massive army or navy, and expeditionary warfare so far from home is a tall order. For now, Mareyland support for the Boers comes in two forms: weapons, and unofficial volunteers. Sympathetic merchants either directly supply the Union of South Africa with weapons or donate the funds to purchase armaments from other sources. Meanwhile, groups of Mareylanders begin to make arrangements to organize, arm themselves, and travel to the Union in order to help defend the Boers from the encroaching Prussians.

The government of Mareyland has also filed formal protests with the governments of Prussia and Britain, registering their extreme dissatisfaction with their brazen imperial venture.

ORBAT: Mareyland Volunteers
Leader: Colonel Edward Irving (Mareyland Regular Army, retired)
250 men (initial strength)
Armaments: military surplus trapdoor rifles, plus one battery of privately-purchased cannons

[Prussian Volksreich]

The Prussian Cape Colonial Militia, a well-trained and organized military force, has been designated as the primary invading force to launch a full-scale assault on the Boer republics. However, with the arrival of new volunteers and advanced weaponry from the Mareylanders who are now supporting the Boer forces, the Prussian army must bolster its military resources and increase its troop numbers in order to counter this new threat.

As a result, the Prussians have started to pour more and more troops into the Cape Colony, in order to launch a decisive assault against the Boer forces. Meanwhile, the British have set up fortresses along the border, maintaining a defensive stance for the time being.

The Prussian forces begin their first invasion, with their sights set on the capital of the Orange Free State, Bloemfontein. Their troops quickly make a breakthrough and the Prussian militiamen encircle several key points, capturing them with ease. Despite facing stiff resistance, the Prussians emerge victorious in many battles. However, as time goes by, the Prussian army becomes unable to sustain such a massive invasion and is forced to adopt a defensive posture, with soldiers fortifying their positions.

In response to the Prussian invasion, the British send around 150 well-trained militiamen to bolster the frontlines. However, with the help of advanced equipment and resources from Mareyland, the Boer forces begin to push back against the Prussian army, forcing them to retreat to the town of Edenburg.

In anticipation of the next stage of the conflict, the Boers are taking every precaution to fortify roads and trails, while also breaking down dams in the Orange River to create natural obstacles, making it harder for the Prussian forces to advance.

[Aicrowian Canada]

Aicrowian Canada, Also having ambitions in africa sends a ship towards Cape Town to check out what is happening, and sees the war.
They are currently unsure which side to join

Army in Africa:
250 Men
100 Riffles
50 Bayonets
50 Cannons

[Mareyland]

The Prussian forces begin their first invasion, with their sights set on the capital of the Orange Free State, Bloemfontein. Their troops quickly make a breakthrough and the Prussian militiamen encircle several key points, capturing them with ease. Despite facing stiff resistance, the Prussians emerge victorious in many battles. However, as time goes by, the Prussian army becomes unable to sustain such a massive invasion and is forced to adopt a defensive posture, with soldiers fortifying their positions.

However, with the help of advanced equipment and resources from Mareyland, the Boer forces begin to push back against the Prussian army, forcing them to retreat to the town of Edenburg.

Colonel Edward Irving sat in his tent, located in the Mareyland Volunteers camp which was itself part of the larger Boer military camp outside Edenburg. He was pondering a map of the area, trying to find a way to keep the momentum of war on his side. The initial Prussian invasion had been blunted but the enemy had not been driven back fully. They were digging in, and Colonel Irving knew that the defender possessed a great advantage - he had seen for himself how deadly soldiers behind fortifications, armed with modern weapons, could be. There had to be some way to evict them...

His eyes wandered across the map, noting the railroad which connected Edenburg back to the Cape. Less than a hundred kilometers behind Edenburg was a railroad junction called Springfontein. If the railroad could be cut, then the Prussians in Edenburg would be deprived of supplies and reinforcements. They would have to withdraw, unless they wanted to be besieged and forced to surrender. Colonel Irving hurriedly grabbed a piece of paper and a pencil and scratched out a message to the commanding general of the Boer forces. When it was ready, one of his junior officers carried the message to the Boer commander:

Your Excellency,

First allow me to congratulate you and your soldiers for their successes in the field of late. The enemy has been foiled in his efforts to capture Bloemfontein and he has fallen back onto defensive posts. I have already received word that news of this victory emboldens your supporters in Mareyland, and more volunteers are gathering to fight for your noble country.

I wish to propose an operation which shall, with God's blessing and good fortune, drive the enemy further back from your lands without the necessity of a bloody frontal assault on their lines at Edenburg. I humbly request permission to take the Mareyland Volunteers, as well as any other forces you see fit to assign, and march on the railroad junction at Springfontein. If I am successful, the enemy's line of supply and communication will be severed and he will have no choice but to retreat. Should I fail to meet with success, nonetheless the maneuver will likely draw off some of the troops at Edenburg, weakening their positions.

I am your humble servant,
Edward Irving, Colonel, Mareyland Volunteers

[Prussian Volksreich]

A group of Prussian soldiers, their uniforms bearing the insignia of their proud nation, have strategically positioned themselves within the heart of the once-thriving city of Edenburg. Wasting no time, the soldiers quickly set to work entrenching themselves within their newly acquired territory, erecting imposing walls and fortifications to guard against potential intruders.

From their vantage points atop high towers, these skilled marksmen take aim with their rifles, their steely resolve unwavering as they stand guard over the city they have claimed for their own. Meanwhile, the local Boer citizens are herded together and imprisoned, their freedom and safety now at the mercy of their new Prussian overlords.

Though the Prussians do not immediately advance, they remain vigilant, acutely aware of the potential dangers posed by both the Mareylanders and the Boers. Preparing for any eventuality, they call upon their compatriots in the main colony and the British Empire, urgently requesting vital supplies that could mean the difference between victory and defeat. Yet even with these emergency provisions, the Prussian soldiers know that they cannot hold out forever, and they fervently pray for reinforcements to arrive before it's too late.

[Prussian Volksreich]

Due to the strategic operation carried out by the Mareylander volunteers in Springfontein, the Prussian soldiers in Edenburg have been left in a dire situation. With the railways and communications cut off, they are now facing a critical shortage of supplies, resulting in starvation and deaths within their ranks. The gravity of the situation has prompted the soldiers to make an urgent call for reinforcements.

Fortunately, help is on the way in the form of 50 well-trained and well-equipped Prussian soldiers who are expected to bring the much-needed supplies to feed the starving units. Meanwhile, the remaining soldiers in Edenburg are forced to rely on their emergency supplies as they wait for the reinforcements to arrive. Unfortunately, the garrison has been weakened by the desertion or mutiny of about 10 men.

To secure their position, the soldiers in Edenburg are working tirelessly to fortify their defenses. They are building walls and Czech hedgehogs to prevent enemy soldiers and tanks from breaching their position. Despite the tough situation they are in, they are determined to hold their ground until the city is at the threat of being sieged, as instructed by Sir Erwin Heilbronn.

Despite the challenging circumstances, the soldiers in Edenburg have not lost their morale. The city resonates with the sounds of Prussian army march songs, and the Prussian flag flies proudly on top of the city hall, a symbol of their unwavering spirit and determination.

[Antara]

The People's Federation of Antara decides to dispatch a small fleet of ships to observe the conflict, still not sure what side to join

Antaran ORBAT: 2 × Union Class Pre-Dreadnoughts and 4 × Prudence Class Armored Cruisers

[Prussian Volksreich]

/bump

[Bricnia]

The Kingdom of Bricnia decides to support its european neighbours and sends the 1st Guard Regiment down in the Cape Colony to help the Prussians

Obrat:

Leader : Colonel Tarvo Korpela
x550 soldiers
x15 officer
x15 medics

All of the Unit Is equipped with Mausers M71 , Mosin-Nagant M91 and Nagant M95

[Mareyland]

Due to the strategic operation carried out by the Mareylander volunteers in Springfontein, the Prussian soldiers in Edenburg have been left in a dire situation. With the railways and communications cut off, they are now facing a critical shortage of supplies, resulting in starvation and deaths within their ranks. The gravity of the situation has prompted the soldiers to make an urgent call for reinforcements.

Fortunately, help is on the way in the form of 50 well-trained and well-equipped Prussian soldiers who are expected to bring the much-needed supplies to feed the starving units.

The Mareyland Volunteers had taken Springfontein, cutting the supply and communications lines from Edenburg back to the Prussian Cape Colony. Colonel Edward Irving was pleased by the success of the operation.

He had divided his soldiers into two groups: he had 50 mounted soldiers, who could act as scouts or use their horses to maneuver rapidly before dismounting and fighting on foot, and 100 men who marched and fought on foot. He would have liked to have more mounted infantry but he was plagued by a shortage of horses. Colonel Irving had written to the Boer commander asking for more mounts. If he could turn his unit into a mounted legion, he would have a powerful striking force that could use the wide open spaces to strike at vital points. The Prussians would have to spread their troops out to defend any possible point that might be attacked by the Mareylanders.

But this was for the future: for now, Colonel Irving focused on preparing to defeat whatever relief force the Prussians might be assembling to retake Springfontein. His foot soldiers had begun to prepare defenses, digging rifle pits and clearing brush to present open fields of fire. Meanwhile, the mounted troops were busy scouting, to bring advance warning of any enemy force that might be closing on the town. Colonel Irving felt no need to defend Springfontein to the death - if a superior enemy force arrived, he would wreck the rails and then withdraw.

[Prussian Volksreich]

Despite their initial efforts, the Prussian Army's deployment to Africa has been struggling to keep up with the demands of the ongoing war. As a result, they have made the difficult decision to withdraw most of their reinforcements, signaling an acknowledgement of the challenge at hand. Unfortunately, with the war effort faltering, it seems likely that the Prussians may not be able to turn the tide in their favor. In a last-ditch effort to salvage the situation, they are now sending diplomats to Bloemfontein to discuss the possibility of an armistice between Prussia and the Boer republics. Meanwhile, the soldiers who are currently trapped in Springfontein, facing a dire situation with dwindling supplies and limited options, have little choice but to surrender. They will soon retreat to Colesberg, a move that is expected to further weaken the Prussian position in the region.

[Upper Magica]

Facing catastrophe, the British South Africa Company resorts to the hiring of mercenaries to augment colonial troops and those having yet arrived from the homeland. Although many of these formations are - frankly - of little combat value, scattering before Boer formations or their newly-raised but yet highly-vaunted volunteer troops at the mere sound of gunfire, there exists one such company of these mercenaries perhaps more disciplined and well-equipped than the rest.

The 5th Company of Contract Voltigeurs of the Magican Western Colonial Company, incorporated by his Imperial Majesty Louis VI, lead by one Col. Lucien Renard Constantin Louvel Fauchere; it is also eponymously named after its rather avaricious yet brave, perhaps reckless leader: Fauchere's Marauders.

With perhaps an inkling of the moral character and motivations for this deployment in mind - what right thinking mercenary isn't guided by a lust for gold, after all? - it would be prudent to recall that Col. Fauchere is quite aware of the region's abundance of gold and diamonds: in fact, after the fall of Bloemfontein, which he thoroughly intends to prosecute upon his and his men's arrival, he intends to loot and pillage the Transvaal beyond of all it's worth in the vein of his ancestors.

And so, his room lit late at night on the steamship Hercule by candle, a few days away from the port of Elizabeth on the southern coast of the Cape Colony, he draws plans both realistic and yet megalomaniacal, for in his mind, all the world's a billfold left carelessly in public; what right do others have to judge him and his men, who take freely?

ORBAT - Cohorte V de Voltigeurs Contractes de la Compagnia Colonial de Occidentala:

Century I(Mounted) - 80 dragoons, armed with repeating rifles, well trained
Century II(Support) - 80 troops, five Maxim guns drawn by horse, three de Bange-type 80mm cannons drawn by horse
Century III(Supply and Health) - 20 wagons, 40 porters/wagon drivers, 12 medici, 20 mounted cavalrymen to escort.
Century IV(Pioneer Detachment) - 60 sappers, lightly armed with second-rate Chassepot rifles, equipped with explosives and digging equipment
Century V(Voltigeur, Command) - 80 riflemen armed with Lebel-type rifles, 12 staff officers, one company commander
Century VI(Voltigeur/Light Infantry) - 80 riflemen armed with Fusil 1874 type rifles
Century VII(Voltigeur/Light Infantry) - 80 riflemen armed with Fusil 1874 type rifles
Century VIII(Voltigeur Grenadiers) - 80 riflemen armed with Lebel-type rifles, Ketchum-type grenades

OOC: Got dangit. I don't usually do real-world based RPs, but this time I'm biting the bullet - I may or may not be a total simp for the Victorian era.