Ottoman Invasion of Upper Sahara

[Game Master]

The Ottoman Empire vs Algerian Tribes

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Troops:
Ottoman:
Light Infantry : 500,000
Heavy Infantry : 120,000
Cavalry (Light and Ranged) : 150,000
Cannon : 500
Algerian:
Light Infantry : 180,412
Heavy Infantry : 5,167
Cavalry (Light and Ranged) : 9,542
Cannon : 66

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Objective One:[/size]
Split your army into two groups and set off expeditions of troops from both Algeria in the north and Tripolitania in the east. State what you shall do with any non-militant peoples you find and any surrendering tribesmen.

[Sultan Annatar I]

Plan of Action:

The Attack on two fronts, from the North in Algeria and the East in Tripolitania will use a rolling barrage movement, with the light infantry pressing forward and scouting out good positions with my heavy infantry behind them as reinforcements. The cavalry will be on the flanks, with the Cannon being wheeled and firing on the Tribesmen whenever they get within range.
Any Non-militants will be treated like equal citizens of the Empire and those who surrender will be treated like Prisoners of War and as such will be placed in Prison and made to work untill they have done enough work to be treated with the same rights as an Ottoman Citizen.

[Game Master]

Results:
The Berber tribes people are happy about how they are treated, and resistance is small. A number of berbers have been seen asking about taxation.

The Ottomans met no resistance as they crossed the border, and the tribes they met were friendly. However, this is most probably because these tribes people were under Ottoman influence to a degree already, the more pro-independance tribes peoples are thought to be within the deserts interior. No casualties were suffered.
Troops:
Ottoman:
Light Infantry : 500,000
Heavy Infantry : 120,000
Cavalry (Light and Ranged) : 150,000
Cannon : 500
Algerian:
Light Infantry : 180,412
Heavy Infantry : 5,167
Cavalry (Light and Ranged) : 9,542
Cannon : 66

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Objective Two:[/u][/size]
Establish logistical supply to your armies, and advance further inland into desertous terrain. Each fort you build in the desert can hold 100,000 men, 100 Cannon and 500 Horses. They will cost 5,000 Livre each, and 10,000 Livre if you want to fortify them well.

[Sultan Annatar I]

Plan of Action:

I shall build 3 well-fortified forts on the Tripolitania front and 2 well-fortified forts on the Algerian front. I shall pay an extra 10,000 Livre per fort to add stables to hold extra numbers of horses (preferably in the 10,000s )

From here.. 50,000 light infantry and 12,000 heavy shall be placed in each fort along with 500 horses and 100 Cannon. They shall be well-fed and have jesters for entertainment.

Meanwhile, in the dead of the Night, the 250,000 light infantry shall slowly march towards the centre of the desert, building up walls of sand as shields against attacks. The heavy infantry wait behind the walls whilst the light infantry will attack the sleeping tribesmen.

In answer to the Taxation, they will be hardly taxed as a result that most of them are indeed poor and since they have given a friendly welcome to our Troops.

[Game Master]

Results:[/u]
The people are happy to hear about low taxation.

Forts provide places for the troops to stay and rest, and supply moves to and fro.

The 250,000 Ottomans are sorrounded by Berber cavalrymen, numbering in at 4,500. The Cavalrymen manage to use their hit and run tactics to kill 90,000 of your men, but all dying themselves. It is thought that the sand wall saved the lvies of many. The men on the frontier send a scout back to the nearest fort, asking for logistical supply of men, arms and food.
Troops:
Ottoman:
Light Infantry : 410,000
Heavy Infantry : 120,000
Cavalry (Light and Ranged) : 150,000
Cannon : 500
Algerian:
Light Infantry : 180,412
Heavy Infantry : 5,167
Cavalry (Light and Ranged) : 5,042
Cannon : 66

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Objective Three:[/u][/size]
Spply these men, and hold off any other attacks on your position.

[Sultan Annatar I]

Plan of Action:

All the men are rotated and supplies are sent out to the front line.

Every mile a Sand Wall is built for protection and at 20 mile intervals a new un-fortified fort is built.

I now move all my troops out into front line positions and attack any tribesmen that come closer. A Scout reports back to me that a Tribal group, with Cannon, is near by. So I send out my heavy infantry, aided by the cavalry to take the Cannon for ourselves.

[Game Master]

Results:
The troops felt well defended and confident. However, the rumour that Cannon had been amongst the approaching troop was entiely incorrect, and it actually consisted of Light Infantry, armed with rifles similar to the Ottomans. They put up a good fight, but were dispersed.
Troops:
Ottomans:
Light Infantry : 410,000
Heavy Infantry : 88,000
Cavalry (Light and Ranged) : 126,000
Cannon : 500

Algerians:
Light Infantry : 112,000
Heavy Infantry : 5,167
Cavalry (Light and Ranged) : 5,042
Cannon : 66

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Objective Four:[/u][/size]
Calculate the cost of these further Forts. Then, push your men further inland and defeat a small army thought to be mustering at what was called by scouts the 'Timimoun Oasis'. Do some research into Ottoman archives (the intenert) to discover the location of Timimoun and destroy this small army before it masses to take a fort of the Ottoman chain, and break the defences. Furtehrmore, It is thought that word of Ottoman intent for conquest of the Muslim Sahara has gotten out, and Berber scouts have been sent to Mauritanian regions, aswell as Chadian and several Beni locations, aswell as the Sultanate of Morroco, in attempt to call for aid. Prepare your nation for the possible musetring of Arab and African armies against your own.

[Sultan Annatar I]

Plan of Action:

We anticipate the costs to be 30,000 Livre.

(by the way... I thought that the Timimoun Oasis was/is in Algeria, which I own?)

We shall call in Reserves, totalling our strength to:

LI: 1,000,000
HI: 500,000
CA: 500,000
Cannon: 1,000

We shall await for the Army to arrive before launching a stealth offensive during the night on any camps that we come across..
A small battalion will fully scout out the Oasis, just to make sure.
And I shall go to the forefront and fight along with my men

[Game Master]

Reults:
Tribesmen had come from the Mauritanians, the Beni, and from far away Chad. However, the Sultanate of Morocco refused to participate against the Ottoman Empire at this point. The total African core consisted of:

Light Infantry: 643,000
Heavy Infantry: 25,167
Cavalry: 55,042
Cannon: 40

Theirs was an army in dissaray, consisting of both Arabs and Muslim Africans. However, the Ottoman Force was strong and organised, comprising of elite military units. And, it also outnubmered the enemy force.

Berber, Beni, Mauritanian and Chadian generals fought amongst themselves, while the Ottomans snuck up to the camps at night, and murdered many of the enemy, and sabotaged their Cannon. This was not a battle, it was a nightraid.

At the end of the Nithraid, the berber forces numbered at:
Light Infantry: 173,000
Heavy Infantry: 12,000
Cavalry: 8,000
Cannon: 0

This force stood no chance against the Ottoman army. It fled into Mauritania, to its new home.
Troops:
Ottoman:
LI: 978,000
HI: 490,000
CA: 500,000
Cannon: 1,000
Algerian:
n/a

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Province Captured![/u][/size]
Congratulations! Your troops have captured Upper Sahara. They now own the whole populated region, and the vast desert interior (although this is disputed with several lowlying tribes).