Morvalistan 1940 - 1941

A Fictitious Wargames Setting 1

First Some Background on Morvalistan - a Fictional setting

Origin

Morvalistan is a fictitious colony set somewhere like East Africa but not too closely. It is the setting for our 19th Century games and the geography allows for Zulus, Tribal Kings, Pygmies, Arabs, Dervishes, Somalis, Lost Empires etc as well as the Colonial Powers. It has a liberal amount of H Ryder Haggard and Hollywood thrown in!

This year our small club decided on something new to try. They had liked my Iraq 1941 games, the Mad Mullah and other early WW2 games. When I said that I was starting out on the East Africa Campaign they said, “Why not set it in Morvalistan?” At first I did not see why I should. Then after a bit of thought I saw that I could have a representative force for East Africa and add in some peculiarities of Morvalistan as well. The Colony is already sort of planned and has Italians, Germans, Ruritanians (Russian in style), Belgians, French interested as well as Somalis, Egyptians, Arab slavers, Zuleiman (Ottoman) Empire, tribal kingdoms, strange cults and so on.

Well there it was – I’m going to fit in: British, Italians, French, Tribals, Arabs, Nazis, small Central European Nations, Warlords, Religious and political forces and maybe some fantasy and SciFi stuff for the younger members. 

British Morvalistan 1940

With the declaration of war in 1939, British Morvalistan’s position became of strategic importance to the Royal Navy by providing bases and to the RAF where maritime reconnaissance and training bases could be easily established. The neighbouring colonies of Italy, Belgium, Portugal, France and others similarly acquired an increased strategic value even though only France was actually at war. 

The fall of France in 1940 coupled with Italy’s entry into the war creating the Berlin-Rome Axis changed this. At a stroke British Morvalistan suddenly stood alone in the region and reinforcements were hurriedly despatched. However well-intentioned this was, it led to an amazing variety of equipment and, consequently, enormous logistic headaches!

To the north stood Morvalistan Orientale Italiana (MOI) whose Governor the General Count Impetuosi, was making warlike noises and assembling his, not inconsiderable, forces of Metropolitan, Colonial, Native and Blackshirt troops supported by a small air force.

Northeast of Morvalistan stood the Vichy French colony of Zaria with its pro-British Governor, General Etacarot. Unfortunately, by standing true to his beliefs he had made himself unpopular at home. His land forces were not large nor were the river and coastal forces while the air arm by comparison was both modern and strong. While to the northwest was the pro-Axis Vichy French colony of Citron under General Coustard.

Just to the south was the former German colony of Qaza’ar now a nominally independent kingdom that was politically unstable. It was now a full member of the League of Nations but was politically fascist in outlook with strong missions from Germany and Italy. The military forces posed a serious threat and could not be ignored especially if they sided with the Italians.

To the west the independent tribal kingdoms were constantly fighting each other or raiding the Belgian territories. The armies of these kingdoms ranged from traditional spear armed forces through warlord led bandit groups to mixed tribal and mercenary forces. 

Offshore to the east Islamic Sultanates held sway in the Islands of Marzibar, Zniqabar and Qarunjibar. Marzibar had always been an independent state founded upon the spice and slave trades and so had a weak maritime force of small craft. The others had become independent states when the Zuleiman Empire collapsed after the Great War and had only tiny self defence forces.

Religion played and inordinately important part in the whole region with extremism and tolerance often side by side with tribal, Christian and Islamic traditions present in most countries. Some were, of course, at least nominally single religions and some more fundamentalist and extreme in nature than others. Cannibalism and slavery had supposedly been eradicated. 

The interior was still largely unknown and large areas unexplored. There were rumours of fabulous ruined cities, of lost empires, or great treasures, of the elephants’ graveyard, of King Solomon’s Mines, of strange beasts and much, much more.

The Transvaal Scottish were part of the initial forces sent to Morvalistan.  They are Airfix, Matchbox and ESCI 8th Army figures with Frontline Wargaming and irfix transport.

First Some Background on Morvalistan - a Fictional setting:

Origin

Morvalistan is a fictitious colony set somewhere like East Africa but not too closely. It is the setting for our 19th Century games and the geography allows for Zulus, Tribal Kings, Pygmies, Arabs, Dervishes, Somalis, Lost Empires etc as well as the Colonial Powers. It has a liberal amount of H Ryder Haggard and Hollywood thrown in!

This year our small club decided on something new to try. They had liked my Iraq 1941 games, the Mad Mullah and other early WW2 games. When I said that I was starting out on the East Africa Campaign they said, “Why not set it in Morvalistan?” At first I did not see why I should. Then after a bit of thought I saw that I could have a representative force for East Africa and add in some peculiarities of Morvalistan as well. The Colony is already sort of planned and has Italians, Germans, Ruritanians (Russian in style), Belgians, French interested as well as Somalis, Egyptians, Arab slavers, Zuleiman (Ottoman) Empire, tribal kingdoms, strange cults and so on.

Well there it was – I’m going to fit in: British, Italians, French, Tribals, Arabs, Nazis, small Central European Nations, Warlords, Religious and political forces and maybe some fantasy and SciFi stuff for the younger members. 

British Morvalistan 1940

With the declaration of war in 1939, British Morvalistan’s position became of strategic importance to the Royal Navy by providing bases and to the RAF where maritime reconnaissance and training bases could be easily established. The neighbouring colonies of Italy, Belgium, Portugal, France and others similarly acquired an increased strategic value even though only France was actually at war. 

The fall of France in 1940 coupled with Italy’s entry into the war creating the Berlin-Rome Axis changed this. At a stroke British Morvalistan suddenly stood alone in the region and reinforcements were hurriedly despatched. However well-intentioned this was, it led to an amazing variety of equipment and, consequently, enormous logistic headaches!

To the north stood Morvalistan Orientale Italiana (MOI) whose Governor the General Count Impetuosi, was making warlike noises and assembling his, not inconsiderable, forces of Metropolitan, Colonial, Native and Blackshirt troops supported by a small air force.

Northeast of Morvalistan stood the Vichy French colony of Zaria with its pro-British Governor, General Etacarot. Unfortunately, by standing true to his beliefs he had made himself unpopular at home. His land forces were not large nor were the river and coastal forces while the air arm by comparison was both modern and strong. While to the northwest was the pro-Axis Vichy French colony of Citron under General Coustard.

Just to the south was the former German colony of Qaza’ar now a nominally independent kingdom that was politically unstable. It was now a full member of the League of Nations but was politically fascist in outlook with strong missions from Germany and Italy. The military forces posed a serious threat and could not be ignored especially if they sided with the Italians.

To the west the independent tribal kingdoms were constantly fighting each other or raiding the Belgian territories. The armies of these kingdoms ranged from traditional spear armed forces through warlord led bandit groups to mixed tribal and mercenary forces. 

Offshore to the east Islamic Sultanates held sway in the Islands of Marzibar, Zniqabar and Qarunjibar. Marzibar had always been an independent state founded upon the spice and slave trades and so had a weak maritime force of small craft. The others had become independent states when the Zuleiman Empire collapsed after the Great War and had only tiny self defence forces.

Religion played and inordinately important part in the whole region with extremism and tolerance often side by side with tribal, Christian and Islamic traditions present in most countries. Some were, of course, at least nominally single religions and some more fundamentalist and extreme in nature than others. Cannibalism and slavery had supposedly been eradicated. 

The interior was still largely unknown and large areas unexplored. There were rumours of fabulous ruined cities, of lost empires, or great treasures, of the elephants’ graveyard, of King Solomon’s Mines, of strange beasts and much, much more.

The Transvaal Scottish  In our campaign the South Africans provide a strong contingent.  These are Airfix, Esci and Matchbox 8th Army figures with a few conversions.  These troops could equally be used without alteration in the North African campaign.
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Company Second Battalion Black Watch these are all the troops in Tam o'Shanters that I had.  The rest of the battalion is dressed and equipped as above.  The exception is that they will have a 37mm Bofors anti-tank gun carried portee.
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Medium Battery - Tractors are modified Lledo Fire Engines and the guns are card and scrap plastic with Airfix wheels.  The tractors are, of course, an imaginary type but they loof the part!
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Light Tanks Mk VI and a Vickers Carden Loyd tankette with 40mm gun (all from the box acquired at a bring and buy)
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A-9 Cruisers (two different unknown makes picked up second hand)
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Morris Armoured Cars (unknown make)
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For those wishing to keep up to date with developments in this campaign and WW2 and other wargames related matters you really should join the Society of Twentieth Century Wargamers (SOTCW).  Here you will find a most helpful bunch of people who are kind enough to respond to questions and give help in finding that elusive model.  In addition you will receive the highly interesting and informative “Journal” with articles, scenarios and adverts.  Not only that a large number of suppliers give Society have discounts that can let you easily recover the cost of your subscription.

 

SOTCW Secretary:
Phil Gray, 4 Clarence Avenue, Balby, Doncaster, DN4 8AU e-mail:  info@sotcw.org

 

Introduction and British Forces

Mainly Italians

Italians, British and armoured train

More Italians, Askaris and something unusual

More Italians, Aqsopians and some Qaza'ar troops

Battles

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