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.
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.
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!
Light Tanks
Mk VI and a Vickers Carden Loyd tankette with 40mm gun (all from the box acquired at a bring and buy)
A-9 Cruisers (two different unknown makes
picked up second hand)
Morris Armoured Cars (unknown make)
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
Italians, British and armoured train
Battles